Aha: No laughing now

Fortunately, Aha and his followers stopped causing trouble.

He and his followers were active on other planets, seeking amusement wherever they went.

Word had it that Aha had shared his power with a bug, apparently intending to conduct some kind of experiment.

Unfortunately, things had not gone his way. The bug had died.

As for the five billion Credits Aha had personally delivered, they were like a time bomb with no set timer, giving Xianyu a terrible headache.

After much deliberation, he thought of the system.

If the system inventory could contain Aha's mask, surely it had other uses too?

Using the system, Xianyu temporarily stored the Credits, then anonymously hired a top-tier hacker to transfer the funds.

In the end, the system's defenses proved superior, leaving the hacker stumped.

Next, he used the system map to replace the equipment at the six commissions under his administration.

After he clicked update, a progress bar appeared over the Artisanship Commission, one of the six commissions on the map. Progress: 1%.

Back in reality, the Artisanship Commission's Master Artificer had just received the news and was calling everyone together to pack things up.

Xianyu understood.

The upgraded equipment would not fall from the sky. The various operations performed in the system would unfold in reality in more plausible ways.

Using the map, he watched the Artisanship Commission's renovation from beginning to end.

Everyone was meticulous, as dedicated as NPCs in a game. If work started at eight, they would neither dawdle nor arrive late.

From the people in charge to the ordinary workers, no one slacked off or cut corners, much less took the opportunity to line their pockets.

At the same time, once Xianyu learned someone's name, he could see their innate talents and the stats they had developed over time.

Overlooked talent? Not a chance.

Xianyu could find the most suitable job for everyone, placing them where their strengths would shine.

Completely reassured, he summoned the heads of the six commissions again.

Perhaps Xianyu's reputation was exceptionally high, or perhaps it was the bonus from his "mental illness" buff, but none of them questioned where this enormous sum had come from.

The heads of the six commissions delivered their reports one by one. After a joint discussion, they finally settled on a series of plans.

Their first priority was the subordinates killed, wounded, or disabled in the war, along with the civilians caught in the fighting. After a series of calculations, they determined the appropriate compensation and allowances.

Next came the buildings, facilities, roads, and other infrastructure destroyed during the Golem incident.

Last came subsidies for businesses and civilians.

Of the total, one billion would be invested in what Xianyu called the "Colossus" project.

Although it was not a particularly large share of the funds, Xianyu was very satisfied with the result.

He had never planned on using Aha's money in the first place. With this windfall, any amount he spent was a gain.

They would need only half the previously estimated time to successfully develop the Colossus, then begin research into Neutron Annihilation.

The day he could slay an Aeon was within sight.

As usual, Xianyu used the map to deal with the documents in no time, leaving the Chief Strategist alone to handle his paperwork.

He deliberately skirted the bustling crowds, walking along the broad blue-stone road and making his way with practiced ease into a secluded, deserted pavilion.

The reason was simple: the people of Yaoqing were far too enthusiastic.

Ever since Xianyu had maxed out satisfaction across Yaoqing, everyone who saw him instantly turned into Doraemon, producing all sorts of odd little things from their magical pockets.

They were like the elders in a family, forever worrying that you might be cold or hungry.

They would not rest until they had wrapped you in layer upon layer of clothing like a bear, then turned you into a ravenous beast and fed you until you weighed three hundred pounds.

The vendors on the snack street were especially bad. The moment they saw him, making money ceased to matter, and they practically tried to stuff every bit of food they had brought into his arms.

Faced with such wholehearted kindness, entirely focused on his well-being, Xianyu struggled to cope.

The worst offenders were the milk-scented little children who barely reached his thighs. Calling out "General!" over and over, they would toddle over and cling to his legs, leaving him nowhere to hide.

Whenever he tried to slip away, their big eyes, still untainted by knowledge, instantly filled with tears. They cried and fussed, refusing to let him leave.

Utterly overwhelmed, Xianyu helplessly sought assistance from the parents beside them.

Unfortunately, the children wanted him and him alone. Even their own parents were no use.

He could only pick them up and steel himself to soothe them.

The people of Yaoqing were too enthusiastic-so enthusiastic that he could not handle it.

What else could he do? He could only hide.

But as a dedicated slacker, he did not want to stay in the General's Residence and be forced to work by the Chief Strategist, either. His only option was to avoid the crowds and wander around.

Fortunately, perseverance paid off. He really did find a secluded, deserted pavilion with a magnificent view.

