Chapter 288: with translation of chapter title

「「Leaving? Why? Aren't you going to arrest me, put me in handcuffs, and throw me into a distant exile? 」 Yin Lang probed. 」

Luo Si Gu Mu: "Your imagination is interesting. However, your grudge with the space station has nothing to do with me. Logic: I will not stop."

「「Then I'll take this cassette with me. 」 Yin Lang smiled slightly. 」

「「That's just a copy. Correction: Not only the one in your hand, but also the one stored here. The genuine artifact was moved at the project's outset. Conclusion: You may freely share this data. 」」

Yin Lang's expression gradually turned grave; she threatened to attack the space station again and destroy the simulated universe, but both were mercilessly refuted by Luo Si Gu Mu.

Although Yin Lang's methods are superb, ether editing is not omnipotent and cannot destroy a universe, especially under the noses of two geniuses.

「「What is this? You went to all this trouble to set a trap, yet you don't plan to do anything? 」 Yin Lang thought the other side was utterly unreasonable. 」

Luo Si Gu Mu openly admitted: "Yes. Now, the game you painstakingly prepared is ruined, isn't it? Without fun, a game has no meaning."

「「Yin Lang, I know your demands. The company's handcuffs can't hold you; a prison is merely another stage for your game. Hei Ta and I have reached an agreement: we will no longer indulge your needs. 」」

Yin Lang instantly felt bored: "Tch, so boring..."

「「However, Hei Ta thinks this result is too lenient and wants to add a few more. For example… right now, through reverse hacking, she has located all your interstellar network accounts—totaling 76, a very objective number. 」」

「「How about having the company freeze them all, together with the game records inside? 」」

Yin Lang's expression instantly froze.

The galaxy's most dangerous hacker finally showed the expression of a cat whose tail has been stepped on.

「「What! Hey, wait——」」

——

overlord

After failing to understand terms like "game records," "accounts," and "hacking," Di Mi Wu Ge Si rarely showed a confused expression toward An Zi.

As NPCs created by other Supreme Beings, Di Mi Wu Ge Si, Xi Ti Ya, etc., completely cannot grasp these terms that only modern people understand. An Zi, however, clearly knows the meaning behind these words, so upon hearing that Yin Lang would be instantly banned from 76 accounts, he couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

All the game accounts? Wow, those two are ruthless…

「「Lord An Zi, please forgive my stupidity. 」 Di Mi Wu Ge Si bowed respectfully, 「Looking at Lord An Zi's reaction, could it be that you understand these 'game accounts'? 」」

「「Hmm. 」」

On this point, An Zi had no intention of deceiving them, but he certainly wouldn't explain terms like "online game" one by one; instead, he substituted a metaphor the guardians could more easily grasp.

「「You can think of those accounts as…… 'world‑class items.'」」

In An Zi's view, his own game accounts are even more important than world‑class items—after all, when he fought in YGGDRASIL, precious items were merely part of the game data. But the problem is that the guardians know nothing of his psychology.

He never expected that his offhand metaphor would stir up such a storm; although a few guardians barely kept their composure when he finished speaking, some had already begun to wobble on their feet.

The entire throne hall fell into dead silence.

Sensing the atmosphere was off, An Zi immediately realized the metaphor was inappropriate, but for the moment he could not think of a better one.

「「An, Lord An Zi…… seventy‑six world‑class items? Is this… a joke? 」 Mare's face turned white as he stammered while clutching his staff. 」

After all, the underground tomb of Nazarick only houses eleven world‑class items in total.

If Yin Lang truly possessed seventy‑six such powerful "items," how would her strength be measured? How perverse must Hei Ta and Luo Si Gu Mu be to freeze seventy‑six items on a whim?

「「It's just a metaphor, or I could change the wording……」 An Zi, his thoughts in turmoil, tried to make amends, but at present he could not think of a more reasonable explanation. 」

At this moment, Di Mi Wu Ge Si stepped forward.

「「Lord An Zi, I have fully understood your meaning. 」」

「「Is that so? Then that's good. 」」

「「To make the infamous Star Core Hunter this nervous…… those seventy‑six accounts must refer to seventy‑six extremely destructive weapon items, right? 」 Di Mi Wu Ge Si said confidently, 「Miss Yin Lang's ability to roam the universe stems not only from her ether‑editing skills but also from these seventy‑six weapon items, which are her trump card and the foundation of her survival. 」」

「「Uh……」」

After all that, you still don't get it at all?!

