10% Stake
Afternoon, outside the gate of Jiangning University Branch Campus.
Lu Xiaobei, Zhao Yihang, and I looked solemnly at this top university in Jiangning Province, the only 985 university in the province. Wow... Even a branch campus exudes a breathtaking aura of dominance.
In terms of location, the Jiangning University Branch Campus stands out, facing a whole university town composed of second-tier universities and junior colleges. Therefore, the street at the north gate of Jiangning University is the most prosperous and popular student commercial street in the area!
The three of them walked back and forth several times, but there were no prime locations for rent, only a few small storefronts that were struggling to stay afloat. However, the storefronts were too small; they might be enough to open a milk tea shop or a bookstore, but far from sufficient for an internet cafe, let alone a large chain like Feiyang Internet Cafe.
Finally, my gaze fell on the internet cafe that was less than 30 meters away from the north gate of Jiangning University.
Huanyu Internet Cafe sounds like a super old-school internet cafe. The outside is covered with posters for games like Legend of Mir, MU Online, and World of Warcraft. There's also an advertisement for "Buy 100 hours, get 20 free hours".
"Xiao Bei."
I looked at the two people behind me and said, "Take off your name tags, let's go in and see what's going on."
"Um."
So the three of them went into the internet cafe. It was 2 p. m., which should have been the time when students finished lunch and skipped class to play games online. However, most of the machines were empty, and the place was filled with a thick smell of smoke. The veteran players of Legend of Mir were smoking and shouting, which was very rude of them.
"Hello, would you like to use the internet?" The internet cafe manager was a rather shy-looking young girl.
"Um."
I nodded. "Xiao Bei, Hangzi, shall I set up two machines for you?"
OK.
Lu Xiaobei nodded and smiled, and he and Zhao Yihang each turned on a computer and logged into their World of Warcraft accounts to do quests.
I looked at the young girl, who was leaning against the counter like a good-for-nothing hoodlum, and chuckled, "Beautiful lady, there aren't many people using the internet here..."
"Yes, there might be more in the evening."
How's business overall?
"So-so."
Network pipe. "You... you don't go online?"
"No."
I smiled and asked, "Is the boss here?"
"Here I am."
The young girl pointed to a chubby, middle-aged man in the distance who was smoking and playing video games. She said, "That's our boss. Is there anything I can do for you? I'll call him for you."
"No need, I'll go find him myself."
"All right."
So I went over, pulled up a chair and sat down next to the boss, then took out my pack of Liqun cigarettes, unusually lit one, and watched him play a game called Legend of Mir while puffing out smoke.
"The Netherfire Curse is indeed much worse in PvP. Its accuracy is too low, and sometimes it's even less effective than the Soul Talisman. It looks scary, but in reality, it's just like chasing someone around and setting off firecrackers."
"Holy crap..."
The shopkeeper turned to me and laughed, "Brother, you play Legend of Mir too?"
"Yeah, I've played it a little before."
I offered him a cigarette and chuckled, "These days, almost everyone in internet cafes World of Warcraft; it's hard to see anyone playing Legend of Mir anymore."
"That's true..."
The boss sighed a little, then continued to focus on the game.
"Boss, I don't see much business here..."
"Of course."
He took the Liqun I handed him and said, "The internet cafe business is getting harder and harder these days. The competition is too fierce. Although I have a lot of machines here, they are all relatively old machines, and they can't even run World of Warcraft properly. Damn it... Ever since that game came out, my business has plummeted. In addition, new internet cafes like Xinxin Internet Cafe and Taige Internet Cafe have opened on this street, which have drawn away all the customers. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to stay afloat. I even suspect that I might start losing money next month."
"Business is indeed not very good."
I looked around the internet cafe and asked, "Boss, how many computers do you have here in total?"
"220 units."
The shop owner said, "160 units downstairs, 80 units upstairs."
"Oh... the upstairs space is so much smaller than the downstairs space?"
"No, there are two rooms upstairs where people live."
"I see..."
