Chapter Forty-One: Today’s Victor: Not Miss Luo Ling
“…They didn’t try to attack me?”
Luo Ling glanced back at the cabin, muttering to herself as she walked through the darkness.
She pulled several silver-white strands of hair from the nape of her neck, strands of the Puppet Ballad’s fungal threads.
Although she couldn’t use the Puppet Ballad’s abilities in her current state, like the hair she gave Odeletta, she had left these threads with a simple autonomous consciousness on her body.
Normally, these threads were indistinguishable from ordinary hair, but if anyone used an ability on her, the threads could use her second ability, “Implant,” to neutralize it.
Furthermore, Luo Ling had anticipated a soul-searching attempt, preparing a false memory within one of the threads.
Manipulating memories was the Puppet Ballad’s specialty. Even among Grotesqueries, only Taboo-level beings could surpass it in this aspect.
“Unexpected. I thought the Company would resort to underhanded tactics. It was a genuine transaction. I misjudged those directors.
“Or perhaps, they’re wary of me? Heh, regardless… gaining something from them isn’t a loss.”
Luo Ling twirled the fungal threads between her fingers, then tucked them back into her hair.
These threads hadn’t been used, all her own power, not to be wasted. They were worth at least a princess’s friendship.
As for whether the Company directors had considered killing her, Luo Ling hadn’t worried about that.
Firstly, this was a formal invitation, witnessed by many. She was still officially a Company employee.
Killing her under such circumstances would be insane.
Secondly, even if the directors were insane enough to try, their chances of success were practically zero.
Killing a Silent Demise Grotesquery wasn’t easy. Unless Luo Ling willingly pierced her own heart with “Severance” and held it there for a while, she couldn’t die.
Not truly die.
Her sister had allowed Luo Ling to consume her because she knew that was the only way the Puppet Ballad could be truly killed.
After Luo Ling left the imitation Realm of Nothingness, Melissa was waiting for her at the boundary, her unchanging smile seemingly frozen on her face.
But it seemed less fake than before.
“The directors were very satisfied with the meeting, Miss Luo Ling. When would you like to access the vault?” Melissa walked beside Luo Ling, half a step behind, her demeanor more respectful than before.
“There’s no time like the present. Today.” Luo Ling replied.
She didn’t know when she would return to Company headquarters again.
“Certainly, Miss Luo Ling.” Melissa bowed slightly. “It will be delivered to you shortly. You can take your time choosing.”
After the meeting, Melissa had immediately received the results.
She had also confirmed from the directors that Miss Luo Ling hadn’t faked her survival.
She had truly spent a month and a half in the forbidden zone, even obtaining information that the directors coveted.
This was already significant news, not to mention the astonishing level of access the directors had granted her.
So astonishing that… if Miss Luo Ling were a regular employee, not a freelancer, this level of access would have granted her a direct promotion to P6, potentially even P7 or P8 with sufficient strength.
A meteoric rise through the ranks.
“The directors are looking forward to your next visit.” Melissa said softly.
The board had granted Luo Ling unrestricted access to the restricted area. As long as this authorization remained valid, she could visit the directors at any time, bypassing all procedures and approvals.
This was direct access to the highest authority, a privilege even Melissa, the board’s dedicated secretary, didn’t possess. It was hard not to envy her.
“I understand.” Luo Ling simply nodded.
Heh…
The directors knew she was hiding something. Her claimed memory loss was merely an excuse. Some bargaining chips were best saved for the right moment.
However, although beneficial for Luo Ling, this arrangement put the Company and the directors at a disadvantage.
This was why Luo Ling had wondered why they hadn’t simply searched her soul, instead opting for a proper transaction, though even soul-searching wouldn’t have yielded any results.
“Is it because she doesn’t understand the significance of this authorization?” Melissa wondered, looking at Luo Ling’s indifferent expression.
Regardless, she needed to adjust her attitude.
Melissa’s official rank was only P7. Her influence within the Company stemmed from her direct access to the board, even if not in person.
The board rarely granted such access, only a handful of times.
However…
While others saw this as a great honor, Luo Ling understood the truth.
Like the Company, the directors only cared about profits and results, regardless of the methods employed, their actions justified by “justice” and “morality.”
