By the time Lin Xiaoran arrived at the cafeteria, Jiang Jiayou, Che Yisi, Han Wenju, and the other National Fortune Bureau officials were already there.
Since it was not mealtime, the cafeteria was very empty.
After entering, Lin Xiaoran discovered that although this place was called a cafeteria, it was quite different from the one she had seen at school. It felt more like a restaurant, a high-end dining establishment.
"You're here! Come and sit!" Jiang Jiayou and the others rose to welcome Lin Xiaoran.
Was this really eating at a cafeteria? Why did it feel like someone was treating me to a meal?
Lin Xiaoran silently walked over.
Jiang Zhixue and Xu Shuiyun, who had been beside her, did not stay. They went out to do who knew what.
Jiang Jiayou smiled and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well. It was really comfortable!" Lin Xiaoran nodded.
"Then that's a relief! Is there anything else you need? Just say the word, and we'll get it for you today!"
"No, no. I don't need anything."
She had always been a homebody and did not have much demand for material comforts for now.
Before long, several uniformed servers approached with plates.
"We didn't know what you liked, so we prepared a few common breakfast dishes. Give them a try," Jiang Jiayou explained.
"They're this fancy?"
There were not many little steamed buns or soup dumplings on each plate, but every single one looked completely different from the breakfast food sold on the streets outside!
And that aroma!
Just smelling it made Lin Xiaoran's hunger grow even faster!
"Haha, these are breakfast chefs we hired specially! They can make all sorts of famous breakfast foods and pastries from across the country!"
This was a team within the National Fortune Analysis Bureau dedicated to serving challengers.
The team included bodyguards, assistants, chefs, medical staff, clothing specialists, and more!
All to serve one person!
Only at this moment did Lin Xiaoran truly appreciate the treatment she was receiving, and how her life really had become different from before.
When had her former self ever had the opportunity or the means to enjoy days when everyone revolved around her alone?!
She was no rich second-generation heir or wealthy person!
Lin Xiaoran enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, then followed Jiang Jiayou and the other two on a tour of the National Fortune Analysis Bureau. She also met the other staff members she had only briefly seen yesterday and experienced what it was like to be a celebrity pursued by fans.
At noon, when Lin Xiaoran went to eat, she received a menu listing all sorts of outrageously expensive delicacies.
This time, Lin Xiaoran did not hesitate much and directly ordered the dishes she wanted most!
It wasn't her money, anyway! Order without worry!
Not only would she order them at lunch, but at dinner too, and she would have late-night snacks as well!
In the National Fortune Bureau office.
"Fortunately, Student Lin is young and doesn't want much. She hasn't made any requests that would be difficult to fulfill," Jiang Jiayou remarked.
Previously, after learning about everything they could enjoy, one challenger had made a whole pile of requests despite having only one day to rest.
But as always, this was Country L. They would not abandon all boundaries and fulfill every request if it broke the law or violated moral standards.
This was made clear to every challenger.
Thus, after getting to know Lin Xiaoran, Jiang Jiayou felt much more at ease.
"Yes, she's still a student, after all." Che Yisi nodded in agreement.
"That said, when it comes to her daily needs, we still need to do our best to improve Student Lin's quality of life, so she can focus on the National Fortune Survival Game without burdens or worries!"
"Of course!"
"Ah, another round starts at noon tomorrow. This time, Student Lin may face all 199 remaining challengers targeting her. It's really asking a lot of her. I hope she can hold out!"
Jiang Jiayou sighed worriedly.
In the previous round, even before the game had ended, challengers had joined forces against Lin Xiaoran because of her high score. Back then, there had only been twenty-odd of them, and their strength had been mediocre.
But once a new round began, no one knew whether some challenger other than Lin Xiaoran might suddenly stumble into incredible luck, summon a powerful Heroic Spirit, and take her place.
History moved in cycles, and so did the National Fortune Game.
Some won, and some lost.
But no one had ever kept winning forever.
Jiang Jiayou and the others felt both anticipation and fear.
They looked forward to Lin Xiaoran continuing to break records, yet feared that this young beauty would wither away at such an early age, sacrificing herself for her country.
Regardless, the unstoppable National Fortune Survival Game began punctually at noon the following day.
This time, Lin Xiaoran entered while awake, already fully dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, sweatpants, and sneakers. She looked refreshed, youthful, pretty, and full of sunshine!
She looked completely different from her listless self with dark circles under her eyes last time.
But the moment she entered, Lin Xiaoran felt so hot!
Once her vision cleared, she discovered that she was actually standing in a desert!
That was right. This game's instance was the [Scorching Sea of Sand]!
[Game start. Current instance world: Scorching Sea of Sand.] [Survival duration: five days (the game will end early if only one challenger remains).] [Survival mission: reach the oasis at the center of the desert (remaining in the same place beyond a certain time limit will result in automatic elimination).]
[It's starting! It's starting!]
[Student Lin's here! Wow! Student Lin is so pretty!]
[She's not wearing a schoolgirl uniform this time?! Disappointing!]
[You above, what do you think Student Lin is doing? A schoolgirl uniform? Don't you know skirts and little leather shoes are inconvenient?!]
