The researcher's brow furrowed deeply as he scratched his head.

He looked at Mo Bai, carefully thinking over her words, and then scratched his head again.

His expression made Mo Bai think that he looked like a confused little fool.

"Is there a problem?" Mo Bai asked.

The researcher wore a completely bewildered look on his face. "I've been infiltrating this instance for over a month now, and my understanding of it is limited to what I've told you. How did you figure out this clearance method?"

Mo Bai stared at him with a complex expression, as if she were thinking, How did you even become a high-level player? Is Neverland really that easy to enter? How can you afford 300,000 points a month in rent? Then she asked, "Your researcher identity, did you arrange it yourself after entering the instance, or was it assigned by the system?"

"The system assigned it," the researcher said.

"If the system could assign you as a researcher, that means it still has some degree of control over the NPCs in this instance. It knows full well that players will facilitate the birth of an Ultra-Star monster, so why did it still arrange for the third batch of players to be test subjects?" Mo Bai fired off a series of questions.

The researcher truly couldn't think of any other explanation.

Mo Bai continued, "I've dealt with the main system several times, so I understand it fairly well. It's an emotionless existence that only cares about maintaining the Infinite World and instance rules. It's both ruthless and impartial toward players. The clearance methods that it provides are absolutely correct, and they will definitely solve the instance' problems. However, whether players live or die, and how they feel about it... Those things are never part of the system's calculations.

This instance is indeed very troublesome for the system. It's also calculating ways to prevent the birth of an Ultra-Star monster, and for that, it required several rounds of trial and error.

The first time it sent players in, it didn't understand the situation and was investigating the cause of the instance mutation.

For the second batch, it was searching for the Ultra-Star monster's weaknesses. And the third one is to finally take action.

The first attempt was a blind trial and error, so the system sent in nothing but cannon fodder. That's why all of them were test subjects. The second time, the system needed to investigate the Ultra-Star monster's situation, so some players became researchers to gather intelligence.

But there can only be three attempts. The Ultra-Star monster won't give the system much more time, so the instance must be resolved on the third attempt.

It could have easily turned players into researchers to dismantle the Ultra-Star monster from within the research institute, yet it still turned us into test subjects. That means the role of test subject was the most likely to achieve its goal.

What are the main characteristics of test subjects? They're just injected with extracts and fed to the Ultra-Star monster. Beyond that, they have no rights whatsoever.

Furthermore, out of three batches of test subjects, only our group received the inhibitory serum. Do you really think that the system is being generous by specially making a serum for players? Do you think the system is that benevolent?

It knows that devouring players makes the Ultra-Star monster stronger. The system also knows that beginner players have absolutely no way to clear this instance. So why does it keep sending players in? Is it just delivering takeout and warmth to the Ultra-Star monster?"

Mo Bai's series of rhetorical questions activated the researcher's brain. All the clues connected together in his mind, and he had to admit that this beginner Observer player's deductions were terrifyingly accurate. There was no other option besides this answer.

But he still had one question. "The serum's inhibitory effect only lasts three days. How can the system guarantee you'll use it after the third phase? What if you use it during the first phase?"

Mo Bai replied, "Because every player entering this instance needs this drug. The first phase of enhancement will heal our injuries. To resolve our physical ailments, we'll grit our teeth and endure it. Having persevered through the first phase, we'll also choose to endure after the second injection.

You said that the second phase is mutation. Players already possess supernatural abilities, so the second phase drug will either stimulate us to develop new abilities or enhance our existing powers. For that kind of transformation, we'll still endure.

Only after the third injection—when there are only three or four days left until the instance deadline, and the extract places an enormous burden on the players—will we finally use the serum to temporarily suppress the drug's effects.

You said that most test subjects can't withstand the third phase drug, and the research institute has been desperately searching for test subjects who can endure the third phase enhancement. Once my batch of players uses the serum and stably withstands the third phase drug, we will turn into the institute's most desired test subjects. The institute will undoubtedly rush to feed us to the Ultra-Star monster.

A 30% survival rate means five doses of serum are enough, and whether the remaining two can survive depends entirely on luck."

If Ye Pingjun had entered this instance, he could definitely survive on luck alone.

Mo Bai, however, was less certain. Affected by her title's effects, she was hated by most NPCs, so she would definitely be the first test subject that would be fed to the Ultra-Star monster.

This instance was the system's open conspiracy. Every step had been calculated with the players in mind, pushing the seven players forward one step at a time with no way to retreat.

"Well..." The researcher took two steps back and said softly, trying to comfort Mo Bai, "I know you're in a pitiful situation, but my goal is to prevent the birth of an Ultra-Star instance, not to save any individual player. From the looks of it, the system has already figured out a solution, so there's no need for me to meddle anymore. Therefore... let's end our cooperation here. But don't worry. We collaborated after all, so I'll use my researcher identity to make sure you're the last person fed to the Ultra-Star monster. I'll try to help you stay alive. Let's part ways here..."

"Stop!" Mo Bai raised her hand, and the door behind the researcher instantly vanished, merging seamlessly into the wall.

The researcher had already backed up to the doorway. He was planning to open the door and flee directly, but he never expected that the door would simply disappear.

"What kind of ability is this?" the researcher asked, leaning against the wall.

Mo Bai said coldly, "If you dare walk away from this, I'll hunt down players. Once I kill three players, the system's goal won't be achieved, you won't be able to prevent the birth of the Ultra-Star instance, and you'll be trapped in this instance until you die."

Mo Bai wouldn't actually hunt players, but in this situation, she had to keep up the act to bind the researcher to her team.

