System: My Doomsday Train Chapter 1003 380: An Old Familiar Buddy

He seldom takes a life. Or rather, he doesn't frequently kill others with his own hands. He isn't overly desensitized to the sensation of death, yet he can still detect an anomaly. For instance, the eyes of this individual displayed profound terror at the moment of demise, which felt incorrect. Logically, a blend of fury and resentment should have been present. And bewilderment, too. After all, he had torn the ticket after obtaining the ransom for his family. The other person's eyes should have conveyed more than just sheer fear.

This could only signify one thing: the process of the other's death was predetermined, and within that established sequence, the individual was meant to experience only terror at their final moment.

"Curious..." Chen Mang's eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed the players gazing at him in confusion and the approaching sirens in the distance. Beginning with the hints from the implanted "Iris Chip," he surmised that this game might not be a mere virtual online simulation, but rather one where players' consciousnesses are transferred into robotic bodies to explore an unknown universe. It's a collective transmigration. These NPCs are, in fact, living individuals.

However, based on his recent experiments, these NPCs are indeed just NPCs.

At this precise moment—

Four police vehicles had converged, surrounding him, and several armed officers aimed their firearms directly at him. He offered no resistance, merely standing with his hands elevated, passively accepting the placement of handcuffs.

And concurrently with the click of the handcuffs—

A digital interface materialized before his vision.

-

"As you have violated the laws of Ceylon City, you have been apprehended by the Law Enforcement Bureau. While in a state of capture, the safe word cannot be activated."

This implies that he is now permanently barred from exiting this game. Should his verdict result in the death penalty, he would have no recourse but to await his end.

"Don't fret, Train Captain, I can reactivate this privilege at any moment," Ai's voice resonated in his ear. "Should any other player choose to break into a prison or intercept a police vehicle, once the captured status is removed, the safe word can be utilized once more."

"This is a novel game mechanic."

"There's something else."

"The player who recently published a guide on the player forum has uncovered the hidden narrative. That middle-aged man will ultimately witness his son lying prone and be killed by his own son in a state of terror."

"Hmm." Chen Mang gave a slight nod, his attention not fully engaged, as the police officers before him sternly produced an identification card from his pocket and declared with gravity.

"You have infringed upon the statutes of Ceylon City. You are hereby placed under arrest and will face a judicial trial."

A young bystander somehow produced a camera and filmed the unfolding scene.

...

One day elapsed.

The game "New Cosmos," propelled by the endorsement of several Divine-level Civilizations, rapidly ascended to become a universally popular virtual online game. On the game's official player forum, a prominently displayed, pinned post appeared.

The title of the post read:

"The First Player Criminal Apprehended in 'New Cosmos'; Let Us Await His Ultimate Fate."

Numerous comments populated the thread below.

"This fellow is toast. You're unable to employ the safe word while captured. I attempted to quit the game after being caught stealing and found it impossible. I was compelled to post a 1000-point bail for release!"

"The safe word is unusable when captured? Huh? Dying in the game results in actual death, so if he's sentenced to death, won't this guy truly perish?"

"Precisely."

"I'm more intrigued as to how the chap above managed to accumulate 1000 points on the very first day the game launched."

"Sold my bottom."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly as stated. In my district, numerous men's wives are left unattended at home while their husbands work elsewhere. These women seek companionship and are willing to pay handsomely. Typically, a single encounter can yield two to three thousand. I secured 10,000 points in one transaction."

"Why did you earn so much?"

"My dark complexion is quite unusual."

"Is the experience realistic? Does it cut directly to an animation clip, or...?"

"One hundred percent authentic, entirely real, akin to experiencing it firsthand in the actual world. It's astonishing. I've resolved to dedicate the majority of my time to this game. I am utterly captivated by it."

"If you can earn money by selling yourself, why resort to theft?"

""Selling oneself" isn't a respectable profession; one cannot continue this indefinitely."

"That's true."

...

At this juncture—

Within the Law Enforcement Bureau of Ceylon City, Chen Mang was confined alone in a darkened chamber, awaiting interrogation.

At this precise moment.

Someone opened the door and entered. The room was dim, and the external light was exceedingly bright, obscuring the visitor's features to a mere hazy silhouette. The individual then spoke.

"Do you require the assistance of a familiar legal representative?"