Even the seemingly kind elderly man, his apologies and sadness might be genuine, but faced with a similar choice, his decision wouldn’t change.
Therefore, this wasn’t truly direct access to the highest authority, but merely a continuation of an unfinished transaction, a facade of mutual respect.
Luo Ling even suspected that the board’s public display of valuing her was part of some hidden agenda.
After experiencing all these events, Luo Ling no longer held any naive illusions about the Company. She wouldn’t allow herself, or those close to her, to become “sacrifices.”
“Miss Luo Ling, over here!”
As Luo Ling left the office area, she saw a small red figure jumping up and down, waving at her. A smile appeared on her lips.
“I’m back.”
Hand in hand with Elsa, Luo Ling returned to the reception room. Upon entering, she saw Cen Xiangyun and Lu Manqing with their faces covered in doodles, her expression turning to surprise. “What are you two doing…?”
“Playing cards.”
Cen Xiangyun pointed to the cards on the table. A turtle was drawn on her face, almost complete, the strokes childish and carefree.
“You too…”
Luo Ling looked at Lu Manqing, whose face was adorned with tiger stripes, a bold “王 (king)” character on her forehead, her whiskers still unfinished.
“Same as her.”
Lu Manqing placed her cards face down. “Miss Luo Ling, if you were any later, our masterpieces would have been complete.”
“…”
Luo Ling remained silent for a moment, then asked, “What are you playing?”
“Dou Di Zhu (Fight the Landlord).”
“Dou Di Zhu requires three players. Where’s Miss Eve?” Luo Ling sat down, noticing a deck of cards face down on her seat.
“Her masterpiece is complete, so she withdrew from the game.” Lu Manqing said. “However, Miss Luo Ling, you’re sitting in Elsa’s seat.”
“Oh?”
Luo Ling quickly stood up, Elsa still clinging to her side.
“Hehe, Miss Luo Ling, I’m playing with them too.” Elsa picked up the cards, smiling sheepishly.
“Taking turns? But Elsa, do you even know how to play cards?” Luo Ling pulled up a chair beside Elsa, preparing to offer some guidance.
They had some time before Melissa returned with the vault catalog. Playing cards wouldn’t hurt.
Although Luo Ling hadn’t played much, she knew the basic rules, which was enough.
Before Elsa could answer, the other two exchanged knowing glances.
“I know how to play, a little.”
Elsa scooted closer to Luo Ling. “We switch players after each round, and the loser gets a doodle on their face as punishment.”
So that’s why their faces were covered in doodles.
But…
“Elsa hasn’t lost a single round, not yet.” Cen Xiangyun answered Luo Ling’s unspoken question.
“Hmm?”
Luo Ling looked at Elsa in surprise, who smiled shyly.
“Did you use your ability to cheat?” Luo Ling whispered.
Elsa could use a portion of the Puppet Ballad’s abilities. Although not as proficient as Luo Ling, she could still use her spore vision to peek at the cards.
“Of course not! I would never cheat when playing with everyone.” Elsa pouted. “Miss Luo Ling, do you think I’m that kind of person?”
“Of course not, it’s just… unbelievable.” Luo Ling touched her nose awkwardly.
“Miss Luo Ling, why don’t you try?”
Cen Xiangyun quickly stood up, offering Luo Ling her seat.
She couldn’t take it anymore. Why did Elsa insist on drawing turtles on her face? Eve only got butterflies.
For someone like Cen Xiangyun, who valued her image, the permanent marker doodles were unacceptable. Fortunately, this wasn’t the Boundary where she was a famous actress. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to leave her apartment for days.
“Alright.”
Luo Ling nodded, and Cen Xiangyun, relieved, quickly left the reception room, likely to wash off the doodles.
“No using your abilities!” Elsa warned, knowing Luo Ling could cheat.
“I know.” Luo Ling sat down, picking up Cen Xiangyun’s discarded cards, her expression calm. “Whose turn is it?”
……
“Miss Luo Ling, maybe you should… use your ability?”
Elsa, adding another doodle to Luo Ling’s face, asked cautiously.
Elsa’s face now also had a few doodles—and she hadn’t lost a single round before.
“No!” Luo Ling’s fingers trembled slightly. “This… definitely isn’t my fault.”
