Chapter 241 - 240: Why Is This Actually Pretty Fun?

Chapter 241: Chapter 240: Why Is This Actually Pretty Fun?

After properly experiencing the butler’s "Story," Lloyd gained a more direct understanding of the ability’s power.

It seemed the power of the "Story" ability lay in how the ’plot’ could adapt dynamically. The more one tried to break the plot, the more dangerous the subsequent plot would become.

Even if the target realized what was happening, it was difficult to break free. In fact, they might even fall deeper into the trap...

If one ultimately died within the "Story," their consciousness would likely be lost forever unless the ’author’ released them.

Furthermore, any abilities used and resources consumed within the "Story" would be reflected in one’s real-world body. If you exhausted your Spiritual Power or were injured inside, your physical body would become just as weak.

Its speed of interfering with one’s consciousness was perhaps slower than abilities from the Twist and Wisdom systems, but it was incredibly difficult to escape and affected the real body.

After summarizing his thoughts, Lloyd looked at the massive crowd of ’neighbors’ packed at his doorstep, all begging him to handle various strange incidents. Meanwhile, a fragmented ’narration’ constantly whispered in his ear, urging him to protect the weak and help his neighbors, trying to guide him deeper into the ’plot.’

Fortunately, he had remained clear-headed and hadn’t listened to the narration.

But Lloyd could also clearly feel that the ’narration’ wasn’t just for advancing the ’plot.’ It was constantly trying to modify his character profile—that is, to interfere with and influence his values and inherent Cognition.

Right now, for instance, the narration was trying to turn him into a kind young man who protected the weak.

And earlier, during the plot where he met ’Miss Desda,’ the narration had incessantly reminded him to protect Miss Desda, to remember her kindness to him, and not to have any improper thoughts or ulterior motives toward her.

This was likely more than just a ’plot’ influence. It was akin to a form of psychological suggestion. Even after leaving the "Story," it would be difficult to completely shed the ’plot’s’ character profile. He might truly become a kind young man who protected the weak and would genuinely protect Miss Desda.

Lloyd could sense his butler’s intentions, but he found the whole thing absurd.

’But I’ve always had the persona of a righteous youth who champions the weak and fights the strong. And I decided to protect Miss Desda long ago; she just doesn’t need my help...’

’Besides, I have nothing but respect for her. I’ll always remember the help she gave my sister and me during our most difficult times, so I’ve never had any improper thoughts. I have enough girls around me as it is...’

’But what if the butler and I weren’t on the same side, or were even enemies? How would he try to influence my values and Cognition then?’

Besides this interference with his values and Cognition, the NPCs in the "Story" would even pry into his privacy and little secrets.

For example, when he was with ’Evelor’ earlier, she had bizarrely asked him how much money was in his bank account, what materials he was still missing for his next Transcendence, and whether he had a girl he liked.

These questions had nothing to do with the plot at the time. They were asked so abruptly that it was obvious the ’author’ behind the scenes wanted to know the answers.

It was a good thing Lloyd and the butler were on the same side. Otherwise, the questions ’Evelor’ posed would have likely been far more important and private.

It seemed "Story" truly was a formidable ability, possessing many advantages and unique features that other mind-interfering abilities lacked.

Of course, it also had weaknesses and drawbacks. It wasn’t completely unbeatable.

’If I can stay clear-headed, the narration won’t be able to ’modify my profile,’ and the NPCs won’t be able to trick me into revealing my secrets.’

’As for these ’plots’ designed to trap me...’

’I’ll just have to break them my own way!’

After finishing his assessment, Lloyd watched as the noisy crowd of neighbors before him began to morally blackmail him.

"If my daughter doesn’t get better, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life! And I’ll write anonymous letters to report you!"

"If you don’t help me with this trouble, you’ll have to cover my losses!"

"Since you won’t help, and my house is unlivable, I’ll just move in with you!"

"You’re from the Holy Judgment Court, how can you not help us? What gives you the right to ignore us?!"

Lloyd’s fists clenched as he listened. He was trembling all over, his hands and feet ice-cold.

’Seriously, how can the butler portray these disgusting personalities so clearly and realistically?’

To respect the plot, Lloyd suppressed his revulsion and said:

"Alright, alright, everyone, don’t rush. I’ll help, but I have to take things one at a time, right?"

"This is a matter of life and death! You have to cure my daughter first! If she dies because of this, your sister can be my daughter instead!"

"Fine. Let’s go."

Lloyd replied decisively.

