Chapter 753

【Description:】

【"SCP-049" is a humanoid entity, 1.9 meters tall, whose appearance matches that of a medieval plague doctor.】

【Although "SCP-049" appears to be wearing thick robes and a ceramic mask that indicates its profession.】

【These garments seem to have grown from "SCP-049"'s body over time, and it is now almost impossible to distinguish the clothing from the body shape beneath it.】

【Nevertheless, X-ray examinations indicate that "SCP-049" does indeed have a human skeletal structure beneath its surface layer.】

【"SCP-049" is capable of speaking in multiple languages, but prefers to use English or medieval French.】

【While "SCP-049" is generally cordial and willing to cooperate with Foundation personnel, it becomes irritable and even extremely aggressive if it senses the presence of what it calls "the Pestilence."】

【Although Foundation researchers are not yet clear on the exact nature of this Pestilence, it appears to be a matter of extreme concern to "SCP-049."】

【Locked】

【Locked】

【"SCP-049" will become hostile toward human individuals it deems to be affected by the Pestilence, often to a degree that requires containment.】

【Locked】

【Locked】

Browsing through the file of "SCP-049" line by line, aside from some basic information, there was nothing else worth noting.

Asta had an instinctive feeling.

Although the "Plague Doctor" had a fearsome appearance, its actual danger level was not high.

However, this created a contradiction.

"120" If her deduction was true, then how could one explain the slow progress of the "Plague Doctor's" file unlocking, which was far behind the progress of "SCP-096"?

Even if the "Plague Doctor" were actually quite dangerous, with such a vast number of players across the galaxy, if they tried one by one, some would surely stumble upon some clues.

Thinking of this, Asta was suddenly speechless.

Wasn't this method exactly what the Foundation was currently using—treating D-Class personnel as consumables to test the anomalous properties of SCPs?

The actions of players in the game were certainly different from those of the Foundation in reality.

Players in the game could respawn upon death, unlike D-Class personnel who were consumables and died for real;

But correspondingly, before triggering special skills, players were merely D-Class personnel wearing Foundation uniforms:

They had not received systematic training from the Foundation;

They had only a superficial understanding of the Foundation's operations and internal processes;

Their knowledge of containment and research procedures was also merely a matter of going through the motions...

All they possessed were immortal bodies, the possibility of learning lessons and starting over from repeated deaths and failures, and curiosity about the Foundation and the SCPs.

Back to the main topic.

This situation seemed to confirm from the side that what influenced the analysis and research of SCPs was by no means just danger level.

The anomalous properties of the SCP itself, the way these properties were triggered, and numerous other conditions would also affect the difficulty of unlocking the files.

It might even... be related to the moral level of the players.

Just now, while browsing the "Foundation Big Game" forum, Asta had seen a post like this.

Several players roleplaying as project supervisors were arguing fiercely over whether D-Class personnel should be used to determine the anomalous properties of SCPs.

Some believed that D-Class personnel in the game were just strings of data, and if they died, they died.

Others believed that even if they were just strings of data and lacked self-awareness, digital life was still life and should be protected by human rights!

As soon as the post appeared, a crowd of onlookers who loved drama jumped in, either expressing their own views or fanning the flames.

In short, Asta didn't see them reach any conclusion, but she learned a lot of useless knowledge.

For instance, various nicknames for human body parts.

"Should I choose 'SCP-096'?... Or should I choose 'SCP-049'?"

Asta was a bit conflicted for a moment.

In her understanding, Bai Xuan was currently hunting the "Stellaron Hunter" Kafka on the Xianzhou, so he certainly wouldn't have time to touch the "Foundation Big Game."

Therefore, she should choose an SCP file with a certain level of difficulty, but not too high, as the start of their play session.

But the problem followed: should she choose 096, which she had a deeper understanding of, or 049, about which she knew almost nothing?

The former would be convenient for her to show off, knowing the plot and development in advance, which in itself was a dimensionality-reduction strike like a cheat.

As for the latter.

Although it lacked the advantage of foresight, it was better for being genuine and starting from scratch together.

After a simple weighing of pros and cons, Asta decided to play the "SCP-049" file content together in a while.

And... she had to quickly create a version of herself that was incredibly authentic and realistic.

In the next game, she couldn't use Bai Xuan's model again.

"Luo Fu" Xianzhou, Exalting Sanctum.

"Little Bai~ which pretty girl are you chatting with again?"

March 7th lay on Bai Xuan's back, resting her chin on his shoulder, staring at the phone screen without any concealment, asking a question she already knew the answer to.

"Station Master Asta is asking how our progress is going."

Bai Xuan moved his fingers without changing his expression, sliding the screen to the bottom, and answered casually.

"Hmm... Little Bai is really popular."

March 7th puffed out her cheeks, shook her head gently, and pressed her chin down hard, protesting weakly.

"Jealous?"

"This girl isn't that easy to get jealous." March 7th bit the finger Bai Xuan extended and licked the tip.

After a while, she spoke again:

"Just curious when Little Bai took down Station Master Asta."

"However, since Station Master Asta has been successfully recruited by Little Bai, can we get a family discount when the train goes to the space station for supplies in the future?"

"That's not up to me," Bai Xuan shook his head, "Let's talk about it later."

"Talk about it... later." March 7th repeated softly, her focus clearly in another direction.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Welt Yang was reviewing everything from Kafka hacking the train's communication system to her various abnormal behaviors at the "Cloudford."

She acted as if she had prepared in advance, waiting there, watching the clock, waiting for things to happen.

It was truly strange.

"When we confronted Kafka, she seemed to know that Fu Xuan would appear..."

"Stelle" on the side nodded along:

"She had read the 'script' beforehand."

Could it be... that in the "Stellaron Hunter's" script, Kafka was supposed to be captured by Fu Xuan?

But why?

Wasn't the goal of the "Stellaron Hunter's" trip the "Stellaron"?

The "Stellaron" couldn't possibly be in the "Divination Commission," or in the Xianzhou's prison, could it?

Guessing randomly, he didn't grasp any conclusion, but instead made his own thoughts a mess.

Welt Yang adjusted his glasses, leaned on his cane, and began to think from the core figures of the "Stellaron Hunters."

"Elio—the leader of the 'Stellaron Hunters'."

"No one knows who he is or what he looks like, only that the Interastral Peace Corporation calls him the 'Slave of Destiny'."

"This person, it is rumored that he possesses the power to foresee 'possibilities'."

"Herta says the Corporation believes Elio can see the time branches of infinitely many possibilities, a capability nearly equivalent to predicting the future."

"—Even more so. If the rumors are true, then every seemingly aimless action of the Stellaron Hunters is essentially a choice of 'possibilities'."

Speaking and thinking, Welt Yang looked up at "Stelle."