I took a deep breath and started to plan. The location of this internet cafe was definitely top-tier, comparable to the Flagship Store next to Huaining University. The space should also be sufficient. With some renovations to the upstairs rooms, it would be no problem to accommodate over 300 machines in total, and we could also set up a milk tea bar, etc.
"Brother..."
The shop owner suddenly glanced at me and said, "You're dressed so smartly, you don't look like someone who's here to surf the internet. I wonder what you...?"
"Haha, I also own an internet cafe."
I smiled and said, "I wonder if you have any plans to sell this internet cafe?"
"Transfer?"
He immediately shook his head and said, "I'm not a very ambitious person. After graduating from university, all I liked was playing games. I had no interest in anything else, so I opened this internet cafe. You could say this internet cafe is my life. If I had to sell it, it would be worse than death for me."
"But I've looked at your machines, and they all need to be upgraded, otherwise they won't be competitive at all. With the launch of World of Warcraft, more and more 3D games will flood the market, and your configuration simply won't attract any players."
I smiled slightly, "Brother, do you have the funds to upgrade your computer's specs?"
"I..."
He hesitated.
"Actually, it doesn't necessarily have to be transferred."
I said, "We can do it another way. You can take your old computer out for recycling and transfer the rental agreement to us. We'll have a partnership, and I can give you a share of the business. That way, you'll still be one of the owners of this internet cafe."
"No..."
He frowned. "Brother, who exactly are you?"
I immediately pulled out my business card. "My name is Ding Han, the operations manager of Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe."
"What?!"
The boss was shocked. "You're Ding Han, the one who organized WHL?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Holy crap..."
The boss stared at me in astonishment, then struggled with his thoughts for several minutes before finally saying, "I can consider the cooperation method you suggested, but if I sell all my old computers and transfer the rental agreement, how many shares will you give me?"
"This needs to be evaluated later."
I smiled faintly, "The internet cafe will definitely be named Feiyang Internet Cafe, and the operating rights are with us. As for you, brother... you'll be one of the owners of this internet cafe. You can continue playing Legend of Mir here and also get a share of the profits without lifting a finger. I think you should consider this."
"Good!"
The boss nodded. "If you really say that, then I'm truly determined to work for you!"
Sure enough, most gamers are straightforward and easy to talk to!
"Xiao Bei, come over and meet our future business partner."
At my call, Lu Xiaobei immediately came over and said with a smile, "Hello, I'm Lu Xiaobei, the owner of Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe."
She's a real big boss, and a big star too.
The owner of Huanyu Internet Cafe was flattered and said, "Hello, Mr. Lu... My name is Zhou Huanyu, people who know me call me Old Zhou, or Brother Yu."
"Xiao Bei, Old Zhou has confirmed his cooperation with us."
I mentioned Zhou Huanyu's suggestion to sell the machinery and use the rental agreement as investment capital.
"Um."
Lu Xiaobei asked, "Ding Han, how much do you estimate Old Zhou's machines can sell for?"
"Used computers aren't worth much now. 220 machines together are probably worth less than 200,000 yuan. Old Zhou, how many rental contracts do you still have? Roughly how much are they worth?"
"There are still five years left, which translates to an estimated 400,000."
"By the way, your room upstairs also needs to be cleared out. We're planning to expand our operations to 300 machines. What do you think?"
"Can!"
Zhou Huanyu readily agreed, "I can rent a new place in the neighborhood behind here. Anyway, I don't have a wife, so I only need to worry about myself."
"In that case..."
Lu Xiaobei said, "I plan to invest around 8 million RMB in this branch at Jiangning University. You, Old Zhou, have contributed 600,000 RMB. But since you are an original shareholder, I'm willing to give you more shares, allowing you to own 10% of the branch. What do you think?"
"10%..."
Zhou Huanyu pondered for a moment, seemingly feeling it was a bit too little.
Indeed, he was originally the owner of Huanyu Internet Cafe, and suddenly he only had a 10% stake. It would definitely take time for him to process this psychological gap.
"Old Zhou, you can try a different approach."
