belamy20

61-62

Added 2025-01-23 03:07:43 +0000 UTC

*Chapter 61: The Necklace*

“Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the latest update…”

New York City, at the hotel where the Modern Family cast was staying.

ABC Studios had just delivered some good news to the production crew.

“Although there will be a slight delay compared to the original schedule, the previously canceled celebration party will now proceed as planned. Congratulations to everyone!”

“Really?”

“That’s great! I almost packed to go home.”

“I need to call someone right away and get them to come back!”

Cheers erupted among the crew as they received the latest announcement from ABC.

There’s nothing more exhilarating than a sudden turn of events like this.

“But why can the party suddenly go on?”

Actor Ty Burrell, his face filled with curiosity, voiced his confusion to the ABC representative.

“They say the crisis caused by the shooting incident has been resolved. The armed clown was shot dead in the street.”

The representative didn’t hold back and shared what they knew with the cast and crew.

Simultaneously, news outlets across New York City began reporting the clown’s death. It seemed as though the ordeal was finally over.

---

“Looks like you were right, Allen,” Sofia Vergara said, turning to Allen beside her.

“I’ve always had faith in the abilities of the federal police,” Allen replied, nodding.

His gaze swept over the cast and crew, eventually landing on a shattered system panel. The script on the system interface hadn’t concluded with Arthur’s death. It continued evolving.

---

Meanwhile, at the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., inside Director Robert Mueller’s office:

The newly appointed BSI (Bureau of Supernatural Investigations) chief expressed his dissatisfaction with the FBI Counterterrorism Unit’s decision to shoot the clown during the New York City incident.

“Due to the counterterrorism unit’s unilateral actions, the BSI’s mission failed. We could have learned much more about the supernatural through the clown.”

“The clown held hundreds of people hostage in downtown New York. For the safety of innocent civilians, deploying a sniper was necessary,” retorted the Counterterrorism Unit chief.

“If the situation spiraled out of control, no one could guarantee what the clown might do. Under those circumstances, using a sniper was the only viable option.”

“That’s your judgment. In reality, Amanda was already negotiating with the clown and had obtained some intelligence related to supernatural forces.”

“You have no right to question the counterterrorism unit’s actions. The connection to supernatural phenomena is purely BSI speculation. Until investigations are complete, we can’t confirm whether the events in downtown New York were influenced by supernatural factors. However, the FBI counterterrorism unit’s swift action directly saved hundreds of innocent civilians and averted what could’ve been the worst terrorist attack since 9/11.”

Post-9/11, counterterrorism became the cornerstone of America’s strategic focus, both domestically and internationally. As a result, the FBI’s counterterrorism unit evolved into one of the most powerful federal departments, entrusted with national security and anti-terrorism efforts.

However, the emergence of supernatural incidents and the creation of the BSI posed a new challenge to the FBI’s authority. This growing tension explained the counterterrorism team’s eagerness to eliminate the clown.

“I want a full report on the ‘Clown Shooting’ incident to determine whether it genuinely links to supernatural phenomena,” Director Mueller said after observing the two departments’ clash.

“I believe this was merely a terrorist attack. The so-called supernatural forces are a fabrication by the BSI to seize credit that rightfully belongs to the counterterrorism unit.”

“How do you explain the widespread laughter phenomenon in downtown New York?”

“That’s been clarified by various media outlets—laughing gas.”

“Laughing gas? Do you honestly believe it was just that—”

“Enough!” Mueller interrupted, stopping the escalating argument. He turned to the BSI chief and said, “Prepare the report. If the ‘Clown Shooting’ incident is indeed tied to supernatural forces, I’ll escalate it to the federal government.”

The BSI chief paused before silently leaving the office. As his figure disappeared, Mueller turned to the counterterrorism unit chief with a grave expression.

“Now, we need to have a serious discussion.”

---

*Knock, knock, knock—*

At the BSI office, Agent Zhou knocked on Amanda’s open door and saw her engrossed in her work.

“Still working on the report?”

“Almost done,” Amanda replied, yawning as she looked up.

“We’re hosting a party tonight. Maybe you could join us,” Zhou offered, glancing at her cluttered desk.

“Thanks, but no. I need to finish this report. The boss wants it by tomorrow,” Amanda said, shaking her head and declining the invitation.

“Alright. Have fun!” Zhou nodded, turned, and left decisively.

Watching Zhou’s retreating figure, Amanda sighed and returned her focus to the report.

---

*Late night, 11:32 PM*

“Yawn~”

Amanda stretched at her desk, easing her stiff back and neck after hours of work. She sent the completed report to the chief’s email, glanced at the clock on her computer, and clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Grabbing her keys and a handgun from the drawer, Amanda hurriedly left the BSI building. The dark streets of New York carried an air of danger, but as a former Texas patrol officer, Amanda wasn’t fazed.

As she crossed the dimly lit area near the building, she noticed something falling from a passerby’s suitcase under a streetlamp.

“Hey, sir! You dropped something!” Amanda called out.

The figure continued walking as if they hadn’t heard her. After a moment’s hesitation, Amanda decided to act. She picked up the dropped necklace and hurried after the person.

“Sir, this fell from your suitcase!” she called again.

“No need,” the figure finally responded, their voice hoarse as if unused for a long time.

“It belongs to you now.”

Amanda froze, staring at the necklace in her hand. Memories of Arthur’s mention of the vagrant flashed through her mind. When she looked up, the figure had vanished.

