Chapter 11: Professional Spy Game Sprite, Balalaika Mind Mentor
A car with an obviously old and crude style, straight edges and angles exuding a cold and hard smell, overflowing with mechanical sense but lacking technology elements, spewing rolling black smoke, stopped not far in front of Yuan Zhu.
‘Bang bang!’ Two sounds, the metal car doors were violently opened from the inside by someone, and two Eastern males wearing uniforms got out from the driver and passenger seats respectively.
The older male appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a bloated build, sporting a general’s belly that made his slightly oversized fitted uniform look like maternity wear. The newcomer had a calm expression, but his eyes showed a bit of kindness, like a nice guy, radiating a friendly aura outward.
He had a circle of beard around his mouth, and a goatee on his chin, giving him a classical temperament. However, a huge boxy camera hung on his chest, making the combination look mismatched.
The young man following behind him was in his early twenties, with a cold face, above-average ordinary looks, pale-faced and beardless, but with long hair tied up in an ancient male bun using a hair clasp. Combined with his uniform embroidered with patterns, he managed to wear an ascetic handsome guy vibe.
The youth was carrying a box in his hand, wearing boots on his feet, and stood behind the middle-aged fatty, staring coldly at Yuan Zhu, squinting his eyes to scrutinize him closely, as if examining some crime.
As soon as the two staff members appeared, they brought a small professional shock, making Yuan Zhu inexplicably feel a wave of guilt.
This was probably because in his previous life on Earth, he had been law-abiding and honest since childhood, never daring to look too much when passing by the police station, afraid of being misunderstood by Uncle Police as provocative with his gaze. He had never even called 110 once in his life, but after rebirth less than half a day, he had dialed the local 7711 to speed-self-surrender.
Now facing real Otherworld law enforcement officers, and professionals investigating vicious cases at that, plus the youth’s sharp gaze, and the sword and pistol at his waist, he felt a wave of unease inside.
Damn, this looks a bit like the Embroidered Uniform Guard, doesn’t it?
Du Ling Star’s industrial level had already surpassed Earth’s first industrial revolution. But the ‘New Federation’ that immigrated to the New Continent had not suffered much cultural impact, nor had there been wars of Western colonization.
Therefore, Running City retained the classical characteristics of Eastern civilization in both architectural style and people’s daily attire. At the same time, it actively absorbed characteristics from other countries, magic aliens, steam universe people… achieving inclusivity.
For example, the two people in front of him had clothing leaning toward modern uniforms for convenient daily movement, yet embroidered with patterns similar to ancient flying fish robes, embodying identity and profession.
Additionally, the middle-aged fatty had common short hair, but influenced by Xi State traditional culture, he deliberately grew a beard to show maturity and steadiness. The other youth, on the other hand, retro-style long hair in a bun, greatly boosting his appearance, making Yuan Zhu want to try it too.
Seeing Yuan Zhu look up nervously to meet his gaze, the middle-aged man observed for a moment before speaking. His tone was not oppressive, but rather flat: “You’re the one who reported the case?”
“Yes, I discovered… uh, no, I participated in… wait, that’s not right either. Let me organize my words.”
Although he had already simulated it in his mind beforehand, when he suddenly spoke now, he found he wasn’t familiar with Du Ling’s language, and speaking felt awkward. It was the kind where his brain said he understood, his tongue said it got it, but the words just wouldn’t come together.
He could say every word, understood the meaning of every sentence, but just couldn’t express it.
The middle-aged man waved his hand, signaling Yuan Zhu not to be nervous: “Normal, don’t panic, take your time, we have time. Mind if I run a detection on you first? I’m surnamed Wang, call me Old Wang or Uncle Wang. This little bro is surnamed Han, he’s got a cold personality, not targeting you.”
Yuan Zhu was stunned for a moment, then nodded: “Uh, sure, go ahead.”
This opening was much better than he had expected.
…
Now, the situation at the scene was like this:
Yuan Zhu was alone, wearing ill-fitting clothes, looking somewhat nervous, clearly an inexperienced good kid from a respectable family. The opponents not only outnumbered him, but were armed with sword and gun at their waists, in optimal condition. Plus they had rich records of kills and experience handling sudden situations.