I put my arm around his shoulder and said, "You're running Huanyu Internet Cafe, but it'll soon be losing money. You're basically losing money every month. And computer configurations are being updated so quickly these days, your old computer will become less and less valuable. But it's different with Feiyang Internet Cafe. We're guaranteed to make a profit. If I were you, I wouldn't hesitate to sell Huanyu Internet Cafe's business license. Then I could live off the dividends every year, and spend my days playing Legend of Mir, drinking milk tea, and watching the girls from Jiangning University play Audition Online. I can't imagine anything happier than that."
"Holy crap..."
Zhou Huanyu grinned and said, "Ding Han, stop fooling me, I understand. 10% it is. From now on, I'll work for you guys!"
OK!
Lu Xiaobei and I exchanged a smile. Finally, the locations for both branches have been finalized!
In the evening, Jijiwa Wa celebrated their victory.
Not only Lu Xiaobei and me, but Zhao Yihang and Chen Xiaoman were also there.
"They finalized the locations for two branches in just one day, that's impressive..."
Chen Xiaoman a beaming smile, "Xiao Bei, Ding Han, thank you for your hard work. Come, let me toast you!"
The four glasses of juice clinked together.
"What's next? Purchasing equipment, decorating, and designing the storefront for the new shop—it's a huge workload. We can't possibly handle it all with just a few of us. Xiao Bei, what are your plans?" Chen Xiaoman asked.
"I'm going back to BH City tomorrow."
Lu Xiaobei said, "I'll transfer some spare staff from Old Lu's side to help. The rest of us will focus our energy on the Flagship Store, and we can keep an eye on the two branches."
"That's good!"
I was busy until very late. When I returned to my lodgings, I chatted with Lin Qingying for a few minutes before going to sleep.
It's midnight.
Suddenly, a bell rang in my ears--
[Attention all players! The Jiangning Province Region Task "The Latent Crisis, the Eternal Frost Land!" (SS-class Main Quest) will officially begin in 12 hours! North of the Great Wall Watch, a crisis is brewing beneath the vast expanse of ice. The demons that have lain dormant for many years are about to awaken, and the fifth-tier demon Frost Charm, lurking in the Eternal Frost Land is about to enter its breeding season. Please head to the Great Wall Watch immediately and nip this deadly crisis in the bud!]
Finally, after a period of silence, players in Jiangning Province are once again greeted with a Region Task, and it's an SS-rank Region Task at that! The final reward for such a mission is bound to be quite substantial, so don't miss it!
In an instant, the game team chat channel became lively.
Wants to Tell a Story: "Brothers and sisters, we have a job to do!"
Cai Cai: "Hahahaha, you're really fucking enthusiastic about stories..."
Wants to Tell a Story: "Haha, it's just that my equipment was too bad, and I wanted to join everyone else and enjoy the good life as soon as possible..."
Ruolin: "What about the rest?"
Kou Mei, Huo Bingzhi Ri, Fey Courtier: "Present!"
Fatty: "I'm here too, just finished working..."
Cai Cai: "Tell me in detail after you're done!"
Fatty: "..."
I coughed and said, "SS-rank mission is not to be missed, so first... does everyone still have their Resurrection Sacred Canon? Let's confirm. Only those with the Resurrection Sacred Canon can go; those without should stay put."
"Yes, we have them all!"
Everyone posted pictures of their Resurrection Sacred Canon in the channel, as if they were showing off. In fact, this scene was quite explosive. In Star Abyss, teams like ours where everyone has a Resurrection Sacred Canon are very rare. Guilds like Crimson Firmament Alliance and Ember Domain have players who are top talents who possess the Resurrection Sacred Canon.
I opened the large map, switched to the Northern Region, and said, "There are no Teleportation Array in the Eternal Frost Land, so we need to get there a little earlier. How about this, we'll meet at the Player Black Market at 10:00 AM tomorrow, and then we'll figure out how to get there."
OK!
After agreeing on the plan, they all went to sleep.
The next morning, at the breakfast stall downstairs.
