Chapter 11: The Skilled Spy Sprite, Balala the Mind Mentor.

A distinctly old-fashioned and simple car, with sharp straight edges exuding a cold and harsh aura, its mechanical nature overwhelming yet devoid of any technological elements, emitted thick black smoke as it stopped not far in front of Yuan Zhu.

“Bang bang!” Two metallic door slams echoed as the doors were violently flung open from the inside. Two Eastern men in uniform stepped out from the driver and passenger seats respectively.

The elder man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, corpulent with a pronounced belly that made his slightly larger fitted uniform resemble maternity wear. His expression was calm, but his eyes held a trace of kindness, like a good-hearted old fellow who radiated a friendly aura.

He sported a beard encircling his mouth and a goatee on his chin, lending him a classical air. However, hanging on his chest was an enormous square camera, an odd and incongruous accessory with his overall appearance.

Trailing behind him was a young man in his early twenties, wearing a cold expression. His appearance was slightly above average, with pale skin and no facial hair. His long hair was tied in an ancient-style male topknot secured with a hairpin. Combined with a neatly embroidered uniform, he exuded the aura of a handsome abstinent youth.

The young man carried a case in one hand and wore a pair of riding boots. Standing behind the middle-aged man, he stared coldly at Yuan Zhu, narrowing his eyes as if scrutinizing a criminal.

The two officers’ arrival brought a subtle professional impact, making Yuan Zhu feel inexplicably uneasy.

This was probably because, in his previous life on Earth, he had been a law-abiding and earnest person since childhood, never daring to glance too long at a police station for fear of being mistaken for provoking the officers. He had never once called emergency services, yet scarcely half a day after transmigrating here, he had already reported himself at the local 7711 station at lightning speed.

Now, facing real law enforcement officers from another world, professionals investigating serious crimes, coupled with the young man’s sharp gaze and the sword and firearm at their waists, his heart fluttered with anxiety.

Damn, didn’t this look a little like the imperial secret police?

The industrial level of the Duling Planet had already surpassed Earth’s first industrial revolution. However, the “New Federation” that had immigrated to the new continent had not suffered serious cultural blows nor endured wars of Western colonization.

Therefore, Running City preserved the classical features of Eastern civilization in its architecture and people’s attire, while actively embracing characteristics from other nations, magical aliens, and steam-powered interstellar peoples, achieving a harmonious blend.

For example, the two men before him wore modern uniforms suited for daily duties, embroidered with patterns reminiscent of ancient flying fish robes, symbolizing their status and profession.

Moreover, the middle-aged man’s short hair was common, but influenced by the traditional culture of the Xi Kingdom, he deliberately grew a beard to manifest maturity and steadiness. The younger man’s retro long hair tied in a topknot dramatically enhanced his looks, making Yuan Zhu even consider trying it himself.

Seeing Yuan Zhu nervously look up to meet his gaze, the middle-aged man studied him briefly before speaking. His tone was not oppressive, but somewhat plain: “Did you report the case?”

“Yes, I found... uh, no, I participated in... wait, that’s not right. Let me organize my words.”

Though he had rehearsed in his mind, speaking suddenly now made him realize he wasn’t yet fluent in Duling’s language. His brain understood, his tongue knew the words, but the language would not come together smoothly.

He could say every word, understand every sentence’s meaning, yet struggled to express himself properly.

The middle-aged man waved his hand, signaling Yuan Zhu not to be nervous: “That’s normal. Don’t panic, take your time. We have time. Mind if I run a quick test first? My surname’s Wang. You can call me Uncle Wang or Old Wang. This young man’s surname is Han. He’s a bit cold but it’s not directed at you.”

Yuan Zhu blinked, nodding: “Uh, okay, please go ahead.”

This start was much better than he had expected.

...

Now, the situation on site was this:

Yuan Zhu was alone, dressed in ill-fitting clothes, looking somewhat nervous—a clear novice. The other side was numerous, well-armed with swords and guns, fully alert, and richly experienced in kills and handling sudden incidents.

Yuan Zhu’s Earth-bred honest, obedient demeanor, shaped by nine years of compulsory education, made the middle-aged man sigh, thinking this young fellow was truly unlike a local from Running City.

Could he have been possessed? Or lost all memories, his personality reset?

These thoughts reminded him of the periodically updated law enforcement manual, which recorded various phenomena such as “demonic possession, interdimensional soul transference, evil god possession, psychological shock, malicious brainwashing, personality implantation/adjustment, pseudo-rebirth...” and their manifestations.

Of course, Yuan Zhu was unaware that with just one glance, the others had already guessed his true condition with uncanny accuracy.

However, they did not delve deeper, merely laughing to themselves and dismissing these unfounded notions. Even if the man had mental issues, his obedient cooperation was a blessing. It was far safer than dealing with someone mentally unstable and violent.

Meanwhile, the young man named Han bent down and set down his case, then opened it to take out parts he didn’t understand. Quickly assembling them into a detection gun with a dial above the handle, he connected the device to a battery-like power source.

Then he stood, manipulating the device in front of Yuan Zhu, pressing several buttons, producing crackling noises. He furrowed his brow in puzzlement, clearly dissatisfied.

Ignoring Yuan Zhu’s feelings, he moved closer and circled him, continuing to press buttons in an attempt to obtain satisfactory readings.

At this moment, a sprite’s voice whispered covertly in Yuan Zhu’s mind: “Don’t panic, be confident. You’re not the culprit, nor a mere mortal. Where has your king-of-beasts dominance gone? Where is your dignity, your confidence?”

“Stop it, it’s embarrassing,” Yuan Zhu responded swiftly in his mind, trying to silence the sprite and erase his past shame.

