46: Chapter 46 Reconstruction of Identity

Lin Fan leaned against the rust-covered iron frame of an abandoned warehouse, his fingertips twisting a half-extinguished cigarette. Amidst the curling smoke, he could clearly hear his own heartbeat, heavy as if it were about to shatter the thin barrier within his chest. Outside the warehouse was the deep night of Los Santos, sirens wailing one after another, yet they never approached this forgotten industrial zone—the temporary identity Kate had forged for him was working. At the very least, for the moment, the mark of a five-star wanted level was covered by a layer of false veneer.

But only Lin Fan knew how fragile this peace was, just like his consciousness at this moment, which would fall into an abyss of chaos if he wasn't careful.

Half an hour ago, he had just escaped from Kate's safe house; to be precise, Kate had let him go on purpose. The way that woman looked at him before he left was as complex as if the neon lights of Los Santos had been crushed and mixed into her gaze—there was vigilance, sympathy, and a trace of wavering she hadn't even realized herself. "Your identity doesn't add up, Lin Fan." Her voice still echoed in his ears, her fingertips sliding over the encrypted file with infinite gentleness, yet every word was like a knife: "In the military's database, there is no entry record for a 'Lin Fan' at all, and you can't even be found in the household registration archives for the North American region. You are just like... someone who popped out of thin air."

Popped out of thin air.

These five words were like a curse, circling repeatedly in Lin Fan's mind. He took a deep drag of the cigarette, the scorching smoke burning his throat, bringing on a fit of violent coughing that bent him over, his hands braced on his knees, his knuckles turning white from the strain.

He had been transmigrated to Los Santos for nearly fifty days. From the initial triggering of the "Los Santos Survival Guide" system when he was mugged by thugs, to being forced to rob a convenience store and triggering a three-star wanted level, and then being framed by the Snake Fang Gang and dragged into a bank heist, skyrocketing all the way to a five-star wanted level, he had thought he had long since adapted to this game world. He thought he was just a realist who had stumbled into a virtual world, but Kate's words were like a key, opening the dust-covered door deep in his memory, from which only chaotic fragments surged out.

He remembered the scenes of staying up late playing GTA5, the night view of Los Santos flickering on the computer screen, Michael taking him to rob a jewelry store, the gunfire deafening, and he had even cursed the game's poor optimization, the stuttering making him miss the best shooting angle. Then came the blinding white light, the computer tower suddenly exploding, the heat wave rushing at him wrapped in shrapnel, and after the excruciating pain came darkness. When he woke up again, he was in this excessively realistic Los Santos, becoming a "black household" without even an ID card.

This was the "truth" he had always firmly believed in.

But now, his memories were beginning to show cracks.

He would occasionally have flashes of images that didn't belong to him: for example, in a pure white space, countless codes sliding past his eyes like running water; for example, a cold mechanical voice repeating "Consciousness loading" in his ears; for example, he could subconsciously state the secret exit of a certain alley in Los Santos, and even knew the ventilation duct layout of the Snake Fang Gang's lair, even though he had never deliberately memorized these things.

Previously, he had just assumed it was a "game memory bonus" brought by transmigration; after all, he had played GTA5 for thousands of hours and knew the map of Los Santos like the back of his hand. But thinking about it now, those memories were too precise—too precise to be a player's vague impressions, and instead, they were more like... pre-implanted programs.

"Who exactly am I?" Lin Fan muttered to himself, his voice raspy beyond recognition. He raised his hand to touch his face, the warm sensation, the beating pulse, and even the thin calluses on his fingertips were incomparably real—those were the ones worn down from years of typing on a keyboard in the real world, and also the ones trained from struggling in Los Santos, holding guns, and driving.

But if all this was real, why did the military not have any record of him? If he was a transmigrator, was the trigger for the transmigration really just a computer explosion? Or was it that, from the very beginning, he wasn't "Lin Fan," but just a consciousness entity endowed with the memories of "Lin Fan"?

Chaos engulfed him like a tide; he stood up abruptly and kicked the metal barrel next to him. The barrel let out a loud "clang," echoing in the empty warehouse, startling a few crows on the roof, which flapped their wings and disappeared into the night.

