Volume 4, Chapter 30 – I Play Myself

“Aila?”

While driving, Anran turned her head to look at Aila.

Her driving skills were pretty good by now. At least she was no longer flipping the car.

Aila sat in the passenger seat with her head lowered, not saying a word. She did not even react when Anran called her.

Anran had already noticed something was off when she carried Aila into the car just now. Aila had always been bursting with energy. She had never been this listless before.

“Tired? Falling asleep?”

How was that possible? Aila was a robot.

And yet she really did look like a human little girl who had played herself out and was getting drowsy.

Anran remembered what Aila had said earlier: “But I feel like if I eat just a little more, I’ll get stronger!”

In any case, a Scout first.

Name: Aila

Race: X (?)

Gender: Female

Level: 19 (…)

Huh?

So she had already reached level 19 without Anran even noticing.

Compared with level 18, her attributes had not changed much. The main difference was that her armor had gone from 100 to 105.

The strange part was that there was now a question mark after her race.

And an ellipsis after her level.

Anran tried tapping the question mark.

A pop-up appeared with the baffling words: “Loading new template.”

Maybe evolution?

As for the ellipsis after her level, it could not be tapped at all.

It seemed to be nothing more than decoration. No matter how she pressed it, nothing happened.

Anran had no way of analyzing Aila’s makeup, so there was naturally nothing she could do about her current condition either.

She ruffled her own hair.

Aila had fallen into some unknown state, and Anran herself was not exactly safe right now.

After all, this vehicle had been snatched from the players. Judging from what Smiling Doge had said on the forum, it was still a Morningstar vehicle too.

If she drove it around openly like this, there was a good chance someone would recognize it.

Besides, her current outfit had already been exposed, and bringing Aila around made her an even more obvious target.

Yaxi City. It was about time to say goodbye.

With Loriang dead, the collusion between Morningstar and the wealthy businessmen in the central region of Canyon Continent had been completely severed.

That list no longer needed to be hidden away either.

With that in mind, Anran uploaded the list she had obtained from the contact station directly to the internet, then removed her makeup.

After driving to a relatively deserted place, she changed out of her clothes and back into a proper ladylike outfit. Even in the light drizzle, she looked bright and sunny.

She also put on a pair of glasses.

Then she used her rough makeup skills to disguise herself a little.

That way, even if Zhou Jieyu were standing right in front of her, she would not recognize her anytime soon.

Anran nodded in satisfaction.

This was why girls could be so changeable.

As for Aila… emmm, once a panda-head hat was put on her and her hair was done into twin tails, the change was pretty big too.

Anran dressed Aila up as if she were a doll.

Aila obediently said nothing.

Just like that, Anran received another text from Zhou Jieyu.

“Anran, I’m already level 10! I can become a Basic Mechanic now!”

Zhou Jieyu was a lot richer than before now.

In that case…

“X District, Y Street, No. X.”

After sending the message, Anran went to No. Z next door to No. X.

Not long after, she saw a sneaky-looking Zhou Jieyu arrive in front of No. X, looking around in every direction. After waiting a while, Zhou Jieyu took out her phone again.

“Over here!”

After confirming that no one was following Zhou Jieyu, Anran waved to her.

Inside a tea shop after the rain, by a table near the window, sat a girl in a simple, elegant dress. Her slightly oversized glasses gave her a scholarly air.

The ends of her black hair curled slightly, and a petal-shaped hair clip was fastened on the right side.

She was waving to Zhou Jieyu.

“Huh?”

Zhou Jieyu walked over in surprise.

Could this charming girl possibly be Anran?

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Only after coming closer did she realize the face shape really was a little similar. It was just that the sudden shift in temperament was so jarring that it left her baffled.

Only when Anran smoothly put on her profession mentor hat did Zhou Jieyu finally believe it.

It really was Anran!

Could she be wearing some kind of human-skin mask?

Maybe she should touch it.

Zhou Jieyu planned to “test” whether this Anran was the real thing.

She was clearly a savage, violent girl, so how had she suddenly turned artsy?

“Are you trying to probe my depths?”

Anran narrowed her eyes. The lenses blocked most of the force, but her gaze still frightened Zhou Jieyu.

