Puzzle Madness

Chapter 200 The First Dream War (Part Six)
His face was still pressed against the screen. His hands rummaged around the TV casing, then he suddenly spoke:
"Where's the camera? Is this a recording or a live stream? How can you see and hear me?"

DouDou pulled back, leaving shallow dents and fine cracks on the television screen; his eye had just gotten stuck, and his eyeball was much harder than the screen—
"Where's the power supply? Why is there no power?"

The more I looked at it, the stranger the television seemed: at first glance, it appeared to be a 21-inch CRT television, utterly unremarkable—
DouDou often goes to video arcades and electronics stores. Mr. Liu, the model airplane teacher, also repairs TVs in his spare time, and there are many TVs piled up in the office of the children's palace. But DouDou has never seen this model before, and can't even recognize the brand.

There are no cables and no built-in videotape slots; could it be powered by batteries for easy portability?

Upon closer inspection, the scene surrounding this so-called "supervisor" was also quite strange: the blinds in his office were not fully open, and red bricks and cement were exposed through the gaps in the blinds; even the walls outside the window were made of earth.

The sofa was piled with dirty clothes, and cigarette ash covered the floor like snow; messy food packaging was scattered everywhere.

It looked like it was hidden in some kind of underground bunker.
"Wow!"

Suddenly, DouDou opened her arms, stuck out her tongue, and snapped close to the screen, making a face at it.

The middle-aged man on the TV was so startled that he yanked back, causing his office chair to creak.

"Forehead"

DouDou's gaze darted back and forth between the stunned Inoue Marie and the television, pointing at the screen:
"Wait, could he actually be hiding inside the TV? Like—he's actually inside the TV?"

There was no camera on the TV, not even a reflection from the lens. But just now, when DouDou made a funny face and played a prank on the dandruff-ridden man, she was facing the TV screen—
DouDou's movements weren't significant; judging from the angle, the camera should have been at the same position as the screen for the middle-aged manager to be startled. After all, it was a remote call, and the camera, located at a distance from or to the left and right of the branch office, could only capture small movements.

The TV might be like some kind of pocket space, housing the entire Southeast Asian branch; just now, the dazed Inoue Marie next to me also mentioned that the location of their Southeast Asian branch is "fluid".

Although it's a somewhat absurd guess, it's not impossible—after all, there are eccentric individuals in reality who can complete some bizarre projects at a lower cost.

However, the actual situation is likely more complex: the obsequious uncle on the TV looks like the kind of guy who prioritizes his own safety above all else; even if it really is a "pocket branch in the TV," its security should be higher than that of real remote communication.

This might be a stereotype; perhaps the person in front of you is actually reckless and foolish, thinking that you can ensure your safety by just flattering others.

However, there's no time to verify DouDou's guess right now; she just tried to squeeze her face in, but DouDou still couldn't get into the "TV world".
-
Marie Inoue seemed to be wearing a mask that only showed astonishment; her eyebrows and eyes remained completely still, making it impossible to tell whether she had guessed correctly or not. The supervisor, on the other hand, rubbed his face, his flattering smile undiminished, as if he hadn't been startled at all.

"Your ideas are truly imaginative and boundless! Your imagination runs wild! This leap in thinking is truly impressive—"

DouDou didn't bother to respond to this statement, which was neither an admission nor a denial. Since it didn't hurt the other party, whether it was remote communication or not made little difference.

"Oh dear, Uncle with dandruff! Don't flatter me. Didn't you just say you were going to play a movie? Play it first." The supervisor's smile widened, even showing a hint of forced kindness.
"That's natural, that's natural; I'll bring you the video footage right away: Inoue! Remember, Mr. DouDou gave me the nickname 'Uncle Dandruff,' and tomorrow tell logistics to make me a new nameplate; put it in the notes. Do you hear me?"

His features suddenly relaxed, and his previous expression vanished. The expressionless supervisor let out a string of rapid-fire roars, the volume rising higher and higher:
"Hey, Inoue! Will that comfortable sofa chair grow legs and run under Mr. DouDou's butt so he can sit on it? Will the fruit platter carefully prepared by Asia-Europe Post fly to his side by itself so the distinguished guest can enjoy it? I don't remember that reception services are all fully automated now!"

It's unclear whether the supervisor was venting his pent-up sense of power or genuinely dissatisfied with the reception work done by his assistant, Inoue Marie.
"Oh, oh! I'm so sorry, so sorry! It was my oversight! I'm so sorry, you two!"

Marie Inoue's high heels clicked as she ran to the back of the sales department, opened the door—which seemed to be a small storage room attached to the sales department—and pushed out a gleaming leather executive chair with one hand and a beautifully decorated fruit platter with the other.

Her movements were exaggerated. Despite wearing a pencil skirt and stilettos, she ran like an athlete; her legs were unusually far apart.

boom!
Just as she was about to reach DouDou, a sudden change occurred. Inoue Marie suddenly fell comically, and a silver fruit platter, carrying various cut fruits, shot into the air.

Ding ding ding ding ding.
DouDou casually picked up the fruit platter and, just like in the movie "Mantis," caught all the fruit falling from mid-air, then plopped down in the boss's chair.

Marie Inoue landed on her forehead with a thud; but DouDou made no attempt to reach out and help her up, because he had already realized:
[She fell on purpose! Her acting was quite convincing; it seems her previous nervous demeanor was somewhat staged. Has she been watching too many workplace dramas? Don't tell me it's just another case of her playing the victim to gain sympathy and get me to help her get rid of her boss.]

[Working at a company like this, she can't possibly be a complete idiot—wait! This seemingly clueless woman might have some kind of obsession; her muscles are incredibly fierce. Being this close to me, with that added boost, I've already lost control of my body. That makes sense, though; you have to be careful around characters who seem a bit dim-witted.]

While it was all just wild speculation, I didn't actually see the tip of the other person's high heel pierce the tiled floor.

"Hey, this chair is really nice. I'll take it back later. Asia-Europe Post isn't short of money."

It seems that even the dandruff-ridden uncle has a few truths to his name.

As I was thinking, the supervisor on the screen disappeared; it was time for the so-called screening to begin.

Instead, the logo of Asia-Europe Post, along with the letter, floated amidst the noise, bumping against the screen frame. Amidst the crackling noise, a powerful narration broke the silence:

"Dear colleagues in charge of branch management! On behalf of everyone in this building, I would like to deliver this week's work briefing—"

"Before we officially begin, please give a three-minute round of applause to the North African branch: they have successfully destroyed the [Two-Sided Mirror Network]!"

(End of this chapter)