The system's notification sound suddenly rang in his mind, the cold mechanical voice now carrying a hint of imperceptible stuttering: [Host's mental state is abnormal, cognitive disorder detected, initiate forced stabilization program?]

"Get lost!" Lin Fan roared, slamming his fist against the iron frame. Blood oozed from the back of his hand instantly, the pain clear and sharp. "Don't use your programs to define me! Whether I'm a human or not is not for you to decide!"

[Warning! Host's emotional fluctuations exceed safety threshold, system functions temporarily restricted... Warning! Data synchronization abnormal...]

The system's voice was intermittent, and then it disappeared completely. Lin Fan froze, looking down at his bleeding hand, a wave of inexplicable panic surging in his heart. He had always relied on the system, relied on the mission prompts and skill rewards of the "Los Santos Survival Guide," but now, the system had actually malfunctioned. Was it because his cognitive disorder had affected the system, or was it that the system itself, just like his "identity," hid a huge secret?

He thought of Victor, the boss of the Snake Fang Gang, the man Kate suspected was the "mastermind." Before, he had only thought of Victor as a ruthless gang boss, but later he found out that Victor not only controlled the underground forces of Los Santos but also had intricate connections with the military and political circles. More importantly, the way Victor looked at him always carried a sense of scrutiny, the look of someone examining an "experimental subject."

"You are different from us, Lin Fan." That time during the shootout at the docks, Victor said to him through the smoke, his lips curling into a meaningful smile, "You think you are the one controlling the situation, but in fact, you are just a chess piece with a set trajectory. By the time you realize it, it will be too late."

At the time, he didn't understand the meaning of that sentence and just took it as Victor's psychological warfare. But thinking about it now, Victor might know something—know his identity, know the truth of this world.

And then there was Elizabeth, that mysterious woman. She first appeared before him in the nightclub he had acquired, wearing a red dress, her temperament cold and glamorous, yet her eyes were like a bottomless cold pool. She didn't say who she was, only leaving a business card with just one line of text: "If you want to know who you are, come find me."

At the time, he just thought it was a boring pick-up attempt and threw the business card away. But now, the handwriting on that business card appeared clearly in his mind, along with the words Elizabeth said before she left, the words that had baffled him at the time: "When you begin to doubt yourself, that is the beginning of your awakening. Join us, and you will possess the power of a god to rewrite all rules."

Join them? Who are they? The power of a god? Rewrite the rules?

Lin Fan leaned against the iron frame and sat down slowly, the blood on the back of his hand having already solidified into dark red scabs. He closed his eyes, trying to sort all this out: computer explosion transmigration, system binding, five-star wanted level, getting to know Michael and Franklin, becoming enemies with the Snake Fang Gang, maneuvering with FBI Agent Kate, and now the identity questioning, system abnormality... All this seemed coincidental, yet it was like being connected by an invisible thread, pointing to a truth he dared not imagine.

He thought of Michael, that seemingly decadent yet meticulous man. From the beginning, Michael had been full of suspicion toward him, suspecting he was an FBI mole, suspecting his identity was unknown. But even so, Michael had helped him time and time again, helping him escape from the encirclement and interception of the three-star wanted level, planning the counterattack against the Snake Fang Gang with him, and even lending him his own lair—that villa in the suburbs—to hide.

"No matter who you are, at least you are a reliable teammate." Michael had once patted him on the shoulder, his eyes carrying a hint of sincerity, "In Los Santos, being reliable is more important than anything."

And Franklin, that hot-blooded, impulsive yet loyal young man. He was originally just a car thief, living day to day with Lamar, but ever since he met Lin Fan and Michael, he had treated them like family. Every time there was an operation, Franklin was always at the forefront, never retreating even when facing enemies several times his number.

"Brother Fan, no matter what happens, I'm on your side." Franklin's voice seemed to still echo in his ears, carrying the stubbornness of a young man.

Thinking of them, a warmth welled up in Lin Fan's heart, but immediately after, a bone-chilling cold followed. If he was really just a consciousness entity, a pre-set program, then what about Michael and Franklin? Were they real NPCs, or just like him, part of the virtual world? If this world was fake, then what did the bond between them count for?

