"Retreat and set up camp!" Lü Cheng gave Han Xiao a deep look, then glanced at the refugees, ordering his troops to set up camp in the distance, keeping a watchful eye on them.
The players were restless, with some who hadn't yet chosen a faction observing. Based on the current situation, Green Valley Town seemed to have a higher chance of winning.
It got dark.
Han Xiao arrived outside Lü Cheng's camp. The guards, noticing Han Xiao approaching, nervously raised their guns.
"Relax, I'll talk to your leader," Han Xiao said.
The guards kept their guns at the ready, not daring to let Han Xiao into the camp.
At this moment, Lü Cheng heard the commotion and came over, saying in a deep voice, "Let him in."
If Black Phantom wanted to kill him, he didn't need to notify him. It seemed he had ulterior motives. Lü Cheng told the guards to step back and led the way into the newly erected tent. Han Xiao was followed by Frenzied Sword.
Lü Cheng sat down casually, unconcerned that Han Xiao would threaten his life. He rested his chin on his hands and said in a deep voice, "The infamous Black Phantom has appeared in such a small place. I don't know why you're getting involved. Bashas shouldn't be qualified to hire an assassin of your caliber. What is your purpose in visiting me?"
Han Xiao cut to the chase. "I'm here to help you."
"Help me?" Lü Cheng was puzzled. "We've never met."
Han Xiao casually made up a reason, "I find you more pleasing to the eye Bashas."
Lü Cheng felt something was off. He paused for a moment, then said, "Bashas... he's a despicable guy, using refugees as cannon fodder. I really don't understand why these refugees would risk their lives. What benefits did Bashas give them? Did he hold their families hostage as a threat? I gave them a way out, but they wouldn't take it."
"They're all pretty weak, why don't you just crush them? With your armed forces, it would be a one-sided massacre." Han Xiao said with a half-smile.
Lü Cheng remained expressionless, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the topic or the book. He then changed the subject, "Black Phantom, I don't know you, nor do I know why you're helping me. What are you planning to do? Assassinate Bashas? I believe that will be easy for you."
"No, I don't want to kill anyone," Han Xiao replied evasively.
Lü Cheng's lips twitched. An assassin saying he didn't want to kill? That was more absurd than a navy officer saying he couldn't swim!
"So how do you want to help me?"
"You care about the problem of refugees, I can help you solve it."
Lü Cheng an eyebrow. "You have a way to persuade them?"
"Perhaps."
"... So what do you want from me?"
Lü Cheng didn't believe that a strange legendary assassin would help him for free; he must have something in mind. But he couldn't understand what Black Phantom had in mind about him.
I don't need any payment.
Lü Cheng's eyes darkened as he stared into Han Xiao's eyes, only to find them shrouded in an unfathomable fog. He couldn't discern what Han Xiao was thinking. Generally speaking, not asking for a reward meant having ulterior motives and even greater ambitions.
silence.
Frenzied Sword, who was standing to the side, was completely confused, but that didn't stop him from noticing that the atmosphere had become tense and his neck felt a little tight.
After a two-minute standoff, Lü Cheng finally nodded without saying anything and slowly said, "Then I'll leave it to you."
Stepping out of Lü Cheng's tent, Han Xiao patted Frenzied Sword on the shoulder and said, "I have something for you to do."
"You have triggered the quest [Spread the message]"
The task required spreading the news that Black Phantom Lü Cheng's camp. The reward was calculated based on an evaluation system, with more people knowing the news receiving more experience. Players were even counted in the number of people. Frenzied Sword, without a second thought, happily went to Green Valley Town to spread the news.
Ordinary players might be surprised when they first encounter such a realistic and interactive mission, but after being exposed to Han Xiao's love, Frenzied Sword is no longer surprised by any form of mission.
"Now we'll see how much influence I have," Han Xiao thought to himself.
Frenzied Sword were very efficient, partly due to his growing fame, and the news spread quickly among the players in Green Valley Town, causing an uproar.
"If I choose Green Valley Town, will I become enemies with Black Phantom?"
"How could we possibly defeat him!"
Is this a mission guide?
The players panicked. The image of Han Xiao fiercely fighting the beast horde during the day was still deeply etched in their minds. To fight against the Black Phantom was simply courting death. The situation of the mission was suddenly reversed, and Green Valley Town's chances of winning plummeted.