[Exactly!]
[Enough of that irrelevant stuff. Pay more attention to the game's instance!]
[A desert, huh? It looks really hot.]
[I wonder what Heroic Spirit Student Lin will summon this time.]
[You can do it, Student Lin!]
[Go, go!]
"Hiss... It has to be over thirty degrees here! It might even be forty!"
Lin Xiaoran had only stood there for a little while, yet she was already starting to sweat.
Thinking of the five-day survival game ahead, Lin Xiaoran hoped the Heroic Spirit she summoned this time would be someone who could help cool her down! Otherwise, surviving in this desert would simply be too difficult, too torturous!
[Ding! Random Heroic Spirit Summoning in progress!]
As the time for the National Fortune Heroic Spirit Summoning began, the system activated as well, replacing the National Fortune Game's mechanics and functions.
[Ding! Heroic Spirit Summoning successful! Congratulations, host. You have obtained: Asura of the Ninja World · Madara Uchiha!]
"Huh? It's actually Madara?!" Lin Xiaoran was instantly startled.
Hum!
A white light suddenly bloomed, and a long-haired man wearing red armor stepped out.
"This day has finally come."
Lin Xiaoran fell silent. As expected of the king of show-offs, even his opening line was domineering.
"Would you like to receive the information first?"
"Hmm?" Madara Uchiha turned toward Lin Xiaoran, the scarlet Sharingan within his eyes with their pitch-black sclera rotating slightly.
Madara was about to speak when an unfamiliar memory suddenly entered his mind, interrupting him. It concerned the National Fortune Game.
The viewers watching the livestream were all momentarily taken aback when Madara Uchiha appeared.
[That outfit... Is he an ancient general?]
[Look at his eyes! Why is it another blind man?!]
[That doesn't seem right. He looks blind, but why are his pupils red? And I think he seems able to see Student Lin.]
[Then what are those cracks on his face and the exposed part of his arm?!]
[He looks so lifeless. His personality seems completely different from Uncle Issho's kindness.]
[This Heroic Spirit feels so strange!]
[Who cares if he's strange?! As long as he's strong!]
Meanwhile, Madara Uchiha finished receiving the information about the National Fortune Game.
"I see. So I haven't been resurrected yet?" Madara Uchiha was slightly disappointed.
He had thought that when he awoke again after death, it would be when Nagato resurrected him, when his plan had reached its final step and was nearing success.
Only then could he fully realize his [Eye of the Moon] plan and bring complete peace to the Shinobi World!
Instead, this so-called [National Fortune Survival Game] had summoned him as a Heroic Spirit to participate in a competition.
How laughable!
Who was he? He was Madara Uchiha!
His time was precious!
How could he possibly have any interest in accompanying this brat before him in some lousy competition?!
Immediately, Madara Uchiha tried to forcibly break free and leave.
But the National Fortune Game soon showed him what reality meant.
"How is this possible?!" Madara Uchiha discovered that whenever he had that thought and tried to leave, all the power in his body was sealed, leaving him unable to move at all!
He was like a puppet!
To Madara Uchiha, this was unacceptable!
Yet clearly, this so-called National Fortune Game was countless times more powerful than him! It might even exist a dimension above the Shinobi World! He had no right to refuse!
"Are you done, Madara?" Lin Xiaoran stood to one side, looking at him calmly.
"Hmph! Brat, then I'll play along with you in this ridiculous competition!"
Madara Uchiha accepted his current situation and folded his arms, his tone domineering as he looked down on everything.
[What did he say? Brat?!]
[He won't even address her as Lord Master!]
[And he called this a ridiculous competition?! Why is he so arrogant?!]
[We're doomed. This Heroic Spirit is hard to communicate with. What if he refuses to put in any effort during the game?]
The U.S.: [Haha! Great news! So what if her Heroic Spirit is powerful? If he won't put in any effort, let's see how Lin Xiaoran wins!]
Country A: [Hey, did you teach Lin Xiaoran how to deal with this situation? If not, she's in trouble!]
Country R: [Go, Heroic Spirit! Stay true to yourself! I believe in you!]
With the game underway, these foreign viewers stopped even pretending. Whenever they caught an opportunity, they could not resist mocking Lin Xiaoran, infuriating Country L's viewers, who immediately jumped in to fight back!
Inside the National Fortune Bureau, Jiang Jiayou and the others could not help frowning.
"This isn't looking good. This Heroic Spirit seems very domineering. I wonder whether Student Lin has any way to persuade him."
"Student Lin is still just a student and relatively innocent. She may not know how to [talk]," Che Yisi said uneasily.
By [talk], he meant speaking skillfully. In other words, she needed to know how to seize upon the other party's weaknesses and flatter them, saying things that touched their heart and made them happy, so they would be willing to help their Master win the final victory.
As for Lin Xiaoran, she was only eighteen and had never suffered society's brutal beatings. Her verbal skills were bound to fall short of those worldly old hands, and the more she spoke, the more mistakes she would make, displeasing her Heroic Spirit.
If that happened, this round would be difficult!
Especially with the other challengers joining forces to target her.