Chapter 1906: Platinum Badge
"If what you saw is truly the future, then that future is certainly predetermined," Bai Kou said.
Xu Huo silently gazed at her for a moment before speaking. "Since no method can change the future, what meaning is there in my coming to the Platinum Eye?"
Bai Kou smiled slightly. "Isn't that just how people are? They believe in fate, yet they don't believe in fate."
Xu Huo also smiled. "How would you know without trying?"
Bai Kou gently raised her hand, and a chair appeared beside the table. "Sit down and talk."
Xu Huo sat down again and placed the "Angel's Eyes" back on the table.
With the Primordial Stone now right in front of her, Bai Kou tentatively placed her hand on the stone. "It's indeed the 'Time Origin,' without a doubt."
"How far have you evolved?"
Xu Huo glanced at the fruit on the table. "Want to try?"
Bai Kou stared at him for a moment before picking up a fruit and tossing it into the air.
Xu Huo used the power of the "Angel's Eyes" to nudge the time ray beside him. The scene of the fruit flying out and then falling downward was recorded and replayed repeatedly under the effect of the item.
However, when he had come out of that repeating mansion, he hadn't felt it. Now, as he nudged the time ray again, he vaguely sensed the time ray within that fruit. But unlike space rays, the time power inside an object felt more like a chaotic mixture, impossible to sort out.
After sensing for a moment, he withdrew his hand and turned his head to look at Bai Kou.
"You're quite good at drawing inferences," Bai Kou said, glancing at the repeating image before meeting his gaze. "But relying on an item means you still have a long way to go."
Super Evolution always started with this process. He still had a long road ahead before he could truly do anything with time rays.
"Does Temporal Super Evolution come with side effects?" Xu Huo asked.
"You're experiencing side effects?" Bai Kou was somewhat surprised. "What kind of side effects? Hallucinations or headaches?"
"Headaches..." Xu Huo hesitated. "If foreseeing the future counts as hallucinations, then I suppose I have hallucinations."
Bai Kou pondered for a moment before saying, "As far as I know, Temporal Super Evolution generally doesn't have side effects. You've probably undergone evolution too many times in a short period, which has affected your brain."
"Have you used any other auxiliary items recently? Especially those related to spiritual power?"
Xu Huo briefly described the effects of the "Realm of Thought."
"That's a side effect from your unrestrained use of spiritual power," Bai Kou stated firmly. "Frequent use of spiritual power places a heavy burden on the brain, especially when you're using external forces for high-output consumption. Take a break for a while. It's best not to use spiritual power at all, and if you must, don't combine it with items."
"If you rest properly, it won't have a lasting impact. But if you keep going like this, be careful you don't end up with a split personality."
"That serious?" Xu Huo picked up the fallen fruit from the ground, wiped it off, and placed it back on the table casually.
"Who can say for sure when it comes to the brain? Even after all this time in the game, we still don't know the exact cause of Super Evolution." Bai Kou tapped her own head. "In the end, it all comes down to this."
With that said, Xu Huo prepared to take his leave. He kept his promise and didn't take back the "Angel's Eyes," instead saying, "You look quite injured. There's no need to rush into a secondary evolution."
Bai Kou smiled and casually tossed him a platinum badge engraved with an eye. "Have a good time here for a few days. All expenses are on me. With this badge, any place in the Platinum Eye will welcome you."
Xu Huo caught it, glanced at it, and then exited the Mechanical Castle.
As he came out, a player wearing the Enforcement Team uniform also walked out of the Mechanical Castle. The person was alone and summoned an unmanned aircraft, saying to him, "My name is Yan Fang. Miss Kou Kou said I'll be responsible for your transportation over the next few days."
Xu Huo nodded politely and, after boarding, asked him to first go to the station to pick someone up.
Xiao Yuan and Tan Qi should be arriving soon on the Non-Player Train.
Yan Fang sat in the driver's seat and piloted the aircraft to the nearest Non-Player Train station. "The next train arrives in fifteen minutes. The aircraft can get there in about five minutes, but it can't enter the station. I'll have to wait outside. There's a dedicated waiting area inside the station. If you show the badge, the station staff will bring your guests to the waiting area."
Xu Huo nodded to indicate he understood.
Compared to Player stations, Non-Player stations had twice as many Armed Robots. Moreover, to protect ordinary people, players were generally not allowed inside the inner station. There were dedicated waiting rooms outside, or one could simply wait at the station entrance.
Xu Huo briefly showed the badge, and the staff member's smile immediately became bright and sincere. He was invited into a private waiting room, where tea, fruits, and snacks were served. A staff member then registered the names, appearances, and train numbers of the people he was picking up.
After waiting less than five minutes, the staff member waiting outside the waiting room knocked and entered, bringing back footage from the inner station for Xu Huo to confirm if these were the people he was waiting for.
After that, Xu Huo didn't need to go out. The staff would bring the two children over.
When they were brought over, each child was given a gift bag that could be worn on the back, featuring the station's emblem. They were also thoughtfully provided with discount coupons suitable for children's amusement parks and were asked if they needed an aircraft for transport. Even when they were about to leave, the staff reminded them of a non-existent doorstep.
The Enforcement Team member was waiting outside, and the station staff stopped at the door at the appropriate moment.
Once in the car, Xu Huo asked the two children if their journey had gone smoothly.
Xiao Yuan nodded repeatedly. "The flight attendant sister was really nice. When she found out we weren't traveling with adults, she gave us a lot of food."
As she spoke, she pulled out the snacks she had saved and shared them with Xu Huo.
Xu Huo pulled up the vehicle's Message Collection Terminal. "We'll go eat first. After eating, you can choose a place to play."
Xiao Yuan let out a small cheer and happily began browsing travel guides on the terminal.
Tan Qi, who had been sitting silently to the side, couldn't help but glance at Xu Huo and tentatively asked, "Don't we need to find a place to stay?"
"There are places to stay everywhere." Xu Huo gestured for them to look outside.
Just then, a parade airship passed by outside, showering countless balloons and flower petals from above. Amidst the lively noise, the laughter of children was especially prominent.
The passing aircrafts all slowed down in unison.
Xu Huo reached out and caught two small balloons, handing one to each child. "Blind box balloons. There are toys inside the balloons."
Xiao Yuan thought the balloons were too pretty to part with, so Tan Qi deflated his own, took out the small toy inside, and handed it to her. "Here, take mine."
"Thank you," Xiao Yuan said cheerfully as she took it, then handed him her balloon. "I'll give you mine."
"Want toys? I have plenty!" A clown suddenly descended from high above, laughing and scattering flower petals. The petals formed words in the air:
"Welcome to the Amazing Animal Show!"