NFM Chapter 86

Under the bold black text was the handsome Dr. Lucifer, flanked by a golden-haired boy named Adam and a silver-haired girl named Eve, both standing with their heads bowed in an unusually submissive and beautiful manner. The report claimed that the boy Adam—originally Potential Criminal 2479—was once a dangerous latent criminal with a criminal coefficient as high as 400. The girl Eve—originally Potential Criminal 2692—was infamous for killing her stepfather and showing no remorse in court, earning her a life sentence. After six months of treatment, these two test subjects had become remarkably docile. During a nationwide exhibition, they endured verbal abuse, physical beatings, and insults that would be unbearable for ordinary people (including reminders to Eve of the atrocities her high-ranking official stepfather had committed against her) without any sign of resistance, silently weathering the storm.

Dr. Lucifer stated, “Through electrotherapy, I achieved all this. I named them Adam and Eve. They represent the future of humanity, symbolizing mankind’s ultimate triumph over evil after millennia of war and crime. Now, latent criminals are just like ordinary people. They have been reintegrated into society as equals! They are the crystallization of human wisdom!”

“What is art? Oil paintings are art, sculptures are art, performances are art… Human creations and improvements based on nature are all art. So why can’t the transformation of humans by humans, as part of nature, be called art? And why shouldn’t it be displayed in museums? Dr. Lucifer is not only a great engineer but also a profoundly wise artist and a mentor to the human soul. He will be renowned as the deity of the new world!”

At the end of the report, the female journalist used highly provocative language to describe the scene.

The third report came three months later—after the nationwide tour of Adam and Eve, Dr. Lucifer’s treatment plan was finally promoted across the country. This initiative was called the “Fruit of Wisdom Project.” Given the fear and mistrust of latent criminals among the citizens, Lucifer selected 100 latent criminals from sanatoriums across the nation for transformation and sent these “new humans” to the capital city’s museum—the very museum where Lin Huai was currently located—placing them in special display cases.

During the exhibition, citizens could interact with the latent criminals up close, engaging in face-to-face conversations to dispel prejudices and fears. Through appropriate practical interactions, they would come to understand that these individuals were no longer capable of violence and had become morally conscious “new humans.” Of course, the premier entertainment center in the city, Star Light TV, also saw great commercial potential in this.

After negotiations, they issued a statement: “Citizens visiting the museum daily will receive four voting tickets. Based on the latent criminals’ performance, talent, personal qualities, and treatment effectiveness, they can cast their votes for the most suitable, friendly, and beloved latent criminals! During the three-month event, the top four latent criminals will be released, granted ‘citizen’ status, and given a life of unprecedented happiness!”

“Of course, the bottom four latent criminals each week will be ‘processed,’ and their ‘processing’ will be available for paid viewing. As for the remaining forty-six… they will be returned to the sanatorium.”

Lin Huai expressionlessly looked at the poster, silently tearing the entire newspaper to pieces.

“…What is this? A survival-themed talent show? Or ‘Latent Criminal 101′?” he muttered. “Their biggest mistake is having too much to eat…”

As he spoke, he waved his hand, scattering the torn pieces of paper into the air. He crouched down, leaning close to the glass, staring at the outside world. “I’m interested in survival games, but talent shows? Forget it. I’d rather perform backflips than sing and dance…”

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud “What the hell!” echoed from beside him.

Lin Huai turned to find the source of the voice in the adjacent glass room. The two rooms were connected, separated only by a pane of glass. The exclamation came from a large, burly man who looked twice Lin Huai’s size. The man first pressed against the glass, shaking and pounding the floor in frustration. Noticing Lin Huai, he waddled over, his flabby body jiggling with each step.

“Hey, buddy,” he pressed against the glass, “you’re a player in this Game too, right?”

Lin Huai: “Yes.”

“Thank goodness there’s still a teammate. Damn this Game. Why did it have to start now, of all times?” The man sighed in relief, extending a hand through the glass. “I’m Wang Xuan, but everyone calls me Fat Wang. I’m the son of a coal tycoon… but never mind that. So, this is an Advanced Zone, right?”

Fat Wang was extremely chatty, not waiting for Lin Huai’s response before continuing, “Man, this Advanced Zone couldn’t have come at a worse time. Did you know that a common strategy in this Game is to hire bodyguards?”

“Bodyguards?”

“Yeah, you get to know some strong players from the Advanced Zones, pay them, and ask them to carry you through. The trick is to hold their hand before entering the Game and bring them in with you… To be honest, that’s how I’ve gotten through every round so far. For this one, the better ones cost over a hundred thousand, while the cheaper ones are tens of thousands. But hey, it’s money well spent for survival!” Fat Wang complained rapidly. “Since this is an Advanced Zone, I thought it’d be dangerous, so I hired two bodyguards—one for each hand. I was at home watching TV, waiting for the time, when suddenly I had a stomachache… Ugh…”

“…” Lin Huai looked at him sympathetically. “They didn’t follow you into the bathroom? That’s so unprofessional.”

