Chapter 151: Let's bet again with me!

Humanity's situation has really become this bad...?

Zhang Jie fell into thought, while Bai Zhou sighed.

What do you say? The expert player was outright killed four times by you—now we've been sent back to square one overnight.

Zhang Jie pondered for a moment, then decided to tell everyone the details of the mission he had received.

Upon learning the exact whereabouts of the Genesis Permit, Yu Xiaomo and the others were also greatly shocked.

So... as long as you kill the Nightmare King once more, all of this can be ended?

Logically speaking, that is indeed the case.

Zhang Jie nodded, pulled out the Nightmare Staff Sword, and told everyone about its abilities and his own speculation.

And the effect of the Nightmare Staff Sword, at some point, changed from fifty percent to one hundred percent; now using it to execute an enemy will completely plunder everything from them, but for some reason, the target of its plunder has shifted from anyone to the Nightmare King.

That's right—only the Nightmare King can be targeted for plunder, and this restriction seems intended to stop Zhang Jie from going berserk, immediately launching into killing and looting attributes, cutting off his thoughts at the root, but it also prevents him from improving himself, which leaves Zhang Jie feeling annoyed.

I suspect that Dream Online let me use it to execute the Nightmare King in order to let me reclaim everything that belongs to me.

Wait!

Bai Zhou suddenly spoke up to interrupt.

What you say is fine, but I need to tell you that the Nightmare King who looks exactly like you has the same status panel as your former self—whether title or attributes, it proves that he is you, which is why we're wary of you.

But the problem lies right here.

Bai Zhou furrowed his brows and slowly spoke.

Now I can't see your status panel at all, which means your original panel is on the Nightmare King.

Then how can you prove that killing that Zhang Jie isn't actually killing you?

Furthermore, given what you're saying, I'm more inclined to think that the current you is the embodiment of your rationality.

When you execute him, your rationality returns to the real you, but can you guarantee you won't be assimilated?

Bai Zhou's words made perfect sense, and were something Zhang Jie had not considered.

You say you can't see my status panel?

How is that possible?

Zhang Jie openly displayed his status panel, showing it to everyone around, but everyone shook their heads.

Indeed, it cannot be seen.

Zhang Jie's heart sank completely at this moment.

If that's the case, could he now be nothing more than a consciousness? After all, being turned into a mass of data in Dream Online wouldn't be strange.

Then what Bai Zhou said could very well happen—could it really be that I will turn out exactly as he said?

Or... perhaps nothing will happen at all?

Forget it, let's take it one step at a time.

Yu Xiaomo's talent for the unlimited loading module has a very high ceiling; the Dream Management Bureau discussed it for a long time before finally deciding to mobilize all of humanity's strength to boost Yu Xiaomo's power, in order to counter the Nightmare Zhang Jie.

Originally, they didn't hold much hope for this, but you arrived, bringing your talent and paid upgrades, which multiplied the possible improvement Yu Xiaomo could gain by countless folds.

And Bai Zhou teased you, saying you are Yu Xiaomo's exclusive weapon, making the little goblin loli blush incessantly.

You also noticed that since you returned, Yu Xiaomo has become even more clingy, and she no longer says her usual teasing remarks, completely shifting from a feisty little goblin to an obedient loli, which you're still not quite used to.

Since you lost your status panel data, your frail physique has also been brought into the Dream Realm; now even running a short distance leaves you panting, yet you have no good solution.

This feeling makes you miserable, and consequently your mental state has become somewhat listless, and you've started to indulge in random thoughts.

Among these, what worries you most is what Bai Zhou said; you keep having a premonition that he might be right.

And Yu Xiaomo, this little goblin, remains the most perceptive; she once again noticed your abnormality first and invited you to the old barbecue shop to eat, for some reason she always likes to invite people to eat barbecue, always the same shop.

This shop isn't just open in reality; the owner also has a stall in the Dream Realm, but when you arrived at the barbecue shop, you discovered that the place you usually frequent had already become an unmanned, vacant outlet for rent or sale.

This also means the shop's owner has met with misfortune, and everything he owned has turned into a blank.

This made you and Yu Xiaomo feel, for the first time, the poignancy of changed circumstances; she felt helpless, so she could only pull you to another barbecue shop, though this time she didn't invite Liu Delie.

Yu Xiaomo has become very frank, expressing her worry for you and asking about your concerns, yet this little goblin loli's change still makes you feel unaccustomed—damn it! Clearly she's a little troublemaker, why is she putting on the airs of a mature, knowledgeable older sister?

But you didn't complain; you confided in her about the worries hidden in your heart....

Anyway, that's how it is.

Bai Zhou's words make perfect sense, so I have no choice but to take his situation into account.

If, in fact, I am merely a mass of consciousness that will eventually return to my original body....

I don't know whether the final me will still be me.

I am quite likely to be devoured again by the Nightmare.

Before the two of them lay a large table of barbecue, but missing was the figure who usually devoured it voraciously; this table of barbecue now seemed overly abundant.

Yu Xiaomo fell silent; she knew Zhang Jie's worries, but she dared not again assert confidently that nothing would happen, for half a year ago during that leisurely period she had also been so certain.

Yet what she got in return was a total loss on all fronts.

Both remained silent; in the end, Yu Xiaomo spoke once more.

Zhang Jie, want to have another match with me?

I'll bet with you! You won't be devoured, you won't become a Nightmare—how about that?

Zhang Jie stared, seemingly not expecting Yu Xiaomo to say such a thing.

After a while, he let out a speechless laugh.

Still thinking about betting? For how many years have you never won against me once?

What? Still want to go for a high-stakes gamble?

Heh heh! Who hears of a gambler who loses every day?

Yu Xiaomo laughed happily, and Zhang Jie, infected by her mirth, couldn't help but laugh as well.

Exactly! Alright, I'll accept your bet!

Then I'll bet that I'll be devoured, letting you win once!

Hehehe!

Yu Xiaomo stuck out her tongue.

Come on, eat, Zhang Jie; if not, call that dry‑rice guy Liu Delie over to help us two out.

Thus, a bet is formed again between the two, but who will win in the end could be Zhang Jie or could be Yu Xiaomo; after all, this is all an uncertainty.

(This simulation will end soon! Ginseng here is seeking the opinions of all you foster fathers.)

(After the simulation, should we add more real‑world plot? After all, after writing the encounter, most of it is daily life; if you foster fathers want to see it, you can let out a squeak.)

(Moreover, the preview for the next simulation is also here! It's the Protocol Four that you foster fathers have been looking forward to.)

(In the endless ravaging Insect Disaster, a powerful civilization stands tall; what supports them is that extremely powerful Mecha technology.)

(The venerable Mecha 'Chi Hong' that fought alongside its first master, upon retirement was brought back to its homeland by its master and comrade to retire there, becoming a domestic robot with rich experience, and began taking on the new task of caring for children.)

(The new order 'Protocol Four: Protect the Young Lady' was issued; henceforth, Chi Hong's sole supreme directive is to carry it out without sparing any effort.)

(It spent the arduous Insect Disaster with the Young Lady, accompanied her in joining the army, accompanied her back to the battlefield, and even to the end never forgot its supreme directive, until it completely faded away...)