Officer Gong Huanwu, within the psychic field, sensed the gradually transforming structure of the Green Lotus Crown.
After a full inspection, his thoughts turned to Croft’s Magic Hero Hall.
Though it could not compare with his own, these seventy-odd people had finally managed to accomplish what three hundred people, in a flurry of activity, had failed to do well just over a month ago.
Everyone was growing and rapidly gaining experience.
–Officer Gong.– A man approached him. –Could you please help allocate several lake psychic fields? We need to add a scene like this at the intermediate level.–
–Alright, I’ll do it right away.–
……
Midnight had passed.
After Yang Zicang returned to the Lost Illusion Company, the illusion of the Forgetfulness Engine vanished from the small bronze mirror he had borrowed from Jiaoma.
Compared to the –photo trial pack,– the trial pack created by this mirror had a much shorter duration—only five or six hours—and it could only be used again on the same item after several days.
But it was still far better than nothing. At least in a few days, he would be able to go out once more.
Back at the company, Yang Zicang waited for a while, but the trouble he had anticipated never came. It appeared that his excursion had not triggered an information leak alert. In other words, as long as he had access to a sub-ether channel and left without disrupting his work, the Lost Illusion Company placed few constraints on such behavior.
With this in mind, Yang Zicang took out the wooden pomegranate pendant, slipped it over his neck, closed his eyes, and lay down. Soon, he awoke from his dream.
The moment he opened his eyes, a more radiant and beautiful Jiaoma stood before him.
–Ah, jeez, you scared me.-
–Who told you to use a matching one with mine?- Yang Zicang said to the startled girl.
–Is this your psychic field?-
Surrounded by crystal floor tiles, I found myself in a vast, empty palace.
–Haven’t you seen that TV series, A Thousand Years of Thought? When the heroine cries, her tears conjure up a palace.-
–Never heard of that show.-
–Oh well, it’s a girly thing anyway.-
After waiting—almost an hour—Boboli suddenly appeared here.
–Success!- Yang Zicang excitedly looked at the figure of the young man who had just materialized.
–Sorry, I was too excited to sleep,- the boy said apologetically, then turned his gaze to the dazed little Jiaoma. –Hello.-
–Huh? Oh—uh—h-hi.- Jiaoma was a bit tongue‑tied.
–Hehe.- Boboli chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.
After they had introduced themselves, Jiaoma said, –First of all, you need to read these over the next two days.-
The group hurriedly reproduced some of the materials left by Croft and Yu Wenhaowen—much less bloated than the initial version.
The Lost Illusion Company wasn’t just a bunch of freeloaders; over the past two months, the staff had gradually sifted out the most valuable contents, compiled and summarized them, and produced a –Basic Design Concept of the Demon Hero Hall.-
But it was still pretty thick.
–Our time is tight—I’m not sure if you’ll have time to digest all this.- Jiaoma looked at the boy, who was about her age, with a hint of apology.
–With this much, of course there’s no way.- Boboli stated matter-of-factly.
–Ah, then, we…- Jiaoma flusteredly turned to Yang Zicang, as if relying on him as her anchor.
Ever since a few hours ago, when Yang Zicang had revealed this crazy plan at his place, the girl had been dumbstruck.
Is this something a normal person would even dream up?
But if Chief Croft was really going to barge in with brute force, it was easy to imagine what the Demon English Hall would become. So little Jiaoma, seeing Yang Zicang’s composed and decisive demeanor, couldn’t help but let him give it a try—at least it was better than doing nothing.
Boboli looked at Jiaoma: –Aren’t you someone who grew up here? You must know a lot of people from the Lost Dream Company.-
–I do, why?-
Yang Zicang’s frown suddenly eased as he slapped his fist into his palm—a gesture he’d picked up from little Jiaoma recently.
–I can’t believe I didn’t think of something so important! Boboli, you’re a genius.-
–Hehe.- The boy showed an embarrassed smile. –In the past, I used to power-level for clients. Now it’s time to switch up my thinking. But can I use my Moxel to create ability spheres here?-
–No.- Both Yang Zicang and Jiaoma shook their heads.
Boboli turned to Yang Zicang: –Then can you still get out?-
Yang Zicang looked at Jiaoma: –Team leader, can I borrow another fitting mirror?-
Jiaoma turned her head to glance at the air, pouted her lips, and thought for a moment:
–I should be able to borrow six… seventy or so, but my godfathers and godmothers will definitely ask what I’m using them for.-
–……–
Is this what the natives’ social network looks like? Truly terrifying.
–Although those older brothers and sisters all have ‘trial mirrors,’ it’s too late tonight.-
Boboli chuckled.
–It’s fine. Doesn’t your old saying go, ‘Good things take time’? Let’s study these two Demon Hero Halls tonight. I heard you can manifest them more realistically in here—you should be able to give me a tour, right?-
–Of course!-
Jiaoma said, –Not just a tour—we also need to find the designs inside them that seem trivial but are actually crucial to have. Otherwise, the council’s review will take forever.-
Yang Zicang added, –I think that’s exactly what makes the Demon Hero Halls key—their core!-
Boboli was suddenly brimming with energy.
