Chapter 243: Wishing Key

After finishing the exhausting financial reports, Su Wenqian returned to her residence as night deepened. The simulated night sky in the New Era residential zone sparkled with stars, serene and peaceful, sharply contrasting the torrent of numbers still swirling in her mind.

She needed to relax, even if only for a moment.

Walking aimlessly to the artificial lake at the center of the residential zone, she sat on a bench and stared blankly at the shimmering water. The evening breeze, carrying the scent of moisture and plants, slightly eased her fatigue.

At that moment, her personal terminal emitted an extremely faint hum—distinct from all conventional alerts. The sound directly affected her neural perception, carrying an indescribable… allure.

Su Wenqian blinked in surprise and lifted her wrist. On the terminal's screen, a previously unseen icon had appeared—an ancient, almost crude wooden button design, inscribed with an obscure symbol in archaic characters, faintly radiating an arcane aura. Below the icon, a line of small text slowly surfaced:

【Wishing Key (Temporary Trial Version)】

【Description: Press this button to make one wish. The probability of fulfillment, method, and cost are unknown. Each life form is limited to one use.】

【Enable?】

Su Wenqian froze.

Wishing Key?

What is this? A new virus? A prank? The internal network of New Era had absolute defense—how could something so absurd be implanted?

She tried to close the interface, but found it unresponsive. The ancient button and its description remained stubbornly suspended in the center of the screen, as if waiting for her decision.

Could it be the Master's new invention? Some kind of… test?

The thought quickened her heartbeat slightly. The Master's methods were unfathomable; producing something like this wasn't entirely impossible.

She stared at the "Wishing Key," and countless thoughts surfaced involuntarily in her mind.

If she could make a wish… what would she want most?

To grant New Era infinite, inexhaustible resources, so she'd never again dread mountains of financial reports? To hope the Master would pay her… slightly more attention than just a subordinate? Or… to pray that the Master's quest for the stars and seas would proceed smoothly, without further obstacles?

Countless wishes flashed through her mind, each brimming with temptation.

But she quickly calmed herself.

【The probability of fulfillment, method, and cost are unknown.】

Those words doused her rising eagerness like ice water.

Unknown probability meant it might never be fulfilled. Unknown method meant that even if fulfilled, the process could utterly defy her expectations—and bring disaster. Unknown cost… that was perhaps the most dangerous. There was no such thing as a free lunch; the more beautiful the gift, the heavier the hidden price.

She recalled the Master's oft-repeated phrase—power must be exchanged for an equal cost.

Was this sudden "Wishing Key" another form of "power"? And what cost would it demand?

Su Wenqian's fingers hovered above the screen, trembling slightly.

The ancient button seemed to possess magic, luring her—just one light press, and perhaps she could alter her reality, fulfilling some hidden, secret desire.

The night was silent, save for the gentle lapping of waves against the shore.

She gazed at the starlight reflected in the lake, then at the mysterious button on the screen, and in her mind flashed Qin Feng's deep, calm eyes—eyes that seemed to perceive all.

If the Master knew of this "Wishing Key," what would he do?

He would surely sneer. He believed only in his own strength, in controllable technology, in careful, step-by-step planning. Relying on some vague, cost-unknown "wish" ran counter to the path he followed.

And she—his most trusted assistant—should she rely on something so mysterious and unverified?

Su Wenqian took a deep breath, her gaze gradually hardening.

She withdrew her finger.

Without hesitation, she selected 【No】 on the screen.

Almost the instant she made her choice, the ancient "Wishing Key" icon vanished as if it had never existed. The terminal interface returned to its usual simplicity.

As if everything just now had been an illusion.

But Su Wenqian knew it wasn't an illusion.

She didn't know where the "Wishing Key" came from, why it appeared on her terminal, or what would happen if she pressed it.

She only knew she had made a choice aligned with her heart—and with the Master's expectations.

Relying on external, uncontrollable "wishes" was inferior to relying on her own hands, on the tangible strength gained by fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Master.

She stood, cast one final glance at the now-calm lake, and turned toward her residence.

Her steps were steadier, more resolute than before.

Some temptations must be refused.

Some paths must be walked alone.

In the core zone of New Era, inside the Ding Ceng Ban Gong Shi.

Qin Feng lifted his head as if sensing something, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of obstruction toward the lakeside in the residential zone.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at his lips.

"Test… passed."

He murmured softly, then turned his attention away, sinking back into his exploration of rules and systems.

The "Wishing Key" was, of course, a secret "character test" he had set for his most core associates, using the power of his upgraded system. He wanted to know whether the people he had chosen would waver before absolute temptation.

Su Wenqian's response did not disappoint him.

A completely trustworthy ally was more valuable than a hundred lucky-fulfilled "wishes."