Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Legendary - Noah’s Star (3rd Update, 14000 Votes for Full Subscription)
Noah unscrewed his mechanical fingers, then lubricated them with some oil before screwing them back on.
From this scene, Lu Luo could confirm that his body wasn’t just *like* that of an ordinary robot; it *was* an ordinary robot.
"It seems you know who I am, don’t you? Let’s hear it. Let me see if you’re right."
Lu Luo felt a strange sensation, and this strangeness all stemmed from the Noah standing before him.
Because when a robot converses with you in such a human-like manner, it inherently feels exceedingly odd.
And when you know that this robot is an Eighth Order disaster, a monster that nearly eradicated humanity, that feeling becomes even more bizarre.
Easy there with your answers, Lu Luo. I’m not max level yet, and I’d rather not end up six feet under.
Lu Luo wholeheartedly agreed with the Observer’s suggestion; he didn’t want to be buried either.
"According to my guess, Your Excellency must be the great Intelligent Machine Monarch—Lord Noah."
Noah removed his hat, revealing a bald mechanical head, and rubbed his forehead in a very human-like gesture.
"Although flattery can be pleasurable, lies only provoke anger. You’ve lied, Mr. Lu Luo. Your Sequence should be S-11 Observer. If your Observer level is high enough, you should be able to see my identity directly; there’s no point in hiding it."
"Ah? This!"
Lu Luo’s pupils contracted slightly. Why was this Noah so familiar with Observers?
Noah took a sip of coffee. After he drank it, the mechanical gears in his chest began to turn. Then, the mechanical imitation stomach located at his rear began to rub and twist, mimicking a digestion process. After a while, a vent opened near Noah’s ear, expelling the original water vapor from the coffee directly out of his body.
Clearly, even though Noah had reached the Eighth Order, he still couldn’t absorb moisture.
Moreover, the entire process of him drinking coffee struck Lu Luo as utterly bizarre.
Was that his version of... urinating? Urinating through his ears? How utterly grotesque!
"My coffee is very fragrant and sweet. Why don’t you try it?" Noah suddenly said.
"Certainly, Lord Noah."
Lu Luo took a sip of the coffee, frowned slightly, and then put the cup down.
Although Noah exuded an air of peace, the pressure Lu Luo felt from him was far greater than that from the Nightmare Demon—many times greater, in fact.
So, despite having many questions, he didn’t dare to ask as freely as he had in front of the Nightmare Demon.
"I know you have many questions, but I sense you’re smart enough to guess some of them. As for the other parts, I don’t really want to explain them to you. It’s tiresome, you understand what I mean? Well, if you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t."
Oh great, another self-proclaimed expert! Do robots have this annoying habit too? Who coddled him into this? Show yourself!
Tired? A robot, the Intelligent Machine Monarch, could feel tired?
But compared to Noah himself—such a high-ranking disaster—and the matter of who participated in the game, which concerned others, Lu Luo was more concerned about himself and how much Noah knew about him.
"Lord Noah, are you very familiar with my abilities?"
"Not exactly familiar. I know you possess S-02 Devourer, S-04 Fusioner, S-07 Summoner, S-11 Observer, and... the Doomsday Disc."
Why does it feel like you’re completely exposed in front of him?
How the hell would I know? Lu Luo was also shocked.
He knew not only the Sequences but even the Doomsday Disc?
"Lord Noah, you certainly know a lot!"
Noah shook his head and continued to drink his coffee.
"Put away those little schemes of yours. What do you think an Eighth Order Exotic Species amounts to? The Doomsday Disc, although a very powerful item, is meaningless to the Exotic Species. What they truly want is the Dawn Disc."
Hearing Noah so openly admit that the Exotic Species coveted the Dawn Disc took Lu Luo by surprise. However, his choice of words and tone were somewhat off. *They*? *Want*? Did Noah himself not want it?
"What exactly is the use of the Dawn Disc? Its function is the exact opposite of the Doomsday Disc’s. You have the Doomsday Disc, don’t you? Grow a little stronger, work backward, and you’ll figure it out."
Alright, the topic was too advanced; Lu Luo didn’t know how to respond.
"Uh, the players Lord Noah mentioned... who are they?"
"Didn’t you meet the Clown?"
Noah’s electronic eyes flickered, indicating puzzlement.
"The Clown? The Clown is clearly a Humanoid Species! He isn’t human."
After Lu Luo finished speaking, Noah immediately adopted an expression of hearty laughter.
"HA HA HA! The Clown has human emotions, human thoughts, and human habits. If he doesn’t count as human, then what kind of person do you think qualifies as human? To put it another way, Mr. Lu Luo, what race do you consider yourself to be now? A mutant species?"
Noah’s question left Lu Luo speechless. If the Clown wasn’t human, then it seemed he wasn’t human anymore either.
