Chapter 119: Stelle’s Simulated Management Game
Golden Man Alley Pier.
“Boss, it’s not time to collect rent from the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce yet. Isn’t it a bit early for us to go now?” a Company captain said.
“Early? How long have they owed rent? Do we have to wait until next month when they still can’t pay and then cause trouble? I heard the person replacing me has already set off from headquarters and will arrive in less than a month. Before that, I must handle a few things beautifully and claim some merits, so even if I can’t keep my rank, it’ll be easier to get promoted again later!”
“It’s all the fault of those Nameless. Why did they have to pioneer a New World out of nowhere? Not only did it make me run for nothing, but I also got demoted. If I meet them, I’ll make them pay! And those meddling Sea Patrol Rangers, minding their own business!” Scott said through gritted teeth.
“Boss, I heard the Stellar Train is currently on the Xianzhou. When do we go make trouble for them?” the captain asked.
Scott looked at the captain darkly, then suddenly slapped the captain on the head and said irritably, “The most important thing now is to reclaim the operating rights of Golden Man Alley Pier. Where do we have time to make trouble for them? Besides, what’s the benefit of making trouble for them? Will it improve my rank or preserve it? Idiot.”
“Hey, that’s why you’re the boss.” The captain chuckled awkwardly.
Scott led his men to the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce headquarters and kicked the door open.
“When exactly are you paying the rent you owe for the pier? If you really can’t pay, hand the operating rights back to the Company quickly. You’re just occupying the latrine without shitting, losing money every day.”
“You’re from the Company? It’s not time to pay rent yet, is it? And while our profits aren’t much, we’re not losing money.” The chamber secretary said with an ugly expression.
“Oh my, not losing money? If you’re not making money, that’s equivalent to losing it! If I turned this pier into a logistics center, demolished all those unprofitable Old Shops, and built warehouses, how much money would we make each month? I don’t even dare to think about it.”
“Just thinking about how much money you lose every month makes my heart ache. Hurry up and hand the pier’s operating rights back to the Company. Every extra day you delay means we lose countless money. But I’m magnanimous, so I won’t make you compensate for the losses. Just pay the rent in full. Oh, and don’t forget the interest.” Scott fanned himself, looking pained.
“What? Demolish all the Old Shops?”
“No way! Absolutely not!”
“Those are all shops centuries old.”
“They’ve been there since I was little. If they’re gone…”
“…”
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
“What are you all gathering here for? Fighting and Conflict are prohibited here.” A girl in yellow clothes rushed in to stop them.
“Hey, where did this wild girl come from? What’s it got to do with you?” Scott said mockingly.
“As a member of the Cloud Cavalry, how can I sit by when there’s Conflict at the pier? Also, don’t call me ‘hey’ or ‘wild girl.’ My name is Sushang!” Sushang said.
The group from the Stellar Train, who had been wandering and eating around Golden Lane, heard the argument from afar and couldn’t resist going over to watch the excitement.
“Brother, what happened?” Stelle asked a bystander nearby.
The bystander enthusiastically shared what had just happened with Stelle and the others while watching the excitement.
“Young lady, leave this matter to our Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce to handle.” The chamber secretary said.
“You are… from the chamber?” Sushang, who had rushed in recklessly, didn’t even know who either side was yet.
“You handle it? That’s hilarious! Everyone watching here, count them all—who doesn’t know the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce manages poorly and operates incompetently? Now the pier rent is overdue and unpaid. Who do you blame? It’s all your Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce’s fault.” Scott said.
“I don’t know.” Stelle said loudly.
“Shut up. If you don’t know, ask someone else.” Scott glanced at Stelle and said irritably.
“…I won’t deny that.” The chamber secretary said helplessly.
“Then say it louder! Say, ‘The Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce is sorry to the shops here. We messed up the pier. Everyone in the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce is useless!’ Then kowtow loudly to me, representing the Company, for the overdue rent days and apologize!” Scott said loudly.
“This guy’s begging for a beating. He talks so horribly.” Stelle, having learned the general situation from the onlookers, couldn’t help rolling up her sleeves.
“Exactly.” Zhu Zhuqing agreed.
“Hey, isn’t your attitude too arrogant? Can’t we just discuss the overdue rent properly?” Sushang asked with hands on her hips.
“I’m not bullying anyone. Isn’t this a friendly reminder? Can the Company recover the rent?” Scott softened his voice, sounding polite but with a sarcastic tone.
“…Not right now.” The chamber secretary said shamefully.
