The dungeon in district 547 was the next one Azure Mist had marked.
Even if someone stretched to defend Zheng Xun by calling the Alice dungeon a coincidence, there was no explaining away district 547.
Zheng Xun had the map of the dungeons marked by the major guilds.
It wasn't hard to guess who had sent him the map, either. Xu Guan left the chat screen and searched his contacts.
He sent Xiao Jun a message.
: Did you give Zheng Xun the map?
A brief, straightforward question.
It was shortly after dinner, and he guessed he wouldn't have to wait long for a reply.
But Xiao Jun replied practically instantly.
: How could I have? Xunhui Guild isn't even high enough in the pecking order to get that map.
Xiao Jun denied it, but only a fool would believe him.
Xu Guan spent eight or nine minutes thinking the whole matter over from beginning to end, including the district 547 dungeon and Songbird's stance, before replying to Zheng Xun.
: Huo Ziyan isn't available for rent, and we won't give up the district 547 dungeon.
Half a minute later, Zheng Xun replied.
There was only an emoji.
: [Smile]
Xu Guan glanced at it, tossed his phone onto the bed, and went to get a towel to dry his hair.
Meanwhile, at Singing Sparrow Guild, Zheng Xun dropped his chopsticks into his tray after seeing the message.
"This Xu Guan just won't budge. Nothing works on him."
Vice President Xiao was sitting across from him. The two of them were in Songbird's cafeteria.
It was past mealtime, so there weren't many people left inside. Only three or four lingered, secretly listening to their conversation.
"Xu Guan won't let people walk all over him. He's not the type to back down when things get difficult." Xiao Jun lowered his eyes to the generous, nutritious dinner in front of Zheng Xun and smiled. "Is the dinner I got any good?"
Zheng Xun had been eating someone else's untouched meal for a while now. Hearing that, he felt no guilt. Instead, he stuffed two big mouthfuls into his mouth and chewed.
"Delicious."
"What are you eating that tastes so good?"
Cheng Jie came around to Zheng Xun's table and plucked a meatball from the tray with his chopsticks.
"It really is good."
"Cheng Jie." Xiao Jun's smile deepened. "Go get me another helping."
"Vice President, why me...?"
"I won't take you on the next dungeon run."
"I'm going! I'm going..."
Cheng Jie obediently went to get the food, leaving the two of them alone again at the table by the window.
"You've gotten it out of your system. Isn't it time to stop?"
Xiao Jun took a sip of hot water from a disposable cup.
"Who said I was trying to get anything out of my system?" Zheng Xun prodded a meatball with his chopsticks, looking as though he'd lost his appetite again.
"Hm? Do you really want to rent Huo Ziyan, then?"
"Of course!" Zheng Xun nodded vigorously.
"It's not just because he's cheap, is it? You were giving him the runaround on the phone yesterday."
"I've watched videos of Huo Ziyan running dungeons." Zheng Xun put down his chopsticks, hooked both arms behind the back of his chair, and looked up at the colorful chandelier on the ceiling. "He's really talented, but his mindset is poor. What's going on there?"
"One of Azure Mist's unsolved mysteries: how did Huo Ziyan, who stunned everyone when he debuted, fail to recover after his first appearance?"
"Does it have something to do with the first team's vice captain?"
Zheng Xun's words startled Xiao Jun.
"How did you know? Meng Yijia seems to treat Huo Ziyan quite well."
"Mm, I suppose everyone thinks so."
Zheng Xun gave a vague reply and dropped the subject.
Just then, Cheng Jie returned carrying a tray. It held a meal identical to the one on the table.
"I'm back, I'm back," Cheng Jie said. "They're out of meatballs. Everything else is the same as before."
"Thanks for the trouble. Sit down."
Cheng Jie sat beside Xiao Jun, while Zheng Xun rested his chin in his hand and gazed at the night view outside the window.
"I want to buy a house."
"Huh?" Cheng Jie pricked up his ears. "A house? Have you saved enough money?"
"No, so I'm planning to find a bargain somewhere."
Cheng Jie mulled over Zheng Xun's words, then suddenly slammed a fist on the table.
Xiao Jun, who was picking out the carrots, frowned.
"Sorry, Brother Xiao, sorry," Cheng Jie hurriedly apologized, then immediately turned back to Zheng Xun. "You're not planning to go rob someone, are you?! I'm telling you, Old Zheng, you've got to keep a clear head. It's one thing to poach Azure Mist's dungeon, but you can't just seize their headquarters!"
"What are you thinking?" Zheng Xun could barely stand the way his mind worked. "Why would I need such a big place just for myself?"
"That's the reason?! Well, fine, as long as you don't lose your head. What kind of place do you want to buy? If you're starting a guild, I suggest renting a floor in an office building."
"An office building?" Zheng Xun said. "That's still too big. I wouldn't use that much space."
"But you've got to think about the future. Once your guild is up and running, you'll have to buy players, hire assistants, and so on. Where are all those people going to live? You can't just stuff them in a drawer."
"I don't need that many people. It's just me."
