Final Preparations

"It was time to gather some new information," Xia Lun thought.

He opened the safe, took out the black notebook, flipped past the "Target Page" and the "Foresight Club Page," chose a completely blank page, and wrote "The Game and the Real World" at the top.

"1. There is a subtle connection and correspondence between the game and the real world. After I met 'Geliide' in the first round of the scenario, I also encountered the only daughter of Chairman Bird of Jade Pharmaceuticals in reality. The two look remarkably alike, but the real Geliide is younger.

"2. Aside from their corresponding names and similar appearances, Geliide's relationships in the scenario also seem to have counterparts in reality. For example, both of their fathers are Bird, and both fathers seem to have met with misfortune.

"3. Besides these strange correspondences, what makes me suspicious is the timing. Why did the real Geliide come looking for me the very next day after I met Geliide in the scenario? Was it purely a coincidence, or was there some causal connection between the two?"

Xia Lun frowned slightly and directly activated Heightened Focus for a round of brainstorming. Then he picked up his pen and rapidly continued writing, following his instincts.

"4. According to the Information Panel, the Snail Statue provides 'attraction.' Perhaps after I encountered 'Geliide' in the scenario, the 'attraction' between her and me increased, which is why I also met her in reality.

"Rationally speaking, the logic behind this analogy is utterly unscientific. It is practically as far-fetched as the Sympathetic Law believed in by primitive people—absurd and laughable. Yet for now, this line of reasoning does explain itself."

Xia Lun paused for a moment, then drew a line beneath the word "attraction" for emphasis.

"But no matter what, one point is certain: some law different from common sense and ordinary logic must be at work behind these events. I need to find it and try to make use of it."

"5. In the Information Panel's description of the Foresight Club symbol, there was a reference to 'calling individuals from another dimension and occupying vessels.' I have a feeling that this is inseparably connected to the phenomena above, as well as attraction—if I want to deal with the Foresight Club, I need to understand the relevant laws as thoroughly as possible."

He paused once more, then changed direction with his pen.

"6. Addendum: Although Special Memory appears no different from reality or the scenario at first glance, the course of events there is extremely hasty, even absurd, and people's reactions are strange as well. In short, they do not seem like normal humans—perhaps because Special Memory is, after all, only a dream."

He stopped writing.

Based on the information he currently possessed, that was all he could deduce. To make further deductions, he would need to gather more information.

Xia Lun took a deep breath to ease his mind, then set down the fountain pen and returned it to its case. After that, he picked up the black notebook and locked it back in the safe.

"I'll rest for a bit. The scenario refreshes tomorrow night, so I need to prepare the things I'll need for the second round." He stretched, took a quick shower, and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, Xia Lun got up on schedule and began a busy day.

Thanks to the work he had arranged in advance for others while reliving the dream specialization memory of Nonhuman Toughness a few days earlier, he saved a great deal of time. Even so, it took Xia Lun nearly eighteen hours to prepare everything he needed.

Midnight. Basement. One hour remained until the instance cooldown ended.

Cool-toned light shone down from above, illuminating the somewhat cramped basement. The second hand of the wall clock ticked forward one second at a time, making a "click, click" sound.

Bang!

Xia Lun slid the bolt into place on the basement door, carefully picked up the iron box from the floor, and placed it on the table.

Quite a few things had already been laid out on the table: milky-white Underwater Breathing Potions, a roll of white plastic film, tubes of high-energy nutrient paste marked with laboratory serial numbers, lighting equipment, rope, and a large pile of bullets.

Besides those, there was also a lighter and a locked little box at the edge of the table.

"That should be everything," Xia Lun muttered.

With a thought, he manifested the Voidwood Box on the table and began placing items inside.

First came the nutrient paste, then the plastic film. Next, he placed the Underwater Breathing Potions between them, and finally stuffed the rope and flashlight into the gaps—at this point, roughly half the box remained empty.

"There's quite a lot of room." He shook his head, then opened the iron box.

The lid slowly lifted, revealing what was inside—detonators, explosives, and blasting devices!

According to his original plan, Xia Lun had intended to obtain military-grade shaped charges. As explosives went, they had practically no drawbacks—easy to carry, easy to conceal, stable, safe, and extremely powerful.

However, a few days ago, an explosion with severe political repercussions had occurred in the Herno Strait region. An auditing team sent by the Grand Alliance had been blown to death inside the parliament building with shaped charges, so Xia Lun's channels for purchasing military-grade shaped charges had been temporarily cut off.

Left with no choice, he could only select from several types of explosives, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

After careful consideration, Xia Lun ultimately chose mining explosives with increased payloads. Compared to military shaped charges, mining explosives were no less powerful, but they were considerably more difficult to use. Not only could they easily injure the user, but they also required specialized detonators.

Fortunately, he had extensive experience using mining explosives and could be considered half an expert.

Furthermore, compared with military shaped charges, mining explosives took up more space. He could probably only fit one bundle of explosives and a matching detonator into the Voidwood Box.

Xia Lun picked up a bundle of mining explosives and carefully placed it along the edge of the box. He then set the matching blasting caps and fuse wires beside the explosives.

There was no longer any large continuous space left in the box, so he directly grabbed a handful of bullets and, as though playing Tetris, inserted them one by one into every available gap.

Several minutes later, Xia Lun had packed the entire wooden box solid with bullets. There was not even the slightest bit of space remaining inside.

"This time, I have plenty of bullets. I've got sixty rounds in reserve alone, so I won't have to worry about running out anymore."

He nodded in satisfaction, then snapped his fingers.

Snap.

With the crisp snap, the entire wooden box turned into a scattering of light particles and entered his personal storage space.

After finishing his preparations, Xia Lun closed the iron box containing the explosives and carefully moved it beneath the table. Then he opened the locked little box at the table's edge.

—Inside were four Snail Statues.

Without the slightest hesitation, he picked up the lighter and set all four Snail Statues on fire.

Boom!

The instant the flames touched the Snail Statues, their slick, wormlike forms erupted into crimson fire, and the dazzling light suddenly illuminated the entire basement.

Amid the rising black smoke, Xia Lun seemed to hear hysterical screams, one after another, as though invisible spirits were wandering and searching through the billowing darkness.

He raised his head, golden floating flames reflecting in his black eyes.

The next moment, he began reciting his wish.

"I wish to find an opportunity with low side effects that can greatly extend the duration of my high-quality survival, or an opportunity to completely cure my curse."

The flames rose and swirled. Xia Lun vaguely sensed that some invisible influence had already begun exerting its effect.

He continued chanting his wish twice more, then stopped—at the instant he fell silent, the golden waves of flame that had been intensifying suddenly vanished, like a candle snuffed out by a hand!

Gray ash rustled down, and the basement returned once more to its cool-toned lighting.

"It should have worked."

Xia Lun looked around, then shook his head and climbed into the game pod.

The next instant, darkness washed over his consciousness again, followed by that familiar sensation of cold trembling.

The second round of the scenario had begun.