Chapter 75: Probability Is Indeed a Lie

Li Tianque followed the two through the dense storage bays to the southeastern corner of the armory. In this corner stood an inconspicuous transparent storage unit, nestled perfectly against the wall; its placement was precise, and inside, it seemed to hold the hilt of a weapon.

The hilt appeared to be part of a blade or axe, its texture reminiscent of platinum but even brighter and heavier. The handle was intricately latticed, with faint streams of light flowing within.

As Li Tianque approached the transparent storage unit, the weapon's hilt inside suddenly flickered and emitted a sizzling sound. At that moment, a burst of blue light shot from above the hilt, transforming it into a laser combat blade.

The blade itself was reminiscent of a Nepalese kukri, its color strikingly similar to ancient weapons from the Zelda universe. Li Tianque, seeing such a wondrous weapon in reality for the first time, was filled with curiosity and couldn't help but linger his gaze.

Just then, Ling Chi opened the glass casing of the storage unit and, without hesitation, reached out to grasp the luminous edge of the laser blade. Li Tianque's heart raced at the sight, for in the instant Ling Chi grabbed the blade barehanded, he clearly saw a wisp of black smoke rise from Ling Chi's hand, followed by the acrid scent of burnt flesh wafting through the air.

The laser blade vanished quickly upon contact, but it had still scorched Ling Chi's hand. Ling Chi didn't even furrow his brow at the pain; after extinguishing the blade's light, he simply rubbed his hand.

In the next moment, Li Tianque heard the sound of gears turning from his left side, and a hidden door slowly opened. He turned in surprise and asked, “Is this laser blade actually the key to the secret chamber?”

Wu Miaoran explained, “Exactly, the blade is the switch for the hidden door. Clever, isn’t it? The arrangement of weapons in this room seems random, but it's actually quite deliberate. Four-Eyes used big data to run tens of thousands of simulations and calculations before settling on this layout. With the current setup, most people would instinctively overlook this weapon in the corner. And since the switch is only a hilt, it's even less noticeable compared to the flashier gear. It rarely draws any attention.”

“Even if someone happened to suspect this weapon, they'd need considerable courage to test the laser by hand,” Li Tianque remarked, awed.

Ling Chi chuckled, “You sure know how to compliment someone in a roundabout way.”

Li Tianque rolled his eyes; he was merely stating facts, not trying to flatter. The three of them entered the now-open secret door and stepped into the armory's hidden chamber.

Within was a completely enclosed, pure white room. The walls were made of material resembling soundproofing foam from a karaoke lounge. There were no lights, but the walls themselves emitted a gentle, comfortable glow.

Around the room's perimeter were three square recesses, resembling built-in drawers. At the center stood a podium-sized control console, bearing ten numerical buttons from 0 to 9.

On the console was a device like a VR headset, but with an array of strange antennas on top, and beside it lay a pair of crystal gloves.

The two stood at the entrance, making no move to enter. Wu Miaoran addressed Li Tianque, “This is the testing chamber. You see the control console over there—with those numbered buttons? Each button corresponds to a type of pest exterminator. Most have already been claimed; only No. 0, No. 5, and No. 9 remain. Your task is to choose one of these three and attempt to match with it.

During the matching process, you'll need to wear the protective helmet and crystal gloves. Following the instructions inside the helmet, you have three chances to attempt matching. If successful, you'll be prompted to enter a virtual space for introductory learning and training. If you fail, your body and mind may suffer severe trauma; you won't be getting out of bed for the rest of the month, and if you're unlucky, you might not survive at all.

So you'd better think carefully. If you give up now, you can continue using the rookie equipment for missions, but you'll never have access to the exterminators. If you choose to take the test, it's a gamble—opportunity and risk go hand in hand.”

Standing in the ethereal white light, Li Tianque glanced at the control console. In the icy hue of the chamber, the abrupt console seemed almost like an executioner's block, chilling to behold.

Still, Li Tianque didn't hesitate long, replying bluntly, “I choose to test.”

Though the test might be dangerous, he understood well that without a powerful exterminator, future missions would be far more perilous. Better to face danger once than to live in constant fear; he naturally preferred the former.

Ling Chi smiled approvingly, patting Li Tianque's shoulder. “Kid, you've got guts. If you're ready, go put on the protective gear. But let me remind you: if you pass the test, you'll immediately enter the virtual space for introductory training—three hours. Since time perception differs there, three hours out here equals roughly fifteen days in the virtual world. Prepare yourself.”

“All right. But I'm curious—what are the odds of a successful match?” Li Tianque asked.

“Don't worry. All the middle managers you see here at the company matched easily,” Wu Miaoran assured him.

That eased Li Tianque's mind somewhat. If everyone here had their own exterminator, the success rate must be at least eighty percent. After all, only two or three people a year even apply to this company.

Thinking this, Li Tianque walked slowly toward the console. As soon as he stepped inside, the chamber door closed, and Wu Miaoran and Ling Chi vanished behind the seam.

The floor was tiled, yet as Li Tianque walked across it, he felt strangely light-footed, as if the surface were soft and yielding. Whether from the inherent chill of the room or nerves, a cold shiver ran down his spine.

At the console, he put on the helmet first, then the gloves. He had thought the crystal gloves would be unwieldy, so he donned the helmet before them—but to his surprise, the gloves fit more snugly than even shrimp-peeling plastic gloves, flexing freely and comfortably.

Once the helmet was on, a virtual light screen appeared before Li Tianque, displaying a string of English letters: “Wele!”

The screen then faded, and his vision returned to transparency, letting him see the console before him.

A voice spoke directly in his mind, gentle as a mischievous child: “Please press the number of the exterminator you wish to test!”

Li Tianque gazed at the dazzling array of buttons, hesitated for a moment, then chose his lucky number: “Nine!”

Outside the chamber, Wu Miaoran pulled out a lollipop and stretched lazily. “I’ll leave this kid to you. I’m heading back.”

Ling Chi nodded, saying, “He really is confident. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up in the emergency room.”

“It's only natural he's bold—after all, he's died once already. By the way, what number is he?” Wu Miaoran asked.

Ling Chi scratched his head, thinking for a while before replying, “I think he’s number 1,257?”