Chapter 13: Forum

Safe now

In a stall of a public restroom, Li Cheng frowned as he changed out of his nightwear into ordinary clothes and packed the removed garments into a vacuum-sealed bag.

After detecting the presence of the Lord of Insects at the flower and bird market during the day, he carefully weighed the risks and benefits before deciding to follow and investigate, thoroughly preparing for his involvement in the anomaly.

The nightwear and sunglasses were just one part—he coated the surface of all ten fingers with glue to prevent his gloves from slipping and leaving fingerprints.

To avoid injury or blood splatter that could be detected by police for identification, he carried a small vial of bleach on his person to destroy biological evidence.

Fortunately, neither was needed.

Li Cheng placed the vacuum-sealed bag into a package, climbed over the wall, and rode away from the public restroom.

When he returned home, it was deep into the night; his cousin and cousin-sister were already asleep, his aunt was showering in the bathroom, and his uncle was watching TV on the sofa.

“I’m back,” Li Cheng said automatically, slipped on his slippers, and headed toward his bedroom.

“Wait a minute, Xiao Cheng,” his uncle Xue Jingming suddenly said, his expression slightly awkward. “Tomorrow, our company boss is inviting our whole family to dinner, so about your birthday—”

“It’s fine,” Li Cheng replied instantly with a smile. “Tomorrow’s the weekend—I’ll celebrate with friends.”

His aunt’s family had adopted the day they took him in as his birthday, and when he was young, they used to throw him birthday parties.

As he grew older and gradually sensed the subtle tension in the household, Li Cheng got into the habit of no longer troubling his aunt and uncle, instead going out with friends to celebrate his birthday.

According to his schedule, tomorrow he would first work at Cui Yi’s place for a daily wage of 1,800, then meet Mu Yulu and Han Letian in the evening for hot pot or some other place to celebrate.

“Alright then,” his uncle Xue Jingming sighed in relief. “Your aunt and I got you a red envelope for your birthday—it’s on the dining table. Have fun with your friends tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Uncle.”

Li Cheng nodded, picked up a plump golden-red envelope from the dining table, returned to his bedroom, opened it, and found 888 yuan in cash inside.

As expected. Li Cheng quietly put the envelope down—if it had been his aunt Li Zhao’s gift, it would’ve contained 200. This 888 was probably from his uncle Xue Jingming himself.

Since childhood, compared to the distant and indifferent Li Zhao, the non-blood-related Xue Jingming had always been closer to the idea of a “generous elder.”

Closing his bedroom door and blocking out the TV noise from the living room, Li Cheng skillfully covered his computer camera with a sticky note, plugged in a USB drive, launched a bypass software, and entered the website address of World Nuclear Peace House.

After a half-second delay, a clean, elegant webpage appeared.

Its main color was light green; beneath the large 【World Nuclear Peace House】 text were several sections: Company Introduction, Corporate Information, Diverse Services, Support & Services, Partners, Contact Channels, Complaints & Suggestions, and finally, Join Nuclear Peace House.

“Looks pretty legit.”

Li Cheng raised an eyebrow and browsed further, learning that 【World Nuclear Peace House】 was founded two and a half years ago, led by Changsun Yao.

It was a small enterprise similar to a “do-it-all shop,” with over twenty full-time employees and forty contract workers. If you paid enough, they took on any job—including but not limited to intelligence trading, security services, and arms procurement.

Below was a massive image: a woman in a kimono, surrounded by miniature dolls, standing beside an F-15 attack jet developed by Lockheed Martin. The caption read:

【Heartfelt congratulations to our employee Miss Aozora for acquiring her dream aircraft, the F-15! Miss Aozora joined Nuclear Peace House six months ago and, through her own efforts, earned her dream jet—a new woman of the battlefield, balancing career and family. She is warm, vibrant, and full of youth—she bought a fifth-generation fighter jet so her family could all take to the skies.】

Below that was a photo of Changsun Yao: dressed in a suit, wearing a hat, pointing her finger in the classic “Uncle Sam Wants You” pose.

The caption read: 【Your hesitation today will cost you tomorrow’s wealth. Join us—you can be just like her.】

“What the hell is this?”

Li Cheng’s head was full of black lines; he couldn’t shake the feeling that this so-called 【World Nuclear Peace House】 looked utterly untrustworthy.

Fortunately, he had no intention of applying for a job—he was more interested in the forum Changsun Yao had mentioned.

He scrolled the mouse wheel to the very bottom, where, as expected, there was a hyperlink labeled 【Chosen Forum】.

With trepidation, he clicked the link; the webpage slowly refreshed, with a singing whale icon suspended in the center.

A few seconds later, the page finished loading and displayed a line of text.

