I Have a God Simulator

Luh Yao observed Shang Ji's final days.

This petty man who had established slavery in Yan City ultimately died in a cotton field.

Shang Ji and Shang Li were like two faces of Yan City. When one held power, the other could only flee far away.

When it came to governing the city, Shang Ji was no match for Shang Li. His actions caused Yan City to rapidly lose its cohesion, nearly destroying years of hard work by Yulian and Shang Li.

Shang Ji was a hateful and pitiable little pixel person, but his *Ladybug Chronicles* did pique Luh Yao's interest somewhat.

He checked Shang Ji's [History] from before his death.

...

Age 63: Witnessed a peculiar ladybug-shaped insect.

Age 69: Completed *Ladybug Chronicles*.

...

After Shang Ji's death, *Ladybug Chronicles* began to circulate in Yao City.

Luh Yao looked down upon the city and found some Scholars discussing the book.

"*Ladybug Chronicles* says that the ladybugs on the islands emit a strange fragrance that even Cannibal Crabs and Blazing Chickens become obsessed with. Is that true?"

"Absolutely. During my pilgrimage last year, I asked several sailors, and they'd all seen those ladybugs. The aroma is very rich, and smelling it is incredibly refreshing. When the ladybugs appear, the Cannibal Crabs just gather around to smell them, and anyone nearby won't be attacked as long as they don't touch the ladybugs."

"What a remarkable insect, to conquer Cannibal Crabs with just its scent!"

"*Ladybug Chronicles* records that the ladybugs appear on many small islands in the south, but they don't seem able to cross the sea, which is why they've never been seen on the Western or Eastern Continents."

"It's a shame about 'Three Sheepskins,' the Scholar who wrote *Ladybug Chronicles*. If he had escaped his life as a slave, he surely would have become a great Scholar in Yao City."

"By leaving behind such a work, Mister Three Sheepskins has done enough to make his mark on history. Now, everyone also calls that Musk Ladybug the 'Three-Ram Ladybug'."

"That's true."

...

In Yao City, discussions about *Ladybug Chronicles* were mostly academic.

For example, are Musk Ladybugs ordinary insects or Extraordinary Creatures?

Why are Musk Ladybugs so fragrant? Their scent is irresistible even to Cannibal Crabs, who willingly follow and protect them. Does this represent a special kind of power? Can the ladybugs be raised domestically, like Off-Road Rabbits?

And so on.

But in Yan City to the west, *Ladybug Chronicles* had set off a new wave of excitement.

The city library was packed to the brim, filled with people who had come to see the book.

"Read *Ladybug Chronicles*! Hurry up and read *Ladybug Chronicles*!"

"Come on, come on, get a move on."

The Scholar at the entrance was exasperated. "I've already read *Ladybug Chronicles* ten times today... If you want, just buy a copy to read at home. My throat is getting hoarse."

"If I could read, I wouldn't need you to tell me!"

"Yeah, exactly!"

"Just read it! You have to read books anyway, so just read this one."

Of course, it wasn't because the people of Yan City loved listening to stories.

It was because they wanted to go catch ladybugs.

They had to learn about the habits of the Musk Ladybugs from this book to figure out how and where to catch them.

On the streets of Yan City, the little pixel people equipped themselves with nets and carried boxes on their backs, each looking like an insect hunter. They formed groups and rushed to the port to set sail, their sights set on the ladybugs of the Southern Islands.

In the shops of Yan City, the Musk Ladybug became a hot commodity.

"Incense Balls made from Musk Ladybugs! Limited to three today!"

"Incense Burners that can cure illnesses and aid sleep, the crystallized essence of pure-blood Musk Ladybugs..."

Among them, the bestseller and the citizens' favorite was an item called [Scented Wood].

This was made by hollowing out a piece of wood, filling it with the scent glands of Musk Ladybugs, and adding some flower petals and fragrant herbs. Once sealed, it retained its fragrance for a long time, was easy to carry, and was suitable for everyone.

The most expensive items of all were live Musk Ladybugs.

In Yan City, Luh Yao only saw two Musk Ladybugs.

One was with Prophet Doron Nunu. He had taken a Three-Ram Ladybug that people had brought him, placed it in a birdcage to raise, and kept it in the Divine Hall to enhance the fragrance.

The other was in the possession of a man named Yan Dai.

He was a member of the Salt Race and also a merchant. After getting his hands on a live Three-Ram Ladybug, Yan Dai put it on display in his shop for people to see, which also helped him sell his ladybug-related merchandise.

Musk Ladybug-related products—Scented Wood, Incense Burners, Incense Balls, ladybug sculptures... were continuously being produced in Yan City and sold to Yao City, Saniluo, the North-South New Continent, and numerous overseas island clusters.

Relying on these booming exports, large quantities of grain, timber, ore, cattle, and horses were shipped back to Yan City, transforming into new houses and longer, wider streets in the city.