——

Yin Lang's virtual image vanished with a "pop."

「「…Logged out, I'm really anxious. 」 Luo Si Gu Mu said meaningfully, 「To a child, a game is naturally fun, but for an adult, a game is not the only way to solve problems. 」"

As soon as Xing Yi exited the simulated universe, he heard Hei Ta's triumphant voice: 「「Hmph, total victory—little brat, now you know how formidable Hei Ta is, right? 」」

「「As expected of Lord Hei Ta! 」」

「「Just knowing is enough. 」 Hei Ta proudly lifted his chin, 「I don't care about the space station, but anyone who provokes me will suffer a hundredfold retaliation. I've already had the company's people freeze all the accounts—I bet that little girl is now clutching her computer, sobbing hysterically, hahaha! 」"

「「……」」

At the same time, on a certain planet…

Yin Lang was holding a game console, watching gray‑white notification boxes pop up on the screen, her teeth grinding.

「「Gone, everything's gone……」 She jabbed the screen with her fingertips, her nails screeching against the glass, 「Really, nothing remains… too unfair, too unfair! 」"

The rare gear, hidden achievements, and limited‑edition skins she had spent countless hours grinding for—all vanished like smoke.

「「All right, don't cry and make a scene—you're not a kid anymore. 」 Ka Fu Ka sat on the nearby railing, ostensibly comforting her but actually adding insult to injury. 」"

「「……I'm not crying and making a fuss. 」"

Ka Fu Ka spread her hands helplessly: 「「Yes, yes, so what do you plan to do next? Hack a nearby company branch and retrieve the accounts? 」"

「「Well, one or two would be manageable, but this time the stakes are high—basically everything got wiped out. A branch probably won't cut it; I have to go to Beirpointe. 」"

「「That's the company headquarters—just you alone? 」 Ka Fu Ka raised an eyebrow. 」

「「Just me. Don't worry, I already have an idea—look, there's a restaurant two blocks out where a few temporary workers from the Construction Materials Logistics Department just walked in; I'll go make friends with them. 」"

「「You're leaving already? I thought you'd first indulge in that cassette you've been longing for. 」"

「「I said, I don't have any longing for it. 」"

Yin Lang slipped the game console into her coat pocket and strode lightly toward the distant White Cloud Restaurant. Who knows what kind of game lies ahead, but it will surely not let her be overly bored, after all, a game…

「「Just play while you walk! 」"

——

Sword Art Online.

In front of the wooden house on the 22nd floor of Ai En Ge Lang Te, Tong Ren gazed at the sky-screen of the silver wolf holding a game console, and suddenly laughed out loud.

「What's so funny? 」 Yasina sat down beside him holding a cup of red tea, her golden-brown long hair swaying lightly in the lake breeze, 「This little girl had her 76 game accounts banned in one go by the Black Tower, you know. 」

Tong Ren wiped away the tears from laughing: "No no, I'm just feeling emotional, you know. I never thought there would be such pure gamers even in the universe."

Yasina showed a puzzled expression: "Honestly, I can't understand why she would risk her life, going to such a dangerous headquarters just for game accounts; she's different from us—if we leave the game we die in real life, she only needs to replay, right?"

"You still don't get it, Yasina." Tong Ren gave a faint smile, "What is the purpose of games? Some play to survive, some for fun. As for people like the Silver Wolf, whether it's electronic games, Bei Er Bo Yin Te, Luo Si Gu Mu, or the Black Tower... their essence is all games, just differing in difficulty and playstyle."

"But this is too dangerous......"

"Only danger brings excitement, only excitement brings more fun." Tong Ren gazed absentmindedly at the silver wolf's retreating, running back against the sky-screen, unconsciously murmuring softly: "Dance with life, pursue joy with life... sigh, I'm also envious, ah."

——

"She started running, passing through neon, surpassing sodium light, just like when she left her hometown and raced toward the stars that night."

"Starlight stretched her shadow, illuminating the history of Peng Ke Luo De, those who wrote down legends, their vows etched by the starry sky——"

"The original 【Role-Playing Player】 said, games are for growth."

"The calm 【Tactical Strategy Player】 said, games are for victory."

"The rebellious 【Multiplayer Cooperation Player】 said, games are for encounters."

"The loving 【Text Narrative Player】 said, games are for remembrance."

"Now, the young 【Galactic Adventure Player】 said, she spoke thus——"

""Game is just for games, nothing more!""