On the Ark.

Yes!

Why didn't he think of that? Why did he only think of confronting the Sarkaz warriors head-on? Why didn't he think of using his stealth ability to get the key first? How come White Owl could think of that so easily? It doesn't make sense. How could someone as intelligent as him be less capable than an owl?

Lin Ye suspected that the White Owl had cheated.

...Of course, that was just talk.

Lin Ye began to carefully consider the White Owl's plan and found it to be highly feasible. The only problem was that even if Lin Ye stole the key and approached Liz in stealth mode, it would be virtually impossible for him to take her away in stealth. After all, it was Liz's dream, and from the moment Liz discovered Lin Ye, he had already become part of the dream.

Even if Liz discovers them, it won't be a big deal. As long as he acts quickly enough to take Liz away before the Sarkaz warriors find her, it will save a lot of trouble. When the Sarkaz warriors discover Liz is gone, their first reaction will be that Liz has escaped, not that a spy has infiltrated. That would greatly reduce the pressure of pursuit on Lin Ye and Liz.

Furthermore, if we could find out the location of the secret passage in advance and then take Liz into it, we might be able to leave the dungeon directly and complete the mission.

Thinking of this, Lin Ye couldn't help but praise the white-faced owl: "You truly are worthy of your reputation."

The white-faced owl's ears twitched, but its expression remained calm: "This is just a basic operation for the white-faced owl, please don't be too surprised."

Lin Ye smiled and said, "Your basic skills already surprise me."

"But that's not enough."

"Hmm? What's not enough?"

“The White Owl doesn’t have much information about the dungeon,” the White Owl said, pointing to the sketch on the manuscript again. “To be precise, the information you provided is insufficient. Apart from the basic roads in the dungeon, there’s only one water tank with a clear location, which is definitely not enough. If something unexpected happens, the protagonist won’t be able to cope.”

Lin Ye calmed down a bit: "You're right, so what should I do?"

“White Owl needs more information, more information about the dungeons, tunnels, and the secret passages you mentioned, even information about the prisoners held in each cell,” White Owl said.

Lin Ye was taken aback: "I understand what you mean by dungeons, tunnels, and secret passages, but what do you want with the prisoners in those cells?"

The white-faced owl said, "This is also something the protagonist can utilize. Because the protagonist's intelligence is too low..."

"You're talking about intellectual disability! You're saying intellectual disability, aren't you?! I heard you this time!"

White Owl turned its head slightly, avoiding Lin Ye's gaze: "Because the Originium Virus has put pressure on White Owl's nerves, there is a chance that some of White Owl's statements may be wrong. I hope you can understand."

Lin Ye felt a toothache. He kept thinking that the white-faced owl was doing it on purpose, but he couldn't find any evidence. People say they're mentally ill, and if he argues with someone who's mentally ill, doesn't that make him mentally ill too?

So he could only hold back: "It's okay, so what if you're mentally challenged? You're the protagonist of the game, not me. Go on."

It's really incomprehensible why most of the girls he meets are outwardly kind but inwardly cunning.

The white-faced owl nodded and continued, "Because the protagonist's abilities are far inferior to the enemy's, in order to leave the dungeon, one must utilize all available resources within the dungeon. The prisoners in the dungeon are also a type of resource, which the protagonist needs to control."

Lin Ye pondered the white-faced owl's words and felt that they made sense.

He needs to collect these clues himself. As long as he gathers all the information that the White Owl needs and puts it on the table, Lin Ye believes the White Owl will give him the safest way to clear the level. However, this means that the next time he enters Liz's dream, his goal will not be to bring Liz out of the dungeon, but to collect information.

In other words, he still has to use up another chance to enter Liz's dream.

If that's the case, I wonder if Nightingale's mental state can hold up.

Thinking of this, Lin Ye felt a little heavy-hearted.

"We've detected that you're feeling a bit down," the White-faced Owl asked. "Is it because our explanation didn't satisfy you?"

"No, of course not." Lin Ye quickly shook his head. "Your method has really helped me a lot. If I can get more information, I will definitely come back to ask you for advice again."

The white-faced owl's ears twitched, somewhat puzzled: "The white-faced owl doesn't understand, if that's the case, why are you still feeling down?"

