Not many people were trading special room keys, since everyone knew those rooms contained valuable items. However, given the large population base, Lin Ye still managed to exchange five keys using some basic supplies. After all, not everyone had the courage to face first-tier creatures, and it was better to trade them for urgently needed supplies rather than let them collect dust.

Zhang Liang: Brother Lin, are you there?

Lin Ye: Yes, what's up?

Zhang Liang: Do you have any extra spiritual energy items?

Lin Ye: I do, but not that many to spare.

Zhang Liang: I'll trade them for special keys.

Lin Ye: I've already gotten five. Any more would just sit unused for now.

Zhang Liang: What do you need instead?

Lin Ye: Do you have any rune cards?

Zhang Liang: Well... we had two, but now there's only one left.

Lin Ye: ?

Zhang Liang: One of our members with a mental energy talent tried using one, and his name turned black afterward...

Lin Ye: People can die inside the shelter? I thought it was completely safe?

Zhang Liang: We don't think he's actually dead, but the system might have judged him unfit to continue surviving. Rune cards affect the user directly, so they might fall outside the shelter's protection.

Lin Ye: What's the remaining card?

Zhang Liang: Basic Rune - Speed.

Lin Ye: I'll trade you a spiritual energy pistol and spiritual energy ring for it. The pistol has eight bullets left.

Zhang Liang: Deal.

The two quickly completed the transaction, both satisfied with the outcome. For Lin Ye, the spiritual energy pistol was practically trash, and while the ring was somewhat useful, it only extended his cycles from 30 to 40 minutes—a difference that would shrink as he grew more proficient. For the Mutual Aid Society, however, the spiritual energy ring was a godsend, as they lacked an evolution path and found it much harder to channel spiritual energy than Lin Ye. Plus, they were now too afraid to use rune cards after what happened.

[Basic Rune - Speed]

[A card that teaches the basic speed rune]

[Note: Those with insufficient mental energy should use with caution]

Storing the card away, Lin Ye didn't dare use it recklessly. He still hadn't fully digested the Protection Rune, and with Cutting, Splicing, and Collapse to handle, he wouldn't need this new card for a while. After processing the remaining perishable food and pouring some warm water over the Abyssal Egg and the Alien Egg, Lin Ye lay down with his duck and closed his eyes, continuing to digest the Protection Rune until he fell asleep.

………………

[Please draw today's card]

"My turn! Draw!"

This time, the card depicted a young girl in nun's attire. Before Lin Ye could react, the card dissipated, and a silver-haired girl in crimson nun robes appeared in the center of the shelter.

"Uh... hello?"

Lin Ye felt slightly nervous—this was the first time a young woman had appeared in his room. The girl's body was covered by thick, plain crimson robes, her head adorned with a pure red nun's veil, and her eyes concealed beneath a red cloth. Her robes were covered in twisted, chaotic symbols resembling runes, though Lin Ye couldn't understand them. Despite the eerie attire, there was an unsettling mix of sanctity and strangeness about her—yet for the first time, Lin Ye truly grasped what "holiness" felt like.

The girl knelt silently in the center of the shelter, not speaking a word. Seeing no response, Lin Ye didn't approach her—not out of fear, but out of basic respect for a lady. He prepared two servings of breakfast with the reserved ingredients and placed one before the nun. If she didn't eat it, he could save it for dinner. After finishing his meal, Lin Ye lay down and began his daily simulation.

………………

[Affected by the Crimson Nun, a religious-type anomalous event has been selected for this simulation task]

[Simulated D-Class personnel: Isaac]

[Remaining simulations: 10]

Buzz… buzz…

Lin Ye opened his eyes to the familiar sound of a moving vehicle. Across from him sat an elderly man with graying hair, also clad in orange prison garb. Isaac, too, was an aged man, his body as frail as a long-term bedridden patient. It took Lin Ye a moment to adjust to such a weak physique—never in his life had he felt this feeble.

'What crime did this old man commit to become D-Class personnel?'

'Religious anomalous event... well, at least it's not completely unfamiliar.'

"What's wrong, Isaac? Another headache?" The prisoner across from him suddenly spoke—clearly, he knew Isaac.

"Never stopped," Lin Ye replied calmly.

"...Do you know where they're taking us?" Gregory stared at Lin Ye in surprise.

"Where else? Honestly, it's been a while since I last prayed," Lin Ye remained composed. He had been good at acting since childhood.

"Why? Don't you believe in God anymore?" Gregory peered into Lin Ye's eyes, as if trying to see through him.

"No. My faith has never been stronger." Lin Ye smiled gently, meeting Gregory's gaze.

Gregory, however, looked away uncomfortably, turning to the window.

The overseer listening to their conversation curled his lips and muttered under his breath, "Damn cultists."

Five minutes later, the prison transport stopped outside a modest white church, its stained-glass windows particularly eye-catching.

"Get inside. You're the sacrifices this time. Don't forget to confess to your god afterward." The captain this time clearly disliked them, shoving them into the church without even giving them helmets.

Lin Ye didn't resist—he obediently entered the church. Not that he could have fought back in this body anyway. The interior was plain, with just a few pews and a pulpit—nothing out of the ordinary. Standing in the center, Lin Ye sensed no anomalies.

But Gregory, who had entered with him, was clearly different. Under some unknown influence, he slowly ascended the pulpit. Lin Ye cooperatively took a seat, ready to listen to his fellow inmate's sermon.

Yet the moment Gregory reached the pulpit, he began frantically clawing at his own face like a madman, his body twisting and contorting. After tearing off his own skin, his entire body compressed into a cube roughly 30 centimeters wide, the discarded skin neatly settling atop it.

"Quite the performance, wouldn't you say?"

At some point, the pews had filled with humanoid figures of all appearances. The one speaking to Lin Ye was a gentleman in a gray suit with an indistinct face, now seated beside him.

"Mediocre. Just another fool who mistook desire for faith. If you can't even face yourself, becoming a box won't make what's inside any more interesting."

Lin Ye replied offhandedly.