Command

In the livestream, Ren Yi's footsteps suddenly halted.

A familiar sensation filled his body—the positive emotion known as "happiness."

However, his current "magazine capacity" was only one. That surge of energy could only linger powerlessly around him before slowly dissipating.

If he wanted to absorb it, he had to use his ability once to empty the magazine.

But there was not a single "person" around him. As for using his ability on an adult Anomaly like the Watermelon Patch, which was higher-ranked than himself?

The Watermelon Patch was essentially a single entity; at most, he could only plant one seed. Besides, he couldn't exactly discuss it with it first. Simply making a move... would be a bit impolite.

However, he only needed to perform one experiment.

Ren Yi thought for a moment and locked the target of his ability onto himself.

Since his Awakening, he had never planted an illusion seed on himself.

But with illusions, there were plenty of ways to use them without causing a major effect. Adding an invisible beauty filter to himself was an illusion, and quietly brightening the light in front of his eyes by half a degree was also an illusion.

As the "ammunition" was consumed, a strong sense of satiety immediately filled his body. His ability's usage count was refilled to the max.

So it worked?

Ren Yi glanced at the Anomaly Web panel to confirm. His progress had indeed risen slightly.

But before he could start celebrating, even more positive emotion energy swarmed toward him like sharks scenting blood.

This is bad. Ren Yi felt a pang of distress.

Ammunition-type Anomalies viewed "reloading once" as a meal. However, since his ability was "planting a seed," he had to have a clear target to release it.

Fortunately, there were plenty of targets in this Instance right now.

In the livestream, Ren Yi merely stared at the field in contemplation for a moment before walking along the ridge toward the courtyard.

Just as his toes were about to cross the threshold of the courtyard gate, a thin, dark shadow suddenly flashed out from behind the door, blocking his path.

It was an old servant dressed in a solid black, buttoned-down robe. His figure was hunched, and his face was a lattice of crisscrossing wrinkles.

"Servant, why have you stopped working without permission?" the old servant spoke. His voice was raspy and piercing, like rusted iron scraping a blackboard, making one's skin crawl.

Lu Qing had introduced this old servant yesterday. His name was Fu Ye, and he was serving as the old butler of the Instance for the time being. According to Lu Zihan, Fu Ye had always been responsible for taking care of Lu Zihan's grandparents, and for some reason, he had joined the Instance this time as well.

He immediately focused his mind, bowed, and spoke respectfully, "Reporting to the butler, my work is finished. I have come to ask if there are other errands that need to be assigned?"

【Servants should be diligent and strive to complete their work. Servants who do not complete their work must be punished.】

The rule "Servants who do not complete their work must be punished" was so blunt that it made it easy to overlook the "Servants should be diligent" part at the very beginning.

Therefore, a servant who slacked off immediately after finishing their work was certainly not diligent. There might not be a punishment, but there wouldn't be any benefits either.

Of course, this was just Ren Yi's guess. As for whether the guess was right...

Please, he was the Young Master "experiencing life." As long as he found a high-sounding reason, the Anomalies in the courtyard would be more than happy to give him special treatment and would naturally follow his lead.

"Oh?" As expected, a flash of surprise crossed Fu Ye's cloudy eyes. His gaze shifted past Ren Yi toward the distant Watermelon Patch, seemingly confirming that the field had indeed been tended to.

"Good, good." Fu Ye nodded with satisfaction. His acting skills were clearly much better than the Watermelon Patch's. "Since the work is done, follow me to the study. The Young Master is making quite a fuss over there, and we happen to be a bit short-handed."

Oh? Going to see Lu Zihan?

Ren Yi responded with a "Yes" and followed Fu Ye into the wooden building within the courtyard. But just as he stepped over the threshold, a loud "bang" suddenly erupted in front of him.

A figure slammed heavily onto the ground, less than half a meter from his toes.

Crack. The distinct sound of bones snapping reached his ears. Ren Yi frowned slightly and instinctively took two steps back.

The person on the ground was still alive. Their left leg was twisted at a bizarre angle, clearly broken. They were twitching all over in pain, unable to get up for the moment.

Ren Yi looked up and saw Lu Zihan peeking down from beside the carved railing at the entrance of the second-floor study, an impatient expression still hanging on the corners of his mouth. Several Participants stood behind him, their faces as pale as paper, clearly terrified.

One could guess even with their toes that Lu Zihan bore a great deal of responsibility for this person falling in front of Ren Yi.

With a thought, Ren Yi quietly logged into the Anomaly Web:

【Ren Yi: What’s the meaning of this, Young Master? Is this a show of force for me?】

【Lu Zihan: Eh, no, no! I really didn't do it on purpose!】 Lu Zihan replied instantly, explaining frantically.

【Lu Zihan: Why did you come in so early?】

【Ren Yi: My work over there is finished. Fu Ye arranged for me to come in and keep you company. So, what exactly is the situation here?】

【Lu Zihan: Don't even get me started! I don't know what's up with these Participants, but they seem to have figured out my rules. No matter what I say, they all just say 'yes, yes, yes' and 'okay, okay, okay.' It's no fun at all!】

【Lu Zihan: I got annoyed, so I told someone to jump off from here. He actually refused and argued with me, triggering my rule, so I dealt with him directly. I wanted to try again to establish my authority, but this guy actually jumped. I didn't even have time to react!】

Oh, it was that rule about "must obey the commands of a superior."

However, wasn't this rule a bit too absolute and favorable to the Anomaly side? Couldn't the Master just directly command all Participants to die?

Ren Yi directly posed his question to Lu Zihan.

【Lu Zihan: I can't. I also have to conform to the Identity of a 'Master.' Servants are precious property; I can only dig holes for them in secret. I can't even voice commands that are too blatant.】

Ren Yi nodded inwardly. This was consistent with the "fairness" within the Instance mentioned at the beginning.

As for a command like "jump from the second floor," it wasn't fatal for Participants who were Espers.

It could only be said that this Participant was a bit too fragile.

While the two were rapidly exchanging information, Fu Ye had already looked up at Lu Zihan on the second floor with a frown, his tone darkening: "Young Master, what are you fooling around for again? Have you finished the books Madam told you to read?"

Lu Zihan's face instantly slumped. The impatience from before turned into grievance as he pouted, "Fu Ye, they were the ones who were disrespectful to me first! Get me some different people to serve me!"

"Just as well." Fu Ye followed the lead, turning slightly to point at Ren Yi beside him. "Young Master, I just found a decent servant named Seventeen. Let him serve you specifically. The other servants still have work to do, so stop bothering them."

"Oh?" Lu Zihan's interested gaze fell upon Ren Yi. "Your name is Seventeen? Will you listen to everything I say from now on?"

Listening to Fu Ye and Lu Zihan act in harmony, Ren Yi suppressed the urge to twitch his lips and bowed once more. "Yes, Young Master. From now on, this lowly one will obey all your instructions."

"Good!" Lu Zihan immediately broke into a brilliant smile with a hint of mischief. He raised a hand and pointed at the wailing Participant on the ground, giving a casual command.

"Then I command you to kill this person in front of you."