Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound, one after another, pierced to the bone.

But it seemed the speed of chopping the bone wasn't frantic.

Instead, it was like an elegant artist playing a soothing melody?

This rhythm of sound was truly bizarre.

Even more bizarre was the scene being presented...

That bone...

Although chopped into segments, making it hard to discern much.

Jiang Ye had a strange suspicion in his heart—

What the hell? Could that be human bone?!

And what emotion was churning in his chest?

Amidst the raging hatred, there seemed to be a mix of vengeful excitement.

It should be the kind of excitement a twisted person feels when committing perverse acts.

Unfortunately, this scene and sound didn't last long before disappearing from Jiang Ye's mind.

Although the scene was bizarre, it actually didn't reveal much information.

Unlike when he previously stole others' memories, where he could deduce the source of hatred from very short fragments.

This time, he couldn't see much.

He only knew that if his guess was correct...

Then this Worker Uncle had killed someone recently?

For a moment, Jiang Ye felt in his heart—

Perhaps this uncle with a worker's appearance was the target he needed to kill in this bus incident?

In that instant, he felt killing intent toward this uncle.

However, Jiang Ye quickly dismissed this idea.

Based on the experience from the last incident...

Perhaps the real target to kill was the object of this uncle's hatred?

Yet, in just this brief moment of distraction.

This uncle, whom Jiang Ye had spared, was not grateful.

He seemed provoked by something, using Jiang Ye's grip on his hand to counter-grip Jiang Ye's wrist.

With his other hand, he roughly shoved Jiang Ye while trying to grab the phone in Jiang Ye's hand.

He also cursed angrily: "You little brat! You dare lay hands on me?!"

Jiang Ye originally intended to fight back and restrain him.

But feeling the force of the shove, he simply went along, pretending to be pushed off balance.

He couldn't even hold onto his phone, which was snatched away by the Worker Uncle.

However, while scrambling to regain his footing, his now empty hand reached over the driver's seat barrier and accidentally pressed against the driver's leg.

Seizing this opportunity, [Grudge Memory] was immediately activated.

Strangely enough...

This time, what Jiang Ye sensed first was neither a visual image nor a sound, but a scent.

It was a scent of some unknown fruit or flower.

Although unknown, it was a smell he had encountered before!

When initially testing [Grudge Memory], he had not only touched the prison walls but also the [Exile Fruit] in his hand.

Only, that [Exile Fruit] hadn't given him any "memories."

There was only that unknown fruity fragrance.

Jiang Ye hadn't paid much attention to it before, thinking it was just the scent of the [Exile Fruit].

But now, he actually smelled the scent of the [Exile Fruit] again from this driver's "grudge memory"!

In an instant, even before seeing any memory images.

A string in Jiang Ye's mind instantly tightened!

He suddenly realized...

Those "incidents" triggered by the empty prison rooms might not be as simple as he thought!

In the last round's "incident," he could clear it quickly only because that particular "incident" was simple enough.

But this time...

Jiang Ye realized—

Were the people in these triggered "incidents" really all "ordinary people"?

At the very least, the driver he encountered this time carried the scent of the [Exile Fruit]!

Did this mean...

He possessed a Glyph Pattern Ability!

If that were truly the case...

With Jiang Ye's measly 9.8 combat power and a non-combat [Holds Grudges] talent...

He really might not be able to defeat an existence possessing a Glyph Pattern Ability!

So, should he consume the [Exile Fruit]?

The problem was, in this illusionary scenario, Jiang Ye couldn't find his own [Exile Fruit]!

And privately, he wasn't very keen on consuming the [Exile Fruit]...

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Simultaneously, some memory images that shocked and even thrilled him finally surfaced in Jiang Ye's mind.

The people he had touched before, whether their grudge memories were reasonable or absurd.

Those scenes could all be seen as happening in a modern societal context.

But this driver's grudge scene was not!

The environment in the scene was dim and dark, as if during sunset on an already gloomy day.

The dim light was also mixed with swirling dust.

Within the dust-blurred scene, an ancient city could vaguely be seen.

"Ancient" referred to the architectural style of the city and the dust staining its walls.

But the entire city didn't look dilapidated.

It just wasn't the focal point of the scene, appearing somewhat blurry.

The focal point in this scene was a figure resembling a city guard.

That guard seemed to have kicked this driver uncle flying...