"I know intelligence on four players: Mao Juncai, Zhuang Xiangyang, Liu Congyi, and Sheng Yan. Sheng Yan obeys me completely, and Liu Congyi is mentally dependent on me because of my title's effects. Killing those two would be extremely easy for me. Moreover, Zhuang Xiangyang is an indecisive idiot, and Mao Juncai is extremely arrogant, looking down on me as an Observer player. Killing the two of them would take some effort, but it would still be quite easy." Mo Bai coldly laid out her chances of successfully hunting down the players.

She recalled how she had felt when eliminating Dad and the Count, and faced the researcher with that same mindset. Murderous intent filled her surroundings, making her entire presence seem like a god of death.

Mo Bai's demeanor made the researcher believe that she was serious.

That she would really kill other players without any emotion, dragging everyone down to die together.

The researcher never imagined that he, a high-level player, would be so terrified by a young woman who looked so delicate.

It seemed that people were simply born different. Some people had the ability to dominate others from the very beginning, and they possessed the strength to defy fate itself. Mo Bai was exactly that kind of person.

"Why go this far..." The researcher's tone softened. He didn't even notice that his words carried a hint of pleading in them. "If you're already considering killing the other players, then what does it matter if they're sent to their deaths? I already said that I would help you survive. We just need to keep the other players' emotions stable, hide the truth from them, and slowly trick them into becoming dragon-slayers. Wouldn't that work just fine?"

Mo Bai said, "I don't want to clear the instance like this. I don't want to become a pawn discarded by fate. There are still nine and a half days left. Before then, I want to try eliminating the Ultra-Star monster first."

The researcher looked at her like she'd gone insane. "Do you have any idea what an Ultra-Star monster represents? They possess the power to destroy worlds! They can obliterate all of Peach Blossom Land in a single strike!"

"But this Ultra-Star instance hasn't fully formed yet. It's still growing, and we already have a method to eliminate it," Mo Bai said. "Why should we follow the system's arrangements and watch others walk to their deaths? As long as there's even a sliver of hope, I'll try!"

"I admit that the system is cold-blooded, but this really is the safest method, and it's the least likely to be discovered," the researcher said. "This instance doesn't contain just one Ultra-Star monster. The reason why the research institute's leadership was willing to cultivate this monster is because each of them injected themselves with stabilized, safe extracts that have no rejection problems. Just from what I know, there are five A-rank monsters in this instance, and three of them are guarding the Ultra-Star monster. How do you plan to break through their defenses?"

"After using the second phase drug, our teammates' strength will be enhanced. We'll use their own spear to pierce their shield. We still have hope," Mo Bai said.

"I disagree," the researcher rebutted. "I choose the safer path."

Mo Bai took a deep breath and said firmly, "Then choose. I'll kill players, or you act with me and follow my command."

"There's a third option," The researcher reached his hand into the void and pulled out a blood-red scythe. "I kill you."

With the scythe in his hand, Mo Bai felt that the researcher's entire aura underwent a tremendous change. His plain, unremarkable face was suddenly filled with charisma, and even his height seemed to have grown from 169 centimeters to 185 centimeters.

"How impressive. A high-level player so afraid of five A-rank monsters that he can only take his anger out on a beginner player," Mo Bai said mockingly.

She wasn't afraid of the researcher at all. Raising her hand, she spoke into her wristband: "Sheng Yan, if I die, kill Mao Juncai and Zhuang Xiangyang. I know you can do it."

Then she continued, "Liu Congyi, if I die, it was definitely Sheng Yan. He's being controlled by the drug, and he'll definitely kill Mao Juncai and Zhuang Xiangyang, too. Only by killing him will you be safe."

After delivering these two statements, Mo Bai folded her hands on her knees and said calmly, "Go ahead and kill me. I won't resist. I won't waste my abilities on this kind of thing."

Hearing Mo Bai's last will statements, the researcher could hardly believe his ears.

His chest heaved violently with rage as he glared at Mo Bai. He raised the blood-red scythe several times, but he couldn't bring himself to strike.

After repeating this several times, the researcher finally put away his scythe and said to Mo Bai in complete defeat, "What do you plan to do?"

He couldn't win against this woman.

His strength might be greater than Mo Bai's, but when it came to wisdom, strategy, vision, or willpower, he was completely crushed by her in every single way.

He lost.

Seeing that the researcher had surrendered, all the murderous intent around Mo Bai vanished.

She waved her wristband at the researcher and said, "I didn't actually send those messages just now. Those last will statements were just for you to hear. I can't bring myself to kill other players either. Now you know what my true colors are. I'm just putting up a strong front while being weak inside. If you want to kill me, go ahead."

Her eyes were incredibly sincere, and her smile turned sweet.

"You really are..." The researcher slumped to the ground. After clashing with Mo Bai, he felt utterly drained, clearly more exhausted than after clearing an A-rank instance.

Mo Bai walked up to the researcher. She looked at him with no guard up at all and asked, "You're not going to make a move?"

Her words sounded like a demon's whisper.

But the researcher shook his head. "No. I've lost my will to fight. Killing innocent players, especially killing a very beautiful female player, requires steeling one's heart and having tremendous resolve. You've completely worn me out. I don't have the energy to fight anymore."

"Good. At least your character is decent. If I cooperate with you, I won't have to worry about being backstabbed," Mo Bai said. Having confirmed the researcher's integrity, she extended her hand toward him. "Let's start our cooperation by getting to know each other. My name is Mo Bai, I'm a Beginner-7 player, my ability is called Environmental Optimization, and I currently live in Room 515, Peach Blossom Land Newcomer District. What about you?"

The researcher grasped Mo Bai's hand and used it to pull himself up to stand. "Du Heng. I'm an Advanced-5 player, but I'm currently suppressed to Beginner-9. My ability is called 'Soul Reaping,' and I'm a member of the 'Mending Heaven' organization in Neverland."