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

1519: Discerning Friends and Enemies Requires Wisdom

Lin Sanjiu stood aside, watching as Master Zhang mysteriously pulled out a large coil of rope.

It wasn't surprising that he had a rope, as it's a common supply for posthumans. What was surprising was that he was now wrapping the rope around the characters for "authority" and "power" on his body, coiling it around his waist, shoulders, and thighs... Despite the characters' immense size, they seemed weightless as Master Zhang took a step forward, pulling them along behind him.

He seemed afraid of being separated from these two characters, looking more comfortable only when they were at his back. Both he and Lin Sanjiu were affected by the words, but their effects differed. For instance, as Master Zhang was tying the rope, he suddenly looked up, his face filled with tension and suspicion. "What are you looking at?"

Lin Sanjiu immediately lowered her eyes, responding, "Nothing."

Master Zhang's eyes lingered on her suspiciously for a moment, his movements quickening. Once he had firmly secured the characters behind him, he finally seemed to relax. "Stay away from me, and don't even think about touching my rope. Understand?"

The characters were too large to carry like a backpack, and although Master Zhang had done his best to tie himself to them, there was still a length of rope dangling between him and the characters. This could potentially be a key to breaking the situation, but Lin Sanjiu found it difficult even to breathe at the thought of cutting the rope.

It felt as if cutting the rope would set a wheel in motion, grinding her to death.

Moreover, as long as Master Zhang continued to stand in front of the characters, she would still be affected by them. What was worse, after just a few minutes, she could feel herself becoming more accustomed and numb to her subservient attitude.

If it became the new norm, Lin Sanjiu feared she might forget who she had been before—all because human memory is often short. A new story fabricated today and repeated a hundred times can become an unshakeable part of one's history.

"Be honest, obey the rules, and I won't treat you unfairly. Do you understand?" Master Zhang said. "You broke in here without permission, and if I hadn't taken you in and guided you, you would already be dead. Think about it; isn't that true?"

Lin Sanjiu had heard similar words from Queen Nocturna before and had scorned them. But hearing Master Zhang say the same, she thought it over and realized it was true.

She had intruded on his territory, putting herself in the wrong from the beginning. Master Zhang could have easily warned others and attacked her with their help. Yet he had accepted her, an outsider and criminal, and was willing to give her a chance to reform. Even if he had ulterior motives, she had indeed benefited from his kindness and should be grateful.

"Lin Sanjiu," Mrs. Manas suddenly said, "Don't you realize there's something strange about this reasoning?"

Lin Sanjiu wiped her palms on her pants, ridding them of sweat. A mysterious anxiety burned within her as she uttered a low "yes" to Master Zhang, saying, "That's true."

Master Zhang seemed slightly satisfied and motioned for her to follow him into the room. His game development terminal was a computer, just like Zhou Xian's—a logical choice considering its convenience and performance.

"Each of us has an internal communication system and a text library. The text library provides raw materials for the game, some of which can be summoned in the game creation center to assist us," Master Zhang explained, sitting behind the desk. He fumbled awkwardly with the rope and the characters' positioning for a moment before continuing, looking somewhat ridiculous. Of course, Lin Sanjiu didn't dare to laugh. Master Zhang turned the display screen to her, wanting to show her something, and said, "Our text library is shared, and it contains five sets of surveillance-type characters."