I'm Trapped in the Block

This Hunter was a well-known eccentric in Oasis City.

The title on his nameplate was "Director."

The Director carried his camera everywhere and had a habit of pointing it intently at people.

This time, he walked right into the Wishing Spring, handheld camera raised.

The Little Elf popped out from a nearby stream of water, curiously eyeing the camera in the Director’s hands.

"My superior told me to record the wishing process." The Director, noticing the Little Elf staring at his camera, explained earnestly.

"I know." The Little Elf not only didn’t object but even leaned in toward the lens. "Am I in the shot? Do I look cute right now?"

The Director glanced at his camera and nodded.

"Great, let’s begin then!"

"Action!"

The Little Elf shouted the word itself, then its demeanor suddenly shifted, putting on a serious expression. "What is it that you desire most?"

It recited its lines with perfect enunciation, its speech suddenly much more formal, but this just made it seem incredibly pretentious.

"Relax a little. Just act natural," the Director couldn’t help but critique, looking at the Little Elf’s awkward performance.

Meanwhile, his wish appeared on the surface of the golden water nearby.

He had always wanted to become a true documentary filmmaker, to capture the arduous adventures of Hunters in the Abyss and reveal its true terror and danger to the people outside.

This was not only to commemorate the heroes who explored the Abyss but also to warn all those who underestimated it...

"Don’t be so theatrical. Just pretend my camera isn’t here," the Director said to the Little Elf.

The Little Elf nodded repeatedly and, following the Director’s instructions, adjusted its "performance."

"What is it that you desire most?"

"And don’t lie."

That was much more natural. The Director nodded in satisfaction.

"I want to be a documentary filmmaker for the Abyss, to record its dangers and wonders," he replied calmly.

"Alright! I will grant your wish," the Little Elf said with a smile.

It thrust its hands forward and grabbed, and a massive professional camera appeared in its small, delicate hands. It floated in the air, struggling to hold the camera up as it wobbled.

"There! This is a relic camera. As long as you point it at someone, it can film all of that person’s experiences within the Abyss in the third person."

"The price is that you have to feed it film. Any type will do. Just one roll per use."

"Are you satisfied?"

The Director looked at the huge professional camera and shook his head. "Not really. This thing is inconvenient to carry. You know how dangerous the Abyss is, right? I wouldn’t even be able to run with this."

"That does seem to be the case. It’s really hard to hold up," the Little Elf agreed.

It lifted the camera and gave it a flick, and it instantly transformed into a small, compact handheld camera.

The Little Elf twirled the handheld camera in its palm a few times. "This is much easier. Here, see if this is more suitable."

The Director took the camera, fiddled with it for a moment, and said admiringly, "This is pretty good. It’s just that film is a bit hard to find in the Abyss. Could you change the price? It’s fine if you can’t, though."

"Of course I can! I’ll make sure you’re satisfied!" The Little Elf didn’t mind the Director’s request at all. Instead, it asked, "What kind of price do you want? An easier one? How about I change the price to just pouring a little sand on it?"

"There’s plenty of sand on the 2nd Floor of the Abyss. You should be able to find some easily," the Little Elf said excitedly, seeming quite pleased with its own suggestion.

The Director thought for a moment, then raised another question. "But what if I go to the third floor?"

"Oh, right. I forgot. You need to record the entire Abyss," the Little Elf said, scratching its head as it started thinking again.

But the Little Elf racked its brain for a long time and couldn’t think of a suitable price.

"Forget it. I’ll just change the price to ’tap the camera three times with your hand before each use.’ That should be fine."

The Director nodded. "That’s very convenient. But isn’t that a little too simple?"

"Whatever. I’m the one who sets the rules, anyway," the Little Elf said dismissively. "Are you satisfied now?"

"Very satisfied," the Director replied earnestly, holding the camera.

’He couldn’t possibly be more satisfied.’

"Great! If you’re satisfied, then I’ll send you out," the Little Elf said happily, flitting back and forth in front of the lens.

But the Director stopped it. "Don’t send me out just yet. I’d like to ask you a few questions for an interview, if that’s okay."

Hearing this completely outrageous request, the Little Elf surprisingly agreed, and with great excitement. "Of course you can! Ask away!"

The Director was a little surprised that the Little Elf had accepted his request so easily, but he proceeded with his questions in an orderly fashion:

"Why do you grant humans’ wishes?"

"Because I like humans."

"Are there any negative consequences to making a wish?"

"No, unless you lie."

"What is the price for making a wish with you?"

"You forget your original wish."

’Forget their wish?’

Hearing this, the Director was very confused and pressed further, "My camera has recorded my entire wish. I’ll remember it again as soon as I see the footage outside. What’s the point of a price like that?"

The Little Elf shrugged nonchalantly. "If you remember, you remember. The price has already been paid. It’s none of my business if you remember it afterward."

It really didn’t care at all.

After asking a few more simple questions, the Director said to the Little Elf, "Thank you. The interview is over. You can send me out now."

"Okay," the Little Elf nodded.

A swirl of water, and when the picture stabilized again, he was outside the Wishing Spring.

The content on the screen ended there.

After the footage finished playing, the conference room was silent.

It wasn’t just the Little Elf; even the Director, a human, had behaved in a somewhat unexpected manner.

"It’s because of the Director’s recording that we’ve learned so much more about the Wishing Spring. We’ve also examined that camera relic, and its function is exactly as the Little Elf described," the Researcher explained.

"We’ve discovered that the Little Elf has a very good attitude toward people who are pure of thought, naive, have no ill intent, and don’t lie. It will do its best to grant their wishes and is very patient."

Hearing the Researcher’s words, the deep furrows in the elder’s brow relaxed slightly. "We still need to put its opening on the agenda. Oasis City’s population is growing, and relics are limited. We must make full use of all our resources."

However, the middle-aged Noncommissioned Officer at his side held firm to his opinion. "I still advise against opening it. A wishing-type relic must be used with extreme caution. It’s better not to use it at all than to bear unknown risks."

"What are your thoughts?" The elder turned his gaze to the Researcher.

At this, the middle-aged Noncommissioned Officer also looked at the Researcher, his stern gaze fixed intently on him.

Everyone else present also turned to look at the Researcher.

For a moment, the hand he was using to hold the electronic tablet actually began to tremble.

At that moment, he was the only one standing in the conference room; everyone else was seated. He saw all sorts of meanings in their gazes.

Some were curious.

Some were encouraging.

And some were warnings.

Taking a deep breath, the Researcher finally made up his mind and stated his opinion.

His voice trembled slightly.

"Open it, but only partially."

"What do you mean by ’partially open’?"

"Children get priority."