Lin Qingying and I sat facing each other, eating breakfast of steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and Hulatang.
The morning light shone on her beautiful hair and profile, making her breathtakingly beautiful, which captivated me.
"Why are you staring at me?" Lin Qingying suddenly asked.
"Because it looks good."
"Oh?"
She couldn't help but smile, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Um."
I nodded and laughed, "Another damn business trip!"
"..."
Lin Qingying said helplessly, "Has something happened outside again?"
"Yes, there's been a minor problem in the Northern Region, but don't worry, I have a trump card. There will be absolutely no problems, and the probability of my safe return is 100%!"
"That's good."
She smiled and continued eating.
"Oh, Manager Lin ~~~"
Just then, the fat man's voice came from behind, and Shen Yue was affectionately holding his arm beside him.
"Hello Manager Lin."
Shen Yue is now also an employee of Yuening, and she nodded with a very polite smile.
Good morning everyone!
Lin Qingying said, "Shall we sit down and have something to eat together?"
"Okay!"
Fatty brought Shen Yue to share a table with us. After we finished eating, Lin Qingying and Shen Yue drove off to Yue Ning Group. Fatty and I stood in the sunlight and watched the two cars drive away one after the other.
"Go straight to the Player Black Market? It seems a bit early now," the fat man said.
"I'm going to the internet cafe first, do you want to come along?"
"Sure!"
So the two hailed a taxi and headed to Feiyang Internet Cafe.
Early in the morning, Chen Xiaoman and Zhao Yihang were busy, and there was a pink suitcase next to the bar, which seemed to belong to Lu Xiaobei. Soon, she was seen coming down from upstairs.
"Xiao Bei, what time is your flight?" I asked.
"Just a little while longer."
Lu Xiaobei tilted his head and glanced at the fat man, asking, "Why is Yang here too?"
"Oh, I'm just here to make a quick buck. Just treat me like a random passerby," the fat man said, seizing the opportunity.
Lu Xiaobei immediately laughed, "I've always treated you like a background character. After all, compared to protagonists like us, your appearance isn't that important."
Hahaha~~~
The fat man laughed loudly, pointed at Zhao Yihang's nose, and said, "Hangzi is even less of a nobody than me, so I won't say anything more about him."
Zhao Yihang rubbed his nose. "Damn it, you're spouting insults first thing in the morning..."
"Xiao Bei, come here, I have something to tell you."
"Oh!"
Lu Xiaobei walked over, and I turned around and led her to the outer wall of the internet cafe, basking in the warm sunlight, and asked, "How many people did you borrow from your dad's company to handle the two new stores?"
"Not many, seven or eight, I guess."
Lu Xiaobei took out his phone and said, "I'm sending you a contact. He's the main person in charge. If there's anything wrong with the two branches, you can give him direct orders."
She sent me a WeChat named Zhou Zhenyuan. His profile picture showed him wearing a suit and tie, looking like a real estate salesman.
"Ding Han, there's also this."
She took a contract out of her bag and gave it to me.
"What the heck?"
"Employment contract."
Lu Xiaobei said, "I have decided to formally hire you as the general manager of Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe Huaining Branch, with a monthly salary of 40,000 yuan. When I am not here, the Flagship Store and the two branches will be under your management."
"Holy crap..."
I exclaimed in surprise, "The salary you're offering me is much higher than Hangzi's!"
"Salaries are all fake."
Lu Xiaobei laughed and said, "After all, your position at Feiyang Internet Cafe is far more than just that of a manager; you're the one who breathed life into it."
As she spoke, her youthful radiance shining in the sunlight, she said, "By the way, you said you had something to tell me, what is it?"
"That..."
I snapped out of my shock at being called the "General Manager of Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe Huaining Branch" and said seriously, "There's something I want you to do, and you must treat it as a very important matter!"
"You say."
"When you go back to BH City this time, you need to go to the Administration for Industry and Commerce and register a new trademark, 'Feiyang Chain Esports Hotel,' from the Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe trademark. Then, make this trademark independent and keep it in your own hands."
