Chapter 176
When Brian was on the verge of collapse, the words he shouted in despair were no less than an admission of defeat, and they shattered the pride and dignity of his proud supporters.
The expressions of the foreign audience changed repeatedly.
Some people couldn't believe it, while others were so dark-skinned they looked like they were about to burst.
The pent-up emotions suddenly exploded, and a deafening barrage of angry curses rose up like a tidal wave.
"What are you doing, Brian?! You actually gave up in front of a monkey?!"
"Go home and drink your milk!"
"You are Thor! Thor!"
"Get up, Brian! Give him a punch!!"
Those words of disappointment and frustration turned into vicious insults after seeing Brian on the screen just clenching his fists and bowing his head in silence.
The audience was furious, their eyes bulging with rage, utterly disappointed.
The more fervent and enthusiastic they were when they were praising Brian, the more they now wish he were dead.
The top-tier technical analysis team was hidden in the audience.
A newcomer, fresh from the start, was taken aback by this bizarre situation. He frowned, speechless. "Are all the viewers from other continents this idiotic?"
Everyone should know that there is always someone better, and recognize the limits of one's own strength.
Even if Brian is sixth on the overall strength list, there are still five people above him who are ahead of him!
Why do those people look like they think Brian should be torn to pieces if he admits defeat?
Brian is indeed a god-level player, but Xie Xubai is a genuine god. Do these people really think that Brian, who has only acquired a portion of the god's power, can defeat a god?
The team leader next to him wasn't surprised and shook his head: "They're just reaping what they sowed."
Even as the world is on the verge of destruction, those politicians have not forgotten their own interests. In this endless game, they continue with their consistent policy: monopolizing knowledge channels, closing off upward mobility, and keeping ordinary people firmly at the bottom.
Here's a rather outrageous example.
Each continent has a trial pool. Once someone successfully completes the trial for the first time, that instance will be permanently added to the trial pool for all players to participate in, improve their level, hone their skills, and obtain points rewards and items.
There are no prerequisites or restrictions; anyone who is alive can participate.
But they soon learned that in some continents, including the Americas, players had to pay an "entrance fee" to enter the trial pool.
They were practically demanding payment for tickets that weren't even required by the system.
Furthermore, they require players to hand over 50% of the points they earn in dungeons as tax.
The reason is that in this chaotic and unstable bizarre world, the people can still live a normal and peaceful life without being harmed by thugs from other continents, all thanks to the protection of the American army.
This move naturally aroused dissatisfaction among the majority of the public at the time, and many people gathered to protest in the streets.
Skills are not allowed to be used in the player space, and players cannot be harmed.
However, the system's definition of "harm" is very broad.
The rules are so broad that even if someone is forcibly pulled into a trial, as long as they are within the player's space and do not suffer any physical harm, it is not considered a violation.
Those unscrupulous officials in power exploit such system loopholes to defend their authority.
The voices of resistance did not diminish; instead, they intensified, as if they had been given the unquestionable indulgence of politicians.
As time passed, those voices, along with some subtle guidance and hints, became commonplace and turned into casual banter often heard from players from other continents.
They can gather together idly and vehemently curse each other.
"I'll kill that XXX one day!"
"Look at those fat, greasy officials, each of them feeding themselves off the people until their mouths are overflowing with oil, while we're left to chew on worthless grass!"
"Make them spit out all the points they've got!"
"Those are our points!"
However, if someone were to pull out a weapon, with a serious and earnest expression, and ask them in a righteous and earnest tone if they wanted to pull off a big heist...
Those people would instantly change their expressions, turning pale and yelling at him, "Are you crazy?"
Are you sick?!
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"
Then they swiftly severed ties, avoiding each other like the plague, and fled as if their lives depended on it.
Within half an hour, heavily armed American troops would receive a secret report and come to arrest people.
It's easy to imagine how morbid the emotions of players from other continents would be in such a distorted and suffocating atmosphere.
In order to alleviate public sentiment and prevent them from becoming truly ill and causing widespread negative impacts, the three major public hazards "emerged" and began to flourish as profit-generating projects.
