Jiang Lin, situated within the Happiness Residential Community, felt the power blanketing the entire complex with increasing clarity. He had taken a stroll around the neighborhood, and every resident he encountered wore a look of pure bliss. All the troubles of the mortal world seemed to have vanished from their lives. Compared to the outsiders who temporarily entered and exited, the residents here were clearly affected much more deeply. To resolve this, he needed to find the [Spirit].
[Spirits] were conceptual existences, naturally without physical bodies. However, the power covering the entire community must have a focal point. It would be the most deeply affected when the [Spirit] disintegrated, and it would be the source of this power. It could be a blade of grass, a person, or an object. According to past information provided by the mission center, the task could be completed by uprooting or sealing this focal point. Without the source of power, its influence would naturally dissipate.
So, the current problem was, how to find it...?
As Jiang Lin pondered, he habitually extended his senses throughout the Happiness Residential Community. The four entrances and exits of the community, the residents of several buildings, the park for leisure activities… As expected, apart from the power blanketing the entire community, he found no 'focal point'.
—That fellow was hiding very well.
This point aligned with the mission data. As beings recognized by the World Spirit, [Spirits], even after disintegration, could retain a certain degree of spirituality. This spirituality would allow them to continue maintaining their 'lifelong' efforts, persisting in the obsessions they wished to achieve. If they were found by someone, their existence would be forcibly ended. Naturally, they did not wish to be found.
However…
Jiang Lin looked towards Building 6, his gaze penetrating through layers of windows, 'seeing' an unexpected figure.
…
"Yes, yes, yes! Hurry up, hurry up!"
"Oh dear, at this point, what are you dawdling for!"
"Exactly, exactly, if you're a man, go for it!"
In a warmly decorated apartment, a large screen displayed the most popular TV drama of the moment. The coffee table was laden with snacks like fizzy drinks, potato chips, and fried chicken. Two women stared intently at the screen, watching the male and female leads hesitate and fail to take their relationship further, feeling utterly disappointed by their lack of progress.
"I even want to push the male lead from behind, he's so disappointing!" The woman speaking was dressed in a white robe, and in her frustration, she removed the tall hat from her head and tossed it onto the coffee table. The hat bore the inscription 'Prosperity at First Sight'.
"Exactly, exactly! He doesn't know how to take the initiative at all!" The woman beside her wore loose pajamas with pink stripes and soft bear ears on the pockets. As she spoke, she crunched on potato chips, one after another. Not only did she eat them herself, but she also offered a bottle of fizzy drink to her drama-watching companion.
"Sister Hong Ya, calm down, here, have a bottle of happy water."
Hong Ya took the happy water and chugged two large gulps. "Ah~ this taste is the best!"
"Who?!"
Catching a glimpse of a white figure approaching, Hong Ya's body reacted faster than her mind. She leaped up instantly, assuming a defensive stance. Then, upon closer inspection, she saw it was the Captain? She instinctively straightened up, "Captain…"
Jiang Lin swept his gaze calmly across the room, his eyes returning to Hong Ya. "Have you completed your work for today?"
Hong Ya felt a sense of unease, a chill creeping up her spine. She mumbled, "No…"
Jiang Lin: "Then what are you doing now?"
"Me?" Hong Ya glanced back at the large screen. Right, she was just doing what she wanted to do. What was there to be afraid of? It was just slacking off at work and getting caught. What was the big deal! Hong Ya straightened her back, her gaze no longer evasive. "I… I'm watching dramas! And drinking cola! So what?" What could you do to me?
Jiang Lin's thin lips parted, but before he could speak, Hong Ya preempted him, "What, do you want to fire me?"
"You fire me! I'm telling you today, I quit!" She picked up the tall hat from the coffee table and slammed it down with great authority and righteousness. She declared, word by word, "I… quit!"
The worker's spirit, the worker's soul. If living meant working, why should they be tormented even after death? Today, she declared her liberation! She wanted to watch dramas! Read novels! Enjoy her ghostly life!
Jiang Lin watched her quietly, his dark eyes steady, revealing no emotion. "What do you plan to do after resigning?"
Hong Ya eyed him suspiciously. The Captain was surprisingly accommodating. Was he approving it just like that? "Of course, I'm pursuing my dreams and freedom! If you have nothing else, I'm going back to watching my drama." She had thrown caution to the wind, and since she was quitting anyway, she couldn't be bothered to pay attention.
Jiang Lin nodded. "I see…"
With that, he raised his hand, grabbed Hong Ya, and tossed her directly out of the Happiness Residential Community.
"Ahhhhhh—"
Before Hong Ya could react, her entire being was sent flying uncontrollably. As soon as she flew out of the Happiness Residential Community, she collided with Xu Nan and the robotic sphere who were on standby outside.
"What are you doing!" Hong Ya stood firm, indignant. Just as she was about to roll up her sleeves and charge back in, she reconsidered. Why should she confront the (former) Captain head-on? Wherever she watched dramas, she watched them. Beside her, Xu Nan and the robotic sphere also looked bewildered.
Xu Nan was contemplating whether to greet her, as she was a member of the Eighteenth Team. Suddenly, Captain Jiang's voice reached his ears, "Send her back to the Eighteenth Hall."
In an instant, Xu Nan's gaze fixed on Hong Ya, who was trying to slip away. With a flip of his wrist, the Ghost Artifact · Earth Dragon appeared in his hand. The black chain emanated a chilling aura. With the various treasures given by Captain Jiang, there was no doubt he could restrain her.
Seeing Xu Nan and the robotic sphere approaching, Hong Ya retreated. Feeling a sense of foreboding, she asked, "What do you want to do?"
…
"Holy crap, Sister Hong is so fierce! Daring to talk back to the streamer like that!"
"!!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ Did I just see wrong? Or did I miss something?" Otherwise, how could he see Madam Hong Ya talking back to the great streamer?!
The viewers in the live stream were shocked and confused throughout the entire process. When they saw Hong Ya slacking off and being discovered by the streamer, they were prepared to light a candle for her in silent mourning for three seconds. Unexpectedly, the plot took a 180-degree turn the next moment. Hong Ya actually talked back with righteous indignation! Not only did she talk back, but she also directly threw down her responsibilities and quit!
They had never seen anyone so self-righteous after being caught slacking off. Although they also liked to slack off and dreamed of talking back to their superiors like this one day… it just felt a bit strange.
"Is there really no one she cares about in this world?"
"Shocked me for the entire year! Mom asked me why I was kneeling."
"I suspect… Madam Hong Ya has been possessed."
Normally, Madam Hong Ya, while watching dramas, also managed her work properly. The viewers liked her, and by empathizing, they wished they could also watch dramas like this. Work and hobbies were not mutually exclusive. But the current Hong Ya… had she truly let herself go???
"You fake fans, get lost! This isn't Madam Hong Ya at all!" A fan of Hong Ya quickly commented in the barrage.
"Don't jump to conclusions, look how calm the streamer is."
…