Chapter 90 Jiangyi City
In Song Lu's eyes, Xia Bai has always been a good student. Even though the world has collapsed like this, he still attends every class seriously.
There are many college students among the players, including those in the Game Management Bureau. After knowing the game, most of them stopped studying and found ways to get rich quickly by relying on the game points. They started making money or enjoying life. Some even dropped out of school.
In peacetime, college students have long been worthless, let alone in the gaming age. Will college students receive special care in games?
Xia Bai is an outlier among them. He seems to have no idea how rich he can be or what kind of life he can enjoy. He goes to school diligently every day, goes to the market to buy vegetables after school, cooks for himself at home, and even learns to paint by taking online courses that cost three or four hundred yuan.
Song Lu sometimes felt dazed, but she felt that Xia Bai had rare qualities and didn't want Xia Bai to skip classes.
Song Lu: [Don’t skip classes. I’ll ask for leave. If you get caught skipping classes, you’ll lose your scholarship.]
When Xia Bai heard about the scholarship, he immediately compromised, "I don't want to skip classes either."
Song Shi hadn't said anything yet, so Song Lu tagged her brother directly: [How is it? No map?]
Song Shi: [We are discussing it. We can definitely go to Jiangyi City. Don’t worry, book your flight ticket.]
Xia Bai was relieved to see that he could go to Jiangyi City. Song Shi said that he could definitely go, and said that he needed to discuss it, probably because Jiangyi City had an alternative.
Xia Bai: [I can download a few more games from Jiangyi City.]
“…”
Song Shi: [It’s like this, and other members of the assault team asked if there were any games for Jiangyi City. It just so happened that Jiangyi City had a difficult game, so we were thinking, should we take this opportunity to find a few more members of the assault team and complete this game.]
Xia Bai: [That’s great. What’s the point of your discussion?]
Song Shi: [Not worth it.]
What kind of games are most worth playing? According to the standards of the Game Management Bureau, simply put, the cost of blocking is particularly high, including the opportunity cost.
If a game lands on a core traffic artery, or in the core administrative district of a first-tier city like Fengning City, then as soon as the game is confirmed to have landed and the first batch of players involved have not cleared the level, the assault team members will be immediately arranged to clear the level.
For Dihao Apartment, the blockade is indeed not a problem for the Tourism Administration, because no one usually goes there. But it is located in the center of Datai City, and it can create greater value after the customs clearance, so it is worth arranging people to clear the customs.
Only then did Xia Bai realize that there was a game map in Jiangyi City. The first group of players who were dragged into it did not pass it. Some players outside the Tourism Administration Bureau spontaneously organized themselves to go in, but they also did not pass it. The third time players from the Tourism Administration Bureau's assault team led the team in, they all died in it.
This map is just a private manor, Hongqiang Manor, which is located in the east of Jiangyi City and has been uninhabited for a long time.
Therefore, it was ranked very far back by the Operations Department of the Tourism Management Bureau and had a very low priority.
If Xia Bai, Hua Haoming and others had not proposed to go to Jiangyi City, this game might have been suppressed until the game situation stabilized and then resolved.
Song Shi: [Generally, players will not enter the game on their own initiative. The second group of players dared to enter because they were organized by very powerful and confident players. Although that player's ranking was not high, he had just become a player not long ago. In fact, he had completed three games in a row and had a very powerful soul skill. His companions also had the same skill. Even so, they all died in the game.]
Song Shi: [Based on their situation at the time, the leader of the assault team selected two more members, a total of four, but they all died in the game.] Xia Bai knew why Song Shi said that this game was not worth it.
At least six high-level players have died, including four members of the assault team. Such a private manor is really not worth it, and it is certainly not worth it for the members of the assault team to take any more risks.
Xia Bai: [Then why are you still discussing this? Is it because the sunk costs are too high?]
So many people have died, including four of my colleagues and comrades, yet the game is still there, an eyesore.
Song Shi: [There is a reason for this, and I am a little unwilling to give up. When the game first came out, the energy detection was only three stars, and all the games you have completed were more difficult than this. After three groups of people died in it, the difficulty rose to five stars. In fact, five stars is not considered high, not to this extent.]
