Observing Ding Yi’s evident confusion, Qin Yuan, with what seemed like inexhaustible patience, began his explanation. “What we experienced before was essentially still at a C-grade level. Typically, in such an instance, the task would involve locating the necessary item for clearance and delivering it to the designated area. Even the attacks wouldn’t occur with such frequency or overwhelming intensity.”

“Furthermore,” he continued, “the conditions for death in the previous instance were quite rigid and relatively easy to discern. The higher the instance level, the more subtly concealed these death conditions become, making it much easier to inadvertently lead Wishers into violating them.”

“The NPCs you encountered had straightforward dialogue, simple logic, and their numbers were limited. That’s why direct intervention was feasible for me.”

“A-grade instances come in many forms, but for scenarios like this one, simply comprehending the task at hand is already a significant challenge.”

“Many individuals persist in pursuing the wrong path until it ultimately leads to their demise.”

“And in a genuine A-grade instance,” Qin Yuan elaborated, “depending on the specific instance, the NPCs’ thought processes and expressions will feel exceptionally natural, virtually indistinguishable from those of you Wishers.”

“They will genuinely believe in the reality of their situation, possessing their own complete set of memories and emotions. Consequently, numerous NPCs with hidden agendas will attempt to disguise themselves as Wishers, making our workload considerably more demanding than you can imagine.”

He left the unspoken implications hanging in the air. Although Ding Yi felt a desire to inquire further, the relentless countdown timer served as a constant reminder that her cognitive efforts should be prioritized.

Ding Yi’s gaze fell, her eyes reflecting a sense of listlessness. “Then, have you managed to decipher the meaning of this task?”

Qin Yuan responded with his characteristic bluntness, “No.”

“Neither have I. The literal interpretation isn’t complicated,” Ding Yi mused for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought, “However, since it specifically mentions the evil residing in the hearts of the town residents, it implies that the people within this town are aware of this issue, or entity, and might even be implicated in it.”

“The scope appears broad, suggesting a pervasive abnormality affecting everyone within the town.”

Ding Yi muttered these thoughts aloud, her eyes constantly scanning the surrounding crowd.

While she meticulously observed the townsfolk, Qin Yuan’s attention remained fixed upon her.

Despite Yan Ming’s occasional silliness, he had been correct about one thing. Encounters with individuals seen in previous instances were rare. The probability of being assigned to the same instance repeatedly was exceedingly low.

The occurrence of drawing two consecutive A-grade instances was also statistically improbable.

The likelihood of continuously entering the same instance alongside a New World employee undergoing punishment was so minuscule as to be practically negligible.

To amplify the severity of the punishment, the attack intensity within A-grade instances would be increased by fifty percent beyond the standard level. Although these attacks would primarily target the one being punished, they would inevitably prove more fatal to the Wishers as well.

What exactly was her identity?

Was all of this merely a string of improbable coincidences, or was the main AI orchestrating these events intentionally?

What could possibly be the underlying purpose?

To eliminate her within the bounds of the program in a seemingly justifiable manner?

“Did you hear what I just said?”

Ding Yi’s attention snapped back as Qin Yuan seemed to return from his own thoughts. She sighed softly and reiterated her previous statement, “This place is called Animal Town.”

“Do you recall? The last location was named Oiled Paper Umbrella, and oiled paper umbrellas were ubiquitous.”

“But look around here. Where are the animals?”

“Indeed, you are correct.”

With a specific point of focus now established, the fog in her mind began to dissipate, clarity returning.

Moving away from their initial location, Ding Yi finally halted before the closest fruit stall.

The owner, who had been energetically hawking his wares and greeting potential customers, immediately approached as he noticed someone actively heading towards his stall. He picked up a large, vibrant red apple displayed prominently and offered it to Ding Yi.

“Try this, absolutely no charge if it isn’t sweet!”

“And no pressure to buy even after you’ve had a taste.”

Ding Yi’s gaze lingered on the apple, which emanated an unusually potent fragrance. She reached out and took it.

“Boss, this apple is excellent,” she remarked casually, weighing the fruit in her hand. “Where are they sourced from?”

The bald owner’s face broke into a broad smile, clearly pleased that someone recognized the quality of his produce. “This apple is good, isn’t it? And it’s not just this one; all these fruits, look here, they’re all top-notch.”

“Everyone who’s tried them raves about how good they are.”

Ding Yi nodded in a manner that conveyed understanding. “Then, where do these exceptional fruits come from?”

