Do You Believe in Light? (2/3)

Over the next two days, Chen Yu read while constantly refining the Dreamscape.

The Pseudo-human monsters in the Dreamscape became increasingly bizarre under his design, and their methods of murder grew ever more unconventional, ensuring that anyone who entered could feel his care.

After every murder, he added various capitalist quotes, guaranteeing a full-spectrum emotional breakdown before harvesting Negative Emotions for himself.

Even if they cleared that stage, player-versus-player battles awaited them afterward, using quizzes and random events to squeeze out more Negative Emotions.

Luo Tong loaded the new language pack and question bank into the Dreamscape, then asked in confusion, "President Chen, why do the non-player characters have to be especially hateable?"

"This is my strategy. A social Dreamscape like this needs a flashpoint to spread, and Bratty Girls are exactly that. They're strong but weird, foul-mouthed, and beating them up comes with no guilt at all. It actually feels great. When you introduce this Dreamscape to someone, what might they say if you only tell them it's a quiz Dreamscape?"

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"Hmm... a scam Dreamscape?"

"Exactly. But if someone told you that this quiz Dreamscape lets you beat up little brats, what would you think?"

"I'd have to go see what it was like. Oh, I get it now."

Having figured out the key, Luo Tong was utterly convinced.

As expected of President Chen. He was generous, astonishingly skilled in Dreamscape design theory, and even knew something about promotion. He truly was an all-rounder.

And he was only a second-year high school student. His potential was staggering. Luo Tong wondered which great family he belonged to, and whether he was one of its specially groomed heirs.

Picking up his phone, he found that the number of people online simultaneously had reached three thousand. In Heaven Origin, which had only ten thousand cultivators in total, this was practically a miracle.

After watching for a while, he asked again in confusion, "President Chen, may I ask how you plan to monetize this?"

Chen Yu, who had been reviewing Constitution data, looked up in confusion. "Monetize? Monetize what?"

"Monetize Quiz Melee, of course. There are so many users now that we could make money doing almost anything. It would be a shame not to. You've already invested nearly forty thousand points of spiritual power in the early stages. If you don't monetize it, where will the money come from?"

Looking at the confused Luo Tong and the three others, who had also become confused, Chen Yu knew the moment had arrived.

A company that kept spending money without turning a profit was definitely suspicious, unless its boss was a rich idiot.

As a talented person with a cultural score of 93, Chen Yu was definitely not an idiot. Therefore, there had to be another reason.

He could not let others learn about the effects of his Constitution, or it would definitely bring him trouble.

But it did not matter. He had long prepared for this moment and already thought of an explanation.

Closing the book in front of him, Chen Yu said nothing. Instead, he stood and walked over to the window.

Although it was pitch-black outside, it did not matter whether there was anything to see. The mood was what mattered.

He stared at the darkness beyond the window for so long that Luo Tong was about to speak before Chen Yu finally said, "Luo Tong, do you believe in light?"

"Um..."

"I do. I've believed in it since I was young. Though the future is shrouded in darkness and the ground beneath my feet is full of mud, I still believe."

"President Chen..."

"I cannot explain my background in too much detail. Even if you investigate now, all you will find is fabricated information. All I can say is that my source of funding is connected to the Tianyuan Cultivators Committee."

After all, the Tianyuan Cultivators Committee had given him the Awakening Fluid. His source of funding was his own Constitution, so saying it was connected to the Tianyuan Cultivators Committee was not wrong at all.

That was how lies worked. Everything I said was true, yet I could still lead you astray.

Luo Tong and the others were smart people, but even smart people had blind spots.

After all, who would suspect a boss willing to pay them high wages?

For the sake of those wages, they would fill in the blanks themselves, talk themselves into it, patch the holes in Chen Yu's explanation, and complete the logical loop in their own minds.

Events unfolded just as Chen Yu had expected.

When he said that he might be connected to the Tianyuan Cultivators Committee, Luo Tong suddenly understood. "The Revitalization Plan!"

What's that?

Although Chen Yu had no idea, he gave a slight nod, signaling Luo Tong to continue.

Receiving confirmation, Luo Tong said excitedly, "The Revitalization Plan is a long-term plan formulated by the Tianyuan Cultivators Committee..."

"Keep... keep it simple!"

"...It means getting everyone to work hard for Heaven Origin, think about how to help Heaven Origin escape its current predicament, and support capable cultivators so they can lead everyone in working together."

After hearing the explanation, Glasses seemed to think of something and suddenly understood. "So that's it. No wonder you're so rich, Boss! Is Quiz Melee also part of the Revitalization Plan? What is our goal? Cleaning up those scam-like quiz Dreamscapes? Or monetizing it to provide benefits for Heaven Origin cultivators?"

"Both, I suppose," Chen Yu said with a nod.

"Then I understand!" Luo Tong looked at Chen Yu with admiration. The more he looked, the more extraordinary Chen Yu seemed.

He was so young, yet he already possessed such a mysterious background. No wonder no one had heard of him before.

In that case, talking about monetization was truly an insult to this remarkable capitalist.

The other man carried a mission and bore the responsibility of making Heaven Origin great again. He even handled many things personally. He was simply incredible.

And when Luo Tong thought that he could take part in such a great undertaking while earning such high wages, a sense of honor welled up from the depths of his heart. He said excitedly, "President Chen, even if I have to work like an ox or horse, I will repay you!"

"Don't be an ox or horse. Be a person properly."

"Understood! Then from now on, I'll be your human workhorse!"

"...Fine. At least you're human."

Seeing the four of them so excited, Chen Yu nodded. He knew he had successfully fooled them.

After that, as long as he kept paying them, they would become his most loyal supporters. From then on, he would have nothing to worry about.

Stretching his arms, Chen Yu said, "All right, I still have exams coming up. I'll leave things to you after this. See you."

"Take care, President Chen."

The moment he stepped out the door, Chen Yu hurried back and distributed everyone's wages for the month one by one.

Patting Luo Tong on the shoulder as his eyes reddened, Chen Yu said, "I might not come by for the next few days, so I'm paying you in advance. Oh, and if there's anything you want, remember to write it in the suggestion book by the door. Make sure to submit expenses after spending money, and don't you dare try to save money for me!"

"President Chen, I'll be loyal to you for the rest of my life!"

Looking at the extra 840 points of spiritual power in his phone account, along with the bits and pieces Chen Yu had given out before, Luo Tong was seeing his accumulated spiritual power reach four digits for the first time.

He looked at the others and saw determination and hope on their faces.

At that moment, they believed in light as well.