Chapter 1143: Lin Sanjiu's Fitting Day

Under the brilliant afternoon sun that roasted both the shops and the streets until they gleamed, the entrance to the clothing store named "Los" remained concealed in the shadow of a round platform. Lin Sanjiu's own shadow, along with the street behind her, was reflected in the gla.s.s door, obscuring the view of whoever might be watching her from within the dim store.

"Hei Zeji?" She tried calling out tentatively, though she knew it couldn't be him. She gently pushed the door and found it locked.

"Be careful," Mrs. Manas reminded her just as Lin Sanjiu was about to punch through the lock. "What if this round's lava is hidden behind the gla.s.s? Your [Defense Forcefield] won't save you then."

Indeed, when she entered the coffee shop earlier, the door was already open. She hadn't interacted with any gla.s.s doors or windows yet, so she couldn't rule out the possibility of the lava lurking behind the door. Lin Sanjiu hesitated briefly, then had the sense that the dark interior of the store appeared empty, as if the pair of deep, straight eyes that had watched her moments ago were nothing but a figment of her imagination.

Perhaps one of the illegal immigrants was hiding inside?

While Lin Sanjiu didn't understand why Sesame Cake and the others had tried to trick her into the Lava, it was reasonable to a.s.sume that they had some ulterior motive. However, she had no interest in dragging others into her predicament. As long as the person inside the store didn't pose a threat, she would simply turn and leave.

Just as she contemplated leaving, the gla.s.s door trembled slightly, transforming into a medium for transmitting sound, akin to a speaker. Shortly thereafter, a deep male voice sounded from the gla.s.s.

"Consider this a friendly warning," said the voice, marked by the gruffness of a heavy smoker. "You'll regret entering here."

Lin Sanjiu chuckled. "Funny. I was just about to leave. Before I do, let me offer you a friendly piece of advice too. Your tone could incite people to pay you an unpleasant visit. The next posthuman might not be as nice as I am."

The gla.s.s door fell silent for a moment before the old smoker emitted a low "huh." Lin Sanjiu scanned the clothing store briefly before taking two steps backward, but she didn't leave.

When the gla.s.s door couldn't hold back any longer, it buzzed. "What are you still standing here for?"

"I'm looking for someone."

By now, she had confirmed that the person inside was one of the five illegal immigrants. "When did you slip into this store? Did you spot anyone nearby?"

"How interesting," the rough voice said. "Most people use their eyes to search, yet you're using your mouth."

"I can also use my fists to locate people," Lin Sanjiu replied, crossing her arms. "I don't mind showing you."

At times, she found these interactions rather absurd. When two slightly apprehensive strangers encountered each other, they seemed compelled to stand their ground like wild animals, raising their hackles. Regardless of their actual combat capabilities, their words often carried a darker and more menacing tone than necessary.

However, real physical confrontations occurred far less frequently and were far more daunting than these tense verbal exchanges. After experiencing several worlds, most individuals came to realize that whether transitioning from an ordinary high school to a prestigious one or becoming a posthuman, there were always others who outcla.s.sed them in the new field.

Lin Sanjiu recalled what Qing Jiuliu had once said: "Most people only grasp the concept of humility after they've been kicked in the nuts."

After their standoff persisted for a while, the gla.s.s door finally yielded slightly. "The person you're searching for isn't here."

"You don't even know who I'm looking for."

"Regardless, I'm the only one in this store," he said, pretending not to have heard the question she asked earlier.

Lin Sanjiu thought for a moment, then said, "My friend and I got separated about ten minutes ago. Maybe he was already inside before you entered."

"That's impossible," the old smoker replied. "I've been here for thirty minutes, and no one has come in. Besides, as soon as someone enters, no matter where I am in the store, I can sense it clearly."

Lin Sanjiu couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed; she had hoped that he had entered after 2:30 PM. So, it was unlikely for the lava to be hidden behind the gla.s.s.

Aha, she understand now!

Lin Sanjiu couldn't help muttering to herself, "So that's the role of the illegal immigrants and other players."

No wonder Ya Jiang used the

Lava Player's Handbook

to try to trick her. Now that she thought about it, every time the fake handbook appeared, the surface conditions, materials, and shapes were completely different. It was probably because Ya Jiang treated her like one of Puppeteer's scouts, making her unwittingly find the lava for him.