“I want to change class!”

Zhou Jieyu immediately got to the point.

Her favorability was high enough.

“Three thousand Bilu.”

When it came to money, Anran was decisive.

Zhou Jieyu was equally decisive in paying up.

Anran chose to teach Zhou Jieyu the Basic Mechanic class.

As for what happened to Zhou Jieyu…

Well, there were no flashy effects at all, but Zhou Jieyu had grown stronger.

She had advanced from a level 10 Apprentice Mechanic to a level 11 Basic Mechanic.

Before level 30, she could go wild again without worrying about class barriers.

“I feel like if I don’t pull you back a bit, you’re going to fly straight into the sky,” Anran suddenly said.

Zhou Jieyu looked utterly confused. “???”

Originally, Anran had not planned to say anything.

But then she looked at Zhou Jieyu’s attributes.

They were truly balanced!

A blessing for people with obsessive-compulsive tendencies!

And yet it was completely useless. A Mechanic with stats like that was total trash.

The most important stat for a Mechanic was Intelligence.

Intelligence affected mechanical manufacturing, the use of exclusive equipment, and more.

A Mechanic without standout Intelligence was no Mechanic at all.

In other words, Zhou Jieyu did not understand Mechanic in the slightest!

She was so bizarre it was almost impressive.

Other people’s motto was, “In games, whether you’re strong depends on the patch, but whether you’re cool lasts a lifetime!”

But Zhou Jieyu clearly came from the Church of Balance.

What was the use of balance? Could balance feed you?

No, sis, it could not!

Considering how many times Zhou Jieyu had helped her, Anran decided to give her some pointers.

She might still have plenty of use for Zhou Jieyu in the future.

“There are many development paths for a Mechanic. When your energy is limited, you absolutely have to choose a clear direction.”

Anran put on a stern face.

“Mhm.”

Sitting across from her, Zhou Jieyu nodded as if she half understood.

“Whether it’s personal enhancement or a legion build…”

“Can’t I just have all of them?” Zhou Jieyu asked.

“…”

“Do you have that much energy?”

“Maybe?”

“Go dream! Do you think you’re the protagonist? Do you think you’re the ruler of the world?” Anran said speechlessly.

Without waiting for Zhou Jieyu to speak, she continued, “A Mechanic’s best friend is blueprints. How many blueprints do you have right now?”

“Emmm…”

Zhou Jieyu froze for a moment. Clearly, she had gone to check her status panel.

“O-one…”

“What kind of Mechanic are you supposed to be with that?!”

Anran almost wanted to grab Zhou Jieyu by the ears.

“…”

Angry Anran was terrifying.

That was what Zhou Jieyu thought.

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“You should put points into Intelligence!” Anran said earnestly.

Why did that feel insulting?!

Looking somewhat dejected, Zhou Jieyu said, “Okay.”

“And then…” Anran pondered. “You can buy a few more blueprints from me and take them back to study.”

“…”

Zhou Jieyu was stunned dumb.

It sounded very reasonable, but she quickly remembered that Anran’s favorite item was “money.”

Was there some hidden trick in this?

“Anran, what build do you think I should go for?” Zhou Jieyu asked.

Anran glanced at her. “One-on-one professional guidance. Five thousand Bilu.”

“…”

Through Anran’s tireless effort, Zhou Jieyu was shocked once more.

“Charging you is for your own good, girl.” Anran patted Zhou Jieyu on the shoulder. “Only when you lose something will the impression stay deep. Later, when you come to a crossroads again, the things you once lost will tell you the right direction!”

That sounded so reasonable!

I, Zhou Jieyu, will pay this money!

“Here, five thousand Bilu!”

Zhou Jieyu was so adorable.

Hehehe.

Anran slipped the money into her pocket.

She liked girls like this the most.

Innocent, lively, and rich.

“I heard outlanders can travel between different worlds. Before coming to No. 1886, what class did you play?”

“A healer!”

“A healer?”

That sounded like the kind of class a girl might play, but somehow it felt completely out of place for Zhou Jieyu.

Could she have been one of those violent healers from online games?

What did healer have to do with Mechanic?

“So you like support-type classes?”

A Mechanic could, of course, also play support.

