A new day dawned.
Daziel, careful not to disturb Sushang, slipped quietly from the bed. His first action was to reach for his phone, sending a message to Fu Xuan.
[Daziel: Master Diviner, I request a divination. Is now a convenient time?]
An instant reply materialized in the chat.
[Fu Xuan: I am unavailable. Do not disturb me with trivialities. (Automatic Reply)]
Could the situation at the Divination Commission be this dire? Fu Xuan, seemingly, didn't even have a spare moment to personally respond.
With no other option, Daziel dressed and set out for the Divination Commission, hoping to find the Master Diviner in person.
He arrived to find the usually serene, moonlit grounds of the Commission transformed. The gates were firmly shut, and the air hung heavy with an unusual tension.
Daziel's heart sank. The problems were clearly even more severe than he'd feared. He approached the entrance, but a Cloud Knight guard immediately blocked his path. "Halt! This is a restricted period. Unnecessary personnel are forbidden from entering the Divination Commission."
Daziel, however, was prepared. He presented the Cloud Knight with his Alliance Jade Token.
As anticipated, the guard's expression shifted to one of surprise upon seeing the token. He examined it meticulously, and after confirming its authenticity, swung the gates open.
"Please, enter."
"Thank you," Daziel replied, stepping into the Commission grounds.
Following the path etched in his memory, he reached the Duty Assignment Hall, located near the Grand Prognostication Array.
The Grand Prognostication Array was the massive mechanism the Luofu Celestial Vessel relied upon to glimpse the future. Ordinarily, the hall would be bustling with diviners, connecting countless Jade Tokens to decipher the past, unveil the future, and illuminate the obscure. Now, however, the Duty Assignment Hall stood deserted. Only the Grand Prognostication Array itself remained, silently emitting a faint, ethereal glow.
Daziel hurried towards the Array.
And there, indeed, was Fu Xuan.
Her pink hair was gathered into a neat bun, with two playful pigtails trailing down her back. She was dressed in a purple and white robe and white leggings, creating a surprisingly adorable image.
She stood before the Prognostication Array, drenched in perspiration, meticulously adjusting the array's foundation stones. Threads of purple energy swirled around her hands, connecting to the array's base. Yet, no matter how Fu Xuan manipulated the foundation stones, they refused to align with the intricate diagrams projected on the star chart.
The scene was familiar to Daziel. In the game, an NPC named Huixing would guide the player through this very task. He hadn't expected Fu Xuan to be personally undertaking this arduous work. He remained quietly to one side, observing her repeated attempts, only to be met with the ever-shifting star chart and consistent failure.
Fine beads of sweat traced paths from Fu Xuan's forehead, sliding past her third eye. Her brow was tightly furrowed, a clear testament to her intense concentration and exertion.
After more than ten agonizing minutes, Fu Xuan finally conceded defeat.
With a weary sigh, she returned to her desk and practically collapsed into her chair.
She reached for a cup of Immortal Delicacy Tea – seemingly sourced from the Nocturne Haven – and took several large gulps, as if trying to drown her exhaustion and frustration.
"..."
Daziel cleared his throat softly.
Only then did Fu Xuan seem to register his presence.
"When did you arrive? You didn't even announce yourself..." Her voice held a trace of weariness and bewilderment as she looked up at Daziel.
"Master Diviner, I've been here for some time," Daziel replied respectfully. "I sent you a message earlier, but your Jade Token was set to auto-reply, so I came directly."
At this, Fu Xuan picked up her phone, glanced at it, and nodded. "Indeed, so it seems."
Daziel hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I was hoping you could use the Prognostication Array to perform a divination for me."
Fu Xuan stared at Daziel as if he were utterly daft, her tone laced with a touch of exasperation. "Are you serious? Can't you see the Prognostication Array is currently malfunctioning? How am I supposed to divine anything for you?"
Daziel considered his words carefully before speaking. "I was... guided by a Pathstrider who is also skilled in divination. I don't know which Aeon they follow, but they indicated that I could resolve the Prognostication Array's issue, and that all you need to do is use the Array to perform a divination for me..."