A large crowd then trooped over to that neighbor’s house. They gathered outside, watching coldly as Lloyd went in alone.

According to the narration’s description, as soon as Lloyd entered, he knew the neighbor’s daughter had been bewitched by some strange, evil, and mysterious entity. She had gone mad and was beginning to transform into a Demon.

To cure her, he would have to...

"In the name of Veto!"

Lloyd didn’t wait for the narration to finish, unleashing an ability directly on her.

"AHHHHHH!!!!!"

The crazed woman in the bedroom had her brains splattered, dying instantly on the spot.

Then he clapped his hands, walked out, and reported back to the neighbor:

"There. Your daughter isn’t sick anymore."

Although the neighbor didn’t go inside to check, he seemed to have learned of his daughter’s fate through other means. He froze on the spot, his gaze vacant and his expression numb.

He looked like a bugged-out NPC...

He stood there stunned for a good while before speaking in a mechanical, monotone voice:

"Ah! This is truly wonderful! Thank you for your help, Lloyd. You will always be my best friend."

He only registered that his daughter was indeed not sick anymore, fulfilling the request he had made of Lloyd. Thus, his part in the ’plot’ was over. He completely ignored the fact that his daughter was also dead.

’See? He’s even thanking me.’

Lloyd found it utterly absurd.

It was obvious that no matter how realistically and vividly the butler portrayed these NPCs, he couldn’t possibly account for the thought processes and behavioral patterns of every single one. He couldn’t make every NPC act like a real person.

Moreover, this was a ’plot’ that had already deviated...

And so, this laughable result occurred.

As Lloyd broke this part of the plot through such a clever loophole, he once again felt the surrounding Space flicker and blur, indicating that the power of the ’plot’ had been weakened again.

But this effect was clearly much smaller and gentler than the previous one.

In the previous plot segment, he had forcibly killed an invincible enemy in a scene where he was supposed to flee for his life, completely changing the plot’s direction.

In this plot segment, however, he had followed the plot by going to cure the neighbor’s daughter. But the method he used was completely illogical. This was an inherent loophole in the ’plot,’ which he had merely found rather than violently altering. Therefore, it didn’t trigger a ’plot’ backlash.

Clearly, this second method was the proper procedure, the one the butler had taught Lloyd before.

’It’s not very efficient, but it’s kind of fun, isn’t it?’

So, Lloyd turned to another neighbor and said:

"Alright, now it’s time to solve your problem."

This one was a cunning young woman, who quickly replied:

"Yes! Let’s go quickly. You have to help me convince my fiancé to sign his family’s fields and land over to me."

"Alright, I’ll let you witness my powers of persuasion."

With that, Lloyd led the large crowd of neighbors in a grand procession to the home of a powerful family in town.

The narration in his ear began to describe just how powerful and influential this family was, so much so that even ’Miss Desda’ had to show them some respect. It detailed how formidable the High-ranking Powerhouse in their household was and how doted upon their youngest son—the one preparing to marry this woman—was.

The woman, however, didn’t love the landlord’s youngest son at all; she was just planning to marry him to swindle the family out of their fortune.

But if he didn’t agree to her request, she would use her pillow talk with her multiple lovers to ensure his social suicide, making it impossible for him to get by in this town.

In short, if Lloyd helped her, he would certainly face retaliation from the powerful family and would likely be hunted by their High-ranking Powerhouse.

But if he refused, he would be forced to leave town. And once he left Arkham, a town teeming with talent and filled with powerhouses, the mysterious entity that had afflicted the neighbor’s daughter would target him, because he had just ’cured’ the girl and ruined Its plans...

Either way, with a High-ranking Powerhouse on one side and a mysterious entity on the other, the plot was trying to push Lloyd into a dead end.

Fortunately, Lloyd had already thought of a reasonable countermeasure...

He took the young woman into the landlord’s mansion, pulled the youngest son aside for a chat, and explained the pros and cons to him.

In the end, the youngest son, with a dazed expression, added his fiancée’s name to the deeds for the fields and land.

The fiancée, with a similarly wooden expression, also signed her name on a document with special clauses.

It stipulated that after their marriage, she must remain faithful, love the youngest son with all her heart, take on all household responsibilities, big and small, and guarantee she would bear him one hundred children.

If she failed to do so, she wouldn’t get a single cent of the property.

The goal was achieved, but also... not quite?

As soon as both parties signed the documents, Lloyd felt the world around him begin to blur again. The power of the ’plot’ had been weakened once more.