Only Amanda and the silver necklace remained under the streetlight.

---

(Chapter End)

Chapter 62: Opening the Box

On the other side.

In a New York hotel, the cast and crew of Modern Family were still enjoying their wild party.

Allen excused himself to the restroom.

*Splash—*

Standing at the sink, he turned on the faucet and washed the alcohol off his face.

As he stared into the mirror, the dazed look in his eyes gradually faded.

Thanks to the training from the [Witcher Modification Method], his physical condition now rendered him almost unaffected by alcohol.

Wiping away the tiny beads of water from his face, Allen’s gaze shifted slightly upward, landing on the broken interface of the system.

*[Plot Points]: 125,250*

With the ending of the script Joker’s Mask and its final “Easter egg” scene, the [Plot Points] for this round were credited as well.

The over-100,000-point reward made Allen even more pleased with the mood of the cast party.

With a wide smile, he opened the system’s backend panel.

> *[**System&……Backend***History……Record……&%￥Exchange……&Trade&Shop……]*

> *[Script 4]: Joker’s Mask***

> *[World Evolution Rate]: 0.15%*

> *[Plot Prop – Joker’s Mask]* (1,500/Exchange)

> *[Effect]: Joy*

> *[Description]: A prop from a mysterious traveling merchant. Wearing it will fill you with happiness.*

> *[Note 1]: I once thought my life was a tragedy, but now I realize it’s a comedy.*

> *[Note 2]: Never attempt to control the power of the mask, as it does not belong to you.*

> *…*

> *[Plot Prop – Suitcase]* (1,000/Exchange)

> *[Effect]: Unknown*

> *[Description]: The traveling merchant always drags this suitcase, but no one knows what’s inside.*

> *[Note]: It could be a gift of fate, but it’s more likely a trick of destiny.*

> *…*

> *[Character Card – Traveling Merchant (3/3)]* (3,000/Exchange)

> *[Card Level]: Bronze*

> *[Description]: You can insert the character into any script without spending extra [Plot Points].*

> *[Note 1]: As long as you have enough chips, you can obtain anything you desire…*

> *[Note 2]: The traveling merchant is always wandering, seemingly searching or waiting for something.*

The backend panel data showed a steady increase in the [World Evolution Rate], though Allen still hadn’t figured out its significance.

Glancing briefly past the rising [World Evolution Rate] data, his attention was soon drawn to the new items available for exchange from the latest script.

The appearance of the [Joker’s Mask] was no surprise. After all, the entire script revolved around the mask as its centerpiece. If the exchange list had excluded it, Allen would have found it odd.

The mask’s effect closely matched what he had designed in the script, with no major differences.

A mask that induces uncontrollable laughter—it sounded eerie, but Allen had little desire to exchange for it.

The mask’s power was too situational.

So, he left it on the system’s script exchange panel, alongside [Wolfbane] from the Wolf Girl script.

However, the necklace from the final scene didn’t appear in the exchange list, which surprised him slightly.

Allen speculated that its brief appearance and lack of detailed description in the script were why the system hadn’t included it as an exchangeable item.

He wasn’t too bothered by this.

With future scripts, the necklace would eventually make its way to the system’s exchange backend.

While thinking about this, his gaze fell on the newly available [Character Card].

The appearance of the [Bronze] level validated Allen’s previous theory. Although the traveling merchant had limited screen time in the Joker’s Mask script, there was no doubt they were the source of all events. The system clearly recognized this, assigning the [Bronze] level to the traveling merchant’s character card.

The merchant’s abilities might not be as direct or dangerous as those of the [Twisted Man], but the mysterious props in their suitcase added an air of intrigue to the character.

“Sometimes, a little deliberate mystery in storytelling really pays off,” Allen mused.

Though the truth was, in the entire Joker’s Mask script, the only props he had fully designed were Arthur’s Joker mask and Amanda’s silver necklace from the final “Easter egg” scene.

The system, however, had automatically expanded the traveling merchant’s backstory, essentially gifting him a [Bronze] level character card.

This sort of thing would be unimaginable in a normal system.

“Looks like your half-broken state isn’t entirely bad,” he quipped, glancing at the broken data panel.

Allen’s attention then shifted to the final exchangeable item from the Joker’s Mask script: the [Suitcase].

To be honest, when he saw the item, he had an uncanny sense of déjà vu. The [Suitcase] description seemed like a disguised version of a loot box.

Who would’ve thought that even in its broken state, the system could still include a gimmicky loot-box-style item clearly meant to drain the host’s [Plot Points]?

Luckily, Allen was redeeming items through the system’s backend.

If he were opening the [Suitcase] in a store, imagine how much markup would flow into the system!

“No wonder you ended up in this sorry state,” Allen snarked again, glancing at the [Suitcase] on the exchange panel.

“Well, it’s only 1,000 [Plot Points]. Not too bad.”

Muttering to convince himself, Allen gave in.

After all, the Skinner box experiment had proven it—who could resist the allure of a loot box?

*[Plot Points]: 124,250*

With Allen’s mental command, 1,000 [Plot Points] vanished, replaced by a miniature suitcase in his hand.

The suitcase resembled the one dragged by the traveling merchant, but a quick shake revealed that it contained only a single item.

“Now, let’s test my luck.”

Turning on the sink faucet again, Allen washed his hands once more.

Staring at the [Suitcase], he mumbled to himself and reached out to open it.