Chapter Forty-Nine: The Stars

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Silversnow City, southeastern villa district.

Row upon row of exquisite villas sprawled across vast estates, fragrant gardens, and lush emerald lawns—all these spoke silently yet eloquently of their owners’ status and rank. To possess a villa here was the privilege of those at least categorized as “Silver Tier” in the city, for wealth alone was not enough.

Within the grandest and most opulent of these mansions, servants bustled about energetically, tending lawns and gardens, their occasional laughter mingling with the sweet scent of blossoms.

At that moment, a golden sports car eased along the driveway and stopped at the entrance. A maid hurried out to greet it, bowing deeply as she opened the door.

“Welcome home, Mistress. You must be tired,” she said with deference.

“Mm,” Lin Zhongqing responded indifferently as she stepped out, allowing the maid to support her with one hand as she entered the villa.

The servants working in the gardens and on the lawn had already stopped, forming two neat lines.

“Welcome home, Mistress,” they chorused.

A faint smile flickered across Lin Zhongqing’s face as she nodded slightly.

This is just right. I do so love the feeling of being the center of adulation among the living. If they were all puppets, I might as well amuse myself with single-player games…

Amidst the servants’ reverent welcome, she resembled a true queen surveying her domain. Only after returning to her master bedroom did she dismiss the assembled staff, who promptly returned to their duties.

“Ah, finally, total liberation!” She threw herself onto the pink-canopied bed with a sigh of gratitude and relaxation.

Closing her eyes, her consciousness drifted into a vast silver realm—a world of argent castles, verdant meadows, golden wheat fields, and fragrant orchards…

Yet something was lacking: no servants, no living creatures, no birdsong or insect chirr, only the whisper of the wind.

Standing alone in this silver world, she looked up at the heavens and called out, “Tongtong, are you there?”

No answer.

“Tch, so it really is just an object? I’d hoped for at least a spirit to help me out.”

Just then, a voice rang out in the silver domain: “Task one completed. Please continue completing tasks. System intelligence will be upgraded.”

“Oh? It actually worked? I was just speaking offhand,” Lin Zhongqing muttered, surprised, as a task panel flashed before her eyes.

After reading the prompt, she burst out laughing. “Hahaha… It seems, Tongtong, you really might be that legendary entity, not merely the impostor I suspected. Not only can you easily dispel that fellow’s mark, you can even rule half the world. I must admit, I’m impressed.”

“Interesting, very interesting. Let’s see what use that skill you’ve given me really has!”

Her expression turned suddenly cold.

She had never believed in the existence of “systems”—those were just the inventions of dull novels. It’s like someone telling you they’ve been reincarnated; unless they show real ability, only fools and idiots would believe it.

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Likewise, after being possessed by this so-called “system,” she’d assumed it was just another trick from those impostors, albeit a more novel one.

Yet the entity had effortlessly displayed its power: not only did it ignore her formidable mental defenses and forcibly bind itself to her, but it immediately expelled the spiritual mark that had been imprinted on her soul.

Even if it wasn’t the being described in those novels, its mystery was nearly as profound, certainly far beyond her current employer.

That was why, at yesterday’s Silver Chamber of Commerce assembly, she’d immediately resolved to leave the organization.

She’d long harbored ambitions of independence, only held back by the constraints of that spiritual mark. As for the so-called “housekeeper”? She had no interest in pledging loyalty to anyone else.

So, when she saw “Task One,” she’d casually remarked, “I want to be the steward of heaven and earth.”

Unexpectedly, that bit of nonsense had been accepted as a completed task, and she’d even received a “false identity.”

Could it be that this system truly recognized the concept of “heaven and earth” as a real existence?

Such thoughts flitted through her mind as Lin Zhongqing began to operate the “Mental Link” skill that had been forcibly bestowed upon her, within the silver world.

Half an hour later, a golden altar appeared on the square before the silver castle, atop which stood a hazy statue of a woman—on closer inspection, it bore a striking resemblance to herself.

“Fascinating. Let’s see if it really works,” Lin Zhongqing thought, withdrawing from her consciousness and opening her eyes.

She rose and left her immaculate boudoir, heading to the living room.

A clap of her hands summoned a middle-aged woman.

“Mistress, what are your orders?”

“Oh, Aunt Lin, come to my room for a moment.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

Five minutes later, the middle-aged woman left Lin Zhongqing’s room, her steps sluggish, her gaze unfocused—she nearly walked into a wall, only to be steadied by a passing servant.

Back in the silver world, Lin Zhongqing watched as a spectral figure gradually appeared below the altar, kneeling in prayer.

It actually worked. Still, using it just for prayers seems like a waste.

She extended a finger, and a beam of white light shot into the kneeling apparition.

The ghostly figure immediately became solid.

“Go, clean my castle.”

The figure bowed and entered the castle.

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“Remarkable, Tongtong. I’m really starting to like you…”

She blinked and opened the task panel.

“Hmm, Task Two: Hire and manage servants for the master’s house, ensure their loyalty, and generate profit for the household.”

“My master’s house is heaven and earth itself, isn’t it? Now that I’ve finished the formalities, I’ll establish my own chamber of commerce and call it… the Star Chamber. I’ll be the Star Queen, ruling this world. Mortals, prepare to tremble at the feet of the Star Queen! Ahahaha…”

Her laughter abruptly cut off as she clapped a hand over her mouth and recomposed herself, donning a ladylike smile. She nearly forgot—she was no longer alone in this consciousness realm. Should she silence the witness?

No need. This was the perfect opportunity to test if that loyalty mechanic was effective.

“Task Three: Guardianship. An endlessly repeatable task—exchange for power, worth a try.”

“Task Four: Shop Activation. Series task. Wait, what’s the currency for the shop? Tongtong, can I recharge?”

“Tongtong, if you keep being this slow, with no proper responses, I’ll be terribly disappointed. You’re not even as good as those puppets.”

……

In the villas neighboring the Lin residence, the servants were even more industrious, yet eerily silent, operating like well-oiled machines.

As the day drew to a close, the other villa owners returned one after another, greeted by their servants’ stiff courtesies before retreating into their private domains.

Some glanced at their neighbor’s house, a flicker of disdain, envy, and longing passing across their faces.

In one villa, a gathering was underway—gentlemen in suits, ladies in elegant evening wear, mingling and exchanging news and favors.

“Have you heard? The manager of the Second Trade Caravan, Lin Zhongqing, actually resigned from her high-ranking post at the Chamber. Apparently, all the paperwork’s done,” a man boasted to his companion.

“It was to be expected. Manager Lin always planned to strike out on her own. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon. I wager we’ll hear news of her founding her own chamber within days. How enviable…” replied his companion, a beautiful lady with a hint of makeup, swirling her wine glass gently.

Another woman approached, shaking her head. “Hmph, she’s overestimated herself. Even if she is Silver Tier Three, without the boss’s protection, what is she really? If she starts her own chamber, how can she compete with us?”

“Indeed, if nothing else, just facing the threat of evil spirits on the road will be enough to wear her down. Does she plan to personally escort every convoy herself?”

“How could she? That young lady is the last person to seek out trouble.”

“Hahaha, I’m looking forward to the day she comes crawling back to the Chamber. Let’s see if she can still stand above us then.”

“Oh, don’t say that,” a lady murmured with a soft smile. “No matter what, Manager Lin will still be the Chamber’s strongest sword.”

“Impossible. I’ll bet—without the boss’s favor, she’ll lose her ‘Strongest Silver’ title within a year.” The man who’d brought the news shook his head with certainty.