Chapter 9: Chapter 8 7:30 in New York
Wang Hao was a bit tired from playing, so after taking off his helmet, he rubbed his eyes and savored the experience deeply.
Good things always require some savoring...
He felt a bit unfulfilled, now that's what a real game is about...
A game that combines freedom, puzzle-solving, gameplay, and action, calling it "yyds" isn't an exaggeration.
At least, for an initial script, it could score 99 out of 100. Not giving a full 100 was merely to prevent the game developers from becoming arrogant!
He felt somewhat dissatisfied because he breezed through using the "Newbie" character and incidentally saved a friend "Li Qingshan" too.
However, the Newbie character was female.
Wang Hao didn't particularly enjoy playing as female characters.
And poor "Little Black" spent 20 lives still loitering around the entrance of the building, locked in an intense intellectual and brave struggle with his 'nemesis' Little Mustache, evoking a sense of heroes amongst dragons and young phoenixes.
[Task Settlement in Progress... Expected to take 24 hours.]
[Time remaining for this chapter: 5 hours, 45 minutes, 29 seconds. You may choose to replay within this period. Happy gaming.]
"Settling a task takes 24 hours? Are they starting to play games with us..."
"But being able to replay is pretty nice."
While Wang Hao commented, he reloaded the game, trying over and over, first using the "C-9" in his hands to burn the golden imp that startled him.
But the imp just hopped a few times before standing still, nowhere near as horrifying as burning the "Blood Ginseng".
Hmm... Could it be the imp is much weaker than the "Blood Ginseng"?
Then he reloaded again, setting the third "Strange Object" ablaze – a crystal skull.
When the crystal skull burned, it produced a massive amount of black smoke.
It was truly massive, polluting half of New York and affecting millions of people, which utterly shocked Wang Hao.
What on earth is this thing?
So fierce!
Eventually, he couldn't resist taking control of the unforgettable "Little Black," starting his lawless actions.
I just don't believe I can't clear it using Little Black!
...
New York at 7:30 PM, everyone was busy. Busy living, busy dying.
Yet today was the lucky day for the homeless Joe James, as he encountered the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life!
He swore she was the most, most, most—beautiful woman.
Her unbelievably delicate face bore a confident smile, her long, muscular legs well-proportioned and strong, a voluptuous and enchanting figure that made one wish to get lost in it, and the "click clack click" of her high heels stepping right into Joe James's heart.
In an era dominated by overweight people, suddenly encountering a top-class beauty in a small alley was incredibly thrilling.
He couldn't help but reminisce about his college days.
Back then, life was colorful, full of passion, charged with the scent of hormones...
Unlike now, when life seemed devoid of hope, leaving him nothing but his dog for companionship.
Joe James greedily inhaled the fragrant breeze in the air, his innermost desires pleading, "Oh God, if you could grant me a moment of love tonight, I'd give the rest of my life for it!"
"God, please, let me kiss her toes, even just licking them would suffice!"
Sadly, God gave no response.
The only response came from the dog beside him, its buttocks tightening—a sign it needed to poo.
If he didn't walk the dog soon, it would end up soiling the begging sign.
"Oh my God, if you really pulled out dog poop, I'd kick your ass with my boot so hard!" Joe James complained to the dog.
The stunningly beautiful woman left in a rush, so hurried that she did not even glance his way.
Who wants to show compassion to a homeless man?!
"Poof, let's go!" Joe James named his dog Poof.
Since God did not respond to his request, he followed the woman with his dog in tow, seeking an opportunity to commit a crime.
Loving her would be worth a lifetime behind bars!
But something unexpected happened, Joe James watched dumbfounded as the woman walked into a parking lot, knocked out the owner of a Lamborghini in a matter of seconds, and robbed something.
"Oh, is she the Black Widow? I'm as dumb as apple pie, thinking I could commit a crime against the Black Widow!" Joe James shivered, imagining the scenario of his balls being kicked to burst.
Yet, he did not call the police.
Instead, he casually stole the Lamborghini owner's wallet, happily pulled out the green paper inside, and threw the ID cards back into the wallet.
800 dollars!
Why not take it if it's there.
...
What happened next was even more outrageous!
With the stolen money, Joe James bought some fried chicken and fries and lay on the ground enjoying it with Poof.
He enjoyed sharing food with Poof.
This yellow dog was forever loyal, even though Joe was down and out, his wife and children gone, the dog never left his side, never would.
Sometimes, life wasn't as good as a dog's life; at least, the dog was easily satisfied, would sleep soundly after eating. Humans struggled to feel content, always filled with various desires, and desires were the source of troubles. Having seen such a beautiful woman, the fast food in the red-light district felt like pig swill.
Suddenly, his vision blurred.
Joe James saw a very strange scene in the upper floors of the Emperor Building: amidst the brilliant neon lights, it seemed a gray fog had appeared?
Pairs of bizarre sparks flickered within the fog, attracting his soul like black holes.
His hands and feet turned ice-cold, fear sprouting from deep within, he did not understand what was happening, unable to tear his gaze away, continually breaking out in a cold sweat.
This continued for nearly ten seconds.
"Bark!" Poof whined a few times for not getting any chicken.
Joe James snapped back to reality, realizing the strange occurrence had vanished.
Had he seen it wrong?
He shook his head viciously, pouring another gulp of alcohol into his mouth, "I must be crazy with longing for women, to actually see colorful black?!"
...
Empire Building, 102nd floor, restroom.
Black-clothed Guard C-class Investigator, Li Qingshan.
Slowly waking up from unconsciousness.
In the dark, chilly environment, a faint scent of perfume lingered.
"What happened?"
"I just got knocked out..."
He cautiously watched the beautiful woman in front of him, with delicate and elegant features, her round oval face framed by golden wire glasses, her fluffy, messy golden waves sprawled out, exuding a languid but classy air. Even with only the neon light from outside the window filtering in, it was clear she was stunning.
"She knocked me out."
His body was tied with rope.
"What does she want to do?"
In the next instant, his pupils contracted slightly, discovering something terrifying.
She... wasn't human!