Chapter 3

After the tall man announced, a message appeared in everyone's mind out of nowhere.

[Rules have been explained, new recruit tasks are about to begin.]

[New recruit tasks are optional.]

[Please make your choice within one minute. The task will start five minutes after your choice.]

"What is this?"

Everyone was at a loss due to the sudden appearance of the message, as it was hard to describe the feeling—it was neither text nor voice, but pure information.

"The system will automatically send task information to our minds. You can choose how to present it, such as a computer interface or voice, but only you can see it."

After saying this, the tall man's originally bored expression turned serious.

"You already know that the first task is not mandatory and can be refused. Now, make your choice. Will you participate or not? If you choose not to participate, the system will give you instructions to leave the platform."

"Will you also participate in this new recruit task?"

At this moment, a young woman suddenly asked the tall man.

"Yes, I will participate as a senior with the new recruits, but the task difficulty will be higher compared to if the new recruits were alone."

"In other words, having guidance will increase the task difficulty, while not having guidance will decrease it."

"Exactly."

The conversation between the young woman and the tall man made those who hadn't understood realize the significance of this choice. The time given for everyone to choose was only one minute, and it was quickly coming to an end. Some people had already followed the tall man's guidance and left the platform. In the end, four people chose to stay and participate.

The tall man scrutinized these four people with a sharp gaze. One was the young woman who had asked the question, another was the man with glasses whom he had scolded, and another was a middle-aged man with a beer belly. The last one, who held his gaze the longest, was a young boy sitting on the ground, wearing a hospital gown, with a pale, sickly complexion.

From his perception, he could clearly feel the boy's weakening aura. Although the system would revive and heal all injuries, it wouldn't address the long-term physical weakness caused by chronic illness.

This boy, who stood out from the others, also caught the attention of the others, as he seemed unable to even stand.

"Hey! Are you sure you want to participate?"

The tall man walked up to the boy.

"..."

However, he received no response.

"You!"

The tall man, who was not known for his patience, reached out to grab the boy.

"Wait!"

The young woman suddenly intervened, blocking the boy's body.

The tall man, who was stopped, grunted but did not take further action.

"Are you okay?"

The young woman asked the boy, her gentle voice seeming to calm the mind.

The boy raised his head somewhat dully, still saying nothing. The intense headache and dizziness made it impossible for him to speak.

At this moment—

[Selection ended, task will begin in five minutes.]

"Tch. If you want to die, be my guest."

The tall man pursed his lips in displeasure.

"Alright, we will complete the task together. Let's introduce ourselves first. You can call me Old Hu. You'll know my strength once the task starts. Introduce yourselves—name, occupation, and specialties. You with the glasses, start."

The man with glasses, who was named, hesitated before quickly responding.

"I, I'm Lang Shuai, a college student. Specialty... does making crafts count?"

"Next."

Old Hu didn't respond and nodded at the middle-aged man.

"I'm Qiu Wei, a deputy manager of a small company. Specialty... specialty..."

"Alright, it's obvious you have no specialty."

Old Hu waved his hand, interrupting Qiu Wei.

"You there, the kind lady, what about you?"

"My name is Qiu Hua."

"Looking at your young age, you must be a recent college graduate with no specialty, right?"

Perhaps because of their previous interaction, Old Hu seemed to have no hope for Qiu Hua.

"Although I appreciate you calling me young, my daughter is already in high school."

Qiu Hua, who was elegantly touching her face, suddenly said something surprising.

"What?"

Lang Shuai let out a strange cry.

"Huh?"

Qiu Wei's mouth dropped open.

"Damn."

Even the usually cold Old Hu swore.

Qiu Hua, who was being stared at with shock, was unaffected, perhaps because she often encountered such situations.

"Although it's not a specialty, I used to participate in sports clubs and have some confidence in my physical strength."

Qiu Hua's words surprised everyone again.

Old Hu re-examined her carefully. Her beautiful appearance, which was hard to age, and her good figure, which was not hidden by her simple dress, along with her long hair braided into a braid over her shoulder, and her delicate features, gave her an overall dignified and mature aura. However, through these appearances, Old Hu could sense her strong aura, which, although still within the realm of ordinary people, was much stronger than any of the new recruits he had seen before.

Surprisingly, this was a highly qualified new recruit.

"Very good."

Old Hu nodded in satisfaction and then turned to the last boy.

"It's your turn."

"..."

Just as Old Hu was about to lose patience, Qiu Hua went over and gently placed her hands on the boy's shoulders.

"What's your name? Can you tell us?"

"N-n-name..."

Perhaps Qiu Hua's gentle voice had an effect, and the boy finally showed a reaction.

"I..."

The boy struggled to open his mouth, and his previously hazy consciousness finally responded.

(Name...)

This word seemed to pull back a curtain on an important memory. The young woman in front of him became blurry, as if overlapping with another face.

"Si Ji."

That was the name he had received from someone.

At the moment he recalled this name, his chaotic consciousness, like tangled threads, began to converge.

"Is it Si Ji? What a nice name."

Si Ji's blurry vision cleared, and he saw that the person in front of him was not the one from his memory but a woman named Qiu Hua.

"...Thank you."

"Can you stand up?"

"Um."

With Qiu Hua's support, Si Ji stood up again, but the weakness throughout his body made it seem like he would fall at any moment.

"What's the point of just a name! Forget it. You look like someone who has been bedridden for a long time, don't you?"

Old Hu's face showed dissatisfaction.

"I don't know."

Si Ji shook his head.

"What do you mean? Are you telling me you have amnesia?"

Old Hu's expression was indescribable.

"I don't know, I don't remember..."

Si Ji's eyes were unfocused, as if they had no focus.

Who am I? What did I do before? What was I doing a moment ago? He couldn't remember any of it. The only thing he could recall was his name, and...

"Ugh!"

At the moment he delved deeper into his thoughts, his head felt like it was being torn apart, and at the same time, he seemed to hear the agonized screams of countless people, the cries of pain, and the countless unspoken laments.

"Are you okay?"

Qiu Hua's gentle voice brought Si Ji back to his senses. He realized he was leaning on her, and if not for her, he would have fallen again.

"..."

Si Ji looked at Qiu Hua but couldn't speak, though his legs had regained some strength.

"Tch, I can't stand it. I'm saying this upfront, I won't give you special treatment, so don't die."

"Thank you."

Si Ji's response was abrupt, but he sensed something else in the man's angry face.

"Hmph. Take care of yourself."

Shortly after everyone's introductions, the system's message appeared in everyone's mind, announcing the start of the task.