Psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, along with his colleagues, set up a simulated prison in the basement of a university and recruited 24 mentally sound and physically healthy volunteers. Among them, 12 served as guards and the other 12 as prisoners, to mimic a real prison environment. The prisoners were "arrested" and taken to the prison, where they were searched, stripped, washed, disinfected, clothed in prison uniforms, and had their right ankle shackled.

During the experiment, as participants quickly assumed their roles, the guards became increasingly brutal. They stripped prisoners naked, subjected them to hours of solitary confinement, confiscated pillows and mattresses, canceled meals, forced them to clean toilets with their hands, perform push-ups or other meaningless activities to humiliate them, deprived them of sleep, and dragged them out at night for head counts and humiliating exercises. Psychological strategies were also used: compliant prisoners were given privileges, better cells, and meals.

The experiment lasted about six days before being halted, as it became apparent that everyone involved was deeply entrenched in their roles. Guards and prisoners passively accepted their identities, with guards believing they were truly "wardens" and prisoners accepting their roles.

All 24 participants were well-educated and had no criminal records, but as soon as the environment changed, they became brutal and cold. Even the experiment's organizer, Zimbardo, didn’t realize this, nor did anyone withdraw because they had become part of the situation, trapped in a cage of reason and science, unable to extricate themselves, only obeying and playing their roles.

Hearing about this psychological experiment, Alexander was deeply convinced that human nature is easily distorted, and people are not as strong-willed as they believe.

"Alexander, where are we going now?" Carmen asked.

"The plot task has been given. We need to find Saeki Dorothy. Right now, that surname is our only clue."

Alexander contemplated Pinocchio’s main task: protect a woman named Saeki Dorothy and hunt the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion Man.

"Ordinary side missions. As long as the main plot doesn’t change, there shouldn’t be any powerful monsters."

Without powerful monsters like the dangerous species, Alexander could relax a bit. After all, this was his second time participating in a script world in the spirit space. He had just acquired the Sacrificial Blade and Fragment Magic, and his strength was still insufficient to handle formidable threats.

"We should have some identification on us. In any case, let’s find a place to settle down first," Alexander thought that at least the spirit space would assign them character identities since the script had already appeared in their minds.

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After browsing through the script, Alexander couldn’t help but curse.

He found an extremely troubling situation: large portions of the script were blank.

"This isn’t right. It’s the first time I’ve seen something like this," Carmen also shook his head, never having encountered a blank script before. This was truly baffling.

Alexander stopped, thinking as he took a sack from the contract space, whispering to Carmen: "There's some gold inside, worth about 300,000 to 400,000 yuan. Can you find a way to exchange it for yen?"

"I’m not sure, but I could try finding a way," Carmen shrugged. He whispered back to Alexander, "Actually, it’s not that complicated. I have a US dollar card. These cards can be exchanged at local banks in parallel worlds similar to Earth."

"Alright, let’s find a hotel to settle down."

Alexander planned to find a place to stay before proceeding.

At this moment, the group of newcomers caught up with them. They quickly realized the problem: they were in a foreign place, didn’t speak Japanese, and couldn’t survive on their own. The only person they could rely on was this young man.

"Hey... buddy, could we talk?" The stylish-haired young man approached sheepishly.

"Could you lend me some money? You see, we’re in a foreign place, and I’m a bit tight on cash."

"Lend you money? Why would I do that?"

Alexander found it amusing. Did this guy think he was stupid, or was he assuming Alexander was?

"We’re all Chinese here, and since we're abroad, it would be right to help each other."

"Sorry, I do have money, but I don’t support freeloaders. I only fund my team."

Alexander pointed to the young man with gold-rimmed glasses, the girl with headphones, and the burly middle-aged man with an honest face.

"He, he, and she—they’re considered my team members. I’ll provide them with money and accommodations, but you’re not, so it doesn’t concern me."

"Um, do my brother and I count?" one of the men resembling construction workers asked.

Both men looked uneasy, feeling helpless in Kyoto.

Alexander glanced at them and nodded, "You took the guns and followed my lead, so yes, you count."

The brothers exchanged a look, their expressions easing considerably.

"How can you talk like that?" The stylish young man got angry, but a glare from Carmen quickly subdued him.

At this moment, actress Ji Ningyan and others caught up.

"Can my girlfriend and I join your team now?" The young man and his girlfriend finally realized the severity of their situation and hastily followed.

"I gave you a choice earlier, and you didn’t choose. Now you want to follow us—how annoying," Carmen squinted, scanning the group. His gaze made them avert their eyes nervously. Seeing this, he sighed internally, knowing his role as the 'bad cop' was firmly established in their minds.

Still, this wasn’t his first time doing this. When working with Xu Lin, they would switch roles, one playing the 'good cop' and the other the 'bad cop,' to manage newcomers.

"I have something to say, but I don’t know if I should..." The young man with gold-rimmed glasses cautiously interjected.

"Could you give them another chance? After all, nobody knew what was happening initially. Even I wouldn’t have completely believed you without my recent experiences."

Smart guy! Alexander chuckled internally. He was considering how to ease the newcomers into the group, and the young man with glasses conveniently provided an opening.