As the evening sun cast long shadows across the bustling city streets, Alex navigated his way through the throngs of people, his thoughts consumed by the events of the day. He had spent hours poring over textbooks and attending lectures at the university, his mind grappling with complex equations and scientific theories. But now, as he trudged wearily towards his small apartment, all he could think about was sinking into the comfort of his couch and losing himself in the glow of the television screen. His steps quickened with each passing block, anticipation building as he imagined the blissful solitude awaiting him at home. But as he finally reached his destination and climbed the stairs to his apartment, a nagging sense of unease began to gnaw at him. Earlier that day, his friend Mark had approached him with a sense of urgency, thrusting a heavy briefcase into his hands before being whisked away by paramedics. Alex had barely had time to process the situation before he found himself alone, the weight of the briefcase a constant reminder of Mark's sudden departure. Now, as he unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped inside, the briefcase still clutched tightly in his grasp, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The apartment felt unusually quiet and empty, the familiar surroundings suddenly tinged with an air of foreboding. Ignoring the creeping sense of unease, Alex set the briefcase down on the kitchen counter and set about preparing a simple dinner. As he chopped vegetables and stirred pots on the stove, his mind wandered, replaying snippets of conversation and half-forgotten memories. It wasn't until he had finished his meal and retreated to the comfort of the living room, the glow of the television casting flickering shadows across the walls, that he finally allowed himself to relax. But just as he reached for the remote to switch on the TV, something caught his eye. A glimmer of light, faint and ephemeral, danced in the air before him, drawing his gaze like a moth to a flame. He blinked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief, but the light remained, growing steadily brighter until it coalesced into a shimmering panel hovering in the air before him. Alex's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the panel, his mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. What was this strange phenomenon? And what did it mean for him? Then, without warning, words began to materialize on the panel, glowing softly in the dimly lit room: "Welcome to Life Simulation. You have 3 simulations available." A chill ran down Alex's spine as he read the words, his breath catching in his throat. What kind of simulation was this? And why had it suddenly appeared in his apartment? With trembling hands, he reached out to touch the panel, his fingertips brushing against the cool surface. And in that moment, everything changed. __________________ A few hours earlier As the fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead, casting a sterile glow over the university lecture hall, Alex furrowed his brow in concern as he watched his friend Mark struggle to keep up with the professor's lecture. Mark, usually a model student, looked anything but his usual self today. His complexion was ashen, his hands trembling uncontrollably as he struggled to hold onto his pen, his notes a messy scrawl of incomprehensible scribbles. Sitting beside Mark, Alex leaned in closer, whispering softly, "Hey, are you feeling okay?" Mark shook his head weakly, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "Not really, Alex. I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel like I'm burning up one minute, then freezing cold the next." Concern etched across his features, Alex reached out to place a comforting hand on Mark's shoulder. "Maybe you should go see a doctor," he suggested, his voice laced with worry. Mark hesitated, his gaze flickering uncertainly between Alex and the professor at the front of the room. "I don't know, Alex. I can't afford to miss class, especially with the midterm coming up." But as the minutes ticked by, Mark's condition only seemed to worsen. His complexion grew paler, his hands trembling more violently with each passing moment. Finally, unable to ignore the severity of the situation any longer, Alex made a decision. "Mark, you need to go to the hospital," he insisted, his voice firm with resolve. "I'll call an ambulance." Mark opened his mouth to protest, as ifnhe really didn't want to go, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, leaving him slumped weakly against his desk. With a resigned nod, he finally relented. "Okay, Alex." As Alex held the briefcase entrusted to him by his friend, Mark, he couldn't help but be taken aback by its weight. It felt as though it contained at least ten kilograms of something dense and substantial. Despite his burning curiosity about its contents, Alex reminded himself that it was Mark's personal belongings, and delving into it would be a breach of privacy. [Would you like to start simulation?], Yes/No Alex looked at the panel, not knowing what to do. After thinking it over so much, he decided to click yes. Just then, a new panel appeared in front of him. [Starting simulation] [Day 1, After sending your friend to the hospital, you returned home tired. You took a shower, ate, and when you were about to watch TV, for some reason, you started getting anxious and startled. Just then, you ran towards the briefcase and opened it. Surprised, you couldn't believe what you saw: white powder. Yes, what looked like ten bags of white powder. You weren't sure if it was what you thought it was as you never used