The sprite was displeased: “What’s embarrassing? This is how you should be. Your experiences on Earth and your personality don’t fit Duling or Running City. You must change, stand tall! Other transmigrators wasted half a life on Earth, but upon crossing, transformed into dragons—decisive killers, geniuses, sweeping through the ages.”

“I’m just an ordinary Earthling!”

“Don’t be nervous, don’t panic. Don’t worry, with me here, you’re safe. I’m a professional spy infiltration app. With my guidance, you’ll easily pass interrogation and questioning. Trust me, you won’t go wrong!”

Yuan Zhu was startled: “You can do that?”

“Of course! The Great Wilderness Immortal Scripture is itself a professional spy and detection program. These are my essential skills, complete with a rich anti-interrogation database.”

“Heh, so the Immortal Scripture isn’t exactly clean! What should I do now? That Han guy doesn’t seem nice; I feel he’s deliberately targeting me. Come on, show me your power. Let me test your ability.”

The sprite confidently replied: “Most importantly, don’t show nervousness or insecurity, which makes you appear weak and cedes control of the conversation. Also... right now, I, like you, lack sufficient information to provide the answers you want. But don’t fear, I’m online with you, always by your side to strategize, point out mistakes, and offer optimal tactics.”

Almost convinced by her nonsense, Yuan Zhu nearly exploded: “Professional, my ass! I don’t believe you!”

Unfazed, the sprite continued confidently: “Besides being a professional spy and anti-interrogation expert, I’m also an excellent psychological counselor. With me, your mental state can be adjusted in time.”

“You think I was just a useless loser, exposing my weaknesses earlier? Yes, that was intentional. I’m provoking you, guiding you to anger to break the submissiveness and tension ingrained by your Chinese upbringing, to face your opponent head-on! So tell me, are you angry now?”

Yuan Zhu: “Uh, not really nervous anymore, but you made me mad. What good does that do?”

“Of course it helps. This is top-tier mental SPA adjustment. Tell me, after accidentally killing over thirty people and facing law enforcement interrogation, do you still feel fear and insecurity?”

“Of course I do. I’m still nervous. Even if you’re the real culprit, I’m an accomplice.” Despite his words, after their mental banter, Yuan Zhu did gradually relax and lose some of his tension.

This little thing actually had some use.

The sprite took the credit without denying the culprit status: “Hehe, it’s different now, isn’t it? If you had crossed into this world without contamination, and the ‘game sprite’ never gained consciousness but remained a mechanical program, you’d be alone facing interrogation, naturally panicking and worrying due to inexperience, fearing failure, being seen through, and broken by their experience—trapped in a vicious cycle. That’s human nature since you rarely go to police stations.”

“But with me, it’s a whole different story. Even if I can’t interfere with the outside now, I can adjust your mindset, boost your confidence, and indirectly influence your behavior. With me, I can shower you with rainbow praise, encouragement, make you lose yourself in compliments, and build powerful confidence to resist external pressure. In a way, I’m your mental stress relief software!”

Having no choice, Yuan Zhu had to believe her nonsense again: “Come on, sprite, work your magic! Make me confident.”

“Watch closely. I’ll ask just one question: what’s scarier—forty-plus monsters corrupted by evil gods, or two weaklings with handguns? Though you’re being interrogated and scanned, your true nature is a newly risen shadow demon, a hidden great demon with evil god potential. You inherit the Great Wilderness Immortal Scripture’s boss template—you’re a contemporary tiger demon!”

“So, what’s there to fear? If exposed, just break through with force. Your power is low-tier by Earth standards. Look at this world’s backward tech and production—no cameras even. Afraid you can’t escape? The nearby mist forest is the perfect hiding place; vanish into the fog and roar through the mountains. So stand tall and proud!”

“Now, I’m done. Still nervous?”

“Not anymore, not anymore. Confidence is back. It’s just that the Chinese rules and constraints have held me back—that’s a sign of good upbringing. Our folks are like that,” Yuan Zhu hurriedly added.

The sprite was unapologetic: “That’s right. I’m a professional spy sprite and mental coach. I inject you with rainbow energy farts to unleash incredible mental power. This is a mental explosion, confidence overload, a scientific version of a lucky charm.”

Yuan Zhu praised: “You really know a lot.”

The sprite’s virtual girl avatar cupped her hands politely: “You’re too kind. Though excellent, all this comes from your memory database and knowledge. You’re quite learned yourself.”

“You speak so nicely, say more often.”

The girl nodded seriously: “See, that’s the power of rainbow praise! Humans need spiritual comfort to build confidence. Positive feedback gradually shapes a strong will. I excel at providing emotional value and mental SPA massage, letting you lose yourself in compliments and build invincible confidence and determination!”

“You’ve read those fantasy novels, right? The protagonists slaughter weaklings to build invincible aura, ascend divine ranks, slay geniuses, and become emperors with unbeatable foundations. It’s all mental power, self-hypnosis. With me, you don’t need to kill weaklings to gather that confidence.”

Yuan Zhu nodded repeatedly: “Right, right, you know so much. No wonder you’re an intelligent program from the Immortal Scripture. I believe you! From now on, praise me more. I don’t want to miss success because of insecurity or hesitation.”

The sprite ramped up the persuasion: “Exactly, that mindset! Be confident and decisive! I’m only moderately smart and newly born, lacking experience. My excellence depends on your mature thinking and vast wisdom, so let’s encourage each other to improve.”

Yuan Zhu rejoiced: “Ah yes! Keep talking. My mindset is booming, confidence terrifying. I’m ready to outwit these two natives.”

His spirit was inexplicably ignited!