The live broadcast camera zoomed in, switching to the main screen with perfect timing.
The clown host practically bounced on stage, his voice brimming with theatrical excitement.
"It appeared—it finally appeared! The key that doomed our contestants Guan Wanwan and Mu Liao has returned!"
His shrill voice cut through the hall, stoking the emotions of both the on-site audience and the countless spectators watching the stream.
The players in the stands began buzzing with heated discussion.
"The setup of this dungeon is insane. Yesterday Guan Wanwan and Mu Liao tried to free the prisoners in the farm, and they both ended up dying for it."
"Yeah, but Zhao Guanghui looks like he's about to lose it. His mental stability is slipping fast."
"What about Lucas? Why doesn't he react at all?"
"Don't you get it? His mental stats don't fluctuate. He doesn't register fear, disgust, or despair in the same way. What kind of emotional breakdown are you expecting to see from him?"
"With things like this, I doubt they'll be able to clear that hidden side quest in the world view. It's too brutal."
"Forget it. Just pass the main storyline. This setting is way too inhumane."
As if to confirm their suspicions, the system displayed cold notifications.
[System prompt: Player Zhao Guanghui's mood swings are too high. Mental value -1. Mental value -1. Mental value -1…]
The Proposal
Zhao Guanghui ripped the mask from his face, struggling to breathe evenly. His chest heaved as he turned to Lucas, eyes fierce.
"Are you a player too? There are only two of us assigned here for the first time. You have to be one of us."
Lucas sighed softly. His expression was hidden by the goggles and mask, but behind them his eyes were calm, almost detached, as he studied the furious man in front of him.
Zhao's thick eyebrows drew together, his irritation plain. He planted his hands on his hips.
"We must have triggered this hidden side mission at the same time," he said. His boots clicked on the sterile floor as he paced a few steps back and forth before stopping again. His expression hardened into determination.
"We should cooperate. First, we find out what's really happening in this farm."
Lucas frowned but said nothing. His thoughts whispered inwardly: The safest path is to just finish the assigned work.
Zhao, of course, couldn't hear the silent reasoning. Instead, he pressed forward.
"We should go talk to that woman again. She might know something."
Without waiting for an answer, Zhao strode quickly to the cubicle door and pulled it open. He looked back over his shoulder.
"Are you coming?"
It was both an invitation and a test.
Lucas walked forward without a word. Zhao released a tense breath of relief and turned toward the farm.
If someone else insists on diving deeper into this nightmare, that just means I can observe from behind, Lucas thought, his hand briefly brushing the kitchen knife strapped to his chest.
The Conversation
The iron door creaked open. Inside, the woman on the bed had already zipped her protective suit back up. When she saw the two men return, confusion and fear flashed across her face.
To reassure her, Zhao pulled down his goggles and mask, forcing a smile onto his face.
"Don't be afraid," he said gently. "We only want to ask you some questions. Can you talk?"
The woman pressed herself against the wall, trembling. Her lips parted. For a long moment, only silence stretched between them. Finally, in a voice hoarse and resigned, she answered.
"You have already taken my liver today. It must regrow for two days before you can take it again."
Zhao's smile faltered. His throat bobbed as he coughed lightly, trying to recover.
"No, no—we're not here to take your liver. We just want to know: where are you from? Why are you being held here?"
The woman blinked slowly, then spoke with mechanical certainty, as though reciting scripture.
"I have committed the most serious crime. I should have been executed by Ling Chi. Living in this farm is a gift from God."
Zhao froze, stunned. He turned to Lucas, his voice hushed with disbelief.
"She's been brainwashed?"
Lucas didn't respond. He simply observed, eyes locked on the woman's body language, parsing every detail.
Zhao tried again, asking her from different angles, rephrasing the same questions in desperation. But the answers were always the same, reduced to two chilling sentences:
"I have committed a crime."
"God's gift to me."
Her expression when she spoke was not tortured, not resentful—but devout. She believed every word. To her, existing in this cage, being carved apart and healed endlessly, was not torment but salvation.
Zhao's hands shook. He questioned others, moving down the line of cubicles. Some remained silent, their eyes hollow. Others spoke words eerily similar to the woman's.
It was like they all shared one mind.
"What the hell is wrong with these people?!" Zhao's voice broke with frustration. Fury and helplessness tangled together, choking him.
The Breeder Appears
Suddenly, a voice barked across the room.
"Hey! You two!"
Lucas turned toward the sound.
[Modeling…]
[Food Factory Breeder: Advanced Danger]
A worker in protective clothing stomped toward them, his posture stiff with authority.
He looked Lucas up and down, but his gaze settled with fury on Zhao.
"After entering the factory, masks and goggles must remain on at all times!"
Zhao hurriedly replaced his gear, face hidden once again. The breeder scowled, muttering under his breath.
"You two must be the villagers assigned today. Why are you wandering around instead of completing your quota? You're slowing down the delivery of food!"
His tone dripped with contempt.
"And stop talking to those beasts."
The word cut like a knife.
Lucas noticed Zhao's fists tightening, knuckles white inside the gloves. His shoulders trembled as the breeder's words piled on.
"They're nothing but livestock for raw material. Your only job is to harvest the freshest parts."
That was the breaking point.
Zhao sneered, his voice sharp with rage.
"You monsters are the real beasts."
Golden light flared in his hand, illuminating the sterile chamber with a burning glow.
"Since it's only a liver you need, then I'll harvest one from you."
The breeder's scream tore through the air. The smell of blood followed quickly, metallic and suffocating. Zhao ripped the organ free, blood dripping onto the pristine floor.
[Corpse of Breeder: No Danger]
The system's indifferent prompt flickered across Lucas's vision.
Lucas exhaled slowly and shook his head.
"Still too impulsive."
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