Fat Wang choked, then awkwardly muttered, “They… they did follow me in.”

“But… I needed to, uh, wipe, you know?” Fat Wang said sheepishly.

Lin Huai: “…”

“This is just my luck!” Fat Wang lamented. “I’ve already paid the deposit, and now this? When you’re unlucky, even water gets stuck in your teeth, the sofa stabs your legs, and the toilet paper rips!”

After venting his frustration, Fat Wang took a good look at Lin Huai and sighed.

“By the way, buddy,” he slapped his forehead, “what’s your name?”

“Lin Huai.”

“Lin Huai, got it.” Fat Wang sighed in despair, slumping against the glass wall, looking utterly dejected.

As Fat Wang woke up, the previously quiet hallway gradually filled with the sounds of other players stirring. They woke up in their glass cells, opening their eyes to take in their surroundings.

The second to wake up was a round-faced boy sleeping in the room to Lin Huai’s right. Even in his sleep, his mouth kept moving. He was short, with a rosy complexion and pleasant features. After opening his eyes, he looked around in confusion before noticing the display case next to him.

Hearing Lin Huai and Fat Wang’s conversation, he deduced that they were fellow players and eagerly approached. “Hey, are you guys players in the Advanced Zone too? What’s your name? I’m Lu Xiaotian—’Xiao’ as in ‘small,’ ‘Tian’ as in ‘sky.’ And you?”

“Lin Huai.”

“Wang Xuan.”

“Oh, Brother Lin, Brother Wang!” the boy said enthusiastically. “How many rounds have you played? What are your names? Where are we? Is this the Intermediate Trial Zone? Have you found any clues? What should we do next? When will the Examiner appear?”

A barrage of questions flew at Lin Huai, but he caught the last one. He blinked and asked, “What’s an Examiner?”

“You don’t even know what an Examiner is?” the boy exclaimed in shock.

Both Lin Huai and Wang Xuan shook their heads in confusion. The boy slapped his chest, adopting the demeanor of a top student lamenting others’ lack of preparation.

“An Examiner, as the name suggests, is the referee of the Game,” the boy explained. “The presence of Examiners is the biggest difference between the Intermediate and Beginner Zones. You know how in the Beginner Zone, the goal is usually to complete a specific task, right?”

“If the Beginner Zone is like solving math problems, the Intermediate Zone is more like subjective application questions. Different Examiners oversee different Intermediate Zones, setting various tasks based on their personal preferences. Sometimes the tasks are very vague, and whether you pass or not depends entirely on the final defense and the Examiner’s mood,” the boy chattered on. “I’ve heard that those Examiners are all monsters at the level of Red-robed ghosts or higher…”

“Subjective questions?” Fat Wang’s eyes lit up. “Doesn’t that mean it’s easier to score? I’m not good at much, but I’m great at making stuff up during defenses!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a cold sneer came from the adjacent room.

The sneer came from a tall young man with a high ponytail and sharp phoenix eyes that gleamed with intensity. Seeing everyone turn to him, he sneered, “You think the Intermediate Zone is that simple?”

Then, with a piercing gaze, he scanned the three of them and said coldly, “One clueless kid, one fatso, and one sickly weakling… I suggest you all shape up, or you’ll drag others down with you!”

With that, he turned away, his long ponytail swishing through the air. The young man sat cross-legged on his bed, seemingly meditating or practicing some form of cultivation.

Round-faced boy: “…”

Fat Wang: “…”

Lin Huai, however, raised an eyebrow as he looked at the meditating young man.

“This guy is really…” he thought, staring at the man’s back.

…His hair is really thick.

Lin Huai wasn’t bothered at all. When one person’s strength completely overwhelms another’s, even the most arrogant remarks from the latter wouldn’t elicit anger—not even surprise.

But the others clearly didn’t feel the same way.

“Who does he think he is?” the round-faced boy exclaimed, jumping three feet in the air. “Does he think he’s strong? I’ve earned three A-level evaluations! I’m a rising star of vitality! How dare he call me weak!”

With that, he turned to Fat Wang and Lin Huai, gesturing excitedly, “I’m really strong! I can fight Evil spirits bare-handed!”

As he rolled up his sleeves, ready to confront the ponytailed young man, Fat Wang quickly poked Lin Huai. “You should stop him.”

“Why?” Lin Huai yawned.

“If we start fighting before the mission even begins, it’ll be chaos. We need to stay united,” Fat Wang said, sweating profusely. “We’re all teammates. Can’t we talk things out? You don’t want this to escalate, do you?”