Rhodes Island does not exist.

"Although the tavern owner seemed somewhat displeased with the stranger's behavior, the bounty hunters who had initially gathered around intending to teach the stranger a lesson had completely changed their minds and were now looking at the stranger with awe and admiration."

“After all, they had all been defeated by the strength of this liquor before, and now seeing someone who had conquered their former formidable enemy unscathed, they would naturally look at him with awe,” Skadi said. “Even the bounty hunter who had previously stopped the outsider went up to him and examined his body and face with disbelief, to see if he was just bragging. But then he realized that in the face of a battle of this level, bragging was simply a pointless thing to do.”

“Indeed,” the doctor nodded. “These two are not even in the same league.”

“But the tavern owner never imagined such a thing would happen,” Skadi sighed. “He has always relied on this bottle of wine to establish and maintain the rules here. He brought it out this time to show this so-called rule to this outsider—but who could have imagined that this so-called rule would be destroyed by this outsider in a single move, leaving not even a trace?”

"So, compared to the excitement and awe of the bounty hunters around him, the boss felt mostly anger. It was a shocked anger, an anger that couldn't understand the situation, and also an anger of powerlessness," Skadi narrated slowly. "And so, driven by this anger, he broke his promise."

"You drank all my wine, and you still want to order from me? Not only will I not accept your request, but you can forget about drinking here either. Get out, get out!"—Driven by intense emotions, the tavern owner finally lost all his composure, and the bounty hunters in the tavern finally witnessed the scene of the owner's emotional breakdown.

“For countless years, this boss had always seemed like someone who never got angry, always adept at defusing impending violence with clever methods, and that bottle of wine was one of his most effective tools for doing so,” Skadi said. “But now, that very tool has been broken by this stranger who came from who-knows-where.”

“A person who loses the ability to understand will eventually be consumed by emotions. The tavern owner, who had lost his calm soul, began to try to take revenge on this outsider, putting on a series of unreasonable demands that would make even the most famous bounty hunters in the area gasp, demanding that the outsider fulfill them or he would be driven out of this wilderness.” Skadi’s tone was like a long, thin river.

"What kind of requirements are they?" the doctor asked curiously.

“For example, killing ferocious beasts in the desert, finding items lost years ago, and collecting things that are impossible for humans to touch,” Skadi said. “But surprisingly, the stranger accomplished all of it, just like when he was drinking with us earlier.”

"However, these requirements sound like the usual work of a bounty hunter," the doctor thought for a moment and said.

“That’s right, and these are all jobs listed at the top of the bounty list, so they’re unreasonable requests.” Skadi nodded.

"So that means that after completing these tasks, the outsider automatically becomes the most powerful bounty hunter in the area?" The Doctor looked at Skadi.

"Ah, that's right."

"Speaking of which..." The doctor's gaze was hesitant.

"what?"

"This so-called outsider is actually yourself."

Chapter 271, Part 269: A Discussion of Terra Films

"This so-called outsider is actually yourself."

The doctor's gaze had shifted from hesitation to certainty.

If someone suddenly starts telling a story from another person's perspective, then the protagonist of the story is most likely that person himself.

“Ah-ha.” Skadi remained noncommittal, leaving the Doctor to guess. “If you think so, then so be it.”

“What else?” The Doctor looked at Skadi. “You were the one who said you’d never been drunk, and you are indeed an outsider to them, so I can’t think of any reason why that wouldn’t be you.”

“That was indeed me.” A faint smile appeared on Skadi’s lips. “It was because of something like what happened in the story that I was able to become a bounty hunter and establish myself in that area.”

"So, is everything in the story true?" the doctor asked.

“Ah, of course it’s all true.” Skadi nodded. “But if I had to say, the only thing that might be fake is that bottle of wine.”

"That bottle of wine? Why?" the doctor asked, puzzled. "Are you saying that the wine wasn't actually that strong, but that its potency was exaggerated?"

“Because that’s not actually alcohol at all.” Skadi sighed. “Think about it. Does such an alcoholic beverage really exist in this world? Even those big, burly, battle-hardened men can’t even take a small sip? Although physique doesn’t determine alcohol tolerance, they are the kind of customers who frequent bars every day. It’s impossible that they can’t handle this level of alcohol.”

"So you mean...?" The doctor roughly understood.

“Ah, that stuff isn’t alcohol at all, it’s a chemical drug that tastes like alcohol and is highly irritating.” Skadi shook her head. “If an ordinary person actually drank a glass of that drug, they’d probably die instantly, let alone get drunk.”

"So the boss was actually using poison disguised as spirits?" After reconsidering Skadi's story, the Doctor nodded slightly. "It's fortunate that those bounty hunters didn't drink themselves to death."

