Global Survival: I Got the D-Rank Personnel Simulator-Chapter 86: Divine Fraud

After the helmet was placed on him, the researchers nearby began adjusting the instrument parameters. When one of them pressed a switch, Lin Ye's vision went black as he lost consciousness.
An indeterminate amount of time later, Lin Ye regained his senses, finding himself in a peculiar state.
He was now possessing someone else's body.
The sensation somewhat resembled the system's simulations, though far less perfected than what the system could achieve.
The device appeared to be some form of consciousness-transfer equipment, having transmitted Lin Ye's consciousness into another person.
The host's consciousness still remained. If Lin Ye wanted to take control of the body, he would either need to eliminate the host's consciousness or obtain their consent.
This was Lin Ye's first direct experience of spiritual consciousness as a tangible existence. Compared to Lin Ye, the host's consciousness was extremely fragile—Lin Ye could crush it and seize the body at any moment if he wished.
This reminded Lin Ye of the consciousness maze. To Little Ye back then, Lin Ye must have seemed just as defenseless.
Since they were fundamentally the same person, Lin Ye would make the same choice now.
After observing for a while, Lin Ye grasped the host's basic situation.
Qin An, male, 17 years old, a high school student.
This world seemed to have some understanding of spiritual energy, though the ambient concentration was mediocre.
So far, Lin Ye had only encountered one teacher who had absorbed spiritual energy, with no immediate threats detected.
The organization's goal was likely to use D-Class personnel to study consciousness-transfer technology. As long as Lin Ye waited for them to retrieve him, this simulation should conclude smoothly.
Thus, Lin Ye didn't necessarily need to communicate with Qin An—as long as the boy didn't die within these few hours.
'...But I have a bad feeling about this.'
Not a single simulation mission had ever been simple to complete.
Lin Ye silently mourned for Qin An for one second.
'Qin An can't die. If he dies and Henry simply perishes, that's fine. But if Henry becomes a vegetable instead, that'd be troublesome.'
'If the organization can even utilize vegetative patients, I might not even get a chance to re-simulate.'
To better handle the impending crisis, Lin Ye decided to talk to Qin An.
Lin Ye: Hello.
Lin Ye 'spoke' to Qin An, who was currently spacing out while staring at the blackboard.
Of course, he couldn't actually speak aloud, but since they shared a body now, mental communication was possible.
Qin An turned his head in confusion, looking around. He had 'heard' the voice but couldn't locate its source.
Lin Ye: If you don't want to be seen as crazy, stop looking around. I'm communicating with you telepathically.
Qin An: ?
Lin Ye: Good. As long as you focus on what you want to say, I can hear it.
Qin An: ...Who are you?
Lin Ye: I am... a god. Do you know what gods are?
Lin Ye chose an answer that would be easier for an ordinary person to accept.
Qin An: ...Am I going insane?
Lin Ye: You're not. But if you stay here, you might die.
Qin An: ...I get it. You're a scammer, right? Godly fraud? What kind of high-tech scam is this?
Lin Ye: Do you honestly think you have anything worth scamming with this level of technology?
Qin An: Alright, Lord God, please save me.
Lin Ye: You don't need me to save you. Just claim you're feeling unwell and leave school early.
Qin An: Huh? If I leave, I'll be fine?
Lin Ye: Correct. Some kind of disaster will likely occur here soon. Leaving the school should keep you safe.
Earlier, it hadn't been obvious, but now Lin Ye could faintly sense something ominous approaching.
Qin An: What about everyone else?
Qin An, lacking any tangible sense of the so-called 'disaster,' was still concerned about others.
Lin Ye: Maybe you could this to the police and let them handle it. But that might leave behind certain... complications. You'd need to be prepared for that.
Lin Ye didn't understand this world well enough to make decisions for Qin An—he couldn't watch over Qin An indefinitely. The consequences would be Qin An's to bear.
Qin An: But aren't you a god? Can't you resolve the disaster?
Lin Ye: Gods are beacons of the spiritual world. We can only guide you forward, not solve disasters for you. Beacons are useful yet useless like that.
Qin An wanted to say more, but Lin Ye cut him off.
Lin Ye: Never mind. It's too late now.
An intangible spiritual energy barrier enveloped the entire school. Until it dissipated, no one could leave.
Masked figures in black trench coats stormed into every occupied classroom, swiftly subduing teachers and students.
They moved with precision and familiarity of the school's layout, quickly gaining control of the entire building.
Lin Ye detected traces of spiritual energy mutation among these black-coated intruders. Their leader was a first-level spiritual energy user.
Qin An: It's the Doomsday Cult's terrorists! Lord God, what should I do?!
Now Qin An was truly frightened. The Doomsday Cult was a notorious terrorist organization—their black coats and white masks were unmistakable. No one dared impersonate them.
Rumors said they had triggered numerous catastrophic incidents, each leaving countless dead.
Lin Ye: Surviving is easy. Lend me your body. I can handle the black coats in this classroom, then we'll find a place to hide.
Qin An: ...Didn't you say gods were just beacons?
Lin Ye: Then deal with them yourself. I'll mourn for you from the sidelines.
Qin An: I was wrong.
Lin Ye: Gods occasionally help their followers... that's what my colleagues do.
Qin An: Am I your follower now?
Lin Ye: If you want. The god doesn't care.
Qin An: Then Lord God, what price must I pay for you to save the others?
Lin Ye: You don't want to hide?
Qin An: ...It's not that I don't want to. It just feels wrong.
Lin Ye: What if I take your crush with us when we hide? I promise not to peek.
Qin An: ...That doesn't seem right.
Lin Ye: Why not? You can't save them anyway. Hiding and enjoying yourself while listening to your classmates' screams isn't unreasonable.
Qin An: ...Are you seriously advising me to hide?
Lin Ye: Of course. How else can I enjoy the show if you don't hide?
Qin An: Are you... the Doomsday Cult's Doomsday God?
Lin Ye: Now you're insulting me. I'm a proper god—so proper it's almost sinister.
Qin An: Sorry, Lord God. I still don't want to hide.
Lin Ye didn't want to help him. He had no idea what price Qin An might pay—D-Class personnel he'd possessed didn't always survive.
Moreover, solving this crisis would require using Qin An's body to absorb spiritual energy, irreversibly mutating this young body.
He could use D-Class personnel's bodies freely because that was their due price.
Qin An had done nothing wrong. And if they ignored everyone else, Lin Ye was confident he could keep the boy alive.
Lin Ye: Fine. You asked for it.