The Correct Way to Use the System Mall

"Alright, I think I roughly understand that. But why does the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] need to observe?" Luo Yifang took a can of cola from the refrigerator, sat down on the sofa, and started drinking.

"Why?" Paqi froze for a moment. "That's really hard to say. I don't even know whether the main body of the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] has self-awareness like us pages do, because I always feel like it doesn't have any purpose at all."

"Hm?" Hearing that, Luo Yifang was equally puzzled. If the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] acted without purpose, then why had it opened itself to so many extraordinary beings?

"I don't know that either. The only thing I can be sure of is that the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] gives certain rewards to authorized users who cause changes in the worldline, like the ones you just received." Paqi added, "Most of the time, they're a kind of equivalent exchange currency. You can use them to buy or trade items with the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] and other authorized users. They're generally called [World Coins]. Sometimes, though, the rewards are items, or even random distributions similar to a lottery draw."

"What did I get?"

"Let me see... Wow, that's quite a lot. One thousand World Coins, and even one random distribution? That makes no sense. It's totally unbelievable. This already counts as an enormous reward. What exactly did you change to make the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] give you so much?"

"I think this is the reason..." Luo Yifang pulled a thick stack of documents out from beneath the sofa, his expression grave.

"Let me see... the Absolute Ability User Project? Oh, I get it. You were originally supposed to participate in this project, but now you didn't. Yet since you received such generous rewards from the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds], someone must have taken your place in the project, causing the worldline to change drastically. Wow, this is practically picking up money while sitting at home."

"I'd rather I hadn't picked up this money." Luo Yifang was nowhere near as optimistic as Paqi.

"Why? You should know this isn't a small amount."

"I feel like I've fallen into a huge pit." Luo Yifang had always felt that learning of the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] couldn't possibly mean he was simply being allowed to live another life for free. And he absolutely didn't believe it acted without purpose. Otherwise, why had it chosen him? There was most likely some reason behind it that required his involvement.

"I don't see it that way. Maybe it really is just giving you benefits?" Paqi muttered. "Although I can't know what happened in the world you originally came from or what will happen in the altered world, I think that intelligent lifeform you created probably isn't anything ordinary."

"Just an intelligent lifeform gave me abilities I'd never even dared to imagine before?" Luo Yifang still couldn't quite believe it. Coupled with the absurdly human-like snark he had heard from the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] before that transmigration, he felt even more certain that he had stepped into a massive pit.

"There's no use thinking so much about it. You worry about this and that all day long. If other people got a system like this, they'd be secretly celebrating before they had the chance to."

"The problem is, other people's systems don't have a background as huge as yours!" Luo Yifang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Hadn't Paqi just said that things like main gods and systems were all within the observation range of the [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds]? "Besides, other people's systems can buy stuff. You guys can't."

"How can we not? I just hadn't pulled it up for you to see. You didn't have a single cent on you before—wouldn't it have been painful for you to look at?" Paqi mercilessly mocked him, then summoned something like a virtual screen before Luo Yifang's eyes. "There, take a look at the [Myriad Worlds Mall]."

"Huh? There really is one? That name is pretty casual. Don't tell me you just came up with it." Luo Yifang stroked his chin with interest. He had only mentioned it casually, yet Paqi had actually brought one out.

"Didn't I just say that [World Coins] exist for exchange? If there wasn't anything to buy, what would be the point of having money?" Paqi rolled her eyes.

Luo Yifang completely ignored Paqi and began browsing on his own. "Huh? This stuff is so cheap?"

"What caught your eye?" Paqi really wanted to know what could interest someone like Luo Yifang. A new ability, a divine artifact, or some heaven-defying treasure?

"They even sell gaming equipment here?! Great! Oh, and there are so many games—all deluxe collector's editions. Hey, hey, hey, it can even connect online across worlds? A full set of gaming equipment this insanely awesome only costs 1 [World Coin]? Buy, buy, buy!"

"So it's technological products... Wait, what did you say you wanted to buy?" When Paqi heard that Luo Yifang wanted to buy electronics, she initially wanted to mock him disdainfully. But by the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. A flurry of clattering sounds rang out as a huge pile of futuristic-looking machines and countless game discs dropped in front of Luo Yifang.

"Games, of course. It's only one coin. Isn't it a bargain to buy so much? Hey, look at this—God of War Virtual Reality Remastered Edition! And the matching VR equipment too, the kind that's fifty years ahead of the technology on the Earth where I used to live!" Luo Yifang said joyfully, holding up a game. Though he had seen other, even more advanced gaming equipment, he felt that this level of advancement was more exciting to play.

"Good grief, you used [World Coins] to buy this?" Paqi felt that if she actually had a physical body, Luo Yifang would have made her cough up three liters of blood in anger. "Do you even know what [World Coins] can be used for?"

"Huh? What else can they do? They're for buying things, aren't they?" Luo Yifang swiftly installed all kinds of gaming equipment around his room. He even somehow pulled out several posters and stuck them on the walls. "Hm... It still feels like something's missing."

"Were you even listening to me, you idiot?!" Paqi practically wanted to bite Luo Yifang to death. "One [World Coin] is enough to buy an ordinary castle with no special functions whatsoever, and you used it to buy games? Are you going to buy figurines too?!"

"Don't copy that artificial idiot." Luo Yifang waved a hand dismissively. "But you did remind me. I really am missing a display cabinet for figurines. Hm, this one it is."

Paqi could only watch helplessly as Luo Yifang waved his hand and even began purchasing items individually. The minimum purchase amount in the [Myriad Worlds Mall] was 1 [World Coin]! The money this bastard had just spent could have been exchanged for an entire city! Looking at the gorgeous crystal display cabinet that had appeared in the room, along with the exquisite figurines inside, Paqi felt as though her heart were bleeding.

Fuck, my monthly salary is only five coins, you bastard! Paqi felt like she was truly about to cry. The [Book of Ten Thousand Worlds] wasn't some main god, and she didn't get commissions! She was paid a fixed salary—a fixed salary! And it had only started counting after she formed a connection with Luo Yifang!