At that moment, in the game group on the forum, Meow Brother was sharing how they'd scavenged a small bag of gold coins from a mansion in the ruins of Cadman City and rescued a wealthy merchant's family from the basement.
Naturally, the story included a few artistic exaggerations, but players didn't care about that when they were bragging, so the atmosphere was lively.
Meow Brother and several other players had already used up their six hours of game time for the day. Before logging off, they'd parked their characters in the safe zone by a breach in the city wall, where NPC guards were stationed.
They were still reluctant to call it a day.
One of the Four Guardians under Meow Brother, Electronic Succubus Lao Qu, was sharing some "gaming tips" that sounded downright sketchy in every possible way.
Electronic Succubus Lao Qu: For real! I swear I'm not making this up. We heard someone crying for help and rushed into the basement. A few of that fat merchant NPC's pretty wives almost threw themselves at us.
I can guarantee you, bros, the character models in this game are incredible!
Big where they should be, small where they should be, and incredibly realistic.
Almost too realistic.
A-Cha'en: Oh? So you got handsy, huh? Shame on you.
Duo Dao Le San Wu Dou: Heh heh, some things are better left unsaid. Shame the game only modeled that organ for us, and it's just a little tube for peeing.
I seriously suspect the game might have hidden R18+ features.
It can simulate diarrhea, so I refuse to believe it can't make the kind of feature everyone wants. They probably just haven't opened up that level of testing yet. But man, the feel is amazing!
Heh heh, heh heh.
Meow Shark: Damn! That's way too underhanded, guys. I'm not judging you or anything—everyone knows a gentleman appreciates beauty—but this stuff sounds so sleazy.
Even if they are NPCs.
Meow King: What are you talking about? Do you really think we're like that? Sure, we like lewd stuff, but we're civilized people raised under the red flag, okay? We behaved ourselves the whole time.
Besides, the testing team was watching. Who'd dare try anything?
Those female NPCs were the ones who kept crowding around us, you know?
That fat merchant was scared out of his wits.
The translation from the computing orb was pretty vague, but I'm certain the guy was trying to offer us his wives so we'd escort him out of the city.
If you want to talk about shamelessness, you have to hand it to the NPCs.
Alpha: Exactly. Good thing you guys behaved. I just finished an "inappropriate conduct review" with a few colleagues. We went through your escort from start to finish, frame by frame. If you'd done anything coercive or indecent, you'd be saying goodbye to your accounts right now.
Meow King: Damn! Are the rules really that strict? That's a relief.jpg
Alpha: They have to be! We need to take the laws and traditional morals of every country and region into account. And there are female players among you. If the first step in ensuring a fully immersive game experience is harassing NPCs, who knows what you might try next? Even the development team doesn't want to imagine it.
I'm going to make this clear once more!
@Everyone, any harassment of players or NPCs of the opposite sex is strictly prohibited, regardless of your own gender. Please cherish your accounts.
If you do something irreversible, you won't just lose your testing privileges—you'll also be handed over to the local authorities.
We'll provide the authorities with all the evidence we can. This is not a joke.
Don't reach out. If you do, you'll get caught.
Lumina Sunscar: Thumbs-up for the development team! I talked about this with some of my friends, and they're interested too, but they do have concerns about this particular issue.
The game is so realistic that even if we don't have to worry about other players, it'd be hard to define certain kinds of harassment by intelligent NPCs.
The laws of every country are a complete blank on this right now.
Alpha: You don't need to worry about that, do you? If an NPC harasses you, doesn't that mean their health bar has appeared?
Meow King: Ha, good point! Once their health bar shows up, you won't even have to do anything yourself. Just give us a shout, and the bros will be happy to solve the problem for you.
By the way, Sunscar, are you looking to recruit new players? How about joining our group?
I'm planning to start a guild.
Lumina Sunscar: No, thanks, Meow Brother. I appreciate the invitation, but we're just casual players. We're not chasing power. Anyway, my resurrection timer is up, so I'm logging in to check out the new story!
