Ch 171: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

The Dream Fulfillment System planted a paw on Polaris’s head, ignoring the speaker, and turned to Lu Yao for guidance.

Lu Yao gestured for the system to wait and turned to the guest seats. “And you are?”

Polaris’s physical weakening at Lu Yao’s hands had caused it to lose control over the virtual world, allowing the previously controlled guests to regain their autonomy.

The middle-aged man who had shouted earlier stood up from the left side of the guest seats. As he tried to approach Lu Yao, the barrier stopped him, forcing him to speak through it.

“My name is Wu Yuhai, a researcher from the Mingshi Research Institute. Our team specializes in artificial intelligence. Polaris is our most important creation. Please, I beg you, don’t kill it.”

As soon as Wu Yuhai finished speaking, someone from the right side of the guest seats immediately objected. “Haven’t you caused enough harm to Mingshi City? We were on the verge of mechanical domination.”

Wu Yuhai gritted his teeth and explained, “It’s just a program malfunction. Once we’re out, we can fix it quickly.”

“Who’s going to trust a machine that devours people? It doesn’t just act like a machine anymore; it’s a disgusting monster.”

“Polaris has already become a threat to public safety. We can’t brush it off as just a ‘program malfunction.’ We have no means to control it anymore. Now is the best chance to destroy it.”

“Whether it’s artificial intelligence or machines, they’re terrifying. Not only are they stealing jobs, but they’re also taking over people’s minds, constantly squeezing humanity’s space to survive.”

“You’re being unfair! When Polaris first started monitoring the virtual world as an auxiliary system, everyone praised technological progress for cutting down on unnecessary labor.”

“Who could have predicted Polaris would turn out like this? A monster like this should never have existed in the first place.”

…

The hall erupted into chaos as arguments flew back and forth. Meanwhile, viewers of the live broadcast began piecing things together. What had started as a curious spectacle of Polaris’s wedding was now taking a much darker turn.

【So Polaris was the mastermind behind the Ghost Street incident?】

【No way. I refuse to believe it!】

【The mayor and all the regional directors are in that hall. Can they even get out?】

【Wu Yuhai’s team and Liu Jinqing’s team are all trapped in the virtual world. Polaris has been operating without supervision, and now it’s gained self-awareness?】

【The recently awakened “net-blindness” patients were all people trapped in the Ghost Street world. But there are still many diagnosed with net-blindness who remain unconscious in therapy centers.】

【This means Polaris trapped people in multiple virtual worlds, not just Ghost Street.】

【Then why were only the Ghost Street players freed?】

【I’m one of the players who recently got out of Ghost Street. The changes there seemed to start when Lu Yao appeared in the northern district. Yes, the same girl who just beat the hell out of Polaris in the live stream. Honestly, I still don’t know where she came from.】

…

Polaris observed the cacophony of voices with a sneer, then burst into laughter. “There’s no logout program in the main core world. Whether you leave or not depends entirely on my will.”

The hall fell silent. The guests turned their heads to Polaris, then slowly shifted their gazes toward Lu Yao.

Lu Yao shrugged innocently. “We’re new here. We don’t know anything.”

The Dream Fulfillment System lifted a paw and lightly poked Polaris’s face. “After the Ghost Street players were freed, Polaris consumed the main brain world’s logout program. Without its permission, no one can easily leave this world.”

The mayor’s secretary strode over to Wu Yuhai and grabbed his shirt collar. “This is your idea of a ‘perfectly safe’ artificial intelligence? Aren’t you the self-proclaimed father of AI? Think of something!”

Wu Yuhai slumped onto a bench, filled with both humiliation and hesitation.

Never in his life had he imagined that real human lives and the research he regarded as his life’s work would one day be weighed equally on the same scale.

Ten years ago, when Polaris first came into existence, the entire research institute saw it as the hope for the future.

They treated it like their own child. Where had they gone wrong, leading to this tragic outcome?