Just then, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated, the screen lit up, showing an unknown number. Lin Fan hesitated for a moment before answering. As soon as he put the phone to his ear, he heard Kate's urgent voice: "Lin Fan, where are you? The military has targeted you. They found out about the identity I forged for you, and now they are searching the whole city for you!"

Lin Fan's heart sank, and he asked: "How do you know this number of mine?"

"I tracked your phone signal," Kate's voice carried a hint of exhaustion, and a hint of imperceptible apology, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shown you that file, shouldn't have let you fall into chaos. But I must warn you, the military is determined to catch you this time. Their goal is not your person, but your 'specialness.' They want to study you, want to figure out why you can travel freely in Los Santos, why you can trigger those 'anomalies.'"

"'Specialness'?" Lin Fan frowned, "They know my identity?"

"They don't know," Kate paused, her voice lowering a few notches, "But they suspect you are related to the 'Virtual Space Stabilization Project.' Victor is one of the people in charge of this project; he has been secretly looking for 'anomalies' like you. Lin Fan, you must be careful; Victor won't let you go, and the military won't either."

"'Virtual Space Stabilization Project'?" Lin Fan repeated the name, the doubt in his heart growing heavier, "What is that?"

"I don't know the specifics," Kate's voice was somewhat helpless, "I only happened to see this name in a classified document from my superiors. I only know it's a highly classified project involving consciousness transmission and virtual world construction. Victor uses this project to cultivate his own forces in Los Santos and even attempts to tamper with the rules of the virtual world."

Lin Fan suddenly remembered the "Code Editing" ability the system had prompted earlier, remembered Victor saying he was a "chess piece," and remembered Elizabeth saying "rewrite the rules." Could this Los Santos really be an artificially constructed virtual space? And was he an "anomaly" in this space?

"What do you plan to do now?" Kate's voice interrupted his train of thought, "If you want to escape, I can help you arrange a route out of Los Santos, go to San Andreas; I have people there who can shelter you for the time being."

Leave Los Santos? Lin Fan subconsciously wanted to refuse. Although he was struggling here, being wanted and hunted, Michael and Franklin were here, and he had fought hard to carve out a territory here. But on second thought, he didn't even know who he was now. Staying in Los Santos would only bring trouble to Michael and Franklin and would only make him prey for Victor and the military to hunt.

"Kate," Lin Fan took a deep breath, his voice calming down, "Why are you helping me? You are an FBI Agent; catching me is your duty."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and Kate's voice carried a hint of complex emotion: "First, I can't stand what Victor is doing. He uses power and rules to do evil, even sacrificing innocent people, which goes against my original intention for becoming an agent. Second, I don't think you are a bad person. Although you are a wanted criminal, you have never harmed innocent people. Your bank robberies and prison transport hijackings were all for self-preservation and to counter the Snake Fang Gang. Third..."

She paused, seemingly weighing her words: "Third, I think your existence might be able to uncover the truth of Los Santos and stop Victor's conspiracy. If Victor really succeeds in tampering with the rules of the virtual world, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Lin Fan was silent. He could hear Kate's sincerity and feel her struggle. As an FBI Agent, she stood on the side of justice, yet she had to help him, a five-star wanted criminal; she had to oppose Victor's conspiracy, yet she had to risk being held accountable by the military.

"I need time to think," Lin Fan said, "Also, help me check one thing: check the detailed information of the 'Virtual Space Stabilization Project,' and Victor's true identity."

[part:deepseek-chat]

"I'll try," Kate said, "but this information is highly classified. I might need a little time. And, Lin Fan, you must remember, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you are not alone. At least, I'll be on your side."

The call ended. Lin Fan held his phone, standing in place, unmoving for a long time. Kate's words were like a beam of light, illuminating his chaotic thoughts, but they also strengthened his resolve to uncover the truth. Whether he was a transmigrator or a consciousness entity, whether this world was real or virtual, he had to figure everything out, protect Michael and Franklin, and stop Victor's conspiracy.