“Just like a finger that bounces back quickly when it touches a flame, the body’s reaction saved their lives, preventing them from drinking it even if they tried to be brave,” Skadi said. “And that’s why the boss was able to use the drug as a tool to control them for so long.”

"And then what? What happened to the boss after his scam was exposed?" the doctor asked.

“What can you expect?” Skadi sighed. “The boss is the boss, the owner of the tavern and the head of the local bounty hunters. Do you think the locals would listen to him or an outsider?”

Even if you become the best bounty hunter in the area?

Even if I become the best bounty hunter in the area.

"Ha..." The doctor roughly understood what was going on with Skadi.

"By the way, this is almost the only thing I remember about the outside world right now." Skadi shrugged. "It's only because this matter is related to alcohol that I probably wouldn't even be able to find the beginning of this thread."

"As for me... I can only continue to follow in my own footsteps." The doctor put his hands behind his neck, resting them on the back of his head, looking like a young man gazing at the stars. "As for things in the outside world, it's really hard to remember."

"Don't force yourself to remember. It will come when it's meant to. Don't worry." Skadi rarely said such comforting words to the Doctor.

Even the doctor himself wondered if he had misheard.

“You’re looking at me strangely,” Skadi said, staring into the Doctor’s slightly rude eyes. “Did I say something strange?”

"No, it's nothing..." The doctor shook his head.

For him, Skadi would naturally be the best person to shed that aloof facade.

However, just as she herself said, it can't be forced.

After all, indifferent people often have indifferent pasts, and human character is not something that is innately shaped.

"Actually, the reason I told this story was to get back at you."

After the two stared at the ceiling in silence for a moment, Skadi suddenly spoke.

"Return the favor to me?" the doctor asked, puzzled.

“Ah.” Skadi nodded. “When you were telling me your story earlier, you mentioned recalling a joke about dividing an inheritance, right?”

“Indeed, although I don’t really think it can be considered a joke.” The doctor’s expression was somewhat helpless.

“It doesn’t matter.” Skadi shook her head. “At the core of every story is a joke.”

“No, that’s not how it’s said,” the Doctor interrupted Skadi. “I remember the original quote was—the core of all great comedies is tragedy—right?”

“Then why?” Skadi countered. “Why do you think that would be the case?”

"While I can't quite explain this perfectly, let's imagine it," the Doctor said after a moment's thought. "What kind of comedic situation would the average person in Terra find funny? Embarrassment? Getting a zero on a test? Slipping on a banana peel?"

“I don’t find it funny at all,” Skadi commented.

“That’s you.” The doctor rolled his eyes at her. “If you were to judge Terra’s comedy by your standards, it probably wouldn’t even pass.”

"You're being very rude," Skadi said, displeased.

"Then see for yourself? Do you think what I said is right?" the doctor asked directly.

“…There’s some truth to that.” Skadi fell silent.

“Well, still.” The doctor looked away. “In short, in my opinion, the root of comedy lies in the discovery and expansion of flaws, which is also the root of what makes people laugh.”

“Indeed, all three examples you just gave are like that,” Skadi said, adding, “though I don’t find it funny.”

"If you don't speak, no one will think you are dumb."

"Tsk."

"So the root of comedy is the mockery of flaws, and flaws themselves are a kind of tragedy... That's how I understand it." After dealing with Skadi's self-assertion, the Doctor said this.

“Then you’ve also explained what I said.” Skadi looked at the Doctor. “At the core of every story, it’s a joke.”

"Why?" the doctor asked.

“Because you just said that the root of comedy is the mockery of the flaws in things, so all dramas with flaws are comedies,” Skadi said.

“I don’t think we can argue it this way…” The professor scratched his head.

“Why not?” Skadi asked.

"Because tragedy also tells stories of different flaws, and tragedy is not funny," the doctor replied in his own words.

“No problem.” Skadi shook her head.

"Why is there no problem?"

"Because I also don't think comedy is funny."

Skadi's tone was serious.

Chapter 272, 270, Chocolate and Theoretical Basis

When the locked circuit finally came to its senses, the Doctor and Skadi had been lying on the hillside piled with dolls for quite some time.

Whether it was something they hadn't had in a long time, or something they had never had before, both of them felt a mixture of gratitude and a sense of wasting such ample rest time.

"Ah, that feels so good! What did you give me to eat just now? Will I ever feel that way again?"

Despite the rather disheveled manner in which he was lifted down from the sky by the two drones, the excitement he felt while in the air was still palpable.

"You'd better not try it." Skadi looked somewhat helpless.

