I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

"No, and she's my friend," Mann replied.

"Still not used to treating the weak as objects?" she said with some regret. "That's right, you've only just arrived here, but since you're unwilling to hand you or her over to me…

"Let's put it this way, I can help you gather the other rulers as quickly as possible, but it will come at a considerable cost to me."

Mann didn't directly ask for a price, but instead inquired:

"Before that, I'd like to understand the specific situation of the ninth underground level, and what exactly the trial entails?"

She nodded generously, without any intention of concealing anything.

"Of course, then I'll briefly explain the situation you're facing.

"Looking back further, around the time when the Viktor Sanatorium was first established, about a hundred years ago, though for us, that's already thousands of years ago.

"The sanatorium possesses various incomprehensible mystical powers, including the thirty-two rules established by Viktor, twenty-one of which seem to have no power, nine of which will bring violators here, and the consequences of the remaining two are unknown.

"And all the prisoners brought into this place will suffer a torture known as Bestialization.

"When prisoners suffer any harm—whether physical or mental—it will cause a part of their body and spirit to be torn away, and then the hospital will fill the original space with something even worse.

"During this process, not only will the prisoners' sanity be continuously devastated, and the various dark sides of their personalities will be unearthed, but they will also be 'granted' the power to harm others.

"The first beast may have been born in solitude, but what followed was an endless mutual slaughter. Every prisoner who enters here faces the most chaotic wilderness, filled with bloodthirsty monsters, and their ultimate fate is to join them.

"Until the appearance of the Pioneer several hundred years ago.

"No one remembers his name now, but the Pioneer drove the mad beasts to the ninth level, and proposed methods such as the carnivore ritual, self-torture, and balancing controllable madness with Bestialization.

"Even if you're not injured, Bestialization will take advantage of your intense sadness or pain, so without the methods he found, the current settlements couldn't be maintained.

"Similarly, he also declared that only the pure, those without any Bestialization, and the purest beasts can return to the real world through the first underground level, but he himself was no longer pure.

"Therefore, the Pioneer eventually decided to look for other ways to leave, and left the human settlement he built. Since then, no one has ever seen him again. Maybe he really left, or maybe he has become a mad beast."

This was the source of the method of leaving, from a powerful prisoner, and he also created order here. Obviously, the current scene is not the purpose Viktor wanted when he created this place.

But thinking about it carefully, their method of resisting Bestialization seems to be another kind of madness.

She continued:

"And the subsequent settlements disintegrated, turning into several different forces, and as time evolved, they slowly became the current situation.

"The ninth level is the territory of mad beasts. Only beasts and the pure can reproduce here, so the former was difficult to completely eliminate hundreds of years ago. The Pioneer drove them all to the ninth level, allowing these monsters to kill each other to reduce their numbers.

"The eighth level is full of scavengers. They used to be the weakest group in the entire underground, so they were driven to the place closest to the ninth level, enduring attacks from the mad beasts that occasionally roamed out, but this is a hospital, and there's no garbage for them to scavenge.

"Therefore, what they scavenge are those beasts. As time passed, they are now all seasoned veterans, and under the leadership of their chief, they have become a force to be reckoned with.

"The Cannibal Cult on the seventh level created a secret ritual when the Pioneer was still around that could directly turn people into mad beasts. Normally, because the more damage you take, the stronger you become, we can only stop the carnivore ritual before a certain stage.

"When I first came, I was in their territory, and they even ate two of my hands, so I have some grudges with their ruler.

"The sixth level is the territory of the Riot Gang. They are a group of complete lunatics, practicing the most disgusting and filthy lifestyles. Newcomers who fall into their hands are almost inhuman, and I'm not talking about Bestialization.

"However, thirty years ago, for some reason, the sixth level could no longer be entered, and no one knows what happened to the Riot Gang, but think about it, this is the Viktor Sanatorium, so it's not surprising what happened.

"The Ascetic Society on the fifth level is the most peaceful force. They don't advocate any methods that harm others, but instead use self-harm to resist the beastliness in their hearts, and they firmly believe that the Pioneer will eventually return here. It is said that they have some inside information.

"But if you ask me, they are just using this lie to comfort themselves.

"The fourth level is the territory of the Guards. Hundreds of years ago, when the Pioneer had just left, a group of warriors loyal to him stationed on the fourth level and waited for their leader to return, but the result was obvious, they didn't wait.

"After hundreds of years, the current Guards no longer believe in the delusions of the past, but the fighting skills have been passed down by them, and discipline and loyalty are their main ways to maintain themselves.

"And the second level also has its own origin. After the Pioneer's small kingdom collapsed, his most prestigious members quickly occupied it, and only allowed the strong who had passed the trial to enter. The purpose of this group of bastards is also very simple—that is, the place closest to the passage.

"As for the third level, it's a bit special…"

She said confidently:

"A hundred years ago, the subordinates of the second-level members controlled this place, but they were accidentally destroyed, and by chance, I became the ruler of the tribe, and advocated using blood and honor to resist beastliness. Because I was unexpectedly promoted, I am actually the weakest of the several rulers.

"The other rulers, after removing certain flaws, are all legendary Tier III powerhouses on the surface, but I am a Tier II ability user.

"The trial itself has a considerable risk of injury. Even a simple scratch will make you lose the possibility of leaving here.

"And even if you successfully reach the second underground level, the dozen or so Tier III ability users there will make you perform a finger-breaking ritual. Not to mention whether you have a chance of winning, the intense battle itself may cause mental Bestialization due to emotions.

"You might as well stay by my side. What's the difference between here and the outside world? Aren't you just stepping on others to compete for status?"

She made no secret of her covetousness for Mann's strength and body.

Mann asked seemingly casually:

"If I pass the trial, what will be waiting for me on the other side?"

The Tiger Queen replied:

"There will be two Tier III ability users behind, one of whom will come as an envoy to witness the trial and take you to their gathering place."

Mann then asked:

"What about behind the stairs?"

The Tiger Queen raised her eyebrows slightly, then smiled:

"Although the journey to the elevator and stairs is confidential."

"But the stairs are closer to their gathering place, so there are usually at least five or more Tier III ability users guarding there. In the past, there were people who thought they were strong and broke into the stairs, but they all underestimated the importance the second-level members attached to their authority.

"And if there is a fight in the stairs, it is very likely to attract more than a dozen Tier III ability users.

"Moreover, the passage on the first underground level cannot be reached by taking the stairs or the elevator. If you really want to know the way out, you must also obtain their consent."

In other words, if the members of the second underground level knew that he had left here and harbored malice, he would likely face more than a dozen ability users of the same rank if he took the stairs, and Mann had not even fought any Tier III ability users yet.

He was not arrogant enough to think that he could fight more than a dozen ability users of the same rank at the same time, and this was without considering the premise that he was restrained.

But if he takes the elevator down…

He vaguely felt that he could forcibly control the two ability users on the other side, forcing them to take him to Room 213, which means…

All he needs to do now is find where the elevator is.

Rua