Bai Youwei found it rather remarkable and said, “Professor Song is truly impressive — being able to research the trigger numbers for games.”

Chu Huaijin looked slightly uncomfortable. “Professor Song can detect the distribution and range of games through magnetic field anomalies, but as for the trigger numbers… we have to test those ourselves.”

“Test them yourselves?” Bai Youwei was surprised. “How?”

In the lamplight, Chu Huaijin’s expression grew somber. He looked roughly the same age as Yan Qingwen, but his appearance leaned toward the “formidable” type — upright posture, slightly tanned skin, nothing like a strategizing leader; more like a general who charged to the front lines.

He said in a low voice, “Usually I, or the deputy captain, lead team members into the game zone to conduct assessments. We start with two people, then three, four, five… increasing one by one. When the game triggers, that’s our minimum trigger number.”

Bai Youwei was even more surprised. “Aren’t you afraid you won’t make it out?”

Chu Huaijin smiled bitterly and shook his head. “It was genuinely difficult at the start — many of our team members were lost… But it’s much better now, because the item-exchange system has gotten on track. People go into games with items, and the survival rate has improved quite a bit compared to before.”

Shen Fei, who was accompanying them, chimed in: “Even though the rules might seem heartless, you don’t know how much sacrifice each new game assessment costs us!”

His tone carried a hint of righteous indignation. “Whatever peace and stability the urban district has now is entirely the result of the combined efforts of the research unit and the assessment team!”

“Xiao Fei.” Chu Huaijin called to Shen Fei, and said mildly, “There’s no need to say more. I trust that in time, everyone will come to understand our intentions.”

He looked at Shen Mo, and then at Cheng Weicai and Pan Xiaoxin standing behind him.

“They say that with great power comes great responsibility. Right now our capabilities are limited and the base still has many shortcomings, but in the future…” Chu Huaijin said, “…in the future, we’ll try to exempt the elderly and children from games. For now, each core member within the organization can obtain up to three exemption slots — exempting them from assigned games — to make it easier to look after family members.”

“You’ve been thoughtful about this.” Shen Mo gave a slight nod. “Anyone else in your position might not have done as well.”

Bai Youwei’s thoughts were still on the games, and she asked, “What’s the highest player count you’ve ever tested for the games around here?”

Chu Huaijin told her, “The highest-trigger-number game nearby is a marathon requiring 32 people. But for Game 24, we tried over a hundred people and still couldn’t trigger it. Professor Song believes either the number still isn’t enough, or the game has special trigger conditions.”

As they spoke, the group reached the end of the corridor. On the right was a glass sensor door.

The sensor had stopped working; the glass door now stood wide open, with two security personnel positioned on either side. One of them Bai Youwei recognized.

It was the fiercely stern female team leader from yesterday — Yu Yaqing.

Bai Youwei had been in the middle of asking about the games when she suddenly spotted Yu Yaqing, and momentarily blanked — whatever she’d been about to ask, she forgot entirely.

Yu Yaqing looked at Bai Youwei and her group with an impassive expression, without sparing even a single extra glance.

She gave Chu Huaijin a crisp salute and stepped efficiently to one side.

Chu Huaijin led the group inside, while the guards remained outside the glass door.

— Inside, the room blazed with light. Many tables had been arranged throughout, covered with fine food and wine, with seven or eight guests already seated here and there.

“Please, this way.” Chu Huaijin said courteously. “Let’s all sit down and talk at our leisure. Yesterday’s dinner was delayed because of an impromptu meeting — consider this meal both Professor Song’s and my way of making it up to everyone.”

—