"Really?"
Qingque's heart fluttered at those words.
Wasn't Sylvester basically telling her that the grand undertaking of slacking off had already fallen into her grasp?
Did she really have such incredible luck?
Only three trash cans.
Three! Just three!
This drop rate was enough to make ninety-nine percent of people who opened trash cans here cry with envy.
She examined the scroll carefully but didn't dare to open it—afraid she wouldn't understand its depth and might, through one careless slip, ruin the glorious future already in her hands.
"This is… a forbidden book?"
With the effect of the Synesthetic Beacon, she could now read the strange script she normally couldn't decipher.
Coincidentally, the shapes of these characters resembled Xianzhou calligraphy, yet individually they felt extremely… primitive?
Altogether, it was like two different writing systems had been stitched together under some peculiar rule.
When she read the title on the cover, Sylvester smiled faintly. "Correct, that's exactly what it means. This is a forbidden technique from a certain ninja civilization in the vast cosmos. Because it consumes an enormous amount of Path power, a single careless use may drain you dry and place your life in danger, so it's classified as forbidden."
"Its name is—The [Multi-Shadow Clone Technique]! In the blink of an eye, it can produce up to one thousand clones!"
"Clones? And a thousand of them!"
Qingque's eyes widened, her small mouth forming an O.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, she didn't expect to receive such a powerful technique!
If she could split into a thousand copies, wouldn't the work that normally required a full day—sometimes even an all-nighter—be completed in a minute and a half?
Even if things weren't that ideal, ten minutes would be plenty, right?
Working only ten minutes a day…
Bah!
If she could make clones, why would she work at all? Forget the Divination Commission—even the little record-keeping tasks for the shop could be thrown at clones. Chores like cleaning or cooking were even less worth doing personally.
In that case, couldn't she just lie in bed every day, enjoying a life of effortless comfort?
I serve myself?
"Nice!"
Qingque leapt into the air, face overflowing with joy, flailing her tiny arms in turtle punches, her ponytail whipping behind her. She was already too happy to know how to vent her excitement.
"Don't get too excited just yet."
Although he hated interrupting her happiness, Sylvester still had to clarify the warnings.
He said, "This clone technique is extremely high-level. It requires a tremendous amount of Path power. Even though you can create up to a thousand clones, that doesn't mean using fewer will lower the consumption."
"On the contrary, the fewer the clones, the higher their quality, and the more energy required to maintain each one."
A hint of seriousness crossed Sylvester's face as he warned, "So you must closely monitor your Path-power usage. Never let inattention, or simple laziness, drive you to squeeze out your very last drop of it."
Even if Qingque wouldn't use the technique on a battlefield, who said using it for chores was risk-free?
Plenty of people gamble whether their final 1% of battery will last until the end of a mobile game.
Let alonecards—once Qingque started playing, she might not notice even if the universe behind her exploded.
If she got too absorbed in her card game and the energy drained without her noticing…
Would that count as suicide or sudden death? Hard to say.
"Eh~~ don't worry. You've heard of my score-control skills, right? I always manage to land exactly on the passing line. This kind of thing is child's play for me!"
Qingque didn't care about Sylvester's concerns. Even while talking to him, her eyes remained glued to the scroll.
She held it up with both hands as though receiving a divine blessing.
This thing was simply too perfect for her tastes.
After admiring it for a while, she finally put the scroll away and said, full of excitement, "Sylvester, relax. Once I soar to the top, I'll repay you with the greatest reward! Even if I have to sell the entire Divination Commission and hand it to you, it's fine!"
"Gee, thanks a lot."
Sylvester rolled his eyes at her.
Using clones to slack off wasn't enough—she even wanted to sell the Divination Commission to curry favor. If Fu Xuan heard this, who knew how she'd discipline you.
Besides, do I look like someone who likes work?
How is this anything but repaying kindness with spite?
And you're planning to use this thing to slack off—yet you think you're going to soar to the top? You're talking nonsense out of sheer happiness, aren't you?
Huh?
As Sylvester grumbled inwardly, he suddenly realized something.
Even if Qingque used clones to escape her workload, could she really escape Fu Xuan's expectations?
Come to think of it… just like that previous [Geass], wouldn't Fu Xuan only raise her expectations further?
"Eh-heh-heh." Sylvester's lips curled into an interesting arc.
The smile made Qingque's scalp prickle. "Sylvester, why are you smiling like that…?"
What was going on? He smiled like this just because she mentioned selling the Divination Commission to him?
Could it be… he had some inappropriate thoughts about the DivinationCommission?
It was possible. Last time, when the Master Diviner delivered food to her, the two of them seemed a bit… ambiguous.
I need to tell the Master Diviner to be cautious.
If Sylvester and the Master Diviner actually got together, then…
Then it wouldn't affect me much, would it?
Qingque, initially quite wary, relaxed the moment she thought of that.
And then an even stranger idea began forming.
Since she and Sylvester were like siblings, if Sylvester and the Master Diviner got together… wouldn't that mean she and the Master Diviner would become like sisters?
The thought sent a little flutter through Qingque's heart.
Decision made—if the chance came, she was going to help nudge things along!
As for now… hehe.
She would let the tiny mountain of official documents in the Divination Commission experience the terror of a battle-ready flock of sparrows!
"Sylvester, you've finished selling today's trash cans, right? So, you won't be needing me anymore?"
"Nope. Go play."
Sylvester of course understood what she meant and waved her off. She could go wherever she pleased.
"Then I'm off." Qingque tapped her fingers to the sides of her head as a farewell gesture.
Then she dashed excitedly back toward her residence. "Paperwork, prepare to meet your doom!"
Watching Qingque disappear in a flash, Sylvester sighed softly. "This might be the most motivated day of her entire life."
Even if the work was being done by clones.
Sylvester stood and headed out, preparing to find Fugue and listen to a new fictional narrative.
His hand had just reached the door handle—
Suddenly, an electronic chime sounded next to his ear.
[Beep! Host is about to reach the count of two hundred trash cans sold since the last reward. Once the requirement is met, you may claim your next exclusive trash can.]
"Oh? Time really does fly."
Sylvester smiled slightly at the system message.
Who would be giving him the exclusive reward this time?
Hmm… the Xianzhou and the IPC had a contract limiting the weekly number of trash cans he could receive. Doing the math… it was about time to reach the quota.
So, the next exclusive trash can might come from a complete stranger?
…
Aurum Alley, Interastral Peace Corporation Branch Office.
In the antique-styled courtyard, three members of the Ten Stonehearts had gathered. The two women studied the newly collected intelligence, their brows tightly knit.
Jade set down a thick stack of papers and sighed. "Unbelievable… in less than two weeks, so many top-tier Curios have appeared."
"Xianzhou folks truly have great luck." Topaz gently stroked Numby, her expression calm. "Even though the Xianzhou were never the IPC's enemies—and the Yaoqing even have deep collaboration with us—anyone would feel a bit envious seeing so many top-tier Curios go to someone else."
Jade didn't confirm nor deny Topaz's comment. Instead, she turned to Aventurine. "Well? Tomorrow is your stage."
As the universe-famous lucky man, Aventurine's last experience had been truly regretful.
Setting the precedent for opening a black trash can—was that lucky or unlucky?
"I'll be perfectly fine!"
Reclining on the sofa, Aventurine crossed his left leg over his right and snapped his fingers casually.
His relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with the women.
"Good. Tomorrow, you're opening another trash can."
…
The next morning.
A foxian woman knocked on the silver-haired little girl's door. One hand on her hip, she smiled. "Well? Ready to head out?"