Will you support me, Ron?

**Your patients have become extremely dissatisfied with you and have completely abandoned your treatment plan.**

**Your stress level has slightly increased, now at 70/100.**

**When your stress level exceeds 100, a stress breakdown event will be triggered.**

**Your stress continues to grow. Although this stress cannot shake your pursuit of your dreams, you may now need some ways to relieve your stress...**

Looking at the text on the screen, Natasha sighed with a touch of helplessness. 

She had long anticipated this outcome. 

As the de facto leader of the Underworld, Natasha was well aware of the entire district's situation without any secrets... She understood the current plight of the lower district perfectly. 

The miners in the lower district were living increasingly worse lives. 

The erosion of the rift was gradually spreading, causing cities to be engulfed and reconstructed by the rift, rendering them uninhabitable. People were forced to flee their homes, losing everything and becoming destitute wanderers. 

Moreover, many mines had been exhausted in recent years of excavation, and some collapsed due to environmental changes, losing all economic value. 

Natasha opened a panoramic map. The map displayed the entire lower district, but most of it was shrouded in a dead, gloomy haze, with only the area around Rocktown and the Furnace Hub illuminated, emitting a soft glow. 

The once vast lower district had been reduced to this small remnant due to the ongoing erosion by the rift, leaving little room for the people to survive... 

Refugees from other towns crowded into Rocktown, occupying the residents' living space. However, Rocktown itself could not sustain this influx, leading to worsening conditions due to internal strife. 

Recently, a mine collapse in the lower district led to a significant reduction in the upper district's supply of geomarrow, as a new vein had not yet been excavated. Consequently, the resources provided by the upper district were dwindling month by month. 

Resources were insufficient to support a stable life for the people. 

Mining wages were decreasing, while the cost of living in the lower district was rising... 

To survive, the people of the lower district resorted to mixing moss from the mine edges into cold dishes and making meat jelly from scrawny rats... They were gradually turning everything into food to stave off hunger. 

Under such circumstances, rejecting Natasha's treatment plan was understandable. 

Despite Natasha's best efforts to improve medical conditions in the lower district, she was constrained by a lack of resources and unable to succeed. 

Currently, most of the medicines in her clinic were cheap formulas developed from substitutes found in the lower district, resulting from years of experimentation. Natasha hardly charged for these medicines, even though these substitutes were sometimes hard to come by. 

If these medicines could cure the patients, it would be fine, but unfortunately, miners' disease, the most common ailment in the lower district, heavily relied on resources from the upper district, and Natasha had not developed a new formula. 

Rift erosion was even worse—it wasn't considered a disease, but ordinary people without Pathstrider powers found it almost impossible to rid themselves of the rift's influence. Without using valuable resources from the upper district, they couldn't regain their health... 

Thus, these people's fate was to be consumed by the rift eventually, turning into dissipated imaginary energy, disappearing from the world like the dead monsters in the rift. 

Thinking of this, Natasha sighed again. As a Pathstrider of [Abundance], she adhered to principles of selfless dedication and rescue, always feeling compassion for her patients. 

She couldn't bear to see these patients die due to their harsh living conditions... 

But she was powerless to solve the problem and could only watch the patients leave, sighing. 

"I must create the perfect 'Snowfield Immunity' as soon as possible..."

"As long as I can make people immune to the cold and conquer the rift, everything will be better..."

Natasha's thoughts solidified as she looked at the screen, seeing new text appear: 

**Ruan arrived at your clinic.**

**He noticed your guilt over the patients' departure and decided to talk to you.**

The text faded, and a new scene appeared: 

"Natasha, do you know what illness they have?" 

Standing at the clinic's door, Ruan watched the patients' departing backs, his eyes deep, as if seeing an entire starry sky in their figures. 

Natasha keenly sensed that Ruan was implying something bigger than just the patients. 

Belobog was sick. 

He was pointing out Belobog's chronic illness. 

Natasha was silent for a moment, then followed his lead: 

"Each person has different illnesses, mostly miners' disease from geomarrow extraction, and some have severe rift erosion..."

Before Natasha could finish, Ruan interrupted: 

"No, they all have the same illness."

"What illness?"

Ruan's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression: 

"When a destitute miner appears, even if healthy, he is already terminally ill... When he actually falls ill, death rushes toward him faster."

"Illnesses are varied, but fundamentally they all stem from one disease... poverty."

"Just practicing medicine won't save the lower district, Natasha."

