Wen Wen asked in surprise, "Let them act out the plot themselves?"
Jidro nodded, "Please let me elaborate. The nature of the Mirror Labyrinth ensures that we can’t make it into an open space like a town or island."
"So I can only set it up as one small site after another. To prevent them from doubting the authenticity of the setting, I constructed these high walls to make them think they’re still in the real world, just enclosed by walls."
"And with the limited space, there aren’t many actors available. Testing many people at the same time makes it hard to avoid some flaws."
"The people you want to test are mostly smart. If they recognize the existence of actors, they might suspect it’s a test and pretend to make choices that fit the test theme."
"This obviously doesn’t align with your original intent."
Jidro stopped and looked at Wen Wen.
Wen Wen waved his hand, "Go on, I’m listening."
"So I’ve decided not to arrange actors but directly throw the test subjects here. Then, I’ll use some means to provoke their conflicts and see how they react in desperation. This way, you can achieve the purpose of the test."
"Although this is a last resort due to time constraints, I think maybe this way can better match your original intent."
Wen Wen looked deeply at Jidro; his idea was indeed quite good.
"Your plan isn’t just to throw them in here, is it?"
Jidro shook his head, "Of course, it’s not just throwing them in here. I just won’t set actors to drive the plot forward, as for other elements, there won’t be any less effort put in."
"Let me explain the details to you gradually. First, when they come in..."
Jidro leaned close to Wen Wen and explained all his ideas in detail, making Wen Wen’s eyes light up more and more.
Originally, he only planned for Jidro to create a plot similar to an old-fashioned RPG game. Unexpectedly, this guy came up with such an exciting storyline.
Wen Wen himself wanted to join in and play along with the test subjects.
Following that, Jidro used a few prison guards to demonstrate the entire process to Wen Wen, making him nod frequently.
Although there were still some flaws, it basically met Wen Wen’s requirements, so he immediately decided that after the final debugging, they would directly test it with the high-ranking officials of the Foundation.
If the first test is successful, Wen Wen can use it to test Containment Officer candidates by just changing the conditions, and the scale of the Sanctuary can quickly expand.
To avoid any accidents and see the effects of this test as directly as possible, Wen Wen also planned to blend into the first test team.
Geng Xingshu returned to the lab, getting angrier the more he thought about it.
What nonsense are these high-ranking Foundation officials thinking? Isn’t this just wasting people’s time?
To send a broken mirror, couldn’t they have someone deliver it?
To hear an informal work report, couldn’t they just call?
They had to mobilize everyone over; isn’t the staff’s time precious, too?
But speaking of which, this palm-sized small mirror is indeed quite exquisite. The frame is made of pure gold; what kind of company could have such a grand gesture?
As a craftsman, Geng Xingshu, after fiddling with it for a while, realized that the frame was only gilded on the outside, with the rest made of brass painted with gold paint.
However, given the workmanship, it’s worth at least eight hundred dollars, so Geng Xingshu still stowed the mirror carefully.
After all, it’s regarded as a Foundation reward, carrying some commemorative significance.
Geng Xingshu had experienced various nonsensical, bureaucratic actions from superiors before.
Back when he was in college, a counselor once told them to wait in a classroom on the top floor of the teaching building during the holidays, claiming there was something important to announce.
After two hours of waiting, the counselor came in with a smile, simply saying a few words.
Which mostly meant, "Don’t miss Monday night classes; there will be leaders inspecting," and then dismissed them.
Compared to that meeting, at least the Foundation gave them a mirror, didn’t they?
Geng Xingshu actually hated formalism and trivial social complexities, which was why he became an unemployed crafting hobbyist.
However, the Foundation saved his life and allowed him to realize his dreams and achieve personal value.
As long as the Foundation doesn’t drive him away, Geng Xingshu would stay there through thick or thin.
So, he started continuing his research, currently aiming to produce a qualified exoskeleton armor, while his dream was to create a large robot like in cartoons.
Regardless of whether a large robot could be used in warfare, Geng Xingshu simply wanted to build one.
He researched late into the night before falling asleep on the workbench.
Having no clue that the small mirror he placed aside had its surface flowing like mercury.
Geng Xingshu slept very comfortably this time, not only better than sleeping on the test bench but even better than ever sleeping in a bed.
Warm sunlight hit his face, a breeze caressed his cheek, and a fragrant scent of grass wafted through the air.
Sunlight? Breeze? Grass?
How am I experiencing these absurd things when I’m sleeping at the workbench?
Geng Xingshu was startled awake, sitting up from the grass, shockingly discovering that he was now in a space enclosed by walls, roughly the size of a football field!
Attempting to call for help, he immediately found something lodged in his mouth.
Touching his face, he realized it was a bicycle lock, wide enough that it made speaking difficult and impossible to remove from his mouth.
Moreover, he wasn’t alone here; with a quick glance, he noticed at least seventeen or eighteen people who had just woken up like him.
Lying next to him was a stranger, a young man with a somewhat panicked expression and slightly small eyes.
Once everyone stood up from the ground, they heard a voice.
"Welcome to my survival game!"
Geng Xingshu located the voice’s source and saw a massive screen on the wall right in front of him, elevated more than ten meters high, making it difficult for them to reach.
The screen lit up, showing a figure wearing a bizarre mask on the screen.
The mask had a grotesquely grinning clown face, sure to induce fear.
"Congratulations to everyone; you’ve been kidnapped by me."
Geng Xingshu shivered; what’s praiseworthy about being kidnapped?
"I’m not here for money or lust. You simply need to live here for a month, and I’ll give you a large sum of money, then let you go."
"If... you manage to survive until then."