The players who had just been screaming frantically suddenly fell silent.
"Why do I still feel like she's a scammer?"
"What kind of scammer can make their title that long?"
"But my mom said anyone asking me for money is a scammer. Did you all forget the anti-fraud knowledge we learned before joining the survival game?"
"I'll just say this: if you have the guts to go in and provoke the monster, and instead of turning you into a puppet, it kicks you out, I'll give you all the game coins on me."
The exceptionally clever young man who had made the first trade with Qi Xu was the first to respond.
"They don't believe you, but I do. Here are all my game coins! 41 of them, all won from the ring toss. You can do it! You will definitely defeat the evil spirit body!"
Qi Xu hesitated for a long time, reluctant to take them. I've scammed you too many times. If only you had a bit more sense, you wouldn't be scammed by me so much, right?
"Wise human warrior, I need to know your specific information, your specific zone and nickname."
The exceptionally clever young man looked around defensively, walked over quietly, and told only Qi Xu, "I am Brain Spins Faster Than a Fan from Zone 321 of Region 19."
Qi Xu nodded with a meaningful look in her eyes. "Good luck, I have high hopes for you. Work hard to clear the instance, and I will come to give you your deserved reward!"
With someone taking the lead, naturally, many players followed suit.
Qi Xu didn't just take the game coins for nothing; she carefully noted down all the players' zones and nicknames, making it look even more authentic.
In the midst of this, she encountered a big spender who contributed 80 game coins alone, and it was an acquaintance.
Endless Longevity. When she had fallen backward earlier, it was this girl who gently supported her head. Otherwise, she might not have had the chance to engage in a war of words with Shadowkill.
"I'll give you my game coins too. Hurry up and save your friend."
Qi Xu gave her a deep look. "Just give me 40 game coins." I can't bear to scam you too much.
"It's fine. Why aren't you asking me for my zone and name? I want to trigger the secondary plot too."
The girl looked over with a face full of anticipation. Qi Xu had no choice. "Wise human player, please tell me your specific information."
"I am Hibiscus Intent from Zone 399 of Region 399. You must come find me."
"Rest assured."
Qi Xu could no longer look straight at the many sincere and easily deceived eyes. She directly absconded with the funds and rushed into the haunted house again.
That phantom monster was waiting at the door, racking its brains but still unable to figure out why!
After Qi Xu walked into the haunted house and confirmed the door behind her was closed, she directly punched the phantom monster in the face.
"You were way too ruthless! We were just putting on an act, and you actually kicked me with all your might? See if I don't beat you to death!"
Qi Xu forcefully threw several punches with loud thuds!
Only then did she stuff all the game coins she had just scammed... won with her strength, into the phantom monster's mouth.
"How about it? Is it enough? Can you successfully leave the instance now? As long as you can leave the instance, no matter what job you want to do, throwing money at it won't be a problem. If it's still not enough, wait until I get out of the haunted house, and I'll figure out another way for you."
The phantom monster went from being dazed by the beating to being pleasantly surprised by the feeding...
The monster didn't know what to do anymore. Oh no, this human seems to really consider me a good friend. Should I just play along, or should I just play along?
This feeling was just too wonderful.
In the haunted house, 99 percent of the ticket revenue had to be handed over. If it really relied on earning it itself, who knew how many years it would take to successfully change jobs.
This... was directly enough! And having someone covering for it after leaving the instance, that would be awesome.
From its complex gaze, Qi Xu also roughly figured it out. This time, she really... did something foolish.
This monster wasn't an old friend. However... playing along wasn't bad. It was all about monster connections. Since it looked so peculiar, there would definitely be a good place for it to show its skills, and its strength seemed quite decent too.
Qi Xu used her piercing eyes to glance at its 3D data values. It couldn't compare to Ah Snake, but it was much stronger than other monster connections. It was also a martial arts type, exactly the kind of monster talent urgently needed right now.
Therefore, her facial expression didn't change at all, and she kept babbling, extending a heartfelt invitation.
"Then... okay. How embarrassing! B-Boss, then I'll follow you from now on? After this instance ends, I'll go out and contact you."
The phantom monster was no longer arrogant. Instead, it somewhat shyly wiped away the blood from the corner of its mouth, trying to make itself look a bit more presentable.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about. We hit it off well, we're friends. No need to worry about so much."
Qi Xu comforted it with a smile.
After building the relationship, it was time to get down to business.
"Can I go in and play a round in the haunted house?"
"No, Boss. Each person can only play three times a day. If you insist on playing more, you will automatically turn into a puppet."
Qi Xu nodded and cast an appreciative glance at the phantom monster. It changed its form of address really fast; it was quite perceptive.
"Alright, no problem. Where is your staff break room? Let me go in and rest for a bit. I've been looking for the evil spirit body all day, and I'm exhausted."
"Sure thing."
Without a second word, the phantom monster gave up its break room. Having been fed three to four hundred game coins, let alone a break room, it would give up anything it could!
Not only did it give the break room to Qi Xu, but the phantom monster also stood guard at the door very responsibly. It had to take good care of this sugar mommy; its future wealth and glory after leaving depended entirely on her.
To show that it was sensible, the phantom monster even went out specifically to buy a meal.
When Qi Xu woke up and saw the cold noodles next to her pillow, she couldn't help but sigh: It's so good to have money.
However, she had indeed given all her game coins to the phantom monster, so she couldn't afford food or accommodation anymore. She might as well just make do here.
Tomorrow morning, she would play the haunted house directly to see what its background was. With so many players failing to pass, there must be a reason.
Qi Xu slept quite well. When she woke up the next morning, she found that the phantom monster had bought breakfast again. Soup dumplings and millet porridge weren't lavish, but they were definitely filling.
The phantom monster had also thoughtfully bought a cotton candy for Qi Xu. When the sugar mommy came over yesterday, she was holding one of these, but it got ruined when she kicked it out...
Just replacing it for her, I'm such a clever little thing.
Qi Xu was quite pleasantly surprised, praising the phantom monster profusely with sweet words as if they cost nothing.
Now she roughly understood: the monster in charge of each game facility was not a puppet. The phantom monster was the same as the minotaur.
After eating and drinking her fill, she went straight to challenging the haunted house. She had observed the specific details long ago. As for successfully scaring three ghosts, Qi Xu felt she was actually quite good at that.
.........
