Arden Forster had always preferred working alone in her laboratory. She enjoyed the peace and quiet, as it allowed her to think more clearly. As a result, her research assistants would instinctively avoid disturbing her when she was deep into her experiments, leaving her undisturbed unless something truly significant came up.
So, even when she heard the voice, she didn’t lift her head, continuing with her work.
It wasn't until three hours later that the experiment was successful and the voice beside her still didn't bother her.
The system was extremely anxious, cautiously standing to the side, waiting for its master to show favor, or rather, to respond.
It resented Rivers Vivienne, having long since lost full commitment to assisting her. The system had used the excuse of a lack of energy to fake being "asleep" and avoid attending to her, hoping that she would fail and die so it could finally escape.
However, before Rivers Vivienne could meet her demise, one day, the system felt the connection between it and Rivers loosen, as though it could be severed. It tested the waters and to its surprise, it succeeded!
The system quickly sensed the intense energy in the area and found its way to Arden Forster.
When it saw her, the system was nearly blinded by the radiant energy emanating from her.
The aura of fame, fortune, merit... all these things combined into a type of energy. If before it had thought that the protagonist of this world was Rivers Vivienne, her fortune had been a mere flicker in the dark, while Arden Forster’s was like the blazing sun.
The system regretted its decisions deeply, realizing it had been wrong about its chosen path. It initially meant for Rivers Vivienne to "collect green hats" by absorbing the fortune of men, but if it had bonded with Arden Forster from the start, there would have been no need for the "green hats." All it would have needed was for Arden to speak a command, and it could easily absorb all the energy.
Arden Forster washed her hands and looked at the small glowing object before her. It was a golden orb about the size of her fist, radiating a soft, inviting light.
This was the "green hat system"?
Seeing her interest, the system quickly became humble, almost subservient, as it presented itself as if it were a humble underling greeting its superior.
"Please, take care of me!" it implored.
Arden Forster noticed the four Chinese characters on the golden orb, recognizing the "green hat system," but she didn’t need it. So she shook her head and said, "I don’t need it."
The system’s mood instantly sank to the lowest point, its voice now weak. "Well... if you don’t like the green hat system, I could transform into a male-god strategy system or a Best Actress training system..."
Arden Forster interrupted, "Do you still rely on men for this?"
The system remained silent, clearly admitting its dependence. The golden orb seemed to shrink, almost as if the system were sulking in its "fat body."
Was there no cure for this?
Arden Forster thought for a moment and then said, "I won’t bond with you, but you can stay by my side."
She wasn’t about to release it and risk it causing problems for others. She had intended for it to go to Rivers Vivienne, but now that Rivers couldn’t take the role of the protagonist anymore, the system remained with her.
It had come to her willingly, so there was no reason to let it go.
The system suddenly raised its head, as though it couldn’t believe its ears. "Really? You actually agree to keep me?"
Arden Forster nodded lightly. The system grew even more excited, speaking in a rushed manner, "I—I’ll behave well!"
Arden Forster said nothing. She didn’t know how the golden-hand system would be treated once it was brought to 003, so she wasn’t making any promises just yet.
"By the way, how is Rivers Vivienne doing now?"
She remembered 003 had once said that the system would only break its bond with the host when the host died. Now that the system was here, did that mean Rivers Vivienne was already dead?
The system hesitated, unsure why Arden Forster was asking about its previous host. It feared that answering truthfully would upset her, so it hesitated.
But it didn’t question how Arden knew it had been connected to Rivers Vivienne.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
After a pause, the system answered honestly, "Her situation is not good. Every day, she is being beaten up by the wives, girlfriends, and fiancées of the men she once courted. She can’t go out to work, everyone insults her, and her reputation is terrible..."
As the system continued, its voice grew quieter, filled with embarrassment. It didn’t dare look at Arden Forster.
Rivers Vivienne’s fall from grace was largely due to the system. Would Arden Forster throw it away when she found out?
Arden Forster had known from the start what the system was, so it didn’t surprise her.
But from another perspective, seducing married men or those with fiancées, only to be beaten at their doorstep, could never end well.
Without the fortune effect of being the protagonist, and with no system support, Rivers Vivienne was now no different from an ordinary person.
When the female protagonist seduces someone else’s husband, boyfriend, or fiancé, there’s always a group of men who will stand up to resolve all the troubles for her.
But when an ordinary person interferes in other people’s relationships, being beaten at the door and scorned by others—that’s reality.
Arden Forster didn’t sympathize with Rivers Vivienne, who had slept with various men to make Marc D'Auremont wear "green hats." Though the system assigned the task, Rivers Vivienne was an adult and should have understood her choices.
The system was just a tool, but Rivers Vivienne didn’t refuse the temptations it provided, so she chose to "collect green hats."