Amidst this chaotic situation, American politicians need a glaring target to help them remain behind the scenes and draw attention away from the chaos.
As a result, many powerful players like Brian were officially crowned "heroes" and brought to the forefront of public attention.
It's not that politicians rule everything, or that there are no true heroes among the players from other continents.
Brian has indeed saved many people.
But when a hero, who has been officially touted as a "god" from beginning to end, bows down to the "evil forces".
When you see the hero, to whom you have contributed most of your real money (points) to support him, and who could even be called a substitute for faith, fall from his pedestal.
It's easy to imagine the intense reaction from the public.
Regardless of whether Brian and his associates had a clear understanding of their situation as puppets of capital, they undeniably enjoyed the benefits of resource exploitation and the strong public support, making them clear beneficiaries.
So those in the know could only sigh at the karmic retribution.
"Team leader, there really is a problem!"
The voice of the technical team member came from behind him; the news he had just received filled him with indignation.
“We monitored the live streams of other streamers from other continents and found that some members of the alliance organization, like Brian, forced players from other continents to sign suicide contracts.”
Brian's requirement for players to sign a death pact was very strange from the beginning.
Those familiar with Brian know that this guy, who has never tasted defeat, has become so arrogant that he believes "anyone breathing next to him will be a burden to him."
If you make players your sacrificial lambs and use them as shields, he's more likely to resent them for blocking his way and affecting his performance.
So the answer is obvious.
It's likely that politicians from the alliance are secretly sabotaging things, instructing their members to suppress the Central Continent region.
This blatant and despicable behavior is really... not surprising at all.
The technical team leader's lips twitched.
So Brian wasn't entirely wronged.
Looking at the newly released statistics list, although the league has issued such an outrageous requirement, not everyone is as brainless as Brian.
Many broadcasters are taking a rational wait-and-see approach.
Many alliance members disregarded their superiors' orders and proactively extended olive branches, choosing to join forces with players from other continents.
This is what most normal players are like.
Brian was stubborn and self-willed, insisting on running into trouble. Now that he's in this situation, who can he blame but himself?
The technical team leader suddenly remembered something and asked his team members with a serious expression, "Is there any movement from the [Apostle] side?"
Compared to the "Heroes" squad, who were used as targets, the "Twelve Apostles," who were directly involved in the decision-making of the European and American regions, were more daunting.
The person recorded [9] was the guild leader of the [Twelve Apostles] guild.
"Not at the moment."
According to the personnel in charge of monitoring the [Apostles].
"The members of the Apostles are divided into several groups to participate in the trial. Some of them did not start their live streams, so we need to find their traces from other live streams. It will take about two hours to find them."
"As for record [9], after entering the instance, he immediately and frankly told everyone his identity and took over the temporary command position."
"However, people from other continents, including us, were treated equally by him, without any discrimination or suppression in any sense."
"There was no fighting, conflict, slander, or noise. There were a few troublemakers who wanted to cause trouble, but after talking to [9] for a few minutes, they calmed down and were gently guided by [9] to swear to 'protect the world'. So far, they haven't uttered a single swear word. The atmosphere is very friendly."
The group member hesitated: "It's just..."
It's just too good, to the point that it's vaguely creepy.
.
In the Zhongzhou area audience section, the atmosphere of high enthusiasm has not diminished since Xie Xubai appeared.
When Xie Xubai threateningly placed the collar around Brian's neck, the crowd erupted in noise and became even more agitated.
The excited shouts pierced the hearts of Brian's fans like sharp arrows, making them feel even more humiliated and ashamed, and also enraged them.
Putting a collar around someone's neck is an insult! It's disrespectful! It's a contempt for human rights! It should be punished and condemned!
Look! The people of Middle-earth are indeed a bunch of treacherous and cunning thugs! They are inherently vicious demons! They enjoy humiliating people and must be feeling incredibly smug right now!
If you don't believe me, go and listen—
Players from other continents, looking at the "jubilant" players from the Central Continent, almost despaired, turned on their translators, only to hear them shouting insults at each other:
"Wow!"
