Lucas's words fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples of shock through the room.
But it wasn't the escaped man from Mining Town who froze in disbelief. It was the audience—the countless players watching the split-screen broadcast, their chats lighting up in a frenzy of disbelief.
"Wait, Lucas? Are you really the Lucas we know?"
"Since when does Lucas do something… normal?"
"He just offered to help this man. HELP him! Am I going crazy, or has Lucas gone insane?"
"Hold on, this guy isn't even strong! He's weak, trembling, broken. Why would Lucas waste his time?"
"Unless… it's just for the hidden mission reward?"
"No way. I've watched dozens of Lucas's broadcasts. He never acts on something this straightforward. There's always a twist. Always."
"Then what's his real plan? What the hell is he doing??"
All the speculations swirled like a storm, but in the dimly lit chamber, only the escaped man's ragged breathing could be heard.
"I can help you…" Lucas repeated softly.
The man's sobs quieted, the tears on his dirty cheeks halting mid-stream. He blinked, staring at Lucas with a mixture of disbelief and desperate hope. For so long, despair had been his only companion. And now—now someone was reaching out a hand.
By the door, the prison guard woman still barked orders.
"Move quickly, all of you! Evacuate in order!"
Villagers shuffled out in frightened silence, brushing past without sparing a glance for the two men locked in conversation.
The man licked his cracked lips, voice trembling. "Can you… really help me?"
His question wasn't born of trust but of fear. When despair stretches too long, even hope feels unreal.
Lucas did not flinch. He answered honestly.
"I'm always willing to help others—as long as doing so doesn't threaten my own survival."
His gaze sharpened, weighing the man's reaction. "If you have the courage to try, you might find yourself in a place far better than Verne."
Those words struck like flint against dry wood. The man's hollow eyes suddenly lit with fire. His expression transformed from defeated to determined, as though Lucas had poured life back into his soul.
"You can believe this," the man said firmly, his voice gaining strength. "From the moment I crawled into that pipe, I became the bravest warrior. No matter how slim the chance, I will never give up!"
Lucas studied him carefully. This was no longer a man begging on his knees—this was someone clinging to a spark of dignity.
"A brave warrior…" Lucas murmured, acknowledging the claim.
He reached for the nearby table and picked up a porcelain plate. On it lay a carefully prepared slice of premium sake tenderloin, marbled red and white like a jewel of flesh. He placed it into the man's trembling hands.
"You know the upper levels of the Lighthouse," Lucas said. "Take this sake tenderloin up through the pipes. Once you're there… fight for yourself."
The audience erupted.
"Wait… WHAT? Did Lucas just tell him to deliver food to the elites upstairs??"
"That's insane. He'll be torn apart the moment he arrives!"
"But… hold on. Compared to Mining Town, isn't the upper world better? Even better than Verne?"
"Better, yes. Safer? No. This is a gamble with death."
"Lucas, you damn lunatic. Is this help or a death sentence?"
But before doubts could fester, the man surged to his feet. His hands clutched the sake tenderloin protectively, as if it were his lifeline. Tears streamed again, but this time they were tears of gratitude, not despair.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! You're willing to give me this chance—to move forward, to climb higher. I won't waste it! I will fight with everything I have!"
Lucas gave a small, approving nod.
"What I admire," he said gently, "is your courage."
Together, they walked toward the towering pipe mechanism. The metallic shaft loomed upward into darkness, a direct vein into the heart of the Hungry Lighthouse.
The man inhaled deeply, forcing courage into his lungs. His eyes no longer wavered; they gleamed with determination.
As he stepped onto the pallet, he turned once more toward Lucas. His voice cracked, yet his words rang clear.
"Thanks. Truly… thank you."
Click—
The gears engaged. The pallet shuddered, then began its slow ascent, carrying the man upward with the prized sake tenderloin clutched to his chest. Soon his figure vanished into the shadows of the pipe, swallowed by the unknown.
Lucas remained still, gazing up into the darkness.
Moments later, the prison guard returned, having finished evacuating the villagers. Her sharp eyes landed on Lucas, who still stood at the pipe.
"All villagers were ordered to return. Why are you still here?"
Her tone was stern, but not without a trace of restraint. Lucas's earlier composure and unexpected behavior had earned him a sliver of tolerance.
"Wait a moment," Lucas murmured, his finger raised to his lips.
The prison guard blinked. "What did you just say?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head, listening intently.
The woman frowned but followed his gaze upward.
And then she heard it.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of the pallet grinding back down the pipe walls.
They both looked up. Slowly, the tray descended.
The woman's eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. She turned sharply, scanning the room. Her gaze fell on the table—the plate of sake tenderloin was missing. And the intruder? The desperate man who had been kneeling in filth moments ago? Gone.
The pallet reached the bottom with a clang.
On it lay the man's body—his chest and abdomen grotesquely hollowed out. His face was eerily calm, as though death had come gently. And atop his head, perfectly balanced, sat the untouched plate of premium sake tenderloin.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The prison guard's device lit up, a prompt flashing across its screen.
"Satisfied."
Her heart skipped. She turned to Lucas, stunned.
He bent down, lifted the plate, and brushed his fingers across the man's lifeless face. Blood clung to the corners of the man's mouth.
"Did you grit your teeth until the end, enduring the pain without dropping the offering?" Lucas whispered.
He placed the plate back gently over the man's face, his own expression hard.
"The path of a warrior… is truly cruel."
A new system prompt flooded Lucas's vision.
[System Notice: Player Lucas has uncovered further secrets of the Hungry Lighthouse]
[Side Mission Progress +10%]
[Current Worldview Exploration: 41%]
Another line of text scrolled ominously:
["Climbers appear, cheering and leaping for joy… But when they fall, remember—the abyss devours without mercy. The bones of countless climbers pile high, and perhaps one day… they will form a road."]
And then—
[System Notice: Player Lucas has assisted a villager escaping Mining Town. The villager offered sincere gratitude before death. Hidden mission complete.]
[Reward Granted: Warrior Medal *1]
The details shimmered before him:
[Item: Warrior Medal *1]
[Type: Plot-related]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Attack Power: Unknown]
[Attributes: None]
[Description: Bestow this medal upon your warrior, and he will charge forward without hesitation. In the eyes of a true warrior, there is no retreat. However, the Warrior Medal becomes invalid once used.]
Lucas closed his hand over the medal, his eyes narrowing.
"More will come. And more will fall."
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