Chapter 406
Yu Xunge said, "No, I tossed that troublemaking rabbit guest into another player's restaurant."
At this, Mai Mang Xiexie couldn't hold back any longer. Skipping the pleasantries, it lowered its voice and asked, "Is that skill of yours, the one that lets you move during time stop, up for trade?"
Mai Mang Xiexie had never suspected that Zai Jiu Xunge was the one behind it; its main suspicion had always been on the Octopus Barrel. After all, who else could act so stealthily without being detected?
Of course, it was also possible that the guest was deliberately causing trouble.
Even though there was a flicker of doubt about Zai Jiu Xunge in the back of its mind, when Zai Jiu Xunge returned with the rabbit and asked, "Don't you all have skills to counter time stop?" that momentarily quelled its suspicion.
Yu Xunge didn’t deny it but instead asked, "What’s your offer?"
Her earlier comment wasn’t just casual chatter. When she carried the rabbit away from Restaurant 353, she had heard commotion from the other side of the street.
Some players were still able to move during the time stop she initiated!
But those who were up to no good had a tacit understanding; she didn’t waste time figuring out who they were, and they didn’t bother to look at her either, both focused on causing chaos…
Though she felt a bit annoyed that other players were hitching a ride on her time stop, there was nothing she could do about it. Time during a time stop was precious; she couldn’t afford to waste it just to see what they looked like.
Mai Mang Xiexie said solemnly, "I won’t sugarcoat it: three SSS-level healing skills, three SSS-level attack skills, and three SSS-level defense skills."
Even without asking B8017913, Yu Xunge knew that was a lowball offer.
If she had a skill that allowed her to move freely during a time stop, even if it only lasted half the time or just one minute, she could pull off a few moves, hide, or save her own life.
After visiting so many restaurants, she knew how rare such a skill was, especially since none of the big shots she encountered could move.
Of course, it was possible that some of them had already acted before she arrived and found a way to hide.
Yu Xunge said, "You’re not being honest."
Mai Mang Xiexie thought for a moment but didn’t raise its bid again; it just couldn’t part with that much…
The cost of dying once might not even match the price it was offering.
It was just a collector's obsession kicking in.
Mai Mang Xiexie planned to ask about the active gift pack; the other party might not have skills of that level, but it could at least try to buy some information.
Once things quieted down, Yu Xunge began to think of ways to resolve the health points owed to Song Gui.
As long as that issue was settled, even if she died at that moment and lost the effect of her skill, "Mysterious Power," the greatest crisis would dissipate.
Relying on "Fourfold Spring" wouldn’t work; while it was her strongest healing skill, it required her to engage in combat…
Just then, a new guest arrived at Restaurant 353, whom she would temporarily refer to as Rabbit No. 3… uh, looking at the rabbit with only one ear, she felt an ominous premonition.
This rabbit looked a bit familiar.
Rabbit No. 3 stared intently at Yu Xunge and sat down across from Rabbit No. 1.
Rabbit No. 1: *Pfft.*
Rabbit No. 3 opened its mouth and started chattering away, sounding quite irritable.
Yu Xunge moved behind the Octopus Barrel to avoid Rabbit No. 3's gaze and whispered, "In the restaurant, aren’t employees and guests not allowed to attack each other?"
This was something she had figured out while cooking earlier.
Guests entering the restaurant would die after violating the rules three times, which was essentially a reminder to players: once a guest enters, that’s the only way to kill them.
Otherwise, if they could be killed directly, why would there be such a roundabout rule about closing the restaurant?
Conversely, these active gift packs could wreak havoc on the food street, yet once they entered the restaurant, they behaved so obediently; they must have rules to follow as well.
If players couldn’t grasp this concept and didn’t include the rule about mutual attacks in the restaurant guidelines, it would effectively eliminate a chance for players to modify the rules.
The Octopus Barrel clearly understood this too; it nodded, "I think so."
Rabbit No. 3 only stared at Yu Xunge for a moment before taking the menu handed to it by the little seahorse and quietly began to order, while Rabbit No. 1 finished its meal.
The dining time was thirty minutes, not counting the waiting time, and it had cleared its plate eight minutes early. However, it didn’t rush to leave; instead, it stood up and walked over to Yu Xunge, saying, "Do you want to make a deal with me?"
Yu Xunge replied cautiously, "What kind of deal?"