"Ah?"
Lu Xiaobei's mouth opened slightly. "Why... why?"
"Xiao Bei."
I said solemnly, "The world is developing too fast. The reason why the internet cafe economy in China is so prosperous right now is because the economy is in its early stages of rapid growth. Ordinary families cannot afford to buy computers and install internet cables. But in a few years, ordinary families will have more money and will be able to buy their own computers and get internet access. That will be the stage when the internet cafe economy begins to decline from its peak."
"This..."
Lu Xiaobei looked shocked, seemingly not expecting me to see things so deeply.
"Therefore, Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe is not our final destination."
I looked at her and continued, "The future operating model must be changed, otherwise it will be difficult to keep up with the times. When the internet cafe economy declines, our next step is to develop e-sports hotels. We will use e-sports as a gimmick and integrate it with the hotel model to attract the attention of young people. The user base will still be the same group of people, the operating model will change, but the economic benefits will be greater."
"Good!"
Lu Xiaobei didn't delve into the details and simply nodded. "When I return to BH City this time, I will treat this matter as a top priority. The first thing I'll do is secure the trademark for the Feiyang Chain Esports Hotel!"
"So obedient!"
I smiled approvingly and said, "Young man, keep up the good work! I can already see a rising star emerging from the business and music worlds!"
"Really?!"
Lu Xiaobei squinted her eyes and began to dream about the future.
"I'm off, I have to go do my mission."
Be careful!
"Don't worry, I have the Resurrection Sacred Canon, I won't die!"
"You're really amazing~~~"
Chen Xiaoman drove Lu Xiaobei to the airport, while Fatty and I hailed a taxi to go to the Player Black Market.
As for why Lu Xiaobei was asked to separate the "Feiyang Chain Esports Hotel" trademark, it's actually quite simple. Lu Changzai's company has been too involved in Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe. The funding comes from Lu Changzai, and now the management team also comes from Lu Changzai. To put it bluntly, Feiyang Chain Internet Cafe may seem to be owned by Lu Xiaobei, but in reality, the real owner is Lu Changzai.
Last time, I heard Lu Xiaobei mention that Lu Changzai's company wasn't doing too well financially.
Actually, this is not a good sign. Although I'm not a business genius, I know that the business world is like a battlefield. Besides, anything can happen. What if Lu Changzai's company really runs into trouble?
Therefore, it's better to be safe than sorry. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I still have to think of a way out for Lu Xiaobei.
Feiyang Internet Cafe Lu Changzai. If Lu Changzai trouble, Feiyang Internet Cafe will likely be unable to protect itself. However, if it still holds the Feiyang Esports Hotel trademark, it may have a chance to turn things around in the future!
"Ding Han, what are you thinking about?" the fat man suddenly asked.
"Thinking about Lu Xiaobei."
"Oh..."
He pondered for a moment, then said, "Actually, I can see that you care a lot about Lu Xiaobei's matter. Why is that? Is it out of guilt?"
He chuckled. "How about we take them both? I'll cover for you. Next time, I'll just tell Manager Lin directly that you and I are both players. I think she'll definitely accept that. Then I'll tell her that our hometown, where we transmigrators live, has a fine tradition of having multiple wives and concubines. Marrying too few wives would not only be letting down our ancestors, but also make us lose face when we're out in public. I'll arrange it so you can marry both Manager Lin and Lu Xiaobei. Wouldn't that be wonderful?!"
"Damn it..."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What nonsense are you spouting? Focus on the game, buddy. We didn't come here to seriously date."
"Ahem, I was just saying, I know what's important."
The Player Black Market is a gathering place for a large number of players.
The SS-rank mission, "Gun Like a Dragon," was announced early on. Players without the Resurrection Sacred Canon were advised not to participate, but even so, a considerable number of people still gathered. There were more than 80 people in front of the Teleportation Array alone. It seems that Huaining City has recently accumulated quite a few Resurrection Sacred Canon, as the number of people who can go out and have fun has actually reached this level.
"Ding Han."
