Chapter 25: The Master of Puppetry – 1

Study.

Just as Tu Jin finished handling the last document and put the cap back on his pen—

“Click—”

A soft sound came from the door as someone gently pushed it open from the outside.

Tu Jin had already guessed that the little Doll was waiting outside. He raised his eyes with an exasperated look, but before the smile could form on his face, his expression froze.

Because…

Something was clearly wrong with the little Doll.

She was clutching a soft pillow against her chest. Her fingertips had turned faintly white from gripping it too tightly.

Her delicate, pale feet were bare, the faint outlines of veins visible across their insteps. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Her eyes were filled with overwhelming unease. The lively, triumphant energy she had displayed before was nowhere to be seen.

“…He’s here.”

The words came haltingly from her mouth, almost as if she were shrinking in on herself. She was like a withering branch—brittle and ready to snap.

“I know… I can sense… him…”

What?

Who… was he?

Tu Jin studied the little Doll before him, who was visibly terrified, and furrowed his brows slightly.

But he didn’t hesitate. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Almost in the very next second, he pulled the frightened little Doll into his arms.

His warm embrace evidently gave her some sense of security.

Under the influence of the Favorability he had painstakingly raised by pouring Points into her, the little Doll slowly loosened her grip on the pillow and buried herself deeply in Tu Jin’s arms instead.

It was the kind of fear-driven avoidance that made her seem as though she desperately wanted to become one with him.

She was trembling with fear.

Realizing this, Tu Jin raised a hand and gently stroked the little Doll’s smooth, silky hair, one soothing pass after another.

Suppressing the thoughts in his eyes, he knew exactly what he needed to do right now. So he patiently let the little Doll draw comfort from him until she could calm herself down.

Finally— Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

The little Doll stopped trembling.

She seemed to have regained her composure.

Before Tu Jin could cautiously ask her anything…

“You won’t abandon me, right?”

The little Doll lifted her face. Her gaze was so focused and earnest that it was as though Tu Jin was her entire world, as though there was no one else in it but him.

Tu Jin, who was experiencing this level of attention from the little Doll for the first time: …

For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt almost overwhelmed by the honor.

Then, once he realized what the little Doll was asking… Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Did she really need to ask?

“No.”

The answer came out immediately, without the slightest hesitation. His tone was firm and decisive, almost instinctive.

Tu Jin’s resolute expression and the hand that tightened around the little Doll’s slender waist both spoke volumes about his determination.

Him?

Abandon the little Doll?

What a joke!

He had already managed to raise her Favorability to 61%. Did she really think he would abandon her now? Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Not to mention the more than twenty million Points he had poured into this little Doll.

More than twenty million!

Even when he had first built this hotel, Tu Jin hadn’t spent anywhere near that many Points!

That was a number of Points that countless veteran civilian NPCs had never even gotten the chance to see!

He would sooner abandon himself than abandon the little Doll, okay?

This was no longer simply a matter of abandoning the little Doll. It would be like asking him to abandon his faith!

“It’s already impossible for me to abandon you while I’m perfectly fine. And even if I were dying, I’d make sure you were coming down with me before I kicked the bucket.”

Tu Jin spoke with such absolute sincerity that his words even carried a faintly threatening undertone. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Based on his understanding of the little Doll, he had already prepared himself to start coaxing her.

But unexpectedly…

The little Doll, who should have been frightened into tears before throwing a tantrum, making unreasonable demands, rolling around on the floor, or perhaps even dredging up old grievances… actually reacted in a completely unexpected way.

After hearing words that could practically be considered a threat, not only did she not throw a fit, but she even…

Looked deeply moved?

Tu Jin was completely at a loss.

Wait…

“You…” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

What was going on?

“Waaah! Hubby, don’t say that anymore! I feel the same way! I love you! Waaaah!”

Before Tu Jin could finish asking, the little Doll, evidently moved to tears, threw herself into his embrace and buried her face against his chest.

Tu Jin: …

It wasn’t that Tu Jin was being overly suspicious. It was just that, judging by the little Doll’s previous behavior…

As he stared at the little Doll sobbing into his chest, he had every reason to wonder whether she was taking advantage of the situation to wipe all her tears and snot on his clothes just to gross him out…

Right?

Well, probably not. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

But could he really be blamed for having such suspicions?

Watching the little Doll, who seemed genuinely overwhelmed with emotion, Tu Jin spent one brief second reflecting on how he had judged a gentleman by the standards of a petty person.

He gave a light cough. After the little Doll had finally calmed down a little…

“The person you mentioned just now… who is he?”

The atmosphere, which had been gradually returning to a warm and affectionate one, instantly turned heavy at what seemed like a casual question from Tu Jin.

Even the little Doll, who had been so deeply moved moments earlier, froze.

She quietly sniffled twice, then secretly glanced at Tu Jin.

“Master said you’re S Rank, right?” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

Was there something wrong with that?

Tu Jin nodded, confirming the little Doll’s question, still unable to understand what she was getting at.

“…She has a… friend.”

The little Doll seemed a little more reassured.

She licked her lower lip, which seemed somewhat dry, then continued speaking under Tu Jin’s bewildered gaze.

“He… He likes collecting… Dolls.”

The final two words seemed to remind her of something truly terrifying.

She instinctively tightened her grip on Tu Jin’s clothes, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on every change in his expression. Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

“He’s S Rank.”

After connecting those three short sentences in his mind, Tu Jin seemed to have figured out the whole situation.

…

Oh.

So, in other words…

Someone was coming to steal his little Doll?

Tu Jin smiled faintly. His expression appeared gentle, but an inexplicable chill lurked beneath it.

“Don’t worry—” Original translation by Lhaozi, read at lhaozitranslation.com

He lowered his head. Under the little Doll’s tense gaze, his voice was steady and reassuring.

“Anyone who dares lay a hand on you, I’ll chop that hand off.”

No one was allowed to touch his more than twenty million Points.

No one!