I'm in the Ark, a player.

But the snow pheasant refused.

"My benefactor, we don't need to use LMD for now. The money you gave me, plus my own funds, is enough for now."

?

Qin Tianling was stunned.

How can I advance the progress bar without spending money?

Just as Qin Tianling was wondering, Xue Zhi had already turned around. She walked to the table, picked up something from a pile of blueprints and parts, and turned back around.

It was a gun-shaped object.

The gun is not long, about the length of a forearm, with a metallic texture and a barbed claw at the muzzle, with four claws retracting inward.

"I've already produced a prototype; the next step is to conduct practical tests and make improvements."

Snow Pheasant handed the grappling hook to Qin Tianling.

Qin Tianling took the grappling hook gun, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be light and comfortable to hold, with the grip fitting perfectly in his palm.

"The grappling hook is about three meters away. Press the trigger to fire, and press the trigger again to retract."

I use a pretty powerful version of this engine; if it hooks a stationary object, pulling the trigger might pull you towards the target.

"Can it be made into the kind that you press on your arm?"

Qin Tianling asked,

If you need to operate with both hands, you also need to free up one hand to hold the grappling gun, which will definitely have some impact.

"It's possible,"

Snow Pheasant nodded in response.

"But first, we need to test the most basic functions of the grappling hook. Once that's done, I'll test the second piece of equipment and then improve it according to your current requirements."

Please let me know any requirements or shortcomings in the test, and I will try my best to meet and improve them!

Surprisingly, it's equipment that can be modified to suit one's needs!

Furthermore, according to her, the grappling hook's progress bar should now increase with its use, eliminating the need to feed it money anymore.

I can now use the game currency I originally planned to invest in for other things!

"That's awesome! That's awesome!"

Qin Tianling reached out and ruffled Xue Zhi's head, his palm covering her gray hair, rubbing it back and forth like he was playing with a walnut, making her already messy hair even messier.

"benefactor........."

The snow pheasant responded weakly.

"I'm not a child anymore!"

But Qin Tianling didn't listen at all and continued kneading.

As he massaged, he suddenly remembered something.

He doesn't seem to have tried any of the options other than "dialogue" and "violation" with that auxiliary dialogue system yet?

[Gift giving] also includes [murder].

Killing is not an option; this is a research-oriented NPC who provides equipment!

So, is giving gifts all that's left?

This is a good opportunity to increase my favorability!

Clicking on "Send Gift" takes you to your inventory screen, where all your items are neatly arranged.

Please select the item you wish to give as a gift.

What should I give as a gift?

Qin Tianling glanced at the contents of his backpack and pondered.

Finally, his gaze settled on the bottom of the backpack, on the piece of fabric he had just received.

It's cotton, white, and has a small lace trim around the edge.

Click,

[Gift]

...

............

---------------

The word "slave turban" was previously written as "thief's hood," which has now been corrected.

I haven't played Dark Souls 3 in so long that I got it wrong. I thought it was the hood that the thief wore, and we always called it the thief's head, so I thought it should be the thief's hood, but it turned out to be the slave turban.

Chapter 38, I have a gift for you!

I have a gift for you.

Qin Tianling suddenly said.

"Eh!?"

Xuezhi paused for a moment, thinking and thinking, struggling with her decision.

He gently tapped his two index fingers together in front of his chest, his fingertips tapping lightly. His gaze drifted to the ground, then he stole a glance at Qin Tianling before quickly looking away.

Finally, she lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she weakly added,

"Isn't this inappropriate? Giving gifts or something!"

Honestly, she was very happy.

This is the first time someone other than her family has ever said they want to give her something!

But she also felt that this was not a good idea, a bit of a waste of money.

Although my benefactor doesn't seem to be short of money, we can't just spend it recklessly!

But if it's someone who's been a benefactor... once they've made up their mind to do something, even if you say no, they probably won't listen, right?

So what would a benefactor give as a gift?

Hehehe, I can't wait!

Yes, that's right!

If someone gives you a gift, you should reciprocate with a gift in return!

My benefactor has helped me a lot before, and now he's giving me something, so I should at least reciprocate with something of equal or even more valuable value!

The research funds, including those from my benefactor, absolutely cannot be touched.

Most of the money I saved from odd jobs was sent home, and I don't know if what I have now will be enough.

Hmm... if we save money, maybe we can squeeze out enough to buy a gift!

Although things might get tougher later, the girl couldn't help but smile as she thought about it.

—Until she saw it, Qin Tianling pulled out a triangular piece of cloth from somewhere.

The smile on her face froze for a moment.

Why would my benefactor give me underwear?

This isn't right!

Shouldn't such intimate items be gifts between boyfriends and girlfriends?

My benefactor... this is just too... too... too—

Her mind was a jumbled mess of buzzing Originium bugs having a party.

She wanted to say "bold," but felt that word wasn't quite right; she wanted to say "perverted," but felt that was too much.

Finally, her face gradually turned red, and she began to stammer.

"Um, um, benefactor... This, this is... This is..."

"What? You don't like it?"

Qin Tianling tilted his head in confusion, noticing that the snow pheasant hadn't triggered any action.

He held up the piece of cloth and waved it in the air, as if waving a flag.

Could it be that this "gift-giving" system will refuse to accept gifts that NPCs don't like?

—How do I know what this NPC likes?

Try them one by one?

If that's the case, I'll have to give this game another bad review!

On the other side, the snow pheasant, upon hearing Qin Tianling's question, fell into a deep dilemma.

Accepting it... wouldn't be a good idea?

After all, my relationship with my benefactor wasn't as intimate as that of a boyfriend and girlfriend...

Of course! I don't dislike my benefactor either...

If I don't accept it... won't my benefactor think I'm disrespecting him?

My benefactor helped me a lot, and even encouraged me to make this invention that others considered useless...

I will always remember this kindness.

Or should I accept it?

Xuezhi bit her lower lip, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes, twisting and turning it repeatedly.

Finally, she took a deep breath, steeled herself, and reached out to take the piece of cloth from Qin Tianling's hand.

"Um... thank you?"

"Snow Pheasant said."

Qin Tianling watched as Xue Zhi took the panties from An Suo, then looked at the top of her head.

Nothing at all.

Strange, why didn't my favorability increase?

Wait, I can't even see the other person's level of affection, can I?

Since the favorability rating is hidden, the favorability rating gained is also hidden, right?

"that........."

The snow pheasant's voice rang out again.

Her expression was subtle, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Snow Pheasant initially thought that her benefactor had only given her ordinary underwear.

But when she held it in her hands, she realized something was wrong.

Why are these underwear still warm?!

Could this be... worn by someone?

This must have been worn by someone else!!! ???

Could my benefactor have done something illegal?

In an instant, Xuezhi couldn't figure out how Qin Tianling had obtained this piece of cloth!

On a dark and windy night, the benefactor secretly followed an ignorant girl and then suppressed her with ruthless methods. Under the girl's panicked gaze, he forcibly stripped her of her clothes!

Hmm... Am I thinking too badly of my benefactor?

If my benefactor knew I was thinking this way, I imagine they would be heartbroken.

But I feel that my benefactor is the kind of person who would actually do such a thing...