Chapter 1470: Gong Daoyi Writes Greeting Cards and the Elusive Client
As Lin Sanjiu's neck slowly turned towards the Life Coach, she felt like she must look like an owl from a nature documentary, with her eyes wide open, as if her eyelids couldn't cover them. "What?"
The Life Coach was taken aback by her expression as if even he wasn't sure anymore. "Yes, there's something..."
"What do you have?" Lin Sanjiu felt as if a million questions surged to the forefront of her mind. Her mouth couldn't keep up with them. "What does he want? What's his deal? Did he know I would ask this question? How long have you been with him? No, wait, answer this first: why does he know Marcie?"
The Life Coach chose the easiest question to answer first. "For most of the time I was with him, I was in the... um, 'fragmented' state that Caster mentioned. He had so many others lined up, he hardly needed me. So, I can't say how long exactly, but probably no more than a year."
This answer deflated half of Lin Sanjiu's anger. "Only a year? Then you hardly have any clue about what he did, right?" She waved her hand. "Just tell me everything you know."
Lin Sanjiu and the Life Coach leaned against the cubicle, gazing out at the hallway. The Artist nearby occasionally shook his leg. The Life Coach crossed his arms. "You hit the nail on the head with one of your questions. Before he gave me to you, he guessed you'd ask about him."
If he had guessed this and still willingly sent the Life Coach to her, did it mean the Life Coach didn't really know Gong Daoyi?
The Life Coach's next words seemed to confirm her suspicion. "His plans, thoughts, character... honestly, I don't know much about them. I can't offer much information."
Before Lin Sanjiu could express her disappointment, he continued, "So, he hoped you'd see for yourself."
It took a couple of seconds for Lin Sanjiu to digest this. "See for myself?"
The Life Coach glanced at her. "Yes. He told me back then that if you asked about him, I should relay these words he left behind. If you didn't ask, then never mind."
"What are they?"
"'In the Karma Museum, I've left a message for you. If you're willing to see it, the key is [Time Rewind].'"
Time Rewind? Lin Sanjiu paused, then suddenly remembered the Special Item deep in her card inventory—acquired around the same time as the Life Coach and [There's Probably Someone Like This in Your Class]. Now that she thought about it, Gong Daoyi's shadow seemed to be cast over that entire period, like a cloud's shadow from the sky.
The [There's Probably Someone Like This in Your Class] card had something mixed into it that made her forget, and in the end, Puppeteer took it. The Life Coach card held a message from Gong Daoyi for her, leading her to the Karma Museum, while [Time Rewind] was the key to unlocking the message. Just how many arrangements did he set up for her? How many of these arrangements had she already completed? How many times would she stumble into Gong Daoyi's web in her path ahead?
Lin Sanjiu shuddered, yet she knew she would definitely go and see, even if the message itself was a pawn in Gong Daoyi's plan.
"Coincidentally," she murmured, "I was actually planning to go there."
Whether it was truly a coincidence or not, she didn't care to ponder. Thinking about it would be pointless anyway.
Perhaps feeling guilty for not providing much key information, the Life Coach tried to make amends. "Let me think if there's anything else I can tell you... Oh, sometimes he'd get himself an assistant to help him with miscellaneous tasks. They don't stick around for long. I've heard from other humanoid Special Items that after some time, the assistants just disappear."
"They die? Did he kill them?"
The Life Coach frowned, recalling. "No. One time when I manifested, I saw him writing a greeting card, seemingly to a former assistant. I don't know the guy, something like Lei Ming. Oh, you don't know him either? Gong Daoyi wished him a happy marriage on the card."
Lin Sanjiu would never have guessed that she'd hear the phrase "Gong Daoyi writing a greeting card" from the Life Coach. It wouldn't be just a simple card anyway; it must be another pawn. Who knew what arrangements it carried and how much hope or despair it brought?
"I wish I could know what Gong Daoyi is truly like," she murmured, thinking of Marcie, who was so near yet so far. "Maybe I shouldn't have sent Puppeteer to the Karma Museum."
"Worry about that when the time comes," the Life Coach said, looking refreshed. "Now, think about how to find clients in this game."
Lin Sanjiu was pulled back to the present and sighed.
It was indeed a headache. They both faced the door, staring at the corridor for a long time, not hearing a single footstep of a passing client. How—wait a moment.
