Beta testers knew that Perfect Life could be turned into an adult game. The multiple CB had changed most of the game’s rules and maps, but there were still some loopholes. Normal players wouldn’t know these loopholes, only those with special resources would and Liu Guang was one of them. He was Xin Lu’s most famous paparazzi. Not one single cent that he owned was clean but so what? He didn’t steal or rob, he believed he had earned everything he had with hard work.
The process might not be pretty but he didn’t care. The readers online didn’t care so why should he? Liu Guang removed his shirt and crawled into the special edition gaming hub that cost a lot. His goal was to enjoy this heaven-like second life. The meaning of happiness, the goal of healing, he couldn’t care less. To do things without the need of holding back, to make others cry, to humiliate others, to trample on them, those were the things he loved.
As a paparazzi, even if he had a lot of money, he didn’t dare to show his face around town. This was because he had too many enemies. In real life, he had to hide in the dark. Only inside Perfect Life, he could be his real disgusting self. Liu Guang had been following this game for a long time already. He was very clever. Several years ago, he believed this game would change people’s lives forever. From then on, he started his plan. Based on his resources, he started to collect information and arrange stuff during CB, so he was in possession of a lot of hidden information. Since the game entered OB, he had been using the information to flourish in the dark. One day, he would step into the light.
“In Perfect Life, players can invite NPC with more than 80 friendliness levels home as guests. However, physical contact is banned between normal NPC and players. However, in a mission to take care of the handicapped, the players can have full physical contact with specific NPC.” Even in the warmest Iyashikei game, there would be disgusting things. Despair wasn’t specifically limited to the cryptic world but many people didn’t understand that. “Unfortunately, after screening so many NPCs, you’re the only passable one. If you’re the game guide, it’ll be perfect. But one day, I’ll make her my bitch!”
Liu Guang locked the door to his room. He pulled away his newbie outfit. He kept screaming and hollering, causing the handicapped NPC to cower in fear. “That’s right, Perfect Life is heaven! I can do anything I want!”
He reached out to grab the NPC’s wrist but at that moment, he felt his consciousness being pulled. He was like a hooked fish, yanked away against his will. When his line of sight returned to normal, the NPC that he wasted a lot of energy to scam home had disappeared, instead a horrible smell of mould entered his nostrils. He looked around and realized he was inside an old toilet.
“The game bugged out? Or the photon computer has increased protection for NPC after OB?” Shielding his nose, Liu Guang kicked at the sink. “Stupid computer, people play the game to seek happiness and excitement, no? You refuse to even give me that, this trash game will soon be abandoned!”
To raise the NPC’s friendliness level to 80, Liu Guang had been doing her missions for the past few days but now she had disappeared. In his fury, he kept venting using the objects inside the toilet. The mirror and sink were shattered. The man had no sign of human culture and morals at all. “Why is this place so smelly? Where am I?”
Human faces flashed through the broken mirror. The face looked cold and pale. “Is anyone around? I need someone to serve me now!” Grabbing the cup on the sink, Liu Guang threw it into the living room. “You bunch of NPC really think you’re something? I’m the player and you’re the NPC, the reason for your existence is to be toyed by the players like myself!” He roared angrily. Without putting on any clothes, Liu Guang stormed out from the toilet. “This game even have a punishment mechanism? I’ve spent so much money to buy the special edition gaming hub and you dare to not serve me?”
Liu Guang was about to open the menu when he heard the living room door open. He turned to look and saw a man in a mask standing at the door. Beside him was a polite looking security guard.
“There’s no system notification?” Liu Guang was confused but he didn’t care. In this game, he could do anything. At worst, he would abandon this account and start a new one. “The two of you, come over now.” He ordered but no one moved. “Your preset personality is aloof?” Liu Guang looked around. He grabbed the mop and soaked it in toilet water. “Come, let me wash away some of that aloofness.” Dragging the mop, Liu Guang was planning something when the curtain in the toilet stall fell. He saw a dirty red dress floating inside the dirty bathtub. His eyes trembled and he took a step back. But he soon returned to normal.
Seeing this reaction by Liu Guang, the man in the mask spoke, “10 years ago, have you encountered a female livestreamer with an incurable disease? She liked to wear white dresses. She was beautiful, sunny and kept bringing people around her hope.”
“What are you talking about?” Liu Guang’s expression had betrayed him.