Xu Tian walked over and gently patted my shoulder. "Keep it up, and make sure everyone enjoys the best!"
I grinned, pretending I didn't understand what he was saying.
At this moment, the players known as the "Three Giants of Huaining City" —Gun Like a Dragon, Worldly Uncontested, and Shen Jin— walked over. They nodded to each other in greeting, all looking relaxed.
"It's still a high-level demon spirit quest. I wonder when Insectoid Uprising 3.0 will be released..." Chaos Demon King muttered, seemingly a little impatient.
"Don't rush, it's probably still early," Xu Tian said. "Besides, quite a few brothers haven't reached level 50 yet."
The Chaos Demon King was speechless.
I frowned. Actually, I was the one who most wanted to launch version 3.0 as soon as possible. The sooner the better, so that I could have the skill points to learn applied mathematics and algorithm basics, and write the core algorithm for the Yue Ning Mall more quickly.
Around 11 a. m.
After answering a phone call, Gun Like a Dragon turned around and announced, "The Eternal Frost Land map is currently in the midst of fierce fighting. The Guide says the Phase Teleportation Array is not yet fully constructed, so let's teleport to Frost Whisper Glacier first. Later, the Eternal Frost Land teleportation option will be added to the Frost Whisper Glacier Teleportation Array. Brothers, let's go! Fight to get home as soon as possible!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and then the Phase Teleportation Array in front of them rippled, changing the Teleportation Anchor to Frost Whisper Glacier.
Let's go.
I glanced at the crowd behind me, then, clutching the Conqueror Assault Rifle, I stepped into the Teleportation Array first. The next second, I appeared on the other side of the Teleportation Array. A cold wind swept over me, and I couldn't help but shiver.
At this moment, the area in front of the Teleportation Array was densely packed with players. Top players from all thirteen cities in Jiangning Province had gathered here to wait for the opening of the Eternal Frost Land Teleportation Array.
From afar, a female assassin player with two daggers hanging from her waist walked over. It was Qianli Qingqiu, the leader of the Tengshan City players. "Alliance Leader Long, the people from Huaining City have finally arrived."
"Um."
"Gun Like a Dragon" laughed, "Alliance Leader Qingqiu, have you finally realized the importance of players from Huaining City?"
"No, that's not it..."
Qianli Qingqiu glanced into the crowd and said, "I was just worried about whether Ding Han came or not. Seeing that he's here, I'm relieved."
"..."
Gun Like a Dragon somewhat embarrassed, and said, "That's right, Ding Han is the ace of our Huaining City Player Faction, and he definitely can't be absent from this kind of SS-rank large-scale mission."
I walked over with Ruolin, Cai Cai, and others, along with Worldly Uncontested Zheng and Shen Jin. Players from Tengshan City and Jiangning City also gathered around, forming a group of level 50 players.
"The Player Faction in Huaining City is really gaining momentum lately..."
A leader-level Firepower Specialist from Tong'an City, holding an orange sniper rifle, laughed and said, "Alliance Leader Long, on the player's Dark Web forum, the most popular city in Jiangning Province right now isn't Jiangning City, but your Huaining City. Moreover, someone has ranked Huaining City as the 'Three Emperors and One Sovereign' based on factors such as battle record and combat power. Did you know about this?"
"Oh?"
Gun Like a Dragon narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I know about this too."
Qianli Qingqiu laughed and said, "Among the three emperors and one king of the Huaining City Player Faction, your 'Gun Like a Dragon' ranks first among the three emperors, so people gave you the nickname 'Dragon Emperor'."
"Holy crap..."
Gun Like a Dragon was stunned. "Is that so?"
"Um!"
Xu Tian said, "The discussion about Huaining City on the forum has been quite lively lately, and I think I saw this post too."
"Anything else?"
Shen Jin became interested and asked with a smile, "Who else is among the Three Sovereigns?"
"You~~~"
Qianli Qingqiu said, "The second-ranked one is you, the leader of the Ash Domain Guild, known as the Jin Emperor. However, I think the main reason you were ranked here is because the Ash Domain Guild is relatively strong overall, only slightly inferior to the Crimson Firmament Alliance."
