Smuggling into Zelan Star

So Happy Now's cooldown was six hours per use, but she had a necklace that reduced cooldown time by 15%. Calculated that way, she could actually use it once every 306 minutes. In theory, as long as she timed every cooldown precisely, she would need less than eleven days' worth of skill uses to earn one chance to travel to another world. Yu Xunge could completely accept that price!

If she owned that door, she would probably have set a similar price herself. It matched the preciousness of the opportunity without being outrageously greedy, and it could even build goodwill with the other party.

Yu Xunge asked, "I only need you to turn me into an animal and get me out of the city. How much does that cost?"

Zhao Shuying said, "Five skill crystals."

Yu Xunge went numb. She asked one final question: "If that person dies, can we still come back?"

Zhao Shuying said, "Mm, that involves another fee."

Yu Xunge said, "How about you just leave? I'll pretend you were never here today."

Zhao Shuying and Wu Qingbai stood up in unison. "All right."

Yu Xunge raised a hand. "Let's talk this out properly!"

Wu Qingbai said, "We told you, but you didn't like hearing it."

Yu Xunge: "..." I'm the Vengeful Female Lead who came back after being reborn!! How dare you treat me like this... Believe it or not, I'll really get angry!

Zhao Shuying said, "We have skill crystals containing a teleportation gate. Crush one, and you can return by yourself—completely safe. One costs only 52 crystals."

Yu Xunge said, "...Do you accept gold?"

Zhao Shuying said, "No, we only accept your skill crystals."

Yu Xunge said, "Can I take out a loan? I mean, I'll go over first, then pay back a few crystals from time to time."

Zhao Shuying said, "Of course! But since your circumstances are special, with a loan, you must make a payment once every three days, with at least ten crystals per payment. You'll also need to pay an additional five crystals as interest."

Yu Xunge said, "Are you really government people?"

Wu Qingbai said, "As genuine as they come."

Yu Xunge: She kept feeling like she had run into a scam ring.

Smuggling... no, the teleportation fee was 50 crystals, turning into an animal and getting sent out of the city cost 5 crystals, the return teleportation crystal cost 52 crystals, and the loan fee was 5 crystals.

After seeing them off, Yu Xunge sat alone on the sofa, clutching 112 blank skill crystals, a loan contract, and a confidentiality agreement. The confidentiality agreement was very detailed. Not only did it require that she not tell anyone about being able to enter the game, but if she was captured in the other world, she was not to reveal any information related to players either. Every time she leaked information, she would be muted for several days.

Zhao Shuying said it was the product of a God-Bestowed Talent. Yu Xunge had seen such things in her previous life. After checking it and finding no traps or overly harsh terms, she signed it.

How had things suddenly turned out like this?

She did seem to still be a lone wolf, but now she was a lone wolf saddled with an enormous debt.

She had been planning to sell this skill for 3 gold per use! 108 uses—round that up, and wasn't that 500 gold?

Yu Xunge wiped her face, thinking that when she went over this time, she had to at least earn back her costs before returning.

She spent several days investigating Zhao Shuying and Wu Qingbai first. Only after confirming that they really were official personnel did she finally feel completely at ease.

She directly posted a vague message on her Moments page. Those who understood would understand: Luck 10 had been taken by official personnel and would no longer be sold publicly.

Then she went to feed the cats in the backyard baked cat biscuits, which were tastier and more nutritious than cat food. She did not stop until she had filled all five feeders. Each dispensed food once every three hours, and the stored food inside was enough to feed the cats for a month.

Finally, she sent a message in the family group chat.

Only the most idle one, Yi Qiuguo, replied instantly. The other two idiots had probably turned on Do Not Disturb.

Yu Xunge: My skills can only be used for government people lately. I'm going on a business trip for over a month, and I'm not allowed to say where.

Happy Autumn Fruit: Ah, are they paying you?

Yu Xunge: What do you think?

Happy Autumn Fruit: I think they can't possibly not pay.

Yu Xunge: They're not paying me. They even said I have to pay taxes.

Happy Autumn Fruit: How can they do that!!! Is there no law anymore?

Yu Xunge: Exactly!

After spouting a few truths disguised as nonsense, Yu Xunge changed into clothes that were convenient for movement—long sleeves, long pants, and boots, all made of light, soft material. She did not care about windproofing or waterproofing; she only wanted to avoid the sound of fabric rubbing together as she moved. Then she checked her weapons, potions, and food once more. After confirming everything was in order, she drove to the address Zhao Shuying had given her. A teleportation gate would open there tonight.

Wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, Yu Xunge entered the top floor of the library. It was already packed with people. Most, like her, wore masks and sunglasses, unwilling to let others see their real faces.

There was a dining table in the corner covered with food and drinks, but Yu Xunge did not go over. She had trauma; in this life, she would not eat anything free.

They waited until 7 p.m. before someone in military uniform entered and explained the rules for crossing over to the hundreds of people present.

"Those following the team must obey commands. If you defy orders more than three times, we have the right to kill you."

"Cooperative players who are not following the team may act freely after leaving the city. You may also seek our protection if you encounter danger, but I believe you all understand the price. We are only generous to our own people."

"And to those of you with loans, I hope you repay them on time. Otherwise, it will be difficult to cooperate again in the future."

"I hope everyone will abide by the terms of the confidentiality agreement. It is the product of a God-Bestowed Talent. I trust none of you want to find out the consequences of violating its terms."

"Everyone, understood?!"

Yu Xunge shouted "Understood!" along with the crowd, feeling as though she were taking part in military training.

Only after Su Yitong finished her meeting and came out did she learn about Yu Xunge.

A slight frown creased her brow. This skill had actually been requisitioned by the authorities...

She felt an uncomfortable sense that something belonging to her had been snatched away.

But she quickly reined in that emotion and instead began considering why the authorities needed Fate Gear, a God-Bestowed Talent.

That evening, when she went home for dinner, she asked Yu Xunhuan about it at the table.

Yu Xunhuan directly showed her the group chat.

Su Yitong's gaze lingered for a moment on the line: "I'll be away on business for a month after this, and I'm not allowed to disclose the itinerary."

"Did they really not pay her?" she asked.

Yu Xunhuan shrugged. "Probably true. She may be a little stingy, but she wouldn't lie about something like that."

Su Yitong nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more.

Before long, she put the matter out of her mind.

She merely assumed the authorities needed Luck 10 to handle something special, much like how she and Liang Yuchuan had used it to make their divinations go more smoothly.

The skill really was useful. Recently, she had actually been considering bringing Yu Xunge into the Su Family. She was only still pondering which branch family member she should have marry Yu Xunge. Someone too outstanding would be beneath Yu Xunge, but someone inferior would embarrass her—after all, no matter what, Yu Xunge was her husband's older sister...

Unfortunately, she was a step too late.

Forget it. It was only a B-rank talent, anyway.