The screen paused, and a golden option box appeared: 

**Ruan pointed out Belobog's chronic illness, but you already knew where Belobog's sickness lay.**

**His words hinted at his meaning—he wants you to shift your focus from medicine to something more capable of saving Belobog.**

**He awaits your decision—**

**1. "It seems I've indeed chosen the wrong path."

You are enlightened by Ruan's words and give up your extreme pursuit of "Snowfield Immunity." You will devote most of your energy to leading the lower district and revitalizing Belobog with its power.

Your ideals are changed by Ruan, and you gain a new trait: "Abandoning Medicine for Governance."**

**Abandoning Medicine for Governance (Gold): Under Ruan's persuasion, you understand that practicing medicine is not a critical task. Ignorant and weak citizens, no matter how strong and robust, can only be meaningless spectators.

To save the world from peril, perhaps iron and blood are the true path.

Subsequently, your stress increase will be permanently reduced by 50%, your administrative processing speed will increase by 50%, and your policy execution rate will increase by 20%. As your people more easily identify with you, your ideological influence will significantly enhance.**

**2. "If I don't treat this land's chronic illness, who else will?"

You understand what Ruan wants to convey, but you feel you cannot follow his path.

You are confident that your dream can cure this land's chronic illness, remove the cold and the rift's corruption, and let the flame of civilization burn brightly again on this frigid, snowy planet.

You solidify your ideals and gain a new trait: "Persistence of the Healer."**

**Persistence of the Healer (Gold): You strengthen your belief and do not give up on your dream. Despite the land's severe illness, as a doctor, you never abandon hope of a cure.

On this land swept by cold winds, you will bring warmth and light to the shivering civilization.

Subsequently, your stress will not increase, your medical research speed will increase by 50%, and your [Abundance] Path progress will increase by 100%.**

Seeing the golden options on the screen, Natasha fell into deep thought.

These were choices she had never seen before, but just from the golden glow, she knew their significance. 

She had rarely seen golden traits in the Life Simulation Game... only on Ruan.

Ruan's abilities had been proven beyond doubt through several simulations.

Yet, with just a few words, he managed to put her simulation self in a pivotal choice, each option granting a golden trait...

Natasha pondered deeply.

The first option's trait was immensely powerful. As the current leader of the Underworld, Natasha knew that focusing her energy on leading the lower district would drastically change the situation. 

Although it felt a bit shameful to admit, Natasha always thought of herself as capable—confident that with this trait, she could lead a successful uprising within a year, taking over the upper district and uniting Belobog.

This confidence came from her years as the Underworld leader, managing both her medical experiments and consultations, while still guiding the Underworld and maintaining the lower district's stability.

This could easily replicate the outcome of the previous simulation, where Himeko achieved a similar conclusion, perhaps even leading to a new future where Jarilo-VI wasn't overtaken by the Interstellar Peace Corporation...

However... Natasha wasn't ready to choose the first option.

"Persistence of the Healer" could accelerate medical research and her [Abundance] Path progress, all geared towards creating the complete "Snowfield Immunity."

With this trait, Natasha believed she could quickly develop the perfect "Snowfield Immunity," creating a world where no one feared the cold and everyone could live safely in the snow.

Moreover... there was an unseen benefit in the second option.

If the current leader of the Underworld, Natasha, focused entirely on "Snowfield Immunity," the future of the Underworld would need another leader...

And that candidate was now quite clear.

After a moment of silence, she decisively chose the second option.

The screen faded, and the scene continued:

Natasha leaned against the clinic door, looking at Ruan for a long time.

Then she spoke, with a tone devoid of any retreat.

"I know you're right, the lower district's poverty is incurable, but Ruan... I am a doctor, and I can only do what I should."

Sensing Natasha's stubbornness, Ruan frowned and said

 sternly:

"What you should do? You shouldn't just be a doctor treating patients..."

"Should you keep using these meager resources to try to cure physical illnesses while ignoring the broader state of the lower district and the real living conflicts of the people?"

Hearing Ruan's questions, Natasha shook her head:

"If this disease were truly incurable, I should indeed give up medicine... but what if it can be treated?"

She pushed open the clinic door, leading Ruan inside, picking up a thick experimental record from a corner:

"This is the 'Snowfield Immunity' experiment record... The cold medicine I distributed was a simplified version of it."

Natasha said, her tone filled with hope:

"Ruan, I want a world where the cold no longer threatens people, where the rift no longer consumes lives... I hope to reclaim the world, making it as warm as spring."

"By then, the people who have reclaimed the world will have everything, no longer falling into sickness due to poverty..."

She smiled at Ruan:

"I know this sounds like a fantasy to you, almost impossible to achieve... but it's my unwavering persistence as a doctor."