“Normally I would use my neighbour’s power to create various illusions to slowly induce you to tell the truth but now I think a thing like you don’t deserve our time.” The masked man sat down and instantly a blood red chair appeared behind him.
“If 10 years is too long ago, then try to think about what happened recently. A few months ago, did your group not force a starlet to commit suicide by framing her as a drug addict?” The masked man wasn’t loud but his words were cutting.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Liu Guang grinned. “You bastard and your tricks. If you dare, then remove your mask, I have a million ways to make you regret this!” Before he finished, a shadow darted towards him. A heavy kick landed on his lower body and the huge force sent him flying against the wall! Liu Guang covered his injured jewels and his eyes were about to pop out from his head.
“You should have told me you don’t know how to speak human language. There are many animals at Cattle Alley, someone will be able to understand you. In fact, do you speak cat?” The masked man touched his tattoo and an animal monster patched together by different animal fur appeared behind the man. The cat monster was bound to the tattoo so that it couldn’t escape from the man’s body fully. When the cat monster appeared, the atmosphere inside the room shifted. The temperature dropped and the room reeked of blood. The monster’s body kept expanding until the head with the cat’s face reached the ceiling. The expression froze on Liu Guang's face. How could such a terrifying thing exist in the game?!
“I’ve participated in multiple CBs, such monsters shouldn’t exist in the game!” Veins popped on his forehead due to pain. Liu Guang curled up on the ground and he couldn’t even climb up.
“A creature like you can exist in the game so why can’t my cute and innocent kitty?” The masked man didn’t leave his seat. “Why are you so scared? Isn’t this just a game for you? If you’re that scared, why not try quitting the game?” With the kind reminder from the masked man, Liu Guang stopped hesitating. He immediately opened the menu but to his consternation, the exit button had disappeared. The space where the button was, was now blank!
“I can’t quit the game!” The pain from his body was replaced by fear. Cold sweat dripped down his cheeks. He suddenly regretted not putting on clothes because he was shivering.
“I’ll ask you again, did you force a starlet to death several months ago?”
“That has nothing to do with us! We only operated like normal, it’s not our fault that she has such a fragile mental constitution. We can’t be blamed for her mental illness!” Liu Guang searched through the menu but couldn’t find the exit button.
“Your normal operation includes creating rumours, slandering and harming the reputation of an innocent person? The dead starlet was pretty so you attacked her looks; she was unwilling to cave to perform sexual favors but you spread the rumors that she did. And now you’re claiming you have nothing to do with her death?” The masked man’s voice chilled.
“Xiayi’s death is caused by the team member! My job is to collect money, I can’t control every group member so this is really not my fault. Plus based on the information provided by the client, Xiayi’s father once worked at a plastic surgery hospital. When she was small, she was sent into the hospital to receive a personality transplant.” Liu Guang stammered as he looked at the large cat spirit. He was no longer as haughty as before. Xiayi was the female star that died not too long ago. She was an orphan. She lost her parents 10 years ago. Han Fei felt sorry for her so he cared about her death.
“You have to trust me! I really didn’t want her to die. The woman was very nice, she wasn’t the kind who would choose to end her life.” Liu Guang kept explaining but his explanation only caused the shadows around him to thicken.
“What is the name of the plastic surgery hospital she visited?”
“I don’t know! The client didn’t provide that information, we were only responsible for the later operation.”
“Who was the client who found you to attack Xiayi?” The masked man had the cat monster stop. “Tell us that and then you can go back to your Perfect Life.”
Covering his exposed lower body, Liu Guang said without hesitation. “She was quite famous 10 years ago. Her name is Xia Yilan. When she was young, she looked just like Xiayi, so she claimed Xiayi has stolen her face.”
“Xia Yilan?”
“It was her who told us about the plastic surgery hospital. If you want to know more, go and find her!” Liu Guang pleaded, “I’m only just a tool. I’m also innocent, can I go now?”
“You’ve admitted to the things related to Xiayi but there’s one more thing that you haven’t explained yet.” The masked man waved his hand and a pale figure brought a giant delivery box to the front door. “10 years ago, did you not force a female livestreamer to death? When she died, blood dyed her dress red.”