Speak of the devil; right after her complaint, wasn't that a series of footsteps coming from the depths of the left corridor?
"Client!" Lin Sanjiu's eyes lit up, and she jumped up, rushing out the door. "You two keep watch," she instructed the two humanoid Special Items. "I'll be right back."
The corridor in this building was deep and complicated. Amidst the echoes, trying to locate the source of the footsteps by sound alone proved to be a bit challenging. Lin Sanjiu hurriedly crossed several corridors, searching each one, only to realize that the footsteps seemed to be approaching her and getting closer. She stood still for a moment, listening, then rushed off in the opposite direction.
She almost collided head-on with Whit E., who had just come around the corner.
Just as Lin Sanjiu assumed that Whit E. got to the client before her, she saw Whit E. hastily step back, glancing around behind her and asking, "Was that you? There's no client here?"
Lin Sanjiu was taken aback and then understood. "I heard your footsteps and thought you were a client." No wonder the footsteps seemed to be coming towards her; it turned out Whit E. had the same misconception, thinking she was the client.
"I've been searching for a while," Whit E. said. He looked quite distressed, the previous demeanor of a business professional now accompanied by sweat and a hint of agitation. "There are no clients, not even one."
Lin Sanjiu eyed him, unsure whether to believe him or not. "It's not that there are none, you found one, right? Although Qian Dao took him from you."
Her office was nearby; she couldn't let Whit E. discover it. Thinking quickly, as Whit E. opened his mouth to reply, Lin Sanjiu stepped a few paces to the side, stopping in front of another corridor. It appeared as if she was trying to block Whit E. from entering that passage.
If Whit E. didn't notice, that was fine, but if he did, it would be even better since Lin Sanjiu's office was in the opposite direction.
"That bastard," Whit E. spat upon hearing Qian Dao's name and glanced at Lin Sanjiu. You better watch out for him, too. Now that he has money and can move stealthily, he can attack anyone easily."
Of course, he wouldn't be genuinely concerned for Lin Sanjiu's well-being; he likely intended to ally himself with her, creating another enemy for Qian Dao. Lin Sanjiu seized the opportunity to ask, "So, he was indeed tailing you?"
"Yes, it's strange. After I found the client but before I rented the office, I meticulously searched the area and found no one." Whit E. sighed. "God knows what methods he used, and how he followed me. I went through so much effort to establish a company, but now I'm forced to start from scratch, unable to find a single client."
So, even if she believed an area was clear, it might not be safe?
Whit E. stared at her and asked straightforwardly, "Have you found any clients?"
"If I had found one, I wouldn't dare to come out alone, would I?" Lin Sanjiu wouldn't tell him the truth — she had almost gotten used to this game that encouraged people to lie and deceive each other. "Besides you, the other two players could potentially have 2 attack points. If I had a client, why would I leave them unattended?"
Whit E. might also have 2 attack points, although the likelihood was lower. Lin Sanjiu deliberately excluded him to convey a message: I don't consider you a threat, and I hope you don't consider me one either.
Whit E. nodded, the restlessness still evident in his eyes and facial expression. He seemed unsurprised that Lin Sanjiu hadn't found a client and seemed to believe her instantly. "I'm not sure about Lily's situation. Since she has established a company, she might have found at least one client. But as far as I know, neither I, Qian Dao, nor you have found any new clients recently."
"What's going on?" Lin Sanjiu said, realizing she should provide some information in return to keep Whit E. talking. "Lily hasn't found any either. She took one of my Special Items, and when I tried to retrieve it, I found out there were no clients in her office."
"That's strange," Whit E. said, wiping his face. "Could it be that the one I got inadvertently is the only client on this floor?"
He scoffed and continued, "I know Qian Dao's territory, so I've checked several times, even killing one of his Level 3 search employees in the process. I'm certain that after he took my client, he hasn't found a single one."
Lin Sanjiu frowned. After a brief exchange, during which they couldn't reach a consensus and still retained a certain level of mutual distrust, their conversation quickly ended. They awkwardly stared at each other for a moment, neither wanting to move first, as neither wanted to reveal their intended direction.
"Let's do this," Whit E. suggested. "We leave at the same time in opposite directions."
Lin Sanjiu nodded, pointing to the corridor behind her. "I'll go this way."
Listening to Whit E.'s footsteps fading behind her, she walked slowly, pondering what he said.
She had a vague idea about where to find a client.