The GM has the responsibility to oversee the system; making immediate decisions according to the situation is part of their job.
Blinking frantically, the GM was followed into the room by the public relations staff. Upon arrival, they roared at the GM, "The megalopolis' lord, despite clearing the quest of Loki's introduction, couldn't use the recorded images for the news."
The strategy department staff held their head in dismay, saying to the public relations staff with resignation, "It's too late now, it's already too late."
The public relations staff offered consolation, patting their back for encouragement, "It's okay, we can brainstorm a theme for starting a new project. But..." their tone deflated, "the CEO is pushing us to complete the report and submit it as soon as possible. His secretary calls to ask for it every morning and evening."
"Hmm, once I heard the news that Sagittarius was the one to unveil Loki, I saw it as an opportunity to create an opening theme... sigh."
Two employees with downcast faces opened the door and walked out of the control room, slung over each other's shoulders in dejected solidarity. If they had known earlier that Sagittarius was involved in this storyline, they would have adjusted Loki's role in the new special effects to be the launch of the World Invasion project right away. Now, they'll have to find a new suitable situation.
As for the GM, he hadn't said anything from the beginning. He watched the two comrades enter swiftly and then leave just as quickly, with eyes wide and baffled, not understanding them one bit.
In his role with GM, he's purely focused on the server's ability to process the surge of player data and to verify its reliability, remaining completely unaware of the strain felt by the two employees tasked with such duties by the company's top executive.
Sagittarius announced on the news board, and all the players reacted, especially the four lords of the metropolis.
In the midst of a green garden, filled with the aura of the great city of Mahabharata,
a man with a sharp and intense visage reveals his upper body muscles, robust and strong, with a smattering of chest hair indicative of masculinity. He lounged in a chair in the center of the garden, one hand serving as a pillow to support his head. Behind him, ten beautiful NPC women knelt in service. In his other hand, he held a glass of wine, purple in color, reflecting dazzling light. "Even though it's an online game, the shape, taste, smell, and even the sound of drinking are so realistic. Truly outstanding." Slurp... He savored the taste of the wine, which had been created within the game. Then a younger-looking man, dressed as a genie, rushed into garden. "Master, Sagittarius has appeared. He's gone off to take on a story quest in the starting city!"
He was like the lord of a metropolis, or even other top players who didn't get informed, would all set their messages to Mute. With popularity, their inboxes would be +999 all the time, everyone. Important news had to come from the people around them.
The man with the sharp features turned to look at the AI assistant and revealed a smile at the corner of his mouth, "Traveling to the starting city without anyone caring means he has stopped using VR glasses to play. His character is no longer arcade-style, just like a regular player now," while putting down his wine glass and waving his hand at the NPC girl to bring him a shirt. "The four metropolis lords have been at power for years, only he who doesn't mingle with anyone. Now, whatever brainwave capsule obstacle he had has been resolved. Moreover," the sharp-featured man looked at the real-world clock and thought carefully, as befits the lord of a metropolis, he asked the AI assistant, "When did Sagittarius clear the quest in Thailand time?"
The AI assistant replied, "The news board reports at 11:56 a.m. Thai time, sir."
"That means he's been on his quest since morning, different from the time he has been playing the game for the past five years, which is from noon to midnight. Plus, inferring that he uses a regular character in a brainwave capsule device, it means he can now play full-time... Hehe, another one joins. This power struggle is going to be fun."
The man with the sharp features pondered briefly before saying, "Announce this through all channels - Lord Akra, Winter Solstice invites Lord Chandra, Sagittarius to have a glass of wine at the Akra palace."
Then, he dragged the AI assistant down to the wine cellar to check if there was a suitable wine to serve. If not, even if it meant deploying troops to raid a dungeon for ingredients, he would do so.
Within the residence of the lord in the metropolis of Chang'an, which was decorated with luxurious elegance,
The atmosphere was tranquil. Guhai Wubian was playing Go with a middle-aged man.
Then someone came and whispered in the ears of both simultaneously.
Guhai Wubian looked up and locked eyes with the middle-aged man, unplanned. Then both of them smiled together.
The middle-aged man said, "Let me guess, it's the news of the Thai metropolis lord making an appearance in the starting city, right?"
Guhai Wubian nodded in agreement, "He appeared outside of the Chandra City without prior news. It became news only after the quest was cleared. He must have used a brainwave device to control his character. From now on, the balance of power among the four lord will change. We have to see Sagi's response first. It's possible that he came to clear the quest momentarily and then returned to Chandra City."
The middle-aged man warned, "At this time, the outside world is recovering. Our People Republic has policies that support people making a living within the virtual world. This game serves both as a place for relaxation and as an arena for making a living, as well as for conducting business. Although wars between city lord won't affect businesses or industries according to the game's rules, the image of being an ally can also promote businesses and industries."
Guhai Wubian could only force a smile. This middle-aged man was none other than the current president of the People Republic. His reason for coming was clear to Guhai Wubian. When city lord within the game possess extensive powers, the central government will certainly ensure no sovereign outside the system emerges for sure. The frequent visits of the supreme leader are not about bringing in forces to assert control but rather a considerable compromise with players like him.
It was unknown whether this Sagi, whom he called so intimately, would share the same fate as him. Guhai Wubian g wondered.
Sagittarius might have never encountered Guhai Wubian before to the extent they became close as brothers. But with the fourth lord, she had met him before and was quite familiar as well.