Pain and fear soaked into Liu Guang’s heart. The harshness was just a disguise. This kind of trash only dared to hide in the shadows. When he ran into someone tougher than him, he’d cave. Compared to before, Liu Guang hesitated longer this time. “I’m surprised someone still remembers that. The girl built her brand on being nice, but we didn’t believe it so we tried to break her image to make her expose her true personality…” The temperature in the room dropped to freezing point, the mist on the window condensed to form blood flowers. Shadows in the room suppressed their rage.
“Is that the simple reason for you to kill a person?” The masked man already got all the info he needed. He stood up to leave. “You can start your Perfect Life now.”
“What do you mean? How can I leave?”
“You’re already in Perfect Life but the Perfect Life for good people and bad people is different.” The man turned to leave. Liu Guang crawled on the ground. When he reached the door, several guards in blood red uniforms appeared. They pushed the giant delivery box into the room.
“Did he say we were meant to be toyed with?”
“Do not get too emotional. Keep him alive at least until the red dress is back.”
“The sin in his heart is thicker than ours. Can a human really get so twisted?”
The guards chatted among themselves. Ignoring Liu Guang, they opened the giant box. They poured the things covered in human blood out.
“I heard from the temporary building manager that you like to be served? Well we’re here to serve you.” The 2 surviving guards from building 1 pried open Liu Guang’s mouth and shoved the things that barely looked like food into his body. Screams came from the room. Han Fei removed the Cattle Mask and led Ying Yue away.
“Xia Yilan? This woman is unnaturally beautiful. Her prime was 10 years ago. However, until now she doesn’t have a signature work.” Han Fei thought back to the guest list for this year’s movie festival. This Xia Yilan would be there too, she would be announcing one of the winners.
Han Fei only wanted to take revenge for the red dress so he was satisfied with this additional reward.
“I now desperately need info on the hospital. After I quit the game, I need to find a way to contact this Xia Yilan.”
9 comments:
It can't be as bad as the cursed hospital at least
Uhhhh considering that I've been putting off reading that arc since forever, can you tell me how scary it was? Wait, you're talking abt the xin hai hospital, right?
Thanks for the chapter translator-nim! I hope you're healthy and well!
The 4 star one?
Hey, wtf, this is once again so short. Such a cockblock. This author needs to put more effort into the comedy parts like he did in my house of horrors, this is just a bit too pathetic. We don't even get to see him gradually descend into despair, hell, the livestreamer isn't even there to join the party and I don't think we'll get to see it! I also want to see the result after the torture...
I'm even starting to get a bit annoyed at this continued cockblocking. I expect more but it always ends way too short for the fun parts, but the tense parts can go on almost forever. It's way too imbalanced compared to my house of horrors...
Man, I'm getting pissed. Someone reading this around the same timing as me has WAAAAAY too many things to complain about the story, always comparing it with MHoH. They're from the same author, but that doesn't mean they have to be the same story! This is what I don't get. If the author creates another story with the same things as their previously successful one, the readers will say, "It's just a copy of the other series." If the author makes it different, they'll still complain saying, "I prefer the other series." Like dude, just STOP. You've read 400+ chapters already might as well just stop wasting your time if you don't like it! Stop complaining to the translator because they can't do anything about it.
I personally haven't read MHoH but I have read several series that have the same author, and I learned to just treat it like a DIFFERENT STORY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT EXACTLY IS: A DIFFERENT STORY! It ain't even a spin-off or a pre-/sequel. There's a reason the title's different!
anon above me +1
to be fair, i would love to see some served justice as well but since its not here its okay.
Actually i believe it is a good thing the torture is not here, seeing als the MHoH comments i feel like the author evolved from "prechewing everything for the reader" to "give the reader ehough hints to fire up thier imagination and move on with the story"
even if it is just meant as a test from the author to see reactions it is still evolution, it is boring seeing the same stuff over and over again, using techniques like these is what makes a good author.
+1. Those comments are getting really annoying and cringe. I'm glad that this novel has its own pacing, it would be disappointing if the author always used the same formula. If you're looking for more comedy, go read MHoH again or find another novel to read ! MIG is a great story and deserve to be seen as its own standalone novel, it's not a prequel, sequel or sharing the same universe as MHoH. Please respect the author and translator.
Don’t be harsh on him, comment people. Ever person was emotionally impacted differently by different books. Maybe for him MHOH was something really special, and his expectations for this book were way over-tuned, while his memories about MHOH were over-exaggerated.
Not seeing his imaginary masterwork being brought to life might be really, really painful and distressful for the fool.
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