"Oh..."
A little embarrassed, Shen Jin asked, "Who is the third of the Three Emperors?"
"Just Worldly Uncontested."
A middle-aged Gun Specialization super-powered warrior from Tengshan City grinned. "His Worldly Uncontested combat strength is undeniable. He's ranked third among the Three Emperors, known as the 'Emperor of Surplus.' Please note, the 'surplus' here refers to the remaining portion, the 'surplus' in 'having surplus every year.'"
"What do you mean?" Xu Tian asked with a smile.
"There's a saying that his Worldly Uncontested strength is more than enough to deserve this title, and he's also more than qualified to be the leader of the Old Day Royal Court. Logically speaking, he should be the leader of a top-tier guild."
"That makes some sense..."
Cai Cai nodded; he was quite certain of the unassuming fighting prowess of the Worldly Uncontested.
Meanwhile, the Worldly Uncontested to the side said sullenly, "These are just boring rankings, don't take them seriously."
"Alliance Leader Qingqiu"
Gun Like a Dragon chuckled, "Then who is that emperor among the Three Sovereigns and One Emperor?"
Who else could it be?
Qianli Qingqiu turned her gaze to me and said, "In the entire Huaining City, and even the entire Jiangning Province, the only one who can overshadow you three emperors is Ding Han. On the Dark Web forum, his current nickname is 'Emperor Han,' which sounds quite nice, hahaha~~~"
Suddenly, everyone looked over, and I felt a little embarrassed.
"Cough cough..."
Holding the Conqueror, he looked at everyone and said, "It's just something people talk about on the forum during their leisure time. Don't take it too seriously, and don't worry too much about these titles. After all, the world of <Star Abyss> is very dangerous. Who knows, one day even the so-called Three Sovereigns and One Emperor might be gone in the blink of an eye. So it's very important to maintain a humble and learning attitude..."
"Na na na!"
Qianqiu Qingqiu laughed and said, "No wonder Ding Han can outshine your three emperors."
"Cough cough..."
The Gun Like a Dragon, Worldly Uncontested laughed together.
"Drop!"
Just then, a game message suddenly appeared from the long-lost Wu Yu Yu Yu: "Ding Han, I heard that the Player Faction in Jiangning Province has triggered an SS-class Region Task. The quest location is the Eternal Frost Land, is that right?"
"Right."
I turned on the voice chat. "Xiao Yu, why are you suddenly bringing this up?"
"Be careful with that map of the Eternal Frost Land!"
Wu Yu Yu Yu's voice was grave. "When I was a Psionic Officer in Dark Tide, I once entered Dark Tide headquarters and saw a glimpse of their top-secret plan. It included a map of the Eternal Frost Land. I suspect this map is not simple, so once you enter the Eternal Frost Land, you must be extremely vigilant and avoid making any mistakes."
"Such a thing is true?"
I frowned and said, "I understand, I'll be more careful, but don't worry too much. Everyone here has a copy of the Resurrection Sacred Canon, so even if something happens, they can save their lives."
"That's good."
"Xiao Yu, how are you doing in BH City?"
"It's alright. I'm having a pretty fulfilling time with my friends. When I have some free time later, I'll go to Huaining City. I want to try all the local delicacies. You'll have to be my guide!"
Of course.
"You're on a mission right now, I have to go. Good luck!"
"Same here, let's encourage each other!"
After ending the chat, I glanced into the distance, and my brows furrowed even more deeply.
The Eternal Frost Land is located about 500 kilometers southwest of Frost Whisper Glacier. The map in the middle is blood red, and it is densely covered with the nests of demons. It is basically impossible for players to pass through, so they can only wait.
"Shuashuashua--"
Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the distant horizon, followed by a darkening of the sky. When we all looked over, we saw countless stars falling from the sky, densely packed, looking like a meteor shower.
"Holy crap, what's going on?"