"What did you say?" The gla.s.s door trembled. "Illegal? Are you talking about illegal immigrants?"

Lin Sanjiu raised an eyebrow, looking curiously at the vague and silent shadow behind the gla.s.s door without saying anything.

"Earlier, there was a woman who suddenly wanted to attack me," the old smoker said somewhat eagerly. "She mentioned the words 'illegal immigrants.' What does that mean? Is it referring to me?"

"Let's make a deal," Lin Sanjiu said. "I'll tell you what it means if you tell me if you've seen my friend."

Lin Sanjiu was certain that he had done something to this store. When she looked into the store earlier, she noticed that it was quite s.p.a.cious. If the old smoker had been hiding in a corner, his gaze wouldn't have immediately followed her when she hurried past the store. What she noticed wasn't just a quick glance but rather a gaze that lasted for quite some time.

If this whole store was his eyes, then his coverage was extensive, and he might have seen Hei Zeji within those 30 minutes.

"So, you're looking for a man with obvious muscle lines but who doesn't take off his clothes. He might be carrying a knife, or he might not. He loves sweets, but he might not be eating them at the moment. Is that the kind of man you're looking for?" the old smoker murmured from the gla.s.s door. "Besides the fact that he's a man, I really don't know anything else about him."

Well, it had been a long time since she had seen Hei Zeji, so maybe her description was a bit vague.

"But if you're looking for a man," he added, "I did see one about four or five minutes ago. He ran past and headed east."

"What did he look like?" she asked.

"I'm not gay. Why would I pay attention to a man's looks? Anyway, he was a man, and he ran pretty fast. He was also carrying something that looked like a long pole. Alright, it's your turn to tell me how I became an illegal immigrant."

Lin Sanjiu sighed, afraid of wasting time and allowing the man to go too far. She briefly explained, then pointed in the direction she had registered. "If you still have doubts, go to the Indian restaurant over there. You'll find a registration book at the reception desk. I'm heading out now!"

"Wait!" the man suddenly shouted from the store entrance as Lin Sanjiu was about to take a step out. His voice, burnt from smoke, sounded like sandpaper. "I get it! You're in cahoots with that woman from that faction!"

There was a faction in this place?

She stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and glanced at the Los clothing store, asking, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Bang!" The gla.s.s door suddenly burst open, striking the wall with force but miraculously not shattering. Following this, a series of sharp sounds pierced the air as several shadows of different shapes rushed out of the entrance. Amidst the chaos, the old smoker roared angrily, "So, you're trying to trick me into leaving because you don't dare to come in! I won't give you the chance to meet that woman!"

Without pausing to consider the man's intentions, Lin Sanjiu's [Defense Forcefield] instantly activated, forming a protective barrier that sealed the gap between her skin and the shadows.

"Thanks!" she said to Mrs. Manas, who responded coldly, "Don't just stand there! Look!"

Lin Sanjiu raised her eyes, finally catching a glimpse of the true forms of the shadows her Higher Consciousness blocked. Strangely, they appeared unaffected by the barrier.

A delicate necklace with a price tag frantically twirled in the air, entangled with her Higher Consciousness. It seemed determined to reach Lin Sanjiu's throat. The gray sweater clung to her like a clingy ex-lover, persistently reattaching itself despite [Defense Forcefield]'s attempts to repel it. A scarf continuously attempted to tighten around her neck, while a shopping bag threatened to suffocate her.

All the objects that had flown out of the clothing store appeared to be old merchandise. Lin Sanjiu couldn't imagine the consequences if these items were to make direct contact with her body.

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In that moment, she entertained the idea of stuffing the gray sweater and all the other clothing back into the store, directly into the old smoker's mouth. However, luck appeared to be on the old smoker's side today. If she didn't catch up with the man who had pa.s.sed by earlier, finding him later would prove to be a challenging task.

"Release me, all of you!" Lin Sanjiu demanded.

Although her [Defense Forcefield] held strong against these objects, they stubbornly entangled her, preventing her from moving freely. She threatened, "Or else, I'll tear down this store!"

A moment of hesitation lingered in the store's response before it transformed into a cold, mocking laughter. "You want these things to release you? Congratulations, the man you were seeking is here. But you were just deceiving me, weren't you? He's not your friend at all, is he?"

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