Site Mission

No. 0 Mutation Cards? What are those? Aren't I supposed to collect Nos. 1-10?

Lin Ye did not rush to redeem it. He spent another hour looking at the computer, and only after confirming that he really could not understand it did he choose to redeem the No. 0 Mutation Card.

[No. 0 Mutation Card]

[This is a special Mutation Card]

[Note: collect cards Nos. 1-10 for a special surprise]

I thought the system description would have some clues. If I'd known, I wouldn't have rushed to redeem it.

Lin Ye found himself missing the puzzle minigame that came with the laptop.

He had played it for over fifty minutes just now. It was pretty fun.

Lin Ye looked at the system. He still had two notifications he had not read.

[Dr. Caroline's Thank-you Gift]

[This is Dr. Caroline's heartfelt thanks to the person who saved her life. Please use it well]

[Note: as a young woman, she agonized for a long time before settling on this thank-you gift]

Dr. Caroline's thank-you gift was a long gift box about the size of a shoebox, currently sitting in the center of the shelter.

Lin Ye untied the elaborate pink ribbon and opened the lid.

Inside lay an exquisitely crafted silver pistol.

He called it a pistol because it had only one grip, but its barrel was really long for a pistol, almost approaching that of a shorter submachine gun.

[CL0 Psionic Pistol]

[This is a new energy weapon developed with Dr. Caroline's involvement. Once loaded with flesh and blood, the pistol automatically absorbs Psionic Energy from the surrounding environment to mutate bullets]

[Note: Mom never has to worry about me running out of bullets again]

Lin Ye was very satisfied with this gift.

The CL0's magazine was a flesh-and-blood extractor. Placed on a corpse, it could automatically extract the essence of its flesh and blood. Lin Ye also discovered a detachable component in the gun's stock, containing a translucent crystal.

[Tier 1 Psionic Crystal]

[Can supply equipment with Psionic Energy]

[Note: energy, the true hard currency]

"Damn, it doesn't need bullets, but it needs Psionic Crystals. Why does that sound even more expensive?"

Good thing I have the blueprint for crafting Tier 1 Psionic Crystals.

After playing around with the pistol for a while, Lin Ye looked at the last system notification.

[All or Nothing]

[Going all in is an art. Even the most fanatical gambler would marvel at your recklessness and courage. Struggle to your heart's content before despair arrives]

[Note: did you think I was joking?]

If it hadn't been a simulation, would I really have shot Caroline?

Looking at this title, Lin Ye could not help wondering.

After eating half an energy bar and pouring some hot water over the Abyssal Egg, Lin Ye continued studying the Splicing humanoid mural, though this time he put on the Cross Necklace intermittently.

This would both improve his perception and help him get used to the extraordinary senses he had while wearing the Cross Necklace.

He had also tried wearing the Psychic Ring, but there was no so-called Psionic Energy in the shelter. This might have had something to do with the shelter's "absolute safety" attribute. Psionic Energy caused living things to mutate, and long-term exposure to an environment containing it was not necessarily a good thing.

Time passed quickly when he focused on one thing. In the blink of an eye, it was almost time for the nighttime activity again.

A large number of newcomers in the group had decided to take part in tonight's activity. After all, opening chests was only guaranteed to yield shelter upgrade blueprints during the first three days. No one knew the odds of getting a blueprint from a chest after those three days. Anyone who was still normal and did not want to die would not miss this opportunity.

Just then, the radio by his bed suddenly began playing cheerful music.

"Welcome to City Voice Broadcast. We interrupt our programming for a prize quiz. I'm everyone's favorite announcer, Miss Y."

"Mr. Lin in Room 304 of the Doomsday Apartment, can you guess what tonight's nighttime activity will be?"

"A. Maze exploration B. Revelry feast C. War front D. Site Mission"

...No way.

Lin Ye felt a deep malice. He had not expected the system to change the mission on the third day.

This was actually a matter of choosing.

Those who chose to participate on the first day were the brave. They took risks, pulled ahead in progress, and received their due rewards.

Those who chose to participate on the second day were the wise. They gained a safe, stable opportunity to explore.

Those who chose to participate on the third day were the weak. They could only make one final gamble.

Anyone who still did not participate on the third day would most likely be dead.

No one deserved a fourth chance.

Lin Ye suddenly had a strong premonition that shelter upgrade blueprints would become extremely difficult to obtain after three days. This nighttime activity would be the last chance.

"I choose D."

Lin Ye liked number four. Four was his lucky number.

"Correct. Your prize has been sent. Please check for it."

Lin Ye opened the communications interface and sent a message.

Lin Ye: I just got word that tonight's nighttime activity will change to a Site Mission. After today, shelter upgrade blueprints will be extremely difficult to obtain (don't ask me what a Site Mission is. I don't know either).

In truth, Lin Ye did not know whether his guess was right, but he decided to stake his reputation on sending this message.

He could actually have sounded less certain, but he did not like compromises. All or nothing. There was no third option.

"Huh? Boss, that's not something to joke about."

"No way! I've spent two days preparing to explore the maze. I even got a Red Key."

"We'll know soon enough whether it's a joke. The boss has never given us false information."

"Doesn't that mean we're screwed? I've never even killed a chicken. I was just waiting to find a locked room and sneak in to open a chest."

"How exciting. I already thought exploring the maze was boring."

"Looking for nutrient solution and Mutation Cards! Price negotiable!"

"The system notification isn't even out yet. Aren't you afraid you're being tricked?"

"You think the boss has nothing better to do than trick you? By the time the system notification comes out, it'll be too late!"

The prize for the quiz was a key.

[Universal Key]

[Can be used to open certain doors (1/1)]

[Note: not quite that universal]

Lin Ye's private messages were about to blow up again. He sent a few replies to people he was on good terms with, then began packing his things.

[Nighttime activity begins]

[Tonight's activity: Site Mission]

[Join?]

"Join."

[09:59]

"Shit, the boss really was right."

"It's over. We're dead."

"We're dead if we don't participate."

"Since it's come to this, we might as well give it a shot!"

"Do you think the boss could be wrong? Could it change back to maze exploration tomorrow, with the odds of getting shelter upgrade blueprints not dropping by much?"

"What do you want me to say? I can tell you whatever you want to hear. I've already gotten a blueprint anyway."

"That hurt, bro."

"Site Mission? Does that mean we're going to a train station for a mission?"

"Hard to say. A site doesn't have to be a train station."

"Boss? Goose Leg Bro? Could you analyze this for us?"

"The boss already said he doesn't know. What the hell are you asking for?"

"I'm freaking out!"

[00:01]

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