Player 1

Chapter 22 Level 2(1)
I'm not cold about reality, but

It's the only place where I can eat without starving.

— Groucho Marx[84]
0017
Artemis: Are you there?

Parsifal: Mmm!Hi!I can't believe you took the initiative to secret me.

Artemis: ...it's better to close it.Actually, I shouldn't have chatted with you.

Parsifal: Why?I thought we were friends.

Artemis: You are a very nice person, but we are rivals, competing hunters, as I said last time.You know that too.

Parsifal: We don't need to talk about games.

Artemis: Everything has to do with it.

Parsifal: Hey, give it a try.I will come first.Hi Artemis!how are things?
Artemis: Very good, thank you for your concern, how about you?

Parsifal: Very good.Hey, why can we only chat by text?I can set up a chat room.

Artemis: I like that.

Parsifal: Why?
Artemis: As you may remember, I am a very talkative person.And when typing, I don't talk nonsense.

Parsifal: You are not talking nonsense, you are talking.

Artemis: Did you use the word "talkative"?

Parsifal: You can see what I type, can't you?
Artemis: You are right, but you are talking too much nonsense.

Parsifal: I'm serious.

Artemis: Oh, all right.How does it feel to occupy the No.1 scoreboard, Gaowan?Is it too cold at the heights?
Parsifal: I don't think it's so famous.

Artemis: Are you kidding me?The whole world is crazy about your name.You are a superstar.

Parsifal: Aren't you also famous?By the way, since when did you ever see an otaku who doesn't go out or take a shower become a superstar?
Artemis: So you also watched the funny clip we did on Saturday Night Live?

Parsifal: Yes.Why does everyone think I'm an unsocial nerd?
Artemis: Don't you?

Parsifal: No!Well, maybe it is.But at least I like cleanliness.

Artemis: At least they guessed your gender correctly.They also thought I was a man too.

Parsifal: Because most hunters are men, they cannot accept the idea that they are inferior to a woman.

Artemis: I know, male hegemony.

Parsifal: So you are indeed a woman?
Artemis: You should have figured it out, detective?
Parsifal: Well, yes.

Artemis: Really?

Parsifal: After analyzing all the information, I conclude that you are a woman.

Artemis: Why analyze these?
Parsifal: I don't want to find out I'm in love with a big guy who picks his feet.

Artemis: Do you like me?

Parsifal: You should have figured it out, detective?

Artemis: What if I were a weird old lady squatting in the basement?

Parsifal: I don't know.Do you really live in a basement?

Artemis: No.

Parsifal: Oh, then I might still like you.

Artemis: I guess you are a bastard who only cares about the flesh and doesn't care about responsibility.

Parsifal: Why do you think I'm a man?
Artemis: Hey, it's obviously good.I can feel the boyishness in you.

Parsifal: Boyish?What is that, the sentence structure I use is very masculine or something?
Artemis: Don't change the subject.You just said you like me?
Parsifal: I liked you before we met.After seeing the screenshots of your blog, I have been keeping an eye on it.

Artemis: But you don't know much about me, and you don't know much about my personality in reality.

Parsifal: This is an oasis where people reveal themselves unabashedly.

Artemis: I disagree with this statement. Everything on the Internet must be expressed through characters, so we can control our words and deeds.Oasis allows you to become whoever you want to be, which is one of the reasons why people are addicted.

Parsifal: So you're actually nothing like the man I saw in the grave that night?
Artemis: That's just my side, the side I want you to see.

Parsifal: Well, I like that aspect.I'd love it too if you showed me the other sides.

Artemis: Next, I guess you want to exchange real photos?

Parsifal: I'm not that casual, and I will never show you my photo.

Artemis: Why?You don't look good?

Parsifal: A poisonous tongue girl.

Artemis: Answer me, are you ugly?
Parsifal: That's how it should be, yes.

Artemis: Why?
Parsifal: No little girl has ever approached me.

Artemis: I won't despise you for being ugly.

Parsifal: Of course, that's because you're a sleazy guy who likes to chat with young people online.

Artemis: So you are a young boy?

Parsifal: Relatively young.

Artemis: With whom?

Parsifal: Compared with an uncle in his 50s like you, your mother let you live in the basement?

Artemis: Do you really think so?

Parsifal: If so, I won't chat with you.

Artemis: Then what do you think I look like?
Parsifal: Like your character, of course you have to remove all decorations.

Artemis: Are you crazy?What is the number one rule of online dating?No one looks like his/her character.

