National confidence

"So... so beautiful..."

"That's so badass!"

"Want an aircraft carrier? Aren't you afraid it'll be too hot to handle? I've decided-I'm making that my Weibo bio!"

"Mommy, I'm in love..."

"The lighting, the angle-this looks incredible!"

"Every frame could be a wallpaper. I've got one phone recording the screen and the other taking screenshots like crazy!"

"So cool, I'm crying!"

"A super player hiding in Blue Dragon City!"

"If Blue Dragon City has an expert like this, could Red Dragon City, Black Dragon City, and the other cities have big shots like him too?"

"Hard to say!"

"Our Dragon Kingdom really is full of hidden talent!"

"I knew there was no way the Dragon Kingdom could be so much weaker than the other countries. Turns out our experts just hadn't made a move!"

The paid trolls from the other countries had been withdrawn, but that didn't mean all their ordinary citizens had left too.

They couldn't accept that the Dragon Kingdom had produced a player everyone else had to look up to!

"Impossible!"

"How could the Dragon Kingdom have a player this powerful? I don't believe it!"

"You should count your blessings if you get even one player like that, and you're fantasizing about a second? Keep dreaming!"

"Could that player have found an exploit in the game? Is that how he managed all this?"

"Very likely! Make that player confess everything for leniency. For humanity's future, he should share everything he knows!"

Now that the crisis had passed, why would the Dragon Kingdom's netizens keep letting people from other countries run wild?

It was time to show them how it was really done.

"Oh? Whose dog slipped its leash?"

"Isn't this the Cow Kingdom's lapdog, the Turtle Kingdom?"

"Why don't you rename yourselves the Dog Kingdom? Calling yourselves the Turtle Kingdom is an insult to turtles."

"Hey, watch what you're saying! Renaming them the Dog Kingdom would be an insult to dogs!"

"Trying to guilt-trip him into 'confessing for leniency,' too? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right?"

"I cut keys for a living. Want me to cut you down to size?"

"I'm dying. You tried to exploit our crisis to demand an aircraft carrier? Take a piss and look at your own reflection!"

"I heard you were having a friendly exchange with some foreign dickheads. Why didn't you invite me?"

"You're not too late."

"Honestly, how could you say things like that about them? Comparing them to animals, too!"

"What are you getting at? Are you even from the Dragon Kingdom?"

"I mean exactly one thing! How could you insult animals like that? Don't you know you're supposed to be kind to animals? How could you compare animals to these disgusting, twisted, #￥#@￥%@# things!"

"Now that you've explained it, I'm relieved."

"Sorry, I apologize. They really don't deserve to be compared to animals. There's no comparison at all."

"I was wrong. I really shouldn't have compared them to adorable cats and dogs."

"I owe the animals an apology..."

When it came to scathing sarcasm, the mighty Dragon Kingdom would never admit defeat.

The Dragon Kingdom's netizens thoroughly analyzed these foreign "friends" who had crossed the firewall, examining their birth, appearance, character, integrity, humanity, and more from every angle and on every level. At last, they made these creatures recognize their own depravity, leaving them speechless.

A small handful still refused to give up and tried to fight back once more.

"We have more top players than you!"

"The number one player is from the Dragon Kingdom."

"We have more players than you!"

"The number one player is from the Dragon Kingdom."

"If all our players spat once each, we could drown him!"

"I really admire people like you-ugly faces, pretty fantasies. All your players put together wouldn't even be enough for him to crush with one hand!"

"You can't even see his face clearly. What makes you say he's from the Dragon Kingdom? He might be from our Tiger Kingdom!"

"If your ears don't work, I suggest donating them. That rich voice has such a pure Blue Dragon City accent-you should thank God you got to hear even one sentence!"

"The most meaningful thing they've experienced since birth is probably seeing and hearing our Dragon Kingdom's number one player."

"Then they can die without regrets. Off to hell with them."

"Be civil. We need to keep this a friendly exchange."

"I'm waiting for your next sentence."

"We should calmly and peacefully send them to meet God."

"That's more like you."

"That's more like you..."

Now it was the foreign netizens' turn to smash their keyboards.

Against the Dragon Kingdom's netizens, they weren't guaranteed to win even on their own online turf, let alone someone else's!

The Dragon Kingdom's senior officials wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, their eyes moist.

Ever since players had appeared, they had noticed how much more powerful foreign players were than those of the Dragon Kingdom.

Whether in numbers or Guardian levels, they had been completely outclassed in every respect.

They were a major nation too, yet no one knew how much pressure they had endured!

One misstep could have brought the other countries down on them together, devouring them until not even their bones remained!

Thankfully, the bitter days had finally given way to sweet ones.

The Dragon Kingdom had a pillar of its own now!

They had barely relaxed before the senior officials realized something and hurriedly gave instructions to their secretaries and subordinates.

"Quick! Contact him!"

"Whatever it takes, we have to keep him!"

"Meet his conditions as best you can. Whatever you do, don't anger him!"

The magnificent scenery had left Xiao Hao spellbound for a while too. His position gave him a perfect view of it all, and he hadn't even noticed the aircraft carrier entering Blue Dragon City.

After watching for a while, Xiao Hao took a step, preparing to leave using Shadow Transformation, but by then the aircraft carrier had already approached the hotel building.

"Wait!"

"Please wait a moment!"

Hearing the calls from the sky nearby, Xiao Hao paused and gently turned his head.

With the Shadow Mask on, he wasn't afraid of anyone seeing through his disguise.

"Would you join the Dragon Transformation Pool? You can name any conditions you like!"

Xiao Hao didn't need anything, but before he could say so, Wu Ting, the Tyrannosaurus Rex's master, seemed to have realized it and hurriedly added, "Don't worry. Joining the Dragon Transformation Pool won't restrict your freedom at all! Nor will we force you to do anything!"

Xiao Hao knew full well that every gain came at a cost.

If he really joined, accepted all those resources, and enjoyed all those privileges, he would inevitably have obligations to fulfill.

If he only took without giving anything back, eventually he would no longer have a choice.

Xiao Hao gently shook his head, leaving the many players and citizens inevitably disappointed.

Qing Feng, who had barely made his presence felt until now, suddenly said, "The Dragon Kingdom really needs you to join us. It truly does."

Hearing this, Xiao Hao felt that Qing Feng was hinting at something, that there was more to his words.

In these early days of the players' rise, they still couldn't match large-scale weaponry.

At this point, the Dragon Kingdom didn't necessarily need him for his fighting strength.

After a moment's thought, Xiao Hao understood.

National confidence.

The other countries had far more players than the Dragon Kingdom.

The Dragon Kingdom needed an imposing figure to stand guard before its people could feel sufficiently confident.

Wu Ting, Mu Saying, and Qing Feng were strong, but they couldn't establish a clear lead over the other countries' top players.

Only Xiao Hao could put people's hearts at ease.

Xiao Hao chuckled, leaving the many players aboard the aircraft carrier puzzled.

National confidence didn't necessarily have to be built up directly. Suppressing others to maintain a balance worked too.

A sentence emerged from the face of swirling shadows. Not only did the players aboard the aircraft carrier look startled, but the citizens of other countries watching the livestream also went pale with shock!

"The Dragon Kingdom may have fewer players, but they're united. Unlike other countries, we don't slice our players up for experiments."