INHA Chapter 43

The branch bureau director steadied his emotions before saying to the staff, “Explain everything to me in detail.”

The staff quickly summarized the situation and then cautiously asked, “Should we control the comments?”

The branch bureau director pondered for a few seconds and replied, “No need. In this situation, we don’t need to control the comments. Let’s observe a bit longer.”

The staff promptly acknowledged and, after hanging up the phone, continued to monitor the live stream, only muting and deleting comments that contained foul language, but leaving other comments alone.

With the posts from marketing accounts and other bloggers, the previous incident of the strange fish attacking the ship quickly regained popularity.

It even trended again.

Netizens who watched the strange fish video were confused, only to find out that there was a follow-up.

All of this was to hype up the live stream. Those who watched the stream, including marketing accounts and news writers, all claimed it was fake!

Immediately, the topic #SearchingForTopSpecialEffectsTeam# also started trending, with comments suggesting that directors were looking for them and urging them to take the job!

【Indeed, talent will always shine. Don’t underestimate this special effects team working for the streaming platform; their top-notch skills have caught the attention of directors!】

【Well done, you’ve caught my interest!】

Regardless of these joking comments, it was true that many well-known special effects teams and companies were inquiring about this stunningly impressive team.

Previously, only ordinary companies and teams were inquiring, but now they were considering offering high salaries to recruit talent.

Unfortunately, despite all the inquiries, no one found out anything, increasing suspicion about how much the streaming company paid this special effects team to keep them quiet.

In addition, these special effects teams and companies also joined the official live stream, following the comments that hinted at an upcoming spectacular special effects battle.

All the handlers from the handling bureau also joined the live stream, not posting any comments, quietly watching the stream.

The more they watched, the more annoyed and envious they felt.

Even though the newcomer had high spiritual abilities, it didn’t change the fact that he was still a novice.

Furthermore, as handlers representing the bureau’s reputation, they were allowing viewers to doubt the authenticity, saying it was all special effects, which was, frankly, a smear on the bureau’s reputation.

But after waiting for a while without any action from the bureau, they understood the bureau’s stance.

Their feelings became even more sour.

Aside from high spiritual abilities and quick reflexes, what other advantages did this newcomer have, apart from handling the bureau’s most difficult task?

None!

On the other hand, Xu Dongyou focused his senses and immediately felt that something was off in the room.

He carefully looked around. Fortunately, it was daytime, so his vision was not hindered like it would be at night. In fact, his sight was even sharper now.

In this doll shop, there was indeed another eerie gaze. But apart from that, there was nothing else he could sense.

This felt very strange.

Xu Dongyou immediately shared his feelings with Tian Ze.

Actually, Xu Dongyou had another guess. If the eerie gaze focused on them was indeed from that teddy bear, then it might mean that the bear had no malicious intent towards them so far.

That’s why Xu Dongyou couldn’t feel anything threatening.

However, he hadn’t told anyone about his ability to sense danger, so naturally, he couldn’t tell Tian Ze.

But Xu Dongyou couldn’t understand. If this teddy bear had no ill intentions toward Lin Jingyun, then over the past month, was it just trying to scare her?

But what benefit would the bear gain from doing that?

Tian Ze glanced at his watch. It was 3:45, and it would soon be 4:00, possibly the time when the teddy bear would appear.

Lin Jingyun also realized this, becoming even more nervous.

Tian Ze looked around at the dolls. Each one had a different design and color; some were dolls with bright blue eyes, unblinking, smiling faces, dressed in beautiful, delicate clothing.

Even though Tian Ze had seen countless ghosts, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy in a room full of dolls, knowing that one of them was a truly terrifying one.

Tian Ze coughed twice, nearly scaring Lin Jingyun into trembling.

Xu Dongyou gave Tian Ze a small reproachful look. Tian Ze couldn’t help but take out a cigarette, light it, and take a few puffs before pointing to Lin Jingyun. “Hey, tell me what that teddy bear looks like. Before it hits four, I’ll go check it out.”

Lin Jingyun started to stammer, and Xu Dongyou answered for her, “The bear looks similar to these, but it’s wearing a small red outfit, and its eyes are also red.”

Tian Ze’s hand paused slightly as he smoked. He glanced at the pile of teddy bears, many of which were dressed in red, then finished his cigarette and threw it on the ground.

At this point, Lin Jingyun was too worried to care about Tian Ze littering the cigarette butt. She cautiously said, “Be careful…”

Tian Ze pulled a gun out of his pocket. The silver casing and its advanced design drew praise from the live stream viewers.

【The props team did a great job! This weapon looks so realistic!】

【But I still have to say, littering cigarette butts is uncivilized. Is it really okay to be so rude in front of so many live stream viewers?】

【I’m annoyed. It’s not civilized at all. This guy is so rude.】

【Quick, change the lead actor. Doesn’t the streaming platform check people’s character and habits before casting? Did this guy pay to get the main role?】

【Agreed. I also think they should switch someone else in. Plus, he’s not as good-looking as the other lead actor. It really feels like he paid to get the role.】

【But, to be fair, we really have to praise this weapon. It’s so realistic, it doesn’t look fake at all. The props team did an amazing job.】

【Honestly, I’m starting to feel tense now. This doll shop is like a paradise for girls and kids, but now it’s giving off a horror movie vibe.】

【Got my popcorn ready. Front row selling popcorn and chips!】

【Something’s not right, really not right. All live streams are banned from showing smoking and drinking, but even though this live stream is separate, there should still be moderators, right? Why aren’t they stopping this smoking scene?】

【Right. I remember that all live streams under this company are banned from showing smoking and drinking. There’s no reason this live stream should be an exception, right?】

【Moderators, do your job!】

The handler responsible for the official live stream thought it over, then gathered the courage to have another staff member monitor the stream while he went to knock on the chief’s office door.

