Chapter 75

Chapter 75

One an anomaly, the other a human student.

Not only do they look identical, but their names are exactly the same.

The two happened to run into Zhao Yanhan, who was walking in the opposite direction.

Ten minutes later, the three returned to Zhao Yanhan’s office.

Listening to Rao Fei’s report on the instance, Zhao Yanhan was equally surprised, his expression turning serious and cautious.

After Rao Fei finished, it was Liu Jiang’s turn to report.

Just as the report was nearing its end, Zhao Yanhan’s assistant knocked and entered the director’s office.

The assistant, holding a dedicated phone issued by the State Secrets Bureau, walked to the desk and handed over his own phone: “Director Zhao, half an hour ago, a player posted on the forum. It’s already been pushed to the first page.”

The forum the assistant referred to was primarily built and maintained by the State Secrets Bureau, exclusively for internal use by players. Because helpful players often shared their instance experiences there, over time, it became known as the "Strange Tales Strategy Forum."

The poster of this new thread was a level 12 player with the permanent forum ID "Networm."

Speaking of Networm, they had indeed been a persistent headache for the State Secrets Bureau.

They were currently the only unregistered player not on the State Secrets Bureau’s official roster who could still freely log into the Strange Tales Strategy Forum.

Before this, Networm had even been audacious enough to try infiltrating the State Secrets Bureau’s internal network to access information.

Fortunately, the State Secrets Bureau was a step ahead—all files with a confidentiality level of A or higher were stored in physical form.

Later, based on the instance experience posts Networm had shared on the forum, the State Secrets Bureau concluded that Networm must possess exceptional computer skills.

Moreover, it was highly likely that they had cleared the Su Financial Group’s sub-instance, "Daily Work in the Information Department," with near-perfect results, thereby obtaining a higher-level item reward that no player had ever received before.

The State Secrets Bureau had previously had agents enter this instance, and many in the bureau still remembered the scene described by that agent after exiting: merging with the network, able to travel anywhere there was an internet connection.

This description aligned perfectly with Networm’s brazen behavior since their appearance.

Rao Fei, hearing the assistant say the poster was Networm, also became interested. He temporarily paused his reporting and chimed in, “What’s that pest posting on the forum now?”

Zhao Yanhan took the phone and looked down at it.

“Networm LV12: Phew, that was close! I almost died for real in this instance! I hereby declare that from today on, Selection Manager Su is my hero!”

“1L: ? Networm, you were in that instance too?!”

“2L: Wah, I’ve found my crew! When I first got back, I felt like I was dreaming, so I slapped myself really hard twice. My face is still swollen.”

“3L: First thing I did after realizing I’m still alive, I logged into the forum +1”

“8L: He said he’d send us home, and he actually did it…”

“9L: Hey, get your own hero! Why are you stealing mine?”

“10L: Hey, get your own hero! Why are you stealing mine?”

……

“56L: ??? What is everyone talking about? Can someone spell it out? What hero? How did you and Networm find your group? What exactly did he do!”

“57L: Same as above, can someone explain it to me? I’m dying to know!”

“59L: !!! I was confused at first, but after seeing my cousin who just came out of the instance, I think I understand now. No way! It sounds like a fairytale! If it’s true, they got really lucky this time. Honestly, I’m green with envy.”

“60L: What are you all talking about!!”

While this post was climbing to the top of the forum, another closely following thread was also gaining significant attention.

“Upside-Down Monster Slayer LV9: Seriously, can someone tell me what in the world the other post is about? I’m dying here! Who exactly is Networm’s hero, Selection Manager Su!”

“1L: First! So urgent! Who is Networm’s hero +1”

“2L: Oh, that? Judging from the other post, it seems Networm and the others are discussing an instance they just experienced. Who is Networm’s hero! +2”

“3L: ? Aren’t we all using permanent usernames on this forum? +3”

“4L: Agree with above. If they all just came out of the same instance, wow, that must've been a massive instance. +4”

“5L: I heard rumors that a large-scale instance opened recently, but the maximum number of players in a large instance doesn’t exceed 150. +5”

“6L: So you're saying… +6”

“7L: Gasp! That player survival rate, gasp! That's terrifying! +7”

“8L: Here, let me summarize. I just heard from my cousin—he participated in a large-scale audition instance. There were 104 players in total. According to the instance rules, only 9 players were supposed to survive and clear it. He was eliminated in the second-to-last performance. He’s relatively new, and his mental state couldn’t handle such an instance. He thought he wouldn’t make it out this time, but then! The strange entity who served as the Dormitory Selection Officer on his floor actually saved all of them out of the instance!”

