"2. The way DOLLARS members upgrade and obtain item resources is by killing monsters, opening treasure chests, running dungeons, and receiving system rewards, all without harming other players."
"3. When DOLLARS encounters players in difficulty, they should do their best to provide assistance and promote the image of DOLLARS."
"4. Every DOLLARS member has an obligation to promote the organization, try to recruit more players, and establish order in the Inner World as soon as possible."
"5. DOLLARS members must not kill other players, setting an example to establish a legal image. Wrongdoers should be educated and persuaded as much as possible. For players who have already made mistakes, they should be controlled first, but their lives must not be taken. After consulting multiple legal experts in the original world, they should be punished accordingly. (If conditions permit, wrongdoers can also apply to have a lawyer defend them.)"
The rules weren't many, but Tsukikawa Shu stroked his chin and pondered after reading them.
He could tell that the other party genuinely wanted to establish a peaceful and harmonious society in the Inner World.
But how to put it, after all, he was just a high school student, and he couldn't write any profound or detailed rules. There were even quite a few naive elements within them.
They seemed righteous and just, but the Inner World was playing by the rules of law? Could you really compete with those nobles and capitalists?
Have you heard of Nanshan Bingshengke?
A typical light novel protagonist, invincible yet still had to do things by the book. Like many characters in Dragon Ball.
"I'll try my best."
Tsukikawa Shu replied perfunctorily, too lazy to bother with the other party.
Would a grown adult who had entered society bicker with a chuunibyou kid? He'd naturally come to his senses after being beaten up enough.
However, the other party's goal partially aligned with his own right now, which was to establish a relatively stable environment for getting stronger. Otherwise, Tsukikawa Shu wouldn't bother with this organization.
The Inner World needed to establish order, but it absolutely couldn't be built using these few rules as a blueprint.
An organization like DOLLARS could be part of the effort to promote order, but they couldn't hold the reins.
"Building order is still a long and arduous journey," Tsukikawa Shu mused.
As expected, professional matters had to be handled by professionals. He needed to make connections with talented people who understood this field.
"How many people do you have now? What are your levels?"
Tsukikawa Shu was too lazy to argue about such things and asked other questions.
"The Inner World has opened twice, and DOLLARS has over 50 members. The exact information is unknown, but the core members, including myself, are five in total, with levels ranging from 10-15," the other party replied.
A team of 50 people was already a considerable force in the current Inner World. Although their strength was bound to be uneven, their numbers alone could hold their ground.
Ryūgamine Mikado should only be 16 this year. Being the leader of over fifty people at this age, with his confidence overflowing, was quite fitting for his current stage.
"How can you be so sure that the rules you've set are feasible?" Tsukikawa Shu asked.
"I'm already level 15 now. My abilities are related to hacking and mind control. I won't go into specifics right now, but you can ask me in detail after the Inner World opens, Mr. Tsukikawa. I already have considerable strength, and I believe I can take on this responsibility in the future," the other party said.
Oh, believing in future wisdom, huh.
Tsukikawa Shu rolled his eyes and didn't want to chat anymore.
"Then, good luck."
Tsukikawa Shu replied, then closed the chat window.
He hadn't agreed to join them anyway, and they weren't enemies right now. Let the other party fuss however they wanted; it wasn't his problem.
[Time until Inner World opens: 24:00]
[Total duration of the third Inner World opening: 7 days]
The Inner World opening time was always announced only one day in advance, and the opening time, as well as the duration of each survival mission, was not fixed.
Of course, for Tsukikawa Shu now, it couldn't be called a survival mission, but rather a period for gaining experience. Tsukikawa Shu actually wished the Inner World opening time could be longer.
All the veteran players must be preparing intensely right now, but for Tsukikawa Shu and a few others, it didn't matter at all.
Since it was the weekend, Tsukikawa Shu was still going on his date as usual.
The train slowly pulled into the station, and Tsukikawa Shu, Goto Hitori, and Hiratsuka Shizuka got off.
Today's date mainly consisted of watching the sea.
"Um... do we really have to wear swimsuits?"
Goto Hitori clutched her shopping bag, looking quite nervous.
She was still wearing her pink tracksuit, completely concealing her figure. In reality, she was quite well-endowed.
When dating nearby, under Tsukikawa Shu's persistent persuasion, she would wear a skirt, but when going on a long trip, Goto Hitori would feel uneasy if she didn't wear sportswear like this.
"What's the point of going to the beach if you're not going to wear a swimsuit?" Hiratsuka Shizuka placed a hand on her hip and tilted her head slightly, looking up at the bright sunlight.
She dressed more like a young person than Goto Hitori.
Hiratsuka Shizuka carried a small, expensive black bag, wore sunglasses and a straw hat. Her upper body was a refreshing lace-trimmed top, and her lower body was a pair of denim shorts, exposing her legs from thigh to calf. She wore white sandals on her feet, fully showcasing her mature beauty and tall stature.
In comparison, Hiratsuka Shizuka's outfit looked like it belonged in midsummer.
After all, she was a rich woman, and Tsukikawa Shu knew she owned at least two luxury cars. She wouldn't skimp on her clothing and accessories.
