Sparkle produced a slip of paper, as if casually torn from a notebook. Neatly written names covered the page, each followed by detailed notes on the individual's current location—a thoughtful touch.
For Sparkle, obtaining such intelligence was child's play.
Suddenly, a joke popped into her head:
"Actually, you weren't originally on the list, but I have connections. I pulled some strings and got your name added at the last minute."
If she ever took a dislike to someone, could she simply approach Hermit, apologize for "accidentally" leaving them off the list, and then have them added?
While Sparkle's mind wandered, Hermit scrutinized the list. "Sparkle," he said, "you're a recent Outsider to this world, aren't you? I'm struggling to understand your true purpose here."
The Deputy Director of the Sakura Nation had already revealed her name: Miss Sparkle.
As for her Outsider identity, it wasn't hard to deduce. How could someone so powerful have remained completely unknown if she'd been here for a long time?
Hermit couldn't quite understand. This Outsider had appeared in the Sakura Nation, and judging by her appearance, her national preference should naturally align with this very nation. So why would she betray it?
"Isn't my purpose clear in the terms of our agreement? To end the war, to bring peace," Sparkle said with a smile. "As for deeper reasons, you could say I simply prefer happy things and dislike unpleasant ones."
"Ever since this war started, everyone's been so gloomy! That's terrible. I'm just trying to speed up the end of this unpleasant time!"
There's an ancient proverb in the Dragon Nation: "When the empire prospers, the people suffer; when the empire falls, the people suffer."
For ordinary people, their greatest desire is simply to live normal, peaceful lives.
Remember how Sparkle went door-to-door distributing those Wish-Granting Buttons? Now, with the war raging—especially as the enemy closes in on their doorsteps—the beauty of peace becomes all the more palpable. I'm certain the vast majority of those ordinary people wished for this war to end!
Of course, when I say "vast majority," there will inevitably be a small minority whose wishes include world domination, resurrected family members, or limitless wealth. But those outliers don't matter; the key is the overwhelming majority.
At that moment, the Wish-Granting Button truly fulfilled the desires of countless people. The so-called button itself was actually a firework. As the war ended, the countless buttons Sparkle had distributed earlier ignited simultaneously, soaring into the sky.
It was a breathtaking fireworks display, a grand celebration of joy—the realization of world peace!
Thanks to the Deputy Director's amusement and the collective wish fulfillment of millions of Sakura Nation citizens, Sparkle watched the "elation" percentage on the System dashboard climb at an astonishing rate.
Interestingly, if someone had pressed the Wish-Granting Button wishing for the Sakura Nation's victory, only for the nation to immediately surrender upon their wish being granted, wouldn't that be another kind of ironic amusement?
After a quick glance at the System, Sparkle refocused her attention on Hermit. "So, if you ever need help with anything in the future, you can always ask me! As long as it's fun and interesting enough, I'll gladly help you for free!"
Hermit didn't know how to react. Sparkle's response was completely different from what he had anticipated, yet somehow it also felt strangely logical.
Incomprehensible! Unfathomable!
That was the only conclusion Hermit could reach about the young girl before him.
Without another word, he took the list and vanished from the room, taking Sparkle with him. Only the Deputy Director's corpse remained in the office, awaiting discovery.
Meanwhile, news of the Sakura Nation's unconditional surrender had gone viral online. Sparkle's main body, stationed near the Sakura Nation Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, checked her phone. It seemed everyone on every platform was discussing the news.
Naturally, Sparkle was browsing Dragon Nation websites:
"Huh? That's it? They surrendered already? It hasn't even been half a month! That was way too fast."
"They used a Dimensional Rift Weapon and still only managed this? Pathetic."
"Tsk tsk tsk, boring. I was hoping the war would last longer. They brought this on themselves anyway."
"Hold on, I think it's a good thing the war ended quickly. War and death are never good."
"Ha? You sound like a Sakura Nation spy! Why are you defending them?"
"Stop trying to label me, okay? I'm just stating the facts."
A thumb painted with red nail polish swiped across the screen. The argument between the last two users had already spanned dozens of comment threads. It was clear that for those far removed from the war, news of its end had sparked two main reactions:
Some viewed it as a tragedy, wishing the conflict had dragged on longer and claimed more lives. Others saw it as a blessing, relieved that the bloodshed had ended sooner.
There was no doubt that the Sakura Nation's sudden surrender was Sparkle's doing. And anyone who found joy in this development, regardless of their reasons, met the criteria for "elation," contributing to the percentage progress of her System Objective.
Elation had no rigid definition. Whether through grand celebrations or quiet relief, any experience of happiness qualified.
Within mere hours, the System's elation percentage had surged from just over 3% to over 50%, and it continued to climb at a visible rate.
However, Sparkle had also noticed a problem: while the elation percentage was rising rapidly, achieving full completion with this single wave of elation seemed increasingly unlikely.
In summary, the definition of "elation" is extremely broad and easy to fulfill. However, the corresponding drawback is that the "required value" for this elation objective is incredibly high.
For example, if Firefly's "Iron Cavalry" System Objective was [0/100], requiring her to engage in a hundred battles, then "elation" would be [0/1000]. While easier to complete, it would require her to find a thousand enjoyable things to do.
This explains why, despite all her previous antics and pursuit of amusement, her elation percentage had only reached a little over three percent.
"So that's how it works? Then I'll add a little more fuel to the fire," Sparkle muttered to herself. Simultaneously, a Clone of hers in an internet cafe pressed the Enter key on the keyboard, initiating the video upload.
The video showed the Deputy Director of the Sakura Nation Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, free from any illusions, clutching a comical plushie and barking madly at it, convinced it was a super bomb.
Sparkle hadn't lied; she had indeed recorded the entire scene.