Artillery cover, energy shields, all sorts of pulse interference — those were only the basics.

“I don’t,” Zhou Jieyu denied immediately.

“Then you…”

“My brother made me! You’ve seen him, that thick-browed guy! He insisted on making me play healer. I’m not going along with him this time!”

Zhou Jieyu sounded very dissatisfied.

“…”

A truly authentic sibling relationship.

“Then you want to be the main damage dealer on a team?”

“Nope!”

“Something like an assassin?”

“Nope!”

“A shield-bearing warrior?”

“Standing there getting hit is way too stupid!”

“#”

Anran frowned. This was getting complicated.

“Then what exactly do you want to do?”

“Me?”

Zhou Jieyu rubbed her cheek. “I also want to become a hero among the outlanders!”

She said this astonishing dream in a completely calm tone.

Anran looked Zhou Jieyu up and down all over again. If this was what a hero among players looked like, then in a month Anran would be able to unify No. 1886!

And she would very quickly become the supreme BOSS of Night of the Stars. Version 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 — all trash!

“How about this?” Zhou Jieyu suddenly looked at Anran with expectant eyes. “Let me come with you! I believe that with the two of us together, the Morningstar Resistance will be wiped out very soon!”

Zhou Jieyu’s eyes sparkled.

It was time to hug Anran’s thigh!

The corner of Anran’s mouth twitched.

Better not.

Forget wiping out Morningstar. It was still a question whether they could even leave No. 1886 alive.

If the BOSS of version 2.0 died at that point, who knew what the game planners would think.

“Staying in the Security Department helps me more! Every successful person goes through a period of lying low before success. You have to be able to endure loneliness!”

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“Only by enduring loneliness can you safeguard prosperity!”

“&*%#@&*”

“Training in the Security Department will let you grow rapidly. When the day comes that you can stand on your own, we’ll go conquer this sea of stars together!”

“#@￥%&*#”

Under Anran’s relentless barrage of motivational soup, Zhou Jieyu quickly became dizzy and dazed.

“All right, in that case, go with a penetration build! You won’t need to mass-produce mechanical equipment. You just need to snipe the enemy’s main force. That way, it costs less too, and all the money you save can be handed over to m—”

The more Anran talked, the more excited she became.

She had almost let the word “me” slip out when she suddenly noticed a stranger standing beside her.

He was a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, dressed very properly, with a warm smile on his face that made him seem instantly approachable.

His affinity was practically maxed out.

“Do you need something?” Anran turned and asked.

Zhou Jieyu, who had finally recovered from her dizzy state, also looked at the middle-aged man in confusion.

“Hello, I’m Adrian, a second-rank talent scout from Muguang Entertainment Company. Here is my business card!”

As he spoke, the middle-aged man handed over a business card printed with blue skies and white clouds.

An entertainment company?

And a talent scout?

What kind of weird move was this?

Anran took the card and glanced at it.

Zhou Jieyu immediately leaned over too.

Muguang Entertainment Company.

Five hundred years devoted to heart-pounding entertainment.

An old established name in show business.

Hm?

Wait.

Could there have been an entertainment company on No. 1886 five hundred years ago?

Anran looked further down and found that the address written on it was Clodo Star, Sea Blue Forest.

An NPC from a high-level map like Sea Blue Forest?

Anran and Zhou Jieyu looked at Adrian in surprise.

Adrian smiled kindly.

“I came to No. 1886 for a vacation, but unfortunately my luck was bad. This place seems to be shrouded in the shadow of war,” Adrian explained.

A talent scout.

And he had even handed over a business card.

Even if Anran were an idiot, she knew what he wanted.

Who would have thought this lady’s Charm had already become so overwhelming? Truly enough to shake the four corners.

Still, despite his good intentions, Anran had no plans whatsoever to debut as an idol and save the world.

“Huh, what does ‘the best solution for fanwork performances’ mean?”

Zhou Jieyu suddenly pointed at the line of tiny print at the bottom of the card.

Fanwork?

Anran looked up.

“Well, it’s like this.” Adrian gave a slight nod. “May I ask how I should address you?”

He was speaking to Anran.

“Anla.”

“???” Zhou Jieyu’s mouth opened slightly.

