HPDBC Chapter 149 Treasure-Hunting Radar!
Chapter 149 Treasure-Hunting Radar!
Chapter 149 Treasure-Hunting Radar!
Shinjuku, Sega Game Center.
This is a noisy electronic ocean, filled with the crisp sound of coins clattering, the exciting background music of fighting games, and the unrestrained laughter of young people.
Compared to the oppressive and austere "white tower" from just a few hours ago, this is a completely different world.
In front of a pink UFO claw machine.
Nanako Matsushima was staring intently at the giant lop-eared rabbit doll in the shop window, her face almost pressed against the glass. Her hands gripped the joysticks, hands that had unleashed astonishing strength during the audition, but now they were drenched in sweat from nervousness.
"A little to the left—a little more to the left—okay, down!"
She slammed the red button down.
The steel claw wobbled down, seemingly firmly grasping the rabbit's head, but the moment it was lifted, the loose claw, as if it hadn't eaten enough, snapped open.
The rabbit fell back to its original spot, and even rolled over, turning its rear end towards her.
"ah--!!"
Nanako let out a scream, clutching her head in frustration as she squatted down, her long legs awkwardly curled into a ball: "Liar! This machine is definitely broken! I've already put in five thousand yen!"
Kitahara Shin stood beside her, holding a freshly bought Coke. He couldn't help but laugh at her embarrassed expression.
"This thing has a probability setting."
He walked over, dropped the coin in, and said, "Make way, let the professionals do it."
"Teacher, can you do it too?"
Nanako stood up, making way for him, her eyes filled with suspicion. "That claw was really loose."
Kitahara Shin remained silent.
He stood in front of the control panel and took a deep breath.
A slight thought.
[Mind Equipment: God's Left Hand - Sterile Touch - Activated]
In an instant, the noisy arcade fell silent in his eyes.
This is more than just a piece of equipment used for surgery.
[Absolute Zero] granted him mechanical stability in his hands, while [Touch Nerves]*, although unable to sense things remotely, greatly enhanced his sensitivity to the force of the joystick's feedback.
In Kitahara Shin's view, the doll was no longer a plush toy, but a tumor to be removed with precise coordinates.
He gripped the joystick.
There was no unnecessary shaking, no hesitation whatsoever.
With his left hand controlling the direction, the hand blessed by the "God's Left Hand" precisely moved the steel claw to the junction of the rabbit's neck and shoulder—the most stable point of force.
At the same time, he used the slight rebound force of the control stick to create an extremely subtle swing angle for the steel claw before it fell.
"fall."
Press the button.
The steel claws fell and got stuck right into the gaps in the doll's joints, creating a physical deadlock.
Lifting.
mobile.
The rabbit that they couldn't catch just now seemed to be welded to their claws, steadily vaulting over the barrier and falling into the exit.
"Thump."
Even after the sound of the doll falling out rang out, Nanako still had her mouth open, looking completely dazed.
"This...it's caught it already?"
"That's technology."
Kitahara Shin bent down, took out the large rabbit that was half a person's height, and stuffed it into her arms, casually deactivating its equipment: "Here, take it, it's your spoils."
Nanako hugged the soft, fluffy rabbit, paused for two seconds, and then suddenly realized what was happening.
"Wow!! The teacher is amazing!!"
Overwhelmed with excitement, she completely forgot where she was and jumped up on the spot.
She was already 1.72 meters tall, and with that jump, her head almost hit the decorative light sign above, and the rabbit ears in her hand flew up in the air.
A group of delinquents playing fighting games nearby were startled and turned to look.
"Shh"
Kitahara Shin quickly grabbed her shoulders, restraining this overly excited "large dog": "Calm down. You're a female celebrity, mind your image."
"hey-hey----"
Nanako stuck out her tongue shyly, buried her face in the rabbit fur, and only her smiling eyes were visible.
For the next hour, the two seemed to be catching up on all the games they hadn't played in the past few years.
From fighting in Street Fighter II to racing in Mario Kart.