What was going on?
Why couldn’t she win a single round…
Even Elsa, who had been invincible, after becoming Luo Ling’s teammate, had fallen victim to Lu Manqing’s merciless doodles.
Unfortunately, she lacked Elsa’s artistic skills, so she just scribbled randomly, turning Elsa’s face into a cat’s.
Meanwhile, Luo Ling’s face resembled a clown’s.
Her card skills and luck were so abysmal that even Elsa was starting to think, “Maybe Miss Luo Ling should cheat.”
“Just one round, I just need to win one round.” Luo Ling took a deep breath, clutching her cards. “I… call landlord!”
“Pass.”
“Pass…”
Elsa hesitated, looking at her own impressive hand.
This meant Miss Luo Ling was about to lose again.
Should she throw the game…? No, she would have to throw it into the ocean for Miss Luo Ling to win.
“Reveal!”
Luo Ling flipped over the landlord cards.
“3 of spades, 4 of hearts, 7 of clubs.”
Luo Ling remained silent, staring at the three cards, then silently picked them up.
Even if Elsa threw the game, Luo Ling probably couldn’t win now.
Let alone Lu Manqing, grinning mischievously, ready to add more doodles to Luo Ling’s face.
After a few rounds, Elsa only had three cards left. Unfortunately, Luo Ling had barely played any.
Elsa noticed that Miss Luo Ling seemed to be sweating slightly.
A knock echoed on the door, followed by Melissa’s voice.
“Miss Luo Ling, may I come in?”
“Yes, come in.”
Luo Ling looked up and discreetly discarded her cards.
“Huh?”
Elsa was stunned, while Lu Manqing snorted.
“You’re cheating, Miss Luo Ling.”
“Business first.”
Luo Ling’s expression returned to its usual calmness, seemingly relieved.
“Tsk.”
Lu Manqing clicked her tongue, putting down her marker.
The door opened, and Melissa entered, holding several stacks of parchment. Seeing their painted faces, she almost jumped back, thinking she had entered the wrong room.
Realizing that the heavily decorated girl was indeed Luo Ling, she suppressed her urge to leave and asked, “Am I interrupting?”
“No,” Luo Ling said calmly. “Thank you for personally delivering this.”
“You’re welcome.”
For some reason, Melissa felt like Luo Ling’s tone was genuinely grateful.
Had she done something special?
Melissa quickly composed herself and said,
“This is the vault catalog. However, it only lists the items available publicly. Some… more sensitive treasures aren’t included.”
She handed the parchment to Luo Ling and continued, “You can choose any item on this list, each costing one access opportunity. Alternatively, you can use one opportunity for a random draw from the vault.
“The items listed here are the more common ones. With a random draw, you might get something even more valuable… or something less valuable. The choice is yours.”
“Does the Company also like gacha games?” Lu Manqing peeked at the parchment curiously.
“Some people prefer surprises.” Melissa smiled faintly.
“Let me take a look.”
Luo Ling took the catalog and began browsing, quickly engrossed.
“Sacred Tool ‘Hawk Eye,’ recommended for Judgment path ability users. Requires the user to remove their own eyeballs and fuse them with a Myriad path method, granting the ability to see thousands of miles away, estimated range: 687 kilometers.”
“Sacred Relic of ‘Earthbound Wraith’ of Nightmare, Grotesquery Sequence 97, recommended for Oneiric path ability users, can be crafted into a mid-to-high-order advancement Sacred Medicine. Sacred Relic is incomplete, not recommended for crafting Sacred Tools, low success rate.”
“…”
Most items were Sacred Tools or Sacred Relics, mostly Dangerous Grotesquery level, with few related to High-Risk Grotesqueries, mostly fragments.
However, among these treasures, Luo Ling saw something unexpected.
“Sacred Relic of ‘Naraku’ of Chaos, Grotesquery Sequence 8, not recommended for redemption.”
“This is…”
Luo Ling pointed at the entry, puzzled.
A Taboo Sacred Relic among a bunch of items below High-Risk Grotesquery level was strange.
Melissa glanced at it and chuckled wryly.
“This… calling it a Sacred Relic is a bit of a stretch. It merely contains a trace of Naraku’s power, but more importantly… it’s difficult to handle.
