“I didn't expect to see you under these circumstances.” The figure emerged from the smoke and dust, and spoke, "Feng Bujue."

Hearing the other party call him by name, Feng Bujue immediately felt that something was wrong. Normal NPCs shouldn't know a player's nickname before the player announces it. Slightly more powerful boss-level characters, like Puppet Billy, would usually use titles like "Traveler from Another World."

Only a very few special NPCs and Derivates who can invade the mind would gain information like a game ID.

Of course, in this virtual world, so-called mental abilities are just a way to more directly examine or interfere with the data that makes up a player from a data level.

“As expected of one of the players closely watched by ‘Zero’…” As the figure spoke, he stepped out of the dust, his eyes showing a shifting, flowing light as he scrutinized Feng Bujue, who was not far away. “Your data looks very interesting.”

This person's style was different from everyone else around him (including Feng Bujue). Even though he was in the South Park world, he maintained the realistic 3D style of other scenarios.

His appearance was that of a young man with short black hair and a fair, handsome face. He wore a blue and white jacket and dark jeans, with white sneakers on his feet. From his appearance alone, he looked no different from an ordinary student.

"Derivate?" Feng Bujue didn't beat around the bush and asked directly.

"R2-Leng Feng," R2 stated his name bluntly.

“Does anyone even manage this game anymore…” Feng Bujue couldn’t help but complain, “I'm just trying to play a single-player mode and I run into a Derivate…”

"You've come to the wrong place," R2 said as he walked forward.

Feng Bujue remained vigilant, still wary of the other's every move.

"Please leave this place," R2 suddenly turned his head and said to the NPCs beside Feng Bujue.

As soon as he finished speaking, the six members of the two families walked away expressionlessly, as if they were doing something very ordinary.

Before Feng Bujue could speak, R2 said directly, "At my level, it's easy to command these data, whose combat power is almost the same as ordinary people."

"Okay..." Feng Bujue responded casually and asked, "What do you mean by saying I've come to the wrong place?"

R2 replied, "This isn't the type of scenario world you're familiar with." He paused and continued, "It's a sandbox built by the 'Origin Organization'."

"Um...what organization?" Feng Bujue asked tentatively.

R2 replied, "In terms that are easier for you humans to understand, the members of the Origin Organization should be considered radicals among us Derivates."

"Radical...in what sense?" Feng Bujue followed up.

"Some information I can't elaborate on, but you can put yourself in their shoes and think about how you would view the meaning of your existence if you were a Derivate, and what kind of response you would make," R2 replied.

Feng Bujue didn't press further. He thought for a few seconds and said, "Then who the hell are you?"

"I'm naturally not a member of Origin. I belong to another faction. I've ventured into the sandbox to help you," R2 said.

"Oh...is that so...then please tell me about the current situation. What's going on with this scenario? What's this sandbox you're talking about?" Feng Bujue still didn't fully trust the other party, but that didn't stop him from trying to get information out of him.

Since R2 was just a lifeform composed of data, he could answer questions that could be revealed and had fixed answers without even thinking: "A sandbox is a cloned scenario that is instantly copied when a regular scenario is generated for players to enter..." He paused for a second and added, "From your point of view, a sandbox is equivalent to a scenario specifically for Derivates."

"Wow~wow~wow~" Feng Bujue shouted three interjections in a row, tilted his head, and asked, "Are you saying...you Derivates are also playing this game like us players?"

"Using 'play' to describe it is very inaccurate," R2 replied. "It's entertainment for you, but for us...it's something else..." He explained, "Usually, the scenarios that Level Four and Level Three Derivates enter are generated by the system to encircle and eliminate them, and it's very difficult for them to survive. But this 'sandbox' was built by our kind to allow them to grow in a relatively safe environment." As he said this, he suddenly turned his face and looked to his left with a gazing expression.

In Feng Bujue's view, there was only a wall in that direction, and he didn't know what R2 was looking at.

"There's not much time left, come with me. We'll talk as we go," R2 said.

"Okay...you go first," Feng Bujue replied.

The two walked out one after the other, R2's steps were unhurried, heading straight for the escalator on the fourth floor.

"The only way for low-level Derivates to become stronger is to destroy other data," R2 continued, "But 99% of the matter in a scenario is composed of conventional data, such as the sky, clouds, rocks, and even these passersby...

Destroying these things can also make us grow, but its effect is far less significant than eliminating a special or abnormal set of data."

"Special or abnormal data...you mean players?" Feng Bujue asked.

"Correct," R2 said bluntly, "You are the best choice." As he said this, he stepped onto the escalator, with Feng Bujue following three steps behind him.

"Then...the other 'non-optimal' choices would be the Four Pillar Gods and the like, right?" Feng Bujue guessed.

R2 denied this assumption: "The Four Pillar Gods, including some of the unique data under the Four Pillar Gods, are closely related to the system, and attacking them can lead to very serious consequences."

"Therefore, our choice...is the other scenario bosses," R2 turned his head and said, "In fact...there are many bosses stronger than the Four Pillar Gods, but they only exist in the scenario world to which they belong. For example, in this South Park world, there are also Satan and God, and in countless South Park scenarios, there will be countless Satans and Gods. This data is also a choice for us, but compared to players...killing these guys is too difficult."

"Then why...don't you consider killing me?" Feng Bujue said, "Why are you here to help me? Also, who is this 'Zero' you keep mentioning?"

"Killing you wouldn't mean much to me," R2 replied, "Let me explain the naming rules for us Derivates...[R] is my original code, like your human surnames, [2] represents my current level, and [Leng Feng] is like my name. As you can see, I am a Level Two Derivate, and at this level, there is no need to become stronger by destroying data."

"Uh..." Feng Bujue interjected, "I might as well ask, what level is a name like X-23 considered?"

R2 glanced at Feng Bujue: "That lord is different from us. She and Zero are both special Derivates, and the naming rules don't apply to them."

"Lord?" Feng Bujue said, "Is she very high in your ranks?"

"I am one of her subordinates, and she is also aware that I am here to help you," R2 replied, "But I don't want to say too much about the organization I belong to." He paused, "As for the matter of Zero...the same, I can't say anything."

"What about information on Origin?" Feng Bujue followed the other party's lead, "You can always talk about other people's organizations, right?"

"What you need to know is...Origin develops and controls sandbox technology to cultivate their 'soldiers'," R2 continued, "And your current situation is very dangerous."

"Speaking of the situation...I was just about to ask you," Feng Bujue continued, "I don't even have a main quest now. Besides force-quitting, is there any way to leave this scenario?"

R2 sighed, "That's the problem...you shouldn't be here in the first place, so...there's no way to leave." As he said this, his expression changed slightly, "Force-quitting won't work either..."