Parsifal: Do we want online dating? <fingers crossed>
Artemis: No way, my friend, I'm so sorry.

Parsifal: Why not?
Artemis: No time, Dr. Jones[85], I don't want Internet porn to take up all my free time, and I'm still looking for the Emerald Key.Seriously, finding the Emerald Key is what I should be doing right now.

Parsifal: Each other.But it's also fun talking to you.

Artemis: What about you?

Parsifal: What about me?
Artemis: Do you have time for online dating?

Parsifal: I have time for you.

Artemis: Enough.

Parsifal: Enough is enough.

Artemis: Do you have a job?Still reading?
Parsifal: Graduation next week.

Artemis: How can you say everything, I might be a spy of the "Sixth Man"!
Parsifal: They already did it anyway, remember?They blew up my aunt's house, well, it was just a prefab, but it blew up.

Artemis: Remember, I'm still scared.You must not be feeling well.

Parsifal: I'm waiting for revenge, it must be sweet.

Artemis: Bon Appetite, what do you do when you're not looking for easter eggs?

Parsifal: If you don't answer my questions, I refuse to answer yours.

Artemis: Well, equivalent exchange, Dr. Lecter[86].Now you come to ask me questions.

Parsifal: Are you working?Still reading?
Artemis: University.But I might be lying to you.

Parsifal: Learn what?

Artemis: Wait, it's my turn, what do you do when you're not looking for easter eggs?

Parsifal: Nothing, easter eggs are everything to me, I want to study all this shit.

Artemis: Me too.

Parsifal: Really?Then I will always pay attention to the scoreboard.Of course, that's all.

Artemis: It's best to be careful, maybe one day I will overtake you, Gao Wan.

Parsifal: What did you study in college?

Artemis: Poetry and Creation.

Parsifal: No wonder blogging is so good.

Artemis: Thank you for your appreciation.How old are you?
Parsifal: Eighteen last month.How about you?
Artemis: Don't you think what we're talking about now is too private?
Parsifal: Not at all.

Artemis: Nineteen.If you will believe it.

Parsifal: Ah, sister, this name is very touching.

Artemis: First of all, you have to confirm that I am a woman...

Parsifal: Aren't you a woman?
Artemis: It's not your turn yet.

Parsifal: All right.

Artemis: How much do you know about Edge?

Parsifal: He was my best friend for five years.Now it's your turn to answer.are you a womanI'm talking about female humans who haven't had any sex reassignment surgery.

Artemis: You are really cautious, Parsifal.

Parsifal: Answer the question.

Artemis: Yes, and always has been, the female superlative primate.Have you ever seen Edge in real life?

Parsifal: No.Do you have siblings?

Artemis: None.How about you?
Parsifal: No.Where are your parents?
Artemis: Both passed away because of the flu.I was brought up by my grandparents.Where are your parents?
Parsifal: Both died too.

Artemis: It sucks without your parents around, doesn't it?

Parsifal: Yes, but I'm not the worst.

Artemis: That's what I told myself too.Uh... are you on the same team as Edge?
Parsifal: Oh, now we...

Artemis: Huh?Yes or no?
Parsifal: No, he also asked me if you and I were on the same team, you know, because you followed me through the first door.

Artemis: Speaking of which—why did you give me a hint?The one who switched sides with the Lich?
Parsifal: I just wanted to give you a hand.

Artemis: Well, you'd better take it easy, because I'll be the winner.You realize this, right?
Parsifal: Yes, yes, we'll see.

Artemis: You almost forgot that we were asking and answering each other. I seem to be five questions short of you.

Parsifal: Well, what color is your hair?
Artemis: Violet.

Parsifal: What about the eyes?

Artemis: Blue.

Parsifal: Same as your character, huh?Is it the same for the face and body?

Artemis: Just as you thought.

Parsifal: All right.What is your favorite movie?

Artemis: My preferences change often.Now, it would probably be The Highlander.

Parsifal: Good taste, miss.

Artemis: I know.And one more thing I never tell anyone - mohawks are actually super sexy.

Parsifal: I'm going to shave my head now and start wearing leather tights.

Artemis: Remember to post photos.Well, what I've said above is all nonsense, I'm going down, Romeo.I can also ask you one last question before I have to catch up on sleep.

Parsifal: When will we talk again?
Artemis: After finding the easter egg.

Parsifal: That could take years.

Artemis: Then several years.

