Flawless Calculations

Number Five followed Wu Wang with a rather strange expression on her face.

The guest had asked her to subdue him somewhere private, but she couldn't just abduct him in full view of everyone. She was a waitress, after all, and couldn't risk causing a panic.

Within the hour, she witnessed the cloaked man set up shop in the Suicide Hall next to the Casino.

He had stolen a piece of white cloth and scrawled a message on it.

【Divine Fortune-teller, Solving Doubts and Dispelling Confusion, Leaving Nothing to Chance】

He hung the cloth over the Suicide Hall's sign, completely obscuring its original name. He had also found a pair of sunglasses to wear, giving him the distinct air of a charlatan.

From time to time, a desperate gambler would glance at this newly appeared “NPC” and subconsciously approach to ask a question.

Wu Wang would simply make a show of pinching his fingers as if performing a calculation, then give a response that would make their vision go dark.

And so, the following scenes occurred frequently.

A young man, starved for love after losing his beautiful memories, sought guidance.

"Master, I've forgotten everything, but my heart yearns for true love. Do you think I'll find it?"

"I've pinched my fingers and calculated," Wu Wang declared. "You won't!"

"Fuck!"

"Er… you won't get any of that, either."

The young man was speechless.

"?"

A bewildered philosopher who had also lost his memories walked in, hoping to find an answer.

"Sir, can you tell me why the sea is blue?"

"Perhaps it's because everyone who drowns in the sea says the same thing."

"Please, enlighten me."

"Blub blub blub…"

The philosopher stared blankly.

"?"

Then, a stern, sharp-tongued educator walked in. She attempted to humiliate the charlatan with logic problems.

"Hmph! Just a quack! I ask you, if there are nine children in a class and you only have eight pieces of candy, how should you distribute them?"

"I'd eat seven of them myself."

"Hmph! That doesn't answer the question!"

"No, what I mean is, you leave one piece for them to fight over. That way, you transform a class-wide conflict into an internal one."

The educator was left dumbfounded.

"?"

Many people who had lost their beautiful memories in the casino next door came and went. After receiving Wu Wang's “counseling,” they committed suicide with even greater resolve.

Before long, a thick stench of blood filled the air behind the Divine Fortune-teller.

As for him, he just shrugged, packed up his stall, and prepared to go find fun elsewhere.

Number Five's heart was filled with hesitation. A question suddenly occurred to her.

If this gentleman had also lost his memories, didn't that mean the behavior he was exhibiting now was his truest nature?

An abstract Fun-seeker?

His disregard for life was appalling. The sound of each body hitting the floor behind his stall didn't cause the slightest ripple in his voice.

If that was the case, then was the man she had known before even real? Or was she, too, just one part of his little game?

Number Five began to reconsider whether she should follow his previous orders.

"What are you thinking about?"

Wu Wang turned his head. Seeing the waitress standing there in a daze, he couldn't help but ask.

"You're not feeling sorry for those people, are you?"

He let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"For them, it's not losing their memories that brings despair. It's losing everything. That's what brings despair."

"Out there, every one of them is an influential member of the upper class. They are all winners."

"This pathetic state of being a loser who's lost everything, right down to their underwear, is what they can't accept."

"I'm different," he declared. "I only bet on games I'm certain to win."

With that, he turned and walked away, not caring in the slightest whether Number Five followed.

The current Wu Wang was more concerned about finding more fun on the cruise ship. He'd heard there was a ball tonight, and he expected to find even more entertainment there.

If not, he would simply make his own.

"Sir, I know a place that's suitable for you to have some fun. Would you like to go?"

Number Five suddenly spoke up. She had figured it out.

From the moment she began to hesitate, she had already changed. Was this the so-called freedom of thought?

Regardless, this gentleman had changed her.

What did he want to win? It didn't matter.

What mattered was that she would help him win it.

"Oh? There's a place like that? Lead the way."

Wu Wang's voice was filled with curiosity. He followed Number Five to a deserted KTV hall.