it. Not knowing what to do, you did what any sane person would do: you called the police. Half an hour later, someone knocked at your door. Thinking it was the police, you opened the door to find a tall, muscular man; a woman accompanied him. The two were a little surprised to see you, but they didn't think much of it. The woman extended her hand as if asking for something. Just then, the police arrived. Seeing the police, both of them were shocked. Finally, the man spoke. "You betrayed us," he said. Just then, he took what looked like a gun. You died.] Simulation ended. Alex's heart raced as he processed the abrupt end of the simulation. "WTF, I didn't even survive one day," he muttered to himself, his mind racing with a flurry of thoughts. He recalled the countless simulation web novels he had devoured, where protagonists often endured for hundreds of years before meeting their demise. If not for this simulation, he might have met his end today. But now, he was still in danger, and the threat felt all too real. "Think, Alex, think," he urged himself, his thoughts racing as he searched for a way to survive. And then, like a bolt of lightning, a realization struck him. The duo's reaction—they had been aware of the white powder, yet they hadn't shown any aggression towards him. Who were they? After pondering the question for what felt like an eternity, Alex arrived at a plausible conclusion. "Mark!" he exclaimed, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Mark had been the one to give him the briefcase, which meant the white powder likely originated from him. The duo must have been...associates. But why had they accused him of betrayal? Alex considered the possibilities. Mark was likely just a middleman, moving the white powder for someone else. And if the duo had remained calm upon seeing his face, it suggested that Mark had concealed his identity—perhaps by wearing a mask, which make him exposing his face just a flux, or something, Alex wasn't sure, all was just an assumption. With a sense of clarity, Alex realized that he needed to delve deeper into Mark's involvement. But first, he needed to survive the dangers lurking in the shadows of this simulation. If the police can't come to me Let's go to them. "System, start another simulation," Alex declared. [Beginning simulation] [Day 1... As you contemplated watching TV, a sudden change of heart led you to grab the briefcase and head outside. Intent on seeking help, you made your way toward the police station. But just a few meters away, a black van pulled up beside you. Before you could react, a chilling voice pierced the air, 'Try to stay loyal in your next life.' Darkness engulfed you.] Simulation ended. "..." Disheartened by his premature demise in the second simulation, Alex was determined to make the third attempt count. "As they say, third time's a charm," he muttered to himself as he initiated the simulation once more. This time, however, Alex had a plan. He rummaged through his belongings until he found a sock, the only item resembling a mask he could find. With makeshift determination, he covered his face and waited for the inevitable arrival of the duo. [Day1... As the knock echoed through in your apartment, you steeled yourself and opened the door to find the duo standing before you once again. This time, however, there was no surprise in their demeanor, confirming your suspicions. The woman extended her hand, and without hesitation, You handed over the briefcase, after checking it, the man gave you two envelopes, one them looked much thicker. The duo left, you survived. After the duo departed, you turned your attention to the envelopes they had left behind. Curiosity piqued, you reached for the thinner one first. Carefully tearing it open, you discovered a sheet of paper inside, adorned with an address and a specific date and time. It seemed like what those are. With a gulp, you turned your attention to the second envelope. To your surprise, it was much thicker than the first. As you opened it, your eyes widened in disbelief. Inside lay a substantial sum of money, neatly arranged and accompanied by a note. "Thank you for your service," it read, "Till our next meeting, Prince. Yours sincerely, Gouda." Your mind raced as you processed the contents of the envelope. It seemed that this was your payment for whatever services you had unknowingly rendered. Obviously you were prince but who was Gouda. His mind raced with thoughts of who this "Gouda" could be. Perhaps Gouda was one of the high-ranking executives of the drug cartel into which he had seemingly been thrust. As Alex continued to read, a wave of nausea washed over him, and his complexion grew increasingly pallid. [Day 2, Upon awakening, you attempted to push aside the events of the previous day. You resolved to visit Mark after your university classes and confront him about the unfolding events. However, during a presentation in class, the teacher delivered devastating news. Mark had passed away the previous day at 19:34, succumbing to a heart attack caused by an overdose of white powder. The shock of losing his best friend left you reeling. Returning home, you found it difficult to focus, the weight of grief and confusion bearing down on you.] [Day 3, Depression consumed you, you remained homebound, unable to muster the strength to face the world outside.] [Day 4, The news of Mark's upcoming funeral deepened you despair, and you spent the day confined to your bed, lost in sorrow.] [Day 5, Summoning a modicum of courage, you attended Mark's funeral. Among the mourners were classmates, as well as Mark's grieving parents. Overwhelmed by empathy, You resolved to offer Mark's family