Rabbit No. 1: "You let me randomly draw one skill icon from the ones you’re currently carrying as payment, and I can let you leave this game right now."
As soon as it finished speaking, Yu Xunge responded, "I refuse!"
Rabbit No. 1 couldn’t help but chuckle, saying, "You’ve rejected my offer again."
Yu Xunge sighed, "You always want something I can’t trade."
Rabbit No. 1: "I said it’s random; what you fear might not happen."
Yu Xunge: "At critical moments, I never trust luck."
Both knew what the other was implying—Yu Xunge was afraid that her core skill, "I Want to Progress Too Much," would be chosen.
Rabbit No. 1: "But if you stay, you’re just prolonging the inevitable. You have a high chance of losing 'Midnight Exile.' You’re gambling too; you’re betting that you won’t fail, and I’m trying to help you."
All the players in the restaurant, including Rabbit No. 3, turned to look.
Yu Xunge didn’t try to deceive Rabbit No. 1; she answered each word earnestly:
"You pick randomly, the initiative is in your hands. If I stay and struggle, the initiative is in my hands. Even if the former wins, I won’t be happy; if the latter loses, I’ll lose willingly."
This statement was half true, half false, yet it was a hundred percent "truth!"
The most important reason Yu Xunge refused this deal was that she simply couldn’t bear the cost of losing.
Even if Rabbit No. 1 seemed very interested in her, liked her, and even said, "I’m trying to help you."
But could she take that gamble? No!
Who knew if this deity or demon was just enjoying the show? Was it toying with her?
But since she wanted to become a star player, even if she refused, she had to say it beautifully and truthfully.
"Even if the former wins, I won’t be happy" was a true statement; even the top lie detection skills would confirm it.
Even if Rabbit No. 1 didn’t take "I Want to Progress Too Much," taking away any other skill wouldn’t make her happy!
This cursed game mechanism meant that all the skill icons she carried were her dream skills!
No matter which one was taken, it would feel like a knife to her heart!
Moreover, more importantly, she had just completed the rare achievement "Gods, Remember My Name," and many eyes were undoubtedly on her now.
Would she exit now? That would be a mistake.
Rationally weighing the gains and risks, she should withdraw; her best choice was to exit, and it wasn’t a wrong decision.
But it felt too cowardly, too boring, too sad…
Gods wouldn’t like that; even the most obscure deity wouldn’t appreciate a "toy" that just brought them surprise and fun and then fled at the last moment.
The downsides of exiting now were far too many.
So, even if she won’t be happy if she won, she wouldn’t be one to shy away from a loss…
Even if the outcome was a loss, before losing, she had to accumulate enough capital to rise again.
Besides, she still had a copy of "■■■■■·A Rabbit Hair" left unused!
With that thought, Yu Xunge looked at Rabbit No. 1, took its paw, and sincerely said, "If you really want to help me, just upgrade my divine talent instead of playing these games."
Rabbit No. 1: "…"
Rabbit No. 3: "…"
Little Seahorse: "Whoa! Xiexie, when you scold me for daydreaming, think about Zai Jiu Xunge, okay?"
Yu Xunge: ?
Mai Mang Xiexie: "Well, Zai Jiu Xunge, this is an active gift pack, not a wishing well."
Rabbit No. 3 burst out laughing, but when Yu Xunge and Rabbit No. 1 looked over, it quickly returned to its poker face.
Rabbit No. 1, with an expression that was hard to describe, withdrew its hand: "I’m leaving."
It hopped away from the restaurant, leaving no clear indication of whether it was satisfied with Zai Jiu Xunge's answer or if it liked or disliked her more.
But Yu Xunge didn’t care.
Long before she speculated that a deity's favor would bring benefits, she had decided that if she wanted to be a star player on the world battlefield, she had to stir things up to attract the deities' attention, but she couldn’t betray her true self.
She couldn’t deceive the gods, nor could she deceive herself.
Moreover, even if one day she learned the deities' preferences, she wouldn’t be able to change herself to please them…
Just then, Rabbit No. 1 appeared again at the restaurant door, but it didn’t come in. It said to Yu Xunge, "The food is delicious; here’s a gift for you."
It tossed a pink orb, which hit the dark green robe Yu Xunge had casually draped over herself.
That was the formal outfit Song Gui had given her for the ball.
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