“The Company sublet the operating rights of this pier to your chamber, hoping Golden Lane would prosper from then on. Look at it now—this great cargo pier is completely wasted!” Scott said heartbrokenly.
“Who says the chamber definitely can’t pay? What if… what if we can pay?” Sushang lacked confidence but wouldn’t back down.
“Oh my, I don’t even dare to think.” Scott said sarcastically. “How about this—we make a bet. If the chamber can pay the Company’s rent, I’ll bow and apologize in front of all the folks in Golden Lane.”
“I’ll loudly say, ‘I’m a blind idiot, ignorant and arrogant, just barking madly!’ Then I’ll bark like a dog in front of you. How’s that?” Scott said confidently.
“Good!” Sushang agreed, then remembered to ask, “What if I lose the bet?”
“Simple. You do the same in front of the folks—apologize to me and bark like a dog.” Scott said.
Sushang’s little face looked conflicted.
“Agree to it. Don’t let him look down on you!” Stelle, who loved watching excitement, chimed in.
“Deal!” Sushang made up her mind.
“Everyone heard it. I’m waiting. Hahaha, let’s go!” Scott laughed, leading the Company employees away from Golden Lane.
Watching Scott leave, the chamber secretary sighed.
“Young girl, this bet has no benefit for you at all. It’s our fault for dragging you into this.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I just can’t stand his arrogant attitude. I had to do something. I couldn’t just stand by.” Sushang waved her hand.
“We know you mean well, but…”
“Need help from helpful Nameless? I’m Stelle.” Stelle volunteered.
“You’re the Nameless from the train? I’m Cloud Cavalry Sushang. I’ve heard of you.” Sushang looked at Stelle excitedly, then a bit annoyed. “C-calm down. I just realized losing would embarrass the Cloud Cavalry. But I really can’t stand that guy’s attitude.”
“You’re the legendary Nameless? Great! Thank you for helping. Once the chamber survives this crisis, we’ll reward you handsomely! I’m Mingxi, secretary of the Golden Man Alley Chamber of Commerce. I’ll tell you about our current difficulties. Feel free to share any ideas.” Mingxi looked at Stelle expectantly.
“Little secretary, even Nameless can’t help much with business, right?” A worker couldn’t help questioning. He’d only heard Nameless were strong in combat and saved worlds everywhere, but business wasn’t about fighting.
“Hmph, leave it to me. As long as it’s a commission, Nameless never fail!” Stelle patted her chest confidently.
“Shut up. Now we can only treat a dead horse as a live one.” Mingxi said to the questioning worker.
“Thank you. If we really win this bet, I’ll always remember your kindness. Even as a ghost, I won’t forget.” Sushang said gratefully.
“How about you pretend I was never here?” Stelle scratched her head. Why does this thanks feel so creepy?
“No no no, Sushang probably means it’ll be unforgettable. Let me tell you about our chamber’s situation first. The snack business is still lively, but other businesses and pier operations are struggling…” Mingxi hurriedly said.
Stelle looked at the chamber’s dense cargo orders and felt a headache. How to transport and load goods more efficiently was a real skill.
Stelle looked to Zhu Zhuqing for help. Zhu Zhuqing shrugged. “You know me. I’ve only learned Martial Spirit Cultivation. I don’t know the rest.”
Then she looked at Hong Kou and Po Xiao.
“Stelle, you don’t think the Beacon needs to engage in business, do you?” Hong Kou asked.
Indeed not.
“Wait, when you go collect Materials, don’t you try to load more with less space?” Stelle asked.
“But we’re Scavenger combatants. We don’t handle loading Materials.” Hong Kou shrugged too.
Under Mingxi and Sushang’s expectant gazes, Stelle took out her mobile phone.
“Wait, I’ll call in an outsider!”
