Forced Assignment

"Vehicle rewards are extremely rare [Choices]. This [Choice] requires at least twenty participants."

"Anyone willing to volunteer, step forward."

"If we don't have twenty, I'll assign the rest by force."

Shen Sui's voice was warm and easygoing, like a spring breeze, yet his utterly calm tone delivered an order that allowed no refusal.

Countless survivors' expressions darkened. They were all people who hadn't participated in a [Choice] for a long time.

But this time, Shen Sui clearly intended to force them to participate.

They had joined the Survival Squad and received the protection of Transcendents.

To expect all that without giving anything in return...

How could that be possible?

This was precisely the main reason Shen Sui was willing to establish the Survival Squad and bring ordinary people along.

In this day and age.

People were the best resource!

After all, only people could participate in [Choices].

The more people a group brought along, the greater its chances of encountering a [Choice].

A lone wolf might survive in the wilderness for three to five months without encountering a single [Choice]. That was why lone wolves were practically extinct in this day and age. Even the most antisocial people would find a squad to join.

"Also..."

"Anyone participating in this [Choice] will receive one unit of food."

Shen Sui spoke again, and many of the starving survivors' eyes suddenly lit up. Some even grew bloodshot.

One unit of food was equivalent to a piece of bread, a steamed bun, or a packet of instant noodles.

Many of them were on the verge of starving to death!

If they could get one unit of food...

They wouldn't die anytime soon!

It was practically the same as participating in one [Choice] and receiving two rewards!

A vehicle and food!

It would also reset their record of repeatedly skipping [Choices], allowing them to avoid being forcibly selected the next time they encountered a mandatory [Choice].

This...

This was practically a guaranteed win!

Shen Sui...

He really was a good man!

Almost instantly, someone stepped forward in excitement.

"I'll participate!"

"Count me in!"

"Fuck it, I'm going all in! It's just a hand, right? I don't need it!"

"Shit, I can live without a hand!"

Soon.

More than a dozen people had stepped forward, and there was even a trace of gratitude in their eyes as they looked at Shen Sui...

Watching this unfold, Lin Yu couldn't help nodding slightly, amusement in his gaze.

He had to admit that Shen Sui's methods were exceptionally clever.

First the stick, then the carrot.

That was all it took to make these survivors deeply grateful.

Even the carrot came from supplies the survivors handed over after participating in [Choices].

Not only did they see nothing wrong with it, they actually thanked Shen Sui.

Still...

They had never had a choice to begin with.

Lin Yu looked at the screen of light, his eyes brimming with interest as well. If he could get a vehicle...

His chances of surviving a crisis would double!

No, not merely double.

They would increase severalfold!

He certainly wouldn't choose Option A and lose a hand.

As for Option B...

The Demon Spirit Rabbit...

Without hesitation, Lin Yu immediately used another Analysis attempt to analyze Option B!

He gained three more Analysis attempts every day at midnight.

And a vehicle was worth spending one attempt!

[Analyzing the Demon Spirit Rabbit...]

[Analysis complete.]

[The Demon Spirit Rabbit is a common creature on the Vilenos Continent. It reproduces extremely quickly and has delicious meat. At one point in history, it caused a Demon Spirit Rabbit crisis, but its individual combat strength is low.]

[The Demon Spirit Rabbit is extremely fast, capable of running at 100 kilometers per hour. Given your current condition, your probability of defeating it in a race is zero.]

[Considering in depth...]

[Before the race begins, the Demon Spirit Rabbit cannot move due to the rules. If you capture it at this time, it will be completely at your mercy. This is your only hope of winning.]

[But note: do not kill the Demon Spirit Rabbit. Killing a contestant is punishable by death in this [Choice].]

[Failing to win is also punishable by death.]

After reading the information before him.

Lin Yu froze, question marks practically appearing above his head.

Huh?

That works too?

Kidnap the Demon Spirit Rabbit before the race even starts?

This in-depth consideration really was...

Fucking awesome.

Sure, the way to win was a little dirty, a little underhanded...

But that didn't matter!

Winning was what counted!

Without a second thought, Lin Yu walked straight forward and stated that he wanted to participate too.

Seeing Lin Yu step forward, Shen Sui, who remembered him vaguely, let his gaze linger on him for one extra second. But it was only one second before he turned back to the crowd.

Yellow Hair, however, frowned slightly and called out to Lin Yu:

"Hey, since you've got some sense, let me give you a warning. Don't do anything fucking stupid. A hand matters way more than a vehicle. You're different from these people. You still have a choice!"

Lin Yu glanced at Yellow Hair and shook his head.

"No, I choose B."

As soon as he spoke.

Lin Yu's name immediately appeared after [Choice] B on the screen of light.

At that instant!!!

Everyone turned toward him in shock!

Whether they were participating in the [Choice], standing among the survivors, or watching the show like Yellow Hair, Shen Sui, and the other Transcendents, none of them had expected Lin Yu to be so bold!

He had chosen B!

A race against a rabbit!

Wasn't that suicide?

Yellow Hair looked up at the screen of light. His mouth fell slightly open, his cheek twitched hard, and he gave Lin Yu a thumbs-up.

"Shit... you've got some fucking balls. Racing a rabbit? You really are tired of living!"

Shen Sui also gave Lin Yu a long look before saying:

"Eat your bread before you participate. Go to your death with a full stomach."

Lin Yu smiled faintly.

"I'm already here, so why not take a gamble? What if I lose... but don't get erased?"

"What if..."

"I win?"

Yellow Hair couldn't help swearing.

"Fuck, he's a gambler too!"

The other survivors looked at Lin Yu as though he were an idiot.

What if?

For there to be a one-in-ten-thousand chance, there had to be a one.

This was zero in ten thousand!

If Lin Yu hadn't participated in a [Choice] for a long time and was about to be forced into one, everyone could have understood. Losing a hand really was cruel, so he might as well take a gamble.

But!

Lin Yu had clearly just completed a choice. He wasn't anywhere near the end of his rope.

Yet he insisted on throwing his life away now.

Wasn't he sick in the head?

Zhou Mei hid in the crowd, her eyes filled with venom as she watched Lin Yu. She sneered under her breath.

"So he's an idiot. No wonder he didn't react to my seduction. Good riddance if he dies in there!"

At that thought, Zhou Mei felt much better.

It wasn't that she lacked charm.

Lin Yu simply wasn't a normal man!

Faced with their astonished, mocking, and faintly sympathetic gazes.

Lin Yu remained completely unmoved.

Shen Sui glanced at the screen of light in the air and said:

"We have seventeen now. We need three more."

A stir ran through the crowd.

Finally.

Three more people who hadn't participated in a [Choice] for a long time gritted their teeth and volunteered. They understood that, for them, volunteering for today's [Choice] was their best opportunity!

All they had to do was lose a hand, and they would receive a vehicle and food!

If they chose not to participate, their ranking among the survivors would remain at the bottom. The next time they were forced to participate, they might not be this lucky.

Once everyone was gathered.

Shen Sui said evenly:

"Make your choices."

Everyone nodded, immediately looking at the screen of light and speaking.

"I choose A."

"I choose A too."

"A."

"Same here!"

Nineteen people, without exception.

All chose A.

They were ready to trade a hand for a vehicle.

Only Lin Yu stood alone to one side, having chosen B.

At that moment.

Lin Yu looked even more pitiful, as though he had been ostracized. Everyone gazed at him sympathetically, even believing that his death was already certain!

Only Lin Yu understood...

He was the only winner!