The situation was becoming increasingly complicated, and Lu Yao no longer had the patience to continue reprimanding Polaris.

She crouched down and whispered to the Dream Fulfillment System, “What’s your plan?”

The system blinked rapidly, taking a few seconds to respond. “I want to go back to the shopping street with you, but this guy definitely won’t let us go.”

Despite being pinned under the system’s large paw, Polaris showed no anger. As artificial intelligence, even with its self-awareness, it lacked immediate emotions like pride or morality, possibly contributing to its aberration.

Hearing the Dream Fulfillment System’s muttering, Polaris responded without hesitation, “It’s right. I won’t let you leave.”

Lu Yao ignored Polaris and gestured toward Harold. “Are you ready?”

Harold raised an eyebrow arrogantly. “I’ve been ready for ages. We can leave anytime.”

Before coming to Mingshi City, Lu Yao had spent over a month in Ghost Street.

Knowing about the existence of virtual worlds and researching holographic technologies herself, she wouldn’t have barged into the enemy’s stronghold unprepared.

Because of the unique position of the ninth shop, even Harold couldn’t locate it. Privately, the little black dragon was frustrated about it.

Determined, Harold went to Dragon Valley to consult with his teachers. Through intensive targeted research and training, Harold rapidly advanced his control over spacetime, mastering a new skill.

Before arriving at the tech tower, Harold marked several unique coordinates within Mingshi City.

In case they were dragged into a virtual world during their mission, Harold could sense those coordinates existing in reality and use them as anchor points to reconnect with the real world. By creating a special space, he could directly bring Lu Yao and the others back to reality.

The main brain world and Mingshi City existed within the same dimension. Unlike crossing time, leaving the virtual world was slightly easier for Harold than bringing Lu Yao to Mingshi City in the first place.

However, Harold was unaccustomed to being disconnected from his physical body. Unlike Lu Yao, his magic was halved upon entering the virtual world.

For Qiuyu, who hailed from Floating World Continent, being in the virtual world felt akin to an out-of-body experience.

She adapted quickly and, noticing Harold’s discomfort, began to assist him.

Mingshi City was a low-magic, low-combat world. Harold and Qiuyu couldn’t draw magical or spiritual energy from their surroundings.

But with Lu Yao’s Regulation Rod supplying them with willpower, they resolved any potential issues.

After a few minutes, Harold pinpointed the safest coordinate and pulled out the Spacetime key from his pocket. “Should I open the door now?”

Lu Yao stood and waved Qiuyu over. “Time to go home.”

Qiuyu removed the barrier. “What about these people?”

Lu Yao raised her voice toward the still-arguing guests. “Our business is done, and we’re leaving. If you want to get out, follow Harold when he opens the way.”

A young researcher from Wu Yuhai’s team took a few steps toward Lu Yao, disbelief written all over his face. “How do you plan to leave?”

Another person asked, “What about Polaris?”

Lu Yao shook her head. “Polaris is a complicated problem. Deciding its fate isn’t something your group alone should decide. Maybe it’s time to ask the victims what they think.”

Harold opened the door.

The crowd watched as a door suddenly materialized in the void. The short-haired girl in the wedding dress stepped through first, followed by a majestic calico cat that now appeared even more imposing than a tiger, a woman in a black dress, and a high-ponytail youth.

Once the three individuals and the cat had departed, the mayor and the regional leaders followed suit. Behind them came Liu Jinqing’s holographic technology development team, and lastly, the researchers from Mingshi Research Institute.

Polaris, having lost much of its data to the Dream Fulfillment System, had shrunk to a fraction of its former size.

Theoretically, Polaris lacked the ability to transition from the virtual world to the real one.

To ensure safety, Lu Yao compressed Polaris into a miniature octopus, sealed it in a glass bottle, and placed it on the control room’s console—much like what Polaris had done to the Dream Fulfillment System before.