Do you get how amazing that is?

If that’s not a hero, then what is?

“9L: Wait, hold on, let me wrap my head around this.”

“10L: Eighth floor, are you saying your brother participated in a large-scale audition instance, was supposed to die and be assimilated by the instance, but then some savior appeared out of nowhere and rescued all the players, including your brother?”

“11L: Exactly. Sounds like a fairytale, right? If my brother hadn’t sworn it was true, I wouldn’t have believed it either.”

“12L: Don't mess with us, those strange entities are all terrible, even the best of them. How could there be such a savior?”

Very few players in the thread believed the eighth poster’s story; most thought they were just making up a tale for fun.

That is, until Networm, who should have been “reuniting” with others in their own post, came over and personally confirmed the authenticity of what the eighth poster said.

The forum went wild.

Seeing that both Director Zhao and Rao Fei were intently reading the posts, the assistant cautiously suggested, “Director Zhao, perhaps you could use the authority of the 97th strange item to delete these two posts?”

The main concern was that leaving these posts on the forum might mislead some less experienced new players.

As the State Secrets Bureau’s understanding of the strange world deepened, they’d come to realize that strange entities, like humans, could have all sorts of personalities and preferences.

But even Writer Ghost, the easiest to communicate with among those they’d encountered over the years, had indeed intentionally or unintentionally fed them plenty of false information to satisfy her own mischievous tendencies.

Therefore, they must not leave inexperienced new players with the impression that strange entities might be easy to deal with.

Zhao Yanhan considered the assistant's suggestion for a moment, then shook his head. "Strange Item 97 can block Networm for a month, but it can't permanently cut off his internet access."

"Besides, the main office recently decided in a meeting to gradually ease information restrictions for all players. So here's the plan: later, go to the forum and pin a link that compiles all the State Secrets Bureau's materials on dealing with strange entities, everything below A+ level."

"Let the players analyze the pros and cons themselves. When their lives are on the line, they'll be careful. The Strange Tales dimension is absorbing more and more players, and the State Secrets Bureau can’t keep babysitting them forever."

"Also, contact Networm and tell him to be careful not to reveal too many specific details about 【Asterism】. We don’t want players encountering him in future scenarios and causing serious consequences because of miscommunication."

"Asterism"—this was the code name Zhao Yanhan had just assigned to the mysterious youth based on the name 'Su Ximu'.

Rao Fei nodded in complete agreement upon hearing Director Zhao's arrangements.

That mysterious youth’s appearance was extremely deceptive; it easily led people to mistakenly believe he was harmless.

But in reality, he was the first being since the establishment of the State Secrets Bureau capable of extracting players from an instance completely unscathed. His abilities are clearly formidable.

He also had a habit of making cameo appearances in instances. If some player were to truly anger him, it could lead to serious trouble.

"As for 【Asterism】's specific identity and what connection he has with that missing student named Su Ximu, I suggest that if you encounter him again in an instance, try asking him directly."

Hearing Director Zhao say this, Rao Fei was taken aback. "Ask directly?"

So straightforward?

Zhao Yanhan nodded. "Yes, directly."

***

"Third Brother, what did you want to ask me?" Su Ximu asked curiously, having been brought by his third brother to the home art studio.

After leaving Guiyi Island, he had returned home with his brothers.

His eldest, second, and third brothers all agreed that he had already worked two jobs recently and had been through a lot, so he needed a good rest.

So, he rested at home until he woke up naturally in bed the next day. After breakfast, just like last time, his third brother brought him into the studio.

Su Jianglou walked over to a painting covered by a cloth and pulled it back. "We’ll talk about that in a moment. Xi Bao, come take a look at this painting I did. What do you think?"

Su Ximu stepped closer to examine it as instructed.

The painting was a family portrait.

It included him, his eldest brother, second brother, and third brother.

