In the music room, the sound of the piano echoed. To Ethan Shaw's surprise, Nicole could play the piano—she was a hidden gem. He approached the door and found Nicole indeed playing. She had intended not to play at night, not wanting to disturb others' rest, but for some reason, she had broken her own rule and was now playing with great focus. Even as Ethan stood beside her, she didn’t look up to acknowledge his presence.

Three minutes and twenty-nine seconds later, the piano piece finally ended. Nicole's face was serene, as still as a divine statue from Sword Lake Palace of Mount Wuliang.

Ethan, entirely forgetting Nicole’s background, felt like he was witnessing a true goddess. To possess such a goddess even for a minute was like holding the entire universe forever. He had no thoughts to spare on why she looked so intense, until she asked, “You once wanted to find Song Ming—why?”

Ethan snapped out of his daydream and replied coolly, “Why the sudden question?”

Nicole softly replied, “Do you really not know? This piano belonged to him.”

Following her slender finger, Ethan looked and indeed saw a mark on the lid: SONG MING.

Ethan was taken aback, then smiled. “What a coincidence.”

Nicole didn’t buy his casual response and directly asked, “How did he die?”

Ethan replied, “Would you prefer he was dead or alive?”

Nicole: “His death had something to do with you, right?”

Ethan: “Couldn’t it just be a coincidence?”

Nicole: “Tell me the truth. I need to know.”

Ethan: “Do you want to see him?”

Nicole turned her head suddenly, staring into Ethan’s eyes. “He’s still alive?”

Ethan: “I’m just asking if you want to see him. Answer me.”

Nicole faced a significant choice. She bit her lip, making a decision. “I want to see him.”

Ethan’s smile was unsettling. “So do I. Why don’t we go see him now?”

“Now?” Nicole suddenly felt afraid.

Ethan: “Yeah, he’s dead. His family could take him at any moment. If you don’t go now, you might miss the chance.”

Nicole, despite her unease, decided she had to see him. She needed to confirm Song Ming’s death; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. Ethan was mysterious and unreliable, and his words were hard to believe. Song Ming’s fate was critical to her. No matter the moral dilemma, she had to take this step.

Despite having just showered, Ethan put on his coat without hesitation and led Nicole downstairs. This time, instead of calling for a self-driving taxi, he took the wheel himself. Turns out, he had a car.

These days, new energy vehicles were on the rise, making gasoline cars incredibly cheap. A Chevrolet could be had for only $5,000. He chose this cheap car because he had pledged loyalty to a clandestine organization, working as an agent for a salary of $100,000 per month. His nomadic life was set, and this cheap car was perfect for disposal at any time. Besides, the Chevrolet logo resembled a cross, and ever since he pledged loyalty, he felt compelled to mark himself with a cross. That’s the real reason he bought it.

It was late at night, and the morgue attendant was long gone; no family members would suddenly visit a body at this hour. Ethan seemed to know his way around and led Nicole into the morgue as if he were the attendant.

Nicole noticed Ethan taking out a strange tool and fiddling with the lock. Within a minute, the door was open—a “universal key” in action.

In this eerie place, Nicole's only source of comfort was the strong, masculine man beside her. She stayed close, feeling a thrill of fear and excitement like never before.

“Hmm?” Ethan, familiar with the place, looked into drawer M3 but found it empty. “Where did it go? Did his family claim it already?”

Nicole exhaled, “Did you get it wrong?”

Ethan: “How could I be wrong?” He checked all the drawers, but Song Ming was nowhere to be found.

Nicole: “Let’s go. We can figure it out on the way back.” She tugged at his coat, eager to leave this chilly place.

Back in the Chevrolet, Ethan made the sign of the cross on his chest, then called Algernon directly. “What happened to Song Ming’s body?”

Algernon: “Oh, I was going to tell you tomorrow. Another test awaits. You’ll see Song Ming in three days.”

Ethan chuckled. “Don’t scare me. That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

Algernon: “Since the first life form LUCA appeared, life has never ceased; it simply takes on different forms. You’ll see him in three days.”

Ethan relayed Algernon’s words to Nicole, only deepening her confusion.

Watching Nicole in the rearview mirror, Ethan found her increasingly intriguing. He was no longer young and thought he could read people well, but he was realizing he couldn’t read his own partner.

He thought he understood Algernon: perhaps the AI didn’t want a medical examiner uncovering Song Ming’s cause of death, so it had the body moved after the death was confirmed.

Nicole, though initially hesitant about staying the night at Song Ming’s former home, decided to stay quiet as they neared Ethan’s place. She figured, given the wild night they’d had, what was one more night? Besides, she had already done the craziest thing in her life; what else was there to lose?

Yet, she still had to ask, “Why did you kill him?”

Ethan shrugged. “It wasn’t about wanting to kill anyone. He was just unlucky.” He bore no deep hatred for Song Ming. Had it not been for this man’s betrayal, Nicole would never have fallen so far, leading to their chance encounter.

Nicole sighed. “I hated him. But I didn’t think you’d... after I just vented to you... Are you some kind of demon?”

Ethan was silent for a moment before replying, “No, I’m just a minor player, insignificant. In fact, I’ve realized recently that my role is smaller than I thought. Song Ming was insignificant too.”

Nicole: “Would you hurt me?”

Ethan: “I would only protect you, cherish you. I don’t care about your past, because my own past is nothing to be proud of. I’ve been struggling in society for over a decade with no accomplishments. I have no right to care about anyone’s past. All I know is you’re beautiful, gentle, and your piano playing is captivating. I think I’ve heard it before?”

Nicole: “It’s ‘The Rains of Castamere’ from Game of Thrones. A dark but beautiful piece.”