Just then, his phone suddenly rang again. This time, it was a text message from an anonymous number. The content was just one sentence: "Want to know your origins? Come to the Los Santos Observatory. 10 PM. I'll be waiting for you. — Elizabeth"

Lin Fan's frown deepened. How did Elizabeth know about his current situation? Why was she inviting him to the observatory? Could it be a trap?

He hesitated for a long time but ultimately decided to go. Elizabeth clearly knew more than he did. Perhaps from her, he could find answers about his identity. Besides, he was at a dead end now. Rather than waiting passively, it was better to take the initiative.

He glanced at the time: 8:30 PM. There was still an hour and a half until ten. He stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, took a pistol from his backpack, checked the magazine to confirm it was fully loaded, then put on a black jacket. He pulled the brim of his hat low, covering most of his face.

Stepping out of the warehouse, the night outside was even darker. Los Santos's neon lights still shone brilliantly, with bustling traffic and a scene of prosperity. Yet, behind this prosperity lurked countless dangers and conspiracies. Lin Fan hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address for the Los Santos Observatory.

The taxi driver was a talkative middle-aged man, chattering nonstop about Los Santos gossip—from gang shootouts to celebrity scandals. Lin Fan had no mind to listen. He just leaned against the window, watching the fleeting street scenes outside, the questions echoing repeatedly in his mind.

Forty minutes later, the taxi stopped at the observatory entrance. Lin Fan paid the fare, got out, and looked up at the building standing atop the mountain. The observatory's dome looked particularly mysterious in the night, like a giant eye watching over all of Los Santos.

He took a deep breath and walked inside. The observatory was very quiet, with only faint lighting and the occasional sound of instruments operating. Following the hint from the text message, he walked up the stairs to the top-floor observation room.

The door to the observation room was slightly ajar. He pushed it open gently and walked in. Elizabeth was standing before a massive astronomical telescope, wearing a black gown, her back appearing especially slender. Hearing footsteps, she turned around. A faint smile touched her face, but her eyes remained cold.

"You've come, Lin Fan," she said, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"Why did you ask for me?" Lin Fan watched her warily, his hand unconsciously moving to the pistol at his waist.

Elizabeth smiled, walked up to him, and looked him up and down. "Judging by your appearance, you must have started doubting your identity. Did Kate tell you? Or did Victor tip you off?"

"Just who are you?" Lin Fan didn't answer her question but instead asked, "What did you mean by 'join us'? Who are 'you'? Why do you know about my identity?"

Elizabeth didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked back to the telescope and looked through it at the night sky. "Do you think Los Santos is real? Do you think the people around you—Michael, Franklin—are they real?"

Lin Fan's heart tightened. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing much," Elizabeth turned to look at him, a trace of pity in her eyes. "I just want to tell you that everything you see, everything you experience, is not real. Los Santos is just a constructed virtual space, a vast experimental field. And you, Lin Fan, along with Victor and those called 'anomalies,' are all part of this experiment."

"An experiment?" Lin Fan's voice trembled slightly. "What experiment?"

"The Virtual Space Stabilization Project," Elizabeth said. "Simply put, it's humanity's attempt to construct a virtual space identical to the real world, transmit human consciousness into it, and achieve 'consciousness immortality.' Los Santos is the first pilot site for this experiment. Victor is the project lead. His task is to maintain the stability of the virtual space and eliminate unstable 'anomalies.' You are an accident."

"An accident?"

"Yes, an accident," Elizabeth nodded. "You were originally an ordinary person in the real world. Due to a computer explosion, your consciousness accidentally broke into this virtual space and successfully bound to its core system—what you call the 'Los Santos Survival Guide.' Your appearance disrupted the balance of the virtual space. That's why Victor has been hunting you, and why the military wants to study you. Because you are the only consciousness entity that 'naturally intruded.' Your existence might unlock the ultimate secret of consciousness transmission."

Lin Fan's mind went blank. Elizabeth's words exploded in his head like a bomb. So it was all true. Los Santos was virtual. He was a consciousness entity. Victor was the project lead. His transmigration was just an accident.

"What about Michael and Franklin?" he asked, trembling. "Are they experimental subjects? Or are they just NPCs without self-awareness?"