And the villa they currently lived in.

Beside the large family portrait was the painting of Su Ximu as a child.

Looking at the painting, Su Ximu suddenly remembered his childhood—how he had taught his third brother to paint and how they had painted together at their grandfather’s house.

It was also because of the emotion he poured into the painting that other equally skilled painters couldn’t replicate that.

"Third Brother, can we hang this painting on the wall in the living room?"

Just from that one sentence, Su Jianglou could tell how much Xiao Xi liked the painting. He smiled and nodded in agreement, then turned his gaze to the individual portrait.

That painting had been inspired by Xiao Xi on his second day here.

Thinking back now, Su Jianglou still couldn’t quite understand: even back then, he had been able to paint Xiao Xi as a child based on the inspiration Xiao Xi gave him. So why had he still been so stubbornly convinced that Xiao Xi wasn’t Xiao Xi?

Su Jianglou couldn’t figure it out.

He had been avoiding this issue for days. On the day he woke up from his second brother’s instance, because Xiao Xi had been focused on his injured arm, he had hesitated for a long time but still hadn’t managed to say what he wanted to say.

But avoiding something doesn’t make it disappear.

In the same studio, the same place.

While Su Ximu was still looking at the family portrait, Su Jianglou finally spoke. "Xi Bao, I’m sorry."

"Huh?" The youth turned his head in confusion.

Su Jianglou thought back to when his eldest brother had told him that among the countless worlds swallowed by the Strange Tales world, there might be countless Su Ximus, but none of them were Xiao Xi—no one could replace Xiao Xi.

At the time, he had agreed with his brother’s words but hadn’t taken them seriously.

Because he was certain that Xiao Xi was also unique in his heart.

He had just missed Xiao Xi so much that he wanted to create a puppet doll that resembled him.

The two weren’t mutually exclusive—one was his brother, the other a puppet doll. He could tell the difference.

But in reality...

"I apologize for my deceit, arrogance, and dismissiveness."

"And I apologize for subconsciously avoiding this all this time."

Even though he had found Xiao Xi again,

he had also hurt Xiao Xi.

From the day he truly learned to think until now, he had always wanted to protect his younger brother with his life, with everything he had.

But when Xiao Xi finally arrived in this world, the first person to hurt and deceive him was Su Jianglou himself.

Su Ximu listened quietly to his third brother’s confession, his eyes shifting between the two paintings in front of him.

Both paintings were executed with delicate brushstrokes. The family portrait was much larger than the single portrait beside it, clearly showing the painter had put a great deal of effort into it.

After his third brother finished pouring out his heart, standing there looking sad and dejected, Su Ximu didn’t respond immediately.

He also thought very seriously for a good while before finally speaking. "Hmm... thinking about it now, I am a little angry."

Especially about the video tape incident.

Only now did he fully understand the truth of what happened!

How could Third Brother just casually say something that landed him with over 500 million in debt?

But...

"Since you’ve apologized, Third Brother."

The youth took two steps forward, solemnly extended his hand, and shook his third brother’s hand. "Then I’ll say, 'It’s okay.'"

"It’s okay~"

"Third Brother, I forgive you."

"And then, thank you."

Su Jianglou waited quietly for the judgment that awaited him.

Instead, a hand took hold of his.

In a daze, he felt his arm burn with intense pain, just like when he was a child.

Xiao Xi’s hand holding his was like that bottle of medicinal liquid from back then—a gentle grip that, once again, eased his pain.

He asked instinctively, "Why thank me?"

At that, the young man smiled, his eyes curving like crescents: "Thank you, Third Brother, for bringing me home."

And also, thank you to the Third Brother from back then—who was only a little older than him—for enduring such a long, painful journey after the collapse of the wasteland world and still managing to become the person he is today.

"Just like this family portrait—it's truly beautiful when it's complete."

"Third Brother, let’s hug. After this, let’s not dwell on this matter anymore, okay?"

"From now on, let's be happy every day~"

Su Jianglou looked at the young man spreading his arms open before him, and he too opened his arms, embracing him, his voice muffled: "Okay."

Outside the studio door, Su Xuanxiao and Su Juzi stood there.

Su Juzi, seeing Jiang Lou like that, restrained himself from stepping forward.