CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 272 SUMMONING THE TRUTH SEEKER

An automatic ’Collector’ function that earns Merit Points?

Even though this news seemed surprisingly delightful, Ren Suo remained extraordinarily calm.

He was no longer an ordinary Player. He was a Level 4 Player and had long since recognized the true nature of the Mini-World Game Console: This is a very socialist gaming machine. What does ’socialist gaming machine’ mean? Well, it’s definitely not capitalist. Getting Merit Points just by sitting around, without any effort? I don’t really buy it. Either the reward will be minimal, or it will require extra effort from me.

He decided to check the score first.

"Task completed."

"Achieved basic mission objectives—60 points;"

"Encountered all manner of demons and monsters: Desire Collection Amount greater than 12,000—5 points;"

"Although the food at the Ghost Stall isn’t clean!: Provided food that caused suffering to 500 customers—5 points;"

"But the food at the Ghost Stall is delicious!: Provided food that brought happiness to 500 customers—5 points;"

"Walked a thousand miles, saw a thousand ghosts: Set up a stall in ten different cities—1 point;"

"Nowhere to put gifts!: Total gifts received greater than 1,000—2 points;"

"Everybody loves the Ghost Stall: Once received voluntary help from three customers—3 points;"

"Indulgent drinking from the Holy Grail: Total Merit Points consumed greater than 40—4 points;"

"Total score: 85 points. Rating: Extraordinary."

"Current mission score: 85 points (Extraordinary). Highest mission score: 85 points (Extraordinary)."

"Because the Player received an Extraordinary rating, meeting the hidden requirements, you will now receive information on this game’s hidden side quest."

"Side Quest: A World Without Ghosts. Satisfy customers with food alone, without engaging in any combat."

"Side Quest: Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Engage all customers in combat, satisfying them by Force."

"Do you wish to upload this result as the final outcome? Upon successful upload, you will receive Merit Points and exclusive rewards corresponding to your rating."

"This evaluation can only be retained for one day, after which it cannot be uploaded."

"The evaluation can only be uploaded once."

Ren Suo had anticipated this score to some extent.

In "Midnight Walker," it was evident that there were two distinct routes: feeding customers delicious food and feeding them awful food. I initially thought the latter would score lower because, well, feeding them bad food seems easier. However, it now appears this route isn’t inferior to the former. Perhaps it’s because feeding them terrible food triggers battles, leading to excessive consumption of props, which in turn raises the difficulty of the final boss battle. Or maybe, feeding them awful food to a certain degree is considered a high-end gaming skill in itself.

Although he hadn’t achieved the ’Exceptionally Meritorious’ rating of over 90 points, Ren Suo wasn’t dissatisfied. As for replaying the game, that’s even more unlikely. I’ve already spent most of my Merit Points. If I were to play again, I wouldn’t even have enough to buy Holy Water. Besides, one playthrough takes about ten days, and I’m pretty tired from gaming these past few days.

Although he didn’t have much expectation for the ’Collector’ feature... Alright, actually, I do have a little... but he was looking forward to the day the Ghost Stall would come to Lianjiang. Therefore, he didn’t hesitate much and directly chose to upload the game evaluation.

"Task evaluation upload complete. You have received 244 Merit Points. Please use them wisely."

"You’ve obtained a Four-Star Treasure Chest, which you can open in the Content Preservation Vault."

"You’ve obtained an exclusive reward, Desire Detection, which you can open in the Content Preservation Vault."

"Based on your task evaluation and the game’s Star-level, you have obtained the prop: ’Rippling Spring Sounds.’"

"Midnight Walker upload complete. Thank you for playing. Endless Fun in the Mini World!"

Ren Suo was slightly taken aback.

After clearing the game, besides the Treasure Box and exclusive reward, how come there’s an extra... ’Rippling Spring Sounds’?

He immediately opened the Equipment Interface and found the prop—it was a Ring, looking like endlessly flowing water, a dreamlike object clasped together in a serpentine knot:

"Rippling Spring Sounds"

"Quality Rank: Four-star Item. Prerequisite: Must have at least one idle game Character."

"Effect: Upon active use, it allows the summoning of a game Character who has completed a game to appear in the game/reality. The game Character possesses self-awareness and sound judgment and does not require control from the Player. The Player also cannot fully control them but can engage in telepathic communication through the Ring and issue commands."