"This is my own business." Lin Ye glanced out the window and realized that it was already dark. "Alright, it's already so late, you can go home and get some rest."

"The work of the White Owl is not finished yet. The White Owl still needs to go back to assist Miss Hamer."

Lin Ye was somewhat surprised: "Do you still have to work at night?"

The white-faced owl nodded.

Lin Ye thought about it carefully. Owls seem to be nocturnal creatures and usually sleep during the day.

...Wait, sleeping during the day?

Lin Ye looked at the white-faced owl.

He always felt that from now on, the white-faced owl's main job with him would be sleeping.

However, it didn't matter. After confirming that Lin Ye had no more work to give her, the White Owl didn't stay any longer and got up to leave. Lin Ye was also preparing to tidy up his office before going to eat, but while tidying his desk, he found a sticky note on it.

"Your furniture has arrived. Please pick it up at the Human Resources Department. Zilan."

Tsk, has the furniture arrived? Will he finally be able to transform this desolate room into a normal office?

For Lin Ye, this was one of the few pieces of good news he had today. He put the note in his pocket, thinking that he must get up early tomorrow, take Liz out for breakfast first, and then come here to move the furniture. Oh, and he also needed to ask Zilan about the recruitment notice, whether someone had taken it down and then reported to the HR department.

Lin Ye hadn't held out much hope for his assistant, but after meeting White Owl, he started to look forward to his next assistant. Would he be a resourceful strategist like White Owl? However, White Owl had taken up one spot, and Lungmen had agreed to help him recruit one, which also took up one spot. So, in the end, only one spot would remain on Rhodes Island.

I'm starting to look forward to it again.

Chapter 102 A Night Talk with Ansel

After get off work, he ate dinner, rested for about an hour, and then went to the training ground to practice swordsmanship with Yato. After getting a severe beating, he returned to his dorm close to midnight. Lin Ye felt his life was starting to resemble the monotonous routine of his high school days again. Every day was so formulaic.

In the dormitory, Ansel was still awake, sitting on his bed reading. Hearing the noise, he said without looking up, "You're half an hour early. Were you slacking off today?"

"How could that be?" Lin Ye hung the sword on the headboard and said casually, "I work super hard, okay? All for the day I can become a sword saint and take down a kid with one strike."

"Oh, I believe you."

Lin Ye smiled and asked, "What books do you read every day?"

“Naturally, books on medicine,” Ansel said casually. “Even during my rest time, I need to supplement my knowledge.”

Lin Ye gave Ansel a thumbs up: "You truly are worthy of your title. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."

Ansel frowned. For some reason, even though Lin Ye was praising him, his tone sounded incredibly irritating. So he closed the book, put it aside, and snorted coldly, "I'm not reading anymore, going to sleep."

Then she lay on the bed, turned over, and faced away from Lin Ye.

Lin Ye found Ansel incredibly amusing. He'd get sulky after just a little teasing, yet Ansel always seemed to initiate the conversation. It had to be said, teasing Ansel was one of Lin Ye's few sources of joy on Rhodes Island. It was just a pity Ansel was a man.

Wait a minute, men are supposed to be better than women, right?

Lin Ye fell into thought, and then realized he looked gay.

"By the way, did the White Owl come to your place for an interview today?" Ansel suddenly asked.

"Yes," Lin Ye asked, "Do you know her?"

“Of course, she’s on the medical team,” Ansel said. “I have to say, you really know how to get yourself into trouble.”

Lin Ye was taking off his clothes, preparing to take a shower, when Ansel's words puzzled him: "Why do you say that?"

Ansel initially didn't want to answer, but then felt it wasn't right not to tell Lin Ye some things, so after hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "Do you know Rhine Lab?"

"I know a little bit about it; it's the place where Himer and the White Owl used to stay."

"Yeah, that's a crazy company."

"crazy?"

Ansel hummed in agreement, seemingly unwilling to elaborate on the matter: "Dr. Himer came from Rhine Lab, and she still holds many beliefs that contradict those of most people on Rhodes Island. Although I believe we are all on the same side, it's just..."

"Just what?"

Ansel rolled his eyes, thinking that Lin Ye's IQ was incredibly low. Did he really have to finish what he was saying?

