Chapter 2

In the darkness, Xiaoran felt as if he had a long dream, like an observer learning about the history and trends of this world from a textbook. Just as he was about to delve deeper, he woke up from the dreamlike state. The moment Xiaoran opened his eyes, he found himself in a room less than five square meters in size. The clean and bright room contained only a bed, a wardrobe, and a table, simple yet warm.

Before he could get up to take a good look at his surroundings, he felt a vibration on his left wrist. Raising his hand, he saw that his previously empty wrist now had a smartwatch that did not look particularly noticeable. The screen already displayed a series of messages.

"Mission World: Gundam SEED"

"This mission is a group-based rookie mission, difficulty: unknown"

"This mission will issue a group-based rookie main mission, with 100 rookies participating. Completing three main missions will grant 1000 basic reward points and the option to return to the fortress."

"Main Mission 1: Safely escape the Heliopolis satellite colony within eight hours (not completed)."

"Failure penalty: None."

"Main Mission 2: Will be unlocked after completing Main Mission 1."

"Language synchronization with this world has been completed. All languages and texts in this world will automatically be converted to your native language."

"Basic cognition of this world (temporary) has been obtained, will be cleared upon leaving this world."

"This world is a rookie world. You can obtain a new mobile suit in this world, but you will be forced to accept side missions based on the rank of the mobile suit obtained. Failure to complete the side mission will result in the loss of the current mobile suit and deduction of battle points based on the mobile suit's rank. Those with negative battle points... will be eliminated!"

"Warning: Do not disclose any information about the Prometheus Fortress to any residents of this world. Each statement will result in a deduction of 500 battle points. Those with insufficient battle points will be eliminated."

"Your current battle points: 0"

"Character data initialization: Real Zone 678. Your attributes are as follows: Accuracy (2), Agility (1), Reflex (6), Spirit (8), Constitution (3). All participants will have their fatal points removed, including the heart and head, which will become vital points. Vital points will not result in immediate death when attacked, but will deduct double the endurance value. Endurance value is calculated as Constitution × 10. Your current endurance value is 30. When endurance value reaches zero, you will die. Below 10, negative effects will occur. Below 5, you will be unable to perform any activities. When spirit reaches zero, you will fall unconscious."

After Xiaoran finished reading the information on the watch screen, the text changed to a normal time display as if it knew he had finished reading. However, in Xiaoran's eyes, an eight-hour countdown had already started, ticking away second by second. At the bottom of the watch screen, there were two options: Attributes and Missions, which only the watch owner could see.

Rubbing his head, which felt slightly swollen from the system's input of the basic history and development of the Gundam SEED world, Xiaoran exhaled. "The system indeed won't let us enter this world without any information. Basic information such as the division of forces, major events in this world, and the location and basic identity will still be provided."

"The information known to all participants should be the same, matching the external perception of an ordinary person in this world. The only difference is the different identities assigned to us, and we don't know each other's identities. No, that's not entirely correct; in special circumstances, only I will know theirs."

"For other participants, there is no such thing as a plot or story. They are only passively involved in the mission. But I am different. I can rely on my familiarity with the plot and its development to gain greater benefits while completing the mission."

Xiaoran suppressed his excitement and chuckled. "Of course, there is no penalty for mission failure. After eight hours, if I don't safely leave Heliopolis, death is the only outcome. Once ZAFT starts the attack, the colony will disintegrate in no more than six hours, and humans have no chance of survival in such a situation."

Getting out of bed, Xiaoran first opened the wardrobe and chose a set of ordinary casual clothes to replace his Doraemon pajamas. He thought, "There are currently four ways to safely leave Heliopolis within eight hours."

"First, buy a ticket to Earth without any regard for anything else. However, this would mean losing the opportunity to interact with the main characters."

"Second, follow the plot and enter the escape pod. This is probably the most common method, and most of the 100 participants will likely end up on this path. But choosing to enter the escape pod, unless you get extremely lucky and end up in the one Fllay rides, it will be difficult to join the plot and gain more benefits. You might even be rescued by a different country's rescue team, which could be good if it's Orb or PLANT, but if it's the Earth Forces, that would be a nightmare."

"Third, go to Kira Yamato's battle location and join the Archangel with Kira and his group. This is probably the easiest way to join the plot. I didn't expect the system to assign me this job, but using this identity to interact with them should be quite easy."

"Fourth, go against the flow and follow Kira Yamato to the factory where the GUNDAMs are being stolen, then find and infiltrate the Orb's GUNDAM factory until Ro Joule appears. This way, I can avoid the battle and obtain my first mobile suit."

Thinking about this method, Xiaoran's heart couldn't help but race, but he ultimately smiled with a sense of ease. "I don't have the ability to complete the side missions after obtaining a mobile suit. It's important to know one's limits. The most stable and beneficial method should be the third one, as I can use my familiarity with the plot to gain more benefits."

Patted his clothes, Xiaoran turned to the only table in the room, where a laptop with only a keyboard was placed. Having received the information of this world, Xiaoran was not unfamiliar with such civilian products. He quickly turned on the computer and searched for what he needed, finding it in no time.

"Well, as a university teaching assistant, it's quite normal to use a computer to look up such information." Xiaoran stretched lazily and opened a document named "Kira Yamato." He quickly found the information he needed: "Kira Yamato, a student of Professor Kato. This school is really great, with a system where teachers individually guide students. Professor Kato's classroom is... there it is."

Having found the information he needed, Xiaoran picked up the identity card on the table and carried the computer out of the room. As the electronic door in front of him opened, his body involuntarily trembled for a moment, but he ultimately sighed in resignation and took a determined step forward.

Walking out of the dormitory building, Xiaoran maintained a relaxed and lazy demeanor, looking like a true ordinary person. Even if he noticed someone, his gaze would never linger on them for more than a second to avoid drawing attention and suspicion, especially from other participants.

Looking at the satellite where the ground was the sky, Xiaoran couldn't help but show a hint of excitement, a smile of curiosity and excitement, like a small character entering a grand garden. However, if not observed closely, no one would notice this emotion on Xiaoran's face, and they might think he was a bit strange, with such a lecherous smile on his face early in the morning.

Subtly observing his surroundings, the entire colony was clearly divided into three areas, the three large land masses of the satellite. Xiaoran did not dare to wander around aimlessly, not knowing where the main characters would appear. The best choice was to head directly to the industrial college.

Following the people who looked like students to the bus stop, Xiaoran did not notice any suspicious characters or the main characters from the plot. Checking the eight-hour countdown, about forty minutes had already passed. Time was ticking away, and Xiaoran was somewhat anxious, but he had no choice but to wait as the queue in front of him was long. Before Xiaoran could reach the front, he was startled to see several hover cars representing the colony's security force speeding past.

"What's happening?" Just as this question flashed through Xiaoran's mind, several people at the bus stop had already taken out their phones and connected to the internet.

A young girl, looking at her pink phone, covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my God, someone is taking hostages at the spaceport!"