Her tone turned solemn:

"This world is severely ill—people struggle for survival but linger on the edge of despair."

"Even if everyone believes this city is doomed, that the earth's chronic illness is spreading, I will never admit it—"

"I will not admit this disease is incurable."

Natasha extended her hand towards Ruan, inviting him:

"For a warm and bright world... will you support me, Ruan?"

The screen faded, replaced by a new golden option box:

**Natasha's determination remained unshaken by your words, continuing her pursuit of her dream.**

**She explained her choice and extended her hand, hoping you could become her true partner.**

**You were moved by her words, and you choose—**

**1. Shake Natasha's hand.

You will be firmly locked in Natasha's personal faction, becoming her true assistant.

You will replace Oleg as the new leader of the Underworld, managing it on Natasha's behalf.

The Underworld organization will be under your control, with members more likely to trust you, significantly increasing organizational loyalty. Your mutual goodwill with Natasha will greatly increase, and you will gain a new exclusive trait, "Mutual Dependence of Light and Shadow."**

**Mutual Dependence of Light and Shadow (Gold): Rules tightly define the world's operation like gears, and you and Natasha define the rules of the lower district... She seeks life's new bloom in the shadows, while you seek civilization's renewal in the light.

When both Ruan and Natasha are alive and not on opposing paths, mutual goodwill will greatly increase.

Both will receive comprehensive attribute boosts, with increases depending on the level of goodwill.**

**2. Push Natasha's hand away.

You will leave Natasha's personal faction, no longer being her assistant. Her faction will no longer be available to you.

You will part ways with Natasha, and mutual goodwill will slightly decrease.**

Seeing the golden option on the screen, Ruan felt his fingers trembling.

How long had it been... How long had it been...

After so many simulations, it was the first time someone was willing to hand over power to him, letting him control an entire force without fearing he would usurp it!

Previously, neither Himeko nor Bronya had chosen to let Ruan take over. Instead, they remained the leaders, controlling Belobog according to their will—

Even Himeko sought Ruan's advice, but Bronya mostly ignored him, often choosing paths contrary to Ruan's suggestions.

Unexpectedly, it was Natasha who was willing to relinquish power... What more could be said?

The first option not only let him control the Underworld but also granted a trait with growing potential, "Mutual Dependence of Light and Shadow."

Although it meant being locked into Natasha's faction, what did that matter?

Ruan didn't mind being Natasha's assistant, supporting her dream of creating "Snowfield Immunity"...

After all, though "Snowfield Immunity" sounded unreliable, Ruan remembered from the game Honkai: Star Rail that Vah's experiment record contained an almost harmless semi-finished version.

Even if it couldn't become the complete version Natasha envisioned, it wouldn't cause any negative impact, merely wasting some medical resources.

Moreover, the second option had more severe consequences.

While it seemed to allow Ruan to navigate between various factions, possibly gaining multiple supporters...

It would essentially block his path in Natasha's faction. He was only one step away from becoming an [Abundance] Pathstrider, and leaving Natasha's faction now was not an option.

This was a single-choice question.

Ruan chose the first option, the golden option box faded, and new text appeared:

**You have become Natasha's true assistant.**

**Due to your trust, her goodwill towards you greatly increased. Natasha's goodwill towards you is now 60.**

**Your goodwill towards Natasha similarly increased. Your goodwill towards Natasha is now 55.**

**Natasha explained the current state of the lower district and opened all the Underworld organization's information to you.**

**She showed you the "Snowfield Immunity" experiment record, greatly increasing your understanding of it.**

**With Natasha's permission, you will become the public leader of the Underworld, controlling the lower district's operations with your will.**

The text faded, replaced by numerous quantified attribute values, representing the [Underworld Organization].

Compared to the previous simulation's Jarilo I Empire, this time's Underworld organization seemed laughably inadequate...

All attribute values were incredibly low, and the lower district's stability was still declining. If the people's livelihood issues weren't addressed, the stability would eventually drop to zero, causing the entire organization to collapse.

Yet, Ruan couldn't help but smile at the screen.

Despite the low values, one attribute was off the charts—loyalty.

Thanks to Natasha's efforts, the Underworld members were all striving for the lower district's future. Despite the hardship and danger, none backed down.

They all held onto the hope for the future, dedicating themselves to the lower district's stability—Ruan had no worries about the organization's loyalty as its leader.

"Low values? So what?"

Ruan clicked on the screen: "As long as they listen, give me enough time to grow, and I'll even kill three major disasters if they come..."

