Chapter 29:

“Any issues?” Lu Liu inquired.

“A big one,” Yun Shan said as she approached the hunting team.

The team consisted of five members, four gray names (one-star) and one white name (two-star).

The three gray rats were gray names, one-star, indicating they weren’t much of a challenge.

Yun Shan stood still and negotiated with the hunting team, “Three gray rats, 50 points, help deliver them home. How does that sound?”

After a brief discussion among themselves, the only white-named male player in the team nodded, “Okay.”

Yun Shan, no longer in the mood for shopping, decided to head straight back to the manor. As they walked, she asked, “Where did you get these gray rats?”

The two-star male player replied, “We were out in the wilderness planning to hunt Red-bellied Pheasants, Ducks, and Tiger-striped Rabbits, but unexpectedly encountered these gray rats. We thought since we had already killed them, it would be a waste not to bring them back.”

What he didn’t mention was that they had visited several shops, all of which refused to take the gray rats.

If it weren’t for Yun Shan stepping in and spending 50 points to buy them, their efforts might have been in vain.

Yun Shan carefully assessed the five individuals and asked again, “Did you encounter them near the camp or farther away?”

The two-star male player chuckled, “Don’t be deceived by our low levels as newcomers. In fact, we are all experienced. After discussing, we decided to venture farther and explore. It’s about a twenty-minute walk from the camp.”

“And you encountered only three gray rats?”

“Just three.”

Yun Shan kept asking, and the two-star male player kept answering. By the end, she had a strange feeling, as if the 50 points were payment for the Q&A, not for purchasing the gray rats.

Unconsciously, the manor was now within sight.

Yun Shan handed over the 50 points, “This is the agreed-upon reward.”

The two-star male player cautiously asked, “If we hunt more gray rats in the future, would you still take them?”

Gray rats had a fierce and aggressive temperament, and the male player did not want to encounter them again. However, this decision wasn’t entirely up to him. If they did come across them and the gray rats lunged at them, they couldn’t just run away without defending themselves.

If Yun Shan was willing to take them… if they killed them and brought them over, it would at least provide some extra income.

Yun Shan shook her head, “Gray rat meat is poisonous and inedible. Their fur is the only usable part. I have other uses for them, but I won’t be taking them in the future.”

Well then.

The two-star male player left with his companions, feeling regretful.

***

After parting ways with the hunting team, Yun Shan took the gray rats to find Lu Ming.

Unfortunately, Lu Ming was currently in a state of confusion.

“Divine Doctor, if there’s anything you need to tell me, I’ll inform the Lord once he’s clear-headed,” You Yi said.

Yun Shan’s expression was serious as she spoke, “Gray rats have been found near Red Maple Camp, and we may face a rat infestation.”

“Rat infestation?” You Yi was puzzled.

In fact, it was the first time he had heard of rodent-type beasts around Red Maple Camp.

After a brief pause, Lu Liu asked, “You mean a plague of rats, with the rodents acting in large groups?”

She hesitated for a moment, her expression showing confusion. “But they are only one-star beasts, shouldn’t pose a major threat, right?”

Yun Shan lowered her gaze, “After the apocalypse, animals underwent mutations, and their growth rate far exceeds what it was before the apocalypse.”

“Take wolfhounds, for example. They reach adulthood in just two and a half months from birth.”

“Tiger-striped rabbits take even less time, often reaching adulthood in just one month.”

“As for gray rats, they give birth every 7-10 days, with each litter consisting of 10-30 offspring. From birth to adulthood, it only takes three to four days. Second-generation gray rats can start reproducing again in no time.”

Lu Liu’s eyes darkened, her expression turning serious.

The growth rate was too alarming. If they couldn’t control it, the consequences would be dire.

Yun Shan continued, “Gray rat meat contains toxins and is inedible. If ingested, it can cause vomiting or even death.”

“Accumulation of gray rat carcasses over time can lead to a plague.”

“Furthermore, an excessive number of gray rats can devour grasslands, tree bark, and plant seedlings. If they run out of food in the wild, they will undoubtedly turn their attention to human settlements and initiate attacks.”

You Yi felt a shiver down his spine. After a moment of thought, he asked, “How did you learn about the threat posed by gray rats?”

Yun Shan replied, “I just know.”

You Yi, “…”

Not explaining anything, isn’t that too arbitrary?

“Oh, and,” Yun Shan suddenly remembered, “Even though a single gray rat’s individual strength is average, they have a violent temperament. They will provoke both humans and other beast when they encounter them.”

“Generally, low-level beast would instinctively avoid high-level beast, but gray rats won’t. They will leverage their numerical advantage to challenge higher-level beasts. Once they win, the pregnant mother rat will devour the defeated higher-level beast to nurture a stronger next generation.”

You Yi couldn’t bear to listen any longer and stood up abruptly. “I’m going to find Zuo Xin.”

If what the Divine Doctor said was true, there was no need for wild guesses. Capturing a gray rat and conducting an experiment would provide the answers.

“Bring the gray rats,” Yun Shan called after him, “The toxicity of rat meat is too strong, even one-star beasts can’t handle it.”

You Yi hurriedly left, taking the gray rats as instructed.

Lu Liu scrutinized Yun Shan with a hint of doubt and inquiry in her eyes.

“If the rat infestation isn’t handled properly, Lu Ming will have to clean up the mess,” Yun Shan’s tone was cold and stern, “Don’t think just because he’s a five-star, he can do everything.”

“The heavier the guilt, the worse the mental state, and the more uncontrollable during illness. It’s best not to involve him in handling the rat infestation and resolve it smoothly,” Yun Shan continued.

