*Do you think this world is real?*

Shen Mo had pondered this question more than once. He had also entertained speculations like Tan Xiao’s—could all of this be false? A simulation?

If it truly were false, how would they break free from the false and return to the real?

“There are no aliens.” The demoness’s voice was gentle and slow. “The accurate description is… humanity does not know whether the dolls have any connection to aliens. When humans turning into dolls kept occurring worldwide, countless scientists conducted research—yet all of them could find no cause.

This was always something beyond humanity’s capability. So people felt helpless, and despairing… Afterward, Song Mingchuan made a major discovery in his laboratory. To protect his research findings, you were dispatched to escort him back. Do you still remember that?”

Shen Mo was briefly in a daze.

His mind drifted back to the meeting before departure—the director’s instructions, the familiar faces of the teammates who went with him…

He still remembered.

Because communications had been severed, many special operations teams had gone in and never come back. They were sent as the Security Bureau’s last hope to find Professor Song—only to encounter the unexpected at the laboratory…

“Something went wrong at the laboratory,” the demoness said.

A chill shot through Shen Mo’s chest. He looked straight at her.

The demoness: “Although the cause of humans turning into dolls was never found, Professor Song discovered that near those who had turned into dolls, the magnetic field was abnormally active—and he detected certain anomalous data. He suspected those people hadn’t truly died, but were trapped in another world. So he constructed a device capable of connecting to the spiritual realm.

Being a first attempt, this spiritual device had many shortcomings. An accident occurred during adjustments, severing communication between the laboratory and the outside. And you and your teammates—being within the laboratory’s range without any protective equipment—were affected by the device. You were trapped within your own spiritual world…”

Shen Mo stared at her, blank-faced and disbelieving.

“Shen Mo, Professor Song is working with all his strength to save you.” The demoness’s tone shifted entirely from its former seductive languor to something grave and solemn. “Can you feel it? Everyone is trying to save you—wake up!”

How could this be?

Shen Mo’s head felt as though struck by a heavy blow, buzzing and muddled.

He struggled to keep himself lucid, yet deep in his heart he questioned whether this very lucidity was another form of confusion.

What was happening?…What on earth did those words mean?!

“I know it’s hard to believe—your senses are so vivid: touch, smell, taste, each one tangible and real! But don’t forget—a person’s spiritual consciousness can be deceptive!” The demoness spoke with deep sincerity, her expression carrying a sorrowful tenderness. “Shen Mo, your commanding officers, your teammates, your family—they’re all waiting for you to come home. Wake up…”

“Evidence…” Shen Mo breathed deeply and said, “If all of this is my delusion, where is the evidence?”

The demoness sighed softly. “Isn’t there already more than enough evidence… This world is so absurd—and once one accepts the absurd, the absurd feels real, while the real world becomes the illusion? Shen Mo, think carefully: why are there no animals here?

Because Professor Song had no need for animal data samples. The device was created to capture the spiritual data of doll humans—suffering, joy, grief are all valuable data samples—and you are merely an outsider who stumbled in. Now, it’s time for you to leave… Shen Mo, come back…”

*Data…*

*Data…*

He had heard that word from the Inspector’s mouth multiple times.

Could this world truly be, as she said, nothing but a construct for Professor Song to collect spiritual data?

But then what about Bai Youwei?

Who was Bai Youwei? And Tan Xiao, Teacher Cheng, Pan Xiaoxin, Yan Qingwen, Lu Ang, Zhu Shu, Su Man, Lu Yuwen, Li Li, Yu Yaqing, Ashalina, Du Lai, Fu Miaoxue, Chen Hui, Leonid, Ye Chong, Virad… who were they?!

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