Talked Herself Into Believing It

I heard a knock on the door.

Lu Xiu turned her head away, briefly closed her beautiful eyes, and then suddenly opened them again. As the [Anti- Visual Mindscape] was silently triggered, the scene outside the wall was instantly and clearly projected into her mind.

Shen Nian?

Lu Xiu casually swiped away the floating forum interface, walked to the entrance hall with a hint of surprise, and opened the door.

"----Miss Lu."

Shen Nian was standing outside the door, her short, smooth hair, just reaching her shoulders, was simply tied back. She wore thin-rimmed glasses on her nose, making her look gentle and non-threatening.

Today, this newcomer to the Coordination Bureau's Strategy Group was no longer wearing her slightly formal business suit or those high heels unsuitable for strenuous exercise. Instead, she wore a loose-fitting tracksuit of the same color. Gone was the elite air of a working professional; she looked more like a naive and naive female college student.

Especially when combined with her gentle, scholarly-looking face and her noticeably timid movements.

It looks even more like it now.

"Miss Shen, is there anything I can help you with?"

Lu Xiu looked at Shen Nian: "Did Yan Fushou send you? I can't say if it's about the dungeon, but you should know about the Goddess Intervention, right?"

Although Lu Xiu seemed unconcerned about the Coordination Bureau's actions, she had actually explored the apartment building where Naoki was on her first day here using [Anti- Visual Mindscape].

Besides the ordinary residents, namely the members of the Coordination Bureau's Strategy Group, such as Jian Li Wei Yidong, there are more than twenty people in this building who are clearly not residents. These people are guarding the various nodes leading upwards.

They usually keep a low profile and don't appear in front of Lu Xiu, so Lu Xiu doesn't encounter any inconvenience when she goes out. However, it's not so easy for others to get to Lu Xiu's floor without prior notice.

Lu Xiu was well aware of this, but she pretended not to know.

Now that she saw Shen Nian come up without being stopped, she immediately knew that Shen Nian had come on orders.

Could they be here to cause trouble because of the [Outlast the Underworld]?

Lu Xiu looked at the timid Shen Nian in front of her and thought to herself.

"No."

Upon hearing the word "duplicate,"

Standing outside the door, Shen Nian's long eyelashes behind her glasses trembled slightly involuntarily.

Lu Xiu didn't notice anything unusual about Miss Shen Nian: "No? You didn't come to find me on orders? So you came here on your own initiative to talk to me about the dungeon? Speaking of which—I haven't thanked you yet for helping me clarify my thoughts last time."

".

66

Upon hearing this...

Although Shen Nian tried her best to maintain a smile, her fair and pretty face visibly turned pale, as if she had lost blood.

Don't.

Don't thank me.

I'm afraid that all the other players will come to thank me later.

When she noticed Lu Xiu looking at her, her beautiful eyes filled with gratitude.

Shen Nian almost blurted out something impolite.

But in the end, she forced herself to endure it.

That was too direct; it felt like it hurt Lu Xiu's feelings.

After all, the other party genuinely wanted to express their gratitude.

However, the problem still needs to be solved.

so.

Shen Nian took a deep breath and then began to chant rapidly. "Miss Lu Xiu, you completed those dungeons all by yourself. You are exceptionally talented, and I didn't help you at all. As for organizing your thoughts, that's nonsense. I don't understand or know how to Constructed Instance, so please don't thank me. It's all your credit, and it has nothing to do with me. I have no intention and no ability to provide any help. That's all!"

Then.

She tried to calm her slightly rapid breathing and handed over a delicate paper bag she was carrying. "I came this time because I happened to be passing by a famous dessert shop nearby, so I brought some sweets to see you—I hope I didn't disturb your rest?"

"

Lu Xiu stared blankly at Shen Nian had uttered five words in a single second.

What was that person just saying in a rapid-fire manner?

After a while.