Fu Xuan gave Daziel a long, searching look. She clearly didn't believe him.
After all, how could simply performing a divination solve a problem that even she, the Master Diviner, was powerless to fix?
Yet, seeing the unwavering conviction in Daziel's gaze, a flicker of doubt crossed Fu Xuan's mind.
"..."
After a moment of internal debate, Fu Xuan finally nodded. "Very well. The Prognostication Array is already in this state. It can't hurt to try."
Daziel's face lit up. "Master Diviner, you agree?"
Fu Xuan sighed wearily. "Agreeing is one thing, but..." She gestured towards the Grand Prognostication Array. "The Divination Commission is currently short-staffed. We still need someone to operate the Array."
She paused, a hint of complaint coloring her tone. "Qingque was supposed to be on duty today. However, with the Prognostication Array malfunctioning and matters being so complex, she's thinking about slacking off, actually indulging in laziness. Go and find her for me."
Daziel was taken aback. "Qingque? Where is she?"
Fu Xuan spread her hands in a gesture of helpless ignorance. "Who knows? That girl, whenever something like this happens, she vanishes. She might still be somewhere within the Divination Commission, or she might be elsewhere entirely."
She looked at Daziel, her eyes reflecting a hint of her own exhaustion. "I'll have to ask you to find her. I'm rather tired at the moment and won't trouble myself with such trivialities. I'm relying on you. I await your good news."
Daziel nodded firmly. "Understood. Master Diviner, rest assured, I will bring Qingque back."
He turned and left the Duty Assignment Hall, beginning his search for Qingque within the Celestial Vessel.
Daziel's first action was to try contacting Qingque via his phone: "Qingque, the Master Diviner is looking for you. Return to the Divination Commission immediately."
As expected, the message vanished into the void, unanswered.
"That girl, always trying to avoid work," Daziel muttered, shaking his head in exasperation. He knew Qingque's nature; once she decided to shirk her duties, she was virtually impossible to locate.
He began his search within the Divination Commission itself, systematically checking every location, from the Duty Assignment Hall to the various side chambers, from the Archive Room to the rest area. He even questioned several diviners on duty, practically turning the entire Commission upside down, yet Qingque remained elusive.
"It stands to reason that if she's avoiding work, she wouldn't remain in the workplace. She must have left the Divination Commission already."
Daziel's next stop was the Stargazer Navalia. He navigated the bustling crowds, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of Qingque.
However, the Stargazer Navalia was vast. Finding a single person was akin to searching for a needle in a cosmic haystack.
He then proceeded to the markets of Central Starskiff Haven, meticulously checking each shop, inquiring with shopkeepers if they had seen Qingque, but all his efforts yielded negative results.
"What now?"
It was then that he remembered Sushang. He sent her a message, requesting her assistance in the search.
After the previous night's events, Sushang was almost entirely compliant, her Depravity Value reaching a staggering 50%. She was now completely obedient to Daziel, like a finely honed weapon.
Upon receiving Daziel's command, she immediately sprang into action.
The two divided their efforts. Sushang continued the search in Central Starskiff Haven and the Stargazer Navalia, while Daziel headed towards the Aurum Alley area.
He meticulously searched every street and corner of Aurum Alley, even venturing into some of the more secluded alleyways, yet Qingque remained nowhere to be found.
"Could she truly not be here?"
Frustration began to set in. Daziel had been searching for a considerable amount of time, his energy significantly depleted, with nothing to show for his efforts.
Just as Daziel was about to concede defeat and return to rendezvous with Sushang, he suddenly heard a crisp, youthful female voice emanating from the Longevity Hall nearby.
"That voice... it sounds somewhat familiar?"
Daziel's heart quickened, and he followed the sound.
Rounding a corner, he saw the signboard of the Longevity Hall. A petite girl dressed in a cyan-black dress was standing at the entrance, engaged in conversation with a young pharmacy owner.
