This Isn't Scientific!

"This is the play money I'm giving each of you. You can think of it as chips," the Host continued. "Although Paradise will not restrict your actions, each game will still come with a reward mission. Based on your performance in completing it, you will be awarded the corresponding Points. You may now open the exchange interface and select what you need—simply stare at the number and silently say 'open,' and the interface will appear automatically."

Open.

Zhang Zhiyuan silently spoke the word in his mind. Then he saw the number enlarge and turn into a translucent chart.

So... was this really just a game?

He quickly scanned the exchange list. Compared with the polished games on the market, the items available in Paradise were a hodgepodge, rather disorganized, as though they had been thrown together at the last minute. They were divided into two broad categories. The first was [Combat Support], with the Revival Scroll (Limited) at the top, priced at 1,000; next came the Healing Card, priced at 750; everything else was equipment like swords, armor, and so on, ranging from 150 to 50. The other category, [Daily Life Support], had everything imaginable: pressure cookers, portable gas canisters, lighters, fishing spears... even thermite packs.

"Isn't this no different from before?" Anthony grumbled. "The enemies we ran into last time were all carrying guns. Can't we get something more powerful?"

The Host did not respond, as though the question lay outside his preset options.

"Maybe there are better things, but we don't have enough Points to see them," Zhou Zhi said quietly. "Game designers usually take gradual difficulty progression into account. They might not put powerful weapons in the earliest stages, or perhaps they want us to rely mainly on strategy..."

"Fine. Then I'll take a full set of armor and a crossbow, plus a dagger for a backup weapon!" The Russian could not be bothered to argue further.

The Host nodded and raised his right hand. Several pieces of equipment appeared out of thin air and fell to the floor.

The sight left Zhang Zhiyuan clicking his tongue in amazement, but everyone else seemed accustomed to it.

After a round of exchanges, everyone had armed themselves to some extent. Only Zhang Zhiyuan had not spent any Points.

"I'm guessing... I don't have to use them right now?"

"Of course. You may make a request to me at any time," the Host said with a nod.

"Then I'll skip the exchange for now." Zhang Zhiyuan secretly let out a long breath. It was not because he had a plan in mind, but because he rarely played games and had no idea what would be best to exchange for.

If I'd known, I should have had Cui Zhenen join the Paradise game.

"Then has everyone finished exchanging?"

"Wait!" Zhang Zhiyuan raised another question. "Mr. Host, could you take off your mask and let everyone see what you look like? I don't mean anything by it. I just think that mask is pretty creepy. Even a virtual face would be better than that thing."

The others nodded in agreement.

The Host smiled and reached up to remove his mask.

Yet beneath it was still a Sichuan Opera Mask, only with different colors and patterns.

Zhang Zhiyuan was speechless.

"Since you are all prepared, please follow me." The Host did not say much else, as though that mask truly was his original face. He turned, pushed open a side door, and entered another small room.

This wooden room was much brighter, with several oil lamps alone. A square table stood in the center, piled high with a large stack of manuscript pages.

"What's this?" the American asked curiously.

Zhang Zhiyuan stepped forward and snatched up a sheet first. It was covered in writing, but he could not recognize a single character.

"A Case File," the Host said unhurriedly. "This time, you will become hunters of evil and solve a heinous case. The case details and every clue are recorded on these pages. From the moment you entered this room, the Paradise game officially began."

Everyone looked at one another.

"This... is already starting?"

"There aren't any more hints?"

"Who knows what this stuff says?" Qiao James waved the manuscript page in his hand. "If we can't even read it, how are we supposed to hunt anything down?"

"Wait, I think I saw something earlier..." Zhou Zhi suddenly said. "Where was it... right, it's in this section. Take a look too, under the Daily Life Support row in the exchange interface."

At his reminder, Zhang Zhiyuan found the section as well. Beneath a pile of household goods, he spotted an item called Translation Tofu, priced at 200 Points.

"Kid, you're somewhat useful after all." Anthony chuckled. "Going by the description, you should gain translation abilities after eating it."

"Isn't that wrong? Shouldn't language compatibility be a default setting?" Qiao James frowned deeply. "Who makes a game and deliberately adds some lousy language barrier?"

"I can't exchange for it. I only have a little over 100 Points left," Jason Taylor, who had newly joined the game, said regretfully.

"If that is how the game is designed, then we can only follow it," Asahara Naruko suddenly spoke. "Two hundred may seem like a lot, but there is no need for every one of us to exchange for one. Don't forget, we will be completing this mission together."

"Then... I'll do it," Zhou Zhi volunteered. "I still have 500 Points unused."

"One might not be enough. I'll get one too," Zhang Zhiyuan immediately added. He had already noticed a detail: no one seemed to know that this game's theme would involve solving a case. Both Qiao James and the Jason Taylor he had brought in looked entirely unfamiliar with such matters. But Zhang Zhiyuan was different. When Paradise had sent its invitation, it had clearly stated the participation requirements. Since they had specifically sent the email to the police department's inbox, it meant this new game would very likely require criminal investigation skills.

This explained two things. First, each person had received a different invitation. At the very least, only the police department had received an invitation marked with "outstanding investigation and case-solving skills."

That way, the character background fabricated for him by the department had not been wasted, and the suspects would not deliberately keep their guard up around him.

Second, it basically confirmed that Paradise was a neutral organization and was not biased toward Qiao James's side.

"You sure, buddy?" the American glanced at him. "After buying that, you'll only be able to choose between weapons and equipment or a Healing Card."

"You can see the environment we're in. We'll definitely have to enter a city and operate later. If only one person can communicate while everyone else stammers and hems and haws, we'll definitely arouse suspicion." Zhang Zhiyuan deliberately avoided mentioning the investigation. "Besides, with so many case files, how long would it take for him to read them all alone? I think Miss Asahara is right. Since we're a team, we should divide the work and cooperate. If you handle the fighting, I can provide logistical support."

"Suit yourself." Qiao James did not say anything more.

Zhang Zhiyuan quickly ate the Translation Tofu he had exchanged for and looked at the Case File again. The writing on the pages seemed to twist and change before finally rearranging itself into Chinese he could fully understand!

"Well?" the others asked.

"It... works," Zhang Zhiyuan murmured. Yet his shock ran far deeper than that. He knew it was definitely not simple translation, because with a blink, he could see that the manuscript itself had not changed at all. The words were not an image projected before his eyes; rather, after fully comprehending them, his subconscious had automatically converted them! In other words, he had truly understood this language in an instant!

Even in an immersive game... that shouldn't be possible, right?

Zhang Zhiyuan could not help stealing a glance at the Host.

What kind of organization was Paradise? Why did it possess such astonishing technology? If this learning technology were applied to education or industry, it would surely set off a new wave of revolutionary development. Yet they were using it merely to make money from the wealthy. He truly could not understand it.

Zhang Zhiyuan faintly realized that Paradise itself might be far more important than the case—this was no longer something a police department or the International Criminal Police could handle. He had to firmly memorize everything he saw and report it once the game was over!

For now, however, his foremost task was to play his role well.