Chapter 80
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Chapter 80: Unveiling
When his senses returned, Zhang Zhiyuan found himself in a dimly lit, large hall. The hall had somewhat of a Greek temple style, with thick stone pillars surrounding him. But the carvings on the ceiling beams were distinctly Chinese, depicting dragons and other mythical creatures. However, the presence of modern furniture such as tables, chairs, and cabinets in the hall was completely out of place, creating an overall sense of disarray.
However, he knew that he wasn’t in reality right now.
Everything in front of him was in shades of gray, devoid of any details whatsoever. If he had to describe it, everything seemed like unfinished models, which only had outlines and no textures or finishes.
Taking two steps forward, he quickly noticed a silhouette up ahead of him in the hall. To be more precise, it was a humanoid black silhouette.
“You are the founder of Paradise,” Zhang Zhiyuan said slowly, “and also the Host.”
This confirmed one of his earlier suspicions. The VR headset was just a facade. As long as the other party could ‘see’ him through the network, they could summon people to the Paradise.
The game played on the Heart of the Ocean was the most unique round because it did not involve transmission over the internet. Instead, the founder of Paradise faced the participants directly and transported them to the so called ‘virtual world’.
However, the surveillance footage from the ship and the pier had been tampered with, so no one would ever know what the host really looked like underneath the mask.
The shadow leaned back on a huge soft couch and seemed to be examining Zhang Zhiyuan out of the corner of his eye. “You’re just an ordinary officer of the International Criminal Police Department. Why do you think that place can fulfill your desires?”
“The higher-ups’ interest lies not in you, but in Paradise itself,” Zhang Zhiyuan felt himself in an unprecedented state of clarity. “That world means completely new resources, discoveries that are completely different from those on Earth, and endless possibilities. How can one can remain indifferent when faced with such a new world.”
“For such an exchange to take place, there must be a material exchange between the two worlds.”
Zhang Zhiyuan held his breath and said, “In reality, exchange is possible, isn’t it?”
The shadow just looked at him without answering.
He continued, “The newcomer … Luo Di, she is as an example of such an exchange.”
For the first time, the Shadow sat upright, slightly leaning forward with one hand resting on his knee, and gazing down at him intently like a god watching his creation. “How so?”
“My suspicions were aroused when I first met her. Her clothes seemed more like modern fashion rather than the handmade garments of that era. Of course, you could create modern clothes out of thin air if you prepared them specifically for her, which wouldn’t be a problem.” Zhang Zhiyuan paused briefly before adding, “During our time in the Cathedral, I found a chance to cut off a tiny piece of her clothing.”
“Based on my observations so far, the creations of Paradise usually exist as a whole. When this unity is disrupted, the amount of time for which the separated parts can last is greatly reduced. For example, during the shooting in the theater, I noticed that Anthony’s bulletproof vest was pierced, and fell into the aisle… But when we retreated back there a second time, the pieces that had fallen were gone.
“I’m not sure of the underlying cause of this phenomenon, but based on the facts, we can conclude that the objects created by Paradise aren’t real objects and cannot last forever. The smaller piece that broke off during the battle disappeared even faster. That’s where the problem lies—” Zhang Zhiyuan also stared directly at the other party, trying to detect any changes in the shadow. “Even after two days, the corner of Luo Di’s piece of clothing remained exactly the same. Even after the game ended and I returned to this world, it was still in my pocket, indicating that her clothes must be real objects.”
Clap, clap, clap.
The shadow applauded softly.
“From our first meeting, I found you to be quite perceptive, but I didn’t expect you to be a person who observe to such a degree. With only the dim light of a few oil lamps in the aisle, you managed to notice the broken off pieces of the bulletproof vest? Remarkable!”
“When I was at the military academy, my instructors often praised me for being quite perceptive,” Zhang Zhiyuan said with self-deprecating humor. “But compared to the miracles created by Paradise, it’s hardly worth mentioning.”
“While your points make sense, but you seem to have overlooked one thing. As the Paradise expands its activities, more and more people will become aware of it. I am not short of manpower.”
“That might work if we’re talking about months or even years from now, but it doesn’t solve the current needs of Paradise,” Zhang Zhiyuan argued firmly. “I know you aren’t afraid of our investigations, and in fact, from a certain perspective, Paradise could benefit from some attention! So why not go a step further and use me directly to prove that Paradise really exists? Even if we follow your suggestion and wait for the news to slowly spread, how can you be sure that there won’t be any troublemakers among the participants who will be swarming in six months from now, that none of them will harbor any malicious intentions? Joe James was the first criminal, but he certainly won’t be the last. Just screening them would probably consume a lot of Paradise’s resources !”
“However, if our higher-ups become significantly involved, the situation would drastically change. You will have access to any kind of talent you need, which will ensure that only the necessary talent goes and in the necessary numbers!”
“And then comes a deeper cooperation, mutually binding us together?” The shadow leaned back on the soft couch once more. “I’ve already said it before – you participate in the games, and Paradise provides the rewards. That covers the entirety of our relationship.”
“I have absolutely no intention of ruining this relationship!” Zhang Zhiyuan hastily responded. “The only difference would be that the individuals participating in the games would become more talented, more focused and better equipped to achieve your predetermined goals! Besides, the initiative lies with you. If you feel something is wrong, can’t you simply end the game? So why not give it a try?”
“Why do you care so much about ensuring the successful completion of these tasks?” the shadow curiously asked. “Using more skilled people has only this one benefit, and most of the time, it doesn’t even affect you directly.”
“Because I want to see more masterminds behind heinous crimes destroyed, so that the victims and their families have a chance to be reunite one day. I also want to see Yeni Cathedral transformed into a real hospital, where nuns aren’t bound by corporate rules. Paradise has the power to make these things happen, but ultimately, it is the Players who must bring them to fruition. The more reliable those people are, the closer we’ll get to the ideal results.” Zhang Zhiyuan replied calmly.
After a long wait, the shadow spoke again, “Your ideas are indeed intriguing. However, Paradise has a limited capacity to accept individuals, and the weight of material exchange is even more negligible. Therefore, next time, I can offer you at most two spots.”
“Just two would be enough!” Zhang Zhiyuan hadn’t expected to achieve his goal all at once. “But relying solely on the resources of International Criminal Police Department, it will be difficult to find the most suitable candidates quickly…”
“Since I’ve agreed to give it a try, I naturally won’t leave things half done.” The shadow extended its hand, and a small dark red stone flew towards Zhang Zhiyuan.
He caught it and noticed that the stone was dry, rough, and slightly warm to the touch.
Just as Zhang Zhiyuan was about to ask a question, the surroundings began to twist again, as if everything was being pulled away from him.
No matter how he tried to open his mouth, not even a single sound could escape from his throat. Then he suddenly fell down, the intense feeling of weightlessness making his hair stand on end!
The next moment, he woke up as if it was all a dream! The hidden room reappeared in front of his eyes, as if everything had been a dream. Slowly, Zhang Zhiyuan opened his hand only to find it completely empty.
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