I really don't want to work in the world of weird rules!

Daydream Company is a ruthless enterprise that pushes its on-site investigation team into terrifying tales in order to extract the essence of these tales.

But this raises a question.

If we blindly push our employees into high-level and extremely dangerous supernatural tales, wouldn't we end up with a complete wipeout, without even extracting the original essence?

Gu Changyuan recalled the setting in "Strange Tales Exploration Records": In order to solve this logical loophole and facilitate the exploration, the setting mentioned that employees would have special equipment that could be enhanced as they were promoted.

However, this equipment is not as complicated and fixed as that in online games. Instead, it is designed to facilitate the participation of creators, allowing authors to freely express themselves and design custom-made equipment.

Employees who gain a certain level of recognition can acquire their own supernatural equipment with the company's support, which will grant them special attributes.

It can be considered as providing some convenience in times of crisis.

Gu Changyuan looked at team leader Li Zihao with anticipation, but his gaze inadvertently met that of the lizard, and he silently lowered his head.

He still found it hard to get used to the guy's appearance.

Gu Changyuan tentatively asked, "Can I also make custom-made equipment?"

Li Zihao nodded slightly: "Okay."

Gu Changyuan immediately followed up with, "Could you elaborate?"

Li Zihao nodded again: "Okay."

After receiving three affirmative answers in a row, Li Zihao, who loves squeezing toothpaste, finally began to explain in detail.

Li Zihao explained in a low voice, "Custom-made equipment requires utilizing specific bizarre phenomena contained by the company to create it."

Gu Changyuan thought to himself, "As expected, we need to utilize the power of supernatural tales."

He quickly searched his mind for information in "The Mysterious Records of Ghost Stories":

【The Toy Manufacturing Machine of the Fun Lab / Qterw-E-07】

【Friendly Seed Kit / Qterw-E-99】

【Offerings/ Qterw-E-404】

In Gu Changyuan's memory, the only three kinds of ghost stories mentioned in the original work about the equipment made by the employees of Daydream Company were these three.

The most commonly used method by on-site investigation teams is probably...

"...Our group mainly uses the 'Friendly Seed Set' No. 99." Li Zihao's last sentence accurately confirmed Gu Changyuan's guess.

Gu Changyuan was overjoyed; this was exactly what he wanted! The props in his hands were perfect for this strange tale.

***

Having eaten and drunk their fill, the members of Group D, who had come on a lavish family-funded meal, decided to strike while the iron was hot and head straight to the annex where the ghost story was being kept.

Supervisor Han Yan looked up at the night sky and excitedly added, "We're lucky tonight! This 'Seed Set' is a strange phenomenon that only works under the moonlight. Let's go now while the moon is out."

So everyone went together to the building next to the company.

On the way, Han Yan, who was walking slightly ahead of him, explained, "This place is specifically for isolating and containing relatively safe and useful ghost stories."

He added, "The company usually refers to these kinds of ghost stories as 'green ghost stories.'"

Gu Changyuan was well aware that, according to the official encyclopedia rating, this generally falls under the E-level danger level.

However, this classification method is not very rigorous, since only useful ghost stories are selected here. Some are stronger than Class D, and some are safer than Class F, so people are more used to using the proper term "green ghost stories".

Han Yan turned to Gu Changyuan: "Little Gu, you saw that fortune-telling radio on the first day, right? Most of the ghost stories here are the practical kind."

After swiping my employee card to enter the first floor of the annex building, the staircase leading to the underground came into view.

As you descend the stairs, you'll find a person sitting behind the dimly lit reception desk. The person is dressed entirely in black, wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a hat, and their figure exudes an eerie aura.

Is this also a company employee?

Han Yan immediately stepped forward and explained their purpose: "We are Group D of the on-site investigation team, and we brought the newcomers here specifically to visit and learn."

The shadowy figure remained silent. Seeing this, the supervisor continued, "Requesting access to the Green Ghost Story No. 99 paranormal phenomenon."

The shadowy figure stared at the supervisor for a few seconds as if scrutinizing him, then nodded stiffly.

The shadowy figure pressed a button on the reception desk, and a security door behind it opened.

The harsh sound of metal scraping echoed through the underground space, behind which was a long corridor lined with countless doors on both sides.

Han Yan sternly warned Gu Changyuan: "Never touch the doorknobs of other rooms, even if the doors are locked."

Gu Changyuan agreed wholeheartedly and nodded silently as he followed.

The group stopped in front of the door with the number 99 on it, and Han Yan attached his employee card to the card reader.

The mechanical latch clicked open with a crisp, clear sound.

Gu Changyuan looked up and saw moonlight pouring into the overgrown greenhouse.

In the very center, a rusty machine stood quietly, bathed in moonlight.

[Documentary Records/Strange Tales]

【Friendly Seed Set】

Details: The ghost stories appearing in "The Mystery of Ghost Stories" have the internal identification code Qterw-E-99 of Daydream Makers Co., Ltd.

Characteristics: A bizarre phenomenon that treats objects as plants, extracts their genetic information for hybridization and propagation, and operates on moonlight as its energy source.

By simply placing two items together, their properties can be combined to create something entirely new.

The main strange phenomenon used by the on-site investigation team to make the customized equipment was this rather evocative tale.

Manager Han patted the machine with considerable pride: "This is our department's dedicated ATM."

Standing in front of the rusting machine, Gu Changyuan turned and asked, "Does using this thing cost points?"

He nodded: "The strange phenomena here all require a usage fee, which is one thousand points per use."

Gu Changyuan frowned slightly.

The equipment needed for exploration should be provided by the company. Charging them instead is outrageous. Even if this company is unscrupulous, it shouldn't be this stingy.

The manager waved his hand: "But once you're promoted to manager, you'll have two free opportunities every year."

Gu Changyuan's Adam's apple bobbed. He knew he still had to work hard to climb the ladder.

Supervisor Han Yan added, "So people usually wait until they get promoted before using it, anyway, they can only hold on for about a year at most."

Gu Changyuan fell into deep thought. Li Zihao knew that it would cost points, but he still recommended it. There must be some value in it.

Employee D, nicknamed "The Lizard," is jokingly called a brainless, violent man, but his intuition is surprisingly accurate.

Listening to the special advice given by those with high survival rates is the wise thing to do.

Spending 1,000 points to improve your initial survival rate is definitely a worthwhile deal.

So Gu Changyuan spoke in a deep voice: "I want to try it now."

The supervisor readily agreed: "No problem."

He then lowered his voice and reminded him, "But you'll need to have the existing equipment to use as genetic material."

Gu Changyuan nodded slightly: "Understood."

He had already found this out in the exploration log.

【Exploration Log #05】

Input materials:

"Special Insulated Mug": Manager Cui's personal equipment, with the core term being "unlimited refills" (the liquid never runs out before sunset).

"Ordinary backpack": Everyday items without any special attributes.

Fusion results:

Produce a "special backpack" with supernatural properties.

[Expert Conclusion:]

This backpack perfectly inherits the term "thermos cup".

The space that could originally only hold a few bottles of water can now continuously pour out liquids.

Note: This ability has its limits; after extracting more than 87 liters of liquid in a single operation, the backpack space will be temporarily depleted.