She could have refused, but then she would have lived a normal life with ordinary people, just another regular existence.
But if she bonded with the system, she could quickly rise to the top of the entertainment industry and have everything handed to her. No one could resist that temptation.
This was the shortcut to success. Rivers Vivienne chose the shortcut, so she had to face the consequences of her choice.
Without even the golden-hand, Arden Forster didn’t believe Rivers Vivienne would create any lasting impact. Naturally, the villain could never find a place to act, and at any moment, it could leave this world.
But Arden Forster had no plans to leave just yet. This world had vast knowledge, and it was incredibly convenient. Despite studying for many years, she was still just a grain of sand in the desert. She wouldn’t leave until she had learned it all.
So Arden Forster decided to stay in this world and continue her pursuit of knowledge.
In an age of exploding information, knowledge had become more accessible than ever. Even the oldest, rarest books could be found and read.
Unlike the cultivation world, where knowledge was kept secret by families and sects, this world was truly wonderful. They didn’t hoard knowledge, sharing it for the advancement of humanity.
This world provided her with conveniences, so Arden Forster wasn’t shy about giving back.
She stayed in this world for seventy years, solving problem after problem, bringing joy to all of humanity.
She received countless honors, and the Forster family even built her a dedicated room to store her achievements and medals. As time passed, they ran out of space to store them.
She never married, and when she passed away, the world mourned her loss.
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Back in the system’s space, 003 had been watching Arden Forster intently the whole time, its gaze filled with curiosity and unease, as if waiting to see a flower bloom from her.
003 appeared as a young boy, no older than six or seven, with red lips and white teeth, his skin soft and smooth like porcelain. He was dressed in a loose white robe, looking like a young sage, but the oversized robe made him look more like a child wearing clothes too big for him, creating a funny impression.
He stared at Arden Forster for a long time before finally speaking, his voice filled with frustration, "Why are you playing the villain’s role like the protagonist?"
Arden Forster furrowed her brows. "Is that not allowed?"
"Of course not!" 003 snapped. "You’re the villain. You’ve turned the protagonist into cannon fodder. This is like sharpening a knife!"
"Didn’t you say I could use any means necessary?"
003 paused, realizing he had been wrong. At first, he thought the protagonist's aura was invincible, and that no matter what she did, she couldn’t suppress the protagonist.
003 knew he had lost the argument, his tone softening. "Alright, alright, I didn’t explain clearly. Just don’t be so ruthless next time, leave a way out for the protagonist... No, wait, don’t do that! I mean, do your best at being the villain."
"Also," he continued, "from now on, you’re only allowed to use the golden-hand powers. No more cultivation powers! You’re an old demon with three thousand years of life, full of bugs! The protagonist can barely even fight you!"
003 explained that Rivers Vivienne’s failure was due to Arden Forster using her cultivation powers, which explained why the protagonist couldn’t match the villain's powers.
"Exactly! That’s the reason!" 003 added.
Arden Forster said nothing and handed the green-hat system over to 003.
003 eagerly accepted the green-hat system, swallowing it whole.
Arden Forster blinked. "..."
When she gave him a doubtful look, 003 nonchalantly waved his hand. "It was already part of my power. I’m just reclaiming it."
The energy in his body, the purest combination of merit, fortune, fame, and more, was the source of his golden-hand abilities. After all, all golden hands were just different forms of energy.
"By the way," Arden Forster asked, "What’s the next world?"
"Huh? You’re not resting?"
Arden Forster shook her head. "No need, let’s start the mission."
In the system space, besides her and 003, there was nothing else. Staying in this dull place wasn’t as fun as exploring another world.
There was still much to discover out there.
The small, cramped space felt suffocating. The walls were cracked, and the damp floor was cold. The evening sun streamed through the old window, casting a patch of light on the floor.
Arden Forster sat cross-legged on her bed and summoned a screen with her mind.
On the screen, there was just one icon: a red envelope.
She tapped the envelope, and the Heavenly Realm chat appeared, buzzing with activity.
[Elarion - Elven Sage]: Anyone want to chat? I’m bored in seclusion, need some fun.
[Nyx-3X - Cybernetic Visionary]: How about some sci-fi novels? I’m afraid you won’t understand.
[Elarion - Elven Sage]: Great! Maybe I’ll get some inspiration for a spaceship.
[Cedric Hawthorne - Earthly Wanderer]: Do you have enough storage? I can send you some G-resources!
[Elarion - Elven Sage]: You’re too kind, send it, send it!
And so it went, day after day, with excitement and chatter. But Arden, as the group leader, never participated, whether in chatting or grabbing red envelopes.
This red envelope group was her golden hand in this world, and she was the group leader.