Chapter 155: Lucky Coin
Lin Ye: ?
Lin Ye wasn't worried about Little Ye, because he didn't think she was foolish enough to knowingly insert coins into a problematic machine.
He was simply protesting the unfairness of the world - how two nearly identical people could have such drastically different luck.
"Don't worry, this isn't my luck. The owner of this world bound itself to me to some extent when it tricked me into coming here. My luck is about the same as yours, so this draw consumed its luck instead. Can't talk more now - I need to make my escape. See you tonight."
Little Ye vanished from the mirror just after speaking. Before she disappeared completely, Lin Ye caught a glimpse of an enormous black wave stretching to the sky behind her.
"...Good luck out there."
Lin Ye spoke to his own reflection in the mirror.
"Mr. Lin Ye, I knew you wouldn't disappoint me. This is your Grand Prize, and this is a personal gift from me. Please do visit the Game Room more often in the future."
The attendant smiled as they handed Lin Ye an exquisitely crafted small box and a black invitation.
"Alright, I'll definitely come play more often." Lin Ye accepted the gift box and invitation. He came here daily for his spiritual energy circulation anyway.
"Is that Boss Lin Ye over there?"
"It looks like him! Bosses will be bosses - even winning the Grand Prize from a drawing."
"I remember the Grand Prize for that machine was supposed to be some kind of relic..."
"Damn, the boss is incredible!"
Hearing the machine's celebratory sounds, all the survivors absorbing spiritual energy in the Game Room gathered around the machine.
Lin Ye had shared Game Room usage tips in the group chat, and since Game Room Invitations had a decent drop rate, many survivors came here to freely harvest spiritual energy.
"Hello everyone. Although I won the Grand Prize, you'd better stay away from this machine... If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."
Lin Ye briefly explained the machine's function, mentioning that his luck was actually average and that he had paid the price using an item.
After speaking, Lin Ye found a card table to continue his spiritual energy circulation. He completed his daily cycle, won back the red coins he'd spent, and then returned to the Shelter.
Back in the Shelter, Lin Ye opened the gift box to find a single coin inside.
[Lucky Coin]
[Relic: When using the Lucky Coin, the user's luck will continuously deteriorate until the user reaches desperate circumstances. At that moment, the user will enter a state of absolute luck lasting ten seconds.]
[Note: Luck is a talent]
The Lucky Coin was a metal coin with pure white on the obverse side, engraved with intricate patterns. The reverse was pure black with no surface design, but deep within the darkness, faint light seemed to flow.
"...What if I use this coin directly when I'm already in desperate circumstances?"
Lin Ye stored the Lucky Coin away. He wouldn't use it unless forced into truly desperate straits.
Though as long as his reality simulation remained unused, he wouldn't be pushed to that extreme.
Lin Ye then examined the black invitation the attendant had given him.
[Death Game Invitation]
[Only those who wager everything may participate in the Death Game. Using this will make you a participant in the Death Game.]
[Note: Those without value lack the qualification to wager everything. Receiving this invitation indicates you possess significant value.]
"Insane."
Lin Ye tossed the invitation into the miscellaneous area of the basement.
Returning to his bedroom, Lin Ye practiced his Heavy Blow technique for a while before entering his spiritual energy workshop. There, he began studying rune usage methods through crafting spiritual energy items.
One hour before the Nighttime Activity began, Lin Ye halted his research and started preparing dinner.
With dinner ready, Lin Ye opened the group chat and began eating.
(527599/1000000)
"Brothers! Nighttime Activity is starting!"
"Should be Station Mission today, right?"
"Probably, first Station Mission of the third week. Hope it's not too difficult."
"Better hope we get some reliable teammates. If the system pairs me with three Boss Lin Ye's, wouldn't I skyrocket?"
"Skyrocket? More like crash and burn. Three Boss Lins? I can't even imagine the mission difficulty."
"Crash what?"
"Haha, true. The system assigns Station Missions based on strength. Sending you to Boss Lin's mission, you might not last five minutes."
"One minute, max."
"50 seconds."
"5 seconds."
"3 seconds."
"Why does it keep getting shorter?"
"Speaking of bosses, I saw the boss win a relic from the Game Room today. The whole Game Room heard the celebration sounds. That scene..."
"Details, please."
"I saw it too. The boss is just incredible. I've played that machine before too - always got 'Thank You for Your Patronage'."
Lin Ye: Then you have pretty good luck.
"?"
Lin Ye explained the machine's mechanics to the group, clarifying that without using items, he would also get "Thank You for Your Patronage."
"Forced luck trading? That's downright sinister!"
"No, you use it voluntarily. Nobody forces you."
"Good thing I never used that machine, or my luck would've been traded away."
"Bane of lucky players."
"Even Boss Lin gets 'Thank You for Your Patronage'? Suddenly I feel balanced."
"Balanced? He's a boss who doesn't rely on luck. You're a loser without luck. What balance are you talking about?"
"Stop roasting me."
"My talent ability is related to luck. Could I exploit that machine?"
"Don't try to cheat the system. You might cry when your talent gets sucked away."
"That would be terrifying."
[Nighttime Activity Starting]
[Tonight's Activity: Station Mission]
[Join?]
"Join."
[09:59]
"Brothers, see you in the group chat tomorrow."
"See you all in the chat tomorrow."
"May everyone fill their loot spaces completely."
......
Fully armed, Lin Ye sat on his bed looking into the mirror. The Nighttime Activity was about to begin, yet Little Ye still hadn't appeared.
[00:01]
[00:00]
…………………………
The classic train start. Lin Ye sat by the window looking out at the enclosed tunnel. The compartment held four survivors, their faces matching the avatars from the chat room.
Sitting across from Lin Ye was a bald man in his twenties named Zhao Yu, wearing a black robe that revealed well-defined muscles beneath.
Next to Zhao Yu sat an elderly man around seventy years old named Li Qihou, dressed in neat security guard uniform with silver hair.
Beside Lin Ye sat a young woman named Shen Bing, wearing a brown leather armor over her white tracksuit and holding a greatsword that looked exceptionally heavy.
Zhao Yu: Lin Ye? You wouldn't happen to be that Lin Ye, would you?
Lin Ye: ...Am I that famous already?
Shen Bing: Many people in your group have been sharing information externally. They've been spreading your name around.
Lin Ye: I told them to share information, not my name. This is kind of embarrassing.
Li Qihou: What's there to be embarrassed about? When you do good deeds, people should know. Otherwise, it's meaningless.
Lin Ye: You're right about that.