[Reminder: Please leave your brain at the door before reading this novel.]
[Brain Storage Counter.]
Interastral Peace Corporation, Strategic Investment Department.
As one of the IPC’s seven major divisions, Strategic Investment serves as the universe’s largest specialist team for liquidating non-performing assets.
Repay the money?
Repay the debt?
Repay with your life!
That’s more or less how the process goes.
Since its establishment, this department has been aggressively clearing out the bad debts caused by the Cancer of All Worlds.
Bai Qiong—a transmigrator?
Maybe.
With an innate sensitivity to information and a natural talent for it, along with an impressive academic record from Punklorde, three years of technical support experience across the interstellar networks, and just a tiny bit of backing, he had finally clawed his way up to P40 and secured himself the opportunity to slack off and coast through life.
At the moment, however, he had stumbled upon a freshly gathered piece of intel that piqued his interest immensely.
At the very location where four members of the Genius Society had collaborated to build the Simulated Universe—Herta Space Station.
He had detected traces of his arch-nemesis.
That little brat Silver Wolf had actually hacked into Herta Space Station!
How did he know?
Please.
As if he’d never hacked the place himself.
Sure, there had been a minor punishment after he got caught that one time, but he’d still managed to leave behind a few “eyes” in the surveillance data network.
As for whether he should interfere…
According to the memories that had been steadily resurfacing since he turned ten, the Stellaron Hunters were the good guys.
But based on the values he’d been raised with before the age of ten—the ones ingrained in him since childhood—he remained deeply skeptical of those later-awakened memories.
After all…
what kind of “good person” backstory involves memories of a past life that, the moment they encounter anything related to a certain game, instantly reformat themselves into the phrase: “The Stellaron Hunters are the good guys!”
Only an idiot would believe those memories were real!
Hence the question mark after “transmigrator.”
In a universe where the Paths of Remembrance and Elation exist, it was entirely possible that some Memokeeper had stuffed fabricated memories into his head, or some Masked Fool was treating him as a source of personal entertainment.
Though the memories seemed to have stopped resurfacing not long ago, the very last memory he received was—
A man who looked exactly like him, who shared his name, had tripped over his own ingrown toenail, stumbled into a wall corner, and bled out from the impact!!!
That only cemented his certainty.
Those memories had to be fake.
Aren’t transmigrators in modern novels supposed to die heroically pushing a little girl out of the way of an oncoming truck?
Who dies in such an absurd, ridiculous way?!
Even if someone did die that absurdly, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be him!
Late at night.
Inside his office.
Bai Qiong examined the data files in his hands.
“Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf.
Whoa, she’s got a bounty of 5.1 billion credits!
That little wolf cub’s doing pretty well for herself, huh?
Given our history, she’d probably let me cash in on her bounty at least twice, right?”
Bai Qiong couldn’t help but indulge in the fantasy, a greasy, unwholesome grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
His mother had confiscated all his salary, so his personal savings amounted to a pathetic 1,145.14 credits.
If he could turn Silver Wolf in for the reward twice…
10.2 billion credits!
Instant noodles with sausage, with a chicken leg—and definitely two noodle blocks!
And two bottles of SoulGlad to wash it down!
If he could have that setup every single night, man, he could pull all-nighters until sunrise!
No, no.
Last time he’d gotten her caught by Herta.
This bounty scheme needed careful, long-term planning…
“Stellaron Hunter Kafka.
Bounty: 10,899,000,000!!!
Holy—” He sputtered.
“Okay, she looks dangerous.
Silver Wolf’s only at 5.1 billion, and I’m maybe just a tiny bit stronger than Silver Wolf.”
“What the hell is this ‘Spirit Whisper’ thing anyway?” Bai Qiong scanned the fine print beneath the entry.
“…Isn’t this just the hypnosis mechanic from some galgame?”
Bai Qiong’s face flushed.
That was way too sketchy…
“This Blade guy looks seriously intense…
I feel like I’ve seen some fanart of him and someone named Dan Feng…
Probably just a coincidence.”
“Stellaron Hunter Sam.
9.723 billion credits?
This weirdo in the mech suit is worth that much?
Something about him feels familiar though…”
[New Message]
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: Uncle, doesn’t this kinda look like you?
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: [Image]
GlammothVeteran: !!!
Bai Qiong stared at the silent contact’s profile picture.
It was identical to the image of the Stellaron Hunter Sam in the file!
His brow furrowed deeply.
No way…
it can’t be…
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: Uncle…
you wouldn’t happen to be…
On the other side of the screen, the heart of GlammothVeteran was pounding in her throat.
What do I do?
What do I do?!
Is he about to figure out that I’m a Stellaron Hunter?
If he finds out, will he hate me?
After all, the Stellaron Hunters don’t exactly have the best reputation across the galaxy…
GlammothVeteran: I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to keep it a secret.
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: …You wouldn’t happen to be a Sam fanboy!
Both messages were sent almost simultaneously.
Firefly blinked at the screen, then let out a long, relieved breath.
Bai Qiong noticed the strong reaction and figured the guy must be embarrassed about openly stanning a wanted fugitive.
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: Relax, Uncle.
When it comes to the fan community, being a Stellaron Hunter fan is honestly on the milder side.
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: There are people out there who actively stan the Denizens of Abundance, the Antimatter Legion, and even the Swarm.
You’re totally fine.
GlammothVeteran: Ah…
is that so…
InstantNoodlesSayImMalnourished: Alright, Uncle, I’ll leave you to it.
You’re not in the best health, so don’t spend too much time online.
Drink plenty of warm water, get plenty of sleep.
I’m logging off.
GlammothVeteran: Mm.
Firefly’s cheeks flushed pink.
I’m not always online!
It’s just…
whenever you message me, I happen to be there…
Bai Qiong spun around lazily in his swivel chair, round and round.
Based on the intel he’d just reviewed, besides Silver Wolf, the other person aboard the space station was that terrifying galgame master—Kafka!
After careful consideration, Bai Qiong decided it was best not to wade into these muddy waters.
As for whether the space station was in any danger?
Come on.
That wasn’t just any space station.
That was Herta Space Station.
What could possibly go wrong there?
The Simulated Universe device was housed right there.
Would those four geniuses really let anything happen to it?
“Forget it.
I saw nothing.” Bai Qiong shrugged and lifted his milk tea from the desk.
Just as the cup reached his lips and he caught a whiff of that rich, fragrant aroma, his phone suddenly rang.
He pulled it out and stared at the caller ID—
The Old Witch!!!
“Hello?
My most benevolent and merciful Mother Superior, what orders do you have for your humble servant?”
Bai Qiong’s voice dripped with exaggerated theatricality.
His allowance for the month hinged entirely on his mother’s mood.
“Are you asleep?”
“Not yet.
Still working in the office.”
“If you’re not asleep, then why aren’t you heading to bed?!
Look at the time!
Still in the office ‘working’?
Don’t make me lecture you!
Just because I’m away on a business trip for a few days doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want at home.
Hurry up and go to sleep!”
“Heheh…”
Bai Qiong hastily set down his milk tea and shut off his computer, which was still auto-farming mobs in some game.
“As you command, esteemed Lady Jade Mercy!
Your loyal—and completely obedient—son!”
With that, he hurriedly ended the call.