Furthermore, choosing to defend Green Valley Town means attacking Black Phantom, which will lower your favorability rating. It's too much of a loss to offend a powerful figure for a small mission. If a fight really breaks out, should you attack him or not? If you don't attack, how can you defend Green Valley Town? This is a dead end.
Players who chose Green Valley Town were frustrated, feeling they had no chance of winning. To complete the mission, their only option was to Lü Cheng's faction, but they could no longer choose a faction.
Meat Bun Hits Dog acted decisively, heading first to Lü Cheng's camp. The mission was secondary; the main goal was to capture more footage of Han Xiao.
The guards had already received Lü Cheng's orders to let the refugees pass. Meat Bun Hits Dog successfully Lü Cheng's camp. Han Xiao, who was observing from the side, narrowed his eyes and noticed Meat Bun Hits Dog.
"This ID looks familiar... Isn't this a game video creator?" Han Xiao remembered the ID "Meat Bun Hits Dog," who was a fairly famous game video creator in his previous life, who made many popular "Galaxy" series videos.
In that instant, Master Han suddenly had a new idea... wait, why the "again"?
Han Xiao stepped out and came to the Meat Bun Hits Dog.
"Your choice is wise. I think you have potential. Would you like to become my assistant temporarily?" Han Xiao asked.
Meat Bun Hits Dog's eyes widened in utter bewilderment; had this triggered a hidden plot?
He never dared to hope for it, but unexpectedly, it happened to him!
Is this life? You can't get what you want, but it's delivered to your hands when you don't want it. It's so unexpected. Meat Bun Hits Dog, you're stunned for a moment.
The onlookers erupted in uproar.
He triggered the hidden storyline for Black Phantom!
"How did you do that?!"
"Does joining Black Phantom's side solve the problem?"
"Is this mission actually an opportunity to trigger a hidden storyline?"
Realizing this, players who had been observing eagerly Lü Cheng's camp, like a refugee crisis, filling the camp to capacity. The guards were stunned, unsure whether to turn them away.
Players who had chosen their faction rushed to Han Xiao, hoping to trigger the storyline, but were met with rejection after rejection.
Why not?
"Is it only the first person to join a faction who can trigger the hidden storyline?!"
This is the most likely guess. Players who were a step too slow are probably kicking themselves. The feeling of heartache is like buying a lottery ticket and being notified that you've won five million, only to be told three minutes later that you dialed the wrong number.
They had the opportunity to be the first to try, but that opportunity Meat Bun Hits Dog.
We were too slow, and missed a golden opportunity!
Players were devastated, their cries of despair echoing throughout the land.
Han Xiao led the excited Meat Bun Hits Dog to the side, casually increasing Roubao Da Gou's favorability by five points, and secretly planned how to make use of Meat Bun Hits Dog's abilities.
Having a player who makes game videos with you is like having a reporter on your side; you have a channel to freely pass on information to the player. Selectively giving players information, only telling them the information you want them to know, is very advantageous to you.
Having experienced the information explosion, controlling public opinion is tantamount to wielding a weapon. It allows one to smear opponents, guide public opinion, and even shape one's own image. Famous examples abound, such as the CCTV Evening News...
"It seems I'm getting more and more sophisticated." Han Xiao smugly wrote a generous follow-up mission, tossed it to Meat Bun Hits Dog, then took out a phone to contact him and handed it to Meat Bun Hits Dog, instructing him not to lose it. Meat Bun Hits Dog nodded repeatedly and carefully put the phone away.
There are currently two players following him, Meat Bun and Frenzied Saber. Han Xiao has ample mission credits. After the Second Advancement, the credit for each level has increased from 300 to 500. That is to say, when he was at level 40, the credit for each level increase was 12,000, but now it has doubled to 25,000, for a total value of 50,000. He can now reward players with even higher credits.
Han Xiao didn't have any news to spread for the time being, so he gave Meat Bun his contact information first, in case it came in handy later.
"I currently have three players in mind: Frenzied Saber, Maple Moon, and Meat Bun. That's a bit too few; I need to expand my backup team." Han Xiao has high standards and prefers quality over quantity. His quota is destined to go for the elite route. If he could recruit the top players from the Huaxia region into his team, that would be a huge win. However, Master Han thinks that possibility is rather slim, as those super-high-level players are all very individualistic.
He's only cleared two beginner villages so far, and there are still over a dozen waiting for him. Han Xiao has plenty of opportunities to choose his teammates.