[Lu Family Courtyard] A Big Job

"Bro." Ren Yi patted Ren Man gently on the shoulder and climbed onto the little electric scooter for the ride home. As usual, he chattered about everything that had happened that day.

As usual, Ren Man simply listened in silence.

The scooter stopped at a traffic light. Ren Man turned his head slightly and offered a brief assessment:

"Xiao Yi, impressive."

Ren Yi felt a warm, heartfelt burst of delight well up inside him.

Hmm, am I still this dependent on "family"? He found his own disappointing reaction a little funny.

"Oh, right, Bro." Ren Yi remembered Lu Qing's parting words. She had been so mysterious about it that he had refrained from asking out of politeness.

"Aunt Lu Qing said she'd have a 'big job' for us soon. What did she mean?"

Ren Man was silent for a few seconds, seemingly gathering his thoughts.

"The Alliance ran into some trouble. One world, a setback, too many resurrections." He explained slowly, "You eat too much, not enough energy."

"Wait!" Ren Yi protested at once. "What do you mean, 'eat too much'? I haven't touched a single energy crystal! Don't pin that on me!"

He quickly sorted out his thoughts: an invasion of some world had failed, and resurrecting the fallen monsters had consumed so much of their reserves that the "rations" for feeding this batch of newborn Younglings were running short?

"Then what does that have to do with us?" Ren Yi pressed. "Is the Alliance going to draft us 'child laborers' onto the battlefield early?"

"Not child laborers." Ren Man sounded a little awkward, as though he also felt he hadn't explained himself very clearly. "Anyway, harvest, take you along, to the site."

Oh. That meant the Alliance was preparing to launch a large-scale "world harvest," going directly to a "Pasture" to gather energy. And Younglings like them were like children taken to a fancy buffet by their parents, free to "mooch a meal on-site."

It really was a "big job."

"What kind of world is it?" Ren Yi's curiosity was piqued.

"A Pasture." Ren Man's answer was short and to the point. "The one you encountered today."

Ren Yi blinked.

From listening to the participants talk earlier, he had gained a rough idea of the world they lived in.

The participants privately called it the "Three-City World."

Apparently, only three major human cities remained in the world, while the rest of the land was occupied by mutated beasts impervious to conventional firearms. Among humans, ability users had emerged to fight them.

At the same time, that miserable world was continually subjected to "monster invasions."

Ironically, though, according to those survivors, the monsters' appearance had given their civilization, which was on the brink of collapse, a new lease on life. Instances had become "danger zones" where they could obtain scarce resources, delaying their complete extinction instead.

It didn't sound like a good place.

Leaning against Ren Man's back, Ren Yi thought quietly.

The little scooter soon brought them home, and Ren Yi threw himself onto the sofa.

Phew. He let out a long breath. Home really was more comfortable.

He lay sprawled out, so relaxed that he could barely maintain his Humanoid Form.

Ren Man brought lunch to the coffee table, and the two brothers ate while watching the news.

On television, the male anchor, whose face was "all mouths," happened to be reporting on the very matter they had just discussed.

Male anchor: "We now have an important announcement. In response to the recent 'shortage of energy reserves for feeding Younglings,' the Alliance has reviewed and approved 'Special Harvest Plan No. 37.'"

Female anchor: "The main points of the plan are as follows: the Alliance will launch a comprehensive energy harvesting operation in the 'Three-City World,' which has been designated a Pasture. Registration is limited to legal guardians who possess fully developed Instances and the new-generation Younglings under their care."

"This harvest operation aims to promote the new generation's understanding of the 'world harvest' process and their adaptability to its rules through observation of actual operations."

Male anchor: "The Alliance emphasizes that the primary objectives of this operation are 'energy harvesting' and 'educational practice.' The world's will to resist has fallen below the threshold, and the harvest is expected to proceed smoothly and efficiently, making it suitable as the new generation's first experience of a large-scale operation in the real world."

Female anchor: "Registration will open simultaneously at noon tomorrow at the administrative centers in each city district and on the Ghost Net. Guardians must submit their qualifications and the Younglings' information in advance for review."

Male anchor: "The Alliance wishes all guardians a successful harvest, and wishes our new generation a valuable first experience of 'Pasture practice' in a safe and orderly environment."

Female anchor: "And now, the next news story..."

Ren Yi's chopsticks stopped in midair, and he blinked.

The wording in that broadcast—"energy harvesting," "Pasture practice"—really made "taking the kids along to mooch a meal" sound so refined, dressing it up as an educational social activity.

Then his eyes lit up. "Bro, so your 'Instance'..."

"It's been arranged. You're going with Aunt Lu." Ren Man spoke calmly as he picked up some food and put it in Ren Yi's bowl.

"Huh?" Ren Yi's spirits sank at once. "Why? Can't you take me?"

Ren Man put down his chopsticks. He seemed a little troubled, but still explained seriously:

"I can't get in. I don't have the qualifications."

He paused, then added, "You'll be safer with Aunt Lu."

Then he thought for a moment and said somewhat awkwardly:

"I'll come pick you up afterward."

"Oh." Ren Yi nodded obediently and forced himself to perk up.

But his qualifications weren't suitable? How come even the monster world had things like that?

Well, he could only say that the Alliance really did put on a convincing show.

He had heard that monsters setting up Instances was much like opening a shop: it required an initial investment, creating the right atmosphere, producing emotions... Maybe his brother had kept his Instance too "clean," making it insufficiently scary, so its rating and profits weren't very good?

At that thought, Ren Yi grew pensive.

It looked like he would have to help his brother give it a proper "design" in the future.

The next day, after confirming the arrangements with Lu Qing and Lu Zihan, Ren Yi submitted his information.

Before long, the Alliance's reply arrived by text message.

[Application receipt for entry into the "Three-City World"]

[Dear Ren Yi:

Your application has been approved. The following information concerns your entry into the "Three-City World":

It has been confirmed that this world has entered an irreversible terminal phase, and the conditions for its destruction by Calamity have been met. The Alliance will conduct harvest operations in accordance with established procedures and maintain the necessary supplementary rules.

This operation is divided into two stages: the Instance stage and the descent stage.

During the Instance stage, you will join a large-scale Instance designated by the Alliance as a member and assist in maintaining its normal operation.

You must complete at least one valid kill to obtain the qualification for entry into the descent stage. After meeting this condition, you must continue participating in Instance maintenance until the Instance ends.

The descent stage is a reward phase unique to this harvest. Once you have obtained the qualification, you will enter the world in your true form during this stage.

The Alliance will assign no mandatory tasks during this period, and you may hunt freely.

When the world reaches its final harvest point, you will receive a general evacuation order. Once the order takes effect, please proceed immediately to the designated location for retrieval.

The Alliance thanks you for your cooperation and wishes you a rewarding experience in this practical exercise.]