"They are different from you," Elizabeth said. "They are consciousness entities that were 'created,' the 'native inhabitants' of the virtual space. They have their own memories, emotions, and consciousness, just like real humans. But their consciousness was programmed, their fates originally controlled by Victor. Until your appearance disrupted everything."

"Programmed fates?" Lin Fan murmured to himself, thinking of Michael's despondency, Franklin's struggles, and the bond between them. If all this was programmed, were their emotions real?

"The emotions are real," Elizabeth said, as if reading his mind. "Once consciousness arises, emotions follow. This cannot be controlled by programs. Michael is tired of gang life and wants to return to his family. Franklin wants to make something of himself and escape his lowly fate. These are their genuine thoughts, not programmed settings. Your appearance gave them a chance to break their fates."

Lin Fan fell silent. He looked down at his hands. Even though he knew this was just a projection of his consciousness, he could still feel the warmth in his fingertips. He remembered Michael and Franklin risking their lives to save him in the sewers. He remembered Franklin nearly dying under the wheels to help him win the underground race. He remembered Michael taking a bullet for him during the nightclub shootout, bleeding profusely.

These memories were clear and warm. They couldn't possibly be false.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Lin Fan looked up at Elizabeth. "You want me to join you. What is your goal?"

"Our goal is to overthrow Victor's rule and liberate this virtual space," Elizabeth said, a flash of determination in her eyes. "Victor has lost his way. He is no longer content with maintaining the stability of the virtual space. He wants to control it, to become the 'god' of this space. He tampers with programs, creates chaos, sacrifices countless innocent consciousness entities, all to satisfy his own ambitions. We are the 'Awakened,' those consciousness entities aware of their identities. We want to resist Victor, to allow everyone in this virtual space to control their own destiny."

"Become a god?" Lin Fan remembered Victor's earlier words, the ambition in his eyes, and a chill ran down his spine. "How does he plan to do it?"

"He wants to seize your system," Elizabeth said. "Your system is the core system of the virtual space. Controlling it means controlling the rules of the entire virtual space. Once he gets your system, he can arbitrarily alter everything, including the memories and fates of consciousness entities. By then, all of Los Santos will become his puppet kingdom."

Lin Fan suddenly understood. No wonder Victor had been relentlessly pursuing him. No wonder he looked at him like an experiment. His target was the system Lin Fan had bound to.

"You want me to help you fight Victor?" Lin Fan asked.

"Not help us. Help yourself, and help all consciousness entities," Elizabeth said. "You are the only one who can rival Victor because you are bound to the core system. If you are willing to join us, we can overthrow Victor's rule together and restore freedom to this virtual space. Then, you can choose to stay in this space and live with Michael and Franklin, or you can choose to return to the real world, back to your original body."

Return to the real world?

Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat. He had never given up the idea of returning to reality, to the world with his parents and friends. But now, with the opportunity actually before him, he hesitated.

He thought of every detail of Los Santos, of Michael and Franklin, of the days they had faced life and death together. If he returned to the real world, would everything in Los Santos disappear? What would happen to Michael and Franklin?

"If I return to the real world, what will happen to this virtual space?" Lin Fan asked.

"If Victor is overthrown and the core system runs stably, this virtual space will continue to exist," Elizabeth said. "Michael, Franklin, and the others will continue their lives, but they won't remember you. Because your consciousness left this space, the system will automatically erase all memories related to you."

Memories erased?

Lin Fan's heart ached as if pierced by needles. He could accept returning to the real world, but he couldn't bear Michael and Franklin completely forgetting him, forgetting the bond they shared. Those days of fleeing, fighting, and laughing together were his most precious memories in this virtual world. He didn't want these memories to become nothingness.

"I need time to think," Lin Fan said, his voice hoarse. "I can't make this decision lightly."

Elizabeth nodded, not forcing him. "I'll give you three days. Three days from now, right here. If you are willing to join us, I will tell you the plan to fight Victor. If you are not willing, I won't force you. But remember, Victor won't give you much time. He will find you soon. By then, you will not only lose your system but also everything else."

