"The host can enter the Game Design Space to view current progress."
Blake raised an eyebrow. There's even a personal space?
System, how many more secrets are you hiding?
"Enter Space."
The moment the thought formed, the surrounding environment rippled like a pond disturbed by a thrown stone.
One second later.
[Transmission Complete.]
Blake scanned the space, then fell silent.
He'd expected a large screen displaying game footage or code progress, but... what were these?
[They are humanoid autonomous units. The host may refer to them as Constructs.]
[Constructs do not experience fatigue or hunger. They cannot die or be injured. In all other respects, they are identical to humans.]
[Detailed specifications are as follows:]
Durability: Infinite (Cannot be injured or killed)
Knockback Resistance: 0.2 (Equivalent to a 1,100-pound stone; multiple units working together can move it)
Strength: 550 lbs (Adult male average: 220–330 lbs)
Speed: 33 ft/sec (Slightly faster than an Olympic sprinter)
[Constructs have 100% loyalty. The host may use them with confidence.]
"Holy crap, budget workforce..." Blake watched the Constructs typing code at inhuman speed and suddenly spoke up. "They can't die or get injured?"
"Doesn't that make them invincible bodyguards?"
With 550 pounds of strength and speed exceeding Olympic athletes, they weren't quite at superhuman levels—but their consistency was excellent. And these things couldn't even get hurt.
[Current humanoid autonomous units can only operate within the Game Design Space. They cannot enter the outside world.]
"Alright." He sighed with regret. "'Currently'... so there's a chance they could go outside in the future?"
[Yes.]
Blake nodded, asking no further questions.
The Constructs' coding efficiency was remarkable. Since they didn't experience fatigue, they essentially worked around the clock.
[Detection: Someone is knocking on the door outside. Target shows no hostile intent. Does the host wish to leave the space?]
Blake blinked in surprise. If he remembered correctly, the original owner of this body didn't have many friends, did he?
The apartment he lived in was his own—no landlord to bother him. As for parents, they were the standard webnovel template: conveniently absent. And this wasn't a horror story, so there wouldn't be ghosts knocking.
"Transmit. Overthinking won't help—might as well go see."
[Transmission Initiating.]
[Transmission Complete.]
Blake got up and opened the door. Standing before him was a woman dressed like a secretary straight out of a corporate drama.
"Hello, are you Mr. Weiss?"
"I'm the executive assistant to the CEO of Crane Interactive. You can call me Ms. Ellis." The woman offered a polished professional smile while handing over an elegantly designed business card. "Our company is currently expanding its game development division, and we've been searching for designers with vision and potential."
"Our CEO... ahem... took special notice of several of your published works."
As she said this, her expression subtly stiffened—as if recalling something deeply traumatic—but her professional composure kicked in, and she quickly managed her face. Only her tone became slightly awkward:
"The CEO believes that while your works are... hmm... unconventional, they demonstrate precisely the kind of unconstrained, outside-the-box creativity we're looking for!"
"That's a rare quality in today's rigid market!"
"You simply lack a patron who can provide sufficient resources and a platform."
Blake took the business card, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Crane Interactive?
He quickly searched through the original owner's memories. Nothing. He'd never heard of it—probably some obscure startup.
Just then, a line of semi-transparent text appeared naturally in the lower right corner of his vision, like a game UI prompt:
[Crane Interactive. Current Valuation: Approximately $4 million.]
[No adverse business records. Established: Two days ago.]
This real-time background check function was way too convenient.
Blake was amused but kept his face impassive.
A valuation of four million—not huge, not tiny. Just right for his current "leveling up."
However... established two days ago? Hard to have adverse business records in that timeframe, wasn't it?
As for a scam?
He glanced at the bustling cityscape of Bayview outside the window, and the familiar outline of the Victor Tower in the distance. His mind settled—in this town, the cost of running cons was much higher than doing legitimate business.
"Ms. Ellis, you flatter me," Blake said with a perfectly calibrated expression of humble gratitude. "Your CEO certainly has unique taste."
"People who can appreciate my... distinctive works are truly rare."
His words dripped with subtext, nearly cracking Ms. Ellis's professional smile again. She let out a dry laugh.
"Mr. Weiss, have you been considering a change of environment for your career recently?"
"Crane Interactive can offer competitive industry salaries and a development team entirely under your leadership," Ms. Ellis quickly got to the point.
Blake didn't answer immediately. He toyed with the business card in his hand, feigning contemplation.
It was an opportunity—but he couldn't appear too eager.
A deal that comes too easily isn't a good deal. He understood that much about negotiation.
"Thank you for your company's interest." After a moment, he spoke slowly, his tone sincere but with a hint of caution. "This is certainly an unexpected surprise."
"However, career decisions require careful consideration. Could you give me some time to think it over?"
"Also, if possible, I'd like to first understand your company's specific situation and work environment."
His words were flawless—expressing interest without immediately committing. Exactly how a designer who'd just received "appreciation" should react.
Ms. Ellis had clearly anticipated this. She immediately produced an elegant brochure and a notepad from her briefcase. "Of course. Careful consideration is only natural."
"This is our company introduction." She quickly wrote down an address on the notepad and handed it to Blake. "We sincerely welcome you to visit our office for an on-site tour tomorrow. Our CEO happens to be available tomorrow at 3 PM, and we look forward to discussing this further with you in person."
"Alright, I'll think it over carefully and let you know tomorrow whether I'll come," Blake accepted the address and brochure, nodding politely.
"We await your good news."
"Then I won't take up any more of your time. Goodbye, Mr. Weiss."
Ms. Ellis, her task complete, flashed her standard smile once more. With a slight bow, she turned and left.
After seeing Ms. Ellis off, Blake closed the door and leaned against it. The carefully maintained reserved expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a knowing smile.
"Isn't the starter quest basically in the bag?"
He flicked the notepad with the address written on it.
"Crane Interactive... I'll go meet this 'discerning' CEO tomorrow."
"And I can also release Desert Bus..." Blake continued to mull it over. "Regardless of whether they genuinely find the original owner's games interesting, since this can help me complete the starter quest, I definitely can't keep slacking off. I still need to demonstrate my value."