Chapter 123 - 122: Wooing, Scheming and the Ultimate Game Plan

"The first method is through the main storyline, like with Seele, where they join naturally. The second method involves building rapport with 'wild' NPCs—once their affection level reaches a certain point, they'll join us." Stelle's eyes sparkled. "So, all we need to do is woo her, and we'll get a new companion? How do we do that?" Pei Guang explained, "You have to charm her. Make her blush. The strategy is simple: do things she likes, give her gifts she enjoys, and stay by her side. You can't just go through the motions, though. You have to mean it!" Stelle nodded thoughtfully. "I get it! Just like how you treat March?" Pei Guang gave her a thumbs-up again. "Exactly! You're a quick learner. Just like with March. And since you're a girl, same-gender interactions naturally come with a baseline level of affection. Plus, when you're pursuing multiple targets at once, it won't be as tricky as when I navigate the whole 'love triangle' situation. Woo her, and once she's on our side, she'll do anything for you—even if you wanted to... uh... 'cook' her, she'd probably be happy to agree." Stelle grinned. "Got it! I'll work hard to woo her, make her blush, and then 'cook' her!" Pei Guang gave her a thumbs-up yet again. "That's the spirit! Woo her, make her part of our team, and then... well, you know, have some fun!" March 7th had been listening to the entire conversation, and something didn't sit right with her. By the time she heard the last part, she couldn't take it anymore and interrupted. "Hold up! You two... what exactly are you planning?" Pei Guang turned to her with a reassuring look. "Don't worry! Stelle's just building affection. If I did it, you might misunderstand. I've already committed to the 'pure love' route for this playthrough. I'm going to enjoy the simple joys of that path. I won't do anything to lower your affection level. And who knows? If things go well, we might even gain a new companion. Perfect, right?" Though March 7th didn't fully understand all of Pei Guang's gamer jargon, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Pei Guang continued, "Don't worry, March~ Didn't you say you felt like there was a knife hanging over you? Well, I'm sticking with you, and I promise your affection won't disappear. 'If there's ever a time... when things get really bad... Ah Guang, please, don't give up on me. Promise you'll save me.'" Pei Guang looked at the worried girl in front of him and pondered for a moment. "Give up on you? Why would I do that? You're the one I'm pursuing, and you're so beautiful~ I'm aiming for a happy ending with you, where we're all together—wife, kids, and a cozy home! I'm not giving up on you unless this playthrough reaches its final boss. Otherwise, what's the point of wooing you? Whether it's in reality or the game, I can accept failure, but I won't tolerate giving up halfway." March 7th shuddered slightly. "Wow, I didn't expect you to have such grand ambitions. No way! There's no way I'm letting you woo me that easily. My affection level is only at 'friendly' right now!" Pei Guang smirked. "Oh, you're not getting away that easily. I never thought it would be simple. This is just the starter zone! By the time we face the final boss, I'll have your affection maxed out." March 7th smiled teasingly. "I'll be waiting~ But what if I'm not this beautiful...?" Pei Guang shrugged. "That's not going to happen. Based on my experience, in settings like this—with cosmic and fantasy elements—you could live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years and still be this stunning. As a player, I don't care about age, just beauty." March 7th squealed. "Eek~ Do you have to be so blunt?" Pei Guang grinned. "Would you believe me if I said I don't care about looks?" Stelle, who had been listening this whole time, initially found the conversation normal. But the more March 7th and Pei Guang talked, the more out of place she felt. Was she the third wheel here? Realizing this, Stelle's expression grew serious. "This won't do." Watching the two exchange playful banter, Stelle decided that she needed a target of her own to woo. If Pei Guang was right and same-gender relationships had a natural head start, why not pursue a few companions herself? Then, while Pei Guang and March 7th were having their playful conversations, she could have her own with her chosen partner. "Yeah... that could work!" As Stelle pondered this, she remembered something Pei Guang had said earlier—March 7th was his first encounter, and that's why he pursued her. If that logic applied, could she also woo the first person she met? With this realization, an excited smile spread across Stelle's face. A strange sense of familiarity washed over her as she thought about Kafka, the memory of her appearance, and her voice. Even though her past memories were gone, Kafka still felt oddly close to her. As Stelle thought about the possibility of wooing the first person she encountered—Kafka—her heart started racing. Stelle excitedly asked, "Ah Guang, if the first person you meet can be wooed, does that mean I can woo them too?" Pei Guang, without missing a beat, replied, "Of course! We're players. The first person you see is usually a key figure in the game world, so it's only natural that they can be wooed." Stelle grinned and rubbed her hands together. "In that case, how about I woo Silver Wolf first and then move on to the first person I saw?" Pei Guang, recalling Dan Heng's composed demeanor and traits that matched many people's tastes, nodded. "Absolutely no problem. As players, we're free to act as we please. And if it's all set up, who's going to stop you?" Stelle, understanding now, thanked him. "Thanks, Ah Guang! I get it now." At that moment, Stelle truly understood. She fully believed in Pei Guang's words. If he said Kafka could be wooed, then next time she saw Kafka, she would go all out in her efforts to charm her! Once she had successfully wooed both Silver Wolf and Kafka, she imagined walking with one on each arm. While Pei Guang was chatting flirtatiously with March 7th, she could have her own playful banter with Silver Wolf and Kafka. It