Kitahara Shin sat in the somewhat cramped gaming chair, watching the pixels jumping on the screen, listening to Nanako's wailing next to him because she had lost the game.
In a daze, Kitahara Shin's thoughts seemed to transcend time and space, returning to that afternoon in his previous life when he was still in high school.
At that time, he had not yet gone to Hengdian, nor had he become the extra who waited in the cold wind for a background role without any lines, nor the "special guest actor" who desperately tried to add scenes for himself in the corner of the camera in order to earn a few dozen yuan more.
Back then, he was just an ordinary high school student who would drag his best friend into the arcade after school. A few warm coins in his hand were enough to bring him a whole afternoon of carefree joy.
But later, after he got into acting, he became completely "obsessed".
Driven by his seemingly unattainable dream of becoming an actor, he toiled away like an ascetic in the mire of Hengdian World Studios.
He ignored his family's incomprehension and his friends' growing distance. In order to hone his acting skills, he turned himself into a tireless machine, acquiring survival skills but also cutting off too many pure joys of life.
Fortunately, I've been given a second chance in this life.
Fate not only gave him the opportunity to stand in the spotlight and achieve success in his career, but more importantly, those hazy and beautiful pure times that he had once abandoned seemed to be returning to him little by little through these vivid people and events before him.
Looking at Nanako next to him, who was excitedly waving her fist and laughing carefree because she had won a game, Kitahara Shin's eyes softened even more.
This feeling is wonderful.
Nine o'clock in the evening.
The black Toyota Century slowly pulled up in front of a luxury apartment building in the port area.
This is a place that Kitahara Agency rented specifically as a dormitory for its core artists after they made money.
Security is tight and facilities are complete; Rie Miyazawa and Nanako Matsushima both live here.
"arrive."
Kitahara Shin pulled up the handbrake.
Nanako unbuckled her seatbelt, hugged the giant rabbit plush toy, and didn't get out of the car immediately.
The carriage was quiet.
She turned her head and looked at the man in the driver's seat. The light and shadow of the streetlights cut a distinct outline on his face.
"Um—teacher."
Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of satisfaction and reluctance after a night of fun: "Thank you. Today—it's the most fun I've had since I came to Tokyo."
"Me too."
Kitahara Shin smiled. "It's good to relax once in a while. Go back and get some rest; you have filming tomorrow."
"Um.
""
Nanako nodded, her hand on the car door handle, but she didn't pull it open for a long time.
She hesitated for a moment, as if she had made up her mind, and then suddenly reached into the pocket of her hoodie and pulled something out.
"Teacher, I—I want to give you something."
"What?" Kitahara Shin was somewhat surprised.
Nanako stretched out her hand, palm open.
It was a red braided rope with a small, somewhat rough-looking copper coin tied to it.
"This is a tradition from my hometown—"
Nanako lowered her head, avoiding Kitahara Shin's eyes, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness: "They say this kind of red thread—can bring good luck. I've seen how hard you've been working lately, and you're also investing in business, so—"
She got this from the gashapon machine next to the arcade while Kitahara Shin went to buy a drink.
What hometown tradition? It's all made up.
In Japanese culture, the meaning of giving a red thread to someone of the opposite sex is self-evident.
Kitahara Shin looked at the red string in her palm.
He was about to jokingly remark, "You've become superstitious, girl," when his gaze froze the moment it touched the red string.
Because, on his retina, this seemingly ordinary, even somewhat cheaply made, red rope was emitting a dazzling purple light.
【Item Name: The Red Thread of Fate (Treasure Hunter Edition)】
[Quality: Epic (Purple)]
[Description: Although this is just a cheap trinket that fell out of a gashapon machine, it carries the pure intention of someone with "great fortune." When that intention is strong enough, even ordinary objects can communicate with the divine.]
[Equipment Effect (Treasure Radar): When wearing or holding this item, the host will gain the "Treasure Perception" ability. You can clearly see the glow of all green (Excellent) and higher quality equipment within a 10-meter radius.]