And Yuan Zhu’s honest guy, good kid vibe from Earth, plus Nine-Year Compulsory Education, made the middle-aged man sigh that this young fellow was too honest to be a Running Local.
Could he have been possessed? Or lost all memory, personality reset to zero?
Thinking about it, he recalled the enforcement manual revised and updated every few years, which recorded manifestations from situations like ‘evil cultivator possession, Otherworld soul rebirth attachment, evil god possession, mental shock, malicious brainwashing, personality implant/revision, false rebirth…’
Of course, Yuan Zhu didn’t know that with just one glance, his real situation had been spot-on guessed by the other’s baseless assumption out of thin air.
However, the other didn’t pursue it deeply, just gave a self-mocking smile and cleared these unfounded thoughts. Even if the other’s spirit really had issues, but behaving so obediently cooperative, it was exactly what he wanted. Far safer than those stimulated into extreme aggression, ready to lash out anytime, mental illness cases.
At the same time, the little bro surnamed Han bent down to set the suitcase, then opened it on the spot, taking out some parts he couldn’t understand, quickly assembling them into a detection device shape like a pistol, with a dial above the handle.
Then, the little bro connected the detection device to an energy source like a battery, stood up, fiddled with Yuan Zhu, pressed several buttons continuously, emitting sizzling noises, then slightly furrowed his brows, clearly puzzled with some dissatisfaction.
Ignoring Yuan Zhu’s feelings, the other approached again, circling around him while continuing to press buttons to detect, but still failed to get a satisfactory answer.
At this moment, the game sprite’s voice also sounded covertly in his mind: “Don’t panic, be confident, you’re not the murderer, nor a mortal. Where did that domineering vibe of yours as King of Hundred Beasts go? King, where’s your majesty? Confidence?”
“Stop talking, feels so embarrassing.” Yuan Zhu speed-replied in his mind, trying to shut up the game sprite and erase the black history.
The game sprite was displeased: “Tch, what’s embarrassing, you should be like this. Your experiences on Earth, the personality they formed, don’t adapt to Du Ling, don’t adapt to Running. You need to change, step up! Other rebirthers waste half their lives as losers on Earth, change into dragons upon arriving in Otherworld. From then on decisive in killing, intelligence online, genius possession, steamrolling through eternity.”
“I’m just an ordinary Earthling!”
Game sprite: “Don’t be nervous, no panic. Rest assured, with me here, you won’t have issues. I’m a professional spy infiltration mini-program, with my cooperation and guidance on your actions, you’ll smoothly pass the interrogation. Trust me, guaranteed!”
Yuan Zhu was startled: “You have that skill?”
“Of course! The Great Desolation Immortal Scripture itself is a professional infiltration spy detection exploration program. These are my essential skills, with a rich anti-interrogation information database.”
“Heh, the Immortal Scripture as expected isn’t clean stuff! So what should I do now? This surnamed Han doesn’t seem like a good guy, I can feel he’s deliberately targeting me. Come on, let me see your strength, test your skills.”
The game sprite confidently replied: “Most important point, don’t show panic and guilt, it creates a weak impression, putting dialogue into passive, letting them control the rhythm. Secondly… right now I’m like you, lacking effective info for reference, can’t give you the answer you want temporarily. But don’t fear, I’ll be online synced, always with you, strategizing, pointing out errors timely, providing optimal strategies.”
Yuan Zhu, almost believing her nonsense, was about to explode: “Professional my ass! I believe you ghost!”
The game sprite wasn’t discouraged, not guilty at all, continued in confident tone: “Besides professional spy infiltration guidance master, anti-interrogation expert, I’m also an excellent psychological counselor. With me, I can adjust your mental state timely.”
“You think I was really that useless earlier, slipped up? Yes, really! But intentional. I did that to stimulate you, guide you to anger, break through the obedience and submission from Celestial Dynasty childhood education, shatter guilt and tension, face the opponent directly! Just say, are you angry now?”
Yuan Zhu: “Uh, indeed not so tense anymore, but pissed off by you. What’s the damn use!”