"No, so what is it? Tell me, tell me! Can't I eat and play by myself when you're not here? Please tell me!" The closed circuit, probably addicted to alcohol, clung to Skadi's leg like a child and started rolling on the ground.

Oh, I'm sorry, she's just a child.

“Chocolate-filled liqueurs.” Skadi pulled out a box of chocolates that was slightly crumpled from being pressed against her body and waved it in front of the closed circuit. “You took it from your supermarket. You haven’t never checked what’s in your own supermarket, have you?”

"I don't know, I've never thought about that kind of question." The interlocking circuit shook its head very directly, as if it were a matter of course.

“Oh, right, I forgot you don’t need to eat at all. My bad.” Skadi tapped her forehead with her fingertip. “Then forget I asked.”

"You actually told her?" The doctor's lips twitched. "Are you planning to let that scene repeat itself every single day from now on?"

"It's okay," Skadi said nonchalantly.

"Why is everything okay?"

“The liqueur-filled chocolates are on the top shelf; she’s too short to reach them.” Skadi glanced at the closed loop next to her, completely ignoring the fact that she was curled up at her feet listening to the conversation. “I’m not worried.”

"You think she needs to use her own hands to get it?" The doctor was speechless. "Did you forget about the drone?"

"What drone?... Ah." Skadi hesitated for a moment.

The case was solved; she hadn't even considered the drone.

"You said you—"

"Buzzing..."

The sound of a propeller, approaching from afar, pierced the doctor's eardrums.

"—What's that sound?" The Doctor, who was about to make some critical comments about Skadi's behavior, was suddenly interrupted by the sound and immediately looked up in the direction from which the sound came.

Then, he saw a massive, swarming aerial army, like flies, forming an invading formation and rushing toward them in the darkness.

It was a swarm of drones with a closed loop, and each individual drone in the swarm carried a shopping basket in its robotic arm.

That's right, Skadi was still having a sudden realization after the doctor pointed it out, while on the other side, the swarm of drones with the closed loop had already returned carrying several large baskets of chocolates from various brands.

Perhaps this is the drive of capable children: once they think of something, they must get it, and immediately at that.

It's worth mentioning, however, that she didn't seem to be able to distinguish between the different types of chocolate, so she probably brought over every type of chocolate from her supermarket. From Snickers to Kinder Surprise, from Ferrero Rocher to Baguette, from Cadbury to Godiva, from black to white.

However, what's really worth complaining about isn't that she brought all the chocolates over, but that her supermarket actually had so many varieties.

"They're really fast..."

The doctor stared blankly for a moment as he watched the swarm of drones, which moved like black hawks sweeping across the land.

"Hey, did you take all the chocolates out of the supermarket?" Skadi's voice was unusually excited.

"Ah, right." Although the locked circuit has no eyes, at this moment she always gives people the feeling that her eyes are shooting out an innocent look.

Well-behaved, ignorant, and harmless.

"No, why? Didn't I show you the box?" Skadi said, shaking the box again.

"Because chocolate liqueurs are still chocolate, I think it's more about the chocolate than the liqueur," Closed Circuit stated, "so I plan to try all the different flavors of chocolate."

As she spoke, she slowly stuck out her tongue and licked her lips.

"You think you're drunk Cocoa rather than just drunk...?" Skadi didn't rush to refute, but considered it seriously for a moment. "Although I've never heard of such a situation before, it doesn't seem impossible here...?"

"Stop pretending. Have you really thought about this seriously?" The doctor rubbed his temples. "I don't think most people would even consider this."

"Anyway, I'm going to eat all of this I brought." Closed Circuit looked very happy and even started tearing open the chocolate wrappers. "I don't care if it's liqueur chocolates or anything else, I want it all."

The drones flying in the sky looked like her nannies, carrying the chocolates up and down, as if they wanted to tear them apart and feed them to her.

“Um, the locked circuit.” The Doctor felt that the situation couldn’t remain stagnant, so while she was still listening to the conversation, he got up and looked at her, saying, “I won’t stop you from having chocolate, but could you restore the recording first?”

"Hmm? Recording?" Closed Circuit glanced at the chocolate in its hand, then looked at the Doctor, and nodded. "Okay, okay. But speaking of which, Doctor, how did you wake up? Weren't you still unconscious before? I think Skadi was quite concerned about you. She stayed by your side the whole time after you fell unconscious, and even held your hand."

"I think the reason I woke up might be because of you." The doctor said with a hint of helplessness, but that helpless expression only lasted for a moment, because he had heard about Skadi.

"What did you just say... about Skadi?"

“It’s only for your safety,” Skadi explained. “I need to hold your hand to check if your pulse is normal.”