"Qingque!"
Daziel recognized the girl instantly. It was Qingque, the very person he was seeking.
He hurried over, but before he could speak, he overheard the exchange between Qingque and the pharmacy owner.
"Boss Xiaotian, you've provided me with sick leave certificates before. You can't abandon me now!" Qingque pleaded, clasping her hands together in a gesture of supplication.
"Master Qingque, you can't keep coming to me for sick leave certificates. I run a pharmacy; I don't generally treat illnesses," the pharmacy owner, Xiaotian, replied, looking exasperated.
"But I've contracted an incurable disease, Boss Xiaotian, you must help me! You're from the Alchemy Commission, aren't you?" Qingque persisted, resorting to shameless tactics.
Daziel, observing from the sidelines, shook his head. Qingque would truly go to any lengths to avoid work.
"Master Qingque, you even know about the Alchemy Commission? If you have an incurable disease, you should seek treatment there!" Xiaotian patiently reasoned.
"The Alchemy Commission can't diagnose my illness, Boss Xiaotian. Can you help me pick a disease that won't be easily exposed?" Qingque continued to pester.
"Just say you have laziness disease; it'll never be exposed," Xiaotian retorted, rolling his eyes.
"If laziness disease could be used to fill out a sick leave certificate, I'd want to fill one out myself, but you know..." Qingque sighed, a look of genuine regret on her face.
Xiaotian was utterly speechless. It was at this moment that he noticed Daziel's approach.
"My guest is here, please wait a moment," Xiaotian said to Qingque, gesturing towards Daziel.
Qingque turned her head, saw Daziel, and her eyes lit up. "Isn't this Daziel? I know him; he's my good friend!"
She trotted over to Daziel, greeting him with unrestrained enthusiasm. "Daziel, why are you here? Are you here to play cards with me?"
Daziel looked at Qingque's deliberately innocent expression and was momentarily at a loss for words.
He took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure, and said, "Qingque, the Master Diviner sent me to find you."
"The Master Diviner?"
Qingque's smile instantly vanished. She blinked, seemingly in disbelief. "Looking for me? What for?"
"Surely you're aware that the Prognostication Array has malfunctioned. The Divination Commission is severely understaffed and requires your assistance." Daziel explained his purpose succinctly.
"Ah?"
Qingque's face instantly crumpled, a picture of misery.
"Why did they find me so quickly? My sick leave form isn't even ready yet..." Her eyes darted around, and she looked back at Daziel, pleading, "Daziel, could you tell the Master Diviner that I... I suddenly fell ill and can't return?"
Daziel looked at Qingque, a helpless expression on his face.
After considering for a moment, he propossed to her. "How about this, Qingque? Let's play a round of 'Celestial Jade of Erudition'."
He paused, adding, "Right here at the nearby Four Directions Board Game Hall. We'll find two other players, play a half-session, and only count our chips. If you lose, you'll come back with me willingly. If you win, I'll tell the Master Diviner you're ill and need a few days of paid leave. What do you say?"
He knew this was her weakness, the one irresistible temptation.
"Celestial Jade of Erudition?"
Susang
At the mention of the game, Qingque's previously miserable expression instantly transformed. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Okay, okay! I'm excellent at this! I knew you were here to play cards with me!"
She rubbed her hands together, eager to begin, as if she could already taste victory.
The highest form of slacking off is to find a legitimate reason to openly avoid work during work hours!
Daziel's proposition undoubtedly provided her with this very opportunity.
Seeing her agreement, Daziel sent a message to Sushang: "Found Qingque. No need to continue searching."
Then, the two headed towards the Four Directions Board Game Hall.
Along the way, Qingque chattered incessantly, boasting about a new card strategy she had recently devised and recounting her previous triumphs at the card table, where she had supposedly earned more in a single day than her monthly salary.
Daziel listened patiently, occasionally interjecting a few words, but his mind was already formulating a plan to ensure Qingque's convincing defeat.