[At the time, the team discussed that the game was not difficult at the beginning, and there must be a point that they all got wrong or missed, which led to this ending. What exactly is this point? Many members of the team were scratching their heads.]
[Also, a member of the assault team who died in this map was from the Wangchuan group, and was Hua Haoming's partner at the time. That was the only time Hua Haoming didn't play the game with him, and he died in the game. This game was proposed by Hua Haoming, and he said that for many reasons, why not take this opportunity to play this game.]
Xia Bai knew why Song Shi didn't mention this game to him at the beginning. This game was indeed worth their long discussion. Whether they played it or not, there were reasons and problems.
Xia Bai: [Will it be confirmed before Thursday?]
Song Shi: [No, this game is not suitable for a bounty mission, and it does not need to be released before Thursday.]
Xia Bai: [Okay, then I'll go to Jiangyi City first, and you can tell me the results after you discuss it.]
On Thursday night, Lin Xiang called Xia Bai and asked, "Why haven't you sent out this week's tasks yet?"
Xia Bai: "I might want to play a more complicated game. This game is not suitable for bounty missions. I'm not sure if it's suitable for you."
Xia Bai explained the situation of this game to Lin Xiang. The people from the assault team and the research institute analyzed that this game might be a game that tends to be more of a reasoning game, so they immediately rejected Erwa and Yang Mei.
They have now confirmed that the people who will participate in the game are him, Ling Changye and Hua Haoming, and are considering whether to add Jing Yan.
As for Lin Xiang, they all knew his characteristics. His logic often had loopholes in reasoning, but he had a rich imagination. In this copy, which was not difficult to begin with, the first three batches of players who died might have failed because of a point that was not easy to find. With Lin Xiang around, perhaps he could inspire them.
However, this game is more dangerous than any previous one, and Xia Bai does not want Lin Xiang to participate out of selfish motives.
Lin Xiang said, "I'll think about whether to go to this game or not. I'll go to Jiangyi City with you. My parents said that it's not appropriate to have a grand visit on the anniversary of their death, so they let me, a junior, go with them to see what's going on."
Xia Bai: "Okay, it's just right for us to go together."
After agreeing, Xia Bai went to the last two classes of the week with peace of mind.
There are two classes on Friday morning, from 9:00 to 11:00 am.
During the break between classes, Xia Bai went to the bathroom alone.
He stopped just as he walked in.
Before the wind came over, Xia Bai squatted down to protect his head, and quickly retreated to the door.
He turned around and saw a yellow sign outside the bathroom door that said "Sanitary cleaning, temporarily closed" appeared without him noticing.
Xia Bai held his breath and concentrated, and when he noticed the direction of the hair in his pocket, his arms went limp.
When another gust of wind came, the earthworm's arm suddenly moved forward and wrapped around a ball of something that looked like air.
As the owner of the earthworm arm, Xia Bai knew that this was not a ball of air, but a real person. It looked like air probably because the other party used some invisibility props.
As soon as he entered the school, Erwa poked his head out of his space pocket and looked around anxiously.
Erwa has always been very well behaved. He usually won’t stick his head out unless someone in the classroom is waiting for him to sit down.
At that time, Xia Bai suspected that something was following him, but he didn't find any strange people.
Xia Bai didn't want to disrupt the school order, so he came to this farther bathroom just to test whether anyone was following him and to create an opportunity for the other party.
Xia Bai's earthworm arms tightened tighter and tighter, until he could hear the sound of bones breaking, and the other party finally spoke.
"Put me down, help, put me down..."
Unfortunately it was tied too tightly and the sound was very small. Fortunately, this person had put the sign at the door in advance, so no one would come near and no one would hear it.
Sister Xue Mu's hair grew out of the mobile phone and crawled along the earthworm arm towards the ball of air that made the sound. There were small ups and downs in the middle, and the sister's small figure was looming.
"Wait, wait a minute... I was wrong, I confess!"
A long earthworm arm is weird enough, and with the long black hair that is standard for female ghosts, anyone who sees it in the real world would know that they are about to die.