the money you had received, knowing it would provide some relief during their time of need. Returning home, exhaustion weighed heavily upon Alex, and he sought solace in sleep.] [Day 6-7, Days passed in a blur of despondency, with you unable to find motivation to engage in any meaningful activities.] [Day 8, As the date on the sheet of paper you had received approached, you made the decision not to attend the specified location. Later that night, a knock at the door shattered the stillness of his solitude. Opening it, you were confronted by a stranger, bloodied and armed. Accused of betrayal, you attempted to explain yourself, but his words fell on deaf ears. In a cruel twist of fate, you fell victim to a tragic misunderstanding, losing your life without the chance to clear his name.] [End of simulation.] [Congratulations, you scored one star on this simulation. You can select one reward from the reward pool:] [Accessible reward:] [Memory of the simulation: Gain access to detailed memories of the simulation. Note: Longer simulations may result in more intense memories.] [Congratulations, you scored one star on this simulation. You can select one reward from the reward pool:] [Accessible reward:] [Memory of the simulation: Gain access to detailed memories of the simulation. Note: Longer simulations may result in more intense memories.] [Since there is only one reward, it will be automatically selected] [ Transfering the memory to the host] "Wait, what", Alex screamed. Alex was taken aback by the sudden transfer of memories, feeling overwhelmed as an entire week's worth of experiences flooded his mind. Despite the pain of the process, he found it bearable at first. However, as the memories settled and he relived each moment, tears began to stream down his face. The anguish and suffering he had endured during the simulation washed over him, leaving him feeling raw and vulnerable. And to his horror, he realized that he even had vivid recollections of his own death—the sensation of the bullet piercing his skull, the fleeting moments as his soul left his body. The trauma of experiencing his own demise in such vivid detail was almost too much to bear. Alex found himself grappling with a whirlwind of emotions, struggling to come to terms with the harrowing ordeal he had just endured. After processing the intense memories he had received, it took Alex some time to come to grips with what had transpired. The shock of losing his friend followed by the realization that he was now facing a similar fate left him reeling. Glancing at the time, Alex noted that it was 19:30, just minutes away from the predicted moment of his demise. Despite the overwhelming sense of impending doom, he knew deep down that there was nothing he could do to change the course of events. However, instead of succumbing to despair as he had in the simulation, Alex made a conscious decision not to let himself fall into the depths of depression. After a few seconds, Alex gathered his thoughts and began to formulate a plan. "Okay, first things first," he muttered to himself, "I can't go to the police. If I want to stay alive, I have to stick with the fact that I'm somehow involved with this gang." He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. "Secondly, I have seven days until the meeting. That gives me some time to figure things out." As he mulled over his options, a sense of urgency gripped him. "But I need to be careful. Whatever happens in that meeting could make the gang suspicious of me," he thought, his mind racing with the possibilities. "And if they suspect me," he continued, his voice tinged with apprehension, "it's only a matter of time before someone comes to finish the job." With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Alex knew that he was walking a dangerous tightrope. But he also knew that he had no choice but to navigate it if he wanted to survive. After some deep thought, Alex developed two theories regarding the events of the meeting day. "The first theory," he mused, "is that it was the police who attacked the gang meeting. But that doesn't quite add up. The police are there to arrest them, not kill them. It wouldn't make sense for them to resort to such extreme measures." As he pondered further, another possibility began to take shape in his mind. "The second theory," he continued, "is that it was a rival gang who carried out the attack. It would make more sense for them to eliminate the competition by wiping out everyone at the meeting." With a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach, Alex knew that he needed to tread carefully and gather more information before he could determine his next course of action. Alex glanced at the measly 47€ displayed on his bank account balance, a stark reminder of the financial constraints of student life. "Truly miserable," he muttered to himself, a pang of frustration tugging at his thoughts. With a sigh, he realized that purchasing another simulation was out of the question for now. "I'll have to wait until I receive the money from the duo," he reasoned, his mind already calculating the time. "They should be here any time soon." As he waited anxiously for their arrival, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency gnawing at him. With each passing moment, the weight of uncertainty pressed down on him, leaving him acutely aware of the precariousness of his situation. In a sudden moment of realization, Alex seemed to snap. "It took me only three simulations to get addicted," he exclaimed with a bitter laugh. "Haha, it seems like if I continue this, I won't be able to live without it." 

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