Weird Rules: Start by playing God in Bikini Bottom!

Chapter 20 The Crying SpongeBob

The chat in the Dragon Kingdom's live stream exploded again:

"He paid the difference with his own money?!"

"Why? Doesn't this violate the 'Guardian Coins' rules?"

"The rules only mention protecting the Crab Boss's gold coins, they didn't say you can't spend your own money, right? Jiang Xiu found a loophole!"

"The key point is the reaction of those two old people! They gave them a conch shell!"

"Special item! Jiang Xiu has obtained another crucial item!"

"Other contestants who rigidly adhered to the rules got away with it but also gained nothing, while Jiang Xiu's flexibility and adaptability actually brought him benefits!"

"He knows these two old men too well! He knows how to deal with them!"

International bullet comments and research institutes in various countries present a completely different picture:

"The Chinese player has made another unconventional choice! And he's received a reward!"

"Can the rules be interpreted so flexibly? Does 'protecting coins' not include your own money?"

"The key is the feedback from those two NPCs! They acknowledged this 'favor'!"

"That conch shell... it sounds very useful! Quickly analyze its possible applications!"

"Immediately notify our players! If they haven't delivered this order yet, they can try imitating the Dragon Kingdom! Use their own money to cover the small difference in price and build goodwill!"

However, not all surviving players have yet to complete this order, and not all country notifications arrive in time to persuade players to take the risk.

With his unique "intelligence" and "character understanding", Jiang Xiu once again accumulated potential advantages for himself in what seemed like an ordinary order.

The insulated box is finally empty.

After delivering the last order, Jiang Xiu, carrying an empty insulated box and feeling exhausted, slowly returned to the Krusty Krab.

The restaurant was still filled with that eerie smell of fried food mixed with the stillness of the sea, and the Christmas decorations shimmered ominously in the dim light.

The crab owner was pacing anxiously near the cashier, his pincers clattering against the table.

"Squidward! You're finally back!"

As soon as the crab owner saw him, he rushed over. His bulging eyes swept over the empty incubator, showing slight satisfaction, but it was quickly replaced by greater anxiety.

Where's SpongeBob?

"Why hasn't that blockhead come back yet?"

"There probably aren't that many orders from the East District!"

"Is he busy with his 'Christmas art' somewhere again, wasting his time?"

"Time is money! Money is slipping away!"

Jiang Xiu put the insulated box on the ground and replied irritably.

"How would I know? Maybe he was so moved by his own 'Merry Christmas' song that he held a solo concert somewhere."

"Or they'll invent some kind of 'festival sauce' that will turn the whole street yellow."

He was criticizing mercilessly, but deep down he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

Given SpongeBob's overly responsible personality, even if he was delayed on the way, he should have returned by now.

In the silent Bikini Bottom, any unusual occurrence could signify danger.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

The crab owner waved his pincers.

"Go find him! Now! Immediately!"

"If he messes up the delivery, or if anything happens that affects my business... you two can forget about your salaries! Go now!"

"It's me again?"

Jiang Xiu rolled his eyes, his face full of displeasure that "trouble always falls on my head".

"What does it matter to me if that yellow sponge is lost? My artistic appreciation still needs time to develop..."

But seeing the Krabs owner's almost fiery gaze, and considering that SpongeBob might really be in trouble, he reluctantly straightened up.

"Ugh, I know, I know, really, we can't even have a quiet time to leave work on Christmas."

He complained, but his movements were not slow. He pushed open the door again and walked into the street shrouded in gray fog and eerie Christmas decorations.

Knowing that SpongeBob was in charge of the East District, he followed the path he remembered to the East District.

The eastern part of Bikini Bottom appeared more dilapidated and quiet, and the gray fog seemed thicker.

Some houses had Christmas stockings hanging crookedly at their doors, empty inside, like hungry mouths.

As Jiang Xiu walked, he cautiously observed his surroundings while listening intently for SpongeBob's signature sound, which might be distorted in this context.

Finally, in front of a house that looked exceptionally tall, with its doors and windows tightly shut and its exterior walls covered in dark vines, he saw the yellow figure.

SpongeBob wasn't jumping around happily, nor was he humming a song.

He stood several meters away from the house gate, carrying his delivery box, head down, hands nervously clasped together, body trembling slightly.

His usually overly cheerful eyes were now filled with obvious fear and hesitation, and even a little...wet.

"SpongeBob SquarePants?"

Jiang Xiu stepped forward and frowned.

"What are you standing there for? The crab boss is practically frying himself in frustration. This order still hasn't been delivered?"

SpongeBob looked up abruptly and saw Squidward. He felt as if he had seen a savior, but also as if he was even more ashamed.

He sniffed, his voice unusually choked with emotion and hesitation.

"Octopus Brother...is this the place...I'm too scared to go..."

"You don't dare?" Jiang Xiu looked at the gloomy house, then at the frightened SpongeBob, and guessed what was going on.

In his "memory," Bikini Bottom does indeed have some residents with strange tempers who like to make things difficult for others, and SpongeBob's overly innocent and enthusiastic personality sometimes makes him an easy target for bullying.

"Last time...last time I delivered food,"

SpongeBob whispered, his body shaking even more violently.

"It's Mr. Baker from this family."

"He clearly ordered a Krabby Patty, but he insisted I brought the wrong one, saying he wanted a 'Super Mega Krabby Patty,' and that my service wasn't 'super' enough..."

"He...he cursed at me for a long time, his voice was so loud, and he even said he would complain to the crab owner and deduct my wages...I explained for a long time, and in the end he took the hamburger without paying and slammed the door in my face..."

The memories intensified his fear.

"This time...this time it's another order from him...I...I'm afraid he'll..."

Seeing SpongeBob, who is usually carefree and overly energetic, so frightened, Jiang Xiu's impatience was replaced by a complex emotion—a little annoyed, a little helpless with "I knew it," and a little... unable to stand it.

He knew that if SpongeBob went over there like that, it would not only fail to deliver the food, but it would also have a worse impact on his mental state. In this strange place, who knew what consequences it would cause?

"Just for this?" Jiang Xiu said in a slightly sarcastic but softer tone.

"That old Baker? I remember him, the notoriously picky old man from Bikini Bottom. You're scared of him? Where's the courage you usually have to cook those horrible dishes in front of me and torture my ears with noise?"

SpongeBob lowered his head and didn't say anything.

Jiang Xiu sighed and patted SpongeBob SquarePants:

"Listen, you blockhead. Hiding here won't solve anything."

"The crab boss is still waiting, and... never mind."

He paused, looked at SpongeBob, and spoke in a tone that was hardly encouraging.

"You still have to deliver things. Just deliver them normally. Listen to what he says, give him the hamburger, take the money, and leave. Don't argue with him, and don't be stupid enough to agree to everything. Just pretend... just pretend he's blowing a really awful conch shell."

"But... Squidward..."