[player]What do you mean by "I can't say for sure"?
Noah glances at me. For some reason, the look she gives me seems to be full of pity.
[Noah](Text message) Based on my analysis of the previous situation, I estimate that you'll only need to spend 8 million Coppers to win the bid for the first cut flower arrangement and 9.5 million Coppers to win the bid for the second cut flower arrangement.
[Noah](Text message) But you spent 10 million Coppers to buy it. The boss will think you're too dumb and find a way to get back the extra money you spent from you. Good luck.
[player](Text message) He's an evil businessman, right?
[Noah](Text message) I've taken a screenshot of your message and sent it to him.
[player](Text message) ...You're welcome.
[Noah](Text message) I think you should deal with the immediate crisis first.
[player](Text message) ?
[Noah](Text message) A background check has been completed in advance on all the buyers who are eligible for the auction.
[player](Text message) Seriously? Is it impossible to have a little privacy on the Internet?
[Noah](Text message) Based on what I know, judging from how frequently you receive sales calls from various agencies recently, you don't have much privacy in real life either.
[player](Text message) Can't you be nice and avoid mentioning things that hurt?
[Noah](Text message) Let's get back to the matter at hand. (I wonder why it's so easy to start talking about other things when I'm talking to you. I hope you'll reflect on this.)
[player](Text message) Okay, continue. (You can't clap with one hand. We should both reflect on this.)
[Noah](Text message) I'm pretty sure that they investigated your living habits when they did the background check. Today, you acted just like how you usually act, so you won't make them suspicious of you.
Immediately after I read the message Noah sent me, I see two staff members walking towards us.
[Staff A]Please follow us to the back to complete the next part of the transaction.
Noah and I exchange glances, then we get up and follow them through a long corridor to a beautifully decorated reception room. The cut flower arrangement I won at the auction is sitting there on a coffee table.
Everything goes well with Noah accompanying me. After completing the transaction, the staff member congratulates me.
[Staff A]Congratulations! You have won the chance to attend an exclusive afternoon tea session at Countless Springs tomorrow, and you'll be accompanied by Miss Toujou at that time.
[player]Miss Toujou... Is that Kurone Toujou?
[Staff A]Yes, you're really lucky.
I actually bid on the right cut flower and won the chance to have afternoon tea with Kurone Toujou. Is it possible that Kutsuji got me to do this because he wanted to take advantage of my luck?
I do my best not to look too excited in case they start suspecting that I have a specific purpose in mind. I hold the flowers carefully when I leave the room with Noah. When we arrive at the entrance of Countless Springs, Noah pats my shoulder and sends me a text message.
[Noah](Text message) You're quite lucky! You must get a lot of Yakuman.
[player]If I knew I would be so lucky today, I would have bought a lottery ticket.
After speaking, I get ready to give Noah the cut flowers in my hands. However, she shakes her head and hands me one of her earphones instead.
[Kutsuji](Voice message) Noah, you don't need to bring the flowers back with you later. Give them to PLAYER as a reward. Don't all children like to receive flowers as reward?
That's too much. Don't treat me like a child.
I resist the urge to reply with a retort and hold the expensive cut flowers tightly instead. Noah pats my shoulder, then she turns and gets into a red car next to her.
The car disappears quickly from my sight like a bolt of lightning... Geez, can't you give me a ride home at least? You don't need to burn the bridge after crossing the river.
I start walking towards the subway station. On my way there, my mobile phone starts vibrating again, and I just know it's Noah without looking at the sender.
[Noah](Text message) Have a good rest. I'll come to pick you up tomorrow.
I rub my belly. What's done is done, so I decide to find a place to eat first. At least the task went well. I'll worry about tomorrow's affairs tomorrow.
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