The current Wu Wang naturally had no idea what this place was. He certainly didn't know that he had once defeated Number Five here.

"Hmm… there doesn't seem to be anyone here. Why are you closing the door?"

"Hey, hey! Don't come over here! I'm gonna call the cops!"

"Stop pulling on my clothes!"

"What the hell! Sis, are you a King Kong Barbie? Where did you get so much strength!"

"Wuwuwu… Mama, I'm not pure anymore."

Having lost his player memories, Wu Wang had none of his extraordinary abilities and stood no chance against Number Five in a direct confrontation. In fact, she had to be careful not to accidentally crush his arms and legs.

When the suit was stripped off and the Decade mask was removed, Number Five was stunned.

She never expected him to be so young. She had assumed such a shrewd, calculating fellow would be a man weathered by time and full of stories, but the face revealed was that of a handsome young man, twenty at most.

However, when he stared at his right wrist, Number Five clearly saw his expression shift from terror to a daze, then to numbness, and finally settle into a captivating depth.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly. His expression and temperament changed from boyish innocence to something increasingly roguish.

He twisted his neck, the joints popping. Crack, crack.

Wu Wang took a deep breath. He looked at Number Five, who was still pinning him down, and let out a low whistle.

"Tsk, you know, a move like this could easily be misunderstood by a young man my age. Or perhaps… it's not a misunderstanding?"

Seeing his tone become more familiar, Number Five revealed a heartfelt smile.

"Welcome back, sir."

She stood up and pulled Wu Wang to his feet.

But unexpectedly, he just shrugged.

"No, I actually haven't remembered anything."

After speaking, Wu Wang narrowed his eyes and looked at Number Five. He wasn't lying.

The Abyss God's Mark had just scoured his mind with Mental Contamination, but he still hadn't remembered a thing. Even dying and resurrecting would be useless. Since he hadn't suffered any damage on a physiological or spiritual level, his memories couldn't be directly restored.

But that wasn't to say he hadn't gained anything.

At that moment, Wu Wang looked at Number Five's head and saw two lines of text hanging in the air.

【She hopes you can remember what happened before】

【She is hesitating whether to use the thing you gave her】

Although he didn't know where the text came from, it seemed to be her inner thoughts. In just an instant, Wu Wang made a judgment.

He had lost his memories on the ship, and this waitress had a good relationship with him before that. He knew very well what an asshole he could be. If their relationship wasn't good, no one would bother with him. Any normal person would probably want to kill him to vent their anger.

Moreover, his pre-amnesia self must have laid out some plans.

Wu Wang would not bet on a game he wasn't sure of winning. He believed his past self was the same.

"Don't give me that ‘are you kidding me' look," Wu Wang said with a grin, his eyes narrowing. "I really haven't recovered my memories, but I did gain some useful things. If I ever asked you to do something, then just go ahead and do it."

After receiving his confirmation, Number Five's gaze became resolute. She took out a bow-tie-shaped object from her pocket.

"You told me that after putting this on, the words I speak will make people feel an immense sense of trust."

"Oh?" Wu Wang said, a little surprised. "But I actually trust you a lot already."

She shook her head.

"No. You said that if you still didn't remember who I was after looking at your wrist, I should use this to influence other people."

"Who?"

"A petite female guest wearing white stockings and a fox mask, and another male guest wearing a Grey Wolf Mask."

The shock in Number Five's heart grew more palpable. Everything that was happening now… the pre-amnesia Wu Wang had predicted it all.

A Divine Fortune-teller with flawless calculations?

The gentleman was right. He really only bets on games he's certain to win.

And she would help him win.

Therefore, Number Five slightly modified the order Wu Wang had originally given. He had told her to give the bow tie to him to use himself, and had explained its side effects.

Now, Number Five decided she would be the one to use it.

She would bear the side effects herself.

【Side Quest 1: Obtain Mary's Favor】

【Completed】