Global Survival: I Got the D-Rank Personnel Simulator-Chapter 72: Mental Hospital

[Simulated D-Class Personnel: Kevin]
[Acquired Special Skill: Swap]
[Swap]
[You can exchange the position of an item in your hand with another item within your line of sight (1/1)]
[Note: This is quite useful, I like it]
[Remaining Simulations: 10]
Buzz buzz...
The familiar prison transport opening. Lin Ye opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings - two D-Class personnel, four overseers, and one driver.
Kevin was a slender young Caucasian man with average physical fitness.
The companion sitting across from him was a bespectled man in his twenties who appeared extremely nervous, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"Don't be nervous. It won't help anyway."
Lin Ye smiled as he passed along the comforting words of his predecessors to the rookie before him.
"Big... brother, what exactly are we going to do?" Miles asked nervously.
"New recruit?"
Lin Ye countered.
"Yeah, they just threw me into this van right after changing my clothes."
Miles glanced at the overseers in front and spoke quickly.
"What brought you here?"
This was Lin Ye's first time casually chatting with a teammate. The other didn't seem like typical D-Class personnel, more like a recent graduate.
"...Murder. But it wasn't intentional! I don't know what happened - I was drunk and not thinking clearly..."
Miles spoke painfully, his voice growing softer.
"How many?"
Lin Ye asked casually while looking at the scenery outside the window.
"Uh, just one."
Miles answered awkwardly.
"Just one murder gets you in here?"
Lin Ye found this somewhat strange. This D-Class personnel seemed... off.
And it wasn't just the other person - he felt unusual too. He shouldn't be talking this much.
"I'm not sure either. Maybe the circumstances were particularly severe?"
Miles replied uncertainly.
"...We're going to work at a mental hospital. Consider it community service. Good performance can reduce your sentence."
Looking at the mental hospital appearing in the distance on the outskirts, Lin Ye casually made up a story.
The overseer in front turned to look at Lin Ye through the rearview mirror. When their eyes met, he immediately turned away and stopped checking the mirror.
"Huh? But others made it sound terrifying. I thought we were doing some dangerous work..."
Hearing Lin Ye's words, Miles visibly perked up, speaking much faster now.
"They were just messing with you. Prison veterans bullying newcomers - totally normal."
Lin Ye continued reassuring Miles. He didn't know what the other's deal was, but a mentally stable anomaly would be easier to handle than a terrified one.
"Thank you. You're really kind."
Miles said sincerely.
"Of course. I'm always happy to help."
The prison transport stopped outside the mental hospital gates. This time the overseers didn't require them to wear earpieces or enter alone. The Captain looked at Lin Ye, seemingly considering their next move.
"Captain, leave the rest to me."
Lin Ye said with a smile.
"...Alright."
The Captain didn't refuse.
Lin Ye led Miles into the mental hospital. The security booth stood empty, the courtyard dilapidated. They stopped outside the main hospital building.
"...Is there really anyone else here?"
Miles looked skeptically at the main building covered in vines from years of neglect.
"Of course. This is the best mental hospital in the area."
Lin Ye glanced at Miles' neck, hoping that was truly the case. Otherwise, he'd have to try some less safe options.
As they pushed open the main building doors, a gaunt, bald man in patient clothes rushed at them.
Smack!
Lin Ye slapped the bald man to the ground, then stepped on his back to prevent him from getting up.
"...What's this?"
Miles asked in shock.
"Welcome to the mental hospital."
Lin Ye didn't explain, just kept stepping on the bald man's back as he moved forward like stepping on a rag.
If Miles hadn't been watching, he would have already snapped the bald man's neck.
Though that might not have worked either.
As they entered the lobby, a female doctor wearing patient clothes under a white coat approached.
"Dr. Amanda, is this your patient?"
Glancing at her name tag, Lin Ye asked before she could speak.
"...Yes. Thank you for your help. You are?"
Dr. Amanda stepped on the bald man's back, taking over from Lin Ye.
"I'm Kevin, the new orderly sent by the organization. This is my colleague..."
"I'm Miles."
Miles said hastily.
"Welcome. I did hear about new staff arriving. But before starting, you'll need to visit the director's office on the top floor. Only with the director's approval can you stay."
Dr. Amanda pointed at the stairs, indicating they should go up themselves.
"Understood. We'll go see the director now."
Lin Ye released the bald man and led Miles toward the stairs.
"...Why was she wearing patient clothes underneath?"
After ascending to the second floor, Miles looked back to confirm no one was following before voicing his question.
"Probably part of the therapy. If we all wear patient clothes, the patients forget they're ill... that's my guess."
Lin Ye continued fabricating.
"...But if everyone wears patient clothes, how do we tell who's actually a patient?"
Miles asked confusedly.
"Good question. Excellent question, Miles."
Lin Ye said meaningfully.
Only after Miles grew visibly nervous did Lin Ye continue:
"Obviously because we have staff records. This is a legitimate job - stop overthinking."
"Whew, you scared me there."
Miles finally relaxed.
Lin Ye glanced at the now-brightening light tubes and relaxed too.
The main building's layout proved extremely complex. The spiral staircase from the first floor lobby only reached the second floor. To reach the third floor required finding another staircase.
The two navigated maze-like corridors as Lin Ye memorized each hallway, gradually constructing a mental 3D map of the hospital.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Sudden heavy, urgent pounding from a nearby room made Miles jump.
Lin Ye remained unfazed as he continued forward, casually explaining:
"Manic episode. Common mental illness. Don't get so jumpy - you need stronger nerves for this job."
"Sorry, it's my first time in a mental hospital. The atmosphere here is kind of..."
Miles trailed off, unable to find the right word.
"Abnormal?"
Lin Ye finished for him.
"Yes! Abnormal! I don't know why, but this place just feels wrong!"
Miles said agitatedly.
"That's normal. Mentally ill people are different from ordinary folks. Combined with this enclosed environment, of course normal people would feel uncomfortable. You'll adjust."
Lin Ye smiled as he closed a door, shutting inside the dozen bloodshot eyeballs pressed against the crack.