Chapter 1160: Payment Counter
Lin Sanjiu had a feeling that, after dealing with the perplexing Ya Jiang, she now had another even more troublesome person around her.
"Is being unaware of one's own beauty what makes one more beautiful?" Gardenia gestured vigorously, as if she wanted to shut up Ya Jiang, who was about to argue with her, with her following words: "Such words are said by people who are not beautiful. Beautiful people have been praised and pampered since childhood. If they are still unaware of their own beauty, it only shows that they are deaf, dumb, and blind."
"Blind?" Ya Jiang's voice had already become weak from being suppressed.
"You already see it, don't you? For example," Gardenia said, turning slightly and glancing at Lin Sanjiu. However, considering her display just now, she seemingly changed her mind and continued speaking to Ya Jiang, "Compare yourself to me. Isn't it obvious who's beautiful and who's not?"
"I don't think I'm ugly..." The two parts of the man muttered softly in protest.
Gardenia generously waved her hand. "That doesn't matter. Look, we're at the payment counter."
'Doesn't matter? When you said that all along the way?' Lin Sanjiu sighed in her heart, not even understanding how this woman named Gardenia so naturally and effortlessly joined them. It was as smooth as a hot knife through butter. She had heard a theory before, the essence of which was that if you behave like everyone should open the door for you wherever you go, people really will open the door for you. Gardenia was the living embodiment of that saying.
"Just beside the payment counter."
When they were still a few meters away from the payment counter, Gardenia, who was leading the way, gestured to stop them like a boss. "That ugly brother and sister stole my restorative ointment. Be careful, the younger brother becomes very powerful when he's near the payment counter for some unknown reason, and is very difficult to deal with."
"What abilities does he have?" Lin Sanjiu had already activated her [Higher Consciousness Scan]. However, when she opened it, she was startled.
She had only wanted to see if the so-called ugly old man was nearby. But now, with almost half of her sensory perception damaged, she suddenly realized that the payment counter and the surrounding area were much busier than she had imagined.
Lin Sanjiu looked up, and her gaze swept across the high walls beside her. If she hadn't been alerted in advance, she probably wouldn't have been able to see the low shadows. That person was lying on top of the wall, motionless, his figure hidden quietly in the shadows as if he were just a part of the wall. The posthuman standing about a dozen meters behind him, however, showed no intention of concealing themselves—she stood straight on top of the wall like a praying mantis on a sparrow, but Lin Sanjiu couldn't tell if she was staring at the payment counter or at the man lying in front of her.
"Oh, there's someone above."
Gardenia followed her gaze and was also surprised. That made Lin Sanjiu feel a bit better; she wasn't the only one who hadn't noticed. It seemed that everyone's combat power was significantly impaired.
She didn't expect Gardenia to wave at the person on the wall and call out, "Hey!" It startled both Lin Sanjiu and Ya Jiang, but neither of them was as surprised as the man lying on the wall. He looked up, revealing a face of surprise and doubt.
"Do you see an ugly, wrinkled old man up there?" Gardenia's attitude was so natural that it could be called elegant. "Didn't see him? Oh well, then please keep an eye on the area for me, okay?"
The man stared at her, and after two seconds, he finally nodded slowly.
"Thanks. Oh, by the way, there's another person behind you, getting closer and closer."
When the man jumped up from the top of the wall, Gardenia turned her head around, looked at the two people beside her, and was even more puzzled than they were. "Why are you both staring at me? Good looks aren't everything."
"It's nothing." Lin Sanjiu didn't know how to start the conversation, so she decided to change the topic. "There are also quite a few people on the road nearby."
"Right." Gardenia shrugged and brushed her shiny shoulder, decorated with golden dust. "Have you ever seen the Animal World show?"
Huh?
"The payment counter is like a rare water source in a drought. Once the news gets out, people come here like zebras or lions who are thirsty for water. They all gather around here. However, unlike lions and zebras who can coexist peacefully by the water source, humans can't. Come over here."
Ya Jiang hugged his leg and followed like an assistant following a star. They didn't approach the payment counter but turned to a nearby side path. As soon as they entered, he took a deep breath.
Several posthumans stood silently on this road, some hugging their arms, some leaning against the wall, all keeping a considerable distance from each other, and no one made a sound. Even when they saw someone coming, the posthuman closest to them just lifted their eyelids. It seemed that no one was willing to make the first move, as everyone was aware that they were being watched by many pairs of eyes from behind.
Gardenia, like a responsible tour guide, raised her silver staff and unceremoniously pointed at these posthumans. "You see, everyone gathers around the payment counter, waiting for the NPCs to start working. Some want to exchange organs for points, some want to exchange points for items, and there are others who have nothing and are waiting for an opportunity to pick up some bargains."
Lin Sanjiu really wanted her to put the staff down quickly.
