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Suddenly, bold-font prompts burst onto the main screen and each split screen simultaneously.
[Hidden Task Triggered]
The striking visuals of the prompts were impossible to ignore.
A loud wave of exclamations echoed across the player viewing area.
"Oh wow wow, it's so unbelievable!"
Even the clown host, ever theatrical, ran up to the nearest screen and stared intently at the flashing message. His painted eyes widened.
Then, he turned sharply back toward the audience.
"The first player to trigger the hidden mission in this year's finals... is actually our very own Lucas!!!"
Just moments ago, the clown host had been badmouthing Lucas.
Now, faced with this shocking development, he swiftly changed his tune:
"Oh~ Lucas is such an unexpected player—"
But not before attempting to salvage his earlier criticism:
"But now it seems that this hidden task might be a little too challenging for Lucas..."
He laughed nervously, trying to balance showmanship with a hint of condescension.
"Okay, okay, let's still hope that player Lucas can survive this ordeal with these eager criminals. I suppose we'll have to shelve the 000 hidden mission for now."
Most of the audience seemed to agree with him.
"What do you think Lucas will do?" Marco asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he stared at the screen.
"In my opinion," Marco continued, "the smartest thing he can do is offer to share the punishment. That might win him a lot of recognition from the crowd."
Blue Kill, sitting nearby, didn't comment directly.
She simply said, "I don't know what he'll do, but I do know there's nothing he can't do."
Marco turned to her, visibly stunned. "You sound just like one of Lucas's fanatics."
Meanwhile, on the game interface:
[Modeling... Initiating Risk Assessment Based On Player Lucas's Strength]
Big-Headed Villager: Intermediate Danger
Villager Jason: Danger Level Approaching Advanced
Villager Mark: Advanced Danger
Other Villagers: Assorted Risks
Verne Town Staff Member (BGDE): Advanced Danger
"So... the goal is to earn the trust of a group of extremely dangerous criminals?" Lucas whispered as he observed his surroundings carefully.
The villagers, filled with fear over the punishment announced by the prison guards, began to radiate pure hatred toward Lucas.
Why should he be the only one exempt from punishment?!
The prison guard, oblivious to the rising tension, raised Lucas's worksheet high and continued to lecture the others.
"Everyone should learn from Jason here. This is what a serious work attitude looks like."
"Don't just gawk at the drama. The prosperity of Verne Town depends on all our efforts..."
But something shifted.
The once calm expressions of the villagers began to twist. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. Silence fell.
The prison guard faltered.
He sensed something was off.
Everyone's eyes were focused...
Not on him.
But behind him.
He slowly turned.
"What on earth are you all looking at..."
Behind him stood Lucas.
Holding a bloodied kitchen knife.
The moment the guard turned, Lucas lunged.
"I thought about it carefully... and killing you is the safest option."
---
SLASH.
Blood sprayed.
Nearby villagers were splashed with warm red.
Not a single one screamed.
Instead, they roared with excitement.
The headless corpse dropped.
Lucas calmly wiped the blade clean.
He returned the knife to his pocket.
"Longhu killed two people and was only placed in a confession room. He was set for punishment. That alone terrified these villagers..."
"Compared to that, executing the prison guard sends a clearer message. Nothing earns the respect of criminals more than eliminating their oppressors."
One villager picked up the severed head of the guard.
He raised it high into the air.
Cheers exploded.
The farmland erupted into a sea of joy.
[Player Lucas is Recognized: (2/18)]
[... (9/18)]
[... (15/18)]
[Player Lucas is Recognized: (18/18)]
[System Prompt: Player Lucas has earned full recognition from the villagers and completed the hidden task!]
[Reward: Terminator's Sunglasses]
> [Note: Prisons under the apocalypse serve a greater purpose than just punishing criminals...]
[Item: Terminator's Sunglasses]
Type: Psychic Weapon
Quality: Dilapidated
Attack Power: Unknown
Attribute: None
Usage: Repair Required
Remark: "Let us create a crazy massacre together... and overthrow human tyranny."
---
In the host studio, the clown host gaped in astonishment.
He held his mask tightly as it nearly fell off.
"Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD!!!"
Off the stage, a chorus of gasps filled the air.
"What Lucas just did completely defies expectations!"
On the split screen, the barrage of comments exploded.
Gifts and donations flooded in.
In mere moments, Lucas's reward points exceeded 500,000.
[Player Lucas has earned half an hour of main screen broadcast time!]
[Player Lucas's popularity has skyrocketed to 18th place in the finals rankings!]
A group of enthusiastic viewers shouted in unison:
"Overthrow the tyranny of readers!"
The farmland was no longer a workplace.
It had become a battlefield, a revolution, and a celebration of rebellion—all at once.