"In all the games we had so far, we had elite teams competing in big competitions. Inside the successful latest versions of games, everyone played for his own, or at best he would be part of a randomly selected team in the game… But that is going to change in this game… We won't have teams, but guilds, big enough to contain thousands, tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands of players in."
"That's bullshit!"
"Liar!"
Just as Hao lectured the students about the difference this game would make, two different voices rose up in such a rude way. Hao turned to see the two faces as the rest of the students did.
One belonged to an unknown student, but was slightly familiar to Hao as he met him before. As for the other one, it was of course Edward, or E.
"That's a bold accusation coming from such a bitter and ungrateful loser," Hao didn't show any sign of anger. In fact he expected for such a lad to cause trouble during the meeting.
"The first reason for meeting you tonight is related to this," Hao didn't give any of the E's gang a chance to speak again as he simply used a helper, "let's hear it then from someone we all trust, someone that has more reliability than me to all of you… Let's give it to our lady."
Hao was the first to clap in salute to Cher who looked at him in a weird way. She didn't hear him speak about inviting her to the stage before.
"Don't be shy, we are all your kids," Hao broke the tension she suddenly showed by saying this, and many students laughed in agreement while cheering and clapping for her.
"Just speak about the situation of guilds and our guild in general and simple words," Hao whispered these little words in low tone to her while handing the microphone over.
And she was smart to grasp what he wanted to do here. "Evening my students, I first want to express how proud I'm for having all of you here."
"Long live the lady!"
"Long live the lady!"
"Long live the lady!"
When she started speaking, it was like her words worked their magic in their souls. After all, if not for her, they wouldn't have a chance to get into the academy, a chance that could be considered miraculous for people with nothing in life like them.
"As our new dorm leader said, this new game will have guilds and not teams. And this isn't something that can be doubted by anyone, I give you my word on it."
She specifically spared glances for E and that other rude student of his gang who spoke earlier. "As the game will contain guilds, many teams started to recruit players into their guilds. I heard many stories about teams paying money for players to join them. And that also happened in our neighbourhood."
She paused as she exchanged a silent gaze with Hao who nodded in encouragement.
"I came here tonight to announce something major. As the new game will have guilds, then it's just logic to have our own guild. The guild will, of course, be built over you, my dear students. And it will be called the Illuminati guild."
"..."
In response to her words, the students went all silent. Hao didn't find this weird. He already doubted that many students already accepted the invitations from other guilds.
And those who did that were already feeling the tight spot they were in. it wasn't possible for a single player to be part of two different guilds. So if their lady announced her guild, that meant they wouldn't be able to join any other.
"Unlike other guilds who have their ways to convince players to join them, mine doesn't need to. I supported all of you before, and still am. But I have to say that I won't stand in the face of anyone's future. If anyone wants to join another guild, he or she can, but unfortunately that also means our farewell."
"Fwoosh!"
The entire theatre ushered under dead and cold eerie silence. Hao moved his eyes slowly among the students here, trying to see what they would decide.
"Thanks our lady for saying that, I'll take it from here," Hao felt it was a little rash for her to announce such a threatening promise early on. He just wanted her to speak about her guild and others before handing things over to him.
"As the lady said," But as she already spoke about it, he didn't have to avoid this topic anymore, "our guild is going live from this moment onward. It's just normal for all of us to join. However, I also heard about the benefits other guilds provided. I even heard about a certain guild that pays five hundred bucks for players to join them."
He knew if he wanted to cut the chase and convince most of them to join the newly formed guild, he had to be frank like this. Even if what he was saying seemed a little disadvantageous to his guild from the surface.
"I won't come and stop anyone from earning some money for playing. But I'm here to tell you this… Life was never about money! And the evidence I have for this is… All of us who are present here tonight."
Hao's words echoed in the theatre and left a heavy pressure over everyone. This was indeed a fact that Hao didn't need to elaborate any further.
He just had to give these students a little more time for them to think about it thoroughly. If life was about money, then they wouldn't be here. If life was all about money, then it would justify the ill treatment everyone here had for being poor.
"Are we going to work for free here? Like slaves? That's just bullshit! I won't accept that!"
At this crucial moment, E stood up, spoke in a loud tone, while his eyes were all red.
Standing and speaking like that, facing not only Hao but the big mountain in the form of Cher behind Hao, was indeed exerting a ton of pressure over E.