–Isn’t this just a puzzle? Come on, let’s get started!-
Jiaoma nodded, her eyes flickering. She closed her eyes for a few breaths, and instantly the world around them shifted—two colossal buildings, towering like mountains, appeared distinctly on the left and right.
The yellow-haired boy with a pomegranate-wood pendant around his neck stared in awe, his mouth wide open at the magnificent behemoths.
–Such an awe-inspiring design…-
……
The next day at noon, during the lunch break, Jiaoma knocked on door after door.
–Please, Sister Wang, could you use this ability ball to help me memorize these few pages?-
–Oh, it’s little Jiaoma! It’s so rare for you to ask me for a favor.-
The elfin girl pinched Jiaoma’s cheek, then took the ability ball.
––_Leveling contract?- She paused, then chuckled, –Hehe, little Jiaoma has learned to be lazy. But of course I have to help with this.-–_
She took the paper and said, –Only this many pages? You could give me more. Memorizing this content won’t even take me two hours.-
Jiaoma looked at the woman’s delicate features. Given the intensity of her mental strength, this wasn’t a joke.
–Then I’ll leave all of this to you.-
With that, Jiaoma pulled a thick stack of papers from the bag behind her and stuffed them into Ms. Wang’s dumbfounded hands.
–And of course, these as well.-
Jiaoma handed over a small pouch of –Leveling Contract- ability balls.
–I’m counting on you to mobilize your team members, sister.-
–You!,- the woman said, bending slightly and using her finger to gently scrape Jiaoma’s fair, tender nose.
Meanwhile, Wang Dingshan accepted several ability balls and a pile of documents.
He looked at Yang Zicang: –You need this done after work tonight?-
–Yes, you’ve got to help me get it done.-
–Haha, just say the word, and it’s as good as done.-
–Then I’ll wait for your good news. I’m off; I still need to hit another person.-
Watching Yang Zicang’s retreating figure, Wang Dingshan skeptically flipped through the materials he was already sick of reading, and after testing the ability ball, activated Moxel.
[Brother Zhang, I have a favor to ask.]
{You’re not going to use me to scratch that crappy lottery again, are you? You screwed me over last time, and the time before that too.}
[Of course not…]
{Good. What is it?}
[Back me up.]
{Cough… what the hell? Did I hear that right?}
……
Beside the dinner table, Zorro looked at the different materials in his hands. This portion was compiled by Yuwen Haowen, and he happened not to have had time to go through them yet.
There were only five pages—very few.
After glancing at the titles, Zorro crushed the –Leveling Contract– ability ball in his hand.
–This ability… really is a powerful mental-type Moxel.–
……
Xu Yusheng took the materials from Feng Ming and flipped through them.
–What are they trying to do?–
–Not sure, but this is the first time I’ve heard of this ability. I reckon they want to quickly create a few team members who know more about the construction of the Demon Hero Hall.–
–Heh, interesting.–
Bang! Bang! The two crushed their ability balls and then opened the materials.
……
After Gong Huanwu reported the progress to Huan Bao’er, the general director leaned back in his chair.
The man said, –Everyone’s working hard, but it’s only when you actually start making changes that you realize it’s no easy task.–
Rustle, rustle~ the pages turned. Huan Bao’er, with a groan of despair, tossed them aside, closed his eyes, and didn’t want to look.
–I understand. A single move can affect the whole body, but we have no other choice. If we really send that Demon Hero Hall down as Croft demanded, it would be a disrespect to everyone in both cities. They’d lose the last shred of trust they have left in this world.-
–Yes… alas.-
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Secretary Gong tried to make conversation: –Oh, by the way. It seems Jiao Ma has been up to something today and yesterday.-
–Oh?-
The Director-General opened his eyes.
Secretary Gong said: –Yang Zicang doesn’t seem to like Jiao Ma. I’m afraid she’ll only sink deeper and deeper.-
–The spirit is the manifestation of will. If you never enter the gate of emotion, you’ll never break through it.-
–….Director-General, you don’t have to take it so personally…-
Huan Bao’er squinted at him.
–So… what day of the week is it today?- Gong Huanwu said with a chuckle.
The Director-General said: –I think Yang Zicang just hasn’t settled down yet. He’s lost about this world. He’s afraid, so he resists close relationships.-
–Maybe. A lot of people are like that. After all, this world is as precarious as an egg.-
Huan Bao’er tapped her fingers on the table: –What’s little Jiao Ma up to?-
–Oh. I don’t know where she got hold of some kind of ability orb called a ‘Power-Leveling Contract’. She’s been going around asking people to help her memorize materials.-
The woman fell into thought for a moment.
–That’s the ability of the people around Yang Zicang. Ha, those little rascals. Forget it, let them have their fun. You keep your mind on the Green Lotus Crown and ignore the rest. If you fret over everything, you’ll end up weighed down by trivial matters, and the true goal will be ruined.-
–Yes, Director General.-
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