Aideen Park is Penacony's largest theme park, built in the “Syrupism” style, where the air is filled with the sweet scent of SoulGlad.
Inside the park, people can directly see the SoulGlad Headquarters building, which is shaped like a glass bottle with soda surging inside, connected to the city's water supply system.
All these arrangements are to satisfy the needs of tourists, allowing them to experience the joy of the dream world.
And it's not strange for a magician to perform for people here.
Two systems passed, and Mingyi's expression was solemn.
“As expected, the speed at which ordinary people gain Influence Points is too slow.”
Through Mingyi's efforts, his number of Influence Points had successfully reached five-point something, and five Influence Points couldn't do anything.
If everyone, regardless of their status, gained Influence Points at this speed, the time Mingyi would need to collect Influence Points for a simulation would be very long, completely unable to keep up with the plot.
The most basic simulation function of the system is charged by the number of months in the simulation, requiring one Simulation Point per day.
Furthermore, the starting price for a system simulation is one year, meaning at least 365 Influence Points are needed for the system to show any activity.
And to enter Okhema and become a Golden Descendant, he also had to purchase entries in the plugin.
In simulations that had already concluded, Mingyi could gain some preferential treatment by using Influence Points.
The 【Golden Descendant (White)】 entry requires fifty Influence Points to purchase, which would allow him to become a native Omphalos Golden Descendant.
Since ordinary methods don't yield many Influence Points, he should try to complete some side quests; maybe he'll get a pleasant surprise.
If that still doesn't work, Mingyi will have to consider some methods that are written into the law.
As a law-abiding citizen, Mingyi absolutely did not want to use those methods until the last moment, as they are very dangerous, easy to get caught, and the possible consequences are quite severe.
As long as he doesn't take that step, he can always maintain a good relationship with the orderly factions like Astral Express Crew.
When Astral Express Crew arrives, Mingyi can also blend into their team and effortlessly gain Influence Points.
He just doesn't know if he, as a stowaway, will be accepted... Who cares, he already has the plot, just reveal a little and... So I won't be hunted down by the Stellaron Hunters, right!
Mingyi didn't dare to think further; action was the most important thing.
Golden Hour
A clothing store in the Audie Shopping Center.
“Distinguished guest, welcome! I am Kekena, the manager here. Is there anything you need?”
She smiled at the customer, a smile clearly honed by years of training—one part too much was fawning, one part too little was cold.
Listening closely to her voice, one would find it clear and bright, yet hiding a trace of weariness—perhaps she repeated the same lines to countless customers every day.
“Jewelry, watches, bags, haute couture... You can buy the most high-end and luxurious goods in Penacony here.”
Kekena, a native of Penacony, was still at work today, as she had been for decades.
She wasn't sure what meaning this job held, but it was still decent and well-paid, so what was there to be dissatisfied with?
She possessed a beautiful voice and a rare, genuine heart, but her voice was used for sales, and her heart was sealed away by circumstances beyond her control.
She didn't want to lose this job, due to pressure from her parents, due to the high cost of constantly entering dreams, due to...
“I just, I just...”
For no reason, Kekena felt a wave of sadness.
“Bang bang bang!”
The customer knocked on the table, and Kekena snapped back to attention, looking at the customer in front of her.
“I'm sorry, I might be a bit too tired lately... Um, is there anything you need?”
The customer in front of her had a young face, dressed in the style of the magician from the videos, with a rose in his chest pocket.
Flowers, even in the dreamscape, were not cheap; not something a lower-class family could afford.
“I saw you just now, eyes closed, frowning, body swaying slightly, as if you weren't feeling well.
You seem very tired; do you need some help? You can talk to me; perhaps I can offer some advice.”
Kekena looked at Mingyi, who was worried about her, and felt a little warmth in her heart. She replied with the professional smile she had trained for years: “Thank you for your concern, but it's work time now, and I'm fine. Do you need me to introduce some products?”
“No need, I'll just look at the product descriptions myself for now. I'll find you if I need anything.”
Mingyi took the magazine titled “Beautiful Dream Attire,” which contained product descriptions, found a stool, and sat down. He appeared to be reading the magazine, but secretly, he was planning his next move.
He wanted to participate in one of Penacony's excellent side quests from the game: “Imagine a Future Rose.”
The story began when the Trailblazer received a promotional text message about a luxury store. The detailed discount information required the Trailblazer to consult with the manager, Kekena, so the thrifty Trailblazer went to inquire.
Damn it, even without shares in Penacony, they were quite rich. Sooner or later, he would have his own businesses; perhaps even Penacony would have a share of him.
Of course, to achieve that, he needed power, he needed Influence Points.
After the Trailblazer consulted the manager, Clockie popped out and said that he noticed Kekena was missing the emotion of sadness.
Subsequently, the Trailblazer used Clockie's trick to repair Kekena's emotional dial, but after recovering her sadness, she fell into an abnormal mental state.
So, the Trailblazer found Giovanna, the nurse at the Real Hotel, obtained a special drink, and tried to get Kekena to take it.
But Kekena, remembering everything, was unwilling to continue being a puppet and nourishment for the dream, and prepared to return to reality, leaving quietly alone.
However, before leaving the dream, she still had a record she wanted to find, so she entrusted the Trailblazer with the search.
The Trailblazer successfully found the record and gave it to Kekena. After she left, Clockie reappeared, telling the Trailblazer that Kekena's current state was very poor and she might truly give up on herself at any moment.
So the Trailblazer entered Kekena's Synesthesia Dream and chased Kekena through her three memories.
After catching up with Kekena, the Trailblazer could choose to not let go four times or to let go once. After the Trailblazer made their choice, this side quest would end.
In the game, Mingyi, of course, chose not to let go. When the choice was in his hands, he wouldn't let himself regret it.
Thus, Mingyi could see Kekena overcome the shadows of the past and sing her self-composed song, “Imagine a Future Rose,” in the plaza.
And what made Mingyi happy was that after he obtained the Gabbro, he could invite Kekena to perform on the spaceship.
Seeing Kekena's happy smile as she realized her dream, Mingyi knew he had made the right choice; he had not let himself regret it.
He never thought he would have to help Kekena again. This time, he would, of course, save her as before, and let her find her true self.
Damn it, just thinking about how his shares in Penacony and the Gabbro, which originally belonged to him, would belong to Astral Express Crew of this world in the future, it felt like he had lost something.
No, if there's an opportunity in the future, these must still be his; he's very petty.