That destruction CG you posted of Cadman City was so thrilling. An entire city that big just vanished with a bang.
When it comes to pulling off a spectacle, you have to hand it to the developers. I was completely stunned when I saw that scene. It's a shame the game doesn't have a story replay feature or anything. What a pity.
Admin, hurry up and nag the development team to add it!
It's really hurting the experience for new players.
Alpha: We're working on it, we're working on it. Stop nagging, stop nagging.
Cadman City was originally just a test map. We didn't destroy it just for show. We brought it out as a large-scale testing area to advance the story naturally—and, as a bonus, to show players just how powerful our development team is.
And haven't I just brought you some good news?
I've put together a summary of the new story content added in the online hotfix. I've already posted it on the forum homepage, so read it carefully.
After writing that, Murphy went offline, and the players flocked to the new post to check it out:
"True Otherworld" Online Update and Next Testing Phase Announcement:
1. Large-Scale Environment Destruction and Item Search Testing Begins!
The inner-city map of Cadman City, contaminated and consumed by astral energy, will fall completely into the Astral Realm in about one week of game time. Testers with related quests should complete them as soon as possible to avoid losses.
The outer district has been designated a "free exploration zone" for testing the free exploration gameplay.
Testers can travel freely through the area without restrictions and interact with all environmental objects to find hidden items scattered throughout the district.
The main-story NPC Murphy and his companions will also offer related quests to guide your exploration.
Additionally, NPCs trapped in the district can all be rescued. The number rescued will affect certain details in the subsequent story.
2. Numerous Side Quests Added!
Personal quests for all NPCs currently available for player interaction have been implemented. Testers can visit the "Survivor Camp" outside Cadman City and speak with NPCs to accept side quests.
Note!
Some side quests are quite difficult. Testers should consider them carefully.
3. Party Play and Special Zone Testing Begins.
Murphy learned the locations of three secret Blood Eagle Clan family storehouses from his elder, Lady Triss. He has too much on his plate to explore them himself, so he urgently needs brave adventurers to take on the task.
Note!
The three new areas are special zones. The monsters there are far stronger and more numerous than in other regions. Testers should form parties and proceed according to their abilities.
This test will continue until the Cadman City incident ends.
4. Special Event "Trial of the Strong: Season One" Begins.
Sir Maxim, a servant loyal to Murphy, felt how weak he was after witnessing the disaster in Cadman City. He wants to find like-minded adventurers to hone his combat skills and better serve Lord Murphy's cause.
Testers who also aspire to become stronger can challenge Maxim.
Note!
This is an initial test of PVP gameplay.
Once Maxim accepts a challenge, both sides will enter a live combat environment. However, Maxim has a great deal of combat experience, so players may face risks, including death.
Players who win the challenge will earn Maxim's favor and receive an exclusive reward, as well as unlock an exclusive questline.
This is a solo quest and cannot be completed in a party.
5. Quest Series "Lady Triss's Special Supplies" Begins.
Lady Triss, rescued from Cadman City by Murphy, has a mysterious past and an unusual relationship with him. She is currently busy with a series of alchemical projects to support her child, and desperately needs capable assistants. She has prepared generous rewards for those who prove themselves.
Note!
Lady Triss has a very eccentric personality and is extremely wary of strangers. Players must complete a series of tasks she assigns to earn her trust.
Warning!
Special events that require cooperation between multiple players may occasionally appear during this quest series. Their likelihood depends largely on Lady Triss's mood at the time.
For everyone's enjoyment, the development team advises testers not to anger Lady Triss.
6. Quest Series "The Camp Manager's Troubles" Begins.
Miss Mirian was just appointed manager of the Survivor Camp by Murphy, but the camp is in dire need of help. She needs assistance from all sides and will reward those who lend a hand to the innocent.
Players who don't enjoy combat can speak with Miss Mirian to try a different kind of gameplay.
Note!
After entering the Survivor Camp, please watch your behavior. If you frighten the civilians, Miss Mirian may put you on her blacklist.