“Naturally, they come from our very own Animal Town.” A sudden surge of fervent enthusiasm lit up the bald owner’s eyes. “Our Animal Town is blessed. The soil is rich, the water is pure, and the people are good. Nothing that grows here is anything less than perfect.”

Ding Yi interjected without missing a beat, “That’s truly remarkable!”

“Given such exceptional cultivation, why is this place still called Animal Town? And, I haven’t seen a single animal here.”

“Why else would it be?” the bald owner chuckled, a hearty sound that seemed to invite others to join in. “It’s because we have a deep affection for animals, of course.”

His laughter acted as a catalyst, spreading through the nearby stall owners who had been eavesdropping on their exchange.

The sound was infectious, rippling instantly throughout the street.

It wasn’t just the stall owners; even the town residents walking by stopped what they were doing and erupted in loud laughter, startling the other Wishers who were interspersed among them, as they attempted to gather clues.

Amidst this unsettling atmosphere, Ding Yi calmly turned the apple over in her hand, her eyes sweeping across the laughing town residents before finally settling on Qin Yuan.

Seeing him shake his head subtly, Ding Yi placed the apple back on the stall. She was about to move on when a striking woman, adorned in elaborate and opulent clothing made from noticeably inexpensive material, blocked her path. Two equally ornate brown bracelets encircled the woman’s wrists, and her exposed arms were covered in a dense network of scars.

The beautiful woman, with eyes the color of gray-blue, brushed aside a thick cascade of black curly hair that fell across her chest and gazed at Ding Yi with an almost affectionate intensity. “What a truly beautiful little thing you are.”

Ding Yi met the woman’s gaze and offered a polite smile, saying the first thing that came to mind. “Still a bit lacking compared to you, sister.”

The beautiful woman appeared momentarily taken aback, then threw her head back and laughed, her full red lips parting to reveal teeth that were noticeably sharper than those of an ordinary person.

“Sweet-talking beauties are my absolute favorite.”

“Don’t call me sister, call me Catherine.”

Catherine’s laughter subsided, and she turned her attention to the man standing behind Ding Yi. “He’s quite handsome too, certainly worthy to be by your side.”

Ding Yi: …?

“Here, this is for you,” the beautiful woman said, pressing one of the bracelets into Ding Yi’s hand before taking the initiative to step closer to Qin Yuan. “This is a very special item.”

Catherine’s voice was soft and lingering, carrying a subtle undercurrent of enchantment. “There’s a local saying that as long as loving couples wear these, they will always remain together, never to be separated.”

“Such a beautiful little thing,” she murmured, turning back to Ding Yi. “You wouldn’t want to be parted from him, would you?”

Qin Yuan, his hands deep in his pockets, cast a cold gaze upon the rambling woman, intending to walk away. However, Ding Yi, who had already accepted a bracelet, suddenly interjected, “Catherine, what material is this bracelet made from? Leather?”

Catherine, her flow interrupted, frowned almost imperceptibly before turning back to Ding Yi with a practiced smile. “A keen eye for beauty you have. This is crafted from the hides of calves raised right here in our town.”

“Cows? Are there any cattle farms around here?”

“No, not exactly farms, but a few households keep them as pets.”

“That’s precisely why my bracelet is so rare and exceptionally precious. If I hadn’t felt a sense of destiny in meeting you, I wouldn’t even consider selling it, let alone giving it away.”

“Catherine, you are too generous,” Ding Yi said, shamelessly taking the beautiful woman’s hand in hers.

The oblivious Catherine watched her movements, and the moment Ding Yi slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, Catherine’s thin eyebrows arched almost imperceptibly, and a coldness flickered in her eyes.

“But unfortunately, we can’t possibly accept such a wonderful gift.”

Ding Yi patted the smooth back of Catherine’s hand with a sincere expression, then gestured towards Qin Yuan. “He and I are very close relatives. Even if our bones were broken, our tendons would still be connected. Don’t let my nephew’s tall and handsome appearance fool you, because actually—”

She tapped her temple vaguely and sighed with exaggerated helplessness. “Come on, Xiao Yuan. Call me aunt.”

Qin Yuan fixed her with a cold stare, a hint of disdain evident in his eyes.

“You see?” Ding Yi exclaimed immediately, her tone shifting to one of commiseration. “He can’t even speak properly. My nephew is such a pity. Our family has gone to great lengths for him.”

“Sister, please keep this bracelet for yourself. We wouldn’t dream of letting you spend any money on us.”

Ding Yi released Catherine’s hand and took a step back. “We haven’t finished our shopping yet, so we’ll take our leave now.”

“Xiao Yuan, come along. We’re leaving.”