"That's right—the Lee Stein from Earth OL you're thinking of..."
Lee's face and voice appeared on every internet-connected electronic device across the globe.
"Holy shit, it really is Merchant?"
"He doesn't look quite the same."
"What idiot is this? You think you can impersonate Merchant?"
"What's going on? Isn't Merchant an NPC? Has the game invaded reality?"
"If Merchant is a Player, then the difference in appearance between reality and the game makes sense... Don't tell me Merchant was actually a Player. I can't accept that!"
Lee's appearance stunned everyone.
Many of them might never have entered Earth OL, but none were unfamiliar with the game. Because of the difference in time flow between the game and reality, entering the game was equivalent to extending one's lifespan. Earth OL gaming pods had long since been driven to astronomical prices, and its fame was known to all.
And when it came to Earth OL, there was one person who could never be overlooked: Lee Stein. The Stein Group he had founded was practically the Players' main source of equipment. He appeared in every major storyline event as well. Any newbie entering the game could know nothing about anyone or any controls, but the first things they absolutely had to know were the Stein Group and Lee Stein.
Countless people had long speculated that Lee Stein might be a protagonist-like figure in the game. Many had even analyzed the theoretical foundations and feasibility of the various high-tech equipment he sold. The results were astonishingly that all of it was completely feasible, causing no small stir across countless industries.
"You may have already seen the robots and troops on the streets. Many people are wondering whether war is about to break out. I can give you a definite answer here—yes!"
"We are indeed