Invincible Tyrannosaurus Car: Woohoo, a huge gameplay update! The side quests for almost every important NPC are unlocked. The only one missing is the young lady. We're going to be busy all week. Suddenly, six hours a day doesn't feel like nearly enough!
Meow King: How could it be enough? "The Last Night of Cadman City" is clearly an event-style test. I bet there'll be plenty of limited-time events like this in the future. In a situation like this, we'll have to prioritize.
There's no way we can complete every quest. Even aside from the time factor, our current levels and equipment aren't good enough for us to explore the center of the city ruins.
But if the event lasts fifteen days, that'll definitely be enough.
A-Cha'en: Well said. I'm going to post about it in the feedback section! Seven days is nowhere near enough. I recommend extending it!
A lot of people immediately liked the replies under that post.
Even Murphy went and left a like, but it did him no good. He had no way to force the time before Cadman City was swallowed by the Astral Realm to stretch to half a month.
According to Triss, even seven days was a conservative estimate. If anything else went wrong, there was no guarantee it wouldn't be shortened again.
After all, spirit mages in the material world knew very little about the Astral Realm. No one could be certain what impact this kind of sudden event would have.
Murphy exited the forum, rolled his neck, and turned to watch Triss treating a mithril bar with psionic energy at the alchemical workbench beside him. Both items had been taken from the family storehouse by Murphy and Maxim, and now Triss could put them to use.
"I didn't know you were an alchemy master."
Murphy sharpened the Blade of the Desire Lineage with a whetstone as he spoke softly.
"What else can you do that I don't know about?"
"Plenty."
Triss snorted and tossed him a treated psionic whetstone.
"Don't distract me right now. This is only a basic alchemical treatment, but I haven't practiced in decades. If you're really bored, why not take another walk around the city?
You seem to have a particular interest in rescuing people."
"I don't like rescuing people. They haven't been kind to either of us. And I don't like them, either. I just need them."
Murphy said quietly, then continued:
"Did you remember what I told you earlier? When my brave adventurers come to see you, don't actually send them to their deaths. Make sure you give them a little something in return."
"I've been alive for five hundred years, little Murphy!"
Triss rolled her eyes and deftly worked on the mithril bar.
"I know how to manipulate people. I just usually can't be bothered. But are you sure they'll do whatever I tell them to?
This sounds like some kind of mind-control sorcery.
Have you been secretly learning bad habits these past few days?"
"That's just their nature. They'll always be drawn in by pleasure and profit. As long as you can make them feel happy, they'll become your most loyal vanguard.
They'd even gladly overturn the world or reshape its order for you."
Murphy winked as he spoke, then sighed.
"The more time you spend with them, the more you'll realize they really are a bunch of sweet, simple adventurers. By the way, what did you say to the young lady? Why is she so down? And why is Lady Adele avoiding you?
Like a mouse seeing a cat."
He watched Triss suspiciously.
"You didn't do something awful to them, did you? Triss, have you been secretly learning bad habits?"
"Guess."
Triss brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and gave Murphy a mysterious, flirtatious wink, then ignored him. Just then, five little players who had died earlier appeared not far from Murphy.
In places without a fixed resurrection point, Murphy was the "mobile resurrection save point" for these sixteen players.
"They're here."
Murphy reminded Triss:
"More will come tomorrow morning. I'll run your errand for you, Triss. Hope you have fun."
With that, he smiled and handed his five little players their computing orbs.
Triss snorted beside him. Once the five players had activated the translation function, she gave Lumina, who stood closest to her and looked completely bewildered, a cold smile.
"So, you're the brave adventurers serving my sweet, simple child? You don't look like much. Murphy may trust you, but I don't. I'm a very strict person!
Little Murphy asked me to make you some protective trinkets, but I need a few bottles of strong liquor as spellcasting ingredients.
What are you waiting for?
Go into the city and find some for me.
Remember, I won't accept anything less than ten years old."
Before you continue