【Hello, Chosen One. Welcome to the Battlefield Forum.】

【This website was initiated by the Whale Song Organization in collaboration with multiple groups. Much of its foundational data comes from generous public and private contributions. Some pioneers have left us. We thank them for their efforts and sacrifices, and pay tribute to the dead and those marching toward death.】

As the text gradually faded, the forum interface appeared on screen.

The entire site was divided into several sections: General Board, Newcomer Guidelines, Latest News, Black Market Exchange, Anonymous Chat Room, and more.

Most boards and search functions were accessible only to registered users; guests had no viewing rights.

Li Cheng tried clicking the registration button and was told only Chosen Ones could see the verification code—without it, account registration was impossible.

“What the hell is a ‘Chosen One’?”

Frustrated, Li Cheng clicked into the only section guests could access: the Newcomer Guidelines, which explained the basics in a Q&A format.

【Q: What is the Battlefield?】

【A: In the narrow sense, the Battlefield is a massive extraterrestrial architectural complex. Its location, history, function, and volume are unknown (even the mapped portions exceed the entire Solar System). In the broad sense, the Battlefield also refers to everything derived from this colossal structure.】

【Q: Who built the Battlefield?】

【A: Unknown. The Battlefield’s architecture is chaotic, its modules function differently, and it lacks even a basic writing system. Yet, from the sheer scale of the structure alone, its builders’ technological level far exceeds current human understanding.】

【Q: Who maintains the Battlefield?】

【A: A group of mechanical entities known as Constructs. They are believed to have been created by the builders and given orders to maintain the Battlefield. Some Constructs possess considerable combat power and are called Security Guards—they maintain order within the Battlefield.】

【Q: What is a Chosen One? How does one become one?】

【A: Since four and a half years ago, the Battlefield has massively intervened on Earth, randomly selecting qualified individuals to join the “Battlefield Game.” This process is called Selection. Compared to others, Chosen Ones typically possess exceptional traits—positive or negative. Additionally, non-Chosen who personally kill a Chosen may inherit their qualification. Generally, we also refer to Chosen Ones as Players. Currently, approximately 270,000 Players remain alive worldwide. Players may choose to log into the Battlefield via their personal panel.】

【Q: What must Chosen Ones/Players do?】

【A: The Battlefield periodically issues tasks to Players. There are three types: First, Routine Tasks—randomly triggered; optional. Second, Mandatory Tasks—issued periodically; Players cannot refuse. Third, Scripted Tasks—issued periodically; Players are transported to other temporal-spatial worlds (considered parallel universes) to complete missions for the Battlefield. All three types reward Players based on their final performance; penalties for failure are not fixed.】

【Q: What abilities do Chosen Ones/Players have?】

【A: The Battlefield and its contained artifacts possess technological advancement far beyond human comprehension. Additionally, civilizations in Scripted Worlds develop differently from Main Earth (e.g., sci-fi, xianxia, fantasy). Chosen Ones can acquire supernatural abilities through learning, cultivation, skill scrolls, or purchasing equipment.】

【Q: What dangers do Chosen Ones/Players face?】

【A: Obviously, the greatest threat to Players’ lives always comes from the Battlefield’s tasks. The second greatest threat comes from the Battlefield itself—it was not built for Players, and contains many dangerous zones (e.g., God-Monster Tower) and experiments. Some experiments can enter Main Earth through rifts. The third greatest threat comes from other Players. If you encounter the Shadow Realm in reality, immediately flee in the opposite direction.】

【Q: What is the Shadow Realm?】

【A: The Shadow Realm is a projection dimension based on the real world. Visibility is poor, and damaged objects gradually restore themselves over time, leaving no impact on reality. Some Battlefield experiments are born with the ability to open the Shadow Realm; anyone with supernatural power within its range is automatically drawn in. Players often use the Shadow Realm as a battleground.】

【Q: As a newcomer, what should I do?】

【A: Observe, listen, and think. In the early days of the Battlefield’s intervention in reality, 70% of new Players died within the first three months. Once their identity was exposed in the real world, they were typically kidnapped, threatened, or killed to steal their Player qualification. Fortunately, after four and a half years of development, the Player environment has moved beyond its savage phase. Still, joining a reliable official organization or civilian guild significantly increases a newcomer’s survival probability.】

(End of Chapter)

Watch more, listen more, think more. In the early stages of the Killing Field game intruding into reality, 70% of new players did not survive the first three months. Once their identities were exposed in the real world, they were typically kidnapped, threatened, or even killed, and their player qualifications were seized. Fortunately, after four and a half years of development, the player environment has moved beyond its barbaric growth phase. However, joining a reliable official organization or civilian guild still significantly increases a new player’s chance of survival.

(End of Chapter)