She paused, then added, "One more thing I must remind you. Although Kate is helping you, her identity is very special. She is an observer sent from the real world. Her task is to monitor the virtual space's movements and collect data. Her help for you might also have an ulterior motive. Be careful. Don't trust anyone easily."

With that, Elizabeth turned and walked into the inner room of the observation chamber, quickly disappearing from sight.

Lin Fan stood in place, unmoving for a long time. Elizabeth's words made his already chaotic thoughts even more complex. Victor's pursuit, the military's manhunt, Kate's motives, Elizabeth's invitation, and the mystery of his own identity—they formed a huge net, trapping him tightly.

He walked out of the observatory. The night was even darker now. The wind on the mountaintop was strong, chilling him to the bone. He took out his phone, wanting to call Michael and Franklin, but found no signal. He then remembered that the observatory was in the outskirts of Los Santos, where the signal was always poor.

Just as he was about to head down the mountain, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up—this time, it was an MMS from an unknown number. He opened it. It was a video. The footage showed Michael's villa surrounded by members of the Snake Fang Gang. Michael and Franklin were hiding inside, engaged in intense gunfire with the gang members. Bullets struck the walls, sending splinters flying everywhere. The situation was extremely critical.

At the end of the video was Michael's face, smeared with blood and grime, but his eyes were still firm. He shouted hoarsely at the camera, "Lin Fan! If you can hear this, we need you back! There are too many Snake Fang Gang members! We can't hold on! Wherever you are, get back here fast! We're waiting for you!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

The video ended, and Lin Fan's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, causing him such pain that he could not breathe. He turned abruptly and ran down the mountain, with only one thought in his mind: Go back! He had to go back to save Michael and Franklin!

No matter who he was, no matter if this world was real or virtual, no matter if his destiny was predetermined or could be changed, Michael and Franklin were his brothers, and he could not just stand by and watch them get into trouble.

He ran to the foot of the mountain, hailed a taxi, and said urgently, "Go to Michael's villa in the suburbs! Hurry! As fast as you can!"

The taxi driver did not dare to delay, immediately starting the car and speeding off toward the suburbs. Lin Fan leaned back in the backseat, his hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning white. He watched the streetscape flying past outside the window, his eyes filled with anxiety and determination.

He thought of Elizabeth's words, Victor's ambition, and his own identity. Perhaps he had no time left to hesitate. For the sake of Michael and Franklin, to uncover the truth, and to control his own destiny, he had to confront Victor head-on and join Elizabeth's "Awakened" organization.

Just then, the system's prompt suddenly sounded in his mind. This time, the voice was no longer stuttering but carried a hint of clear firmness: [Host has triggered an emergency mission: Rescue Michael and Franklin. Mission reward: Unlock skill "Code Reconstruction", system permission level increased by one. Mission failure: Michael and Franklin die, and the core system bound to the host will be automatically stripped away.]

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes became even more determined. Code Reconstruction? System permission level increase? This might just be the capital he needed to confront Victor.

"Driver, faster!" Lin Fan growled.

The taxi's speed increased, like an arrow released from a bow, flying toward the suburbs. In the night, the neon lights of Los Santos were still dazzling, but beneath this prosperity, a battle concerning life and death, concerning destiny, had quietly begun.

Lin Fan knew that from the moment he decided to go back to rescue Michael and Franklin, his identity and his destiny would undergo a complete reconstruction. He was no longer that confused transmigrator, no longer that fugitive fleeing passively; he would be the master of his own destiny, he would be the Guardian of Los Santos.

The car soon left the city center and headed toward the suburbs. Lin Fan looked at the pitch-black night outside the window, gripped the pistol at his waist, and a look of determination flashed in his eyes.

Victor, the Snake Fang Gang, the military, Elizabeth, Kate... all the grievances, all the mysteries, would be slowly unraveled in this battle. And he, Lin Fan, would surely be reborn in the flames of this storm.

Just as the car was about to arrive at Michael's villa, Lin Fan's phone rang again; this time, it was a call from Kate. He answered, and Kate's voice was filled with urgency: "Lin Fan, you must not go to Michael's villa! It's a trap set by Victor! The people from the Snake Fang Gang are just bait; Victor's target is you!"

