For the doubts in his heart, Luo Shu quickly found an answer.
As far as he knew, the Barnum effect triggered by the Rainbow Lollipop had a very limited duration.
After all, how long can you lick a lollipop?
Even if you avoid eating, drinking, or swallowing saliva to keep the taste from fading, it wouldn't last more than half an hour.
Back then, D-97605 was able to escape because Site-64 was located in a city. Once she left, she could quickly blend into society and disappear into the crowd.
However, according to the arrangements of the SCP Foundation, Sites could only contain Safe and Euclid-class anomalies, while Keter-class anomalies had to be contained in hidden facilities known as Areas.
In simple terms, Sites were containment facilities within cities, while Areas were hidden in remote, uninhabited places—such as deserts, wastelands, deep mountains, or isolated ocean islands.
As a Keter-class anomaly, SCP-231-7 was undoubtedly contained in one of these Areas.
When Luo Shu transferred through seven different modes of transportation to reach it a few days ago, it could be assumed that most of the transportation was meant to disorient the personnel being transported. However, the last mode of transportation couldn't be faked.
He remembered that on that day, he had taken a helicopter for at least two hours before arriving at that mysterious Area.
Given the helicopter's speed of over 300 kilometers per hour, it meant the place was at least 600 kilometers away from the nearest city.
Even if the Crimson Bride used the Rainbow Lollipop to convince everyone in the Area to let her go, she couldn't possibly reach a nearby city before the Barnum effect wore off.
In other words, she couldn't escape! As for seeking death?
Luo Shu felt that although the girl appeared fragile, she was strong-willed inside.
She never gave up.
As long as there was a sliver of hope, she would fight for it.
So, the Crimson Bride had stuffed the remaining Rainbow Lollipop into Luo Shu's mouth, hoping that one day he could return to Area █████ and rescue her.
But why would she trust me?
I'm just a D-class personnel struggling to survive…
Luo Shu was deeply puzzled by this.
Just then, the door to the dormitory opened, and a security officer from Site-19 stood outside. "The Site Director wants to see you," he said.
Luo Shu hurriedly tucked the small paper packet containing the Rainbow Lollipop under his pillow and stepped out of the dormitory—which was essentially a prison cell. Under the escort and guidance of the security officer, Luo Shu navigated the labyrinthine corridors of Site-19 and arrived at the director's office.
Based on his sense of direction and the distance walked, Luo Shu estimated that Site-19 covered at least 500,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of the Pentagon. It was no wonder this was the most famous Site in the SCP Foundation.
Throughout the journey, the security officer kept sneaking glances at Luo Shu.
He seemed curious about why an insignificant D-class personnel would be personally summoned by the Site Director.
But due to the strict security clearance rules of the SCP Foundation, he didn't dare ask anything.
When they reached the director's office, the security officer didn't even have the clearance to enter. He could only watch as Luo Shu walked in alone.
Although the office only had the Site Director inside, Luo Shu was certain there were powerful protective measures in place. Not daring to act recklessly, he quietly waited for the other to speak.
The Site Director wore a concealing helmet, and his voice was altered by a modulator. "Given your outstanding performance against SCP-173 yesterday, I've decided to give you an opportunity," he said.
Yesterday?
Hah!
If Luo Shu hadn't recovered his memories through the Anomalous Item Catalog, he might have actually believed this guy.
The Site Director continued, "You will become the dedicated daily manager of SCP-173. But before you assume this role, I have a few questions for you."
"Please go ahead," Luo Shu replied. As someone who scored 80 points on the Milgram obedience test—a mark of "loyalty" in the SCP Foundation—he had to show the necessary respect to higher-ups.
The Site Director opened a file in front of him and asked, "I know you were once a genius engineer in Silicon Valley. But why did you throw away your future and commit three counts of first-degree murder? I need you to explain your thought process."
Luo Shu knew the question wasn't malicious—it was purely for security purposes.
So he began sifting through the memories in his mind to understand why the original Luo Shu had done it.
In this world, Luo Shu was a typical overachiever, excelling in every subject. During college, he completed majors in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and biology in the time it took most people to finish one.
After graduation, he joined a renowned high-tech company in Silicon Valley and became a key technical figure.
Then, he met a beautiful woman and fell in love.
But tragedy struck at the peak of his life.
His fiancée was brutally assaulted and killed by three wealthy young men!
Despite overwhelming evidence, the three were acquitted by the jury!
Later, he learned that these three came from extremely powerful backgrounds.
Their families had outright bribed the judge and jury to overturn the verdict.
Even though it wasn't his own experience, Luo Shu felt the fury in that moment.
He blurted out, "Those people should have been sentenced to death, but because their families had ties to the Freemasons, I had no chance of winning the case. When the verdict was announced, I was so enraged that I took matters into my own hands and killed them!"
The Site Director compared Luo Shu's words to the file in his hands, studying his face to confirm he wasn't lying.
"Your account is largely accurate. The Freemasons are just a secular power group—compared to the SCP Foundation, they're nothing."
He was right. Compared to the SCP Foundation, which controlled tens of thousands of anomalies, the Freemasons were merely a political entity in North America, their influence limited to their own sphere.
If Luo Shu could harness the power of the SCP Foundation, dealing with the Freemasons would be effortless.
Perhaps sensing Luo Shu's emotions, the Site Director added:
"I know you hate them, but you've already taken revenge and ended up where you are now. I hope you can let go of that hatred and work diligently for the SCP Foundation. I believe you'll have a bright future ahead!"
The words sounded nice, but Luo Shu knew the Site Director was making empty promises.
If you really think I deserve a bright future, at least get me out of D-class.
Even C-class would do.
At least then I wouldn't be living under the constant shadow of termination.
But Luo Shu knew it was unlikely!
Unless it was some absurdly unrealistic story, he'd never heard of a D-class personnel rising through the ranks.
The SCP Foundation's principles made it impossible for them to trust a death row inmate.
No matter how well he performed, as a disposable asset, he would never be granted higher clearance.
In Luo Shu's memories from his past life, there were no documented cases of D-class personnel being promoted in official SCP records.
And those overly wish-fulfilling stories would never be accepted on the SCP Foundation's website.
Thinking of his past life, Luo Shu suddenly froze.
He had been recalling memories of the SCP Foundation from his previous life but hadn't given much thought to his life as an ordinary person.
Now, when he tried to remember, he found those memories were hazy.
Luo Shu didn't even know under what circumstances he had crossed over into this world.
It was as if his past life had also undergone a memory wipe…