"Alright, you’re right."
"The distinction between Exotic Species and humans is currently defined by you humans. Mr. Lu Luo, if you consider yourself human, then you are human. If one day you feel uncomfortable being human, you can become an Exotic Species. These are all your own choices."
Lu Luo didn’t know if Noah was trying to subtly guide him, but Noah showed no signs of coercion or intimidation. Overall, he seemed much more detached and far more imposing than the Nightmare Demon.
"I understand, Lord Noah."
"You don’t need to worry about the future of humanity or things like that. Currently, no one is willing to initiate a Dark Tide to attack humans. You should already have some sense of the specific reasons for this: Dark Energy is increasing—continuously, relentlessly. The world of the Exotic Species also needs a new order, and we are searching for new ways to coexist with humans. So, for now, the main theme is peace."
Noah spoke in an even tone, yet his words conveyed a strong sense of credibility to Lu Luo. It was the kind of attitude a powerful figure might have, disdaining to lie to a nobody.
"Lord Noah, did you summon me here for something specific? Perhaps related to the game content?"
"Nothing much. My game is hardly a challenge for you. The Ghost Mansion is currently the most difficult reasonable game. To increase the difficulty further would merely mean inflating game statistics, like making a Third Tier like you fight a Sixth or Seventh Tier. Pitting you against a Seventh Tier disaster right now wouldn’t be reasonable. Therefore, the games no longer hold any substantial meaning for you. However, for many ordinary people, these games are still very significant; they can grow rapidly here. This is especially true for the humans of your Fourth Ring world; the games are immensely important for them, allowing them to quickly close the gap with the Inner Ring. I called you here this time simply to have you inform them that the games exist and will continue to exist. It doesn’t matter if your own kind looks down on the people of the Fourth Ring; I value them. Moreover, I will cherish these humans more than you do."
Noah’s voice remained calm, but Lu Luo detected a strong assertiveness in his tone. Although he didn’t understand Noah’s motives for valuing the people of the Fourth Ring, or even ordinary people, Lu Luo was certain that an Exotic Species like Noah, who had once nearly exterminated humanity, couldn’t possibly have intentions as benign as helping the people of the Fourth Ring achieve prosperity, as he claimed. Lu Luo couldn’t fathom Noah’s true purpose yet, but for now, he had no way to refuse.
"After I return this time, even if I don’t say anything, many people will learn about the amusement park, won’t they?"
"Hmph. You are different from them. After you return, the Church and the Council will undoubtedly investigate you. Just tell them truthfully what you witnessed."
"Tell them truthfully? Including your appearance here?"
Noah detached his arm, tightened a few screws inside, and rearranged some wires before continuing, "Of course. Humans always forget fear. If I weren’t a presence in games like these, there would be no deterrent. They are too foolish. Alright, Mr. Lu Luo, you may leave now."
Hurry and go! I’m under so much pressure!
Lu Luo nodded. However, just before leaving, he suddenly turned his head to Noah and said, "Oh, by the way, Lord Noah, although it may be impolite to say this, I still want to remind you. Coffee is never sweet; its defining characteristic has always been bitterness."
With that, Lu Luo pushed open the door behind him and left.
Noah glanced at the coffee pot before him, an expression of utter confusion on his mechanical face. His electronic eyes flickered rapidly, as if in deep thought. After taking another sip, a look of pleasure spread across his features.
"A single error can invalidate all rules. Rewriting, redrafting... emotions, perception. There is still much lacking."
Then, Noah muttered to the empty air beside him, "Find the one who told me coffee was sweet and kill him. Burn the body too."
...
Upon his return, Lu Luo went straight to the game center.
System: Calculating your earnings. Your income from incineration and kills is 70, your income from assets is 133. Your total income from the Ghost Mansion is 203.
System: You have solved the hidden puzzle of the Ghost Mansion. You are now the new owner of the Ghost Mansion.
"New owner? I probably won’t be going back to that place."
Although he had spent an entire night in the game, only six minutes had passed in the game center.
A few scattered players stood in the middle of the game lobby. Lu Luo scanned the hall and immediately spotted the accountant. He realized that, unlike him, the other players from the Ghost Mansion game had not had their appearances altered.
However, he didn’t rush to find the accountant, because a new ring had appeared in his hand.
[Noah’s Star]
Grade: Legendary
Effect 1 - Spatial Storage: Noah’s Star is a 4m*4m*4m space ring capable of storing a large number of items.
Effect 2 - Game Beacon: You possess Noah’s game beacon, allowing free entry and exit to Noah’s game world.
Description 1: Crafted with true space-folding technology, this belongs to technology from the highest Domain.
Description 2: Thank you for telling me that coffee is bitter, Mr. Lu Luo. —Noah.
