After Being Transmigrated into a Cannon Fodder Scum Alpha - Chapter 9

After Yun Qi arrived home, she walked straight to her bedroom and told the butler that no one was allowed to approach without her command.

Once the door was closed, Yun Qi no longer suppressed the excitement in her heart.

“Little Scum, open the System Mall.”

[Received.]

Following the system’s voice, an interface similar to a certain “Taobao” homepage appeared before Yun Qi. It was the same as the one she saw last time; the only difference was the Scum Value total in the top left corner—it was already 106!

Deep gratitude to the people at the research building; this was a blessing from all of them. Yun Qi decided she should accompany Lin Chen to the research building more often, primarily to visit the little Omega’s generous colleagues.

The interface displayed a dazzling array of goods. With money in her pocket, her heart was steady. Yun Qi was in the mood to browse slowly, unlike the last time when she could only catch a general glimpse.

“Little Scum, why is it that only the top layer has color, while the bottom is all gray?” Yun Qi had seen the gray items last time, but she assumed it was because her Scum Value wasn’t high enough. This time, however, the first item in the gray layer cost 100—clearly something Yun Qi could afford.

[The first layer opens once the Scum Value exceeds the minimum price of the items. The second layer opens after spending 1,000 Scum Value. The third layer opens after spending 10,000 Scum Value. A hint: the third layer contains what the Host desires most.]

The thing I desire most! Yun Qi felt she had already guessed what it was. She suppressed the wild joy in her heart and questioned Little Scum.

“But didn’t the Mall open when my Scum Value hit 59?”

[Letting you look doesn’t mean letting you buy,] the system said somewhat haughtily.

Yun Qi noticed that the system’s emotions seemed to be getting richer. She remembered that when she first arrived, the system only used a cold electronic voice to announce the increase or decrease of Scum Value, but now it could joke with her. Although she didn’t know the reason, she liked these changes in the system, even when she was being teased.

“What use are the portraits and titles in the Collection Room?” To the right of the Mall, there was an entry to a Collection Room. Driven by curiosity, Yun Qi clicked in. It was a simulated small room containing a place for portraits and a wall for collecting titles. Yun Qi couldn’t help but think of the “Alpha Version of Hong Shixian” title she had previously earned.

[5 Scum Value. For only 5 Scum Value, take the Item Narrator home.] The system suddenly started hawking like a street vendor; perhaps it had been watching period dramas lately.

It was a bit painful, but Yun Qi tearfully paid the 5 Scum Value.

[Portraits increase the Host’s Luck Value when drawing from the Mist Box. Titles increase the amount of Scum Value the Host gains each time and are a prerequisite for drawing discount coupons.]

[Additionally, for every five portraits or five titles collected, there will be a small gift!]

She was a little curious…

“What about the ‘Surface and Inner Worlds’?” Yun Qi exited the Collection Room and clicked on the adjacent “Surface and Inner Worlds” tab. A beautiful scroll appeared, featuring flickering images of Lin Chen, Yun Qi, Yi Fei, Bai Mingshu… all people Yun Qi had met or been told about via memory transmission. Some people were only outlines without revealed faces. There was a toggle button in the bottom right corner; Yun Qi tried touching it, and the scroll vanished. The space where it had been became pitch black, with nothing there.

[Every story has two sides: Surface and Inner. The Surface World is like a fairy tale a mother tells her child—the beautiful princess marries the handsome prince, the wicked witch is punished, and the world is happy and perfect; it is the embodiment of a utopia in people’s hearts. The Inner World is much more real. All gains are traded for through power and conspiracy. It contains all the bloody and filthy scenes humans can imagine, along with various monsters derived from human pain, hatred, and repression.]

So the story the system transmitted was only the surface?

“Why do some people in the Surface World only have outlines, while the Inner World is entirely pitch black?”

[At the start, I transmitted the plot to you, which unlocked some Surface World characters. The Surface World plot can be unlocked by the Host exploring the real world. The Inner World plot can either be explored in the real world or purchased with Scum Value.]

“How much Scum Value for a piece of the plot?”

[Plots are divided into Random Plots and Specific Plots. Random Plots are purchased with Scum Value at 150 per piece. Specific Plots are exchanged for Memory Shards. Considering the Host has never bought a plot, the first Random Plot can be purchased for 100 Scum Value. This is a Newbie Gift.]

…

“You miserly exploiter!”

Yun Qi wanted to look at the potions or other props before deciding what to buy.

The first layer didn’t actually have many items. Potions: Basic Body Strengthening Agent (100), Basic Pheromone Disruption Agent (100), Basic Disguise Agent (100), Basic Pheromone Conditioner (100), Basic Revelation Agent (100). Props: Basic Mist Box (88), Basic Memory Shard Box (90).

Note: Potions belong to external products; using them does not affect the Host’s in-character behavior.

The first four potions were easy to understand, but the fifth one confused Yun Qi.

“Little Scum, what is a Revelation Agent?”

[Basic Revelation Agent: Allows the Host to briefly reveal their true self without deducting Scum Value. The effect lasts for five minutes.]

Inexplicably, Lin Xi’s large, watery eyes appeared before Yun Qi. She wondered if five minutes would be enough to coax her to sleep—fulfilling the little girl’s dream of being tucked in by her “mother.”

“What about the props?”

[Basic Mist Box:]

Random Potion x2 (10%)

Scum Value x100 (15%)

Random Potion x1 (15%)

Memory Shards x10 (30%)

Scum Value x45 (10%)

Nothing (20%)

…That sounded a bit risky.

[Basic Memory Shard Box: 90 Scum Value each. Contains 20 Memory Shards. 50 Memory Shards can be exchanged for one Specific Plot.]

She currently didn’t have a single portrait, so her Luck Value was likely at the default—probably not very high. She ruled out the Mist Box first. With 101 Scum Value (after paying the narrator), she had to choose between a potion, the Random Plot, or the Memory Shard Box.

Yun Qi was conflicted. She wanted to hug her daughter, but she also wanted to lift the mist over her head and know the true story.

After hesitating for a while, Yun Qi finally bought… the Basic Pheromone Conditioner.

She remembered how the little Omega had suffered all night from pheromone dysregulation. Although the doctor said Lin Chen’s body would self-regulate, she didn’t know how long it would take or if there were lingering side effects.

Besides, most of her Scum Value was obtained either directly or indirectly through Lin Chen, wasn’t it?

“Exchange for one Basic Pheromone Conditioner.”

[No refunds or exchanges once selected.]

“I’m sure, I won’t change it.” Yun Qi’s tone was certain. “As long as Lin Chen is well, I can get as much Scum Value as I want. It’s all for the sake of Scum Value.”

[Alright.]

A flash of white light—the same snowy owl from before—suddenly appeared in the bedroom, flew over Yun Qi’s head, dropped a gift pack, and vanished.

Yun Qi opened the pack and took out the potion; the box disappeared once the potion was removed.

Looking at the white jade bottle in her hand, Yun Qi inspected it carefully and then summoned a servant.

“Pour this into the dinner prepared for the Madam.” Yun Qi handed the potion to the servant standing at the door.

“Yes, My Lord.”

[Suspected of poisoning Lin Chen. Scum Value +15.]

…Her feelings were complicated. Doing good deeds was too hard. Still, she was happy the Scum Value increased.