『Galaxy Bat Man: Huai Feng! Help!』
『Breeze in Embrace: What’s up?』
『Galaxy Bat Man: It’s like this… blablabla… blablabla…』
『Breeze in Embrace: Why does this Work need human design? Can’t a Computer just compute the optimal solution?』
『Galaxy Bat Man: …Right, why are they using such a primitive method?』
『Galaxy Bat Man: I asked. Xianzhou people are generally conservative. They have long lives and slow paces, so they like doing everything slowly themselves in daily life, rather than using Computers—what Xianzhou people call Jade Sign. Also, there’s the Emperor’s War reason, making them reject Technology products.』
『Galaxy Bat Man: There’s also a rumor that Xianzhou people once got addicted to the Network, but it raised their Happiness threshold quickly. When Network content couldn’t satisfy them, they’d quickly lose interest in life, become despairing, and Demonic Yin Body would erupt frequently. So now Xianzhou strictly controls Network content, and many Xianzhou people voluntarily reject the Network.』
『Breeze in Embrace: …Nothing to say.』
『Breeze in Embrace: I’ll design Software for you. Just provide conditions and requirements, and it’ll auto-generate the plan. After you help, if the Golden Lane Chamber of Commerce wants it, give it to them. If not, forget it.』
『Galaxy Bat Man: Awesome, Huai Feng! Can you make it a Game?』
『Breeze in Embrace: …Yes.』
『Galaxy Bat Man:(`) Heart.』
『Breeze in Embrace: When you win the bet, call me to watch the fun.』
『Galaxy Bat Man: No problem! I can record it for everyone to see!』
『Breeze in Embrace: Good idea. Post it online, might get me some fans.』
Meng Huaifeng once again put a guest into an Illusion and started designing Software for Stelle.
The requirements weren’t high, and the Difficulty was low. Due to the Mobile Phone Martial Spirit and Meng Huaifeng’s compatible Mind’s Eye, with just a Thought, countless Code appeared. Only for parts needing thoughtful design would Meng Huaifeng use the Virtual Keyboard to type slowly.
Soon, a simulated management Game meeting Stelle’s requirements was done and sent to her.
Stelle was overjoyed. With this Divine Artifact in hand, the countless orders and Express Deliveries at Golden Man Alley Pier were handled orderly by Stelle.
Meng Huaifeng flipped through the guests’ Illusion experiences and could only say they were horrific.
Even with future Information foresight, few could do better than the originals in various History Illusions.
No standout Illusion videos. Looks like it’s time for the first episode: One Hundred Ways Time Travelers Die.
Meng Huaifeng started editing the more creative death methods.
《One Hundred Ways Confident Time Travelers Trying to Change History Die（1）》.
Sent!
Comments received.
Give Me Back My 76 Accounts: If you’re bad, practice more. Being bad is a sin.
Real-Name Online: Interesting. No one succeeded?
Cold Legs Uncle: How do you Travel? Why didn’t you tell me about something this fun?
Play Cards to Death: Want to play, but working overtime… squeezed until hopeless, my Future is Darkness.
Ruthless Fortune-Telling Machine: …
Play Cards to Death: I was wrong, Grand Diviner spare me┭┮﹏┭┮
Ruthless Fortune-Telling Machine: No overtime tomorrow.
Play Cards to Death: Long live Grand Diviner!
Cold Raven: Is there a Cangcheng Battle dungeon?
…
Meng Huaifeng blinked, feeling something off.
He clicked on Give Me Back My 76 Accounts’ profile.
Breeze in Embrace: Teacher Silver Wolf?
Give Me Back My 76 Accounts: It’s me.
Breeze in Embrace: Your Online Name…
Give Me Back My 76 Accounts: That petty Herta protected all the other accounts for those seventy-six Games to ban me! Reincarnation failed!
Breeze in Embrace: …
Breeze in Embrace: You know she’s petty, so why provoke her?
Give Me Back My 76 Accounts: Impossible! If I don’t get revenge, Silver Wolf vows not to be human!
May the Lord bless you, Amen.
Meng Huaifeng silently blessed Silver Wolf, hoping her outcome wouldn’t be too bad.
You know, you’re not dealing with just one Herta, but also Screwllum.
Herta doesn’t play fair!
Should he preemptively use an Illusion to let Silver Wolf experience how Animals walk and live?
“Family, I heard the recently popular Virtual Illusion Storytelling Wonders is right here. Let Little Guizi show the family what’s going on. Like, follow, repost—free little hearts up!”
A lively, cheerful voice caught Meng Huaifeng’s attention. Following the sound, he saw a girl in festive red Xianzhou-style clothes holding a selfie stick, talking to herself as she walked over.
“Hello, I’m Gui Naifen, a live broadcast host. You’re the boss of this Storytelling Oddity?” Gui Naifen asked when she reached Meng Huaifeng.
“Yes, I’m Meng Huaifeng. What Illusion do you want to experience?” Meng Huaifeng asked with a smile.
“Meng Huaifeng… this name sounds familiar. Like I’ve heard it somewhere.” Gui Naifen frowned and looked at her live broadcast comments.
One comment made Gui Naifen’s eyes light up.
