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

1474: Fishing For Clients

As Lily left those words and turned to leave, Lin Sanjiu wanted nothing more than to grab her sleeve and ask her, "What's the game's punishment?" – How could it not be falling from a height? Wasn't that what the robot called JoyBee said? Did everyone else hear something different?

With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, the Life Coach suddenly took two steps closer from behind. His soft footsteps served as a reminder. She couldn't detain Lily; the sooner Lily left, the better. Every second she stayed increased the risk of Lin Sanjiu's ruse being discovered.

Lin Sanjiu bit her tongue just in time, keeping her questions in. She watched Lily's retreating figure, feeling she should say something; she couldn't believe she'd managed to bluff her way through, nor could she believe she'd misheard the game's details. Amid her shock, confusion, and doubt, she blurted out, "Don't come back!"

Lily scoffed from up ahead and quickly disappeared around a corner. Lin Sanjiu remained at the door, gripping the doorframe tightly, until a couple of minutes after Lily had disappeared. She then felt as if her bones had suddenly relaxed, bending over to exhale heavily.

Supporting herself with both hands on her knees, she felt the Life Coach approach. His usually calm voice was jittery with excitement as he said, "Did... did we really succeed? She left, right? Ah, she really did leave. See? You've proven your potential once again!"

That last sentence was said in the Life Coach's typical tone.

"Am I still fat?" came another question from behind.

Lin Sanjiu turned and looked at the chubby client who had just stood up from his chair.

Wiping her forehead, she laughed and said, "The effects of [The Power Of Word Picture] will wear off soon. How do you feel now? Do you feel... fat?"

Caster, who had been transformed to resemble the chubby client, pondered. "I've never been fat, so I wouldn't know."

"Lucky you weren't too far away earlier. When I called, you came right back," Lin Sanjiu said, extending her hand in a gesture. "Hmm? You don't want to be put away? Well... okay, only go back in an emergency."

Caster seemed surprised but pleased by the outcome of her query. She began to pace around the office with her hands behind her back.

If one looked closely, they'd see that this fake chubby client, altered by [The Power Of Word Picture], wasn't an exact match to the original one. Due to the item's limitations, even though Lin Sanjiu had pointed at the chubby client and said, "Look like him," human facial details are too intricate. The resulting transformation only resembled another individual of a similar age and build.

Fortunately, nobody paid close attention to the client's appearance, and Lily only had a vague impression. Furthermore, with Caster sitting inside the cubicle and only her lower back showing, she never realized that this wasn't the original client.

"We should head back," Lin Sanjiu whispered to the three humanoid Special Items. Noticing the Artist was the closest to her, she extended a hand towards him. At this moment, the Artist became unusually agile, hurriedly stepping back. His eyes darted between Lin Sanjiu and Caster.

"You don't want to go back into the card inventory?" Lin Sanjiu was genuinely surprised. It was the Artist's first time showing personal preferences and feelings, which was somehow more unexpected than Caster's reactions. Perhaps it was because he was a so-called "entry-level" and felt closer to being a thing.

"I don't really mind," the Life Coach said. "But if you plan to let both of them roam outside, having an extra pair of eyes watching from behind is better than none."