[Note: This is the key to the treasure vault.]
Kitahara Shin's pupils suddenly contracted.
Treasure radar?!
He has always acquired equipment in an extremely passive way. It's either through system quest rewards or pure luck, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
He had fantasized countless times about how terrifying his growth rate would be if he could actively seek out equipment.
And now, this top-tier cheat code was timidly handed to him by Nanako as a small gift of a few hundred yen.
This is not a red line.
This was practically handing him the keys to a vault.
Kitahara Shin took a deep breath, reached out, and solemnly took the red string from her palm.
When the fingertips touch, the warm sensation travels through the nerves.
He looked up at the girl in front of him, who was feeling uneasy about giving him the gift.
She had no idea what she had given away.
In her eyes, this might just be a young girl's innocent crush. But in Kitahara Shin's eyes, it was priceless.
"Nanako".
Kitahara Shin's voice became somewhat low.
"Hey!" Nanako was startled, thinking that her gift was too cheap and was being rejected.
Kitahara Shin didn't speak, but simply waved to her.
"Come a little closer."
Although Nanako was puzzled, she obediently moved closer.
next second.
A warm, large hand gently pinched her cheek.
He didn't use any force; he simply stroked her skin with his fingertips, with an unprecedented intimacy and doting affection.
"pain----"
Nanako instinctively flinched, but didn't dodge; her heart rate instantly soared to 200 miles per hour.
She looked at Kitahara Shin, who was standing very close to her.
Those deep eyes were now filled with a tenderness and earnestness that she couldn't understand.
Are you going to kiss me?
Nanako's mind went blank, her eyelashes trembled wildly, she subconsciously closed her eyes, and her lips pursed slightly.
However, the expected kiss did not fall.
A man's chuckled whisper reached her ears: "Silly girl."
"I really like this gift. I love it very much."
Kitahara Shinso released his hand and tidied her slightly messy bangs, his tone solemn as if he were making a vow: "I owe you a favor. A huge favor."
"Remember my words: whatever you want, whatever you want to do, or whatever trouble you encounter that you can't solve, you can tell me. As long as it's within my power, I will help you."
"Whatever it is."
Nanako opened her eyes and stared at him blankly.
Although there was no kiss, the weight of these words seemed to be even greater than a kiss.
Can I have whatever I want?
Looking into Kitahara Shin's eyes, which seemed to draw people in, Nanako's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed.
She hurriedly hugged the rabbit in her arms and stammered, "I...I understand! Well—I'll go upstairs now! Goodnight, teacher!"
After saying that, she ran out of the car like a startled rabbit.
When she reached the entrance of the apartment lobby, she stopped and looked back.
The black sedan was still parked where it was, its headlights on, as if watching her go.
Nanako clutched her still-pounding heart, a silly smile creeping onto her lips, before turning and running into the elevator.
After watching the light in Nanako's room turn on, Kitahara Shin finally looked away.
He stared intently at the red rope wrapped around his wrist.
"Treasure Radar — Let me see how it works."
Now that we have this amazing device, we definitely can't just go home and sleep.
Kitahara Shin stepped on the gas, and the car drove away from the quiet residential area, heading towards Shinjuku, Tokyo's most bustling and densely populated street.
This equipment can only be used to its fullest potential in places with a large number of people and goods.
Shinjuku, near Kabukicho.
Even late at night, the place is still brightly lit and bustling with people.
-
Kitahara Shin parked the car on the side of the road, put on a baseball cap and a mask, and got out of the car.
A thought arose.
[Mind Equipment: The Red Thread of Fate - Activated]
In an instant.
The once ordinary street underwent a dramatic transformation in his view.
It's like turning on "Eagle Eye" mode in a game.
The world around me turned into a black, white, and gray hue, and in this gloom, countless faint points of light flickered.
That was the glow of the equipment.
Most of them are white or green, with a few blue specks of light interspersed occasionally.
Kitahara Shin noticed that a briefcase in the hand of a passing office worker was emitting a faint white light—[Office Worker's Briefcase: Overtime Endurance +1%] .