"Just you..." Cheng Jie rolled the words around in his mouth, then, startled, thumped the table again. "What? Just you? A one-person guild?!"
"What, I can't?"
"It's not that you can't, but if you're playing alone, why start a guild?! What about multiplayer dungeons? What about large-scale dungeons?"
"I'll rent people. Isn't that why I'm busy working out my first contract? Besides, there are lots of dungeons individual players can't enter. I'd be missing out."
Zheng Xun had already worked out his plan when he decided to start a guild. He had carefully read through the beginner's guide and learned about all the types of dungeons in the White Tower. He had also made use of Songbird's library, a place that had gathered dust because no one had entered it for years.
He was learning as much as he could about this world and how guilds operated. The White Tower had descended seven or eight years ago. People had gone from fear to adaptation, and established the Players' General Association. The guilds backed by major financial groups had gradually gotten on track as well, organizing the scattered players and selecting the best among them to form teams. Little by little, things had taken their present shape.
The White Tower's dungeons were divided into ordinary dungeons, material dungeons, district life-and-death dungeons, and so on. Ordinary dungeons had varying difficulty levels, with SSS as the highest. Material dungeons dropped materials, items, and the like, and had no limit on entries. A district life-and-death dungeon was the first kind Zheng Xun had entered. It counted as a variation of an ordinary dungeon, but it determined the fate of an entire district. If it wasn't cleared, everyone would disappear without a trace.
Although the danger of White Tower dungeons had never diminished, the existence of guilds meant that danger came with business opportunities. Enticing rewards drew large numbers of players in, while top-level team players enjoyed extremely high status and were widely sought after.
Besides the dungeons generated by the White Tower, the General Association regularly held competitions, using technology to create virtual dungeons and inviting teams to participate.
The most closely watched of these was the quarterly All-Star Tournament. For the All-Star Tournament, the guilds with the highest point totals, usually the top twenty, sent their star players to compete.
Winning the tournament brought a large number of points and material rewards, as well as widespread attention for the guild. All in all, the benefits were plentiful.
To enter the All-Star Tournament, one first needed a guild.
Individual players had no chance to participate.
Whenever Zheng Xun thought about how individual players couldn't take part in competitions like that, he felt that starting this guild was absolutely necessary.
Zheng Xun briefly explained his ideas, but Cheng Jie treated him as though he'd just escaped from a psychiatric hospital and hadn't adjusted to modern society.
Xiao Jun, who had finally finished picking out the carrots he hated, spoke up.
"Not a bad idea. But if you want to participate in competitions dominated by the major guilds, like the All-Star Tournament, you'll need a lot of points. An awful lot."
"Roughly how long would it take to earn them?"
"About ten years."
"Then I might not live that long."
"That's why I advise you to disband Xunhui immediately and join Songbird."
"..."
Zheng Xun shifted in his seat and crossed his hands against his forehead, looking deep in thought.
Seeing him so troubled, Cheng Jie was affected too and didn't dare breathe too loudly.
A moment later, Zheng Xun lowered his hands to his chin, fixed an intent gaze on Xiao Jun, and spoke.
"All-knowing, all-powerful, wise and rational Songbird Vice President Xiao Jun, Brother Xiao, what brilliant advice do you have?"
"..."
Even Cheng Jie was speechless.
"So you spent all that time thinking hard about how to kiss up to him?!"
Zheng Xun shot him a why are you so childish? look.
"Making money is nothing to be ashamed of."
Xiao Jun really did respond to that approach and pointed him toward a solution.
"The next All-Star Tournament is about two months away. Even if you ran dungeons without rest until you died of exhaustion, you still wouldn't earn a ticket to the competition."
"So?"
"The General Association also sends its own people to the All-Star Tournament. But most of its staff are office workers who can't handle high-intensity dungeons at all, so that spot goes unfilled every year."
Zheng Xun's eyes lit up, but he still had a question.
"Then tell me, Brother Xiao, can a player who already belongs to a guild apply to become a staff member of the General Association?"
"Of course. To balance the various factions, many managers and senior members of major guilds also hold positions in the General Association. In a world with the White Tower, people can die anytime, anywhere. There aren't as many hands available as you might think."
"Then one more question, Brother Xiao. How should I put myself forward and join the General Association?"
"The General Association isn't like a guild, with a major financial group backing it and substantial revenue from livestreams and dungeon runs. Popularity can be converted into funding, and right now you're a major sensation who brings his own audience. If you apply, I think they'd be willing to take you."
"Then I'll..."
"But you still need someone to recommend you."
Xiao Jun smiled pointedly, while Zheng Xun pulled a long face.
"All right, tell me. How many more dungeons do you want me to help Songbird clear?"
"I'm not asking for much. Counting the map of marked dungeons I provided you last time, two. Add them to the rental contract you're giving Songbird."
"...Fine!"
Zheng Xun gritted his teeth and agreed.
Having secured his promise, Xiao Jun had also finished his dinner, apart from the carrots.
"Get a good rest tonight and wait for the good news."