Zhang Zhiyuan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhang Zhiyuan (镪知渊)
Alias(es)	Zhang Qiang — a Paradise-assigned role presented as Zhang Zhiyuan's brother 48 50
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	International Criminal Police
Occupation/Role	Interpol officer; investigator of Paradise and Wayne Jenster
Status	Active 50
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Background / History

Interpol investigation

Zhang Zhiyuan is an Interpol officer in his early twenties who has earned numerous merits since transferring into the department. Fluent in multiple languages, he is regarded highly by his superiors. His department investigates Wayne Jenster, an internationally wanted suspect accused of smuggling, arms trafficking, and illegal-compound dealings; Jenster's diplomatic immunity makes a direct arrest difficult without conclusive evidence. 7 8

When Paradise sends the department a registration form, Zhang cautions Gao Wei against assuming that Paradise, Jenster, and the Caribbean Company are necessarily one organization. He also identifies the form's harmless questions about height and gender as a possible compliance-building or mind-control tactic. 8

Paradise Game II

Zhang enters Paradise under a fabricated wealthy-businessman identity, intending to observe the other participants without revealing his police status. He is shocked by the transition into an unfamiliar body and city, but quickly regains his composure and assesses the returning players—particularly “Qiao James,” whom he recognizes as Wayne Jenster. 11

Given 1,000 Points, Zhang initially declines to exchange for equipment because he lacks gaming experience. He later acquires Translation Tofu to read the case files, discovering that its effect is not merely visual translation but immediate comprehension of the local language. 11 12

The game’s serial-murder investigation convinces him that Paradise may be a genuine world rather than a simulation. He notes the city's uneven planning, mud, smells, social reactions, and physical detail as evidence too complex to dismiss as ordinary game design. 13

At Yenie Holy Hall, Zhang interviews Jenny, diagrams the former morgue's layout, and investigates the Crimson Curse. He subsequently recognizes that the victims’ distorted poses form clock hands, allowing the group to identify the Sinclair Theater as the next crime location. 16 17

Although initially opposed to the group's lethal vigilantism, Zhang compromises after concluding that the theater is a trap operated by corrupt police and that completing the rescue mission is necessary. 19 21

During the theater siege, Zhang helps formulate the thermite plan to collapse the chandeliers. He volunteers for the dangerous upper-level task, is shot while crossing the roof trusses, and asks the Host to deactivate his pain suppression so he can still prepare and ignite the thermite charge. 23 24

Reporting Paradise

After leaving the game, Zhang discovers that less than twenty minutes have passed on Earth despite retaining memories of a far longer experience. He privately reports to Gao Wei that Glorious Fortress may be a real city accessed through Paradise rather than a virtual simulation. 33

Gao agrees to forward Zhang's account but stresses that extraordinary claims require evidence. Zhang accepts full responsibility for his report and proposes locating fellow participant Zhou Zhi and investigating the Caribbean Company, reasoning that Paradise's use of Chinese as a common language may narrow the organizer's identity. 34

Jiangcheng contact and special mission

Zhang later meets Zhou Zhi in Jiangcheng, revealing that he is an Interpol officer and requesting Zhou's assistance as a Paradise witness. After Zhou falls asleep, Zhang secretly implants a backdoor chip in his phone to monitor future Paradise messages and provide the technical department with tracing opportunities. 48 49

Paradise subsequently offers Zhang a special role-playing mission: he must act as “Zhang Qiang,” described as Zhang Zhiyuan's brother, and provide basic medical instruction. In return, Paradise promises to deliver Wayne Jenster and evidence of his crimes to Interpol. Zhang accepts the mission despite his distrust of the organization. 50

Appearance

When visiting Zhou Zhi in Jiangcheng, Zhang deliberately adopts a conspicuous, intimidating style that makes him resemble a debt collector rather than an Interpol officer. 48

