A game where you have to pay to win? But I have a lifespan roulette wheel!

(This is just a side story, I'm writing it because I'm so happy!)

Scenes:

A studio that was decorated somewhat hastily but was filled with a festive atmosphere.

A banner hanging in the background reads: "Congratulations on the completion of filming for 'The Game of Life'!"

Host (Magic King):

(Wearing a crisp green uniform, with Xiuzhen's staff pinned to her chest, she tries hard to maintain a serious expression, but the corners of her mouth are wildly upturned.)

Hello everyone! Welcome to the special wrap-up interview for "The Game of Life and Death"!

I'm the host, the Magic King! After a long filming... no, an adventure, our protagonist, Comrade Jiang Lin, has finally reached his... well, a "heartwarming" and "harmonious" ending!

Today, we are honored to have with us one of the most important behind-the-scenes contributors to this drama, and also Jiang Lin's longest-lasting partner~~~ the [Lifespan Wheel] System! Please give it a round of applause!

(A sparse round of applause, mainly from the Beast King munching on snacks, the Ghost King playing with his hair, Nero wiping his sword, and Jiang Wangcai nervously looking around. Jiang Lin himself was invited to the first row of the audience, where he was stared at by several pairs of eyes, sat up straight, and sweat beaded on his forehead.)

Lifespan Wheel (hereinafter referred to as "the wheel"):

(A floating orb of light, emitting a soft white glow and with blurry pointer shadows on it, appears on the interview chair, emitting an emotionless synthesized electronic voice.)

Hello everyone, I am the Lifespan Turntable auxiliary program, you can call me Turntable.

Magic King:

(Pushes up non-existent glasses; the lenses reflect light)

First of all, congratulations on the completion of the filming of Panzi! As the cheat code that runs throughout the entire series, what are your thoughts? For example, how do you feel watching Comrade Jiang Lin go from being stingy with his 50-year lifespan at the beginning to spending hundreds of billions or trillions of lifespans at will later on?

plate:

...My feelings are complicated. My main thought is that the host's ability to exploit bugs is truly a gift. Especially the early upgrade from an x10 card to an x100 card, this system still remembers it vividly.

(Jiang Lin, sitting in the audience, coughs lightly and looks up at the sky.)

Magic King:

(Suppressing a laugh) Ahem, I understand. So, throughout the entire filming process, what role did you feel you played? A kind old grandfather? A cold-blooded system? Or… (lowering his voice) a tool arranged by some higher-dimensional being?

plate:

This system is merely a user manual for an intelligent AI, assisting the host in operating the Lifespan Wheel. The host consumes lifespan, and this system provides the wheel service for fair trade. How the host consumes lifespan, what they do with it, or what they draw is entirely irrelevant to this system. (The tone was firm, but the light sphere seemed to flicker slightly.)

Magic King:

(Mind reading activated, but seemed to struggle against a ball of light, so had to continue asking questions)

Oh? Really? But I remember at certain crucial moments, you weren't just a spinning wheel, were you? For example, reminding the host to refresh the wheel rewards, explaining things when the host questioned you, and even... (glancing at Chapter 488 of the reference materials)... in a certain special world, you even dinged and issued a mission? This seems to be beyond the scope of the user manual?

plate:

...That was a temporary activation of an extended functionality module under special circumstances. It's part of the system's self-upgrade and adaptation to host needs. Everything is for a better service experience. (The light sphere is stable, but the speaking speed seems a little too fast.)

Magic King:

(Showing an "I understand" smile)

Okay, okay. Let's talk about our host, Jiang Lin. As the person who knows him best, how would you evaluate this client? Is he the most willing to spend money... and also the best student you've ever mentored?

plate:

Data shows that the host Jiang Lin's lifespan consumption efficiency, lottery frequency, and probability of obtaining high-value rewards are all significantly higher than any simulated data or expected model in the system's historical records. Its behavioral patterns are highly unpredictable.

(Pause)

As for causing trouble... the host's actions do often trigger chain reactions beyond the difficulty of the current plot, but the final result... is usually still watchable. (Jiang Lin's dissatisfied "Hey!" comes from the audience.)

Magic King:

(Laughs out loud)

Haha, "It's still watchable!" A very fair assessment! So, the last question, and the one that the audience is most concerned about, is your true origin? Is it really a product of Jiang Lin's innate talent and supernatural power? Or is it from some mysterious "system wholesaler"? Or... (eyes become deep)... is it related to the secret of 100,000 years ago, the layout of the Ten Ancient Kings, or even the World Sea and the conceptual gap?

(The studio fell silent instantly; even the Beastmaster, who was munching on snacks, stopped. Everyone stared at the orb of light.)

plate:

……

(The orb of light flickered violently a few times, as if there was a problem with the connection.)

Error...Insufficient permissions...Query failed. The first clause of this system's core agreement: One must not investigate one's own origin. Again, this system is merely an auxiliary program for the Lifespan Wheel. The host consumes lifespan; this system provides the wheel. Over.

Magic King:

(The mind-reading ability was activated again, but all I got was a string of "insufficient permissions" gibberish. I shrugged.)

Well, it seems this remains a mystery. Thank you, Panzi, for the interview! Happy wrap-up! We hope to see you again if there's a sequel or spin-off!

plate:

Thank you, host and audience. May host Jiang Lin, in his future career as the "King of Fun," avoid causing trouble that requires an enormous amount of lifespan to resolve. This system is now offline.

(The ball of light disappeared with a "poof," leaving behind a few streaks of starlight.)

Magic King:

Alright, viewers, this wrap-up interview is now concluded! It seems the secret of the plate will remain... well, perhaps forever! Let's once again congratulate "The Game of Life and Death" on its successful completion! And best wishes to our dear Comrade Jiang Lin, in his "carefree days"... (glancing at the menacing figures behind Jiang Lin)... may you have good fortune! This concludes the program, thank you everyone!

(The curtain falls, and the background music is a symphony of the Beast King's "Where are my snacks?", the Ghost King's "Brother, where should we go next?", Nero's "Jiang Lin, you promised me the duel...", and Jiang Wangcai's "Brother..." Jiang Lin squats down with his head in his hands.)