The Chaos Demon King stiffened slightly, gripping his longsword even tighter.
"It's Drop Pod."
"Gun Like a Dragon," who had been with GM the longest and was very knowledgeable, said, "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be our Crimson Dragon Country's Drop Pod. They'll bring supplies and airdrop directly onto the outskirts of the Eternal Frost Land, then construct Teleportation Array to summon us to join the battle."
"Damn, is it that awesome?"
Everyone was shocked.
In the distance, countless Drop Pod landed 500 kilometers away, disappearing into the clouds and never to be seen again.
Time passed slowly, and soon it was exactly twelve o'clock.
"Whoosh~~~"
Behind them, the Phase Teleportation Array suddenly rippled, and then the Guide stepped out from the crowd, saying in a deep voice, "The Teleportation Anchor has been changed to the Eternal Frost Land. All players, listen up! Charge to the rescue immediately! The demon army is attacking the Teleportation Array. Your first task is to defend the Teleportation Array and repel them!"
"Set off!"
With Gun Like a Dragon, the leader led the group into the Teleportation Array without hesitation.
With a gentle wave of my hand, I led my team of seven into the Teleportation Array!
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, the coordinates changed to the outer edge of the Eternal Frost Land, and the temperature dropped by at least ten degrees. The air was filled with the sound of gunfire. Right in front of the Teleportation Array, swarms of demons were launching a fierce attack. At this moment, a group of human machine gunners wearing the Great Wall Watch insignia were firing wildly, struggling to hold on.
"Superior!"
I immediately rushed out, aimed at the head of a Third Tier Purple Demon Spirit, and pulled the trigger. Instantly, the Conqueror's bullets Headshot in rapid succession, hitting the demon spirit's head, and terrifying damage numbers rose from above its head.
It has to be said that the Conqueror's recoil is very strong, making it extremely difficult to control. Fortunately, my 1100+ strength stat is not just for show; I managed to control it and maintain a very high accuracy rate.
"Dry!"
Cai Cai and Fatty, both level 50 Firepower Specialist, launched a fierce barrage of fire from both flanks. Ruolin, Kou Mei, and the others also unleashed their full firepower. The eight of them formed a combat team and quickly suppressed the demons along the 20-meter-long battle line in front of them.
"The players from Huaining City are really fierce..."
Not far away, Qianli Qingqiu was also holding an orange Submachine Gun, leading a group of Tengshan City players, constantly aiming and firing. But when they glanced in our direction, they realized the difference in Combat Power; it was truly incomparable.
In about 30 minutes, under the relentless suppression of more than 400 players from Jiangning Province, the demon army attacking the Phase Teleportation Array fell to the ground, turning into shattered corpses in the snow. At this moment, a group of Crimson Dragon Country soldiers carrying Explosive Gun and wearing Power Armor walked out of the Teleportation Array. One of the leaders looked familiar; it was an old acquaintance, Xie Zhuoyun, Senior Dragon Guard.
"Warriors of the Crimson Dragon Country!"
Xie Zhuoyun said in a deep voice, "Our brothers stationed in the Gland Highlands are under heavy attack by the demon army. Send fifty men to reinforce the Gland Highlands, and the rest will launch a frontal assault on the Eternal Frost Land!"
Who will go?
The Gun Like a Dragon, seeking the Dao.
I immediately led Cai Cai, Ruolin, and the others to step forward. "Count us in as eight."
"Let's go too."
Qianli Qingqiu led a group of players from Tengshan City out, which together roughly met the required number of people.
The next second, a ringtone sounded in my ear--
[You have accepted the battlefield mission "Reinforce Gland Highlands" (Rank A)! Mission objective: The battlefield situation is constantly changing. Gland Highlands on the left side of the Eternal Frost Land cannot be lost. Please proceed to reinforce it immediately!]
[Bond Triggered: Sentinel Captain Qin Lang is located in Gland Highlands!]
"What the hell?"
I raised an eyebrow at the second message. What a coincidence! Running into an acquaintance on the battlefield?
But I have some trivial connection with him!!!