Chapter 116: The Sole Exception |
The complex emotions and dilemmas within Guan Shan's heart at this moment were, of course, undetectable by Wei Hong.
Since the body was identified, they could proceed with further handling of it.
While Wei Hong summoned people to transport the corpse, Guan Shan received a call from his "dedicated customer service" representative, Lin Shuman.
Guan Shan found a barely usable broken stool in a corner of the ruins, brushed off the dust, and sat down. With a severed arm at his feet, he continued contemplating his life as he answered the call.
Lin Shuman said, "Leader Xia has already informed me of the situation. He can't come, but you should have resolved everything, right? Captain Lin Wu will be there shortly to coordinate with the Hai team. Leave the rest to us."
Resolved? With the way she spoke, it sounded like this wasn't her first time handling such matters...
Could it be that every time he entered the simulator's horror games, he was "resolving" certain issues or people?
It made sense why the Special Security Group held him in such high regard. To them, he was striking heavy blows against criminals, making his recruitment a natural decision.
Given that the Special Security Group didn't react negatively to his "ruthless methods," instead praising them, it was clear that their targets were exceptionally dangerous, requiring immediate neutralization.
The more Guan Shan thought about it, the more depressed he became. He had always felt something was off, but he never imagined things could go from terrifying to even more terrifying! And it was a completely different, more profound level of terror! Now, the biggest question was, "Who were the 'monsters' he killed in previous simulations, and what was the true nature of those bizarre and terrifying experiences?"
Guan Shan didn't feel pain or regret over it. Those "monsters" had always been out to kill him, and if he hadn't fought back, he'd be dead already.
It was just that now, knowing the truth, he was deeply shaken, feeling confused and at a loss.
However, some of the previous simulations had clues that could be followed…
As Guan Shan pondered, Lin Shuman on the other end of the phone hadn't heard a response for a long time and grew anxious. "Can you hear me? Is something wrong?"
Guan Shan snapped out of his thoughts, weakly replying, "I can hear you, continue."
Lin Shuman paused, noticing his low tone and seeming bad mood, and quickly asked, "Are you in trouble?"
"Trouble? No, no trouble."
Guan Shan silently added, just discovering that he might, in a sense, be a psychopathic killer…
Relieved, Lin Shuman said, "If you need anything, you can tell Captain Lin later. We'll fully cooperate."
Supporting his head with one hand, Guan Shan suddenly asked, "You seem... a bit afraid of me?"
Lin Shuman was startled by the question. In the TV shows she had seen, whenever a psychopath asked this, anyone who dared to say they were scared often ended up dead.
Quickly denying it, she said, "No! I'm just not used to talking to people, so I'm a bit nervous... Actually, I'm socially anxious..."
Socially anxious and you're a receptionist?
Guan Shan was speechless, realizing that he might already be seen as an unstable element.
"Alright, alright, I do have a question."
Guan Shan asked curiously, "Is my 200,000 subsidy only for special external personnel?"
He had thought it was hush money, but now it seemed to be a recruitment fee.
"Yes, the Special Security Group pays high salaries to its regular members, but only Captains earn over 100,000..."
Lin Shuman stammered, explaining what she knew.
Guan Shan learned that special external personnel, though officially listed as independent members under their recommenders, had powers equivalent to a team Captain.
This meant he was independent, able to act on his own.
In such a case, if something went wrong, the recommender would bear full responsibility. Hence, they would only recommend their trusted confidants.
This explained why Wei Hong said it was hard to apply for this position and why he couldn't poach him.
It seemed… Xia Lei genuinely saw great potential in him.
Lost in thought, Guan Shan ended the call and waited for Captain Lin Wu. Meanwhile, he went to find Jiang Siyan.
There was still one thing he needed to confirm.
Patients were being comforted, treated, and checked with some instruments. They were temporarily housed in tents outside the hospital, with ambulances parked along the roadside. Guan Shan also saw some patients' relatives arriving.
As one of the main victims, Jiang Siyan was in a special tent, looking disheveled and weary from his time as a mental patient, quite different from his previous polished appearance as the deputy editor of a newspaper.
Guan Shan approached, and the logistics team members made way for him. He patted Jiang Siyan on the shoulder.
"Who?! Don't you know manners..."
Jiang Siyan turned angrily, then froze seeing Guan Shan's face, "Oh, it's Guan Shan."
He smiled awkwardly, "Haha, what brings you here? Sit, sit..."
Guan Shan sat next to Jiang Siyan, saying, "There's one thing I want to confirm."
Jiang Siyan was puzzled, "What is it?"
Guan Shan asked seriously, "The person I saved from the next room and brought to the lobby, that was you, right?"
If the monsters he killed in the simulations were criminals and evildoers, then the NPCs he saved and encountered should be ordinary people or members of the Special Security Group.
He needed Jiang Siyan to confirm this point.
Jiang Siyan, thinking Guan Shan was there to threaten him again, was scared out of his wits, quickly saying, "Yes, yes, it was me. Don't worry, I swear, I'll never forget your great kindness. I'll keep my word, no regrets."
Guan Shan found Jiang Siyan's fear amusing and deliberately asked sinisterly, "So you saw everything?"
Jiang Siyan nodded, then quickly shook his head, "No, no, I saw nothing!"
Terrified, he pleaded, "I really know my mistake. Please spare me..."
Had he known, he wouldn't have caused trouble, saving himself so much suffering.
Guan Shan didn't intend to torment Jiang Siyan further, shaking his head, "I didn't put you in this hospital. You should think about not sparing that master."
As he exited the tent, he saw a team disembarking from police cars, led by a righteous-looking young man.
That must be Lin Wu.
Instead of approaching, Guan Shan paused, lost in thought.
The BOSS were evildoers, the NPCs were bystanders, all altered by the simulator… meaning the simulator had always been changing reality.
But there was one exception.
An exception, the only one unaffected by the simulator.