Chapter 631: Chapter 598: The Pioneer Artifact and Special Progress Reward
Not only was Director Conrad incredulous, but at this moment, everyone in the Federal Network Security Bureau’s meeting room looked at the man who proposed this idea in amazement.
They doubted how he got into this meeting room.
Under the gazes that treated him like a fool, the person who made the suggestion calmly spread his hands and said, “What if?”
The director said irritably, “After the meeting is over, you can try sending him an email.”
“Now, let’s get back to the main topic.”
Conrad skipped the unrealistic topic and continued, “There are three main issues regarding how to deal with the increasing influence of Cloud Dream:
First, support domestic research centers in developing virtual reality technology, achieve technological self-reliance as soon as possible, and establish our own virtual world.
Second, discuss whether we can slow down the expansion of Cloud Dream’s influence in Germany through tax, legal, and administrative measures and explore the possible impact of these measures.
Third, if we cannot fight against it or achieve technological breakthroughs, should we recommend that the higher-ups completely change their attitude towards Cloud Dream, bet early and embrace the virtual world.”
His words astonished everyone.
Especially the third topic.
Many people had already thought of the first two points, but embracing the virtual world?
“Place bets early?” Deputy Ernst didn’t understand how this could work.
The director then explained, “Previously, Lincoln had traveled by airship, flying over Xiajing City in reality; meanwhile, the users in the virtual world also flew over a virtual Xiajing. The founder of Keli Buli Game Company, Mr. Buli, confirmed this incident. Cloud Dream’s high-level executives took him to visit the still-under-construction Virtual Xiajing.”
Director Conrad paused for a moment and continued, “So if necessary, we can invite Cloud Dream to build a [Virtual Berlin].”
Obviously, this idea greatly exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Fortunately, he quickly changed the topic and said, “Of course, this is not something we would like to do; it is just a possibility that needs to be considered.”
“If possible, we certainly hope that our own people can build this kind of virtual capital city.”
“Is it really necessary to go this far?” Ernst was puzzled.
“Isn’t the virtual world just a place for leisure and entertainment? As long as we find ways to limit the usage time of our citizens, we can greatly weaken their influence, right?”
Conrad shook his head, “We need to have a long-term perspective.”
“When the great navigation era just began, it was a losing business. In recent years, all countries in the world with the capability have been intensifying their efforts in the field of space exploration, which is equally costly and unlikely to yield short-term benefits.”
“But now, the importance of these two endeavors is no longer in question by anyone.”
“So why are you looking down on the virtual world when you are also exploring and opening up a new world?”
Seeing Conrad’s serious expression, Ernst lowered his head in admiration. He was both surprised by the director’s foresight and shocked by the weight of the virtual world in his heart.
‘So, the virtual world can be equated with the [Great Navigation] and [Exploration of the Universe], a grand undertaking?’
This idea almost instantly overturned all his impressions of the virtual world!
If exploring the universe is the beginning of the “Cosmic Great Navigation,” then virtual reality games are likely to be…
The beginning of the “Virtual Great Navigation”?
With this in mind, he understood why Director Conrad would say that if it is absolutely necessary, even cooperating with Cloud Dream is an option to participate in the construction of the virtual world.
Because no matter which great navigation, it requires you to learn to build ships first.
If you really can’t build it yourself, getting the earliest ship tickets as soon as possible is always the most important thing.
But the bad news is: now all the ship tickets are held in one person’s hands.
And this person doesn’t seem to plan to sell tickets.
This is the reason why Director Conrad held this meeting specifically.
Not only Ernst, but other people in the meeting room quickly realized this as well.
But understanding the reason alone is not enough. The purpose is to find a solution, and this step makes them feel very headache.
…
…
As the experts of the Network Security Bureau were discussing countermeasures in the meeting room, the Daxia time had already arrived in the evening.
The anchors who started broadcasting in the afternoon were still fighting in the game, and there was no intention to go offline and sleep.
As for the players who only entered the game in the evening, they had a smoother journey due to the pioneers opening up the way ahead.
The most obvious example is––
A large number of players completely ignored the temptation of [Survival Challenge], gave up on expert mode, and started the game with normal difficulty.
Now on Daxia’s social network, [Survival Challenge] has been completely classified as [Lincoln’s Malice].
Every time a newcomer mentions [Survival Challenge], many netizens remind them:
“Think about it clearly, is it easy to take advantage of Lincoln?”
