chapter 185 mack bad luck

The Fake Bank Scheme

Mist pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling sharply. "Alright, enough of this nonsense. How can we assist you?"

Brainless Girl perked up, her playful smirk returning. "Now that's the kind of attitude I like!" She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Let me tell you about the little business venture we've got running here."

Mack folded his arms. "This should be good."

Brainless Girl chuckled. "Oh, it is. You see, this warehouse? It's not just for storage. It's part of a beautiful little scam we set up. The perfect illusion."

Mist raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

Brainless Girl gestured dramatically. "Well, you know how players love to hoard their gold, rare items, and other valuables, right? But there's always that nagging fear of losing everything to PKers or thieves."

Mack nodded. "Yeah, obviously."

Brainless Girl's grin widened. "So, we gave them a solution. A secure storage facility. A place where they can deposit their loot, just like a bank."

Mist's eyes narrowed. "But there's no such thing as a real player-run bank in this game."

Brainless Girl clapped her hands together. "Exactly! That's what makes it brilliant! We hired a bunch of NPCs, dressed them up all professional-like, and set up a whole system to make it look like a legitimate bank. Players deposit their valuables, thinking they can come back and withdraw them whenever they want."

Mack blinked. "Wait… You're telling me they just hand over their stuff?"

Brainless Girl giggled. "Oh, absolutely! You'd be shocked how easily people trust a well-dressed NPC. It's all about presentation, you know? The little details. Fancy uniforms, scripted responses, a fake 'account' system—players eat it up like candy."

Mist crossed her arms. "So what happens when they come back to withdraw their stuff?"

Brainless Girl shrugged. "Depends on my mood! Sometimes we give them some of their things back to keep up the illusion. Sometimes we 'lose' their items due to 'unexpected errors.' And sometimes…" She giggled. "Well, sometimes we just disappear."

Mack's jaw dropped. "You're literally running a fake bank."

Brainless Girl winked. "And the best part? The customers blame the NPCs, not us."

Mist let out a low whistle. "That's next-level scamming."

Brainless Girl leaned back, arms behind her head. "I know, right? So, what do you say? Wanna help me make some people very sad?"

Brainless Girl leaned back in her chair, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Oh, but you haven't heard the best part yet."

Mist arched an eyebrow. "The best part? You mean there's more?"

Brainless Girl chuckled, stretching her arms as if savoring the moment. "Oh yeah. This scam has been running beautifully, but do you know who our biggest customer—I mean, fool—is?"

She let the words hang in the air, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Mack shifted uncomfortably. "Wait, hold on. If you're saying 'biggest fool'… That means it's someone with a lot of loot, right?"

Brainless Girl grinned. "Bingo."

Mist's fingers tapped against the table, her curiosity piqued. "A rich guild, then? Don't tell me some top-tier players actually fell for this?"

Brainless Girl shrugged. "Oh, way worse."

Mack rubbed his chin, thinking. "Wait. Is it some merchant guild? No, they'd be too paranoid for this. Maybe a casual guild filled with whales?"

Brainless Girl shook her head, her grin widening. "Nope."

Mist narrowed her eyes. "Someone powerful, then. Someone who actually thinks they're smart."

Brainless Girl snapped her fingers. "Getting warmer."

Mack frowned. "No way… Don't tell me it's—"

Brainless Girl leaned forward, lowering her voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "Your dear Elder Mirsha of Rainbow Solutions."

The room went silent.

Mist stared at her, blinking once. Then twice.

Mack let out a strangled laugh. "Okay, now I know you're messing with us."

Brainless Girl threw her hands up. "I swear on every stolen credit I own—it's true! Mirsha's been stuffing this warehouse full of Rainbow Solutions' treasures, thinking she's outsmarting everyone."

Mist's lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "You're telling me… that all of Rainbow Solutions' high-tier loot is sitting right here, in your scam bank?"

Brainless Girl smirked. "Every last bit."

Mack groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "This is going to end horribly."

Mist chuckled darkly, cracking her knuckles. "For them."

---

Brainless Girl tilted her head, her smirk shifting into something unreadable. "Are you not sad? Betrayal like that… it should hurt."

Mist's arms remained folded, her gaze sharp. "Maybe before. But my own sister betrayed me. After that, I stopped caring." Her voice was cold, sharp as a blade. "Now, I just want them to suffer. Slowly. Like ants crawling in the dirt, crushed little by little, until they finally die."

She let out a soft, chilling laugh.

Mack shuddered. "That's… uh… really dark."

Brainless Girl grinned, her usual teasing energy returning. "Oh, I like that answer! You're fun."

Mack swallowed. He was so out of his depth with these two. He should just stay quiet, let them have their psychotic revenge talk, and avoid doing anything stup—

His hand twitched.

And then—

It landed on something soft.

Warm.

…Very, very soft.

Mack blinked. His brain struggled to process what had just happened.

"…Huh."

Silence.

Brainless Girl blinked.

Mist blinked.

Mack, in his infinite wisdom, squeezed lightly. Nice.

Then, realization hit him like a truck.

His eyes shot wide open.

"Oh. Oh no."

Brainless Girl slowly looked down at his hand, then back up at him, her expression eerily calm. "Mack."

Mack's soul left his body. "I-I can explain."

Brainless Girl tilted her head. "Mmhmm?"

Mack, against all survival instincts, muttered, "…It was really soft."

The temperature in the room dropped.

Mist facepalmed. "Mack, you idiot."

Brainless Girl clasped her hands together, her smile far too sweet. "Oh, don't worry."

Mack exhaled in relief. "Oh, thank go—"

CRACK.

Brainless Girl punched him so hard he flew backward, crashing into a nearby chair.

Mack groaned, his body sprawled out on the floor. "I regret everything."

Mist shook her head, looking down at him. "No. I regret knowing you."

Brainless Girl dusted off her hands. "Anyway! Back to business."

Mack whimpered.