The bed in her new home was soft, and Lin Xiaoran slept comfortably. Or rather, after sleeping on the floor for four nights, she would have slept soundly in any bed.
All the furniture in her new home had been prepared before Lin Xiaoran arrived yesterday. The National Fortune Bureau had been very thoughtful about it.
It was past ten the next morning before Lin Xiaoran got up and washed. Since there was no food at home yet, she planned to go out to eat.
But as soon as she opened the door, she found a man and a woman in suits standing outside.
"Miss Lin." The two stood ramrod straight and greeted her.
"And you are?"
"Miss Lin, we're your bodyguards and assistants! Starting today, we'll be staying by your side. If you need anything, just tell us!"
Jiang Jiayou had arranged this. It was not just Lin Xiaoran; the challengers who had moved in before her had received the same treatment.
Although they were called bodyguards, their main job was actually to serve as assistants, ensuring that Lin Xiaoran's needs could be met promptly.
Otherwise, with the National Fortune Bureau being so safe-it was already a military-controlled zone-bodyguards served little purpose.
As for if Lin Xiaoran wanted to go out, never mind anyone else, Chang Jian would certainly guard her without leaving her side for even a step.
Challengers could die in the National Fortune Game, but they absolutely could not die in reality!
Even the slightest danger had to be avoided!
Otherwise, whether it was Country L or any other country, they would face public condemnation.
A single "Is this how you protect our heroes?" would be enough to nail them to the pillar of shame!
"Hello... May I ask your names?" Lin Xiaoran was still unused to this treatment.
"My name is Jiang Zhixue!" the tall, burly man said loudly.
"My name is Xu Shuiyun!" the dashing young woman with a ponytail introduced herself.
"Brother Jiang, Sister Xu, hello!"
"You don't need to be so polite, Miss Lin! Just call us by our names!" Both were very modest.
"Are you hungry, Miss Lin? Shall I have the kitchen send some food over? What would you like?" Xu Shuiyun asked with a smile.
"There's no need to go to all that trouble. Director Jiang said yesterday that there's a cafeteria here. I can just go eat there," Lin Xiaoran said, waving her hand.
"All right, Miss Lin. I'll show you the way." Xu Shuiyun gestured for her to go ahead.
"Thank you, Sister Xu."
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhixue took out his phone, both to inform Jiang Jiayou that Lin Xiaoran was awake and to give the cafeteria advance notice so they could prepare break... lunch.
The atmosphere in the elevator was a little awkward. Lin Xiaoran felt her pocket, only to discover that she seemed to have forgotten her phone.
How about checking the bullet comments instead?
Lin Xiaoran silently tapped the Silver Ring on her left wrist and opened the light screen.
The light screen was replaying the previous round's livestream. Lin Xiaoran saw herself, along with a screen full of bullet comments.
This place had practically become a public group chat. Anyone with free time came here to rewatch the livestream, chat about the game, browse other livestream rooms, or argue with other people.
Country H: [Hmph! Just you wait! Lin Xiaoran won't get lucky again!]
Country H: [Exactly! Our Park Bu could have won the last round!]
Country L: [LMAO, that Park Bu was crying in terror at the very end, and you think he could have won!?]
Country L: [Just keep living in your own little world!]
Country R: [Keep laughing. Once the next round starts, let's see how your challenger survives!]
Country L: [Shameless bastards! Come fight us head-on if you have the guts! What's so impressive about targeting our Xiaoran!]
Country L: [You should be glad this is reality. Otherwise, I'd really want Xiaoran to send you a big gift too! Blow you all to death!]
Country L: [Scared of meteorites?!]
The U.S.: [Ha! Don't forget, once the game ends, the Heroic Spirits disappear too! If she's so capable, let's see Lin Xiaoran summon another Heroic Spirit who can bring down meteorites!]
Country L: [Hmph! A bunch of losers! All you can do is bark a few times!]
Reading these comments, Lin Xiaoran found these people rather amusing.
They really were keyboard warriors. As long as they were online, they could spout any heaven-defying nonsense.
But speaking of meteorites... it seemed Lin Xiaoran really could do that now.
After all, she still retained Fujitora Issho's incredibly far-reaching Advanced Observation Haki, along with the corresponding Press-Press Fruit abilities!
At that thought, Lin Xiaoran gently closed her eyes and activated her Observation Haki, extending her perception toward the sky.
It passed through the elevator shaft, through the rooftop, and into the air.
The direction of the breeze, the drifting white clouds-everything appeared clearly in Lin Xiaoran's awareness.
Finally, crossing tens of thousands of meters of sky, Lin Xiaoran "saw" satellites floating in outer space, space station platforms, and drifting meteorites.
But none of them were large. If Sky Blue Star's gravity pulled them down, they would probably burn away completely from friction with the air in the atmosphere.
The larger ones were all farther from Sky Blue Star.
It would take some effort, but I could just about pull one down. Its power would be pretty average, though.
Lin Xiaoran thought silently.
A meteorite like that still could not easily destroy a city, let alone a country.
Behind Lin Xiaoran.
Xu Shuiyun and Jiang Zhixue silently exchanged a glance.
Xu Shuiyun tapped her wrist and signaled with her eyes: Xiaoran checked the livestream.
Jiang Zhixue nodded, his expression growing serious.
Seeing Lin Xiaoran with her eyes closed, seemingly deep in thought, he guessed she had been affected by something some foreign viewers had said.
Otherwise, if she had seen bullet comments full of praise and compliments, Lin Xiaoran should have been smiling.
Ding!
The elevator reached the first floor, and its doors opened.
Only then did Lin Xiaoran open her eyes and walk out.
"Xiaoran, we both watched this livestream. Your performance was truly outstanding!" Xu Shuiyun said as she walked beside Lin Xiaoran, showing her the way.
Jiang Zhixue also nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! Especially when you and the Heroic Spirit Issho killed that A-rank ferocious beast together. That scene was absolutely breathtaking!"
Lin Xiaoran waved her hands. "Ahem, that was all Uncle Issho's doing. I didn't do anything. I just watched from the sidelines."
Xu Shuiyun shook her head. "Heroic Spirits are merely tools and helpers for challengers to win. The most important person is still you, the Master. Your summoning is the key that determines whether you win the game!"
Jiang Zhixue said, "Exactly! Your presence is what matters most! So you don't need to put too much pressure on yourself. We all believe in you. No schemes or tricks can defeat you!"
Xu Shuiyun added, "Right! Some foreign viewers in the livestream just can't stand seeing us do well. You can simply ignore them. There's no need to pay them any attention! The more attention you give them, the louder they bark!"
Only then did Lin Xiaoran catch on. So they thought the bullet comments had gotten to her?
She was not that fragile!
"You're overthinking it. I wasn't feeling sad just now. I was thinking how nice it would be if I really could drop a meteorite on their heads."
Xu Shuiyun and Jiang Zhixue froze.
A meteorite?
Wait, did you really like giving people meteorites as gifts that much?