C14 The Exhibition Hall

"You arrived just in time. Five minutes earlier and there'd have been no one to open the door for you," Xie Yu said as he opened the door, welcoming the person waiting outside.

Clad in a black tracksuit, with a matching sports cap and crisp white sneakers, the visitor exuded youthful energy at first glance.

Xie Yu, on the other hand, had little interest in anything athletic. A self-proclaimed homebody, his aversion to the outdoors had left his skin a shade paler.

The only thing that could coax him out was the prospect of checking out new happenings in town.

"Xie Yu, there's an exhibit over at Eastern Suburbs Plaza featuring a gift box from Reveler World. I know you've been diving into that game lately. Interested in taking a look?" Soong Mu inquired, peering around the doorframe at Xie Yu, who was in the midst of changing.

It went without saying that Xie Yu would be on board. His recent dedication to Reveler World rivaled the intensity of a student engrossed in their thesis—perhaps even more so.

After years as neighbors, Soong Mu was all too familiar with Xie Yu's quirks.

"Reveler World has definitely caught my attention, but what's this about a gift box?" Xie Yu asked, grabbing his jacket and readying himself to head out.

"It's supposed to be a special offer for new players. You're still within the 15-day window for newbies, aren't you?" Soong Mu offered, reaching for the keys. He knew Xie Yu's place like the back of his hand, having visited countless times.

"Newbie time... yeah, I've still got that," Xie Yu mused, doing the mental math. If the gift box was indeed for new players, it might contain items like experience potions, which would help him meet the upcoming Hibernation Awakening event's requirements with ease.

"Experience potions would be a godsend right now. I'm racing against the clock to level up," Xie Yu remarked as he finished dressing. He took the keys from Soong Mu, and together, they headed downstairs.

He hadn't yet claimed his reward for the last dungeon clear, but considering he was swiftly taken out by the Thunder Stinger this time, he didn't expect much in terms of rewards.

His mind was preoccupied with the game, causing him to momentarily miss what Soong Mu was saying to him.

"This event's going on for a bit, but I'm gonna be swamped for a while, so I might not make it back. I carved out some time today, so let's make the most of it," Soong Mu said, slinging an arm around Xie Yu's shoulder and ambling forward.

He had work commitments, but on this rare day off, he made a beeline to see Xie Yu.

For the longest time, his dear friend was the only one willing to join him in his escapades. Others might have been willing, but Soong Mu clung to Xie Yu as if he were a prized possession, unwilling to let go for anything.

Finding someone with a shared passion was hard to come by, and he wasn't about to let that slip away.

Remembering the loneliness of attending events by himself in the past, Soong Mu felt a pang of sorrow.

He was overwhelmed with a bittersweet nostalgia, particularly poignant when he was at exhibitions, watching couples while he stood alone, often leading to tears of solitude.

Now, with a fellow enthusiast by his side—even though not a lady—it was a considerable improvement.

Soong Mu stroked his chin, feeling quite pleased.

The Eastern Suburbs Plaza was just east of Xie Yu's place, a spot he often visited. Sometimes, after dinner, when the mood for a stroll struck him, he'd head to the plaza.

It housed a sizable exhibition hall that hosted numerous events. Despite the world's digitization, some traditions and lifestyles from the bygone era persisted.

The man sought control, not to transform everyone into soulless, emotionless slaves. After all, leading a horde of mindless servants held no appeal.

Nobody desires a legion of thoughtless beings for underlings.

Outside the Eastern Suburbs Square, a massive billboard and posters had been erected, featuring a heavily made-up monster with a split grin. Looming behind it was a diminutive silhouette. Xie Yu caught a glimpse as he walked by—it appeared to be a woman's figure.

"Who's that in the image?" Xie Yu pointed at the silhouette of the woman, his curiosity piqued.

The figure was somewhat indistinct, revealing only the outline of a woman with hair so long it nearly touched the ground.

There was something familiar about her, yet he couldn't quite place where he'd seen her before.

"Which one? Let me have a look," Soong Mu leaned in and peered up, recognition dawning on him. "Oh, you mean the 'whale' from the game."

At the mention of the name, Xie Yu's memory clicked into place. It made sense why the figure seemed familiar.

In Reveler World, players were tasked with defeating the "whale" at the stroke of midnight each day. Only then would the dungeon relinquish weapon points. Having encountered the "whale" just once before, it was no wonder the familiarity lingered.

"Why even have such an NPC in the game? If the system doesn't want to award weapon points, it could simply withhold them. Or if it does, why not just give them outright? Why create an NPC that's down to its last hit point?" Xie Yu mused, his brow furrowed as he stood before the massive advertisement.

What was the purpose behind such a seemingly redundant feature?

"Come on, don't overthink it. Maybe it's just a little Easter egg in the game," Soong Mu suggested, eager to explore the exhibition inside. He tugged at Xie Yu, urging him forward.

As Xie Yu allowed himself to be led away, he cast one last glance at the image. If only the existence of this character were simply a playful secret.

But he had his doubts about the benevolence of the game's creators—at least, he wasn't convinced.

By tomorrow's midnight, he resolved to take a closer look at the "whale." But the opportunity would be fleeting; players had only a second to act before the "whale" would be vanquished, and the game would commence.

Entering the exhibition hall, they were greeted by an array of posters, signs, and a throng of characters—many of whom were simulations from the game's world.

Among the crowd, people recognized characters they had encountered in dungeons. Xie Yu had only completed two dungeons, including the beginner's tutorial. He had met Alice in the first and a puppet doll in the second, making the chances of running into them here quite slim.

The crowd was teeming with life as Xie Yu and Soong Mu made their way through, pausing with every step they took.

"Where's that newbie player gift box you mentioned?" Xie Yu inquired, his gaze fixed on Soong Mu with earnest curiosity.

Soong Mu turned his head slowly, a look of incredulity washing over his face. "Old Xie, with all these gorgeous women around, you're still hung up on a novice player's gift box?"

Xie Yu nodded with conviction, "That's exactly why I came, for the gift box."

At a loss for words, Soong Mu stared at Xie Yu, who clearly wasn't bluffing, and finally bit the bullet, "Alright, let's go grab that gift box. Once we've got it, you're joining me for a proper look around."

Xie Yu agreed with a nod, wondering if the gift box might contain an experience potion, or better yet, some gold coins.