He wanted to find the branch bureau director, but he didn’t have the guts. Besides, the branch bureau director wasn’t someone you could just see on a whim. The chief was also hard to approach. However, given the special circumstances, anything related to the live stream could be reported directly to the chief.

Not daring to call, he ran over instead.

The chief’s voice came from inside, “Come in.”

The handler quickly reported the situation, and the chief responded, “Explain in the live stream chat that this is a one-time exception and say that Tian Ze will be punished. If there are any more issues, call my office directly.”

The handler nodded quickly, ran back, and then issued an official notice in the live stream chat.

【The staff member did indeed break the rules. Appropriate punishment will be administered after the live stream ends. Thank you for your supervision.】

After this shiny official notice flashed by, the chat was instantly flooded with comments.

【There really are moderators, huh? Can you replace this guy? He looks too scary.】

【That’s like no punishment at all. Everyone knows the staff members are fake. I think there’s no sincerity at all. You should shut down the live stream for breaking the rules like you do with other streams.】

【Don’t mess around. If you shut down the stream, what are we supposed to watch? I want to see the teddy bear fight the staff member. Get this guy out of here.】

【Get him out!】

Xu Dongyou didn’t have time to look at the chat; his attention was fully focused on the row of teddy bears on the shelf in front of him.

Tian Ze used the end of his weapon to prod one of the teddy bears, and it immediately made a mechanical sound: “Hello——”

Startled, Tian Ze instinctively fired at the teddy bear, causing it to explode, with stuffing scattering everywhere.

Tian Ze barely let out a sigh of relief.

It was just an ordinary teddy bear.

Xu Dongyou’s heart was also pounding. He had seen resentful spirits and ghost babies before, but nothing was as scary as this doll shop.

It was probably because everyone has an innate fear of things like dolls.

In the live stream chat.

【Wow, is that a real gun? Even if the sound doesn’t quite match, the damage seems on par with a real one, right?】

【Live streams ban smoking, drinking, and any harmful weapons, especially ones with such high damage. Why hasn’t the stream been shut down yet?】

【Aren’t they afraid of getting into serious trouble?】

【Could it be… this is all special effects? Like in movies, with prop blood and explosion points? Maybe this is the same.】

【Makes sense. The stream is for views and money; they wouldn’t actually want to get shut down. I think the props team set up the explosion points, and the teddy bear’s explosion wasn’t caused by a real gun.】

【If they really used such a dangerous weapon, the moderators would shut it down quickly. They definitely don’t want to get into serious trouble.】

These comments quickly convinced most viewers, who stopped fixating on the issue and continued watching the stream intently.

Meanwhile, the handler responsible for the live stream, following orders from above, was prohibited from taking any stance or providing explanations during the stream.

This left the handler frustrated, itching to grab these viewers by the shoulders and shake them, shouting, “It’s all real!!!!”

They couldn’t understand why the viewers believed it was special effects and even seriously suggested the special effects team should work on movies.

Xu Dongyou and his two companions regained their composure. Tian Ze turned to Lin Jingyun, “These teddy bears?”

Lin Jingyun quickly replied, “All the toys on this shelf are talking dolls that speak when activated, especially that teddy bear, which is our best-seller.”

She was so nervous earlier that she forgot to tell them this.

Xu Dongyou had a sudden intuition and asked Lin Jingyun, “The teddy bears over there look similar to these. Are they all popular models?”

Lin Jingyun, not knowing why he was asking, answered, “N-no, only this model is the best-seller because it has an intelligent chip that can answer simple questions, which is why it’s so popular. We’ve even developed related merchandise.”

Huh?

Xu Dongyou was momentarily stunned. Had teddy bears become this advanced?

The live stream chat was still active with comments.

【This teddy bear looks really familiar. I think I’ve been to this shop and bought this teddy bear. It was expensive, over a thousand!】

【Confirmed, the comment above is from a shill.】

【I don’t think that person is a shill because I’ve seen this teddy bear too. My girlfriend bought a similar backpack, also wearing a little red dress. Exactly the same.】

【Exactly, my little sister has been begging to buy this, saying the teddy bear can talk. It’s amazing.】

Xu Dongyou, curious, leaned in and gently poked one of the teddy bears. The red-eyed teddy bear immediately emitted a mechanical voice, “Hello——”

The live stream viewers couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

【The guy is also curious about the teddy bear, haha. I just bought this teddy bear too. It’s super popular. When you poke it, the bear says ‘Hello’. It’s so cute.】

【I seriously suspect this live stream is subtly promoting the teddy bear. It’s making me want to buy one for my girlfriend too!】

【I think I remember this store. I recall the owner is a girl, very pretty. Wait! I realize that when watching the live stream, I can’t remember the face of the woman in the store. But when I think of the real-life owner, I immediately remember what she looks like! It’s amazing.】

【??? Is that true??】

【The more you say, the more unbelievable it sounds. Do you think this is some kind of black technology?】

【It’s true. Why doesn’t anyone believe me? If you search online about this teddy bear, you might find a picture of the shop owner. She looks exactly like the one in the live stream!】

【I searched, and it’s true! I can instantly remember the face of the owner in the live stream.】

【Really, I can remember too. This is amazing! Did the special effects team create this too? It’s so high-tech!】

【I’m shocked.】

Not only the viewers but also marketing accounts and journalists noticed this. They felt both impressed and uneasy. Could such high-tech features really be the work of a mere special effects team?

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