The earthworm's arm loosened a little, and Xia Bai asked, "Which club are you from?"
The other party was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I am from the Iris Guild."
To show his sincerity, he took off his invisibility cloak and revealed his face, a thin man in his twenties.
Xia Bai didn't say anything and put him down.
He took the opportunity to run, but when he reached the door, he suddenly felt uncomfortable and scratched his heart. Xia Bai stood there and counted silently. When he counted to 13, the man suddenly knelt in front of him and handed him a whip, "Master, hit me, please, hit me hard!"
Xia Bai: “…”
He glanced at his sister Yuki who was drowned in her hair.
Sister Xue Mu frowned her newly grown eyebrows, "I didn't expect his fetish was masochism, and now his fetish has become alienated, so I'll give him some compliments."
Xia Bai: “…”
Erwa stuck his head out, but was pushed back by Xia Bai.
Xia Bai's legs had been hugged by him, "Master, beat me hard, please, you can do whatever you want to me, hard, don't torture me like this."
Xia Bai was a good student and couldn't hit anyone, so he let the thin man beg desperately.
After a painful self-torture, the man finally confessed to Xia Bai while strangling himself with a whip, "I am indeed a player of the Iris Guild, but I work for the Holy Tour Guild... Master... This time I came here to... It hurts so much... Take your blood."
It’s Yang Yi.
Before, he was in the Tourism Management Bureau, and under the prohibition of the director, he could not do such things behind the scenes and take his blood regardless of his life or death.
Now he went to the Holy Tour Guild, a guild with almost no constraints, and he could unscrupulously let people take his blood.
Xia Bai suspected that one of the reasons why Yang Yi, this crazy scientific researcher, went to the Holy Travel Guild was so that he could take his blood.
He was so obsessed with his blood that Xia Bai guessed that this kind of thing would happen again in the future. Yang Yi would not give up until he got his blood and might resort to any means necessary.
Xia Bai didn't feel annoyed and asked calmly, "What is Yang Yi doing in the Shengyou Guild now?"
"Dr. Yang is studying games."
Xia Bai continued to ask: "Where is You Yue? What is he doing in the Shengyou Guild?"
"You... Vice President, it's the Vice President."
Xia Bai was stunned. You Yue actually became the vice president of the Shengyou Guild. Thinking about it carefully, it was not surprising.
Every time the Shengyou Guild faced him, there were countless casualties. Even Lao Qian said that he could not beat You Yue. If this continued, the losses of the Shengyou Guild would be incalculable.
For the Half Moon Group, although they have You Yue, a large guild like the Holy Tour Guild can clean them out at any time when You Yun is not around.
They are already in agreement on the general stance, so why not cooperate and achieve a win-win situation?
In the past, the Holy Travel Guild wanted to absorb the Half Moon Group, but this time, judging by the position of the vice president in power, it can only be said to be a merger.
Xia Bai confiscated the man's invisibility cloak and released him, but it was very difficult. He didn't want to leave and insisted that Xia Bai beat him. Xia Bai gave this task to Qi Yan, who was able to sneak out wearing the invisibility cloak.
Wearing an invisibility cloak and walking out was the best decision Xia Bai made that day. As soon as he came out, he saw two classmates looking at the bathroom with strange eyes, holding mobile phones in their hands.
Xia Bai: “…”
There were no flights from Jiangqi City to Jiangyi City on Friday at noon, so Song Lu arranged for them to use the Tourism Administration's special plane.
When Xia Bai was taking Erwa and Lin Xiang to the airport, Lin Xiang said to Xia Bai, "Xia Bai, have you heard? There's a pervert in your school who was having fun in the bathroom in broad daylight. You'd better be careful, because perverts like innocent and pretty girls like you."
Xia Bai: “…”
Xia Bai: "Where did you hear that?"
Lin Xiang: "There is audio on the campus forum, but it's not very clear. I can only hear something loud like 'Master hit me hard'."
Erwa stuck his head out again, but was pushed back by Xia Bai.
Xia Bai put on the knitted hat and stuffed all his hair into it. "I will pay attention."