Arriving at the Four Directions Board Game Hall, they found an empty table and recruited two passersby as their opponents. And so, a duel of "Celestial Jade of Erudition" commenced.
Initially, Qingque remained in high spirits, playing her cards swiftly and even winning a few small hands.
But as the game progressed, her expression gradually became more serious.
Daziel's card skills were unexpectedly formidable. He played flawlessly, consistently winning with large hands.
Qingque's chips dwindled steadily, and fine beads of sweat began to appear on her forehead.
"This... this is impossible?"
Qingque stared at her meager remaining chips, then at the towering pile of chips in front of Daziel, utterly unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Daziel, you... you didn't cheat, did you?"
Qingque's voice trembled slightly. She truly couldn't understand how she could be losing so badly.
Daziel smiled faintly and said, "Qingque, there's no such thing as cheating at the card table, only a lack of skill."
He secretly reveled in her predicament. In his previous life, he had been a Mahjong Soul master, invincible below the Soul Celestial level and a formidable opponent even above it.
Moreover, his luck this time was exceptionally good. He consistently drew the tiles he needed shortly after calling his hand, a feat comparable to a combination of the legendary gamblers Akagi Shigeru and Iwashizu Kazutaka.
Qingque's skills were certainly not lacking, but how could she possibly defeat Daziel in his peak form?
"I... I..."
Qingque was so anxious that she was on the verge of tears. She knew she had truly lost this time.
Daziel observed her, a slight frown creasing his brow. A bad premonition began to stir within him.
"Qingque, you're not planning to go back on your word, are you?"
Qingque hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and said, "I... my card-playing ethics aren't that bad; I wouldn't renege on a bet."
She raised her head, gazing pitifully at Daziel. "Daziel, could there be... could there be any other requests? I... I can fulfill anything, as long as I don't have to go back to work. Ever since the Prognostication Array malfunctioned, the workload has been overwhelming..."
Her lower lip trembled slightly, betraying her desperation.
Daziel instantly recognized this as a form of reneging. It was still different from what they had initially agreed upon.
This girl... perhaps it was time to teach her a small lesson...
[Scanning in progress!]
[Scanning successful!]
[New target: Qingque]
[Depravity Value: 0%]
[Task: Increase Qingque's Depravity Value to 50%]
[Task Reward: Strong Luck]
Book Guest 5596854
[Strong Luck: Exceptionally good fortune. For example, if you don't take protective measures, you are 100% guaranteed to win the lottery. Of course, this is merely an example...]
"No matter what! I just don't want to work! I'll do anything else you ask!"
Seeing Daziel remain silent, Qingque simply folded her arms, abandoning all pretense.
Daziel looked at Qingque, pondered for a while, and an idea sparked in his mind.
"Since that's the case..."
He stood up, walked over to Qingque's side, and looked down at her, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
His shadow fell over her, adding to the sudden shift in power.
"Then let's change locations and play something... different."
"Ah?" Qingque was stunned, not quite grasping the meaning of Daziel's words.
Daziel directly took Qingque's hand and led her out of the hall.
"Go... where are we going?" Qingque asked, a hint of panic in her voice.
Daziel offered no direct answer, only a cryptic, "You'll know when we arrive." He quickened his pace, leaving Qingque to hurry after him.
Their destination turned out to be an inn, a stark contrast to the Four Directions Board Game Hall they had just left. Daziel marched directly to the counter and, without a word to Qingque, booked a room.
Qingque watched him, a growing unease knotting in her stomach. "This...what are we doing here?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Daziel accepted the room key, turning to face her. "Upstairs," he said, his voice flat. "We're going upstairs."
Qingque remained rooted to the spot, her feet suddenly feeling like lead. "Daziel," she began, her voice trembling, a sob catching in her throat, "what...what exactly are you planning?"
A slow, unsettling smile stretched across Daziel's face as he met her panicked gaze. "Don't worry," he reassured her, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "I won't do anything to you." He paused, letting the words hang in the air before adding, "I just...want to play some special games."
_____
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