She noticed that Shen Nian was still holding the dessert, maintaining the same posture as if offering it as a sacrifice, and then she realized what was going on, reaching out to take it. "Thank you—by the way, what did you just say?"

"Well----"

Shen Nian seemed unprepared for Lu Xiu's inability to hear clearly; she had clearly spent considerable time and effort composing that rapid chant on the way here.

"Never mind."

Lu Xiu noticed that Shen Nian was stuck and didn't seem like she was there to cause trouble. After thinking for a moment, she stepped aside to make room for her. "No matter what you said, I bet you didn't just come to deliver desserts. Yan Fushou is really making things difficult for you, sending a newcomer to the front lines."

"Come in and have a seat. If I can help you, I will. Also, I don't have a big sweet tooth, so I'll eat the dessert you brought along."

Shen Nian was slightly taken aback.

But soon...

She realized that although the rapid chanting had no effect, it was still a good thing to be able to sneak into Lu Xiu's residence and get acquainted with her first—she could explain things slowly later.

Thinking of this...

She bowed directly to Lu Xiu, thanked her, and then went inside.

Lu Xiu closed the door, then led Shen Nian to sit on the sofa, and casually asked, "What would you like to drink? I have cola, tea, and instant coffee."

"Tea, thank you."

"OK."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiu immediately put down the dessert she had brought and turned to head to the kitchen.

Shen Nian looked at Lu Xiu, who was in the open kitchen, bringing a teapot to brew tea, and asked in surprise, "Miss Lu Xiu, are you going to brew it yourself?"

"Otherwise what? Do you have some skill that can automatically brew tea like magic?"

Lu Xiu, dressed in loose and simple home clothes with her hair tied in a neat high ponytail, looked at Shen Nian and tilted her head. "If there is, please be sure to tell me which dungeon's reward it is."

"No—I just think that with your prominent status, the Coordination Bureau could easily arrange for some people to take care of your daily life."

Shen Nian explained, "After all, your time is very valuable. I believe that as long as you ask, the Coordination Bureau will definitely make arrangements for you."

"You mean this? The Coordination Bureau did mention that they would arrange a nanny and a cook for me."

Lu Xiu tiptoed slightly, stretching her fair and graceful neck, and began rummaging through the upper cabinets, searching for her tea. "But I refused. I personally don't like others intruding on my private space, even those who take care of me. These trivial matters aren't troublesome; I'd rather do them myself."

That's the truth.

When those people from the Spirit Pivot Construction Group came to Lu Xiu's home in Four Continents, Lu Xiu felt they had invaded her private space and was furious.

After all, their identities are different now.

If it were her past life, Lu Xiu certainly wouldn't have cared so much, but now that she's in this state, she's become very bothered by it.

Don't you like others invading your private space?

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian looked at the sofa beneath her and became somewhat uneasy.

This gentle and pretty new Coordination Bureau doesn't seem very bold; she really does resemble a naive, foolish, and inexperienced female college student.

This is the complete opposite of her performance in the Sekiro arc.

The expression on her face when she raised the Kusabimaru to attack.

Lu Xiu still remembers it all clearly.

He's quite handsome.

How can someone be like this in real life?

wrong.

Back in the Sekiro arc, she seemed hesitant and timid before raising the Kusabimaru.

As Lu Xiu pondered this, she glanced at Shen Nian, who had suddenly become restless, and explained with a smile, "You're here as a guest, which is completely different from invading my personal space. Just sit still."

Shen Nian was taken aback, then immediately let out a long sigh of relief.

Knock knock.

Sudden.

The knocking sounded again.

Shen Nian was taken aback.

Lu Xiu was also somewhat surprised. After using [Anti- Visual Mindscape] again to see the person outside the door clearly, her expression became somewhat subtle.

She took a detour away from the open kitchen, went to the entryway, and opened the door again.

A girl with flowing silver hair, a slender figure, and an aloof air stood quietly outside the door.

"Jian Li."

Lu Xiu greeted them, then asked, "Why are you here too?"

also?

