章節 176: Chapter 176: The Rise of the Capitalist Empire
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After setting the broadcast to automatically loop, Amamiya turned and exited the broadcasting room.
"Why did it suddenly become a power leveling service?" Umi asked curiously.
"Let me give you an example." Amamiya raised a finger. "Imagine you're walking alone down a dangerous, unfamiliar street, and someone suddenly offers you free water and food. Would you take it?"
"Of course not." Umi placed her hands on her hips. "Even kids know not to accept food from strangers."
"Ah, I get it now!" Chika suddenly realized. "If we offer help for free, people might think we have some hidden agenda."
"Exactly."
By turning "free help" into a "fair transaction," it reassures others and makes them more willing to accept the offer.
Both sides benefit, and everyone's happy.
Just then, the bespectacled player, standing nearby, approached them and whispered, "This is my payment..."
To her, paying for protection and a chance to complete the game seemed like a great deal.
Amamiya raised an eyebrow slightly. "Put that away."
"Huh?" she looked confused.
Amamiya glanced at Umi and said, "We're friends. No need for payment."
Umi had been in danger earlier, and had they arrived any later, the outcome could have been far worse. For that reason alone, there was no question of accepting compensation.
Umi met Amamiya's gaze, understanding what he meant.
Their unspoken understanding passed between them.
"Here." Amamiya handed out the purple coins he had just earned, one each to the bespectacled girl and the silver-haired loli. It was their "ransom money." "If you're not in a hurry to finish the game, I'd appreciate it if you could stay and help us."
"No problem!" The bespectacled girl accepted the coin eagerly, her face lighting up. "If you need anything, leave it to me!"
Silver-haired loli Reina raised her right hand excitedly. "Oh~!"
Afterward, at Kaguya's suggestion, the group split up.
Amamiya and his companions continued hunting monsters and searching for circulating coins, while the bespectacled girl and silver-haired loli stayed at the cashier counter on the first floor. They were tasked with monitoring any players who might come seeking the "nozamA Power Leveling" service, and would immediately notify Amamiya and the others via phone if needed.
Both of them had now received their "ransom money" and had met the conditions to clear the level. Even if they encountered danger, they could easily pass through the air wall to escape and ensure their safety.
However, following Chika's suggestion, Amamiya added a temporary combination skill of "Sweeping Away Evil" to both of the girls to further ensure nothing went wrong.
"All set." Amamiya turned to Hayasaka. "Where's the nearest monster?"
Hayasaka glanced at her tablet. "On the fourth floor. It's a dinosaur doll with a broken tail."
"That'll do."
"…"
Without any further discussion, the dinosaur monster was soon dispatched onto the train, beginning its journey of unauthorized driving.
"Amamiya-kun," Chika said softly, checking her phone. "Aharen-san just sent a message. A player has come for the service."
Umi placed her right hand on her waist. "It's to be expected if there are other players in the mall."
"Let's go down," Amamiya agreed.
"…"
The group headed back downstairs.
The first player to request the 'nozamA Power Leveling' service was a young man, likely a college student judging by his age. He appeared to be a lone ranger, traveling alone. No one knew what he'd been through, but his face was pale, and there was a faint trace of blood staining his chest.
Upon seeing Amamiya and the others approach, the male player instinctively took half a step back, clearly wanting to flee, but he restrained himself. Vigilantly, he asked, "Can you really help players clear the game?"
"We're offering game props in exchange for clearing strategies. We operate with fairness and transparency," Amamiya replied earnestly. "We've run clearance services in many games already. So far, we have a 100% satisfaction rate. Once the transaction is complete, don't forget to leave us a five-star review!"
Umi remained silent, though inwardly she was skeptical.
He's clearly fooling people again.
In reality, this was their very first "nozamA Power Leveling" customer.
The male player's face grew complicated, but since he'd made the decision to come, he was inclined to believe in their offer. In a hushed tone, he asked, "You only need the game props from the blind box, any type will do. Even ordinary ones, is that right?"
"That's correct," Amamiya affirmed, voice firm. "Reputation is everything. Our nozamA power leveling service is a century-old business—our brand is our pride."
The game had barely begun, making the claim of a century-old business ridiculously far-fetched, but the male player held back his urge to complain. Instead, he murmured, "How much will it cost?"
"I don't handle that." At this, Amamiya gestured toward Kaguya. "Please discuss it with our senior manager."
Kaguya stepped forward, her voice calm and collected. "Please set your props to display mode so we can conduct a simple evaluation."
The male player hesitated for a moment. The props from blind boxes were often bizarre—most barely useful except for being stored in a game inventory. Some, like 'unfinished leeks,' could be useful in rare situations like feeding certain NPCs, but items like a 'suspicious pack of tissues,' 'half a used eraser,' or 'expired bread' didn't seem to have any purpose whatsoever.
Shinomiya, ever the capitalist, wasn't one to trade for useless items. She was strategic, not a charity.
After a brief pause, the deal was finalized.
The male player handed over several game props to Shinomiya, while Amamiya passed him the "pass coins."
Both sides made the exchange smoothly.
Holding the strange coin, the male player asked nervously, "I just touch this to the air wall to escape?"
"That's right," Umi confirmed with a nod. "Go ahead and give it a try."
Taking a deep breath, the male player cautiously extended his hand toward the once-impenetrable wall of air. As his hand passed through effortlessly, his face lit up with astonishment.
What had been an invisible barrier now let him through without resistance.
The moment he crossed the threshold past the cashier counter, a game prompt chimed in, confirming his success. Excitedly, he exclaimed, "I got a notification! I cleared the game!"
Amamiya gave him a satisfied smile. "A pleasure doing business with you. Don't forget to leave us a five-star rating."
The male player vanished, teleported away instantly.
"Let's help as many as we can," Chika murmured, not particularly impressed by the items they had received. "I wonder if there are more players around."
As soon as she finished speaking, a soft 'thud' echoed from a dark corner of the mall.
Amamiya turned toward the sound and saw a large dog-headed mascot tumbling across the floor.
"Wait! Don't attack—I'm on your side!"
After rolling twice, the dog-headed figure shook its head, sat up, and quickly removed its costume head, revealing a young girl underneath.
"I'm a player too," she said. "And I want to purchase the 'nozamA Power Leveling' service as well."
It was clear she had been hiding for some time, waiting for the male player to clear the game and leave before making her own appearance.
"And me too," another voice called from the shadows as a second player emerged, dressed in a dinosaur suit.
Chika stared blankly.
There were so many shameless people hiding out there, waiting for their chance. It was unbelievable!
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榜單 
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