Craig tightened his grip on the branch until his fingers hurt.

The hunting zone had become far worse than anyone expected.

Unlike the previous work tasks—mining, gathering, cutting wood, fishing—this section of the game offered no illusion of harmless labor. The forest here opened into a rocky slope where silver-furred predators moved below like patient shadows.

Silver leopards.

Their bodies were lean, muscular, and strangely reflective under the artificial daylight, each movement smooth enough that even when they crossed open ground, they looked difficult to track. Their fur shimmered like metal whenever they passed beneath the light, and their eyes held a pale glow that made them look less like ordinary animals and more like creatures designed specifically for this game.

Craig and several other participants assigned to hunting had climbed trees instead of taking direct risks.

No one had planned that together. It simply happened the moment the first leopard appeared.

Now five of them sat across different branches in tense silence, barely daring to breathe too loudly.

The task display in Craig’s glasses still demanded successful hunting.

But hunting something that hunted back changed the meaning entirely.

Below, one silver leopard paused near the roots of a tree, ears twitching.

Craig swallowed hard.

He had already seen what happened when one hunter moved too early. A man from another sector had nearly fallen trying to throw a spear, and only luck had saved him.

So now no one moved.

No one except Tyler.

Craig’s eyes shifted toward another tree line where Tyler stood farther away than anyone else.

At first Craig thought Tyler was simply positioning himself.

Then the leopard nearest Tyler lunged.

The movement happened so fast Craig nearly shouted.

But Tyler moved faster.

A single slash flashed.

The leopard’s body twisted mid-motion, then dropped heavily onto the ground, a deep cut running across its neck so cleanly that for one second even Craig failed to understand what he had seen.

Tyler held only an ordinary knife.

At least that was what everyone would think.

Only Tyler knew the truth—the blade itself had become something far sharper. Beneath the visible metal, nanobots had extended along the edge, coating it into a cutting surface far beyond normal steel.

He had made sure the modification remained invisible enough to pass as skill.

The leopard twitched once and went still.

Tyler crouched, cleaned the blade casually, and then—rather than showing urgency—simply sat down on the ground beside the dead animal as though nothing unusual had happened.

Craig stared.

Because even after killing it, Tyler looked completely calm.

Then Craig noticed who sat beside him.

Rose and Tansy.

Both had arrived quietly from nearby task zones, settling beside Tyler as though the three had planned this exact moment already.

Tyler glanced at both sisters.

A faint smile appeared.

"Tonight," he said quietly, "we proceed with the plan."

Both girls nodded without hesitation.

Craig watched from the tree, unable to hear everything, but he understood enough.

Something was being prepared.

Something deliberate.

By the time night arrived and the safe zone reopened, the mood around the campfire had shifted again.

The artificial sky darkened carefully, stars appearing in calculated patterns overhead while the tents and resting area lit up once more around the central fire.

But unlike the previous night, people did not simply settle near familiar faces.

The deaths had changed that.

Now everyone watched everyone.

Groups formed naturally, but each circle remained wary.

As expected, Tyler, Tansy, Rose, and Victor stayed together first.

Then Tyler gave a small signal.

Subtle enough that only those paying attention noticed.

Immediately, the four split.

Victor approached one group.

Rose another.

Tansy crossed toward the opposite side.

Tyler himself moved toward those sitting alone.

One by one, they invited others.. Not forcefully.. Not suspiciously.. Just enough to make it sound like discussion mattered.

Soon even Dale and the remaining Sector 2 participants were drawn in.

By the time everyone settled again, a large circle had formed around the campfire.

Faces from different sectors now stood under the same light, all waiting to hear why Sector 11 had suddenly called everyone together.

Tansy stepped forward first.

She cleared her throat lightly and spoke, "We all know there are Jobless among us."

No one interrupted.

"But we still don’t know how many there are... or who they are."

The fire crackled softly between her words.

"And we can’t drag this forever."

Her tone sharpened.

"So we need strategy."

A woman near the back folded her arms.

"What kind of strategy?"

Tansy answered immediately.

"Tomorrow is the third day."

That line alone made several faces tense because everyone had read enough hidden warnings in their task systems to know later stages usually meant escalation.

"If the number of Jobless becomes greater than Workers," Tansy continued, "we all die."

The sentence landed exactly as intended. The campfire circle grew noticeably quieter.

Because no one could deny the possibility.

If Jobless could convert Workers secretly, then time itself favored hidden enemies.

Tansy pressed further.

"So we only need one person to step forward."

Now everyone looked directly at her.

"If someone here has become Jobless, come out now. Tell us. We can still save you."

That sentence caused immediate movement in the circle.

Suspicion.

Fear.

Side glances.

No one spoke.

Then Dale laughed. Not just a small laugh. It was a full mocking laugh as though he had just heard something ridiculous.

"Do you seriously think a Jobless will stand up and admit it?"

He shook his head openly.

"Sector 11 brains really are full of mining dust."

Some nearby people gave uneasy smiles, but most did not laugh.

Because even mockery could not fully erase how tense everyone felt.

Then Tyler stepped forward.

"We found something."

That shifted attention instantly.

He held up a sheet. A paper form. Simple enough to look official.

"This," he said, raising it higher, "is a job application form."

The phrase confused several people immediately.

Tyler continued before questions interrupted.

"It can convert a Jobless back into a Worker."

Now even Dale stopped smiling.

Tyler let the silence grow before adding:

"Anyone who has already become Jobless can come to us privately."

He lowered the paper slightly.

"After returning to Worker, all you need to do is tell us who converted you and point out the person you converted."

That single sentence changed everything.

The moment those words settled in the air, the fear around the circle became visible.

Some people stiffened.

Some looked away too quickly.

Some stared too long at the paper itself.

The possibility alone had power whether true or false.

Tansy took over again.

"So tomorrow, before lunch, everyone comes here."

Her voice stayed firm.

"We hold an emergency meeting."

The circle immediately broke into discussion.

Loud voices rose.

Questions spread.

Could it be real?

Was Tyler bluffing?

Would the game even allow such a thing?

People argued while slowly leaving the fire in smaller groups.

Even Dale looked thoughtful now instead of mocking.

One by one they drifted back toward tents.

Near the edge of the dispersing crowd, Craig remained standing.

He looked directly at Tyler several times.

Clearly hesitating.

As though deciding whether to say something important.

But in the end, he swallowed whatever thought had reached his mouth. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

And walked away without speaking.