Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 12: New Game Launch [Complete]

1463: A Moment of Relief

In the following minutes, two more elevators reached the sixtieth floor, with two unfamiliar posthumans stepping out. While the other three cautiously whispered among themselves, Lin Sanjiu just stood dazedly on the side, replaying the events of her recent spatial traversal in her mind. After a while, she let out a heavy sigh.

She really wanted to confide in someone, but her life coach had already been stored in the card inventory. As he had said, the humanoid Special Items around her had become more adaptable and understanding, so it was best not to expose them carelessly to strangers. Lin Sanjiu wasn't certain if the man in the men's yoga attire had seen the Life Coach, but she was sure the two newcomers hadn't.

"Were you the first one here?" a young woman asked Lin Sanjiu.

Judging by her appearance, this woman likely hailed from the Twelve Worlds, dressed in their classic style, which could be summed up as bizarre: A streak of purple paint extended from her widow's peak, crossing her eyebrows, covering her nose, and reaching her chin. At first glance, Lin Sanjiu couldn't discern her true face.

Like Lin Sanjiu, she had something wrapped around her neck—countless curving, wavy, large purple leaves—or perhaps petals, who knows—wrapped tightly in layers, making her look like a nobleman from medieval Europe.

"Yes." Lin Sanjiu nodded, her mind still partly distant.

"There are less than five minutes left before the new game launch," another male posthuman said, glancing at his watch. "We should all take a moment to rest."

Just by looks, no one seemed more fitting to be in this building than him. He was tall and slender, wearing a perfectly tailored suit with sharp lines. His blazer was smooth and clean, his hair impeccable, and his wristwatch, shoes, and tie appeared meticulously selected and maintained; this lent a touch of sophistication to his otherwise ordinary round face.

The man in the yoga attire immediately sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. The woman with the purple streak started chewing gum at some point, and amidst her popping sounds, everyone waited silently for five minutes.

It seemed that apart from bracing themselves for the game, there was no other way forward.

Lin Sanjiu repeatedly pricked her palm with her nails. This slight physical pain felt like a tether to reality, anchoring her vessel that could drift into an endless world at any moment. Once the game began, she'd find an opportunity to call the Life Coach and consult him.

"Welcome," JoyBee said, capturing everyone's attention. A buzzing voice emanated from its white spherical head. "The game is about to start. Let me introduce you all to the rules of the Mall Warfare game."

"I'm not very good at business," the woman with the purple paint murmured.

If it were just about business, that would be fine since Lin Sanjiu had a hidden skill, [Scrooge McDuck's Power]. She kept her composure and listened as JoyBee continued, "Each player will receive a starting capital of one hundred yuan at the beginning of the game."

As its voice fell, portraits and textual data of four players appeared on the elevator wall — the one with purple paint was named Lily, the one in yoga attire was Qian Dao, and the man in the suit was called Whit E. Behind each person's name was the figure "100" representing their current funds.

It seemed that the Scrooge McDuck skill might come in handy after all.

"After the game starts, everyone will only be able to see their own details and funds. This is just an introduction, so please be at ease," JoyBee said. Its voice was mechanical, but its content seemed human-like, addressing the usual concerns of the posthumans. "There are a total of a hundred offices, big and small, on this floor. The four of you need to rent offices on this floor, set up your own companies, and expand them. The goal is to eventually eliminate all competitors and be the only survivor. Note, I'm talking about companies, not actual killing. In fact, in this game, you can't physically harm each other."