While adopting a condescending posture, he scornfully and angrily shouted at the "driver uncle":

"Dressed like a decent person, you think you're human? This disgusting aura of exile can never be washed away, get back to your Land of Exile!"

Accompanying this scene, Jiang Ye's chest filled with humiliation, resentment, and overwhelming hatred.

At the same time, a voice, seemingly the "driver uncle's" unwilling cry, seemed to ring in his ears.

Unfortunately, the memory scene dissipated right at that point.

Jiang Ye didn't hear what the "driver uncle" said.

But this fragment of memory instantly made him realize...

What the hell!

This was absolutely no ordinary driver uncle!

If the bus incident was viewed as a dungeon...

This driver uncle was probably the final BOSS of this dungeon!

His strength and background surpassed all the "ordinary people" on this bus!

And among these "ordinary people" on the bus, there might also be those who were not ordinary!

Jiang Ye's heart pounded. He was just about to withdraw his deliberately extended hand.

But he saw a flash of viciousness in the driver uncle's eyes as he firmly grabbed Jiang Ye's hand.

He didn't throw Jiang Ye's hand away but pulled it hard towards himself.

Jiang Ye's body was blocked by the barrier, and his arm was being yanked inward with force.

In that instant, he felt his entire arm being dislocated.

Maintaining his persona as an ordinary passenger, he immediately cried out: "Hiss—Ow ow ow! The bus driver is killing someone!! Let go! Let go now!"

Such a sharp cry naturally alarmed the other passengers.

However, what these passengers were truly concerned about wasn't Jiang Ye, but they nervously said one after another:

"Driver Uncle, focus on driving! How can you get into a conflict while driving!"

For a moment, many changed their tune and blamed Jiang Ye:

"That's right! The bus driver is responsible for the lives of all passengers. Young man, if you're catching a pervert, catch the pervert, don't interfere with the driver!"

"Exactly! Exactly! The one who bothered you is the pervert, why take it out on the driver!"

Clearly, when real interests were at stake, any sense of morality had to step back.

And this bus driver was the one who affected the interests of all passengers.

Thus, many passengers started siding with the driver, also trying to soothe his emotions.

Afraid that any misstep might lead to a real accident.

Having realized the driver's unusual nature from the memory fragment, Jiang Ye didn't dare to cause trouble as recklessly as before.

He didn't even dare to struggle excessively, pretending to be cowed by the driver uncle, and began to compromise and back down:

"Let... let, let go! I won't bother you about finding the pervert, okay? Let go, my hand's about to break!"

The driver still didn't let go immediately.

He twisted Jiang Ye's wrist as if trying to cripple his hand.

His sinister gaze, however, wasn't fixed on Jiang Ye but focused on the road ahead, still appearing to drive attentively.

He snorted coldly: "Want to go to the Police Station, huh? I'll grant your wish!"

After saying that, he finally flung Jiang Ye's hand away.

Then, all the passengers on the bus could clearly feel—

The speed of this bus had noticeably increased.

And these hot-tempered passengers now seemed somewhat frightened, their voices turning panicked.

"No way? Really going to the Police Station? I have urgent business! Can you let me off at the next stop?"

"Me too! I also have urgent matters! I don't have time to go to any Police Station!"

"Hah, everyone has urgent business, everyone wants to get off early? Wouldn't the pervert also take the chance to get off early then?"

"What do you mean? Does that mean none of us can get off until the pervert is caught?!"

"It's just one pervert, right? Delaying so many people and so much time?"

For a moment, many voices of dissatisfaction were directed at Jiang Ye.

However, Jiang Ye couldn't be bothered with them.

On the surface, he was rubbing his dislocated shoulder, appearing too scared by the driver to act tough anymore.

In reality...

He keenly sensed a murderous intent!

Yet, this murderous intent didn't come from the driver uncle who was focused on driving.

But from...

That Worker Uncle!

Could it be... this uncle didn't want to go to the Police Station, so he bore a grudge against him?

Just as Jiang Ye was growing vigilant, he felt the Worker Uncle moving closer to him.

It was already a crowded scene, and their positions were close to begin with.

This movement wasn't very noticeable.

But Jiang Ye instantly became alert.

Just as the Worker Uncle's hand reached toward him again, and he spoke up about returning the phone.

Jiang Ye immediately countered.

The phone originally being extended toward him was twisted and pressed against the Worker Uncle's neck.

