It was as if the previous scene had never happened.
In the cafeteria, faced with the game board Leon Vance had set up and the two players he had pulled in—Tolle and Miriallia—Lacus Clyne seemed to revert to the innocent PLANT princess, watching curiously as Vance arranged the board and then drawing everyone into playing.
“Oh!
It’s the Outstanding Elite Card!!
I’ll use this Elite Card to replace my existing Employee Card and boost the company’s profits!”
After rolling the dice, Tolle exclaimed in delight upon realizing the number he rolled was high enough to let him swap for the more profitable Outstanding Elite Card.
He eagerly replaced the last Employee Card in his hand.
As the replaced Employee Cards accumulated to a certain point, Vance gradually revealed a faint smile.
“Sorry, Tolle.
Since the total number of Employee Cards replaced by all players has exceeded the limit, a special effect is now triggered on the board.
All companies under the players’ names will undergo a management review.
Please respond immediately, or all players’ companies will suffer a negative effect of reduced profits.”
“Ah!!
How could this happen?!”
Tolle and Miriallia exclaimed in unison.
Judging from the profit data of each player’s virtual company, Tolle and Miriallia’s companies were the most likely to achieve final victory.
The triggering of this negative effect could severely damage their virtual companies at any moment.
Thus, after each drawing a card from the Special Cards in Vance’s hand, their expressions varied, seeming somewhat hesitant.
When Vance handed a Special Card to the silent Lacus Clyne, he met a pair of eyes scrutinizing him.
Seeing this, Vance smiled.
“Miss Lacus Clyne.
It’s just a game; there’s no need to take it so seriously.”
“Is that so?”
Lacus Clyne’s gaze dimmed slightly before she nodded.
“Then, I concede.”
“Huh?
Wait.
Lacus, why are you conceding?
You still have quite a bit of profit left.”
Miriallia looked at Lacus Clyne in surprise.
“No.
I’m just tired! This chapter is updated first at g.com.
I want to return to my room and rest.
Sorry, Ensign Vance, could you help me?”
“Of course.”
Vance set down the cards in his hand, handing them all over to Tolle and Miriallia, who were eager to continue playing a few more rounds.
Then, he escorted Lacus Clyne out of the cafeteria and back to her room.
Before entering the room, Lacus Clyne stood inside the doorway, looking at Vance outside and speaking softly.
“Ensign Vance.
Until I can leave this ship, I will remain in this room.
I’ll trouble you all with meals and other trivial matters.”
“No.
It’s what we should do, Miss Lacus Clyne.”
Lacus Clyne nodded slowly, took a step back, and the automatic door closed, separating her from Vance.
Lacus Clyne fell silent for a moment, her strength gradually draining away as if being sucked out.
She swayed slightly and returned to bed, her mind filled with scenes from the game she had just experienced.
The Outstanding Elite Card, ordinary employees, profit fluctuations, the competition for interests among players, and the special effects triggered by the accumulated abandonment of ordinary employees by players without mercy…
If possible, Lacus Clyne wished she hadn’t been able to grasp the true meaning behind this game in such a short time.
Clearly, before she had even asked Vance that question, he had already been prepared and responded to her doubts in this manner.
“Interests, dialogue…”
Lacus Clyne slowly lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, in the hallway outside the room, Vance made his way back along the same path with Mechanical Cat Bao Bao.
“I never expected that something worth just a few dozen points could be used by you in such a clever way.”
Mechanical Cat Bao Bao rarely expressed admiration.
“It was just a matter of going with the flow.
If she didn’t have the potential, this would have been nothing more than a small game to relieve pressure and bridge gaps.”
Vance chuckled softly.
“And if she does?”
“Then…”
Before Vance could finish, Mechanical Cat Bao Bao paused, its electronic eyes flashing rapidly a few times before beginning to broadcast.
“Announcement!
Due to the Trailblazer’s influence, Lacus Clyne’s beliefs have been slightly shaken, and there is a possibility of deviating from the historical trajectory.
Please take note, Trailblazer!”
“Announcement!
As a result, the Trailblazer will be granted one Calculation Opportunity as a reward.”
After the announcement, Mechanical Cat Bao Bao slowly lowered its head, with faint, subtle sounds of teeth grinding barely audible.
“You really hit the jackpot this time.”
“Just average.
It was nothing more than a casual effort.”
Vance spread his hands and grinned, changing direction as he headed back to his room.
Needless to say, he was undoubtedly going back to see what new Calculation projects were available for him to choose from.
Considering the timing, the Calculation progress for the GN Drive should be nearly complete.
Thinking about it now, it was truly unexpected that a customized game exchanged for just a few dozen Reward Points could achieve such unforeseen results.
What surprised Vance even more was how easily he had been able to influence Lacus Clyne during this period.
Was it because she hadn’t yet experienced the assassination of Siegel Clyne and the heavy blow dealt to the Clyne faction?
Or perhaps this world itself had undergone subtle, hard-to-detect changes?
Lost in thought, Vance returned to his room and immediately opened the new Calculation projects.
At a glance, there was no option for the GN Drive like in the previous Calculation projects, but there were numerous weapon-related Calculation projects instead.
Large Particle Beam Sabers.
Long-Range Particle Beam Sniper Rifles, and other such armaments were displayed in dazzling variety, overwhelming to the eyes.
However, none of these Calculation projects were what Vance urgently needed at the moment.
After scanning through them, just as he thought there were no desirable options, Vance’s eyes lit up.
“GN Particle Capacitor and GN Particle Supply Pipeline System.”
Seeing this Calculation item, Leon Vance no longer needed to consider.
“Select this Calculation item.”
“Selection confirmed.
The calculation time for this item is 168 hours.
Do you wish to begin?
Once started…”
“Begin!
No need for repeated reminders.”
Vance patted the little head of Mechanical Cat Bao Bao, causing it to shake its head and dodge his torment while making an announcement.
“Calculation item confirmed to begin!
Please wait patiently, Trailblazer!”
With that, Mechanical Cat Bao Bao slipped out of the room, leaving only one sentence behind.
“I’m going on duty at the bridge!
You’re on your own for the time being!”