Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Ah Q feels like there’s no player unluckier than himself.

Looking at the familiar face in the mirror, Ah Q adjusted his white work clothes and sighed softly.

”Off work, huh, Ah Q.”

The NPC next to him gave him a knowing look. Perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination, but he detected a trace of mockery on the neurotic face.

”Let me ask you a question: if going to work is like going to the grave, then what is getting off work?”

The NPC colleague thought for a moment and uncertainly said, ”Burial?”

”Bingo, you got it right. For us, getting off work is like committing suicide.”

The colleague wanted to say more, but Ah Q was not interested in the conversation anymore and directly pushed open the restroom door.

”Hey, you haven’t changed out of your work clothes yet.”

”Heh.”

Walking through the long metal corridor, one could hear the noise of mechanical manufacturing from time to time.

When Ah Q first arrived, he internally complained about why he switched to being an ’Armament Engineer’ at a biology company.

Now, he was too lazy to even complain.

The brain-numbing noise was something he had already gotten used to, after being brainwashed by it.

Walking through the deep corridors of the company, Ah Q headed straight to the elevator, looking longingly at the scenery outside the window before stepping into the smart elevator.

By the way, he had hung himself here several times.

’Employee number 41145, welcome to clock out,’ the Artificial Intelligence’s voice sounded.

”Heh.”

Ah Q let out a cold laugh, not bothering to respond.

As the sound of the elevator descending echoed, he stretched his slightly sore neck and inadvertently glanced at the time displayed inside the elevator.

14th, 6 PM.

The familiar drowsiness hit, and he sighed, surrendering himself to the overwhelming sleepiness.

’Ding——’

Ah Q opened his eyes, all drowsiness vanished.

’Employee number 41145, welcome to clock in,’

The Artificial Intelligence’s voice rang out again.

He glanced at the time.

15th, 9 AM.

Ah Q sighed, unsurprised, and directly walked in, ready to start another day of grinding.

Balance Plan - Life Sever Agreement

This was the contract he signed on his first day at the company.

The contract was simple: a brain development surgery would split his life into two parts, one for work and the other for leisure.

While in the company, the player would not remember anything that happened outside.

And outside, he wouldn’t remember what he did inside the company.

In this way, with just eight hours of proxy grinding, he could enjoy 22 hours of free time.

This gaming method was generally called registered proxy grinding.

The problem was, he was responsible for the ’grinding’ part.

He didn’t know how the outer Ah Q played the game, but his way of playing was just one—grinding!

Entering the noise-filled production workshop, Ah Q knew it was another day of quest grinding.

Really want to get rid of that carefree self outside!

...

Time rewinds 22 hours earlier.

My name is Ah Q, a fortunate player.

Under the artificial night sky, with stars scattered and a light breeze, Ah Q leisurely roamed the streets, sipping artificial juice and taking his time.

With a ’ding,’ 10,000 Mechanic Tokens were credited to his account.

Ah Q glanced over and nodded in satisfaction. Should he play a Virtual Machine today or go flirt?

They say the game ”Cyber Realm” is tough, but I don’t see what’s so hard about it. Just eight hours of ’hanging up,’ and I have the experience, the money, and easily surpassed level 20.

His eyes fell on a maid café that specialized in card games.

Let’s play a round of ’Giant Corporation Supremacy,’ I’m quite the card master.

After ten hours of playing, Ah Q finally logged off, utterly exhausted yet satisfied.

...

Meanwhile, in reality, the player with the online name ’Ah Q’ twitched at the corner of his eyes while looking at his game log.

This week

Day one, played cards

Day two, played cards

Day three, Ah Q, Ah Q, you can’t keep being this depraved; you have people to save!

Day four, played cards

Day five, played cards

”Fuck!”

The good thing, or perhaps the bottom line, about the virtual game ”Cyber Realm” is that no matter what happens or what is forgotten in the game, once you return to reality, your memory will fully recover.

So, the Ah Q working miserably, breaking down several times, and attempting suicide several times in Balance Corporation is him.

Outside Balance Corporation, the carefree, proxy grinding-loving Ah Q is also himself.

Finally, the one in reality, morally condemned and turning to game forums for help, is also him.

His gaming life is one where ’the butt decides the brain.’

It’s not like there weren’t any players who were curious or sympathetic trying to help.

However, when they approached the in-game Ah Q, they were quickly persuaded to leave.

’What? I’m trapped in the company? That’s utter nonsense, absolutely false, nothing but rumors! Fancy a game of ’Giant Corporation Supremacy’? They recently released a new set of ’Career Female Demon’ cards.’

Thinking about how wretched his in-game self is, he can’t help but want to slap himself.

Forget it, the water’s too cold, and the face’s too sore, better to let it be.

Resolutely shaking his head, Ah Q opened the game forum, hoping that some players would still be willing to help.

Even though many helpful volunteers had been persuaded to leave, and he was being cursed as a liar online, there should still be some who slipped through the net, right?

’Ding——’

A message popped up as he opened the game panel.

’Are you the employee of Balance Corporation in the Liangzhou area in need of help?’

’Who is this friend of mine?’

’I’m nearby Liangzhou, just happened to come by to lend a hand.’

Arranging a time with the other party, Ah Q immediately went online without hesitation. After the familiar weightlessness, he returned to Mechanical City.

His memory relating to the company was fading fast, and soon, he would turn into that card lover in the game.

’Quick, find the other person quickly!’ Ah Q gritted his teeth, rushing to the rendezvous point.

However, his memory was vanishing far quicker than he anticipated. By the time he reached an automatic café nearby, Ah Q’s pace slowed.

He even wanted to order a cappuccino first.

”Why am I rushing? It’s not like I’m the one suffering, plus, this proxy grinding style is so enjoyable, why give it up? Am I stupid?” Ah Q muttered to himself.

”Better to play a round of cards first.”

”Ah Q, is that you,” a tall figure blocked his way.

”Ahem, apologies, friend, you’ve got the wrong person.”

”You were the one who contacted me, remember?”

”Oh, sorry, the mission’s canceled, hello friend, goodbye friend.”

With insincerity, Ah Q apologized and turned around to leave.

Yet, the other party was faster. With a lightning-quick hand, he lifted Ah Q up, enveloped him with a powerful aura, and instantly applied a dozen negative states.

Damn, this is actually an NPC, and a blood-red question mark one at that!

Are NPCs roaming forums now? Can this game even break through the Fourth Wall?

”Sorry, from now on, whether you grind or not, you need to do the mission. Otherwise, I’ll cut you back to level 0,” Gao Gong suggested sincerely with a friendly smile.