Lin Fan's heart sank, and he asked, "How do you know?"

"I hacked into the Snake Fang Gang's communication system and heard their plan," Kate's voice carried a hint of anxiety. "Victor knows you care about Michael and Franklin, so he deliberately set this trap to lure you back. As soon as you appear, he will strike immediately to seize your system! Lin Fan, believe me, don't go!"

Lin Fan fell silent. Kate's words made him hesitate; on one side was the plea for help from Michael and Franklin, on the other was Kate's warning, and on the third was Victor's trap. Who should he trust?

He looked out the car window and could vaguely see the outline of Michael's villa. Flames were shooting into the sky around the villa, and the sound of gunfire was clearly audible. That was the sound of Michael and Franklin fighting, the sound of them calling for help.

"I must go," Lin Fan said firmly. "They are my brothers, and I cannot leave them behind. Even if it's a trap, I have to charge through it!"

"You're crazy!" Kate's voice carried a hint of anger. "If you go, you're just throwing your life away! Not only will you fail to save them, but you'll get yourself killed too! Victor has already set up a dragnet, just waiting for you to walk right into it!"

"My mind is made up," Lin Fan said. "Kate, thank you for telling me this. If I can come back alive, I will find you and ask about everything clearly."

Having said that, he hung up the phone and said to the driver, "Stop! Right here!"

The taxi stopped, Lin Fan paid the fare, pushed the door open, and ran wildly toward Michael's villa. The sound of gunfire grew closer, the flames grew brighter, and he could hear Michael's roar and Franklin's screams.

He gripped his pistol, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's. No matter if there was a mountain of blades and a sea of fire ahead, or a bottomless abyss, he would charge through it.

Just as he was about to rush to the entrance of the villa, a group of men in black suddenly rushed out from the nearby woods, holding submachine guns and firing wildly at him. Lin Fan instinctively dove to the ground, bullets whizzing past his scalp and hitting the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

"It's Victor's men!" Lin Fan thought to himself. He stood up abruptly, hid behind a large tree nearby, raised his pistol, and fired at the men in black.

The gunfire was thunderous, sparks flying everywhere. Relying on the "Shooting Mastery" skill rewarded by the system, Lin Fan hit a vital spot with every shot, and the men in black fell one by one. But the enemy's numbers were too great, constantly rushing out from the woods, and Lin Fan was gradually becoming exhausted.

Just then, a black off-road vehicle suddenly rushed over, the door opened, and Franklin's voice came from inside the car: "Brother Fan! Get in the car, quick!"

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, looked up, and saw Franklin driving, with Michael sitting in the passenger seat, holding a rifle and firing at the men in black.

"How did you guys get out?" Lin Fan asked while firing, running toward the off-road vehicle.

"Staying inside any longer would have made us sitting ducks!" Michael shouted. "We took the chance to break out, and we didn't expect to run into you here! Get in the car!"

Lin Fan leaped and jumped into the backseat of the off-road vehicle. Franklin immediately stepped on the gas, and the vehicle shot out like a wild horse breaking free from its reins, shaking off the men in black behind them.

"Are you guys okay?" Lin Fan looked at Michael and Franklin. Michael had been shot in the arm, blood staining his clothes red, and there was also a cut on Franklin's face.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury," Michael waved his hand and said. "Thanks to you arriving in time, otherwise we really wouldn't have been able to hold on."

Franklin also said, "Brother Fan, where did you go? We kept calling you but couldn't get through, and we thought something had happened to you."

Lin Fan looked at them, a warm feeling surging in his heart, and said, "I went out for something, and when I saw your distress video, I rushed back immediately. By the way, that was a trap set by Victor; his target was me."

"We know," Michael said. "We heard the Snake Fang Gang's conversation in the villa; they said as soon as you appeared, they would seize you. We were originally planning to take the chance to break out and look for you, but we didn't expect to run into you here."

Lin Fan nodded and said, "Where are we going now? We can't stay in Los Santos anymore; the military and Victor are both looking for us."

Michael thought for a moment and said, "I know a place, a place where I used to hide things, at an abandoned factory to the east of Los Santos. It's very hidden, and neither the police nor the gangs will notice it. We'll go there to hide for now and figure out a plan later."

