Chapter 100 - 98

Chapter 100: Chapter 98(Actually, it’s Chapter 98, the Chapter title is wrong)

Irfan’s voice can no longer be heard at all.

The well-known real-world idol ICEY, or Jin Huixing, silently put down the paper cup pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window, her gaze complex. It’s hard to say whether it’s a feeling of sorrow for the like-minded or relief that the one who died wasn’t herself.

To be fair, Jin Huixing’s life has been fairly smooth. Her parents worked in government agencies in Seoul and she received elite education from a young age. Even when she debuted as an idol for personal interest, she didn’t have to endure the harsh exploitation by the company or serve as a walking bar tab like some trainees from the civilian class.

After unexpectedly becoming a player, she caught the attention of the Global Supernatural Alliance. She learned about the real world from them and eventually agreed to sign a contract to become an employee.

The Global Supernatural Alliance provided her with resources including scientific training and equipment, while she continued to maintain her idol status, releasing albums, appearing on shows, and touring.

And through a nameless device brought out from the killing field, she converted the "affection" and "adoration" of thousands of fans into tangible droplets, which she submitted to the guild. As for the purpose of those droplets, she was not clear.

’After all, Irfan was a Lv8 player from Prometheus Company, and now he’s died so unclearly, not even leaving an intact corpse. If I died, and my body was teleported back to the real world, probably only my parents would truly be heartbroken...’

Jin Huixing lowered her eyelids, considering the MO of the Global Supernatural Alliance, they would probably cover up her death, find someone to undergo plastic surgery to look like her and continue to exist as ICEY.

It’s not about being cold-blooded, it’s about efficiency.

Then again, in this era where appearance, voice, physique, and even emotional memories can be customized, what exactly distinguishes one person from another...

Tap tap tap.

The sound of high heels getting closer interrupted Jin Huixing’s contemplation. Annie walked back into the living room with big steps, her attire changed to a red dress and rhinestone-embroidered lambskin heels.

She showed no concern for Irfan’s death, sat on the sofa elegantly, and elegantly took out a makeup mirror from her handbag, applying lipstick while looking into it.

"Speaking of which, you’re called ICEY, right?"

Annie glanced at Jin Huixing and casually said, "How about we collaborate?"

"Hm? Collaborate on what?"

"In the last round of the game, I set myself up as a tragic survivor. This round, I’m bound to receive a considerable number of sympathy votes from the audience."

Annie said, "Let’s temporarily join forces and figure out a way to eliminate the others."

"This..."

Jin Huixing fiddled with her blouse’s collar button. Given Annie’s ruthless and underhanded behavior in the previous round, collaborating with her was akin to negotiating with a tiger for its skin, but if she didn’t agree, she might become Annie’s hunting target.

After a moment of hesitation, Jin Huixing changed the topic and asked, "Mr. Irfan was from Prometheus Company, right? Aren’t you afraid that Prometheus will trouble you after the mission ends by eliminating him with slander and entrapment?

You should know that their guild members all carry a ’Black Box.’"

In the aviation industry, a Black Box specifically refers to a flight data recorder, which records information such as flight time, speed, altitude, aircraft data, and conversations between pilots and cabin crew.

Similarly, in the killing field, some players also carry a small data recorder to record the audio and video of the player’s surroundings.

Even if a player dies in the mission, when the body is teleported back to the real world, their guild could figure out how they died, and compile the death process into a log for later players to learn from and heed.

Since every player’s potential is a rare resource for human civilization, the major guilds do not encourage players to seek revenge on other Summoners based on data recorders after the death of relatives and friends.

Of course, theory is one thing, reality is another, and there are occasional revenge incidents.

This has given rise to an unwritten rule—if someone kills another player during a Script Task or a death match, one must dispose of the body and evidence to avoid repercussions.

Annie casually said, "First, this is a death match task; life and death are not held accountable to each other. No legal case will find me at fault.

Second, from the sounds of it, Irfan was eaten by wasteland beasts after he was thrown out, it’s uncertain whether the Black Box could remain on his corpse.

Third, I am a member of the Witch Alliance, and I am not afraid of Prometheus."

These three reasons were quite persuasive. Jin Huixing asked again, "Why not find someone else?"

"Because you’re the most isolated and weak."

Annie said naturally, "I’ve already had a fallout with Leonardo, Little Red Riding Hood and Ant clearly know each other and have formed an allience, that FBI agent Harley is an enigma to me. And Will... heh, he’s ’dangerous.’

Compared to that, you are powerless and have no allies. Although your looks are quite sweet and pleasing, in this reality show of universal beauties and hunks, good looks don’t count for much."

She paused, as if giving Jin Huixing time to think, "I’ll only make this offer once. If you don’t agree, I’ll go find someone else to ally with."

"...I agree."

After struggling for a moment, Jin Huixing nodded, "The second round is a talent showcase, who do you want to eliminate?"

"That, we’ll discuss when the time comes."

Annie set down her lipstick, snapped the makeup mirror shut with a click, and took out a tube of white cream from her handbag, applying it under her eyes.

Under Jin Huixing’s astonished gaze, Annie’s eyes quickly became red, and a flood of tears poured down, a picture of a tearful beauty.

"Tear stick, the main ingredient is menthol. Applying it under the eyes can stimulate the tear glands to secrete tears."