Return to the Real World

Return to the Real World

After a full hour, Li Wei closed the green book in his hands. His expression changed several times before a faint smile finally appeared. If not for the other people nearby, he might have laughed out loud.

"So that's how it is. A world where danger and opportunity coexist, and where a person can become a god?" There were not many words in the green book, but they answered many of Li Wei's questions.

This truly was not the real world. Even the person who had written this green book probably did not know exactly what this place was. However, it was a space that genuinely existed. This world recruited people from reality by mailing packages. As long as someone signed their name on the "contract," namely the Yellow Paper, it meant they had become a member of the Shadow World.

All newcomers would undergo a mission called the "Initial Trial." This mission was not fixed, but its setting was always based on the world of some game from reality.

Newcomers relied on the "Initial Trial" missions to familiarize themselves with and improve their abilities. However, the vast majority voluntarily abandoned their missions when they encountered danger. Only a small number completed the entire scenario.

Li Wei's method of changing the Initial Trial's storyline, meanwhile, was something few people could accomplish.

According to the green book, the Initial Trial was graded from low to high as E, D, C, B, A, and S based on the final completion rate. Most people could only receive the lowest rating, E-Rank, and gain only 100 points. A D-Rank rating granted one attribute point and 200 points. Because Li Wei had changed the storyline and completed several additional missions, he received an A-Rank rating, earning five attribute points and the corresponding points. As for the highest S-Rank rating, the green book contained no record of it, though its rewards were presumably the greatest.

After newcomers experienced the Initial Trial, what awaited them would be a true world of slaughter. The green book made it clear: the survival rate for newcomers passing the Initial Trial was around 97%, but afterward, the survival rate plummeted.

Every person had to enter the next game scenario within seven days. It was mandatory, whether they wanted to or not. According to the green book's data, the survival rate for the second scenario mission was only 10%.

After that, the survival rate would gradually rise, but it would absolutely never be as "safe" as the Initial Trial.

"Want to survive in this world? There is only one path: keep growing stronger. The weak have only one road ahead of them—death. And learn to allocate your precious attribute points wisely. You will never have enough of them!"

These were the words on the final page of the green book, and Li Wei deeply agreed with them.

He summoned the Yellow Paper and focused on his own information.

Number 1987: Human. Strength 4, Agility 5, Spirit 9, Constitution 3. Overall rating: F. Increasing any of the four basic attributes by one point requires 1 basic attribute point or 2,000 points!

Spirit has reached the threshold of the first stage. Advancement requires 1 basic attribute point or 10,000 points. Advance?

Li Wei remained expressionless. After thinking for a moment, he made his decision. "Use one basic attribute point to increase Spirit by one point!"

It felt as though a stream of clear spring water had poured into the top of his head. Li Wei felt much clearer mentally, though he could not say exactly what had changed. In any case, he seemed different from before.

Spirit has reached 10 points. As one of the four attributes has reached the second stage, overall rating has risen to E-Rank!

Li Wei nodded in satisfaction. He did not intend to use his remaining attribute points or points yet. He still had not figured out what other uses they might have, so it was better to save them for now.

The Yellow Paper in his hand was an item unique to this world. Everyone here had one, and it was also the "key" to traveling between this place and the real world.

With a swipe of his finger across the Yellow Paper, a mirror-like ripple appeared in the air. Li Wei did not hesitate and stepped inside.

The next moment, Li Wei returned to his room.

Nothing in the room had changed from when he left. Even the tea he had brewed earlier on the table was still faintly steaming. He checked the time. Only ten minutes had passed.

It was simply incredible. If the Yellow Paper were not still in his hand, Li Wei might have believed it had all been a dream.

In Shadow Street, this Yellow Paper had another name: "butler."

Li Wei thought about it and found the name quite fitting. It came when called and left when dismissed. It could store up to three cubic meters of items, display mission information, and served as the key to returning to the real world. Its only minor drawback was that returning to reality with it cost ten points.

After putting away the "butler," Li Wei lay down on his bed. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Before long, he fell into a deep sleep.

It was not until the next morning that Li Wei was awakened by his alarm. As usual, he did several dozen push-ups before setting off for work.

The city traffic was as terrible as ever. After enormous effort, he squeezed onto a bus packed like a sardine can. Li Wei grabbed a handrail, closed his eyes, and rested.

This was what every office worker in the city had to endure each day. By the time he finally reached the company, Li Wei was already worn out. The moment he entered the office, he sensed something different from usual.

All his coworkers sat quietly at their desks, without their usual chatter. Fat Pig Zhang wore a suit that barely fit him and was wiping sweat from his forehead. When he saw Li Wei, his face immediately darkened.

Pointing at the clock on the wall, Fat Pig Zhang shouted, "Li Wei, look what time it is! You loaf around all day long. The company rule says work starts at eight. Are you the only special one in the entire company?"

The clock read 8:05. Li Wei glanced at his watch and frowned. Clearly, the company clock had been set a few minutes fast.

There was no need to ask who had done it!

Suppressing his anger, Li Wei looked coldly at the fat man before him. Why was this man always targeting him? Still, he was Li Wei's direct supervisor. Unless he quit this company, there was not much he could do to him.

"In twenty minutes, an administrative assistant from headquarters will come to inspect our work. Bring me yesterday's budget proposal. We need to discuss it together in a meeting!"

Fat Pig Zhang was somewhat surprised that Li Wei had not retorted, but a mocking gleam soon flashed through his eyes. Without giving Li Wei time to react, he turned and walked out.

Only after he had left the office did the other coworkers let out long breaths.

"The budget proposal was only mentioned before we got off work yesterday. How could they possibly want it the next day? Brother Li, Fat Pig Zhang is obviously targeting you!"

"He came over first thing in the morning. I knew he was up to no good!"

Several coworkers who were close to Li Wei took turns comforting him. They all knew that no one could prepare such a detailed budget proposal in so little time. Even if several people worked on it together, there would not be enough time.

How could Li Wei not know that? This time, he was certain that Fat Pig Zhang wanted to drive him out. But why?

Suddenly, inspiration struck him. A few days ago, he had accidentally overheard someone saying that headquarters would send people to evaluate the senior management of each branch. A number of people would likely be removed from their positions. Could it be because of that?

Even so, what did it have to do with him?

Li Wei turned on his computer. He knew time was tight. Twenty minutes was not long, but writing a detailed budget proposal in that time was practically impossible. Fortunately, he already had some ideas for the proposal. Now, he could only do his best to finish it.

Seeing Li Wei begin working frantically, the coworkers around him all shook their heads. They knew very well that even if a few more people joined in, they would not be able to complete the task.

A detailed budget proposal involved factors from every aspect. Even copying one out in twenty minutes would probably be too late.

"If he manages to finish it, it really would be a miracle!" A coworker who usually got along well with Li Wei shook his head with a face full of regret.