At two o'clock in the afternoon, they arrived in Jiangyi City.
This time, the brother and sister Song Lu and Song Shi accompanied Xia Bai. In the past, when Xia Bai played games, they didn't need to accompany him, but they said that this time was special and it would be better to have them take care of him.
Lin Xiang: "You can't take care of him in the game, so you don't need him outside the game, right? It's Captain Ling's father's death anniversary, will there be many people coming?"
Song Shi said: "Yes, there may be many players, involving many societies and other interest groups."
Xia Bai didn't understand either, just like Lin Xiang.
This question started a long time ago. Song Shi asked them: "I believe you can see that the operation of the Tourism Administration requires a lot of money. You also know that there is no place called the Commercial Department in the Tourism Administration. Where does the money come from?"
Not only does it require a lot of money, the Tourism Administration is simply a money-burning machine.
Not to mention other departments, just their assault team has members leading the team to play the game almost every day, seven days a week. That means there are bounty missions almost every day. The most basic expenditure for a bounty mission is tens of millions in cash at a time, not to mention points and more expensive props.
Lin Xiang: "The Tourism Management Bureau was established to manage games and weirdness and maintain social stability, not with fiscal appropriations?"
Song Shi shook his head, "It's far from enough."
"The Ling family can be said to be the external business department of the Gaming Administration. The settlement of game points and props, cash, and all formal business activities related to the game are authorized by the Gaming Administration to be managed and operated by their various foundations and companies."
Lin Xiang suddenly realized that it was no wonder that the land of Dihao Apartment was taken away by Ling Yun so quickly.
It turns out that the fundamental reason why the Ling family has been able to stand firm in the gaming era lies here.
Song Shi: "Originally, Team Ling was in charge of one of the projects and had contact with the Tourism Management Bureau. It was only then that Director Wang discovered him and appointed him as the leader of the assault team."
Xia Bai: "So, before the captain became the captain, he had already started the business of the Stream Management Bureau?"
Song Shi: “Yes.”
Lin Xiang couldn't help but give a thumbs up. He thought that Ling Changye was using his position as the captain of the assault team to build a bridge between the Ling family and the Tourism Administration. He didn't expect that he had already established the connection before he became the captain.
What a keen business sense.
Xia Bai discovered this week that although he and the captain had downloaded several games together and also brought the [Ring of Time and Space] together, he actually didn't know the captain very well.
Song Shi: "There are too many interest groups involved. Even on the anniversary of the captain's father's death, when there is no need to invite outsiders, there will be many people coming. This is not something they can decide on their own. It will be more convenient for us to follow."
Xia Bai nodded, "Then he should be very busy, let's not disturb him, let's find a place to live first."
"Yes." Lin Xiang said, then he looked ahead and said, "I'm afraid it's too late."
Ling Changye was standing in front.
Jiangyi City is a well-known tourist city in the south. Even in winter, there are still many people coming here to travel. Perhaps there are too many people, or perhaps there are many people here paying attention to him. When he appeared this time, he was wearing a black mask, revealing only his high nose bridge and his black and blue eyes.
His eyes became the focus of his vision at this time. Xia Bai couldn't see the tip of his nose, so he had to look at his eyes, which made his heart beat heavily.
It was very similar to the feeling I had when I saw him picking me up at the airport the second time I went to Datai City, but much heavier than that time.
Ling Changye strode over and naturally took the small suitcase from Xia Bai's hand, saying with a smile, "Here I am."
Xia Bai looked up at him and said "hmm".
Lin Xiang said in surprise: "Captain Ling, why are you here to pick us up again? Oh, I see, you are hiding from us just like last time."
"There is indeed more work to hide this time than last time." Ling Changye said as he led them out of the airport.
Song Lu hurriedly followed and said, "Captain Ling, I have booked a hotel. If you are busy, just leave it to us."
"I know that hotel. Hua Haoming just told me about it. He just arrived. I'll take you there." Ling Changye said, "I'm going to check the game as well."
Song Lu nodded, "Hey!"