“Of course useful, this is top-tier mind SPA adjustment. Put it this way, do you still have the fear and guilt of facing law enforcement interrogation after mis-killing over thirty people?”
“Of course I do, I’m still a bit panicked now. Though you’re the real murderer, I’m an accomplice too.” Though saying that, after bantering with the game sprite in the mental world, Yuan Zhu gradually let go of worries, not so tense.
This little thing does have some skills.
The game sprite decisively took the blame, didn’t refute the murderer fact, continued: “Hehe, different now, right? If you rebirthed to this world without pollution, ‘game sprite’ not gaining self-awareness, just mechanical rigid mini-program. Then now, you’d face interrogation alone, naturally immersed in panic worry due to lack of experience, afraid of failing, being seen through, then opponent breaks your defenses with rich experience, vicious cycle. Human nature, after all you rarely go to the station.”
“But with me, it’s totally different. Even if I can’t interfere outside now, I can adjust your mindset, make you confident, indirectly influence your behavior. With me, I can blow rainbow farts, encourage you, let you lose yourself in waves of praise, gain powerful confidence to resist external pressure. In a way, I’m your mental anti-pressure software!”
No choice, Yuan Zhu could only believe her nonsense again: “Come on, game sprite, give me a show! Make me confident.”
“Watch this, I just ask one question: are over 40 demonic creatures terrifying after evil god pollution erosion, or two weaklings with pistols ordinary humans scarier? Though being interrogated and checked by detector, your essence is a newly risen shadow evil spirit, hidden great demonic creature with evil god potential. You’re the contemporary Tiger Demon inheriting the Great Desolation Immortal Scripture Boss template!”
“So, what are you afraid of?! Worst case, identity exposed, just kill your way out. With your strength, on Earth it’d be low-spec superhuman for sure. Look at this world’s backward technology and production level, not even cameras, afraid of not escaping? Nearby is the misty forest, fear what? Hide anywhere, vanish into the mist, roam the mountain forest freely from then on. So, puff out your chest hard!”
Game sprite: “Alright, done talking, still panicked now?”
“Not panicked, not panicked. Confidence back. I was just constrained by Celestial Dynasty rules and frames, that’s high quality manifestation. Our fellow villagers there are all like that.” Yuan Zhu hurriedly added.
Game sprite without guilt: “That’s right, I’m a professional spy game sprite, barala mind mentor. Can inject barala rainbow energy farts into you, burst forth incredible powerful mental power. This is mindset outbreak, confidence overflowing, scientific luck potion.”
Yuan Zhu praised: “You know so much.”
The game sprite’s virtual girl image cupped hands: “You’re welcome, though excellent, it’s all retrieved from your memory library related entries and knowledge. You’re actually very erudite too.”
“You speak so nicely, say more in the future.”
The girl nodded seriously: “See, this is rainbow fart power! Humans need mental comfort to build confidence. In positive feedback, bit by bit shape powerful mental will. And I’m good at providing emotional value, mental SPA massage, let you lose yourself in waves of rainbow praise farts, shape invincible confidence and will!”
“In those fantasy novels you’ve read, protagonists don’t all need to abuse-kill various weaklings along the way, shape invincible momentum, step onto god-ascent stairs, ultimately slay various heavenly prides, achieve invincible foundation with Great Emperor mindset. Bluntly, it’s mental power, self-hypnosis. With me, you don’t even need to slay weaklings to gather the confidence needed for that mindset.”
Yuan Zhu nodded repeatedly: “Yes yes yes, you know so much, worthy of Immortal Scripture built-in smart mini-program, I believe you! Praise me more in the future. I don’t want to miss success due to inferiority hesitation or dawdling.”
Game sprite intensified the bewitching: “Yes, this mindset, be ruthlessly confident and decisive! Actually, I’m just averagely smart, just born lacking experience. My excellence builds on your mature thinking and erudition, so we encourage each other, progress together.”
Yuan Zhu overjoyed: “Ah yes yes yes! Exactly. Keep going, my mindset now overflowing, confidence terrifying, dare face any challenge. Right now, I urgently want to outwit these two natives.”
Mindset, inexplicably fired up!
Begging for votes, recommendation, comments… everyone keep follow-up reading. Rainbow farts arranged.