“Naraku is a Taboo, after all. Even a trace of its power is dangerous. Few pharmacists are willing to craft it into Sacred Medicine. Accidentally touching upon a Taboo’s existence could be worse than death.
“But this trace of power isn’t enough to craft a Sacred Tool, not even a special weapon infused with Grotesquery power. So, it’s been placed here.
“Oh, you should know this. These are actually… the remains of Scientist from the Harbingers of Calamity, who died in Jiangcheng County. Her body was torn apart by the White Witch’s fungal threads, leaving only these weakened spider legs.”
“…I see.”
Luo Ling remembered seeing Scientist’s Sacred Relic in the points redemption catalog earlier, planning to exchange for it after saving enough points. She hadn’t expected this opportunity to present itself so soon.
“I’ll take this.”
Luo Ling closed the catalog and handed it back to Melissa.
“Miss Luo Ling, are you… sure?” Melissa hesitated, frowning slightly. “It clearly states that it’s not recommended…”
The item was genuine, and so was the power it contained.
However… it was unusable.
Using a precious vault access opportunity for an unusable item was a waste, even Melissa couldn’t help but advise against it.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
Luo Ling smiled at Melissa. “Don’t worry, I know what you said… I want to try. What if I can use it? It’s a Taboo within the top ten Sequences, after all.”
“…”
Melissa remained silent for a moment, sighing inwardly.
She was trying to pick up a bargain, wasn’t she?
So young, so arrogant.
A Taboo… wasn’t something anyone could handle. This previously unknown young lady was overconfident, thinking she was the center of the world, capable of anything.
Melissa had seen countless such youngsters.
However, since she had already advised against it, and the girl still insisted, she would let her be. It would be a lesson learned.
Besides, it was best to get rid of this troublesome item. Storing a Sacred Relic also consumed resources. The longer it remained, the greater the loss.
“Alright, Miss Luo Ling, your first choice is Naraku’s Sacred Relic. However, I must warn you, this Sacred Relic is dangerous. It’s best to use it under the supervision of a P8 specialist.” Melissa nodded.
“I know.”
Luo Ling nodded.
She had said that deliberately, creating an impression of arrogance and ignorance, downplaying her interest in Naraku’s Sacred Relic, making it seem like a foolish attempt at a bargain.
“With this Sacred Relic, and the power I gained from devouring the Boundary, I should be able to advance my Naraku form.”
Luo Ling thought, but she was also apprehensive about Naraku’s new ability.
Naraku’s first ability, “Ensnare,” was already incredibly powerful, even dangerous. What terrifying power would the second ability hold?
“And your second opportunity?” Melissa asked.
“…A random draw.”
Luo Ling had already decided. The listed items were useless to her.
“That’s how most employees use their vault access.”
Melissa smiled, handing Luo Ling a crystal-clear orb. “Just infuse it with your Inspiration. The orb will reveal the treasure you’ve drawn. The Company swears on its honor, there’s no manipulation or cheating. It’s completely random.”
The more they emphasized its randomness, the more suspicious it seemed…
In any game, “completely random” always felt like a joke.
“…Alright.”
Luo Ling took the orb, but hesitated.
She recalled her recent luck, losing consecutive rounds of cards despite having only one card left, and those three abysmal landlord cards.
As punishment for her humiliating defeat, her face was still covered in doodles.
“Elsa, why don’t you do it?” Luo Ling handed the orb to Elsa. “You seem to have good luck. You won every round against me.”
Could it be… Miss Luo Ling’s own problem?
Elsa didn’t dare to say it aloud, but she took the orb.
Regardless…
She couldn’t let Miss Luo Ling touch anything that required luck. She was a walking bad luck charm.
Elsa infused the orb with her Inspiration. Moments later, it glowed with multicolored light. Melissa paused, then smiled.
“You’re quite lucky. Although not the grand prize, it’s still a first-place prize.”
“What is it?”
Luo Ling was also curious. Elsa held up the orb, seeing a faint shadow within, seemingly burning with some unseen nightmare.
“Sacred Relic of ‘Core of Fear’ of Nightmare, Grotesquery Sequence 37. Used appropriately, it can effectively suppress most Oneiric and Nightmare abilities.”
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