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

1470: Gong Daoyi Writes Greeting Cards and the Elusive Client

As Lin Sanjiu's neck slowly turned towards the Life Coach, she felt like she must look like an owl from a nature documentary, with her eyes wide open, as if her eyelids couldn't cover them. "What?"

The Life Coach was taken aback by her expression as if even he wasn't sure anymore. "Yes, there's something..."

"What do you have?" Lin Sanjiu felt as if a million questions surged to the forefront of her mind. Her mouth couldn't keep up with them. "What does he want? What's his deal? Did he know I would ask this question? How long have you been with him? No, wait, answer this first: why does he know Marcie?"

The Life Coach chose the easiest question to answer first. "For most of the time I was with him, I was in the... um, 'fragmented' state that Caster mentioned. He had so many others lined up, he hardly needed me. So, I can't say how long exactly, but probably no more than a year."

This answer deflated half of Lin Sanjiu's anger. "Only a year? Then you hardly have any clue about what he did, right?" She waved her hand. "Just tell me everything you know."

Lin Sanjiu and the Life Coach leaned against the cubicle, gazing out at the hallway. The Artist nearby occasionally shook his leg. The Life Coach crossed his arms. "You hit the nail on the head with one of your questions. Before he gave me to you, he guessed you'd ask about him."

If he had guessed this and still willingly sent the Life Coach to her, did it mean the Life Coach didn't really know Gong Daoyi?

The Life Coach's next words seemed to confirm her suspicion. "His plans, thoughts, character... honestly, I don't know much about them. I can't offer much information."

Before Lin Sanjiu could express her disappointment, he continued, "So, he hoped you'd see for yourself."

It took a couple of seconds for Lin Sanjiu to digest this. "See for myself?"

The Life Coach glanced at her. "Yes. He told me back then that if you asked about him, I should relay these words he left behind. If you didn't ask, then never mind."

"What are they?"

"'In the Karma Museum, I've left a message for you. If you're willing to see it, the key is [Time Rewind].'"

Time Rewind? Lin Sanjiu paused, then suddenly remembered the Special Item deep in her card inventory—acquired around the same time as the Life Coach and [There's Probably Someone Like This in Your Class]. Now that she thought about it, Gong Daoyi's shadow seemed to be cast over that entire period, like a cloud's shadow from the sky.

The [There's Probably Someone Like This in Your Class] card had something mixed into it that made her forget, and in the end, Puppeteer took it. The Life Coach card held a message from Gong Daoyi for her, leading her to the Karma Museum, while [Time Rewind] was the key to unlocking the message. Just how many arrangements did he set up for her? How many of these arrangements had she already completed? How many times would she stumble into Gong Daoyi's web in her path ahead?

Lin Sanjiu shuddered, yet she knew she would definitely go and see, even if the message itself was a pawn in Gong Daoyi's plan.

"Coincidentally," she murmured, "I was actually planning to go there."

Whether it was truly a coincidence or not, she didn't care to ponder. Thinking about it would be pointless anyway.

Perhaps feeling guilty for not providing much key information, the Life Coach tried to make amends. "Let me think if there's anything else I can tell you... Oh, sometimes he'd get himself an assistant to help him with miscellaneous tasks. They don't stick around for long. I've heard from other humanoid Special Items that after some time, the assistants just disappear."