"Only game Characters below the Star-level of Rippling Spring Sounds (4-star) can be summoned."

"The game Character’s self-awareness and personality are related to their experiences, the game’s background settings, and the Attributes bestowed by the Player."

"Game Characters will never harm the Ring bearer."

"Game Characters will obey the Ring wearer’s commands, but they may request Merit Points for orders that make them uncomfortable; for orders that violate their fundamental principles, they may refuse to comply."

"Summonable duration: 32 minutes. (Depending on the game rules, summoning time within a game may be consumed more rapidly.)"

"Any ’Rippling Spring Sounds’ obtained by the Player in the future will be automatically integrated into this item, increasing the summoning duration or enhancing its Star-level."

"Note: From the boundless, surging river of time and space, a clear spring is diverted, its ripples echoing a wish: may all Effort be rewarded, may all suffering not be in vain, and may all Hope find its answer."

Ren Suo took a sharp breath and immediately equipped himself with "Rippling Spring Sounds."

Then, Ren Suo felt a cool sensation on his left ring finger. Looking down, the base of his finger seemed to have been daubed with a circle of turquoise pigment, or perhaps wrapped in transparent turquoise film. Although intangible, the Ring-like Mark reflected a faint light, possessing a distinct texture.

He gently touched the Ring Mark, then drank some water to compose himself. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he silently commanded in his mind: Activate Rippling Spring Sounds.

In a trance, as if ice cubes were melting in his head, seven Character images, fantastical yet real, flickered through his consciousness:

A handsome Eastern man in a black suit and red tie, White Gloves on his hands, holding two gleaming black pistols, with black hair and dark eyes.

A beautiful young girl, her striking beauty unhidden by simple hemp clothes. She had a smile on her face yet an unapproachable aura, with bare feet, jade-like hands, golden hair, and blue-green eyes.

A youth in resplendent robes, his eyes as sharp as blades, yet his expression tinged with sorrow.

A portly man in pure white priestly robes, a Gatling gun in his right hand and a heavy tome in his left, looking quite affable.

A monkey in Red Robes and Golden Armor, its fiery golden eyes gazing disdainfully upon all creation.

A little girl with shoulder-length golden hair, her left eye a Red Pupil, her right eye a blue-green pupil, wearing a blue dress that swayed gracefully. Beautiful and adorable, yet she seemed to have stepped right out of the anime realm.

A Magician in a black, gold-trimmed robe, seen only from the back, accompanied by eight Female Mage companions.

All seven game Characters were there.

Suddenly, Ren Suo felt a surge of emotion.

It’s like the girlfriend I planted in spring is finally ripe for harvest in autumn! So, game Characters, after clearing their games, can be used like this!

"Let’s summon one first to try it out!" Ren Suo said, rubbing his palms together. He instantly excluded the Fairy Palace Assassin, Ren Woxing, Zhao Zili, and the monkey.

What’s there to talk about with two guys sitting together? Besides, this is my first time; I can’t just waste it on a bro!

That left the Truth Seeker, Ilina, and the Magician with his female companions.

Then, naturally, Ren Suo excluded the Magician and his eight female companions. Too many people, they won’t fit in the living room.

Ilina seems like she’s from the anime realm. I have a feeling she might just appear on my laptop screen. She’s out too.

"It’s you, Truth Seeker!"

Select: Summon Truth Seeker!

However, as Ren Suo held his breath, anticipating a golden-haired beauty to fall into his lap, no hexagram Magic Circle capable of producing such a girl appeared in the living room, nor did any Spatial Crack.

Instead, the glass door to the balcony was suddenly slid open.

Ren Suo turned his head to see the Truth Seeker, dressed in simple hemp clothing, GRUNTING with effort as she pushed open the glass door. After all, Ren Suo rarely used the balcony door, so it was rather stiff.

After entering, the Truth Seeker slid the door closed, then casually sat down beside Ren Suo. Looking at the utterly astonished Ren Suo, whose jaw had nearly hit the floor, she tilted her head and spoke in clear, standard Mandarin, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Seeing a game Character—one he had previously only seen in games and videos—now so vividly real before him, Ren Suo blurted out,

"Can I... touch you?"