Lucky billion players, you've never seen one before / I can accumulate my own luck

Other psionic monsters followed the same path.

This offensive and defensive process lasted for quite a while before it ended.

Seeing that they could not subdue the sealed monsters, the other psionic monsters finally chose to retreat.

The tranquil atmosphere of the night has returned.

After a while, seeing that no more monsters were appearing, Gao Wen breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Fan Xiao, saying with a sense of relief, "Your guess was right. Fortunately, we used a conciliatory strategy with 'Monster Blockade,' and it took the initiative to block the other monsters for us."

"Otherwise, if all those monsters swarm out, we'll be in danger."

“It’s not dangerous,” Fan Xiao said. “At worst, we’ll just have to go back to the lab.”

"The lab can only protect us for a while, right?"

Gao Wen said, "We speculated last night that as the laboratory's survival time progressed, its protective effect on players might gradually weaken until it decayed to zero."

"At that time, we may be passively drawn into a major battle with extremely high danger. Even if we survive, we will probably have to pay a heavy price."

"Don't worry," Fan Xiao said confidently, "this situation won't happen."

Gao Wen asked, "Why?"

“I mean me,” Fan Xiao laughed. “I certainly won’t pay much of a price. As for you… I can only say you’re absolutely right.”

"..." Gao Wen: "I've found that your words can be quite hurtful."

"I did it on purpose."

Fan Xiaolian didn't even bother to hide it, saying, "During the previous apology session at the tombstone, I felt uncomfortable being stared at and needed to vent my emotions."

Gawain: "..."

Good guy!

Why don't you just say you're petty and vindictive?

"Speak of it."

To avoid awkwardness, Gawain changed the subject, saying, "Blocking monsters' psionic energy seems to be incredibly versatile?"

"So many psionic monsters are trapped inside the research institute, and none of them can get out."

"I'm really curious how high its level would be if its psionic energy were to awaken normally?"

"The level doesn't necessarily have to be very high."

Fan Xiao said, "This is a copy; it can't be understood using normal logic."

"The monster blocking mechanism has clearly become a barrier within the instance, and is an integral part of the instance."

"Its capabilities have been specialized by the copy and have been pushed to an extremely powerful level."

"Is this so..."

Gao Wen sighed, "Like I said, it's fortunate that we didn't attack it rashly, otherwise the situation might have been very bad."

“By the way,” Nori reminded the two, “won’t calling it ‘Sealed Monster’ directly anger it?”

She pointed to the unseen blockade barrier ahead.

Because of her wording, she angered the sealed monsters, who then removed the barrier and released the psionic monsters one by one—she was worried about this possibility.

"Your Highness, you are overthinking it."

Fan Xiao said calmly, "If it had the intelligence to understand our words, it would have recognized long ago that we are not 'researchers' but unrelated strangers."

"Given its kind nature in life, it would probably let us leave directly, and the second instance quest would not be possible."

"Not necessarily, Earl."

Nori offered her speculation: "Perhaps it's simply bound by the rules of replication, forced to follow predetermined patterns and unable to act as it pleases?"

"That possibility does exist, but it's very small."

Fan Xiao added, "Let's start by reasoning from the basics of psionic experiments."

"If the experimental subjects who become monsters can still think like normal people, then there is no such thing as failure in awakening psionic energy."

"Even if you become a monster, it's just a change in the form of existence. Your mind and thoughts are still your own. In a way, it can even be called an evolution at the level of life."

"Does Your Highness think there's such a cheap and wonderful thing?"

"Hmm...that makes sense."

Nori pondered for a moment and agreed with the view: "If becoming a monster could still retain one's thoughts and intelligence, then those researchers would probably have already performed this kind of 'evolution' on themselves."

She stared at the perimeter of the research institute, at the invisible barrier, and sighed softly, "Xiao Rou is long gone; there are only monsters here."

Perhaps out of gratitude for the help in sealing off the monster, she wanted to treat the other party as a "normal person".

She even fantasized a little about being able to save the other person.

Unfortunately, the monster's humanity has long been submerged in the past.

Fan Xiao glanced at Nori and said, "Locking down monsters is not the same as Xiao Rou; it's more like the hardware that executes the dungeon program."

“When we build a tombstone and hold a burial ceremony, it’s like we’re inputting a command, and the other party responds according to a pre-set program.”

"Um……"

Nori nodded.

She knew that Fan Tuan was trying to comfort her in a subtle way.

I always feel like I'm being looked down upon.

What should I do? Should she huff in protest?

At this moment, the head maid asked Nori, "Your Highness, can we proceed directly to the next level now?"

"Should we leave now? Or wait five more days to fulfill the first condition?"

“Where is the Earl?” Nori asked Van Shaw.

“I’ll wait five days,” Fan Xiao said with a smile. “I have obsessive-compulsive perfectionism. If all the conditions for the dungeon aren’t met, I’ll feel uneasy.”

