Negotiation

That price made Lu Wu's heart pound. It was simply an irresistible temptation.

However, though Lu Wu was poor, he was not short-sighted. He knew exactly how much this game could bring him if it became popular—far more than ten billion could measure.

Besides, even if Lu Wu wanted to sell it, the game could not be sold at all. The underworld was completely real, and all of the game's content was created by the Battle Artifact bound to him. Others would not even be able to use it.

"To be honest with you, our team truly has no plans to sell this game. If you've experienced it, then I think you understand just how groundbreaking it is. Its realism alone completely crushes every virtual game on the market. In our team's eyes, this game is worth far more than that."

By this point, Lu Wu had made his meaning very clear.

Wu Guoyi could not help sighing to himself. "The price is still negotiable..."

"Mm, not for sale!" Bei Li, her mouth stuffed full, raised her head and said as she chewed.

Wu Guoyi had originally assumed that the person in charge of the development team was young and would be easily swayed by money. He had not expected Lu Wu to be so firm, and he began considering how to maximize the benefits for his gaming platform.

"Then how about releasing your game on our platform? If you promise not to release it anywhere else, I can offer you this amount." As he spoke, Wu Guoyi held up one finger.

"And what do you want in return?"

When games were released on major traffic-heavy platforms, the platforms generally took a percentage cut. Take the once wildly popular Apple Store, for example. Apple charged a service fee from every top-up made through any app on it.

"I don't want anything. If your game is released exclusively on our platform, I'll give you one hundred million."

Wu Guoyi's terms were indeed tempting to Lu Wu. He understood what Wu Guoyi was after: traffic for his gaming platform.

If this game were released only on 173, then once it became popular, countless Players would come flocking to the platform by reputation. That was exactly what Wu Guoyi wanted.

If it were only a game, Lu Wu might have agreed to Wu Guoyi's tempting offer.

But Lu Wu was different. He also had to consider the underworld.

He had promised Bei Li that he would reclaim Bei Qi and even conquer the entire underworld. To a certain extent, the number of Players would be decisive.

If he agreed to Wu Guoyi's request, he would undoubtedly be limiting the development of Conquest.

"The game can be released on your platform, but I can't agree to your other condition. It would restrict our game's growth. Besides, my goal is the whole world. I need a large number of gaming platforms to promote this game!"

Wu Guoyi stared at Lu Wu's bright eyes and listened to him speak of his ambition to become popular around the world. He was stunned as well.

Both of his proposals had been rejected. Wu Guoyi had never expected that. His plan to seize the initiative before the game had even gotten off the ground had fallen through, leaving him in a sour mood.

"Manager Wu, how about this? I have a suggestion. See if it works for you."

"Go ahead, little brother!"

"What Manager Wu wants is nothing more than traffic for your gaming platform through this game. How about this: my game can stay listed on your platform for two months. During those two months, I absolutely won't work with any other gaming platforms. But you have to promise to promote my game on your homepage during that time."

Lu Wu had his own reasons for considering it this way.

The hardest part for Battle Online was the initial stage. As long as it got a chance to be promoted and its Player count rose, word would spread from ten to a hundred, from a hundred to a thousand. Later on, it might not even need promotion. Once enough people played it, more people would naturally be drawn in to try it.

It was like League of Legends and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which had once taken internet cafés by storm.

Wu Guoyi, who had thought there was no hope, froze for a moment before smiling. "You really know how to do business, little brother. But I'll take this deal. I'm betting your game will become hugely popular!"

"Cheers!"

Lu Wu smiled faintly, picked up his glass, clinked it against Wu Guoyi's, and drained it.

After that, Lu Wu discussed more details about the game with Wu Guoyi. He had already studied those matters with Bei Li, so he was naturally able to answer with ease.

However, Lu Wu said nothing about the game's main storyline, brushing it aside by claiming it was confidential.

Wu Guoyi found that quite regrettable. After experiencing the game, the gaming desire that had long faded from him had been reignited.

He had not felt that way in a very long time.

But the unknown was fine too. Exploring the unknown was one of the enjoyable parts of gaming.

Wu Guoyi felt that this conversation had not been a wasted trip. After eating and drinking his fill, he paid the bill and left. He told Lu Wu that once the event ended, the game would be promoted continuously on the homepage for two months. Regardless of whether it took first place, he would also give Lu Wu a homepage CG promotion and told him to prepare for it.

Bei Li was undoubtedly the happiest one at the meal. She ate the entire time, and as Lu Wu looked at the towering pile of shrimp and crab shells, he could hardly believe all that food had fit into someone as petite as her.

Rubbing her round belly, Bei Li let out a breath. "I'm full. That feels so good!"

Seeing the innocent smile on Bei Li's face, Lu Wu felt a trace of guilt. What he could provide for her now was truly too meager.

But Lu Wu knew that it was only temporary. His era was on its way.

After the meal, Lu Wu took Bei Li home.

Thinking about the game CG Wu Guoyi had told him to prepare, Lu Wu could not help feeling troubled.

First, he definitely did not have the money to hire a professional team to make a promotional CG for the game. Second, how to convey the appeal of Battle Online through the CG was also extremely important.

With no other choice, Lu Wu once again sought the advice of Bei Li, who was lying on the bed looking like a listless little girl.

In Lu Wu's eyes at that moment, Bei Li was practically an all-purpose little girl. She knew everything and could do anything. Other than having no chest, she was like a second divine artifact.

Bei Li did not disappoint him. After pondering for a moment, she came up with a plan.

The plan was simple. It would also require the Battle Artifact, but there was no need for a production team. They could film everything on location in the underworld, with every scene condensed from yin energy. It would cost nothing, yet they could create epic scenes.

After giving it some thought, Lu Wu found the proposal highly feasible.

The scenes filmed this way could perfectly reproduce the actual game content. For promotion, they could even advertise it as footage recorded directly from the game, making it even more appealing.