Unfathomable Senior

Chapter 751

Zhang Dong persisted in navigating through the computer, extracting as much information as possible. He stumbled upon a few intriguing details, including the responsibilities of these moderators. They were primarily tasked with system-holder scouting, recruitment, and monitoring. Furthermore, they had the ability to adjust the stakes of the scenario, making things more challenging or easier with a few clicks.

According to his findings, individuals with higher star ratings were granted more options. There were packages rated from bronze to platinum. With a superior package, the system would offer better features, such as weakening opponents or influencing the probability of success in various endeavors.

The moderators had access to an extensive list of human beings, involving millions of individuals whom they contacted and observed. There appeared to be intriguing criteria that they emphasized. The system-holder candidates were typically loners with a chip on their shoulder, individuals with few ties to their original world or even harboring a hatred for it. Many of these candidates were outright shut-ins who had experienced bullying or simply didn't fit in with the rest.

This was a familiar concept for him, as he had been a loner himself before being spirited away. Wang Long appeared to harbor lots of animosity toward his original world, which he vented on the people in the new one. It didn't seem that having a moral compass was a requirement, considering both Wang Long and Zhang Dong couldn't have been more different in that regard.

It all felt surreal, and he couldn't shake the suspicion that the reason he had nearly died when confronting his first real foe was due to one of these moderators playing around with the statistics. If he hadn't obtained the hacked system and freed himself, he might have met a different, perhaps fatal, fate. It appeared that individuals with a higher moral compass, like him, were rated slightly lower than the rest. This could be the reason why he was left to face death without much assistance.

‘There isn't really more that I can learn here. This DSP thing is also an unknown factor.’

He thought, having gone through everything and discovered a strange number labeled as 'DSP'. There was no explanation for what it was, but each system holder had this number assigned to them, constantly increasing. It seemed to be another rating distinct from the star system, but he couldn't find an explanation for its significance.

The clicking of the puppets resonated throughout the office area as he stepped out of the cubicle he had been occupying. Once inside, all noise had been canceled out, likely to maintain focus among the puppets on their work. Thanks to this phenomenon, the other puppets wouldn't really notice that his workstation was empty.

For now, it seemed that there weren't any defensive measures or security protocols in place. It was evident to him that whoever created this place wasn't concerned about people snooping around. They were either very confident that no one would reach this place or simply didn't care. Either way, his new opponent seemed to be underestimating potential threats, which worked in his favor.

The endless rows of cubicles extended as far as he could see, but there was an end to them on the sides. Other corridors and rooms likely led to various points of interest. Outside these confines, he might find the administrator. If the administrator was also a weak puppet, gathering more information could be relatively straightforward. With this in mind, he set out to explore further while maintaining the appearance of a puppet.

While other system holders were leaving their worlds and heading elsewhere, he couldn't spot any of them here. It was conceivable that the backdoor he used brought him into an entirely new dimension or realm. There was still a possibility that these individuals weren't truly his enemies and the entire scenario was crafted for the system holders to have a thrilling time. They were granted a fantastic adventure where they could be heroes or villains if they chose. Yet, that DSP number was causing him concern. It was as if they were compelled to earn something that the entity behind all this required or desired.

As he strolled down the corridor, he noticed that the puppets in this section were engaged in different activities. Some were pushing empty gurneys, while others were reading medical charts or typing on computers. The puppet nurses moved with purpose, attending to tasks that seemed as repetitive and monotonous as those in the office.

Zhang Dong mimicked their movements, trying to blend in seamlessly. He knew that any deviation from the norm might draw attention. As he walked, he observed the different rooms and departments of the hospital. There were operating rooms, examination rooms, and even a pharmacy area. The attention to detail in recreating these spaces was remarkable.

Yet, something made him stop as he noticed that something was actually going on here. While the rooms for the patients were empty the puppets were actually talking to each other. Curiosity compelled Zhang Dong to approach one of the puppet nurses engaged in conversation with another. Their exchange was mundane at first, discussing the routine tasks of the day, but as he got closer, he began to overhear a peculiar detail.

“... The new patients will be arriving soon, the doctor asked us to proceed to room 237.”

‘A patient?’

This was not something that he expected but this was a hospital section and it wouldn’t really be one if there were no patients. Was it possible that other puppets played the role of patients and it wouldn’t lead to nothing or could there be something more to it? Without giving himself away he followed after the group of nurses that numbered well above ten.

‘This is quite the group of nurses just to see one patient, what could this really be about?’

As he trailed after them, the group continued to grow, all heading in a specific direction. Staying towards the back, he maintained a position where he could escape at any given moment. Soon enough, he got an answer to the question of where they were going.

“What are you doing!? This is all wrong!”

‘Huh? Whose voice is that? It doesn't sound like a puppet.’

The nurses opened a large set of doors, and he heard a man's voice that didn't match any of the doctors he had seen so far. It seemed like an event was unfolding that might finally shed some light on what was happening in this place.