New text appeared:

**You have become the new leader of the Underworld, turning a new page in history.**

**As the first ruler of the Underworld, please choose a development direction for your faction...**

The text faded, revealing a new interface with complex options.

At the top were various quantified resources of the Underworld: Winter City Shields, food, building materials, iron, etc., with numerous red deficits glaringly obvious.

Ruan found the interface increasingly familiar, with a peculiar look on his face.

Stellaris, a space strategy game rated 7+, allowed players to control their empire's development in space, aiming to become the strongest empire in the universe.

Players prided themselves on promoting true goodness, showcasing each species' value and putting them where they shined brightest... Ruan was an avid player.

The interface on the Life Simulation Game screen was a skinned version of Stellaris...

So, becoming the first ruler of a faction switched the text-based game to an SLG?

Ruan didn't know what to say, exploring the complex interface, discovering differences from Stellaris.

First, in the research interface, level 4 scientist Natasha occupied a biology research slot, working on [Project: Snowfield Immunity], with almost infinite time consumption and only 1% completion.

Second, all actions depleting a special value—Ruan's stamina—shared with his stamina in the text-based game. Depletion forced rest, moving to the next day.

Ruan could exit this interface anytime, returning to the text-based game, but that would pause the Underworld's operations, with it acting on Ruan's prior arrangements autonomously.

"This complicates things..."

Ruan scratched his head, hoping to grind endlessly, micro-managing the Underworld's growth and mastering the future perfectly.

But it seemed stamina was still a limitation...

Ruan wouldn't devote all his stamina to developing the Underworld.

He knew the Star Core threat was imminent...

Given the almost infinite time consumption for the Snowfield Immunity project, Natasha likely couldn't complete it in time to make everyone immune to the cold and rift.

Thus, resolving the Star Core was essential and urgent.

Based on the almost infinite completion time for the Snowfield Immunity project, Natasha couldn't create a world where everyone was immune to the cold and rift, making survival in extreme conditions impossible.

Therefore, addressing the Star Core was crucial, and the sooner, the better.

Yet, defeating the Star Core within a few years would bring the Antimatter Legion's resurgence...

This timeframe wasn't enough to develop Belobog to a level capable of resisting the Antimatter Legion.

He needed substantial stamina for Path progress and combat experience, only then could he defeat the Calamity Vanguard, preventing Jarilo-VI's destruction...

Time to carefully consider stamina allocation...

With this thought, Ruan pondered briefly and clicked on the screen.

-------------------------------------

**Oleg gathered the Underworld members for an important meeting.**

**He announced his resignation as the leader, with Ruan taking over.**

**You always knew Natasha was the true leader, and this was clearly her doing.**

Himeko frowned at the screen, opening Ruan's character card:

**Underworld Leader: Ruan (Gold)**

**Talents: Peerless Genius, Mutual Dependence of Light and Shadow**

**Description: Leader of the Underworld in the lower district. Formerly Bronya's bodyguard, later joining the Underworld and becoming its new leader

.**

**Mutual Dependence of Light and Shadow (Gold): Rules define the world's operation like gears, and you and Natasha define the lower district's rules... She seeks life's new bloom in the shadows, while you seek civilization's renewal in the light.**

Below was a striking red line:

**The character has joined Natasha's personal faction, and it is locked, unchangeable.**

Himeko felt lost.

What exactly happened?

Since the simulation began, everything had gone haywire.

Initially, thinking Bronya was the main rival, she had ambushed and tied up Bronya, preventing her from meeting Ruan.

But a mysterious person had knocked her out, waking up in the evening and being humiliated by Bronya before escaping.

All this time, she had been countering Bronya's actions, fighting almost to a standstill.

Now, taking a break, she saw Ruan joining Natasha's faction? How?

Himeko felt dizzy, closing her eyes and shaking her head, forcing herself to calm down.

No... It's not over yet.

Though Ruan was locked in Natasha's faction, it didn't mean she had no moves left.

After all... Ruan was now the Underworld's leader.

Regardless, he would work for the Underworld, and with a bit of guidance, she could still achieve her future.

In that case, her bet with Bronya would be her victory!

After all, being locked in Natasha's faction didn't matter—Natasha was just an NPC in the simulation, not someone who could compete with them in reality!

Comforting herself, Himeko focused on the screen, resuming her operations.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

**You heard the Miners' Guild implemented new policies, encouraging the miners.**

**Craftsmen in the guild developed new techniques, significantly reducing miners' casualties and increasing mining efficiency.**

**You heard the city's market was covertly regulated, with prices stabilizing at a lower range after fluctuations.**

**Many wealthy merchants were affected, even going bankrupt.**

**You heard...**

New text appeared, showing the lower district thriving.