"Where did the NPCs go?" Ya Jiang asked, looking at the empty white counter in the payment area. His [Common Comedy Tropes] was still active, perhaps because he was currently unable to move, which made him feel particularly unsafe. However, it happened to facilitate the group's plan—although asking him to give up the mop was practically like asking for his life.
"Lunchtime. NPCs have to eat too," Gardenia said matter-of-factly. "You know what, they are actually quite... normal, similar to living people anywhere else."
A question that had been lingering in Lin Sanjiu's heart for a long time finally made her unable to keep silent.
"Why did you remind us?" she asked. "You know that we are newcomers who know nothing. Why don't you take advantage like everyone else?"
Gardenia looked around at the other posthumans, then smiled at Lin Sanjiu. Regardless of how difficult she might be to deal with, this smile made it feel as if a summer firework had bloomed in the night sky. She raised her index finger to her lips and whispered, "I have a plan, and I need partners who are willing to believe in others... not these annoying ghosts who think they can't survive unless they kill everyone else. You should know that if you try to fight alone in the general hospital, who knows how many rounds you will have to go through before you can leave! But the specifics are not convenient to talk about in front of so many people... I need you to take a look first, see what this place is like, and how cruel the posthumans here can be."
"I thought you wanted to take revenge on the ugly old man," Ya Jiang murmured.
"While I'm at it," Gardenia said nonchalantly.
"How did you know we are newcomers?" Lin Sanjiu asked, digging to the bottom of the matter. "You don't know every person here."
"Wushi Fan wanted to deceive you both into following, which means you are newcomers." Gardenia tilted her head, and the waves of her long curly hair slid down her cheek. "How did she find you?"
Lin Sanjiu told her about the fake price list.
"That's strange," Gardenia said, frowning slightly, which was like a sudden ripple in the sea. "They can forge that thing? Do they carry printers with them?"
This question was something no one could answer besides the siblings—but after looking at each other, none of the three asked the girl on Lin Sanjiu's back who was lying motionless.
"I've never heard of this method before," Gardenia said, pondering. "It's hard to defend against for newcomers. When these patient rooms are unoccupied, anyone can freely enter and exit; the only thing is that the doors can't be locked... They enter the patient room, replace the price list with a doctored one, and when a newcomer takes it and comes down, they can easily track them. Well, too bad you threw it away. I would have liked to take a look."
After turning the price list into a card, Lin Sanjiu didn't see anything peculiar. She felt that even if Gardenia saw it, there wouldn't be any difference.
What else should she ask? It was rare to encounter someone willing to inform them. Perhaps she should ask about some information she already knew and see if Gardenia would tell her the truth?
Just as Lin Sanjiu was thinking about this, a faint commotion erupted in the air around the payment counter, like sand and mud stirred up at the bottom of a lake, swirling in the dim water. The group turned their heads quickly and heard someone clearing their throat from the small shop that served as the payment counter. Immediately after, a door leading to the interior of the shop was pushed open.
Compared to the fake goods, the only difference in the real payment counter was that the product boxes on the shelves were more sparse and worn out. The door was carelessly slammed shut, causing the old electric fan to sprinkle some dust. An NPC walked behind the counter and let out a long yawn.
Lin Sanjiu stared at the plump female NPC and asked, "How many NPCs are there here?"
"Who knows?" Gardenia also became tense, constantly scanning the surroundings. It seemed that even with such beauty, it didn't mean there was no danger to her life. "Different people come when changing shifts, and they all have their own personalities and tempers. It's especially authentic."
"Shouldn't we move back a bit?" Ya Jiang, with the weakest mobility, still clutched his thighs, and his face remained pale with nervousness. "I don't have an organ like a kidney that can be taken without pain or discomfort."
The payment counter was located in the center of a crossroads, not leaning against any walls. Although no one could tell where the NPC came from, as soon as a posthuman approached the payment counter, they would be spotted by all eyes.
"Why can't you carry him?" Gardenia said, looking at Ya Jiang like a farmer looking at a poorly growing vegetable. "Actually, if you don't want to participate in my plan, it's also fine."
Lin Sanjiu sighed, placed Wushi Fan behind Ya Jiang, instructed him to hold on tight, and then crouched down. She lifted him up in her arms, cradling his legs. After Ya Jiang finally stabilized himself, his legs were resting on her right arm while his upper body floated above her head, like a strange balloon.
The plump female NPC looked around and shouted, "Is anyone here to buy something? I'm very busy; I can't wait here all day for you!"
"I told you, they all have their own temperaments," Gardenia said in a low voice. "She looks like the kind of person who would slack off during work. And if she did, these people will have come here for nothing."
A heavy silence hung over the crossroads, like a dark cloud before a storm. After waiting for a while, a small voice finally broke the silence, saying, "I want to trade."
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Incidentally, the translation accidentally deleted something in Chapter 1144, but we added it back. We thought it best to inform everyone!
Also, in other news, we'd be happy to have more proofreaders, message this account if you're interested!