Apocalypse Begins with a Nightmare

“Your wallet has received 3,257 yuan!” Merlin glanced at the notification on his electronic wallet and smiled. As the owner of a gaming studio specializing in power leveling and gold farming, Merlin had borrowed money to start this business just after graduating two years ago. Unlike others who had jumped in blindly and ended up failing, Merlin had actually made a profit. Being an elite gamer, Merlin could find opportunities to "farm" in any popular game on the market, regardless of the type, and capitalize on them. Aside from Merlin, the studio had four employees. The 3,257 yuan was just today’s earnings; after distribution based on performance standards, Merlin himself would earn at least a thousand. Over the course of the month, the total income was around 30,000 to 40,000 yuan, which placed him among the high earners in Hibernia City. Although Merlin was the boss, he never withheld any of his employees' earnings. The money was always paid in full, and usually on a daily basis. He transferred the money to his four employees’ phones, and the notification sounds of incoming payments immediately filled the room. “Ah, the payments are here,” a young man with glasses sitting in the corner chuckled. The studio was rented by Merlin—a three-bedroom apartment. He had converted the living room and one of the bedrooms into a workspace for computers and phones. The remaining two rooms were used as a break room for employees and Merlin’s own bedroom. Merlin also lived here. “Thanks, Lin Ge,” said a chubby, oily-faced young man, visibly pleased. After a full day of work, the highlight was receiving their pay. “Got over 500 yuan, made quite a bit today. How about you? Bet you earned more,” the chubby guy asked the young man with glasses. “I got over 600. This month’s income is about 15,000, which is more than what my classmates make,” replied the young man with glasses, a hint of pride in his voice. The other two employees, wearing headphones and focused on their screens, didn’t have time to chat but briefly glanced at their phones with smiles that couldn’t be hidden. Merlin walked over and patted them on the shoulders. “Get some rest tonight, don’t stay up too late. It’s not good for your health. In our line of work, health is crucial. Tonight, I’ll treat you all to barbecue. Relax and enjoy.” “Thanks, Lin Ge!” The group cheered. Later that evening, at around 10:30 PM, the studio was empty except for Merlin. He had sent the others home for the night. They worked flexible hours and usually didn’t have set shifts, but Merlin insisted they go home and rest one night a week. After a shower to wash off the smell of barbecue, Merlin made himself a cup of tea and launched a newly released AAA horror escape game. Playing horror games was one of Merlin’s ways to relax. Merlin had a secret that no one knew. He didn’t experience fear. He had discovered this by chance—whether it was the physical thrill of roller coasters and pendulums at amusement parks or the sensory and psychological stimuli of haunted houses, horror novels, and movies, nothing could evoke any fear in him. It felt like a condition, so Merlin had consulted a psychologist about it.