“Miss Anla, have you already turned sixteen this year?” Adrian asked.

“Just turned sixteen.”

Oh, so Anran had little-sister vibes?

Zhou Jieyu nodded.

“Then there’s no problem.” Adrian smiled. “Just as it says on the card, Muguang Entertainment is an entertainment company specializing in fanwork productions. Whether it’s R18 versions of anime fanworks or R18 versions of film and television fanworks, we can be considered one of the most professional companies in the industry.”

“I currently have two excellent projects that I think would suit you perfectly, Miss Anla. One is a hit fatherly-love-themed animation from last year, and the other is a women’s volleyball television drama that premiered the year before. I wonder if Miss Anla would be interested.”

“Wait, you mentioned R18 just now, didn’t you?” Anran asked.

“That’s right.”

“Setting aside whether your company’s productions are even decent, I’m only sixteen!”

The artsy girl “Anran” suddenly roared.

“…”

Emmm…

Zhou Jieyu fell silent.

Adrian broke into a slight sweat. “Although the works are R18-rated, in Sea Blue Forest, sixteen-year-olds are allowed to sign labor contracts, so Miss Anla need not worry.”

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“Sorry, I’m not interested.”

Anran refused directly.

“Miss Anla, with our company’s powerful star-making ability, if you join us, I’m sure that after these two projects your fame will spread throughout the entire eastern part of the Empire!”

“(╬◣д◢)”

A fierce light appeared in Anran’s eyes.

“Miss Anla, this isn’t some disgraceful line of work. There’s fame, and endless money to be made. Countless girls want to join our company and cannot even find the door.”

Smack!

Anran directly pulled something out and slammed it down on the table.

“Do you recognize this?”

Oval-shaped.

Pitch-black.

It was unmistakably a bomb.

“Emmm…”

There it was again: Anran, the girl who loved blowing people up!

Zhou Jieyu shifted a little farther to the side.

“Um…” Adrian backed up a step with an awkward smile.

“Behave yourself. If you keep pestering me, I’ll stuff it into your mouth!” Anran said viciously.

“I…”

“Ahhhh! There’s a bomb!”

A scream immediately rang through the tea shop. Very quickly, everyone noticed the bomb in Anran’s hand, and the whole shop instantly filled with an uneasy atmosphere.

“Call the police, call the police, there’s a terrorist attack!”

“It has to be someone from Morningstar!”

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me!”

“…”

Looks like this pleasant tea time was about to come to an end.

Anran stood up and said to Zhou Jieyu, “Remember to stick to the penetration build!”

Then she turned to leave.

“Miss Anla!”

Adrian overcame his fear and called out.

“Hm?” Anran replied in a cold tone.

“Actually, I suddenly have an even better project that would suit you,” Adrian swallowed and said. “A while ago there was a big hit drama called Interstellar Ranger. I think you would be perfect to play the young version of the pirate princess Anran!”

“Pirate Princess Anran, commanding a giant spaceship, surrounded by young and strong male attendants…”

Goddamn your mother!

Anran flew into a rage.

Back then, there had not been a single male life-form on her ship!

They had all been pretty girls.

And he dared spread rumors about her.

“I’m going to blow your dog head off!”

Furious, Anran was just about to draw her gun and shoot when she suddenly saw a police car marked with police insignia speed around the corner.

I’ll spare you for now.

Anran darted straight into the nearby alley.

Aila was sleeping obediently in that van.

Open the door, start the engine, slam the gas.

Vroom — Anran shot off at once.

Although her reaction was fast, the police car stayed glued right behind her.

Clearly, the police of Yaxi City were better drivers.

…

Inside the tea shop.

Zhou Jieyu let out a sigh of relief.

Luckily Anran had left with her bomb. Zhou Jieyu had no desire to soak in the fountain again. This time, one soak would mean half an hour.

“You almost died just now. Good thing the police came.”

Zhou Jieyu said this to Adrian.

“…”

Apparently Adrian still had not realized how serious the situation had been.

“Anyway, next time you see Anla, take a detour. Not everyone can last as long around Anla as I can!”

After tossing out that baffling remark, Zhou Jieyu strutted off proudly.

Leaving Adrian behind with a completely bewildered expression.