“Haven’t you guys seen through him yet?!”
“I used to think naïvely that this game would either be very scary or very difficult. It turns out that after entering the game, I guessed wrong. This game is not only very scary, but it’s also very difficult! Expert difficulty is not for normal players!”
…
A large number of players were discouraged and chose to start the game in the more relaxed normal mode.
Of course, there are definitely some players who are full of confidence in themselves and are stubborn enough to give it a try.
Their train of thought is very clear: “Since there are fewer people participating in the [Survival Challenge], doesn’t that mean my chances of winning are higher?”
So, they unhesitatingly create an expert difficulty character and plunge into the game world.
Even if these people are abused by the game, they asked for it, so there’s nothing to say.
But another group of people who were deceived into the game, they’re quite pitiable.
*
The cause of the incident can be traced back to a few hours ago when Warehouse Bird made an accidental discovery.
Yes, Warehouse Bird is going for the Terraria speedrun again.
He’s called the “Passerby God” by the players, and it’s not an empty title.
Although his previous fame was entirely based on VR gunfight games, he switched to virtual reality platforms after the emergence of the Cloud Dream and steadily secured the title of “Passerby God” while playing numerous games. This is very rare.
Many former “technical streamers” gradually “fell from grace” after switching to virtual reality games and had to transform into “entertainment anchors.”
Warehouse Bird has the ability, so he naturally rises to prominence and gains high attention.
However, he was not a professional streamer before. He considered himself a professional gamer, and live streaming was just to record progress and prove his strength.
So, he has never signed any high-level contracts with live streaming platforms.
Later, when the Cloud Dream Live Broadcast Platform appeared, he quickly switched platforms and seized the opportunity, and his influence increased once again.
Today, when Terraria is launched, he naturally goes in to experience it for the first time.
After all, each time a new game is released by Cloud Dream, and he’s competing for the “first completion,” a large audience will gather.
During this time, his live streaming room’s traffic can even rival the top streamers.
Moreover, he is one of the few players who haven’t lowered the difficulty, persistently sticking to expert mode when exploring the game.
His reason for doing so is not because he is stubborn, but due to a cause—
Isn’t the reason why so many people come to watch his live streaming to see him explore the highest difficulty?
Otherwise, there are streamers everywhere, and each is better than him in terms of entertainment. Why would they have to watch his?
“Besides, let’s have a rational analysis.” After Warehouse Bird got a Fire Gun, he bought bullets while making analyses for his audience.
——This [Wound-inflicting Firearm] (Ranged Damage 34) is a weapon he got after venturing deep into the Land of Corruption and crafting the BOSS summoning item [Suspicious Eyeball], incidentally destroying a Shadow Bead in the process.
The exaggerated damage numbers stunned Warehouse Bird, and he immediately felt that he had obtained a “game-breaking artifact.”
The only problem was: the Fire Gun needed bullets, and the 100 bullets that came with the gun were not enough.
Because this item is not like the real-life 18th-century flintlocks that could only fire once every ten seconds or so, it’s an entirely different concept.
Once the bullets are placed in the [Ammunition Slot], you can simply shoot without thinking, no need to reload.
However, as a result, the bullets are consumed at an astonishingly fast rate.
Fortunately, after returning home, he found an arms dealer selling bullets for 7 copper coins each at his home.
Unfortunately, he has bad luck and has not found any iron ore. After spending 50 silver coins on an anvil, his wallet is emptied.
Now, he can only be honest and grind money by killing monsters.
In the meantime, he shares his guesses with the audience:
“You see, for the [Survival Challenge], in addition to the rewards for the longest survival, there are also [Special Progress Rewards].”
“What is progress, my friends? Isn’t it the BOSS?”
“But many people have already beaten the first BOSS now, so why hasn’t anyone received this reward?”
“I think the most likely reason is that you must defeat this BOSS in expert mode to trigger the [Special Progress Reward].”
“And now, with the artifact in our hands, isn’t this reward within our reach?”
Seeing that he had gathered enough 7 silver coins, he decisively stopped and went to buy bullets.
“200 or so should be enough if I aim carefully.”
Now is the time to seize every minute and second. Warehouse Bird quickly climbs up the wooden platform he had built in the sky earlier, uses the [Suspicious Eyeball], and summons the BOSS [Eye of Cthulhu].
Taking a deep breath, he begins his third challenge.