Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wow!"
Book Artist: "Are there enough points for a group upgrade?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "The time travel function! Is it finally happening? Damn, I can finally escape this miserable prison life! Eriri-chan, we agreed on milk pudding!"
Book Artist: "Get lost! You called me a golden dog-head earlier, and now you want cake?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Only the group leader can initiate the level-up. Master Anran?"
This is an Actor: "I've already clicked the upgrade button, but the progress bar still needs to finish loading."
Book Artist: "Damn it! There's actually a loading time? That is so frustrating!"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "What? Does Eriri-chan want to experience time travel too?"
Book Artist: "No, I actually want to watch the live broadcast."
Curly-Haired Boy: "I see, Eriri-chan is at that age now. It's alright; when the time comes, Gin-papa will keep the broadcast on while he showers so you can watch as much as you want."
Book Artist: "No thanks. I'm afraid of needles."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Faint at the sight of needles?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Pfft!"
Ruiko Saten obviously understood the double meaning behind those words.
Curly-Haired Boy: "Shut up, you little brat! What Gin-papa is using isn't a needle, it's a dragon! Have you ever seen a fifty-meter-long dragon?"
Book Artist: "Haha. Dry."
[System Message: Group upgrade completed.]
[Functions Loaded: Live Broadcast, Time Travel, Mission System.]
[Group Owner Privileges Updated.]
[Member Benefits: Intruder Alarm System, Universal Energy Converter Transmission complete.]
A series of prompts popped up, enough to make anyone dizzy.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Wow, it seems the group chat interface has been updated too?"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "Yeah, it looks much simpler than before."
The original function bar had been a messy series of sub-items, but they were now integrated into a sleek, brand-new interface. It was much cleaner, removing the need to dig through tedious menus.
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "There's more. (Emoji: Silly Smile)"
Shark-Faced Guy: "This is quite interesting. (Emoji: Smiling)"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Damn, why are there so many restrictions on time travel? Not only do I need the other person's consent, but I also have to spend points? (Emoji: Angry)"
Book Artist: "If a group member could just silently travel to someone's side when they were... occupied, wouldn't that be terrible?"
Eriri imagined watching a horror movie late at night with the lights out and curtains drawn. Just as the terrifying atmosphere peaked on screen, someone suddenly appeared and tapped her on the shoulder.
My god, I'd die of a heart attack on the spot.
Curly-Haired Boy: "What?! Who would do something so disgusting?! Taking advantage of someone in a hot spring to launch a sneak attack? That's perverted! No normal person would do that!"
Book Artist: "Wait... hot spring? Why are you talking about hot springs? Are you confessing to your own fantasies?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Exposed! You've completely exposed your thoughts, Gintoki-san."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Soaking in hot springs... you've actually thought that far ahead? I really can't underestimate you, Gintoki. (Emoji: Helpless)"
Shark-Faced Guy: "When it comes to being a pervert, I would name you the best!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Ahem, actually, I didn't say anything just now. Seriously, it was my cellmate! He stole my phone to chat with you guys! You have to believe me!"
Book Artist: "I don't believe a word! People like you are truly hopeless. I feel like not only should your body be imprisoned, but your mind as well."
This is an Actor: "Don't you all feel something strange happening to your bodies?"
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "?"
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "I feel like I need to use the bathroom. Is that the weird thing?"
This is an Actor: "That has nothing to do with it. You only purchased the power of a Shinigami; the urge to go is just a basic physiological need."
Konan checked her own condition, a strange expression crossing her face. "My chakra... it seems to have perfectly combined with my spiritual power?"
She had been trying to convert her chakra into spiritual power, but due to her talent limitations, the conversion rate had always been sluggish. Now, she found the two had fused perfectly.
This is an Actor: "It shouldn't be called a combination, but rather a transformation into a universal energy. You clearly haven't read the group member benefits."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "I was only focused on the time travel function."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Yeah, me too."
Only now did Li Mochou discover that something strange had occurred within her as well. She had originally purchased chakra out of curiosity, but found it wasn't compatible with her internal martial arts force; the two had remained distinct.
Now, that dividing line had vanished. The two had merged into one. Her cultivation seemed to have skyrocketed into the legendary Xiantian realm.
Shark-Faced Guy: "Is this universal energy that powerful?"
This is an Actor: "It's not just 'impressive.' It's like a fundamental rule being applied to our existences. From now on, we only need to accumulate energy. There's no need to worry about which specific path to take, because all paths are now universal."
Book Artist: "In other words, we no longer need to distinguish between chakra, spiritual power, or internal force? Once purchased, they just become general energy?"
This is an Actor: "Precisely, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei. You catch on quickly."
Book Artist: "Gah! I told everyone not to use that name!"
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "From this perspective, we can become peerless masters simply by continuously purchasing energy. However, the value of points has also increased infinitely."
Konan breathed a sigh of relief. She felt she wouldn't be left too far behind Aizen now. As long as she earned enough points, she could eventually catch up.
Curly-Haired Boy: "Damn it! Why did I waste my luck back then? They talked about legendary prizes, but these bear-print boxers are useless!"
Sakata Gintoki was furious. Under the incredulous gazes of his fellow inmates, he pulled the boxers from his robes and began tearing at them frantically. It was a futile gesture, but it didn't stop him from venting his rage.
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Fortunately, I've saved a good amount during this period."
This is an Actor: "Konan-senpai, I need to ask a favor. I want to try to enter your world—is that okay?"