She dressed quite conservatively at school, but she let loose when she was somewhere no one would recognize her.
Also, because she didn't have to worry about running into acquaintances on a trip, Hiratsuka Shizuka agreed to come along with Tsukikawa Shu.
Compared to school, Hiratsuka Shizuka here was much more relaxed.
As soon as she got off the car, she was already clinging to Tsukikawa Shu's arm.
After all, she was a mature adult. Once a relationship was established, she wouldn't be shy and hesitant like a little girl.
"Shu-kun, I bought a new sexy swimsuit."
Hiratsuka Shizuka leaned into Tsukikawa Shu's embrace and said with a smile.
"Sexy... swimsuit?"
Goto Hitori immediately lost her composure. She glanced at the clothes stuffed into her shopping bag.
A school swimsuit, the kind worn for swimming class.
Compared to that, how could she possibly show this off!
Goto Hitori regretted it.
If only she had risked social suicide and picked out any swimsuit from the store... It would have been death either way, so dying of embarrassment in the store at least meant no one she knew would see her.
But now, she was going to be humiliated in front of people she knew!
Why wasn't the skill she awakened time reversal!
Goto Hitori desperately wished for time to rewind.
"Mmm... you shouldn't really say that," Tsukikawa Shu said.
"Why?" Hiratsuka Shizuka blinked.
"Because a certain Fujiwara Takumi would find it extremely annoying."
"Who is that?"
"A man who can corner like a drainage ditch because he has no women in his heart."
Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't understand who Tsukikawa Shu was referring to.
"Let's go, Hitori."
Tsukikawa Shu didn't leave Goto Hitori behind. With one hand held by Hiratsuka Shizuka, he put his other arm around Goto Hitori's waist.
"Eh? Okay!"
Goto Hitori was surprised, easily embraced by Tsukikawa Shu.
This act of having one woman on each side drew envious, jealous, and surprised glances from many people along the way.
"This guy's definitely a scumbag."
"Yeah, and a scumbag who likes to trick innocent girls!"
"Look at the girl next to him in the tracksuit, poor thing, he must have tricked her."
The men were indignant.
However, it wasn't the same for the lovesick girls.
"He's so handsome. I wish I could get his contact info, but it's hard to approach him with two women around."
"There's no way someone would openly bring two girlfriends out, right? Maybe they're just casual flings, and you still have a chance."
"Speaking of which, how did that country bumpkin he's holding get together with him?"
There were indeed some women dressed to the nines who wanted to say hello, but Hiratsuka Shizuka, taking off her sunglasses, glared them all away.
"Teacher Hiratsuka, didn't you say it's good for me to find more girls? The Inner World needs me to keep getting stronger," Tsukikawa Shu asked.
"Those women out there don't look like good catches at all. Be careful they don't devour you whole," Hiratsuka Shizuka replied, crossing her arms and looking like an adult lecturing a child.
"Emmm, so, you're introducing me to respectable girls to corrupt?" Tsukikawa Shu looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka's profile. "Like those two from the Literature Girl club?"
"..." Hiratsuka Shizuka was displeased upon hearing this. She turned her head and lightly hit Tsukikawa Shu's forehead.
"You don't want them even when I introduce them? You want to have your cake and eat it too, huh?"
"Besides, I'm not asking you to force them. I'm just asking you to develop a relationship."
"More and more people will be drawn into this Inner World in the future. If they get caught up in it one day, you can just go with the flow."
"So, it's always good to lay the groundwork."
"Don't you dare think about going down those crooked paths!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka lectured Tsukikawa Shu sternly.
Tsukikawa Shu pouted, and the three continued to walk forward.
However, Tsukikawa Shu suddenly noticed something odd about Goto Hitori's clothes.
He looked at the tracksuit Goto Hitori was wearing, specifically at the pocket his hand was resting on.
"What do you have in your pocket?" Tsukikawa Shu asked, a little confused.
"Ah... this, it's nothing!" Goto Hitori quickly explained, but her expression was extremely nervous.
"Really nothing?" Tsukikawa Shu looked at her suspiciously.
"Really nothing!" Goto Hitori denied vehemently, covering her pocket to prevent Tsukikawa Shu from looking.
Tsukikawa Shu was still a little confused, but after thinking about it, he didn't care anymore.
After all, it was Bocchi. The things she did were always bizarre and mysterious, and it was normal for her to have many secrets she wanted to hide.
Tsukikawa Shu didn't pay it any mind, but Goto Hitori was panicking internally, her heart pounding.
She touched the small paper box in her pocket, feeling uneasy.
This was no ordinary item.
Ever since the last time she passed by that unmanned adult novelty store on her way home with Ijichi Nijika, Goto Hitori had been unable to forget about it.
Every time she went shopping, went to school, or did anything else, she would always sneak a look.
It didn't matter if it was on her way; if it wasn't, she'd find a reason to make it so.
And each time, her true intention wasn't what she was doing. While busy with other things, her eyes were always drawn to that narrow shop, hidden behind its curtained entrance.
Finally, on a dark and windy night, when visibility was zero, after much deliberation and several reconnaissance missions, Bocchi-chan, unable to resist any longer, made her move!
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