The Apartment's Secrets and Truth!!

"Special... common... I don't understand."

After thinking for a long time with a pained expression, the Night Owl shook her head decisively.

"I've already made it very clear... this is an Apartment specifically designed for Player like us."

Bai Zhi glanced at the Night Owl, sighed, and his words carried a hint of disappointment and frustration.

"Didn't you see the video I showed you at the dinner table during the day? What do you think I filmed those videos for? Did you really think I did it on purpose to disgust you? Don't be ridiculous, I don't have that kind of perverse sense of humor, and I would never do anything without a reason."

"... So what exactly is the point of showing that video on the dining table?"

Clearly sensing the disdain in the other person's words, Night Owl's lips twitched slightly.

"I said it from the beginning: my energy is limited, and I need your help to observe the details... Unfortunately, you all performed terribly."

Bai Zhi reached up and pressed his forehead, looking slightly helpless.

"From the footage I filmed, you should be able to notice the specific physical condition of those people who were submerged in the Sea of Excrement. Common should be able to tell the difference easily."

"Uh... so that's why you were so engrossed in watching it all over again at that point... I thought you were..."

The Night Owl's face flushed slightly.

"Super extreme taste, right? Please, my taste is perfectly normal, I just absolutely hate sweets."

Bai Zhi rolled his eyes.

"The crowd gathered there was almost entirely made up of common, and this discovery was actually my biggest takeaway last night."

"... So these Apartment aren't raising humans, but raising Player? Humans are just secondary; Player like us are the main players?"

It took a lot of effort to figure out what Bai Zhi was trying to say, and the Night Owl looked thoughtful.

"This Apartment was originally prepared for us Player, is that what you meant?"

"Yes, you finally understand."

Letting out a breath, Bai Zhi nodded with great satisfaction.

"I learned from an Anomaly Friend stories that the value of a single Player is equivalent to that of hundreds or even thousands of common humans. Therefore, I speculate that there must be a Selection Mechanism in these Apartment, where humans qualified to become Player Qualification are taken to Special Floor Apartment similar to this Apartment... Based on this, the number of humans living in the other common Apartment Building should be more than just five."

Bai Zhi snapped his fingers, looking radiant.

"Once all the necessary pieces of the puzzle are in place, the secret hidden in this Apartment Building will be revealed. How about that? Doesn't it seem incredibly easy?"

Night Owl:"..."

"What a pity. If I had been chosen as the Floor Administrator, I should have been able to deduce everything by the first day... no, by the second day. What a shame."

Bai Zhi shook his head, a look of regret on his face.

"So you understand now? The important thing isn't reaching the maximum value for Base Attributes, but rather our own Player identity. If any of us Player were to use the Fitness Room specially prepared for us to raise the basic values of Strength, agility, and Constitution to the maximum value, a terrifying being would come to personally reap the rewards, and that person would inevitably meet their end."

"... And what about the Mysterious Shop?"

After thinking for a moment, the curious Night Owl asked another question.

"And what is the purpose of the computers, Game, and posters on the walls in each room?"

"Having the qualifications to become Player doesn't necessarily mean someone will actually become Player. Things like the computers, Game, or posters in the room are all catalysts that help selected people become Player... You should know what a catalyst is, right?"

As he spoke, Bai Zhi narrowed his eyes and glanced at the computer that he had locked inside the closet.

"These things arranged in the room can effectively increase the probability of those people becoming Player. As for the Mysterious Shop... have you seen us get anything good from there?"

"Uh... no."

After briefly considering the four Skill they had drawn so far, Night Owl's lips twitched slightly, and he shook his head.

"So that's it. Throwing some junk and basically useless Skill Card into the Mysterious Shop provides a good explanation for the points earned by the Game and the computer, and also increases their motivation. Why not?"

Bai Zhi shrugged, his expression noncommittal.

"Do you understand? This Apartment we're on now is a Special Floor Apartment specifically for cultivating Player. It operates on a Seven Days cycle, and after Seven Days, these cultivated Players will be harvested."

"This is just too much..."

The Night Owl's mood suddenly turned somber.

"Is that so? But you can't deny that although this approach is a bit cruel, it's the Unique way for humans to survive in this world that has been completely dominated by ghost Anomaly."

Bai Zhi turned his head and looked towards the doorway.

"If the humans of this world want to survive, they have no choice but to do this: willingly sever all their own Strength of resistance and personally deliver the beings that protect their world to the enemy's dinner table... It's frustrating, everything about it is frustrating, but they have no other choice."

"So, will our world... become like this in the future?"

With her head down, the Night Owl spoke softly, it was unclear whether she was asking him or herself.

"So it all depends on us Player. As long as we become strong enough, we will eventually be able to protect our world."

Yawning, Bai Zhi lay back down in the chair.

"Alright, cheer up a little. There's no need to be so pessimistic about some things. After all, as long as you're alive, there's still hope."

"Hope... Do you think there's still hope in this world?"

The Night Owl looked up at him.

"Aren't all humans here actually in a state of despair?"

"Really? I don't think so."

With a slight smile, Bai Zhi reopened the book.

"Because in this world, there are still free Players, and they... have never given up."