Franklin nodded, turned the steering wheel, and drove toward the abandoned factory in the east.

The off-road vehicle sped through the night. Lin Fan leaned back in the backseat, looking at Michael and Franklin beside him, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He thought of Elizabeth's words, remembered that they were consciousness entities created, and remembered that if he returned to the real world, they would forget him.

"Michael, Franklin," Lin Fan suddenly spoke up. "If one day I leave this place, will you miss me?"

Michael and Franklin were stunned for a moment. Michael turned his head, looked at him, and said seriously, "Brother Fan, what are you talking about? We are brothers; no matter where you go, we will miss you. And we won't let you leave; we are going to make a name for ourselves in Los Santos together, and together we'll take down that bastard Victor!"

Franklin also said, "Yeah, Brother Fan, we are a family, and a family should stay together, no one can leave anyone behind."

Lin Fan looked at their sincere eyes, his own eyes slightly moist. He knew that no matter if this world was real or virtual, no matter what their identities were, this bond was real.

"Okay," Lin Fan nodded, his voice firm. "We will always be brothers, always together."

Just then, a scene suddenly flashed through Lin Fan's mind. In the scene, a huge crack appeared in the sky of Los Santos, and countless codes poured out from the crack. The city began to collapse, NPCs became crazy, and there were screams and gunfire everywhere. Immediately after, he saw Victor standing on a platform made of code, holding a glowing sphere in his hand—that was the projection of the core system. A crazy smile was on his face as he shouted, "Lin Fan, your system is mine now! Los Santos is mine now!"

The scene flashed by, and Lin Fan snapped back to reality, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Brother Fan, what's wrong?" Franklin noticed something was off and asked.

"Nothing," Lin Fan shook his head and said, "Just had a nightmare."

But he knew it wasn't a nightmare; it might be a premonition of the future. Victor was about to make his move, and he had to make a decision as soon as possible, join Elizabeth's "Awakened" organization, and start the final showdown with Victor.

The off-road vehicle soon arrived at the abandoned factory. After the three of them got out, they carefully walked into the factory. It was very quiet inside, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the broken windows, appearing exceptionally eerie.

Michael found a relatively safe room, and the three of them sat down. Franklin took out a first-aid kit to treat the wound on Michael's arm, while Lin Fan leaned against the wall, thinking about the plan for what was to come.

Just then, Lin Fan's phone vibrated again. This time it was a text message from Elizabeth, containing only one sentence: "Among the survivors of the virtual world, some have begun to mutate and have gained the ability of prophets, able to foresee future disasters. Victor has already begun capturing these mutants, wanting to use their abilities to accelerate the process of seizing the core system. You must make a decision as soon as possible."

Lin Fan's heart sank; it seemed the situation was even more critical than he had imagined. Mutants? Prophet abilities? Victor's ambition was growing larger and larger.

He took out his phone and replied to Elizabeth with a text message: "Three days later, meet at the observatory, I'm joining you."

After sending the text, he looked up at Michael and Franklin, and said firmly, "Brothers, we are going to do something big, something that can change the destiny of Los Santos."

Michael and Franklin looked at each other, both seeing determination in the other's eyes. Michael said, "Brother Fan, no matter what it is, we're in! Even if we have to climb a mountain of blades or go through a sea of fire, we won't back down!"

"Yeah! Brother Fan, we'll listen to you!" Franklin also said.

Lin Fan nodded, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He knew that from this moment on, his identity was no longer that of a confused transmigrator, no longer a passively fleeing fugitive; he was a rebel of Los Santos, the controller of the core system, and the brother of Michael and Franklin.

His identity was quietly undergoing reconstruction. His destiny would also change completely from this moment on.

The night deepened. In the abandoned factory, the three figures huddled close together, their eyes flashing with a firm light. They knew the road ahead was full of danger and unknowns, but they were fearless. Because they were brothers, each other's most solid support.

The storm in Los Santos was getting closer and closer. A final showdown concerning consciousness, rules, and destiny was about to begin. And Lin Fan would write his own legend in this storm.