• Wine-red suit 48
• Pointed leather boots 48
• Large sunglasses 48

Personality

Zhang is analytical, observant, and highly cautious. He habitually tests assumptions, whether assessing Paradise's registration process, reading a crime scene, or evaluating the possibility that the game world is real. He remains composed under pressure, though the initial transition into Paradise pushes even his training to its limits. 8 11 13

He is strongly committed to law enforcement and national security. This initially makes him recoil from extrajudicial killings, but he becomes willing to support force against the North City Police Station after seeing its officers perpetrate atrocities. 19 30

Zhang is also pragmatic when pursuing evidence. He keeps his identity concealed among players, reports sensitive findings privately, and covertly modifies Zhou Zhi's phone to create another way to trace Paradise. 11 33 49

Abilities & Skills

Criminal Investigation

Zhang applies professional investigative reasoning to Paradise's murder cases.

• Identifies that the serial killings require resources, lookouts, and safe time rather than being the work of a lone spontaneous offender. 13
• Reconstructs the Yenie Holy Hall crime scene through photographs and a sketch of the room's layout. 16
• Deciphers the victims' posed limbs as clock hands indicating future crime locations. 17
• Recognizes the theater ambush as a trap and assesses the enemy as corrupt police rather than ordinary gang members. 21 23

Tactical Planning

Zhang can make rapid decisions during hostile operations.

• Advises against concealing the group's weapons in public because suspicious behavior would attract more attention than openly unusual attire. 13
• Helps determine that thermite can melt the chandeliers' securing points and volunteers to place it while teammates distract the enemy. 23
• Uses torn clothing to hold thermite against a chandelier chain and ignites it with the packet's magnesium strip. 24
• Guides Zhou Zhi in the use and tactical advantages of the CQ-B assault rifle during the attack on Wangshui Manor. 30

Physical and Pain Endurance

Zhang has received professional training and remains functional despite severe injury.

• Requests that the Host remove his pain suppression after being shot, judging that restored sensation will let him move more effectively. 24
• Continues the thermite operation while pursued on the roof trusses and threatened at gunpoint. 24

Languages and Cover Identity

Zhang is fluent in multiple languages and uses deception when needed for an investigation. 8

• Enters Paradise using a police-created cover as a wealthy businessman. 11
• Conceals his Interpol identity from other participants until he chooses to disclose it to Zhou Zhi. 11 49
• Is assigned the role of Zhang Qiang for a later Paradise mission. 50

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• VR goggles — the device through which Zhang enters Paradise. 11
• Translation Tofu — grants immediate comprehension of the local written language. 12
• Crossbow — carried during the theater operation; its bolts are eventually expended while Zhang is on the roof trusses. 24
• Thermite packet — used to melt the chandelier chain's securing point and create the theater fire. 23 24
• Backdoor chip and toolkit — used to modify Zhou Zhi's phone and access its stored communications. 49
• False police identification — shown to Zhou Zhi when revealing his Interpol affiliation. 49

Relationships

• Gao Wei — Zhang's superior and head of the Asian department. Gao hears Zhang's extraordinary Paradise report, agrees to forward it for review, and supports forming a task force if evidence can be obtained. 7 33 34
• Zhou Zhi — fellow Paradise participant, witness, and later contact in Jiangcheng. Zhang protects and advises Zhou in Paradise, later recruits him for assistance while secretly placing a tracking backdoor in his phone. 18 21 49
• Chaoyang / the Host — Paradise's masked administrator. Zhang distrusts him, challenges his concealment, and later accepts a special mission from Paradise because it offers a lead on Wayne Jenster. 12 24 50
• Wayne Jenster / Qiao James — Zhang's original investigative target, encountered inside Paradise under the name Qiao James. 7 11
• Jenny — nun of Yenie Holy Hall who assists Zhang's murder investigation. She later seeks him out because she believes his “friend” possesses valuable medical knowledge. 16 47
• Cui Zhenen — Interpol colleague with computer and network expertise whom Gao Wei identifies as trustworthy for the Paradise investigation. 33 34