Several people were surprised at Ling Changye's emotional stability, and he was still concerned about the game at this time. On second thought, it has been seven years, and it is time to let it go. For ordinary people, three years after the death of a loved one, they can go back to work normally on the anniversary of the death.
This time, the Tourism Authority booked a hot spring hotel on a hillside with a quiet environment overlooking the sea.
They have already decided to go to Red Rose Manor tomorrow, but this is not a bounty game mission, so there are no strict standards. It is as casual as making an appointment with friends to play the game. Who will play the game and what time will be the game have not been confirmed yet, so they are waiting for them to arrive and discuss it together.
The hotel has been booked by the Tourism Bureau. There are several members of the assault team here. They don't necessarily come here to play games, but just take a vacation. If the captain needs them around the anniversary, they can show up at any time.
After sending Xia Bai to the hotel room, Ling Changye was about to talk to Xia Bai when his cell phone rang.
He took a phone call and was about to leave.
Xia Bai followed him out of the room and then followed him out of the hotel door.
Jiangyi City has a humid climate and the hotel is built on a hot spring. Xia Bai was wearing a cashmere hat with his hair all tied up inside. This look might be a disaster for someone else, but for him, it magnified his appearance. The skin on his face was moist and soft, and when his eyes looked at people without any obstruction, he didn't look so dull.
Ling Changye asked with a smile: "Take you away?"
Xia Bai shook his head and refused to disturb anyone.
Ling Changye was just about to speak when the phone rang again.
Seeing this, Xia Bai took a step back towards the hotel door to make his attitude clear.
Ling Changye was urged to leave. He looked back again before getting on the car. Maybe it was the shadow of the leaves shaking in his eyes. Xia Bai felt that his eyes were bluer than ever.
"Xia Bai, what are you thinking about there!"
When Hua Haoming passed by the door, he saw Xia Bai standing at the door in a daze. There was no one outside, so he called him.
Xia Bai replied subconsciously: "The captain's eyes are so blue."
Hua Haoming: “…”
"Outside the game, how could the captain's eyes be blue?" Hua Haoming asked, "Did another player pass by just now?"
"No." Xia Bai didn't understand, "Why aren't the captain's eyes blue outside the game?"
Hua Haoming said: "The captain has no foreign blood, he is a pure Hua countryman. His eyes are black, and they turn blue because of his skills. Usually when they turn blue, it means he is trying to see clearly and analyze the skills of other players. His eyes won't turn blue when he looks at us or ordinary people."
Xia Bai was slightly stunned. What Hua Haoming said made sense, but his eyes turned blue several times when he saw Ling Changye not replicating his skills.
Why is that?
Xia Bai asked this question, "What if the captain's eyes are also blue when he doesn't have the analysis skill?"
Hua Haoming: "Your hypothesis is interesting."
The members of the assault team like to study their captain. This is related to the fact that when Ling Changye first became the captain, they studied Ling Changye's skills and how to defeat Ling Changye. This can be considered a fine tradition that has been passed down.
Hua Haoming analyzed the situation with Xia Bai with great interest, "I think there are two possibilities."
"Yeah." Xia Bai, who was very curious and didn't know why, listened attentively.
"In the first case, you know, when the captain is analyzing and replicating other people's skills, he uses his soul skills and is very serious and focused. Gradually, he may develop a habit, like muscle memory. In the future, when he looks at something very focused, his eyes will turn blue."
Xia Bai's heart beat heavily again.
"The second situation is, as you know, using soul skills too much will affect the soul. This situation can be divided into many situations. For example, the simplest one is just affecting the color of his soul. Every time you touch his soul, your eyes will turn blue."
"For example, his soul skill is essentially to obtain skills from others. When he wants to get something from others, his eyes will turn blue, just like when you see a corpse you want, your eyes will glow. You should be able to understand this."
Xia Baidai, I understand so well.
As they were talking, they walked towards the restaurant. Jing Yan from the opposite side also walked towards them. When he raised his eyes, he unconsciously looked at the inner thoughts of the two people opposite him.
Hua Haoming: "What does the captain want?"
Xia Bai: "Captain, are you so greedy for my skills?"
Jing Yan: “?”
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