Lu Liu withdrew her gaze, her eyes cold and firm as she said, “I understand.”

***

Upon exiting the game, a system prompt sounded.

【Today’s cumulative online duration: 420 minutes (7 hours), has reached the limit.】

【Your physical condition is detected to be good.】

【Starting from tomorrow, daily online duration +1 hour (accumulated 8 hours).】

After reading, Yun Shan closed the notification and removed her holographic helmet.

Since she solemnly declared that she had no extra registration codes, the individuals who privately messaged her had decreased, and her life had returned to tranquility.

Just as she thought about it, a private message popped up.

Courageous to the Extreme: “A renowned academician from the Engineering Academy is critically ill, with only one or two months to live.”

Courageous to the Extreme: “If there were a registration code, perhaps it could save his life.”

Yun Shan: “…”

Yun Shan: “I never expected, you’re quite the persistent one.”

Yun Shan: “So far, you’re the only one still pestering me, you know?”

Courageous to the Extreme: “I don’t want to either.”

Courageous to the Extreme: “The title of an academician from the Engineering Academy is the highest academic honor in the field of engineering science and technology in the country. Those who hold this title are top talents. For the country, losing even one of them is a great loss, please understand.”

Yun Shan: “…What’s the connection between a figure in the national news and you? If there were any spare registration codes, how could you deliver them?”

Courageous to the Extreme: “Now it’s about asking me for a registration code, hoping to use it to save lives?”

In just a few sentences, the information was overwhelming, leaving Yun Shan stunned.

Courageous to the Extreme: “A clear-minded person doesn’t speak in riddles. Previously, I gave two registration codes to middle-aged professional technical talents who have received the country’s highest scientific and technological achievements award.”

Courageous to the Extreme: “My hair was almost white, and my spirit was far from what it was in my younger days. After playing the game for a few days, I felt more rested, my spirit was invigorated, and my black hair started to grow back. Originally, I could only work for another year, but perhaps now I can work for three more years, five more years, or even ten more years.”

Courageous to the Extreme: “The buyer entrusted me with an important task, hoping that I can contribute to social development in my own way.”

Courageous to the Extreme: “So, I persistently and continuously pestered you.”

Yun Shan found it hard to comprehend, “What connections do you have? You’re just a professional player, and you claim to know someone who has received the country’s highest scientific and technological achievements award. Does that sound plausible?”

In today’s world, people are willing to fabricate all sorts of lies just to obtain registration codes.

Courageous to the Extreme: “I also find it unbelievable. I just wanted to be a middleman, make some hard-earned money, but somehow got entangled and couldn’t get away.”

“Courageous to the Extreme” is actually Fu Rongling. Upon learning that Yun Shan had extra registration code quotas, he howled in the family group, asking if anyone was interested. His cousin approached him and offered handsome rewards, prompting him to make the purchase.

Fu Rongling thought his cousin wanted to play and agreed to help run errands. But unexpectedly, his cousin gave the registration code to someone else.

The subsequent development was even more bizarre, completely beyond imagination.

In any case, he, a professional game player, was now being held in high regard, as if the development of society and the rise and fall of humanity were all related to him.

It was just absurd.

“No wonder they say, money is hard to earn,” Fu Rongling’s words revealed boundless desolation.

Then, he changed the subject, “Just think, I’m just an ordinary person. If it weren’t for special channels, would I know about these things?”

“I guarantee everything I say is true. Next time I get a registration code, can you consider giving it to me first?”

“These researchers are said to be able to influence human history, and living another year might mean achieving one or several important research results. But as they’re getting on in years, their reaction time is generally slower, and they’re destined to miss out on registration codes.”

“Under pressure, I can only place my hopes on you. Because so far, you’re the only player who has received registration code rewards.”

After hearing this, Yun Shan was speechless for a while. The shock she experienced at this moment was as great as when she learned the truth about the holographic online game.

In reality, “Doomsday Camp” was not a game world but a parallel world.

The Lord used talents, abilities, or other means (the system) to summon residents of other worlds to Red Maple Camp through consciousness projection.

What was thought to be realistic modeling and unique scenery were actually features of the alien world.

NPCs with high intelligence quotient and seemingly real human portrayals were, in fact, living beings, but from the parallel world.

The holographic technology that expanded mental capabilities was actually an awakening of latent talents, a manifestation of improved physical well-being.

As a result, even thorough investigation wouldn’t reveal the game company—the person in charge was in the parallel world, and pursuing it would require crossing boundaries, something the current technology doesn’t support.

The reason Lu Ming could issue registration codes was even simpler.

The so-called holographic game was something he had created. He was not only the Lord of Red Maple Camp but also the person in charge of the game company, thus being able to distribute quotas.

For Yun Shan, she only realized the truth upon learning that “Lu Ming = the Lord.”

As for the other people, who were summoned to the parallel world and were diligently engaged in construction, many still believed they were playing a newly released holographic online game.

After pondering for a moment, Yun Shan explained from a gaming perspective, “I received a super-difficult mission chain related to the Lord. Because I completed the mission well and gained high favorability, the Lord awarded me an extra registration code.”

“If you need it, I can sell it to you when I get it later.”

“The price remains the same, 1 registration code = 3 million.”

The so-called mission chain is composed of a series of consecutive small tasks. Each completion of a small task results in a certain reward. Each completion of a stage of the mission chain brings a more substantial reward.

Yun Shan’s use of the mission chain to describe her situation was not only fitting but also left no room for doubt.

She pretended to be an emotionless game machine/money-making machine. She didn’t ask the reason behind the request, only discussed the transaction.

After a while, Fu Rongling replied, “Sure. Whenever you get a registration code, I’ll pay up right away.”