"Who said you are going to play for free?'' Unlike what E expected, Hao wasn't cornered by his words. Instead a wide and calm smile appeared on his face as he added:
"In fact this game holds lots of potential for anyone playing in it. Getting paid five hundred bucks for your services at other guilds? In my eyes that's a daylight steal."
"B… But…" E was shaken at this moment. He pictured Hao standing all nervous and pressured, drenched at his nervous cold sweat, feeling at loss about what to do or say.
It was clear that Hao's aim from this meeting was that guild. And so it just felt nice for E to make Hao lose this guild and crush it down before it got on its feet.
But Hao didn't show any of this. Hao's response was like someone happy of such turn of events. In E's mind at this moment, he felt like he was played and fell into the trap of his foe.
"But this won't happen at the early stages of the game," Hao seemed like he was continuing from where E stopped at. Hao knew he was done with E and the most crucial point here.
So he just ignored standing like an idiot E and continued addressing others.
"You know how much our lady did to all of us for all these years. So it's not just feasible to ask her to pay for us to play in the game under her guild."
"Then how can we get paid later on?" The question came not from the students but from the one who Hil brought. He spoke for his friends, trying to know what were the benefits they'd all get.
For students of this academy, they might have enjoyed the benefits from the lady. But for him and his friends, these were irrelevant.
"The game will start and according to our overall performance, we will get lots of money as revenue," Hao didn't hide this point from him, from everyone, "and when that happens, we will all get paid, including myself."
He tried to crack a joke, and only a few who weren't that nervous chuckled.
"But that isn't guaranteed, right?" the youth kept asking, pushing for something he could be convinced with.
"Of course words won't matter in this world," Hao simply responded before turning to Cher as he added, "our lady here will prepare contracts. Legally valid and protected by the law contracts that we all will sign… Or those who will decide to join us, of course."
Hao said the last part to the entire students. The students seemed to start talking among themselves in whispers, and Hao gave them time to reach a general ground before adding:
"It might seem rash to ask you to decide something major like this now, but I have no other choice. After all, in just an hour we will experience how the game feels like."
"..."
"What's the meaning of this?"
The first response was a deafening silence before one of the students asked in doubt.
"The game… The lady provided us an early access to it," Hao shifted all responsibility over Cher's shoulders. From one way, the students wouldn't doubt what he just said or take it lightly.
And from another, he would shift away all the doubts and speculations about how he got such privilege.
"Is… this true?"
"But… Won't the game be released in a few days?"
"How come…"
The students were in a state of disbelief, but Hao didn't give them time to absorb this surprise.
"It's thanks to our lady's connections that we got early access to the game to train and adapt. Tonight's meeting actually isn't just about announcing our guild, but also to officially start it… As from this night, we all will have the chance to try out the game… The ones joining our guild only, for sure."
"..."
His words this time didn't leave any room for speculation. Hao turned to Cher, but in fact he was looking at Hil who stood just behind her.
"We will ask our lady to provide us with copies of pro contracts, ones that will secure everyone's rights in a day or two. But tonight we will ask our vice leader, Hil, to pass by and get your signature over a legal admission form, one that's protected by the law."
Hao motioned for Hil to come to him and the latter felt nervous for the first time ever for facing her fellow friends and colleagues here. She walked at a slow pace until she stopped one metre away from him.
"The admission form is simple. Give me a laptop and I'll write it down for you. Make many copies, enough for all of us here. The form will be signed by the lady and me as the owners of the guild, then they will be distributed all over the students."
Hao then turned to face the all silent crowd while Hil felt a little awkward for a brief second here. She realised the next few moments what Hao just asked from her and then almost ran back the stage to find a laptop, feeling more at ease to leave such a stage at this moment, wondering in herself how Hao was tolerating such pressure.
"Until we do all this, you have to make a crucial decision that will greatly impact your future. I'll close the mic and leave you all to think and speak among yourselves about this."
Hao did as he promised. He even retreated and stood just next to Cher. He wasn't really dealing with such respect to Cher like Hil always did. But in front of the public eyes he had to act in such a way.
"You… are really a snake," as he stood beside her, Cher welcomed him with such a soft voice.
And Hao simply chuckled, not saying anything in response. In fact he placed much importance over this moment. Their decision here wouldn't just impact their future, but also his.