CHAPTER 86: PAPER MASK BAG

Lucien didn’t have to wait long. After about twenty minutes of sitting, someone arrived and settled in front of him. The person wore a paper bag mask with crude holes cut out.

They leaned forward and asked:

"Could you be... Player Cien?"

Lucien regarded the person with disappointment and sighed.

"Is all this really necessary?"

"I mean, yes, it is. You told me you’d be sitting at the edge, but there could be another misunderstanding, you know? We’re both really famous people—even you’re wearing a disguise."

Lucien agreed with that part, though he didn’t particularly mind.

"You won’t believe it if I tell you I was kind of forced."

The bag mask tilted at him, head cocked.

"You’re lucky you have people who care."

Lucien smiled, looking down.

"If you put it that way... I feel like the villain here."

He exhaled and expelled the lingering thoughts from his mind, focusing on the paper bag mask.

"So? What were you able to find out?"

She sighed.

"Well, you were right. You were indeed attacked. I traced the address you gave me, and it turned out to be quite serious. Right now, you’re in a hospital—in a coma."

Lucien clenched his fist and ground his teeth.

’What is this nonsense? What’s going on? Why would anyone attack me?’

He tried to think back, searching for any enemy he might have made, but no one came to mind.

Aside from the vague face he’d seen, he couldn’t draw any conclusions at all. How was an antisocial person supposed to make enemies?

’Enemies will find you even if you don’t make them. This is just outrageous!’

Paper bag mask stared at him for a few seconds before withdrawing slightly to her seat.

"I’m not sure... but I’ll help you find whoever it was. Is that alright?"

Lucien looked at her, his eyes blazing with gratitude.

"I’ll be greatly indebted to you!"

Slam!

Paper bag mask slapped the table and pointed at Lucien.

"You said so! Don’t forget your promise, okay?!"

Lucien froze for a moment, processing this with some wariness. He leaned forward with focus.

"Well, since we’re going all out, why don’t I add one more name to the list? But I’m sure this one will be easier to find since it concerns the game."

Paper bag mask gestured with her hand.

"Go ahead then."

"His name is Titanslayer. I need to find him—he owes me a debt."

Paper bag mask stroked her paper chin.

"Well, that should be relatively easier. Now then, let’s discuss the main reason for this meeting."

Lucien sighed and folded his hands on the table.

"I checked, and indeed, being in-game alone doesn’t affect my EvoTube account. I can still upload and directly convert my earnings to Evocoins. I can also make more videos and send them to you—our contract still stands, and I’m willing to do 60:40."

Paper bag mask was silent for a while, then shook her head.

"No, no, that’s quite unfair. Let’s stick with 70:30 for now and go 60:40 when you’ve recovered."

Lucien looked at her strangely, made a funny face, and went:

"Awww... are you pitying me right now? That’s so sweet of you."

Paper bag flew forward and slammed the table again!

"No!"

She tried to speak, but her words broke.

"I... I... I... I... it...t...t...tsss. Agghhhhhh!!!"

She groaned and clutched her head in frustration.

"Fuck! I hate myself!"

Lucien grinned.

’Humans are really as the book says... some of them are so complicated, yet some are so simple—as open and readable as a book.’

He looked at Paper Bag mask, that grin still playing on his face.

"PinkLashes."

She froze and leaned forward, covering one corner of her mouth as she whispered:

"Player Cien, you can’t say that in the open. Call me Paper bag when we’re out!"

He found Paper Bag mask to be pretty cute and genuine.

"I think you’re a good person..."

The statement made her freeze. He could have sworn he almost saw pink blushes through the paper.

She turned her face away from him, looking down slightly, sitting so composed.

"Thank you. But you shouldn’t trust people so easily."

Lucien looked at her with a pleasant frown, then laughed.

"Oh, no, no—I don’t trust you yet. I don’t trust anyone... yet. But being in this position where I have no choice but to depend on you, I might as well appreciate your genuineness."

Paper bag mask looked at him.

"Hm. I guess that makes sense. So Player Cien is a tactical person?"

Lucien pondered the word for a moment.

"A tactical person? I haven’t really considered myself one. Honestly, I think I’m too dumb to be tactical."

Paper bag mask nodded.

"Hmm, okay."

She leaned forward again, whispering.

"Mind if I ask a couple of questions, Player Cien?"

Lucien looked at her, slightly startled by her sudden seriousness.

"Sure...?"

Paper bag mask pressed on.

"Is it true that your father was one of the developers in Evo Online and that you have cheats? That’s how you’re so good? People said you gained 50 levels in just one day of grinding."

Lucien stared, dumbfounded.

He pointed at himself.

"My father...? A developer?"

Paper bag mask nodded vigorously, radiant hope shining through the holes of her eyes.

Lucien leaned back, laughing.

"Well, I guess, since he kind of... the asshole did develop something with his life, which he’s now obsessed with."

Paper bag mask focused more intently on him.

"No, not just develop anything—I mean the game..."

Lucien looked down at her.

"No, my father isn’t a developer of Evolution Online... he would never be."

Paper bag withdrew from the table and stared intensely at Lucien.

Even though her eyes were hidden behind the paper bag, Lucien could feel the needles of her gaze piercing his skin.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"What do you mean, ’he would never’? Developers are quite prestigious, you know, and they earn a lot of money!"

Lucien was genuinely confused.

’Did I ever say they weren’t?’

"Apologize for what you said!"

Lucien’s mouth dropped.

"Eh???"

’What did I say?!’