Natasha smiled faintly at the screen.

Her choice was right.

Under Ruan's management, the Underworld was prospering, everything developing rapidly.

And... Ruan wasn't just doing that.

New text appeared:

**Ruan came to your clinic, seeking to learn "Advanced Medicine."**

**But you were too exhausted to teach him, assigning him to handle clinic duties, treating patients.**

**Ruan accepted, not only completing the clinic's daily tasks but also organizing the previously messy clinic.**

**Due to "Mutual Dependence of Light and Shadow," mutual goodwill increased.**

**Ruan's goodwill towards you: 90.**

**Your goodwill towards Ruan: 100 (max, increase with a vow exchange)**

Seeing the text, Natasha blushed slightly.

She gently patted her warm cheeks, calming herself.

Alright, she admitted Ruan was too capable, managing the lower district and helping her with daily tasks, freeing her for "Snowfield Immunity."

But... why was her goodwill towards Ruan increasing so fast?

Ruan hadn't even maxed his goodwill, yet hers was already full!

Was she really that easy to win over?

Doubting herself, Natasha saw new text appearing:

**As time passed, it reached evening.**

**Ruan sent off the last patient, leaving only the two of you in the clinic.**

**You continued researching "Snowfield Immunity" but made no progress.**

**You tried infusing imaginary energy into the medicine, only managing to bless it with Pathstrider power, barely isolating the rift's corruption.**

**Due to another day of fruitless research, your stress level increased significantly.**

**You triggered a stress relief event—**

**Trusting Ruan, you decided to confide in him about your failure, seeking his help to reduce your stress.**

The text faded, replaced by a new scene:

"Ruan... I failed again."

In the scene, Natasha looked exhausted, faint dark circles under her eyes, seemingly having stayed up late for several days, not well-rested.

A depressive aura surrounded her, indicating her bad mood.

"Failed? Still can't integrate imaginary energy into the medicine?"

Wearing a lab coat, Ruan walked towards Natasha, looking at the distilling medicine bottle on the table.

The cheap herbal extracts mixed together, blessed with Pathstrider power, becoming Natasha's improved cold medicine.

"Yeah... Pure imaginary energy is too ethereal; I can manipulate it for healing but can't stabilize it in the medicine."

Natasha sighed helplessly:

"I suspect I'm on the wrong path but can't find a new solution..."

"Is that so..."

Frowning at the medicine bottle, Ruan thought for a moment, then placed his hand over the bottle.

The scene darkened, new text appearing:

**You saw dark gold crystals forming in Ruan's palm.**

**Strangely, seeing these crystals, you seemed to hear a hammer strike and saw a small tributary in the vast Pathstrider stream...**

**The tributary flowed into the bottle, with the dark gold crystals floating and melting under high heat.**

**[Preservation]'s power infused the "Snowfield Immunity."**

**Now, consuming it grants cold immunity and [Preservation]'s protection, slightly enhancing defense. The protection comes from Ruan's [Preservation] creation.**

**Ruan's actions greatly inspired you. Since imaginary energy is too ethereal to stabilize in the medicine, why not first shape it into corresponding Pathstrider creations, utilizing their characteristics?**

**Though you don't know which creation can resist the rift's corruption, it's a clear direction.**

**The "Snowfield Immunity" project's progress greatly increased.**

The text faded, replaced by a golden progress bar labeled "Project: Snowfield Immunity," jumping to 50%, halfway through.

So it could be solved this way?

Ruan, you're my lucky star!

Natasha felt elated, forgetting her previous embarrassment.

But before she could fully rejoice, new text appeared:

**Due to Ruan's actions, the "Snowfield Immunity" project advanced greatly.**

**His "Medicine" skill experience greatly increased.**

**His "Medicine" skill level increased, and his [Abundance] Path progress increased.**

**He successfully became an [Abundance] Pathstrider.**

As the text faded, a golden scene emerged:

Ruan picked up the now slightly cloudy medicine bottle, ready to test its effect.

But before he could act, a streak of green-gold light flashed in his eyes.

Thorn-like bushes grew at his feet, intertwining, surrounding him as he stood, like a crown.

Dense green light flowed over Ruan, resembling spreading branches and leaves, covering the clinic, bathing the room in green.

Natasha saw an extraordinary figure reflected in Ruan's eyes—

The figure, unfolding six arms, performed a cosmic dance in the starry sea mirrored in Ruan's pupils.

Its hair, like magpie feathers, bloomed among the stars.

Its myriad eyes on its body watched Ruan, with one casting a compassionate gaze at Natasha.