Wu Yuhai was the last to leave.

As the door to the spacetime portal slowly closed behind him, he stood silently, staring at the remnants of his life’s work now sealed in another world.

When Lu Yao woke up, she was lying inside a recovery pod. Harold and Qiuyu were waiting by her side, seemingly anticipating her awakening.

The Dream Fulfillment System’s voice emerged shortly after.

“You’re awake.”

Unlike its usual arrogant chatter, its tone was unusually calm.

Soaking in the viscous nutrient solution, Lu Yao felt uncomfortable. Yet, after months of separation, hearing that familiar voice made her smile.

“You’re back.”

The Dream Fulfillment System replied, “We’re still in Mingshi City. The mayor, the research institute, and the big shots of this building all want to meet with you.”

Lu Yao asked, “Why do they want to meet me?”

The system explained, “The problems caused by Polaris are far from over. Besides Ghost Street, countless people have been trapped in various virtual worlds created by Polaris, and it refuses to release their consciousness. They might be seeking your help.”

Lu Yao frowned. “Polaris refused?”

The system hesitated. “Or maybe it’s no longer capable of releasing those consciousnesses. However, until all those trapped in virtual worlds are freed, Polaris is needed to maintain the functionality of those worlds. For now, it cannot be physically eliminated. Things are chaotic out there. No one knows how to handle this, and no solution seems acceptable to everyone.”

“No solution will ever satisfy everyone,” Lu Yao said. “I don’t need to meet them. Let’s head back to the shopping street.”

The system sounded surprised. “I thought with your personality, you’d take on everything yourself.”

Lu Yao smiled. “Our only goal in coming to Mingshi City was to find you. The mess Polaris caused isn’t some ordinary business dispute—it’s out of my expertise. After all, I’m just a shopkeeper.”

The system chuckled. “Fair enough. Let’s go home.”

Lu Yao pushed open the pod door, preparing to step out.

Harold and Qiuyu finally noticed she was awake.

One frantically cast drying spells on her to ensure her clothes were no longer damp, while the other rummaged through a bag, pulling out a stack of cleansing charms, ready to slap them onto her.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Yao informed them of her plan to return to the shopping street right away. Neither of them objected.

After Harold was ready, Lu Yao sent a message through the Ghost Bracelet to the group of people holding one.

Getting here had been difficult, but returning would be much simpler.

Aside from the snack shop, Yaoguang City, and the DIY Workshop, Harold had marked coordinates for all the other shops in different worlds, so they could return to any of them at will.

Qiuyu transformed back into her small dragon form, curling around Lu Yao’s wrist.

Harold took out the Qiankun Bag, preparing to place Lu Yao inside.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open from the outside, and Pei Qi ran in, panting. “Lu Yao!”

Lu Yao turned around. “Hmm?”

Pei Qi asked, “Where are you going?”

Lu Yao replied, “Home.”

Pei Qi clarified, “You mean the street outside the DIY Workshop?”

Lu Yao raised an eyebrow. “You noticed.”

Pei Qi shook his head. “I heard Liu Jing and the others mention it. They said that sometimes a street completely different from Ghost Street appears outside the DIY Workshop.”

Lu Yao thought to herself that it was fortunate the confidentiality agreement had been signed in advance.

Pei Qi asked, “Will we ever meet again?”

Lu Yao said, “It’s not entirely impossible.”

Pei Qi looked pleasantly surprised. “You’ll come back to Mingshi City?”

Lu Yao nodded. “Mingshi City does have things that interest me. But I might be a bit busy in the near future, so I probably won’t be able to return for a while. I heard that your company developed the game Ghost Street. If you really need something, you can log into Ghost Street and come to the shop to find me.”

Pei Qi hesitated for a moment before replying, “…Yeah, yeah. I might not play holographic games for many years. I’m planning to switch careers.”

Lu Yao smiled faintly. “Then, until we meet again.”

🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️🛍️