Despite knowing it was all an illusion, despite knowing she was lost in a “love-brain” state, she couldn’t help but be moved. The connection between people can be this mysterious, finding safety in someone she once feared. All other customers’ promises meant nothing to her; she believed none of them. But here, in the arms of this supposed devil, she felt something real.

Afterward, they lay intertwined. Two people who had long forsaken their pasts and futures shared the present. While most men would enter a daze afterward, Ethan was just beginning to enjoy this intimate moment. Love's flow broke through all biases and noise, allowing him a glimpse of the universe's truth.

Who knew if it was the impact of confronting life and death, but they spent three days inseparably together. Ethan bought her some clothes to make her stay more comfortable. Over the years, he had taught himself to cook, and even a simple stir-fried dish he prepared was delightful to Nicole.

One evening, as they ate, Nicole noticed something odd. Ethan clicked on an ad on his music player. “Why do you click ads?”

Ethan, embarrassed, laughed. “Old habit. I used to click ads to freeload. I forgot I don’t have to be so cheap anymore. I’ll get a yearly subscription right now.”

After dinner, Ethan washed the dishes while Nicole took a call in another room. Five minutes later, she leaned against the kitchen doorway and said, “A friend just called. I need to go.”

Ethan replied casually, “Alright, go ahead. I’ll be heading out myself soon, anyway.”

He didn’t ask who the friend was. He wasn’t planning on sharing too much either; he had plans to see “Song Ming” and didn’t intend to bring Nicole along.

Wucheng had some waterways where one could take a small boat. Ethan rented one and followed the canal to his destination, where a small yacht would be waiting, according to Algernon's instructions.

Algernon had told him to look for a red-and-white painted yacht, which he quickly spotted when he reached the GPS coordinates. He boarded it, alone.

Algernon’s voice came through the earpiece. “You once said you wanted to advance. Here’s your chance. Complete this test, and you’ll go from being a regular hunter to a high-level hunter. That’s what we call agents internally.”

Ethan scanned the cockpit and asked, “What do I do now?”

Algernon: “Now I must tell you, we are a black-ops organization created by a mysterious figure, a ‘dark forest’ system intended to cultivate hunters who can accomplish grand objectives. You know, the most critical trait in someone who can ‘do great things’ is the ability to push beyond their limits. To do that, you need to transcend human instinct. Are you willing?”

Ethan: “What instinct?”

Algernon said, “It’s fear. No matter what mask fear wears, it is the driving force behind every individual and collective human action. In short, humans are fear-based creatures. We may like to think we balance rationality and emotions, that our left and right brains work in harmony, but that’s not true. We are primarily driven by emotions, and the dominant emotion is fear. You did well before; you dealt with Song Ming easily. Now, you must tackle something bigger. There’s a box at your feet. Open it. Inside, you’ll find what Song Ming has become after being extended by another form of life. If you have the courage, go ahead and open it.”

Without hesitation, Summer Shaw opened the long box, which was taller than a person. What he saw was not a corpse but a vivid red mass. The box was full of red mushrooms. He knew it couldn’t be that simple. Looking closer, he realized these red-capped, white-stemmed mushrooms were actually growing...from a corpse!

Algernon’s voice echoed in his ears: “You’re going to eat these mushrooms. On one hand, they represent Song Ming, a life you ended with your own hands. On the other, they are deadly poisonous. For a normal person, even a small amount could be lethal. Before eating these red mushrooms, you’ll need to have a chip implanted in the back of your head. This chip will help neutralize the toxins. Without it, you’d truly die. Are you ready to accept the challenge? Or do you choose to remain an ordinary hunter? If so, there’s no need to say more. I’ve seen too many humans defeated by fear in the moment.”

Summer Shaw thought for a minute before decisively saying, “I choose to implant the chip.” He glanced at a nearby electrical device box, suspecting it was connected to the chip implantation process.

Algernon responded, “Good choice. You’ve chosen a life of advancement. Know this: once the chip is implanted, you will forever be a hunter for the system. There’s no way out.”

Summer Shaw replied, “I’d rather do this than remain a mere mortal. I choose the chip.”

Following Algernon’s instructions, Summer Shaw opened the box, revealing a device designed to secure the neck. After operating it, tiny needles pierced his nape. A sharp pain ensued, then numbness, presumably from the anesthetic.

Three minutes later, Algernon announced, “You can remove the device. The surgery is complete, and tests confirm success. In half an hour, once your immune system has produced enough of the molecules that can neutralize the red mushroom, you can go ahead and eat them.”

What does dying feel like? Summer Shaw had never experienced it until now. As he cooked the red mushrooms and ate them, he truly felt what it was like. It was an instinct honed by billions of years of evolution; his body knew it was nearing the end and activated every defense mechanism it had. As the saying goes, it’s a battle of mutual destruction. His primitive survival instincts were now attacking his healthy cells as well, killing off eight hundred cells for every thousand destroyed. He could feel billions of his cells dying, and every inch of his body was tearing, burning, collapsing. Every beautiful aspect of life was annihilated by fear, even those he once believed eternal. This was not death, but it was something even closer to death.

In that instant, he understood. These red mushrooms not only threatened life but also stripped away any remaining regard for the value of life itself. After this experience, nothing could matter more than fear.

Who knows how he endured those torturous three hours, which felt as long as three years or thirty years. Looking at himself in the mirror, he was bleeding from seven orifices. Even his eyes were shedding copious amounts of blood, creating a truly terrifying sight.

Algernon commented, “Congratulations, hunter! You have passed the test. Your willpower is exceptional. In fact, 95% of test subjects fail. And those who fail become breeding grounds for these red mushrooms. Surprised?”