C19 The Exchange Code

"Then tell me, what's the reason?" Xie Yu asked, a playful smile on his face.

Truthfully, he wasn't desperate for an answer, but now that the topic had come up, a little insight wouldn't hurt.

A character as unique as 'the whale' surely had her significance, something that couldn't be chalked up to a few haphazard reasons.

He was curious enough to consider looking into it, but only if it was convenient. If digging deeper risked blowing his cover or derailing his plans, then it wasn't worth it.

In all honesty, this was merely about quenching his curiosity, not a necessity.

"The real reason is beyond your wildest guess," Lin Chuan whispered, leaning in so close that Xie Yu could feel her breath. "Some people want 'the whale' to simulate an emotion as a test subject."

"Simulate an emotion?" Xie Yu's pulse quickened, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

Had someone's ambition grown so vast that they sought to have an entity, entirely birthed from data, mimic an emotion on its own?

Could that person truly aspire to play the role of a creator?

"Look, this isn't exactly top secret. It's just that so few are in the know, and even they are skeptics. Sometimes, the truth might be hiding in plain sight, nestled within a casual remark."

Lin Chuan straightened up, her tone even. "Let's keep this between us. I don't see it as a badge of honor. If this experiment succeeds, it could lead to trouble, and I'd rather avoid that."

Xie Yu watched Lin Chuan intently, and after a brief pause, he flashed a wide grin. "No worries, I'm not keen on trouble either. I'm quite fond of this world, you know."

"That's reassuring," Lin Chuan responded with a gentle nod.

As time flew by, they delved into deep conversation. Unbeknownst to them, Soong Mu had taken a stand behind them, arms folded and a scowl on his face.

"Really, Xie Yu? You claim it was your restroom, then leave me to fend for myself at the event while you sneak off for a chat with a lady?" Soong Mu gripped Xie Yu by the arm, craning his neck as they made their way out.

"We should get going... Your event's wrapped up, and it's about time for rest, I suppose. Take care," Soong Mu said, nodding at Lin Chuan before yanking Xie Yu along and heading out.

Xie Yu let Soong Mu lead him by the hand. Lately, Soong Mu must have been hitting the gym hard because his grip on Xie Yu's arm felt stronger than ever.

Once they were away from the bustling square, Soong Mu finally released Xie Yu. He then led him to a secluded corner with an air of secrecy and fished around in his pocket for quite some time before triumphantly producing a card.

"They mentioned in the announcement that there's going to be an event in the game these next few days. This here is a redemption code for some secret gifts."

"But if you give this to me, what about you?" Xie Yu hesitated, not taking the card. He wouldn't accept it if it was the only one.

Besides, from what he knew, the game's event prizes were typically decorative items like furniture, which he had no use for. He had no intention of decorating his living room; it was fine as it was. He'd rather spend his time teaming up for dungeons, earning weapon points, and gaining experience.

His Ring Blade only boasted two golden light spots and lacked any special abilities. He was curious to see what unique powers it might manifest in the future. Ideally, a boost in damage—anything else was just fluff.

"Don't sweat it. I snagged one for myself too," Soong Mu whispered conspiratorially, giving himself a self-satisfied thumbs-up. "We're brothers, so of course, we each get one. I know you're not into the whole fanfare, so I grabbed one especially for you. Aren't you going to thank me?"

"Thanks, thanks," Xie Yu replied, his gratitude somewhat mechanical as he glanced down at the redemption code.

The card was pristine, devoid of any gaudy designs or colors, with a row of numbers on the front. Some digits were obscured, only to be revealed upon binding the code in the game. There was also an imprint of a young girl with flowing hair, which Xie Yu surmised was probably a 'whale.' On the back of the card were instructions, noting that each person could only use one code. Once bound in the game, the mysterious gift would be sent straight to the player's inbox, no extra steps required.

Xie Yu reviewed the document twice, finding only a few sentences and a string of numbers. There was nothing more, and the only way to uncover the secret of the mysterious gift was to log back into the game.

"Come on, let's head back and check out the game to see what this mysterious gift is all about. Plus, I can redeem those other two gift boxes and finally get my hands on those EXP potions!" Xie Yu said with a grin. Once he hit level 15, he'd be ready to team up with Jing Zhe and tackle the dungeon.

He might even persuade his brother, Soong Mu, to join them for a four-person dungeon run.

Leaving the Eastern Suburbs Square behind, they noted the main event was over, but smaller activities were still in full swing, and the crowds lingered. Soong Mu, clutching two exchange codes and feeling a bit like a thief, hastily urged Xie Yu to make a quick exit.

Xie Yu wasn't bothered, though. Even if Soong Mu got caught with an extra code, it was unlikely to cause a stir. These codes were meant for the players, and he could've easily snagged one if he'd been in the crowd earlier. Soong Mu was just spooking himself, and Xie Yu wasn't about to burst his bubble.

"We'll log back into the game and see what's up. It's probably just some more pointless furniture," Soong Mu remarked. A true combat-focused player, he shared Xie Yu's disinterest in sprucing up their game lobby. Functionality was their priority, not aesthetics.

"Player login successful."

Reclining in bed with his helmet on, Xie Yu materialized in his virtual living room. He was quite content with the standard-issue game lobby and felt no urge to redecorate.

He had pre-scanned the exchange codes and gifts into the game, and now he set about redeeming them. Once that was done, it would be time to form a party and dive into a dungeon.

This time, he was planning to invite Soong Mu for a two-player dungeon challenge. Xie Yu couldn't help but feel a tinge of excitement, wondering what kind of dungeon they'd encounter next.

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