Chapter 38
Chapter 38
“Unlike those obedient puppets the System created later, we’re all NPCs who still retain our self-awareness. And back then, we all sided with the System.”
“Willow has been brainwashed already. Surely they wouldn’t come for us, would they?”
“Who knows? We all know what the Clown is capable of. When has it ever taken this long to kill someone without succeeding? It’s probably using this as an excuse to wipe us all out and bury what happened back then forever!”
“But we signed the non-disclosure agreements, and we let the System completely scrub that person’s appearance, voice, and all other data!”
“We don’t remember a single thing about that person. If they really wanted to get rid of us, they would have done it back when they wiped our memories, right?”
“But hasn’t the System always maintained that letting us keep our memories of those events was an act of mercy?”
The group of NPCs fell silent for a moment. Then, one of them spoke up, their voice laced with ruthless intent. “If the System truly intends to erase us, it can do so at any time. We might as well kill the Clown now and stir up some chaos!”
***
This was the first time the Clown had found killing someone to be such an infuriating ordeal.
Its code was 013, making it one of the earlier Clown Dolls to be manufactured.
The Accusation phase was its favorite part of the game because, regardless of whether the guess was right or wrong, it got to enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
However, something had gone wrong today.
It had been chasing this Player for over an hour, yet for some reason, it couldn’t catch him.
Even worse, it had accidentally injured several NPCs!
It was clearly aiming for the Player!
To the Clown, NPCs were nothing. Although the NPCs in this Paradise possessed self-awareness, the System viewed them no differently than those without it.
Just as it was about to close in on the Player again, the man’s figure flickered.
He vanished once more.
The Clown was practically exhausted. It turned around to continue its search for Ning Wang, only to find several NPCs staring at it.
Some had been accidentally injured by the Clown just moments ago; others had not.
“Out of the way! Get out of the way!” the Clown shrieked.
Instead of moving, the NPCs spread out, surrounding the Clown in a tight circle.
The Clown vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but as an entity driven by priority programming, it couldn’t quite pinpoint the issue.
That was until the first NPC lunged at it.
***
While a group of non-humans were tearing each other apart, Ning Shuo and Ning Wang were sharing a drink in a small bar.
Ning Shuo’s hand looked exceptionally pale against the liquid in the glass as he handed it to Ning Wang. “Tequila Sunrise. It’s stronger than the fruit wine mixed in the Script.”
“You’re not having any?” Ning Wang asked.
“My health isn’t great. I can’t handle hard liquor,” Ning Shuo replied.
Ning Wang swirled his glass, the golden-red liquid reflecting the deep look in his eyes as he watched Ning Shuo.
Xie Ning usually had a high tolerance for alcohol, but right now, after only half a glass of tequila, Ning Wang felt a slight buzz.
Many NPCs had even gone so far as to craft explosives from fireworks, planting them all over Paradise.
Their leisurely drink wouldn’t last long; they would have to escape this Paradise soon.
NPCs who couldn’t make explosives simply lit the fireworks. Countless fragments of golden fire erupted across the night sky, like a final revelry for a theater production that had collapsed halfway through.
Watching Ning Shuo’s practiced movements as he mixed drinks, Ning Wang suddenly spoke over the cacophony of the NPCs’ rebellion against the System and the roar of the fireworks: “Ning Shuo, have you dated anyone these past few years?”
It was a bit loud, and Ning Shuo didn’t hear him clearly. “What?”
Ning Wang swirled his glass and smiled. “Nothing. I just suddenly wondered which of us would be the first to make it out of this Paradise if we turned it into a race.”
Ning Shuo immediately pressed a hand to his forehead. “Oh, my body suddenly feels all soft and weak. It seems I don’t have the strength to run out of here on my own…”
“Tired?”
“No, sick. I wonder if there’s a chivalrous young hero willing to spare a bit of effort…”
Ning Shuo thought for a moment and decided to use the word ‘carry.’ “To carry me on his back…”
Before the words could even land, Ning Shuo felt a sensation of weightlessness.
The vibration from the chest against him carried a voice along with it. “Why make it so complicated? Didn’t I just carry you here in my arms earlier?”
Ning Shuo acted lazy and relaxed. “Fine, then. Sorry to trouble you.”
“Hey, how do you think we’ll be messed with in the next Script?”
Ning Wang replied, “The System will mess with us.”
“What a terrible joke.”
Ning Wang continued, “We destroyed a massive Script plus a Joker. The System is probably going to be livid.”
Ning Shuo watched the fireworks on the horizon. “Yeah. The next one probably won’t be small-time stuff like Willow’s antics.”
Ning Wang paused mid-step. “…Don’t give us any Poisonous Milk.”
“…” Ning Shuo muttered, “Fine.”
One explosion after another echoed behind them. Rao Lin sat at the highest point of the Ferris wheel and asked Luo Li, who was sucking on a lollipop beside him, “Do you think it’s possible for him to join the Team this year?”
Luo Li had her hands in her pockets. The fourteen-year-old girl seemed to have the words ‘I don’t know what a rival is’ written all over her. “Don’t know. Depends on the situation.”
“Why’s a little brat like you acting all deep and brooding?”
“Because there’s an adult in front of me acting way too immature.”
“…” Rao Lin tucked her under his arm. “Well, now this immature adult is taking you away. Say something nice, and I’ll carry you more steadily.”
“Immature jer-aaahhh! Wait! My candy fell!!!”
Just as Rao Lin and his group left Paradise, the sound of collapsing structures echoed behind them.
He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. He had planned to bring Teacher Song here for a visit the next time this Paradise opened.
***
By the time they returned to their lodgings, Ning Shuo was fast asleep.
His health had never been good to begin with; it had only improved slightly after entering the System. After all this activity, he was exhausted.
With his eyes closed, Ning Shuo looked completely defenseless-a far cry from the way they had fought when they first met in the Rest Area.
They hadn’t gone to Overworked and Overrun, choosing instead a Rest Area called Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers.
Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers was a Rest Area with a distinct classical charm. Peach trees were planted along the streets, and the scent of peach blossoms filled the air.
This Rest Area had few people. Most of the intricate tasks were handled by NPCs, and since the prices were higher than in other Rest Areas, few people came to Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers unless they were looking to indulge.
However, while Paradise had collapsed, it had also concluded. Many Players had earned a significant amount of Heat. Consequently, Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers was more crowded than before, giving it a bit more of a lively, worldly atmosphere.
As more guests checked in, lanterns representing ‘Occupied’ appeared under the eaves of the entrances. Ning Wang gently placed Ning Shuo on the bed, tucked him in, and instructed the NPCs in the hallway not to disturb him before heading to another residence.
If the place where Ning Shuo stayed was elegant, the style of this residence screamed luxury.
Though only a street away, it felt like moving from a garden into a gilded district. There were even guards on this street who only allowed passage once they confirmed Ning Wang was a guest of the owner.
After having his identity checked three times in a row, Ning Wang finally managed to enter a side room.
He took off his hat. “It really isn’t easy to see you, Willow.”