Parsifal: At least maintain email contact?
Artemis: Not a good idea.

Parsifal: You can't stop me from sending emails.

Artemis: Actually, I can blacklist you.

Parsifal: You wouldn't do that, would you?
Artemis: Unless forced to.

Parsifal: So cruel, don't be so cruel.

Artemis: Good night, Parsifal.

Parsifal: Well, Artemis, have a good dream.

聊天结束。2045年2月27日—02：51：38 OST
I emailed her constantly, very modestly at first, only once a week.To my surprise, she replied to every letter, although there was always only one sentence: I am very busy.But eventually her reply got longer and we chatted slowly.Then, the content of the emails became more personal and became a daily conversation.Whenever her mail arrives, I drop what I'm doing and run to read it.

Soon, it became a daily meeting in a private chat room.We played chess, watched movies, listened to music, and talked nonsense for hours, talking about everything.Being with her is intoxicating.We seemed to hit it off with everything, we shared common interests and were driven by the same goals.She understands all my jokes.She made me laugh out loud, and she even made me change my view of the world in meditation.I've never been so connected to anyone, not even Edge.

I no longer cared if we were rivals, and she seemed to do the same.We started sharing details from our research, telling each other what movies and books we had been watching recently, and even exchanging thoughts and understandings of passages from yearbooks.I have no way to guard against her.Even though a small voice in my heart told me that everything Artemis was doing might be misleading me, I ignored it.I believe her, love needs no reason.

I graduated in early June, but I didn't attend the graduation ceremony.After escaping from the stacked building, I had no chance to go to school. The Sixth Man thinks I'm dead, and I don't want to be noticed at this time.Missing the last week is no big deal, I have enough oasis points to manage everything.The school emailed me an electronic certificate, and the paper copy was sent to the building, but since that place has been bombed, I don't know where it will go.

After graduation, I was ready to devote myself to the game, but Artemis was on my mind the most.

I spent time with my online girlfriend while finding time to level up my character.The hunter calls the upgrade "climbing the peak of 99", because the full level of "Oasis" is 99.Artemis and Edge are also leveling up, and I'm desperate to catch up to them.In fact, it didn't take much time to catch up with them. After all, I have enough money now, so I can run around in the oasis and complete every task I can take.Sometimes, I can even go up to five or six levels in one day, and now, I am a fighter and a mage.As the level continues to rise, I also enhance my combat effectiveness by upgrading weapons, equipment, and vehicles.

Artemis and I teamed up on several missions, and on Gudak, we completed the entire Goonies series in one day.Artie [87] played Martha Plimpton's character Steve, and I played Sean Austin's Mickey.The whole mission was just too much fun.

Of course, I didn't forget the business.Every day, I look at the quatrain at least once and try to decipher it.

The captain hides the emerald key
it is stored in the forgotten place
only after collecting trophies

Only then can we blow the whistle on the other side

For a while, I thought that the whistle on the fourth line might refer to the Japanese Tokusei TV series in the late 60s, which was translated into English and broadcast in the United States in the 80s and 52s.The movie is called Cosmic Giants, and it's about a family of shapeshifting robots in a volcano fighting a vicious alien monster named Rodak.Halliday mentioned it a few times in the yearbook, saying it was one of his childhood favorites.One of the protagonists of the series is a boy named Miko who blows a whistle to call for help from giants.There are a total of [-] episodes in the film, I watched all of them without landing, and took thick notes.But after thinking about it for a while, I found that I still didn't understand the meaning of the quatrain.This is another dead end.Halliday must have meant something else by the whistle.

One Saturday morning, I finally had a breakthrough.While watching an episode of 80s nacho commercials, a question popped into my mind, why don’t nacho producers continue to put toy giveaways in boxes?In my view, this is a tragedy, another sign of a civilization that has taken a turn for the worse.While I was still thinking about it, an ad for Captain Kappa's Corn Flakes popped up, and that's when I discovered the connection between the first and fourth lines of the poem.

Halliday's poem alludes to John Draper, the ancestor of hackers in the 70s, who is also known as "Captain Kacha".Draper was among the first to exploit the loophole to steal phone calls.He discovered that the 2600-hertz sound waves from the whistle sent by Captain Kacha's cornflakes can just trick the telephone switchboard, making the system think that the call is disconnected and stop billing the phone.

The captain hides the Emerald Key.

It must be so. The "captain" is Captain Kacha, and the "whistle" is the famous plastic toy whistle.

(End of this chapter)