Apocalypse: System of lotteries



"Extend~"

Ming murmured, and the metal rod in his hand thickened by 1CM and lengthened by 1CM.

"..."

Where did that go wrong?

[Your little frog, Foodie, perches on your shoulder, looking at the growing metal rod as if it recalled something.]

"~~"

Ming weighed the rod in his hand and gave a command:

"Length 1.7m, diameter 4cm."

Hum~ The long staff appeared in his palm, matching precisely the dimensions he had described. So this is how it works! A truly splendid rod indeed.

Holding it with both hands, Ming admired the staff. Its body shimmered in gold, engraved with intricate symbols at each end. To him, they looked like a mix of letters and numeric symbols. Truth be told, he didn't quite understand it.

Swinging it around effortlessly, producing beautiful patterns in the air, he then tried: "Shrink to the size of a sewing needle~"

Hum~ The staff shrank instantly, lying flat in his palm as a 'needle.'

"If the first ability allows it to change as I wish..."

Holding the 'needle' with a mere thought, it elongated, curved, and transformed into a ring. He slipped it onto his right index finger. The golden gleam was rather captivating.

However...

Sitting atop a mountain, ring adorned, Ming gazed out at the vast ocean, pondering. Why did the game master grant him such an item?

He once again brought out all of Janice's diaries, flipping from the first to the last, searching for clues. 

The moment he came across the words' mythical tale,' a realization seemed to dawn upon him, yet it left him more bewildered.

Ding~ Title, 50591.

Ding~ Broken bowl, one item.

Ming retrieved the item. It was a map. Upon unfolding, it showed arrows drawn haphazardly with a marker, reminiscent of a child's first attempt at holding a pen. Frankly, even Kubo could draw better.

Upon closer inspection of the map, he realized the arrows began at their current mountain range, pointing towards an unfamiliar location in the west. The map wasn't detailed, just a rough approximation.

"..."

Ming stretched languidly and, having securely stowed away the map, turned to retrace his steps back to the camp, entering his tent to rest.

"Da Vinci glanced at Foodie, thinking, 'Why is it hopping about instead of sleeping at this hour?'"

"Foodie conveyed to Da Vinci its need to relieve itself but was too fearful to venture out alone, seeking his company. Da Vinci, with reluctance, hopped out of the tent. Following closely behind, Foodie bumped into Da Vinci, finding comfort in his protective presence."

"Upon reaching a thicket, Da Vinci and Foodie observed a man and a woman acting suspiciously. To their astonishment, the man suddenly pressed his lips firmly against the woman's. Foodie turned to Da Vinci and remarked, 'In such matters, anyone seems more adept than Ming.'"

Ming, reclining on a mat inside his tent, remained uninterested in such dalliances. After all, in these uncertain times, fleeting moments of intimacy were a common refuge for many.

"Da Vinci did not contest Foodie's observation, recognizing the man as the one who often rode the crab and the woman as the one with a scar on her face. Indeed, they appeared to be a perfect match, complementing each other splendidly."

"Foodie thought it appropriate to offer congratulations while the young frogs around it joyfully croaked their approval."

With a resigned sigh, Ming thought, 'They truly owe you for the blessing.'

After a night of undisturbed rest, the camp's spirits were noticeably uplifted by dawn. After a quick meal, the group packed and continued their journey.

Ming approached the gigantic crab and addressed the woman seated beside Alan, "I wish to have a word with my sister-in-law."

Christina descended from the crab, retorting, "Currently... I'm not your sister-in-law."

Ming was unfazed, asserting, "It's only a matter of time. After last night, everyone is aware."

If Da Vinci and Foodie knew, it meant Merlin, Napoleon, Little Bear, Lion, Rhino, Tiger, Henry the Dog, Squirrel, Bill, Medusa, Little Spider, and others were in the know. Upon hearing the news, even the inconspicuous snail shifted closer to the larger snail.

However, a sudden realization struck Ming, reminding him of more pressing matters. He retrieved the map acquired the previous night and handed it to the woman, inquiring, "Can you identify the endpoint indicated by this arrow?"

Christina studied the map intently, revealing, "The uninhabited area... within the confines of the Lop Nur Desert."

"Are you certain?"

Deep within, Ming had already formed a suspicion. It all seemed to point to that location based on Janice's diary and the links between various events. Nonetheless, he sought reassurance.

"I am."

Christina's gaze drifted, recalling, "I remember a mission there once. One memory stands out: On our return, we discovered the body of a trekker amidst the dunes of a desolate tract. We later transported it to the local police station."

"A trekker? A body?"

A buzz echoed in Ming's mind. Could it be Janice?

Struggling to remain composed, he casually inquired, "A man or a woman? Can you recall the appearance?"

"I remember..."

Christina paused, reminiscing, "It was a man. The specific details of his face are now vague, but what stood out was him lying on a picnic mat with two small robot toys in his grip. One was pure white and the other pitch black, both round. Perhaps he got lost during a solo journey. That place lacks landmarks; it's easy to lose one's way."

"Indeed, quite unfortunate," Ming reflected. "It reminds us that traveling in company is always safer."

As Ming spoke, he safely stored the map and resumed his walk. The puzzle that had plagued his thoughts now seemed resolved. The last page of the diary was clear.

Janice had perished. The robots, Little A and Little B, had run out of power. Left in an uninhabited zone, bereft of energy, they seemed unlikely to have further adventures. Therefore, it was now evident that Christina's team had transferred Janice to the local police, from where the authorities acquired Little A and Little B.

What transpired thereafter remained a mystery. It was also unclear what prompted them to initiate the doomsday game.