"In short, even on Rhodes Island, there are many different... factions? I'm not sure if that's the right word, just get the idea. And these people from Rhine Lab—Hime, White Owl, and Ifrit—are all very capable, but their ideologies differ slightly from ours." Ansel turned to face Lin Ye. "Now, you know Dr. Himer and are helping her take care of Ifrit, while White Owl has become your assistant, but I hope you..."

Lin Ye roughly understood: "Does he hope I'm still a Rhodes Island resident?"

“You are from Rhodes Island, and so are they,” Ansel said calmly. “But I hope that you will not get involved in anything outside of your job, especially anything related to the former Rhine Lab.”

"I'm just a psychologist."

“Don’t underestimate yourself,” Ansel said. “To be precise, it’s your ability. You have a talent that most research organizations envy. So I hope you can use that talent in the right place, not in some… wrong experiments.”

Lin Ye suddenly felt the topic had become much heavier: "You mean, Dr. Himer let the White Owl..."

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Ansel said. “Whether it’s Dr. Himer or White Owl, they’re both my colleagues. I don’t want to criticize my colleagues. I’m just giving you some advice, advice as a roommate, or just normal conversation between roommates, you understand?”

Ansel stared at Lin Ye, seemingly demanding an answer from him.

He could only nod and say, "I understand."

"That's good." Ansel was about to turn off the light. "Then let's rest."

"Wait, I have another question to ask."

Ansel frowned: "What's the problem?"

"Regarding what you just mentioned about the forces within Rhodes Island, what exactly are those forces?"

"Do you really have to ask such a sensitive question?" Ansel asked, somewhat displeased.

"I'm sorry," Lin Ye said, clasping his hands together. "I really want to know."

Ansel originally didn't want to tell Lin Ye, but then he thought that since Lin Ye had become a full-time employee, he would find out about this sooner or later anyway, and it was better to tell him himself than to hear it from others. With that in mind, Ansel decided not to sleep anymore and simply sat up in bed.

“Listen,” Ansel said quite seriously, “Rhodes Island is unified, without any division of power. There are only like-minded people gathered together, whether they are from the same clan, playmates, or colleagues. Do you understand?”

Lin Ye naturally nodded.

“Then let’s start with those closest to you.” Ansel raised the first finger. “Those closest to you, the ‘Apostles’.”

"'apostle'?"

“Yes, it’s the name of a squad. The members are Shining, who brought you to Rhodes Island, Nearl, who knew you before you entered Rhodes Island, and Nightingale, who needs your help. Shining and Nightingale are of the same race, and Nearl also knew them before entering Rhodes Island. Because of Shining, the Sarkaz on Rhodes Island have close ties with the ‘Apostles,’” Ansel said. “The reason they joined Rhodes Island was to cure Nightingale’s illness; both Shining and Nearl made this their primary goal. The rest of the Sarkaz are mostly women. Because they experienced the brutal civil war, they are disgusted by conflict and are generally the easiest to deal with on Rhodes Island.”

Demons are the easiest to deal with...

Lin Ye was somewhat speechless: "So, what else?"

“Former members of Rhine Lab, namely the ones I just mentioned,” Ansel continued, “mainly Himer, White Owl, and Ifrit. As for Dr. Himer, we ordinary medical personnel don’t know much; the Doctor and Dr. Kal'tsit know far more than we do. So, compared to danger… cough cough, slip of the tongue. What I mean is, because we don’t know much, it’s hard to draw conclusions. We only know that they came to Rhodes Island because of some things that happened while they were working at Rhine Lab.”

"What is it?"

Ansel rolled her eyes: "Do you think I know everything? You can only ask Dr. Kal'tsit or the Doctor about this kind of thing. Even Amiya might not know."

“Okay.” Lin Ye nodded. “So, the only ones from Rhine Lab are Dr. Himeru, White Owl, and Ifrit?”

“No, there’s another very important person,” Ansel said, “Saria.”

"Who is this?"

“A very capable person, also from Rhine Lab, but she seems to have a significant conflict with Dr. Himer.” Ansel shook his head. “I don’t know much about her either, because Saria spends very little time on the island and doesn’t interact with us much. But I’ve heard she has a similar personality to Nearl.”