How Did You Know I Canceled My Transfer Request?

[Once, I believed games should be about fighting and killing, grand and spectacular, with extraordinary experiences like blockbuster movies.

Once, I believed that only games like that could be considered successful.

But the appearance of This War of Mine made us realize that we, who pride ourselves on being the highest civilization on the planet, seemed to live worse than flies.

I still remembered that year. Spring had come, and we could go out to search for supplies. The sky had turned into clear blue skies again. The war was over... but was the war really over?]

In mid-July, the World Anti-War Organization released a statement.

It was talking about games, yet it also seemed not to be talking about games.

"Black Star, you old thief! Have you seen the latest statement from the Anti-War Organization?" Carter called Ethan Vale the moment he saw it.

Old thief was the title players had given Ethan Vale these past few days, mainly to condemn his inhuman behavior when making games.

It was a complicated feeling, tangled between love and hate.

Because the creator freely manipulated the players' joy and sorrow, tormenting them through the games' difficulty.

He freely manipulated the fates of the protagonists, making the characters' lives heartbreaking.

So far, he had made three games in total, and every single one made people want to mail him razor blades.

Over the phone, Carter's excitement was impossible to hide.

Not only had he never seen something like this during his tenure, it had never happened in the history of game development.

"What happened?" Ethan Vale asked in surprise. In his previous life, Blue Star had been a place where all kinds of games flourished explosively.

There were not many anti-war games, but there certainly were not few either.

In his previous life, no matter how outstanding those games were, they had never once been mentioned by an anti-war organization.

Without another word, Carter sent Ethan Vale a screenshot.

In the image, the World Anti-War Organization's official account specifically highlighted the game made by Sprout Studio. They recommended that those who had never experienced war should feel its brutality through the game.

"Did you see it? You old thief, you did it. You did something no one in the gaming world has ever done!"

Ethan Vale turned on his computer and opened the relevant website.

The ever-bright screen shone directly into Ethan Vale's eyes, its changing light flickering constantly in his pupils.

There, Ethan Vale saw messages from players all over the world.

[I never played games before. This was my first game, and it will also be my last.]

[Only time can ease the pain of war. May the world be at peace.]

[After half a century of peace, how could they know what war was? War had become a legend of heroes and romance. People could only see war through school textbooks and books in museums.]

Wars still raged in many places around the world. Ethan Vale could not change any situation, and games could only remind players that war was cruel and peace was precious.

"People here haven't received the news yet. Tomorrow, you'll definitely be on the headlines!" Carter said with certainty.

"This year's indie game award will definitely be yours," Carter said seriously and confidently.

"Then is your transfer request basically settled?" Ethan Vale had gotten along very well with Carter recently. Aside from discussing game development, Carter would occasionally share some information with Ethan Vale.

Carter also loved playing games. Like the other players, he called Ethan Vale an old thief every other sentence.

The only difference was that while other players wanted to mail Ethan Vale razor blades but could not find an address, Carter could call Ethan Vale after playing the game and berate him for his crimes.

Through their later conversations, Ethan Vale had gradually learned that no one was willing to take charge of the region under Great Xia.

There were too many problems here, and the biggest was the poor quality of newly released games.

"It's not settled. No one wants to come here, and you know that," Carter choked back his breath. On the other end of the call, his neck had turned bright red, a flush spreading across his fair skin.

"I submitted my application ages ago, but they keep saying there's no suitable candidate," Carter's voice grew quieter and quieter.

"Ah, I see." Ethan Vale sighed. He could not blame Carter for wanting to leave; the environment here had indeed been rather poor before.

"Let's talk about it later." Carter took a deep breath, his eyes filled with something strange.

His memories returned to a few days earlier, when the phone on his office desk had chimed with a notification.

"Your transfer meets the requirements. Please confirm once more whether you wish to transfer to H Country. We will send someone to replace you within three days."

He still remembered that day. His secretary had just delivered a data report.

Dead Cells and This War of Mine had seen explosive sales across every regional market.

Even Getting over it, a game he had not thought highly of, became wildly popular for a time after launching in other regions.

Of them all, the one he had been least optimistic about was Getting over it.

Carter was also a game enthusiast. After playing Getting over it once, he had only one thought in mind.

People actually played this kind of game?

It was even more thrilling than riding a roller coaster! The feeling of your heart stopping was not pleasant.

Yet judging by the sales feedback after it launched in the major regional markets, not only did people play this game that made you want to smash your keyboard, there were a great many of them.

Staring at that confirmation message, Carter hesitated for a long time.

Although Ethan Vale's results were excellent now, no one could guarantee the future.

Was he really going to gamble his fate on this?

Looking at the confirmation notice, his hand holding the phone somehow typed a reply.

[No, cancel transfer.]

After sending that message, he felt as though the huge stone pressing down on him had crashed heavily to the ground.

Looking at the data report in his hand, he did not know what exactly he was gambling on.

Perhaps it was really like the phrase players often repeated: this was the future of the gaming industry.

The Black Star Emperor would suppress all enemies!

Hearing those childish words from netizens echo in his mind, Carter could not help but grin.

"If you really can't get transferred, then don't leave," Ethan Vale replied with a smile.

"Sure." Carter immediately agreed with a cheerful smile.

Ethan Vale froze. Had he agreed that quickly?

Before Ethan Vale could voice his doubts, Carter's slightly smug voice came through the receiver.

"How did you know I canceled my transfer request?"

Ethan Vale: ???

"How did you know I believed in you?"

"HAHAHAHAHA..."

After a moment of silence, the two could not help but burst out laughing.

"Since you believe in me so much, I can only lead you to the pinnacle of life." Ethan Vale lightly coughed twice.

"Then I have no choice but to introduce you to a good friend." Carter put on a mysterious air. "When you meet, it will definitely change the current landscape of the game design world."

"Who?" Hearing that, Ethan Vale could not help but grow curious.

"I'm not telling. Wait for me to arrange it."