Xianyu felt delighted.

It was like taking a sip of plum soup on a sweltering summer day, the cup brimming with clinking ice cubes.

Praise Aha and his followers!

Thanks to the Credits they had provided, Yaoqing had swiftly returned to its prewar condition and was now firmly back on track.

If Aha wanted some amusement, Xianyu would cooperate to the fullest, provided it did not affect Yaoqing.

Just as he was praising Aha, intermittent sobbing came from a nearby corner.

Hadn't there been no one nearby just a moment ago?

Frowning, Xianyu looked toward the sound.

He saw the small figure of a child crouched in an inconspicuous corner, quietly sniffling.

Relieved at the sight, Xianyu did not approach rashly. He stopped two meters away, crouched down, and asked gently, "Where are your parents?"

The child stopped crying and turned to him with an aggrieved expression. "He won't pay attention to me!"

Xianyu's CPU was practically overheating as he stumbled through an attempt to comfort the child. "Uh... it's okay. I'll teach him a lesson for you."

The child snorted, clearly unconvinced. "Do you know who my dad is? No one in all of Yaoqing dares mess with him!"

Xianyu perked up.

What? Yaoqing had scum like that, throwing their weight around?

Now this was a conversation worth waking up for.

It sounded like this child's father had serious problems.

Once he got to the bottom of things, he would fleece the man for all he was worth and throw him into the Prison of Deep Seclusion.

After all, who would complain about having too much money?

Xianyu held his breath and concentrated, listening carefully.

The child stared into his eyes and flashed an outrageously exaggerated smile, his voice shrill. "He's almost omniscient and omnipotent! Not only can he command armies, he can even run circles around Aeons!"

Xianyu said, "...Huh?"

He forced an awkward but polite smile, utterly bewildered.

What the hell? Had this kid read too many stories? That was ridiculous. Even making things up ought to have its limits.

If Yaoqing really had someone like that, he would have recruited them to work for him ages ago.

Giggling, the child darted closer, closing the distance between them.

Instinctively sensing something wrong, Xianyu opened the map. The name floating over the child was "Aha."

Xianyu's pupils shook. He instinctively stood and retreated several steps.

Aha, why are you here again?!

Disbelieving, he opened the map and checked the child's name over and over. His brain promptly shut down.

His gaze vacant, Xianyu watched helplessly as Aha hugged his leg with the child's body.

The child grinned, showing his teeth. "Daddy-"

That earth-shattering cry of "Daddy" made Xianyu's scalp crawl.

The seemingly innocent, harmless little face transformed in an instant, its contours twisting into something grotesque, like paint still flowing across a canvas before it had dried.

The scene before him changed, its colors dark and oppressive.

[Xianzhou · Luofu]

Then a blurred figure suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

"My dear friend~"

"My dear friend!"

"Oh, my dearest friend-"

The voice shifted from playful to exuberant, calling out without a moment's pause.

Xianyu took several deep breaths before his awareness finally returned.

The familiar ceiling. The familiar bed.

At this moment, he was not the Yaoqing General, but a Diviner on the Luofu.

Had everything he experienced in the dream been his memories?

He wiped the cold sweat from his temples, turned his head, and came face-to-face with someone wearing a smiling mask on his bedside table.

Xianyu looked closer. There was nothing below the other's neck-only a head.

Xianyu said, "..."

He abruptly sat up to put distance between them, instinctively covering his chest as he stared blankly at the head.

Only he knew that he merely looked quiet. In reality, his soul had already been gone for a while.

The head spoke in a plaintive tone, chattering incessantly. "My dearest friend, you're so cold. Shouldn't you give me a great big hug?"

Xianyu quickly snapped out of it. With a cold laugh, he threw back the covers, stood up, and grabbed the few remaining hairs on the head.

This time, Aha had only a head and could do nothing but let Xianyu drag him along.

He laughed and joked without a shred of dignity. When Xianyu refused to respond to one topic, he was not discouraged and simply found another.

Xianyu walked into the bathroom, stopped, and lowered his head to look at Aha.

"My dear friend, are you finally willing to acknowledge me?"

Seeing that Xianyu finally intended to engage with him, Aha was overjoyed. He looked around, but when he spotted the showerhead hanging on the wall nearby, a sudden sense of danger arose.

Aha strained to swivel his eyes, glanced at the toilet beneath his head, and asked stiffly, "My dear friend, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" Xianyu gave a cold laugh. "Flushing the toilet."

Aha could no longer laugh.