Driven by the Musk Ladybug craze, Yan City ushered in a new wave of rapid development!

A large influx of outsiders poured in. A considerable portion of them were merchants, Adventurers, and people looking for work, all highly transient. But with the increase in population, the city's activity level clearly rose.

From his God's perspective, Luh Yao could see clearly.

Behind it all was the push from Mayor Shang Li and Doron Nunu.

Doron Nunu was the first to start raising live [Musk Ladybugs], turning the insect into a symbol of sanctity—with the permission of the White God in the Divine Hall, of course.

With the Prophet leading the way and setting an example, it became a trendsetter for status and taste.

Shang Li vigorously promoted it through the Citizen Council and united many merchants to commercialize the ladybugs, opening up new markets.

As the ladybugs' popularity exploded, products were exported in massive quantities, the population grew, and Yan City collected far more tax revenue than before, allowing it to rapidly roll out all sorts of urban construction projects.

The city's iconic port lighthouse finally stood once again in the northwest of Yan City. Unfortunately, this time there was no prompt for a nascent Wonder.

Luh Yao found it rather fascinating.

The butterfly effect began with a ladybug, but in the Pixel World, it had stirred up quite a storm.

In Yan City, the most concentrated citizen conversations happened in two taverns: one within the city and one at the port.

Outside the city tavern, a line of dialogue caught Luh Yao's attention.

"There's a treasure chest at Elf Lake in the south! While they're all off catching ladybugs, let's go find that chest. This is the real opportunity!"

"The treasure chest isn't easy to get. The Elf Giants over there are extremely fierce."

"Huh? Has no one ever gotten the treasure chest?"

"I've heard some have. That's why we're here at the tavern to ask around."

The three little people slipped into the tavern.

Luh Yao clicked on the tavern, entering the indoor bird's-eye view.

The tavern's interior was simple. A counter stood by the door, with wooden barrels of alcohol behind it. The owner poured drinks into wooden cups for customers, who paid on the spot.

A row of wooden tables and chairs lined the walls on both sides. Most of the drinkers were talking nonstop, with text constantly appearing in dialogue boxes above their heads.

Luh Yao's view followed the three who had just entered.

A crowd of drinkers surrounded a little person in the center, who was bragging to everyone as he drank.

"The two Elf Giants we encountered were each as tall as a small mountain! When they swung their arms, a Hurricane would whip up around them... We barely escaped with our lives, fighting them desperately, and that's how we managed to get the treasure chest from them."

The braggart continued, "But in the end, those monsters caught up to us. To get away safely, we had to abandon the chest. It was full of sparkling gems... In the end, it was because there were too few of us. We were at a disadvantage."

"Since I've had a drink on you all, I'll let you in on a secret..."

"You can't get the Elf Lake treasure chest with brute force. You can't beat the Elf Giants with brute force."

"I'm Sea Urchin. I don't have much else, but I'm brave and loyal. My partner, brother Shang Mi, and I spent a month thinking by the lake, and we finally found a way!"

"Gifts."

"Those giants like gifts, but they're very picky. They won't even look at ordinary presents. It has to be something special, like... honey from Madness Bees. These bees are rare, but if one stings you, you die."

The drinkers around him offered him their cups. "Never heard of that honey. Where can you find it?"

A smiling face appeared above Sea Urchin's head. "Go find Shang Mi. He's still by Elf Lake, looking for that Madness Honey. I thought it was too much of a pain, and he's still trying to figure things out. If you go, you'll see him around there."

Luh Yao remembered.

This Sea Urchin and the Shang Mi he mentioned were the two Adventurers who had been knocked silly by the Great Elf's giant mouth.

'I wonder what's going on at Elf Lake now.'

Luh Yao's perspective shifted to the Southern New Continent.

Not far from Elf Lake, a small wooden cabin had appeared at some point.

A little person stood in front of the cabin.

"Limited quantity, my apologies. We're out of Madness Honey for today. Please come early tomorrow."

The name [Shang Mi] was displayed above the little person's head.

Disappointed expressions appeared above the heads of the little people outside who were trying to buy honey.

Those who managed to get the honey ran happily toward Elf Lake and carefully placed it in front of the lake.

After a short while, Little Elves would come over, eat every last drop of honey from the jar, then circle around the people to express their gratitude, with heart symbols appearing above their heads.

Then, these people would all point to the treasure chest in the lake.

At this, the Little Elves would shake their heads, indicating no.

Shang Mi, standing nearby, explained to them, "Patience, my friends. To gain the Elves' friendship and approval, you need persistence and Patience. They're like women—these gifts are essential."

"As long as you persistently gift them honey, they will open their hearts to you and even give you the treasure chest!"

Luh Yao was amused.

'Those two brothers really figured out how to game Elf Lake.'