Lin Ye tried putting the two parts back on, but the killer doll still stared blankly into empty space; these didn’t seem like detachable components.

“Huh? Is there really a difference?”

Lin Ye kept removing various parts from the killer doll and then reattaching them. He was studying what difference, if any, existed between the original assembly and a re-splicing.

“…This is actually kind of fun. Is this what people mean by fiddling with dolls?”

When he finished experimenting, Lin Ye tossed the killer doll onto the sofa. The victim doll quietly slipped over to the killer doll and shoved it under the couch.

Lin Ye glanced at the auction hall. The auctioneer was a young woman dressed provocatively; she stood on stage with a forced smile and delivered a brief opening spiel.

The auctioneer’s smile was a little stiff, as if she was worried about something.

This was Lin Ye’s first time attending an auction, but even novices like him could tell this event was underprepared, like a last-minute job.

Knock knock knock knock knock!

A rapid series of knocks sounded, someone else was pounding on the VIP room door.

“This place is lively.”

Lin Ye used spiritual energy to open the door. Outside stood two kids covered in blood, a boy and a girl, both looking extremely nervous.

“Can you help us?” the slightly older girl whispered.

“Come in. You can rest in this room for a while.”

Lin Ye was the easygoing sort; if someone asked for help and it wasn’t too extreme, he’d typically lend a hand.

Well, except killers.

After they entered, the little boy who had been hiding behind the girl suddenly began to sob quietly, clearly distraught.

“Aren’t you going to ask us any questions?” Cynthia watched Lin Ye warily, uncertain whether she’d made the right choice.

“No need. I can probably guess your situation. Verbal communication isn’t the only channel for information exchange. Weren’t you wondering about my background too?”

The auction had already started; the auctioneer was loudly presenting a mid-tier spiritual energy item that could pass as an antique. Lin Ye watched the guests outside the window with mild boredom.

“May I ask why you’re helping us?” Cynthia pressed nervously.

“I’m not allied with those killers. I’m just an outsider who happened to come to this auction, so you don’t need to worry I’ll turn on you.”

Lin Ye used spiritual energy to push the killer doll to Cynthia’s feet. He didn’t dislike clever kids; they usually behaved well… at least on the surface.

“Uh, I didn’t mean that… What is this?” Cynthia picked up the doll. She had the faint impression she’d seen something like it before.

“This is the killer who came into this room earlier. He tried to ambush me.”

Lin Ye couldn’t help smiling. This was the fate of anyone who tried to backstab a backstab master.

“…You turned him into a doll?” Cynthia doubted whether Lin Ye was joking, but the doll’s clothing did resemble that killer’s outfit.

“Yeah.”

Lin Ye had his eye on a piece of spiritual energy equipment that supposedly produced tasty snacks and pressed the bid button.

“Those killers are murdering people in the VIP room. Shouldn’t we notify the auction house or leave right away?” Cynthia voiced her worry.

“No need. Those killers aren’t particularly powerful. You can stay here safely. If I still have time after the auction, I’ll escort you back.”

Lin Ye didn’t care about the killers; he cared more about why the system had sent him to this place.

“…Thank you, then.” Cynthia kept quiet and stared at the motionless doll in her hands. She felt Lin Ye was not as easygoing as he first appeared.

“Not a problem. Want something to eat? I just bought a spiritual energy item that can make delicious snacks.”

There was another knock at the door. The attendant delivered Lin Ye’s purchased item. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

This attendant had no issues. Lin Ye received the auction item and paid the required currency.

It was a high-tier spiritual energy item, shaped remarkably like an oven. The auctioneer described that if you placed suitable ingredients inside, it would automatically synthesize tasty snacks.

Lin Ye had spent nearly all his local-plane currency to buy this high-tier item.

If the system really wanted him to come here to bid on something, then he could only apologize to it.

“I’m not hungry right now.” Cynthia declined.

“That’s a pity.”

Lin Ye took out Alice’s snack bag and placed the high-tier spiritual energy item inside. He wasn’t sure if the item could be sent to Alice; if not, he could always use it himself.

Soon the item vanished from the bag. Lin Ye reached into the bag and pulled out a bowl of orange caramel pudding.

The pudding container wasn’t disposable; it was a beautiful ceramic bowl engraved with little animal patterns.

“You’re asking for death!”

Lin Ye suddenly thrust his right hand through a killer’s body while holding the ceramic bowl steadily in his left, not a tremor to be seen.

“I could have let you stand in the room and watch, but you don’t get to touch my food. That’s terribly rude.”

Lin Ye withdrew his right hand; his coat bore not a drop of blood.

“You noticed me already?” The killer clutched his chest and backed to the wall, face pale and breathing fast.

“You don’t think you were very hidden, do you? I was just too lazy to bother with you.”

Lin Ye took the pudding and tasted a spoonful.

A wave of happiness rose up. The pudding was excellent; the caramel wasn’t overly sweet and the milky flavor was perfectly balanced.

“He came in with us?” Cynthia reacted quickly.

“Yes, but don’t worry about it. The ones in the wrong are those killers; it has nothing to do with you.”

Lin Ye savored the pudding slowly. He hadn’t expected Alice to have this kind of hobby.

“Killing me won’t help. You’ll all die here.” The killer knelt on the floor, barely clinging to life.

“You won’t beg? I can give you a chance to live.” Lin Ye had finished the pudding, which had put him in a good mood, so he decided to offer the killer a chance.

“Please spare me! I know I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! Ask me anything!” The killer immediately lowered his head and begged. He did not care about dignity; staying alive was all that mattered.

“I don’t like getting intelligence from enemies. It’s risky, so I won’t ask you anything. If you sincerely admit your mistake, you can leave now.” Lin Ye said casually.