Samsara Space: They're all begging me to heal them one more time.

Zhang Yuan turned and left without expression.

In the past, he might have been angry or felt humiliated. But now, touching the skill book he had already learned, he only found it amusing.

"Trying to mistake pearls for fish eyes, you deserve to be wage earners your whole lives."

Since you look down on me, don't blame me for charging too much in the future.

00:00.

Just then, the countdown on my retina reached zero.

Zhang Yuan did not continue searching for teams. Or rather, after being rejected once, he deliberately gave up on those teams that seemed mediocre.

Instead of seeking help from those self-righteous fools, it's better to trust the system's random allocation—after all, it's only in that chaotic disorder that it's easier to create pieces that can be manipulated.

Om-!

As an irresistible beam of traction enveloped his entire body, the system's cold, mechanical voice rang out:

"The countdown to the track merging has ended."

"Passenger [E-9527] has not completed grouping. Forced mounting procedure initiated."

"Randomly matching you with fellow passengers in the same train..."

Zhang Yuan's figure twisted and elongated in an instant before disappearing from the spot.

A strong feeling of weightlessness washed over me, followed by a sickening metallic scraping sound.

Clang—Clang—

When I opened my eyes again, the air I smelled was stale, a mixture of engine oil, musty smells, and a faint smell of blood. The floor beneath my feet was vibrating slightly and rhythmically, as if I were on an old-fashioned train speeding by.

Zhang Yuan immediately looked around.

This is a swaying train carriage with flickering lights, and outside the window is a pitch-black void.

There were three other people in the carriage besides him.

In the left corner, a boy wearing thick-rimmed glasses and a high school uniform was huddled up. He was clutching a Glock pistol with the safety still on, the muzzle trembling, his eyes darting around in terror; he was clearly a student who had never seen blood before.

On the right was a fat man who looked to weigh over 200 pounds. He had a frying pan on his back that he had somehow gotten his hands on. He was muttering "Namo Amitabha Buddha" to himself, and his fat jiggled with the vibrations of the carriage.

Standing in the most prominent position in the center was a young man with dyed yellow hair and a half-fish tattoo on his arm.

He was carrying a gleaming red fire axe and wearing a leather jacket covered in rivets. He was scanning the group with a fierce look, finally fixing his gaze on Zhang Yuan.

Or rather, the image is frozen on the worn-out cross on Zhang Yuan's back.

"Damn... what bad luck!"

Yellow Hair spat fiercely, his eyes flashing even more menacingly. He seemed to realize that in this group of "old, weak, sick, and disabled" people, he, wielding an axe and looking the most intimidating, was the natural leader.

"You three good-for-nothings. Listen up!"

The blond-haired man slammed the fire axe on the ground with a loud clang, startling the bespectacled man and the fat man.

"I'm from the South City Gang, I've killed more people than you've seen chickens! I'm the team leader for this mission! Anyone who dares to slack off, I'll chop them down first! Anyone agree? Anyone disagree?"

Faced with the blond-haired man's taunts, the fat man and the bespectacled man nodded repeatedly in fear, afraid that if they hesitated even for a second, they would be hacked to pieces.

Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He was sizing up the blond-haired man.

To be precise, they were examining the blond-haired man's muscles—which, though haphazard, were clearly the result of street fighting—with an eye of "inspection."

[Target: Delinquent youths]

Strength estimate: 7-8 points (slightly above average, with some explosive power)

[Personality Analysis: Irritable, impulsive, eager to show off, vain, and easily manipulated.]

"He's reasonably strong, quite daring, but most importantly... not very bright."

Zhang Yuan pushed up his glasses, a gentle yet deceptive smile curving his lips.

That's the look a capitalist gives when looking at a free intern in the job market.

Isn't this the perfect "disposable consumable"?

"Yes, Captain."

Zhang Yuan took the initiative to step forward, his tone humble, even slightly ingratiating, perfectly embodying the attitude of "the weak seeking protection in assistance":

"My name is Zhang Yuan, and I play support. I'm counting on you to protect me this game."

"Hmph, you're smart to know what's good for you."

Seeing Zhang Yuan's cooperative attitude, Huang Mao's vanity was greatly satisfied. He brandished the fire axe in his hand, as if he were already the king of this team.

"bite--"

A cold, mechanical broadcast voice rang out.

"Next stop: Raccoon City."

"The train's stop will last 24 hours. Passengers are advised to take any personal protective equipment and disembark in an orderly manner. Have a pleasant journey."

At the same time, all four people's watches vibrated simultaneously, and several lines of blood-red text appeared on the screen:

[Main Quest Updated: Escape from the City of Despair]

[Mission Objective]: Escape the Raccoon City lockdown area within 24 hours.

[Evacuation Guide]: The system has marked a public evacuation point for you - [Raccoon City Police Department Rooftop Helipad].

[Note]: In addition to public evacuation points, passengers may also find other vehicles or secret passages to leave the city on their own.

[Failure Penalty]: Those who fail to evacuate within the specified time will be judged as "lost" by the system.

Upon seeing this note, Zhang Yuan's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Find another vehicle yourself..."

As a hardcore gamer who has completed the entire Resident Evil series countless times, he knows all too well what this means.

In Raccoon City, besides the well-known police helicopter, there is an even more secretive but dangerous escape route—the Umbrella Corporation's Hive Laboratory, buried deep underground, where a freight train connects to the outside world!

"The police station's rooftop is a lifeboat for ordinary people; it's safe, but its limits are capped. As for the underground lab... that's a shortcut to the truth and exorbitant profits."

Zhang Yuan glanced discreetly at his panicked teammates, burying this secret—capable of altering the entire dungeon's course—deep in his heart. The team was too weak now; they weren't qualified to even attempt something at that level. But once they developed...

"Lost?!"

Upon seeing the two large, blood-red characters, the fat man and the bespectacled man's faces instantly turned deathly pale, and their breathing became rapid. Although the system had given them the option to find it themselves, for these clueless newcomers, the "police station rooftop" route marked by the system was their only lifeline.

"To the police station! Only the police station!"

"laugh--"

With a hiss of the air pressure valve releasing air, the car doors slid open to both sides. A rush of cold, damp air, mixed with the musty smell of rot and sewers, instantly flooded in.

"Get down here! Hurry up! Can't you see there are only 24 hours left?!"

To consolidate his newly established authority and to conceal his inner fear, the blond-haired man was the first to jump off the platform, not forgetting to turn back and point menacingly at Zhang Yuan:

"Especially you! The one with the cross! Stop pretending to be so profound. You're going to lead the way and scout ahead! Don't try to slack off in the back!"

Zhang Yuan slowly got out of the car, a professional fake smile on his face: "No problem, Captain."

He even kindly reminded me, "But be careful on your left; there seems to be something in the shadows."