Chapter 25: An Attempt to Change Someone

"We're sorry! We know we were wrong!"

Six children, none older than seven, stood before Feng Xue, apologizing earnestly. They were about the same age as he appeared to be, yet this time, he had chosen not to resort to violence as he had before. Instead, he attempted to resolve the conflict with reason.

With professional-level persuasion skills, he employed a few subtle tactics—veiled threats and intimidation, nothing too extreme—but in the end, he managed to settle the dispute without lifting a finger.

As the six little ones lowered their heads in apology, Feng Xue turned and walked toward the orphanage building. He wanted to see if he could find books like One Hundred Thousand Whys or Junior Encyclopedia—basic scientific primers for children.

But before he could take more than two steps, he suddenly felt an invisible wall blocking his way. The scene froze, then shattered, breaking apart just as it always did during node settlements. The final results appeared before him—

[Mission Complete: Flawless Tactics]

[Node Settlement: +2 Illusory Dream]

[Loot Extraction in Progress…]

[You have obtained: Tabloid Newspaper (White).]

…

"The evaluation is still 'Flawless Tactics,' but there's no extra reward." Feng Xue was slightly disappointed, but he shifted his focus to the newly acquired item—

Name: Tabloid Newspaper

Category: Ingenious Collection

Quality: White (Common)

Effect: Cut a hole in the newspaper, sit down, and as long as you remain seated and continue reading, no one will notice your presence.

Note: An old, somewhat dated newspaper. However, for those who know how to use it, it may hold special value.

…

Feng Xue frowned as he examined its effect. A near-invisibility cloak disguised as an ordinary newspaper? That kind of power hardly seemed befitting a mere white-tier item.

Even with the limitations—having to sit and continuously "read"—it still felt far beyond what a common-grade artifact should be capable of.

However, as his curiosity deepened, he soon identified what set this item apart from others—

It had to be physically manifested to be used.

Moreover, it required him to cut a hole in it beforehand.

In other words, did this mean it was a single-use item?

Was this the defining trait of the "Ingenious Collection" category?

Feng Xue pondered the implications but didn't dwell on it too much. Rather than its practical value, what intrigued him more was its identity as a newspaper.

Just as he had gleaned insights into historical shifts from A History of Modern and Contemporary Art, any medium filled with information inherently possessed immense value.

Rather than rushing to the next node, he decided to skim through the newspaper first.

Yet, the results were disappointing.

Published on April 12, Year 451 of the New Calendar—a period defined as "modern history"—the content was as lackluster as its name suggested. It was filled with celebrity scandals, gossip about high-profile feuds, and risqué jokes, making it little more than a collection of trivial nonsense.

If there was any real value, perhaps only die-hard newspaper collectors would find some obscure appeal in a tiny article tucked away in a corner.

Looking at the celebrity names and photos, Feng Xue found nothing familiar. The only thing that stood out was a particular declaration on the page—one that boldly identified a wavy-haired blonde "female" celebrity as having the gender of an "eco-friendly plastic bag."

"I really hope this is just a joke…"

Feng Xue opened his mouth, then closed it, hesitating for a moment before finally staying silent. Given the way this world functioned—where reality was dictated by belief—he figured it was best not to dwell on it.

Silently, he turned his attention back to the available nodes. This time, both choices were Unexpected Encounters. With a glance at the Haunted Photograph—which was just a normal couple's photo with a faint shadow in the background—he casually selected one and moved forward.

[A random choice may lead to new possibilities. But remember—every gift from fate comes with a price.]

The flag was set.

The node swiftly unfolded, reconstructing the familiar orphanage scene—except this time, something was slightly off.

Before him lay a hidden hole, partially concealed by overgrown weeds near the orphanage's back wall. As he observed it, a line of text appeared—

[By chance, you notice a small hole in the wall behind the orphanage, just big enough for someone to crawl through. You choose—]

[1. Crawl through! You've always wanted to see the outside world.]

[2. Tell the teacher! A hole like this is obviously dangerous.]

…

Feng Xue stared at the choices, his emotions complex.

From a logical standpoint, the original owner of this body—a boy who had been drawn toward delinquency—would almost certainly have chosen to crawl out and explore.

From a player's perspective, taking risks usually led to better rewards.

But this time, Feng Xue wanted to see if he could trigger a more peaceful outcome—one where he wouldn't end up as a gang member.

It wasn't that he refused to embrace his predecessor's past, but rather, he recognized that playing the role of a street thug wouldn't grant him much valuable information. At best, he'd acquire whatever scraps of knowledge a physically strong yet powerless delinquent could gather—hardly worth the effort. He might as well rely on his own investigation skills to uncover more.

Besides, he still wasn't sure whether his golden finger merely replayed past events or allowed him to rewrite them.

If it was the latter, then perhaps—just perhaps—if he played his cards right, he could change his fate as a death row inmate.

With this in mind, he shifted his gaze and selected the option that most young boys would probably scoff at—

"Tell the teacher!"

As the choice was locked in, the scene shifted.

A group of teachers now stood by the hole, speaking with serious expressions. Meanwhile, in front of Feng Xue, a beautiful female teacher crouched down to his level, offering him a piece of candy with a warm smile.

At the same time, a notification flashed in his mind—

[Thanks to your timely report, the hole has been successfully repaired. You have received: Little Red Flower (Blue).]

Name: Little Red Flower

Category: Survival Aid

Quality: Blue (Rare)

Effect: +10 Sanity, +10 Illusory Dream

Note: A simple red flower, but a cherished reward among the orphanage children.

…

"Why do I feel like I got scammed?"

Feng Xue glanced at his now fully restored sanity bar but couldn't bring himself to celebrate.

There was no overflow mechanic for sanity, and survival aid items only activated when needed. In other words—he had effectively wasted 9 sanity points.

With a sigh, he cast a glance at the Haunted Photograph in his inventory before shifting his focus to the next available node.

Another Unexpected Encounter.

"Tch…"

There were no branching choices this time, so he tapped into it without hesitation.

But the moment the scene unfolded, his expression darkened.

He knew this place all too well.

Before he could entertain any false hope, the familiar text appeared—

[Children always love playing games. As one of them, you are no exception. This is a game of heroes and monsters. Will you choose to become the hero who saves the world, the monster who wreaks havoc, or the nameless bystander? Make your choice.]

[1. Scissors]

[2. Rock]

[3. Paper]

"…Shit."