would be perfect! "I'm so smart!" Stelle proudly puffed out her chest, feeling immensely pleased with her newfound wisdom. As for Kafka and Silver Wolf's identities? Who cared! She had no memories of her past, which meant she had no real identity holding her back anyway. Meanwhile, March 7th noticed Stelle standing there, arms akimbo and grinning proudly. She leaned over to Pei Guang and whispered, "Is she okay? I feel like she's misunderstanding something." Pei Guang replied confidently, "Don't worry! I know the player mindset all too well. This is probably her first time playing a game where you can woo characters, so she's just excited." March 7th shook her head, still skeptical. "No, something's off. I'm telling you, she's thinking about something completely different from what you are." Pei Guang raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?" March 7th smirked. "Just like you have your player experience, I've got my own intuition." Pei Guang shrugged. "No big deal. With me helping, Stelle will have Silver Wolf wrapped around her finger in no time. I've already done tons of research on her. Trust me, I know how to handle someone who's a true gamer at heart." Pei Guang smiled confidently. He was determined to make Silver Wolf join their team. She was a quest NPC who appeared before they reached the next map, had an adventurer background, and possessed incredible hacking skills. Not recruiting her as an ally would be a huge missed opportunity! As for the possibility of failing to woo her? No worries. Even if that happened, Pei Guang was confident that with a few underhanded "adult" tactics, he could still make her fall in line. After all, with 76 different online accounts and a treasure trove of anime, websites, and browsing history, he had plenty of leverage. Pei Guang wasn't entirely sure why his Star Destroyer used a C# system that seemed overpowered, but who cared? He was just a player—he didn't need to understand the programming. Why would a player ever need to start coding just to play the game? While Pei Guang was busy teaching Stelle the art of wooing, on the other side, Silver Wolf suddenly shivered. "Huh? Why does something feel... off?" And it wasn't just Silver Wolf. Even Kafka, who had come to check on her, felt it too. "This feeling..." Kafka shook her head and smiled. The future was shifting again, but many of these changes were positive. For Silver Wolf, coming into contact with Pei Guang would be a good thing. As for Silver Wolf winning? Kafka didn't believe that for a second. She didn't even need to look into the future to make that prediction. Just observing the contestants' mindsets, Kafka could already tell Silver Wolf would lose. Silver Wolf treated the universe like a game and saw herself as a player. But before being a player, she was a genius—a hacker with the power to alter reality through Aether Editing, a talent beyond most people. On the other hand, Pei Guang wasn't from this world at all. As a player, he did what players did. But beyond that, he was the very definition of a cunning adult. Pei Guang would use every resource, every tool at his disposal, wasting nothing. He could even turn trash into something extraordinary! He looked and acted like a person, but whether he truly was one, no one could say for sure. His very existence was a puzzle. Even though he wasn't as powerful as an Emanator or many followers of the Aeons, there was something strange about him. No matter how much Elio predicted, the Stellaron Hunters couldn't kill Pei Guang. He might even turn the tables on them. According to Elio's words, "No matter how strong the enemies are, as long as the player doesn't act recklessly, he can't be killed unless it's a plot kill. And besides, there are higher powers watching over Pei Guang. He's the true wildcard." But then again, why would they want to kill Pei Guang? Everything Elio and the Stellaron Hunters did was for their ultimate goal. Whether Pei Guang's appearance was a cosmic accident or some scheme of the Aeons, as long as they reached their endgame, Pei Guang wasn't their enemy but their ally. Plus, Pei Guang was Stelle's closest companion, and Stelle was precious to her. That made Pei Guang a valuable friend. He was also a good influence on her, even though she had picked up some bad habits from him. Still, Kafka was pleased to see Stelle's future brighten, and she hoped for more smiles from her. As for Silver Wolf? Sure, she treated the universe like a game, but in her heart, she was still a kid—a kid who loved to play. And pitting a playful kid against a crafty adult? No need for prophecies to know how that would end. Still, out of concern, Kafka asked, "Are you ready?" Silver Wolf, typing away at her terminal, replied without looking up. "I've finished debugging the data and am running some tests. I've added a few surprises too. Winning or losing doesn't matter—I just want to have fun this time. Yeah... I just want to enjoy myself." Silver Wolf's eyes sparkled with excitement. For a player, victory was only part of the fun. Even a battle she knew she would lose could bring her joy if it was a good challenge. Kafka smiled. "Good luck~" Silver Wolf grinned. "Do you want me to win?" Kafka replied, "Not really. I bet on Pei Guang winning." Silver Wolf, still typing, teased, "Wow, no faith in me?" Kafka laughed. "I have faith in you, but that doesn't mean I can't make a little money on the side~" For Stellaron Hunters, money was just numbers. Though they weren't like Asta, who treated billions like pocket change, a million or two was still fun to play with. Silver Wolf shrugged. "So practical. Well, I won't lose, anyway. Even if he's a player, every player has weaknesses." Seeing Silver Wolf so determined, Kafka couldn't bring herself to crush her enthusiasm. "Oh? What have you prepared?" Silver Wolf's eyes glinted. "I've set up a little something at the space station. Perfect timing to gather some Aether Editing data too. I wonder what surprises he has in store for me?" What had Pei Guang prepared for her? Unbeatable levels of Cat Mario and a crazy escape from a mental asylum. Both were 'just' little games, but Pei Guang was confident.