"Holy shit, bowing to the big boss, I was just joking earlier!"

Lin Ye: It's fine.

"Big boss, have you eaten today? Any news about tonight's event?"

Lin Ye: (Food picture) No, but I suggest you prepare well. If it's too difficult, don't participate. Though I've never experienced war, it's obviously extremely dangerous.

"But I have no choice, I haven't collected enough mutation organs yet."

"What? Still not enough? What have you been doing? Can't get them yourself? Trade with supplies then."

"Selling mutation organs, posted in trading zone, PM me."

Lin Ye: By the way, don't use rune cards in the shelter. Without sufficient spiritual energy, it's extremely dangerous.

Lin Ye shared his theory about survivors dying from using rune cards in the group chat.

"Damn, so that's why. I wondered how even survivors with mental talent abilities could die in shelters. They must have gone outside."

"What are rune cards?"

"None of your business, kid. Go to sleep."

"Then if I tie myself up, can I use rune cards safely?"

"You'd have to make sure you can't untie yourself. But if you really can't, what will you do after using the card? Stay tied forever?"

"Can we create an artificial spiritual energy environment in the shelter?"

"That depends on how long you need to absorb the card. What if it takes days?"

"Screw that! If it's so dangerous, why not sell it to the big boss? At least boost combat power instead of waiting to die with the card."

"Haha, as if any of you have rune cards."

"Ouch, that hurts bro."

Lin Ye: Buying rune cards at high prices.

"Big boss, how long does it take you to recover after using rune cards?"

Lin Ye: Quickly. But most first-tier mutation creatures have less spiritual energy than me. Better not use me as reference.

"Damn, as expected of the boss."

"Boss, how do we actually awaken spiritual energy?"

Lin Ye: Perception is related to spirit. Heard that after using mutation cards, you can sense spiritual energy flow. That's the simplest start. Alternatively, find spiritual energy items related to perception and spirit. Repeated use might help you find the feeling.

"Thanks boss, gonna use mutation cards now."

"Buying perception/spirit-related spiritual energy items at high prices."

"What? I just sold one yesterday! So unlucky!"

......

Lin Ye opened the trading zone and private chats, starting to purchase space crystals and rune cards.

Space crystals seemed extremely rare. Only three survivors in the entire region traded with Lin Ye. In the end, Lin Ye exchanged some self-made spiritual energy items and basic supplies for three space crystals.

Another survivor approached Lin Ye to trade a rune card.

They hadn't upgraded their shelter yet and obtained this card purely by luck.

Lin Ye traded a full set of basic supplies and self-made spiritual energy items for this unknown card.

[Basic Rune - Strength]

[A card for learning basic strength runes]

[Note: Caution for those with insufficient spiritual energy]

Storing the rune card and space crystals, Lin Ye picked up the Jester Doll hiding under the table and lay on the bed to begin daily simulation.

...............

[Simulated D-Class personnel: Carl]

[Acquired special skill: Deadly Joke]

[Deadly Joke]

[You can randomly appear in a position unnoticed by the target, but cannot attack before being noticed]

[Note: Don't stay alone, or it may appear anywhere unexpected]

[Remaining simulations: 10]

Lin Ye opened his eyes. This time it wasn't starting in a prison truck, but lying on a single cell bed.

Carl was an 18-19 year old young white male, no idea how he got here.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

"AAAAHHH! DIE! MONSTER!"

"HELP!"

BANG BANG BANG!

"Damn it! Close that fucking door quickly!"

BANG BANG!

Screams and gunshots sounded outside the cell, but soon, silence returned.

'...This counts as a mission? More like a riot.'

Lin Ye approached the cell door, listening carefully.

D-Class living conditions weren't bad - the cell resembled a small hotel room with a metal door featuring a peephole for outside observation.

'Need to check outside, but how? Cutting or breaking...'

Only then did Lin Ye realize there was no spiritual energy in the cell.

Not just spiritual energy - even mental energy was suppressed. Lin Ye couldn't even sense what was behind him.

'Troublesome. Only option is picking the lock. Hope the organization's locks are simple.'

Lin Ye examined the lock, only to find the cell door wasn't locked at all.

'Strange? Why open? Someone deliberately unlocked it? Or some anomalous effect?'

Lin Ye cracked the door slightly, seeing a gray forest filled with human-like growths.

The tree-bound humans turned simultaneously to look at Lin Ye, who instantly sensed overwhelming danger - but too late.

His head exploded, flesh and brain matter splattering across the cell as the headless corpse collapsed.

...............

[Remaining simulations: 9]

Lin Ye grabbed his hair as he sat up on the bed, staring thoughtfully at the door.

'Unlocked door...connection...anomaly...'

'When I opened the door, my mental energy returned to normal strength, and that forest had extremely dense spiritual energy.'

'So the door connects to that area, but I could hear outside noises earlier, meaning the connection isn't constant.'

'Is opening the door itself the key to connecting that space?'

'Does the connected area depend on when you open the door?'

'Summary: The organization's base experienced some anomalous event. Under its influence, opening doors might connect to other spaces, possibly allowing things inside to come out.'

'My talent ability randomly simulates a D-Class personnel during missions.'

'Meaning this event has been classified as an anomalous mission, and I've become mission personnel.'

'Why doesn't the organization send teams to solve this? Why was I transmitted into him?'

'...Because I'm inside this base. The organization can't or won't send external personnel to resolve it.'

'Would opening base doors spread this anomaly outside? Not confirmed yet.'

Lin Ye stopped pondering, having roughly deduced this simulation's objective.

'First, close as many doors inside the base as possible, while finding ways to deal with the anomaly's source.'

Checking the time, Lin Ye carefully pushed open the cell door.

Outside was a bright corridor lined with numerous cells, bloodstains and bullet marks on the floor, with an overseer's corpse lying not far away.