"What makes this blond guy so special?"
"Family members, I'm devastated! I want my crush's collar too, but why did he get it? QAQ"
As is well known, Xie Xubai is extremely responsible.
Anyone who has any connection with Him, whether good or bad, will not stand idly by if they encounter danger.
That's not just a constraint, it's a lifesaver; how could anyone not be envious and jealous?
"I don't understand. Does Xie Shen prefer men who are more muscular?"
"What do you mean by 'muscle-building'? Your arms are thicker than your calves. Anyone who has ever worked out knows that this muscle ratio is very unhealthy. Who knows if it was built up with cheap muscle-building equipment?"
"And I heard that people there don't like to bathe, they're hairy, and they have a strong body odor."
"His face looks like a pretty boy from some foreign website." The person was very disgusted, finding fault with everything about Brian. "He must have had plastic surgery with props!"
Fans from other continents: "..."
Although, but.
Brian is widely recognized as handsome, of mixed European and American descent, a former international mercenary, and brimming with masculine hormones.
This is the face I had when I first entered the game; there's no possibility of plastic surgery.
And then there's the issue of body odor—that's unreasonable, isn't it? It's not like they don't shower!
Moreover, after several rounds of body tempering and strengthening, god-level players basically no longer need to secrete sweat to detoxify and dissipate heat, so where does the smell come from?
Fans from other continents were furious at the unreasonable slander from players in the Central Continent, but upon closer reflection, something just didn't seem right.
If you were to seriously interpret Brian's face as simply natural, unadulterated handsomeness, that would be even stranger.
Is now the time to investigate this?
Is this the key point?
It was at this moment that a spectator from Central Continent finally stood up, unable to bear it any longer, and actually defended Brian: "Have you all said enough? That blond guy can't possibly be as bad as you're saying!"
Out-of-state audience: Although calling him "Yellow Hair" is impolite, it's well said! Brian was voted the most handsome by them, no matter what...
The audience member exclaimed, "Because Xie Shen's taste couldn't possibly be that bad!!! Even if Huang Mao is useless now, he'll definitely be useful in the future!"
Everything Xie Shubi did had a profound meaning, and there is no room for argument!
Foreign audience: "..."
Foreign audience: "???"
*
The cloaked man expected Xie Xubai to appear, but he didn't expect him to take advantage of the situation and claim to be a guide NPC for the players.
Originally, since they had already sent Slender Man to deal with the players, Xie Xubai only needed to make a brief appearance, say a few words of comfort at just the right time, and Lulu's succubus-like smile would create a strong contrast, which would win over many players.
He refused.
They insisted on getting involved and trying to dominate everything.
Ambitious.
I just don't know if I have that ability.
This time, there are no friends and family members who cherish and love him like the apple of their eye.
For a moment, his expression was a mixture of amusement and disbelief as he stared at Xie Xubai as if watching a good show: "I'd like to see what you're going to do next."
While Slender Man brings death, he also serves as a warning to players.
It is the true guiding NPC on the first floor of the Black Tower.
Once a player is transformed into a doll and fills the cart in its hand, the Slender Ghost will stop its killing spree and lead the player to qualify for the "Black King's Game."
Players are assigned to each instance, starting with 150 people. Slender Man only needs to collect 60 dolls, and at least half of them will survive.
Now, without Slender Man to lead them to the key points of the checkpoint, what good is it even if everyone survives?
The amusement park was destroyed by the reckless Brian, most of the clues were buried in the thunderstorm, and they couldn't even piece together the complete rules.
The players inside the instance were also cautiously asking Xie Xubai, "Master Xie, which way should we go next?"
Xie Xubai glanced at the sky and said without hesitation, "You are only invited guests now. You cannot directly participate in the Black King's game as players. You need to obtain the qualification to participate first, and then find the train station to enter the game kingdom."
The cloaked man's smile suddenly froze on his lips.
Did Xie Xubai develop a third eye?
Where did you get that information?
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