This must be the legendary space ring, right? Seems like an unexpected benefactor is far more generous than a familiar one, huh! Lu Luo, my boy, maybe we should... consider switching sides and pledging allegiance to this ’thief-turned-father’?
"This thing!"
Ignoring the Observer’s suggestion, Lu Luo was still in shock. After all, spatial technology itself was an incredibly advanced concept. This kind of technology, allowing for the instantaneous storage of items, was even more preposterous.
"Finally, a spatial item! This is standard gear for a protagonist!"
Muttering to himself, Lu Luo walked towards the accountant and made a beckoning gesture with his hand.
The accountant watched Lu Luo head straight for her, feeling somewhat bewildered. She knew she was supposed to meet the steward, and after exiting the game, she had tried to imagine what he might look like. But she had never expected the steward to be so young and handsome. She was at a loss for what to do.
"Hello, Miss Accountant. I’ve come for my 55 points. Of course, 90 points still go to the Holy Light."
At this moment, Lu Luo’s expression was genuinely benevolent. Although he was there to collect money from the accountant, she no longer felt the previous sense of distance and coercion. Perhaps this was an advantage of good looks.
"Oh, okay! I earned a total of 740 tokens from the last task. I’ll give them to you now."
Her mood seems excited and giddy. Getting excited over being extorted? A masochistic streak? Humans truly are complex creatures.
From the 740 tokens, Lu Luo took 703.
Although the accountant was very obedient and sensible, Lu Luo made no concessions. Not a single token was spared. If he said 5%, he meant 5%.
He had to save Qiao Xiao Mi, and he had to get everyone else out safely. Therefore, he would show no kindness or mercy.
203 + 703 + 151. Lu Luo now had 1,057 tokens. So, he decided to exchange for Qiao Xiao Mi right away.
He walked up to the Clown.
"500 tokens. Release Qiao Xiao Mi."
Zhou Ke’er rubbed his red nose, a helpless expression on his face. "To think you could gather 500 tokens after just two rounds of the game. It’s incredible. What seems utterly impossible for others, you solve with ease. Truly an impressive character."
"Cut the crap and hand her over."
Lu Luo produced 500 tokens, unwilling to waste any more words with Zhou Ke’er.
"Alright, alright, I’m releasing her. DING DONG! The door’s open. Oh dear, this is terrible! I told Qiao Xiao Mi to wait for me there. But Qiao Xiao Mi didn’t listen. Where could she have run off to?"
On the large screen, the door of the room imprisoning Qiao Xiao Mi suddenly opened.
Qiao Xiao Mi, her face lit with surprise, grabbed two bags of spicy strips and dashed out the door. But no one had told her what lay beyond it.
BOOM!
Two men’s fists collided. The Clown, as a player, had an ugly expression; his hand bones were shattered.
Lu Luo’s face was frosty as he glared at Zhou Ke’er. If he hadn’t needed to find Qiao Xiao Mi, he would have undoubtedly lopped off this guy’s head right then and there. But now, he had to remain calm.
"Are you jealous of me? For a man to harbor such envious emotions... what a pitiful clown."
Lu Luo’s words made Zhou Ke’er’s expression turn even uglier. But what happened next caused his expression not just to change slightly, but to transform drastically.
Because Lu Luo had raised the legendary ring Noah had given him—Noah’s Star.
"You got the beacon? How is that possible? I’ve been through so many games and never gotten a beacon! Why you?"
Lu Luo glanced at the Clown. If he weren’t in a hurry to save someone, he would have attacked him on the spot.
"You really are a clown. Let me teach you a principle then. A lever that saves effort costs distance; a lever that costs effort saves distance. An equal-arm lever saves neither effort nor distance. Do you understand?"
Zhou Ke’er didn’t quite grasp Lu Luo’s meaning, but admitting it would make him look stupid.
"What’s the point of saying all this?"
"It seems you didn’t understand. You really are quite dull. Let me make it clearer. The less you put in here, the more you’ll have to put in elsewhere. No pain, no gain. Young man, instead of learning principles, you’d be better off learning... physics."
"Physics?"
Lu Luo raised his fist towards the Clown. "Persuading with reason is good. Persuading with ’physics’ is better. Understand, moron? Where is she?"
The Clown stared at the beacon in Lu Luo’s hand and finally spoke, his voice gloomy. "In the control room area."
"You’d better pray she’s unharmed."
Lu Luo left Zhou Ke’er with those parting words, clutching the beacon as he vanished before his eyes.
Zhou Ke’er’s complexion was extremely grim. The significance of the beacon went beyond that of a simple game player. It could represent some of a game manager’s authority. At least for now, Lu Luo’s authority surpassed his own—and Lu Luo was just a newbie in his first game!