According to the initial survey of the scene, it seemed the other party had packed up and was ready to leave. Then, someone took a dagger, stabbed him to death in his own residence, and apparently took some things with them."

After finishing the long explanation, Harry was somewhat out of breath. He paused, then said with some regret, "Dean, this guy was probably just a pawn, eliminated after his use. Our lead has broken again."

Dean listened and was silent for a moment.

He had actually guessed this would happen.

Except for madmen, few cautious criminals would be so foolish as to voluntarily appear before the police and make redundant moves.

In other words, the leads in the miniature model murder case had completely vanished.

They didn't even know what the perpetrator truly looked like.

"I understand. Since that's the case, let's put this case aside for now."

After hanging up the phone, Dean cracked a smile. "Illusions and reality, truth and lies... I'm not sure if you're truly cunning, or just lucky that someone from the Lucifer Game Organization helped you..."

This case was also, so far, the only one he hadn't cracked without giving up voluntarily, marking his first defeat in a case.

As thanks, Dean decided that if the other party ever dared to show their face again—no matter where, or what identity they held in reality—he would personally go and 'properly' welcome them!

「In the following days,」

As the bombing case grew more and more outrageous, investigators from FBI Headquarters arrived to look into the bombing of the Los Angeles branch.

Cheston En lost direct contact with Dean.

Dean, as one of the participants, was also invited to a small room for questioning.

He naturally concealed matters concerning the Lucifer Organization. He claimed he was just investigating the miniature model murderer and happened to go to the branch to access intelligence support, knowing nothing about why the bombing occurred.

The investigator was a sharp-eyed old man.

He saw through Dean's concealment but didn't dwell on it. After inquiring about Anthony's situation, he left.

The next day, the FBI held a press conference. They attributed the bombing to forces behind a previous major counterfeit currency case, claiming it was retaliation. According to them, the FBI's significant efforts to uphold US law and crack down on criminal activity had led that group of madmen to launch a suicide attack.

The perpetrator had also died in the bombing, so there was no need for panic.

Anyone with clear eyes could see the press conference was a perfunctory effort.

But people were largely accustomed to the government's way of handling things.

So, when some entertainment stars were suddenly hit with various scandals and bizarre news surfaced, the public's attention began to scatter and shift.

The heat surrounding the bombing of the FBI's Los Angeles branch gradually faded.

Except for the building, now a heap of ruins, on the surface, everything returned to calm.

「The fourth squadron,」

now free from the harassment of the media and reporters, began to resume normal work.

Dean carried on with his usual slacking.

「Eventually, on a certain day at the end of June,」

Dean took a week off. He lied, saying he had been too tired recently and planned a few days' road trip. After dinner with his family and a call to Niel to express how much he missed her, he returned to his rented room alone.

For safety's sake, Dean took his prepared items to a basement not far from his rented room. There, he set up cameras, connected a simple timed nutritional drip, and prepared a timed distress email on his electronic devices before lying down.

He took a few deep breaths and silently commanded, Begin the trial!

BUZZ.

Dean seemed to hear a sound like a bee flapping its wings.

The next moment, his consciousness blurred slightly, and a sense of weightlessness overcame him.

When he regained his senses, Dean was astonished to find himself in a white space.

He tried to look around, and something miraculous occurred.

Dean found that he seemed to exist merely as a thought, without a physical body or sensation. He couldn't move, perceive the passage of time, nor did he feel the urge to eat, drink, or sleep. He was like a camera, only able to see the white barrier before him.

The sensation was incredibly peculiar and wondrous.

A moment might have passed, or perhaps an eternity.

As Dean gradually adapted to his current state, lines of text began to appear on the white barrier before him:

"Parallel world case retrieval complete."

"Case: Unknown!

Task 1: Survive!

Task 2: Discover the true identity of the King!"

"Hint 1: Trial cases are real events that have occurred in parallel worlds and ended in failure. You will inhabit the role of the deceased 'loser' and restart the case.

Hint 2: The trial world is a projection. It cannot affect the current worldview or the course of events in the projected world.

Hint 3: Death and injuries in the trial world will be reflected upon your Spirit, causing corresponding damage. Only by completing the tasks and exiting the trial space can recovery occur.

Hint 4: No matter how long the projection world exists, only one night passes in the real world.

Hint 5: In the face of death, do you choose kindness or selfishness?"

"Trial projection has been fully loaded and can be initiated at any time."

Dean carefully read all the hints.

He didn't rush to start the trial.

This trial doesn't seem so simple! Dean thought.

Firstly, there was no information about the case itself. This was actually a crucial piece of information, as it would help determine his objectives.

Secondly, there was the matter of identity. This meant that in the trial projection world, he would be using someone else's body. While some of his Skills might be unaffected, he couldn't expect a strong physical constitution.

If he was unlucky, he might even end up in a female body. If that were the case... Dean was reluctant to dwell on it, afraid he might start having some strange thoughts.

Another crucial piece of information came from Hint 3: injuries and death would be reflected on his Spirit, and only by completing the tasks could recovery occur.

His Spirit probably referred to his current state of consciousness. Interpreting the hint, it meant that as long as he didn't die, any injuries suffered in the trial projection world could be fully healed after completing the tasks, without any lasting impact on him!

This was undoubtedly good news.

Of course, there was other good news! The trial projection world was merely a snippet of a parallel world where a failed case had already occurred. Therefore, no matter how he interfered in that world, it wouldn't affect the parallel world or his own.

This virtually encouraged Dean to do as he pleased! He wouldn't have to worry about moral shackles or any threats.

As long as it was beneficial to him, Dean could do anything in the trial without pressure.

This would undoubtedly make things much easier for Dean.

He most feared that upon entering, he'd find himself burdened with attachments or facing threats that would tie his hands, making many of his methods inconvenient to use.

However, I still need to be careful not to unleash the beast I've suppressed within me.

After carefully reviewing the hints several more times and ensuring he hadn't missed anything, Dean silently commanded, Initiate the trial!

He had made all the arrangements he could.

If he were to die in the trial, his legacy would be divided among his mother and the others. Niel's mother would also receive a pre-scheduled email from him, intended to prevent Niel from doing anything irrational upon learning of his death.

Apart from his family and Niel, Dean hadn't actually formed many other attachments in this world.

That was also why he was eager to start the trial.

If he delayed, Dean worried he would grow to fear death and become too attached to everything in his current reality.

Once Dean confirmed his decision to begin the trial, the white space before his eyes began to twist and stretch.

Dean's consciousness grew hazy again.

An unknown amount of time passed before a phantom female voice echoed in his mind: "I must escape! I cannot die in this godforsaken place!"

Dean felt numb. Have I really become a woman?

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