A street musician playing guitar by the roadside, his guitar emitting a green glow—[The Wanderer's Guitar: Passerby Stop Rate +5%].
"really----"
Kitahara understood this perfectly.
Most of this equipment already had owners. Although the system could detect it, he couldn't just rush up and rob it.
Moreover, as the system introduction states, the generation of equipment is often related to the user's obsession. Those items with owners might have been somewhat useful in the hands of their original owners, but for Kitahara Shin now, most of them are just junk.
What he needs are truly exquisite pieces that are unclaimed or buried in some corner.
He pulled his hat brim down and began to weave through the crowd.
He avoided the glowing passersby and fixed his gaze on the shop windows along the roadside.
It took about twenty minutes to walk.
As he passed an inconspicuous secondhand luxury goods recycling shop (Daikokuya), Kitahara Shin suddenly stopped in his tracks.
In the corner of that glass display case piled high with all sorts of designer bags and jewelry.
A pure, emerald-green light, even brighter than the guitar of the street musician from before, was quietly shimmering.
That is————
Kitahara Shin pushed open the door and went inside.
"Welcome," the shop assistant greeted lazily.
Kitahara Shin didn't waste any words and went straight to the counter.
Through the glass, he could see the true form of the luminous object.
It was an old men's mechanical watch.
The brand is Seiko, the model is outdated, the dial is even slightly yellowed, and the strap is a cheap, aftermarket leather strap. Among a bunch of Rolexes and Omegas, it stands out inconspicuously, and the price tag is only a few thousand yen, clearly being treated as clearance items.
But in Kitahara Shin's view, the green light on its body was constantly pulsating.
【Item Name: Insomniac's Pocket Watch (Seiko5 Custom)】
[Quality: Excellent (Green, Premium)]
[Description: The previous owner of this watch was an extremely disciplined novelist who suffered from severe insomnia. He spent countless sleepless nights staring at the ticking second hand, pouring his longing for sleep and his desire to control time into this timepiece.]
[Equipment Effect (Deep Sleep): When wearing this watch to sleep, the host will be forced into the highest quality "Deep REM Sleep" state.]
[Special Effect: Sleep Compression. Wearing this watch allows you to recover the equivalent of 2.5 hours of energy for every hour of sleep. It fully charges in 4 hours, and you'll wake up instantly refreshed with no morning grumpiness.]
Seeing this effect, Kitahara Shin's heart almost skipped a beat.
Sleep compression!
This is simply a magic tool tailor-made for a workaholic like him!
He now spends his days filming, managing his company, and dealing with various social engagements. What he lacks most is time, and what he lacks most is sleep.
With this, he only needs to sleep 3-4 hours a day to maintain peak performance, which is equivalent to gaining 4 extra hours of sleep per day compared to others.
The activity lasts for one hour.
This is a hundred times more practical than any acting-enhancing equipment!
"Boss."
Kitahara Shin pointed to the watch, trying to keep his voice calm: "I'll take this watch."
"Huh? This?"
The sales clerk paused, glanced at the price tag, then at the expensive Zenith watch on Kitahara Shin's wrist, his expression somewhat strange: "The movement in this watch is completely stopped. Are you sure?"
"I like its design."
Kitahara Shin pulled out his wallet, slapped down a 10,000 yen bill, and said, "Keep the change."
Five minutes later.
Kitahara Shin sat in the car, stroking the slightly cold old watch in his hand.
[Equipment successfully bound]
An indescribable sense of peace spread from my wrist throughout my body.
My temples, which had been aching slightly from filming late into the night, suddenly felt much better.
"nice one."
Kitahara Shin put the watch on his left wrist, watching the second hand glide across the night sky, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
With this, he will be able to handle the upcoming hellish filming schedule for "The White Tower" with greater ease.
-
And all of this is thanks to Nanako's red thread.
"It seems I really do owe her a huge favor."
Kitahara Shin started the car and disappeared into the Tokyo night.
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