"Then let's wait."

Nori nodded.

The head maid and the captain of the guard did not object and acquiesced to the suggestion that suited their wishes.

Based on their current performance, even if they wait five days to meet the first condition, the dungeon rating probably won't increase much.

The final reward from the dungeon is unlikely to be much different from the reward given in five days.

However, they didn't care too much about whether the dungeon rewards were good or bad.

Players backed by powerful factions can easily obtain potions and good items through platform trading.

They even have priority in choosing some of the better props.

Whether or not there are rewards or incentives doesn't matter; what they really care about is the positive correlation between dungeon ratings and player levels.

The higher the rating after each dungeon run, the fewer dungeon runs are needed to level up the player.

Therefore, if you want to level up quickly, you have to pay attention to every detail that can improve your rating.

From this perspective, both the head maid and the head guard had a good impression of Fan Xiao.

Because the other party indirectly helped them, raising their dungeon rating.

Without Fan Xiao... they would probably have had a rather embarrassing time completing the first mission requirement.

Yes, they are still confident that they can survive for seven days.

This is not blind confidence.

Hiding in the lab at night, playing hide-and-seek with humanoid monsters during the day.

The "cognitive interference" rule relies on Nori's help to knock them unconscious, thus allowing them to get through the ordeal.

Although they were guards, the two of them combined couldn't defeat Nori alone.

Besides the multi-functional "Heartless Doll," Princess Nori has other powerful tools that she hasn't used yet.

These days, anyone who's not a fool knows to keep something in reserve.

The head maid turned her gaze to Fan Xiao and asked, "Where in Roman City is Mr. Fan staying? His Highness and I are also staying in Roman City for the time being to make our sightseeing more convenient. If possible, please allow us to pay a visit to formally express our gratitude."

“Yes, maid.” Nori nodded. “That’s exactly the question I was about to ask.”

She looked at Van Chau: "So... where do you live, Earl?"

"Rice Estate"

Fan Xiao said.

He didn't rule out establishing real-world relationships with Nori and others, and spoke the truth directly.

Upon hearing this, the head maid and the head guard looked surprised.

Nori, after a slight surprise, showed joy on her face.

Upon seeing this, Fan Xiao immediately deduced the possible situation.

He asked, "You...you haven't all been to Rice Manor, have you? Do you know the lady of the house?"

"Of course! Tina is such a cool person, of course I'll try to get to know her."

After Nori finished answering, a strong sense of curiosity appeared in her bright single eye.

She looked at Fan Xiao and asked pleadingly, "Count, what is your relationship with Sister Tina? I didn't see you when I went to the manor before?"

“A distant relative,” Fan Xiao replied. “I’ve only been in Roman City for a few days, so it’s normal that Your Highness hasn’t met me yet.”

“A distant relative…” Nori guessed, “Cousin? My cousin?”

"..." Fan Xiao corrected, "I am considered a junior."

He didn't try to put on a show of wealth.

If those words were to reach the ears of the person in question, he might actually get his face swollen and turn into a fat man.

One must maintain a certain sense of awe towards the strong—ever since Tina came to his door when he was still an E-level player and cornered him in the time-space train, he has kept this lesson in mind and taken it as a warning.

"Junior...wait? Does that mean I'm a generation older than you?"

Nori asked in surprise.

Although her tone was one of surprise, the expression on her face clearly showed smugness.

Kids will be kids; they always seem to be showing their competitive spirit in inexplicable ways.

"You call her 'sister,' but does she consider you her younger sister?"

Vanshaw posed a crucial question to Nori: "Do you think she cares about you?"

Given Tina's reluctance to associate with the powerful figures in Division 001, Nori calling her "sister" is likely just a one-sided, affectionate term.

She was probably trying to win Tina's favor with her own.

"Well……"

Nori's smugness vanished: "Tina... is indeed very aloof. I've tried to talk to her a few times, but she hardly pays any attention to me. But... Tina is pretty cool too!"

“I didn’t expect you two to be acquaintances,” Gawain joined the conversation. “It’s such a coincidence that you’ve come to the same instance. It seems like you two are destined to meet.”

“We actually have quite a connection,” Fan Xiao suddenly said.

"..."

Gao Wen was taken aback, somewhat confused.

However, he didn't think too much of it and asked curiously, "What kind of fate do we have? Isn't it just a normal encounter between strangers from different skill levels?"

"It's fate that we can come to the same instance from different zones."

Fan Xiao smiled.

He didn't explain the so-called fate, but rather that their memories had been altered and they were all involved with the organization behind Dr. Zhuang.

"Your definition of fate is too broad, isn't it?" Gao Wen shook his head.

"Everyone's standards are different, some are big and some are small."

Fan Xiao shrugged: "Old Gao, you can come find me at the Rice Manor in Roman City, Division 001, when you have time."