With just this one move, the Worker Uncle's pupils instantly widened!

Then, they quickly grew unfocused...

The uncle's body swiftly fell backward.

Jiang Ye noticed—

Concealed behind the phone was a long needle, which had precisely pierced the uncle's throat.

The people around, seeing this, seemed terrified, various cries of alarm rising one after another.

Jiang Ye, however, noticed that the driving driver remained calm, continuing to drive the bus at high speed.

But...

Jiang Ye didn't get to see what happened next.

The entire bus environment soon dissipated before his eyes like a mirage.

In the blink of an eye, the scene before him returned to the originally empty prison room.

White walls on all sides, with one wall displaying an "exit."

Jiang Ye couldn't help but frown.

This bus incident seemed to have ended abruptly because he accidentally killed a passenger.

So his previous guess was correct—

The criterion for ending an incident was killing someone?

But had this "incident" really ended just like that?

That strange driver...

As long as the grudge memory wasn't wrong, he was definitely no ordinary driver!

And that Worker Uncle, who actually tried to kill him in front of everyone!

When Jiang Ye counterattacked, he thought the uncle didn't want to go to the Police Station.

But thinking back calmly, it felt off.

Even if the Worker Uncle had a murder case on his hands, going to the Police Station wasn't a guaranteed discovery.

But killing someone in a public place definitely defied common sense!

So...

That Worker Uncle, like the driver, might also be no ordinary existence!

His sudden attempt to kill might have had a different motive!

Could it be...

A light flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes as he suddenly realized—

Perhaps in those triggered "incidents," he wasn't the only player?

Because his own overly abnormal behavior revealed his player identity to other players, so that Worker Uncle tried to kill him?

Driver Uncle, Worker Uncle...

What exactly were they?

Veteran players?

Monsters?

Or some other special beings?

The environment in the worker's memory truly seemed like a slaughterhouse;

The city in the driver's memory might actually exist?

These thoughts in Jiang Ye's mind were completed in an instant.

Meanwhile, the four mechanical eyeballs around him locked onto him firmly, seemingly scrutinizing something.

After a moment, the four eyeballs spoke in unison:

[Good deeds bring good rewards! Congratulations on obtaining 「Probation」.]

Probation...

This time, the Authority Level did not change.

Jiang Ye quickly looked at his watch and was thrilled to discover—

His execution time had skyrocketed to 128 minutes!

This was more than double!

On the surface, it seemed like quite good news.

But he vaguely sensed...

Compared to the extension of execution time, perhaps the increase in "Authority Level" was more valuable?

And his performance in this bus incident probably hadn't reached its peak.

After leaving the room, Jiang Ye returned once.

Sure enough, no incident was triggered again.

He thought for a moment and decided to go explore the hidden room.

128 minutes wasn't long, but it was barely enough.

Mainly, if he continued exploring empty rooms to trigger incidents, it could lead to a change in Authority Level at any time.

And with a changed Authority Level, finding a matching hidden room would take considerable effort again.

It was better to take advantage of his current "Guilty Youth" Authority Level and first explore that accessible hidden room.

Perhaps, after exploring the hidden room, he could gain a deeper understanding of the "incidents" triggered by empty rooms?

Thinking this, Jiang Ye checked the group chat information while heading toward the hidden room location he had noted earlier.

Most of the exchanges in the group were still secretive and evasive.

But some information could vaguely be summarized—

Previously, because a player revealed that they forced their way into a hidden room and received an electric shock punishment, plus had over a hundred minutes deducted.

Many players had become wary and resistant toward "Hidden Prison Rooms."

But now, quite a few players were asking about "Hidden Prison Rooms."

And some players speculated that if they wanted to obtain the 「Pardon」 effect, or shed their "sinner" identity to leave the prison, the key probably lay in those "Hidden Prison Rooms."

At the same time, many players still held onto the idea of reuniting with "comrades."

They also leaned toward the possibility that there might be an opportunity for players to meet within "Hidden Prison Rooms."

One player even proactively suggested:

[I noticed that when Authority Levels were revealed earlier, many players had the Authority Level "Evil Adult."]

[So I suggest, those of us who are "Evil Adults," if our execution time isn't particularly short, perhaps we should explore the hidden rooms first...]

[This way, a large group of "Evil Adults" might meet within the hidden rooms?]