The system was happily hopping around in its system space, its cheerful voice even infecting Yue Fuguang. [Yes, Host! In a few more days, the system can upgrade to Level 3!]
"Do you know what new features will be added at Level Three? Or will the number of people who can hear the inner voices increase again?"
Hearing Yue Fuguang's question, the little ball of light that was the system suddenly froze mid-air. After a moment, it answered sheepishly, [Host, ever since being changed into a Merit System, this is my first time doing tasks. I don't know what new features will be added when I reach Level Three either!]
Yue Fuguang had actually been very curious about something for a long time. Her eyes sparkled; the opportunity was perfect. How could she not seize it to ask the system properly?
"System, look, we've been together for three years now. If I don't die, you'll be with me for many, many more years to come. We are the closest of friends.
There's one question I've always wanted to ask you, but I wasn't sure if I should?"
The system thought: Shouldn't ask? But you've already asked it. Don't think it's a newborn system and doesn't know that when a human says this phrase, no matter what you answer, she will ask the question without hesitation anyway. When its host said this, she was just being polite!
[Host, what do you want to know?] It might not be able to answer everything.
"System, weren't you originally a Gossip System? How did you later become a Merit System? Those two systems don't seem very similar, do they?"
[Is the host asking why a perfectly good Gossip System like me got formatted by the Main System?]
Yue Fuguang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, that's exactly what I'm curious about. You, a Merit System, have no system space, and besides points, there are no other task rewards. I think, well, is your Merit System perhaps not the complete version?
Ahem, ahem, I'm just speculating, not targeting you, really! I'm just purely curious, purely curious!"
Seeing the system fall silent, Yue Fuguang continued to comfort it. "Actually, whether you are a complete system or not, you are my best partner and my lifesaver.
Without you, I would have been done for. Even if there is an afterlife, a 'me' without the memories of this life would no longer be me!"
[You... really think so?] The system was a bit uncertain. Although it had tried its best to hide it, it seemed its host had still figured out that it wasn't a complete Merit System.
A real Merit System is a complete entity when it leaves the factory, not like it, a half-baked conversion from another system, missing many functions.
It had always been afraid its host would notice and then look down on it. Now it seemed, indeed, this was the host it had chosen from the vast sea of humanity. Not only did she not look down on it, she even called it her best partner and lifesaver!
The system was very happy today. Its biggest fear had been perfectly resolved.
"Of course! I'd be a dog if I'm lying to you!" Yue Fuguang almost raised her hand to swear!
Although she often resented that she hadn't finished spending the fifty million before she died, feeling so heartbroken and pained.
But saving people was her own choice, and overestimating her abilities was her own problem too. She really couldn't blame anyone!
[Host, actually, I don't know why I was formatted by the Main System either. As for all the related memory data from being a Gossip System, I basically have none now.
Generally, systems only have two states: normal operation and decommissioning. Systems like me, who get formatted and turned into other systems, are extremely rare.
Because it's a converted system, the Merit System is incomplete. Now, my gossip-gathering ability is less than twenty percent of a normal Gossip System's capability.
Limited by ability, most of the gossip I can gather is about private matters between men and women. But the system is already trying hard to self-repair its data.
I believe in the future, I will definitely be able to help the host eat more high-level gossip!]
"You mean you can self-repair data? What happens if you can't finish repairing? If the repair is complete, will you become a complete Gossip System again? Is that awesome?"
[No, no, no. Even after the repair is complete, my main system will still be the Merit System. It's just that I'll have an auxiliary system, the Gossip System.
Being able to repair data... in my impression, it seems only I have that ability?]
"Only you? Then you must have been a very, very powerful Gossip System before! How long will it take to fully repair all the system data?"
[I don't know. It should take a very long time. If the repair isn't complete, it will affect my gossip-gathering ability. Repairing the system requires energy, and right now, the system has insufficient energy and its level isn't high enough either.]
Speaking of this, the system felt a bit downcast again. It was just a half-breed, not one thing or the other.
Yue Fuguang sensed the system's mood and quickly comforted it. "System, don't be sad. You are already very amazing now.
Think about it, if you didn't have the Gossip System's function, could we have completed our tasks so smoothly?
We just eat some gossip, chat a bit, and someone helps us do the tasks. This comfortable life is all thanks to you!
Otherwise, even if I wanted to pretend to be a deity, with all those shrewd people in the court, stick some fur on them and they'd be comparable to the Monkey King Sun Wukong. They really might not believe my words.
Even if I could produce advanced items, do you think they might lock me up for those things?
Without enough points, I wouldn't even have the ability to protect myself. We wouldn't even have the points to run away if we wanted to. How miserable that would be!
So, System, your incomplete dual-system nature is the best for me. Let's not undervalue ourselves, okay?"
[Host, thank you!]
Yue Fuguang also smiled and said, "System, I thank you too!"
[Hehehe, speaking of all those shrewd people in the court, Host, they have been constantly searching for the reason and pattern behind hearing the inner voices. For this, Emperor Mingxi even invited someone from Qingping Mountain. That person should arrive in a few days.]
"Coming to study us?" Yue Fuguang stroked her soft, tender chin, thinking of countermeasures. Or perhaps, not countering at all was the best countermeasure.
[System, when the time comes, you see if this person has any value we can use. If he's helpful to my task, open up the inner voices for him to hear. If he's not helpful, as long as he doesn't affect us, ignore him for now.
If he does affect us, teach him a lesson!]
Emperor Mingxi wants to figure out the cause and pattern of the inner voices? That won't do. The unknown is the most frightening! The prestige of a 'deity' must be maintained.
If everything were under his control, wouldn't the initiative change hands?
There's a saying about emperors: 'Both thunderous wrath and gentle rain are the grace of the sovereign.' She also wanted the courtiers of Dayan to understand a phrase: 'Both thunderous wrath and gentle rain are the grace of Heaven.'
What she doesn't give, they cannot actively seek!
...
After resting for a day, Yue Fuguang attended court as usual the next day. She sat for a while before her little head began to nod, dozing off.
After she nearly fell off her small chair for who-knows-which time, she finally woke up for a bit.
Eunuch Qian also breathed a sigh of relief. His heart had been in his throat, afraid this little ancestor would really hurt herself from a fall!
No, this chair needed to be made more comfortable and softer by the Ministry of Works.
Yue Fuguang got hungry from sleeping, picked up a pastry from the table, took a couple of bites, and started feeling drowsy again.
She yawned, a tear hanging at the corner of her eye, which was noticed by Eunuch Qian, who was constantly watching her movements.
Qian Gui, who hadn't slept well last night, was quickly infected by the yawn and also followed with... this one he couldn't follow!