Upon hearing this, Jian Li slightly raised her head, and subconsciously bypassed Lu Xiu to look behind her.

inside the house.

Shen Nian also noticed Jian Li, the senior member of the Strategy Group, at this moment. She had already stood up from the sofa and, noticing Jian Li's gaze, immediately nodded to her.

Jian Li looked at Shen Nian for a while, then looked away and turned her gaze back to Lu Xiu.

"Alright, come in too. The tea's just been brewed."

Lu Xiu noticed that she wasn't speaking. After thinking for a moment, she decided not to delve too deeply into the purpose of their visit and simply assumed they were there for the [Outlast] instance.

She stepped aside again to make room for Jian Li.

After discovering that Jian Li was not moving.

It's probably because I played the role of a confidante during the previous Jump Kit practice.

She casually took Jian Li's hand, a girl with no connections or income, and led her to sit down on the sofa.

Jian Li didn't struggle.

Five minutes later.

"So, you're here for the [Outlast] dungeon, right?"

Lu Xiu served tea to the two of them and inquired about their purpose.

Shen Nian hesitated, then glanced at Jian Li.

I don't know if it's just my imagination.

She always sensed that this senior member of the Strategy Group seemed unhappy.

Jian Li, however, remained expressionless, her face blank.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Lu Xiu said helplessly, "If it's about the Outlast dungeon, I really can't help. If you want to accuse me, then I can only say that although the [Outlast] dungeon is extreme, it's—a necessary act of malice."

When the word "necessary" comes up...

Lu Xiu hesitated for a long time.

The main issue is that she's unsure if this will trigger the Goddess Intervention.

The "Iron and Blood" update trailer is strictly prohibited from being disseminated by any means.

Currently, the only people who can receive that update announcement are Lu Xiu and the leaders of those folk Builder Group.

But nothing happened after Lu Xiu said it. It seems that such ambiguous and vague words that don't involve specific updates are fine.

Upon hearing this...

Jian Li couldn't help but look at Lu Xiu.

Shen Nian was also taken aback, then looked at Lu Xiu with some shock. "Miss Lu, you mean—"

What's the meaning?

Was there a specific purpose behind the newly released [Outlast] dungeon?

And it's a purpose that can't be stated explicitly?

----So she wasn't just trying to torture the players after all?

Both women were intelligent and quickly grasped the implied meaning in Lu Xiu's words.

"No, what do you mean?"

Seeing their expressions, Lu Xiu's own expression became somewhat subtle. "Why the look of 'So I wasn't just here to torment the players after all'? Is my image in your eyes really that bad?"

Shen Nian guiltily looked away.

Jian Li didn't look away, but she maintained an attitude that indicated she hadn't shown that kind of expression. (Lu Xiu guessed)

"Fine, I can't blame you for thinking that way, but there's no doubt that all the dungeons I create are for a purpose."

Lu Xiu put down her teacup, straightened her back slightly, and struck a pose as if everything was under her calculations.

Justified and confident.

She wasn't wrong.

This is in preparation for the new version.

Whether it will actually work is another matter.

After all, when the arena opens, players may not be able to choose her instance as the scene.

But once they make that choice, they will definitely have an advantage.

At least they have an advantage over their rivals—after all, no matter how grueling the process, all the players here have completed the game, haven't they?

If the opposing player chooses the scenario—as long as the chosen instance is the type Lu Xiu has done—the player here should also have an advantage.

For example, in the Underworld dungeon, which combines Resident Evil and Outlast, players have already fully experienced what the Architect's malice is like, and they will likely be able to adapt quickly when they encounter similar dungeons.

For example, if the opponent chooses Swordplay Instance, what Swordplay Instance can compare to Sekiro: Sekiro, which can be completed in one life?

Um.

I'm doing this for the players' own good!

Players will find out soon!

The more Lu Xiu thought about it, the more convinced she became, until she even started to believe it herself.