In the distant War-Ending Empire, a master of the Thunder Clan had just defeated an enemy who had attacked him covertly. As he gazed at the sky with complex emotions, he paid no heed to the equipment lying beneath his feet. He cared little for why the Temple of Killing had targeted him; he was simply feeling a sense of emptiness, as if his very being had been hollowed out, like a sudden loss of vitality.
" Thunder God , are you okay? I heard something here just now," a young man clad in War-Ending Empire Imperial College armor rushed over.
The young man, whose name was Thunder God , swiftly stashed the body into his spatial ring and turned to his friend with a smile. "I'm fine. I was just struck by lightning."
Before he could finish speaking, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Thunder God collapsed to the ground.
In the next moment, he was engulfed in electric sparks and quickly got back on his feet. His friend, though relieved, refrained from approaching him, instead offering a sigh. "I don't know if you offended the God of Thunder in your past life. Our dean is a renowned Legendary mage of the Empire, yet he can't solve your issue."
Thunder God struggled to find words. Was he truly himself?
"But your breakthrough has been astonishingly rapid. In just a few years, you've become a Grandmaster Level Professional. You might even be the only student of the Imperial College who never graduated but achieved epic status," remarked his friend.
"Is breaking through so quickly a good thing?" Thunder God shrugged.
His friend fell silent, acknowledging that Thunder God had a Point. Others might not be aware, but he knew that Thunder God was constantly suppressing his combat spirit. If he didn't, he might already be a formidable figure in the field of battle.
And how many years had Thunder God been practicing? Only four years in total.
William, an Epic Level figure with considerable strength and influence, had the authority to bestow titles upon players. However, he rarely exercised this privilege, as titles were considered valuable, and excessive distribution would diminish their worth. He generally reserved titles for special occasions, such as events and major task rewards.
As for the claim he had just made regarding suppressing the surging fighting spirit in his body, whether players believed it or not was their prerogative; however, William himself believed it. If he intended to deceive others, he had to first deceive himself. There was a saying he recalled: "No matter how untrustworthy a lie may be, if you present it with complete confidence, some people will involuntarily trust it."
In both the real world and the magical realm, the highest level of deception involved treating others as if they were fools. William believed that treating others as fools would boost his self-confidence and, in turn, instill trust in those around him.
With that, William disappeared from players' view once more. He had reached epic status and sought to maintain an air of mystery, avoiding unnecessary appearances. When he did make an appearance, he aimed to astound, further reinforcing his enigmatic image.
Version 3.0 was approaching its conclusion. All 18 fortresses of the Orc Empire had been conquered. During this brief NPC intermission, the player World Finals was on the horizon, with attention on the forums primarily focused on major clubs and Professional players. William had refrained from releasing new tasks during this period.
Nevertheless, he had one final opportunity to generate income. He initiated a fire sale of high-level equipment, much of which was outdated NPC gear, with the lowest tier being Gold-ranked. Dawn City had even crafted a Silver-ranked set for players. As for Mysterious-Iron Rank, Bronze Rank, and Common Rank equipment, well, those were simply not available.
Many high-level players were filled with regret as they saw the impending update. The Camp Exchange List featured a fresh batch of discounted equipment. To change or not to change? It was a dilemma. Who could predict whether Dawn City would still be under his rule after the update? Refraining from spending a portion of their contributions and Gold Coins now might lead to regret later, as Dawn City could potentially be lost in five years.
Although players were aware that this equipment might not remain relevant for long, they couldn't bear the thought of high-level Professionals using Mysterious-Iron Rank gear. In just a few days, these players who had recently earned rewards through various tasks were returning millions of Gold Coins to William.
"Over 40 million Gold Coins, another windfall," William chuckled. He meticulously calculated the gains he had accrued from these players' mission rewards.
These rewards primarily originated from the Elves, who issued missions and provided rewards to William. William, in turn, assigned missions and rewards to players. For instance, when the Elves released a task, they compensated William with ten Gold Coins per head.
However, as a responsible and considerate Legendary Lord, William deducted two Gold Coins from each reward for the players' physical and mental well-being. He aimed to maintain a healthy gaming environment and economic system, teaching players the value of responsible spending.
One man deducted two coins, while 1.8 million players meant a deduction of 3.6 million Gold Coins. Wave after wave of tasks ensued, and William the prince hardly noticed how much wealth he had amassed.
Currently, players were using their earned Gold Coins to purchase "discounted" equipment from Dawn City. Players not only worked for William but also helped him accumulate wealth and depleted obsolete equipment from the regular legion.
William reflected on the benefits of war and how it had impacted him. He calculated the immense advantages the conflict had brought him. He counted on his fingers and grinned, "Well, nearly 180 million Gold Coins, plus the income generated from the three cities in this year, amounts to almost 230 million Gold Coins!"
These figures pertained only to Gold Coins and did not encompass other valuable materials. With the update imminent, he planned to expand Dawn City once more. The number of legions would increase, as there were currently nearly 200000 reserve legions on Stormy Island. After the update, they would embark on tasks to exterminate demon caves across the Legendary Continent, leveling up and gaining experience.
There were already 250000 regular troops stationed in Dawn City, with 70000 having spent an extended period in the Far North. After half a year of intense battles, almost all of them had reached high-level Professional status, making them William's most formidable force.
The remaining 180000 regular troops were involved in various military operations for the Human Grand Duchy and the Kingdom as mercenaries. Out of this force, 50000 were assigned to guard Dawn City, Donghai City, and Nightmare Forest. The other 130000 regulars were fulfilling mercenary contracts.
Furthermore, Dawn Mercenaries were not exclusive to players. Numerous free-spirited NPCs who pursued their own interests also recognized Dawn City as the premier option in the mercenary market. Currently, Dawn Mercenary Regiment comprised over 180000 NPCs, including several high-level and master NPCs.
Although the majority of these mercenaries operated within the Human Kingdom, even if they didn't participate in battles alongside Imperial forces, they would still benefit William.
While they might not engage Imperial forces in combat, they wouldn't hesitate to side with William when it came to fighting the Desert Kingdom.
William the prince, hands behind his back, contemplated the sky. "In five years, the entire
Legendary Continent will plunge into chaos, with conflicts and confrontations erupting everywhere."
He continued, "It's time for Dawn City to shine, and I must build a formidable army. All those who hire the Dawn Legion should understand one truth: hiring us guarantees victory."
William's gaze drifted towards the horizon as he contemplated the next goal for the five-year version update.