"6."
Lin Nai looked at the fragment again. Every time he did, he could feel a faint warmth in the air brush across his face.
Shaking his head, Lin Nai stopped lingering there.
As long as he kept moving forward, the road would keep extending. In other words... he had to look ahead.
After returning the Alien Water Sprite to where it was supposed to be, Lin Nai began checking the area for any overlooked traces.
A few minutes later.
Lin Nai had found nothing.
There were two rooms containing Curios, after all.
In the other room, there was also a Punklorde Mental Cartridge that could attract Silver Wolf.
Hmm...
If Silver Wolf were here, she would definitely say this...
The story on that cartridge was no different from a textbook in Punklorde. I've never been interested in something everyone already knows.
But that was no game disc. It was an Aether Cartridge—the hacker's second pair of eyes, second brain, and second heart.
Compared to Silver Wolf's fanaticism as a Punklorde native...
Lin Nai only knew that it could permanently add a Weakness to enemies in the Simulated Universe.
It was a pretty good item.
But speaking of items...
Ever since entering, Lin Nai had felt as though something had been watching him.
Following that feeling, Lin Nai looked in one direction.
It was a predominantly red clown mask covered in yellow patterns.
It floated silently inside a display case.
The Mask of the Fool.
The masks of the Masked Fools symbolized faith in "Elation." Wearing one was proof of entry when Fools gathered at the tavern at the end of the world.
They were heavy in texture and vibrant in color, their smiles wild yet their brushwork restrained, waiting for every indulgent prank.
Come to think of it, this thing was related to The Youthful Passion Aeon. Aha wouldn't use it to spy on him, would he?
Lin Nai stared at the mask.
Though "stared" was an odd word to use, Lin Nai felt as though he really was staring at the thing.
But on second thought, maybe it was just an illusion?
How could a mask look at people? Just like how could a boat on water possibly fly into the sky?
Right, Beidou?
Lin Nai left the room containing the Curios and headed for the surveillance room to see if he could find any clues.
The result was obvious.
There were none.
Well, it wasn't as though he had found absolutely nothing.
Lin Nai found the real George in a corner of the cafeteria.
His mouth was stuffed with socks. The helplessness written all over that burly man's face made him look like Awei cornered on a bed by Brother Jie.
Strange.
Way too strange.
After notifying the Security Department to rescue him, Lin Nai chose to return to his dorm and rest.
He couldn't just keep banging his head against the same wall when there were no clues and nothing to find, could he?
He might as well go back and rest first.
He'd been called over by Herta for an examination first thing in the morning. He was tired too, okay?!
And so, while scrolling through his phone, Lin Nai returned to his warm little nest.
The room was an ordinary staff dorm.
Not large.
But it was enough.
It was even a single room.
Glancing at the Herta puppet standing by the door, Lin Nai decisively took off his coat and draped it over the puppet.
Don't misunderstand.
He had absolutely no intention of stealing that puppet.
It had appeared several years ago.
Lin Nai had tried carrying the puppet out before, only to wake up the next day and find it back again.
But after all these years, he had never seen this Herta puppet come online.
Still, the thing was just too lifelike.
So lifelike that Lin Nai always had to cover it with his coat whenever he returned to his room.
Otherwise, it gave him the creeps.
Flopping onto the bed and staring at the ceiling, Lin Nai looked a little tired.
Cooperating with Herta's experiments was always exhausting.
"System, are you there? Say something if you are."
Something.
Lin Nai:?
"Huh?"
Alright then, Host. What would you like to ask?
"Explode Gold Coins."
? Random Skill: Explode Gold Coins (Passive) Explode Gold Coins: Whenever you defeat an enemy by any means whatsoever (including but not limited to rock-paper-scissors, Fight the Landlord, mahjong, and so on), there is a chance they will explode into gold coins.
Lin Nai:?
Huh?
That was how it exploded?
Well...
Forget it.
Something was better than nothing.
But seriously, if he hadn't accidentally left the Space Station before and briefly wandered on an unknown planet...
It was hard to imagine that he would still only have one type of skill from the Guillotine series. Things were much better now.
Shaking his head, Lin Nai pulled out the items he had accumulated over the years from the System Space.
For example: Belobog specialties (Black Silk), magical catnip (effective on all felines).
Heart of the Sea's exclusive caviar, a top-grade Curse Item (Bow Buckle), and a game cartridge (Mighty Action X).
A die that could only roll one, and a one-time experience card that guaranteed catching a blade barehanded.
"Sigh, I have plenty of lifestyle and healing skills, but far too few with any killing power."
Hmm... if nothing else works, why not use the Disc Blade to kill some fish and see if it triggers?
"6. I might as well go get some fries at the docks."
That could work too.
"Forget it. The Space Station has platforms, not docks."
Lin Nai sighed. He was still too weak. He had no power.
Chapter 7: What Gambler Loses Every Day?!
While pondering how to make Herta explode into gold coins, Lin Nai tidied up the huge pile of miscellaneous junk he had taken out of the System Space.
It wasn't like the System had given him useless trash.
It was just that he had no use for it.
"Beep beep beep—"
Hearing his phone ring, Lin Nai looked over in confusion and discovered that a certain gaming-addicted girl had sent him a message after returning home from a mission.
Silver Wolf (Note: Crying and Making a Fuss): Lin Nai, get online. We're running a dungeon.
Lin Nai: Eh~ no way, I'm so tired.
Though he replied to Silver Wolf saying he wouldn't play, Lin Nai still obediently sat down in his gaming chair.
Asta had not brought over his food yet, so he might as well play with Silver Wolf for a while to kill time.
Silver Wolf: Hurry, hurry! Why are you dragging your feet?! Get on already!
Lin Nai: Silver Wolf, do you really like that game that much?
Silver Wolf: Of course. That game was independently developed by the Interastral Peace Corporation...
Lin Nai: Stop! Weren't you on bad terms with the Company?
Silver Wolf: I'm just a gaming addict. Being on bad terms is one thing, but that doesn't mean I won't play their games.
Silver Wolf: If anything, it's precisely because we're on bad terms that I plan to fleece them even harder.
Lin Nai: That somehow made sense, but also felt a little wrong.
Silver Wolf: Alright, quit yapping! Get online already!
Lin Nai: No way. I seriously can't handle that game. Or... why don't you beg me?
Silver Wolf: ...Please, come play.
Lin Nai: No spirit! Again! You think you can play games with a voice that quiet?!
Silver Wolf: Tch! The new banner is out. It's a big-breasted lady with a pet. Are you playing or not?!
Lin Nai: I'm in.
Silver Wolf: ???
Ignoring Silver Wolf's question marks, Lin Nai got up and turned on his computer!
Game launched!
As Lin Nai launched the game.
Silver Wolf's voice call came through as well.
Lin Nai took out his earphones, plugged them into his phone, and opened the voice chat.
Before you continue