Cut cut
Bonsai with only branches left, which is one of how many, remains unknown, to be in such a condition.
A pale-skinned young woman with long black hair and featureless eyes, her facial structure undeniably marked her as a hundred percent Japanese. Judging by her demeanor, figure, and facial features, she seemed to be in her thirties.
Her rural home was a workshop of the romance of sakura Guild, the top ranked all-female guild on the server.
With the backing of the metropolitan lord, it would be surprising if it wasn't the top ranked all-female guild in the game.
She had dual titles, not only as the guild leader but also the metropolis lord of Edo. This wasn't part of a game. A pricey bonsai met its demise under her inattentive destruction. Behind her, a beautiful secretary stood, her gaze falling sorrowfully upon the bonsai. Yet, her boss commanded even greater pity. No matter the effort, beautifying a bonsai eluded her.
It seemed her only gift lay in gaming prowess.
Then, the secretary's earpiece buzzed to life, an AI delivering the lowdown on trending news across the server.
"Ah, Sagi-kung back?" The Edo lord mused, mentally tallying the years, "From college kid to heavyweight." She wasn't left guessing like others might; she was privy to his whereabouts.
As she ceased tending to the bonsai with a final snip, the woman pivoted towards the secretary, instructing smoothly, "Please reach out to the Chandra city office. Inform them Megumi's elder sibling is inquiring about his Mars journey well-being. Any extraterrestrial encounters, by chance?"
"Ah... would you like your actual name disclosed?" replied the secretary, laced with hesitance.
Reflective, Megumi offered, "It's unlikely he's forgotten me. Nonetheless, say it's Lord of Edo the romance of sakura Guild Leader Mewku Mewku... just in case. It has been five years. Recall, I once mentioned his sister's aid in achieving level 50, yes?"
Aware the other individual is employed and unreachable, Megumi acknowledged their hidden status within Chandra City's solitude, anticipating the moment of emergence as a sign of re-engagement with the world.
the last lord was absent from the game as well.
Amidst a field of modest grass, a woman with blonde hair, clad in classic cowgirl garb, galloped on her steed. Her riding, adept and brisk. In pursuit, a lanky youth urged his own mount forward with the crack of his whip, a look of strain etched on his features.
A while has passed.
Stop…
The woman, arresting her horse's advance with a sharp tug of the reins, turned a frosty gaze over her shoulder at the young man. "Had I not been an great lord of metropolis, would your pursuit still be as fervent?"
The young man felt a sharp ache in his groin, likely from rubbing against the saddle, an experience he was unaccustomed to due to his lack of horse riding history. Managing to contain his discomfort, he implored, "Lillian, please refrain from saying that. She may not preside over Camelot, but my affection for her remains."
With a grin, Lillian responded rather sharply, "In that case, I shall return the city to the system. Perhaps now we can devote ourselves to dating each other exclusively?"
Caught off guard, the young man found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Noticing his silence, Lillian let out a curse and, accelerating her horse, sped away. Mid-flight, her AI assistant buzzed with updates regarding Sagittarius. Overcome with feeling, Lillian blurted out to the lanky man, "Your attempts at flirtation are futile. Your Knights Templar guild exploited me in the past. Were I to select a lover for convenience, I'd choose Mr. Sagittarius over the likes of you, the Knights Templar Guild leader!" And with that, she dashed off, vowing not to see the slender man again.
Despite being stung by Lillian's heated words, the thin man made quite a fuss, then grabbed his phone to make a call.
A Sagittarius-looking man felt a sudden shock, almost as if his sixth sense tingled oddly. It seemed a collective longing had inadvertently triggered it, reaching him, touch-sense blind in the game world.
Wandering the streets, he observed clusters of people animatedly discussing, reminiscent of post-US election buzz. No need for lip-reading; Sagittarius caught wind of the subject of fervent conversation.
"Your ears must be burning," thought Sagittarius, unheard. Nearby, a youth sporting the typical attire of a bygone village strolled by, unnoticed.
Undisturbed, Sagittarius proceeded to the city's starting office, seeking personal items. The usually busy place was deserted, its customary patrons outside, eagerly swapping stories.
by, this allowed even the NPCs at the counter to indulge in a bit of chatter amongst themselves behind the scenes.
These NPC are all human, you see, chosen explicitly to resonate with the emotions of customers and players alike. The reason these virtual characters exist at the counter is precisely to absorb customers' disgruntled comments—not to scold the software.
"The event took place in the initial city, a clear sign that Lord Sagittarius must undeniably be present in this very starting place!"
"It's been whispered that your looks aren't exactly up to snuff. Hence, my hesitation to step into the spotlight, both in and out of the game. Might as well keep up the ruse of gaming in virtual reality."
New female employee, freshly an adult, curiously inquired of a veteran colleague, her gaze sharpening, "But in the game, one can craft their face to appear quite dashing, can't they? Then why not share the in-game depiction in the media?"
Chanced upon a word that struck deep into heart, the senior was taken aback, for indeed, it was a matter of rights. Ever since MMORPGs took root in virtual realms, rules lingered only in the minds of male gamers: men should create male avatars, and women, female personas; for those of the third gender, their avatars should reflect as much, all to prevent any guise or mystification regarding one's true gender, lest it brew into an issue. Yet, when did such norms evolve to necessitate our virtual selves to mirror our actual appearance?
Amidst an air now heavy with silence, Sagittarius chimed in, "Hello, I'm merely here to retrieve an item."
With that, the senior NPC staff scattered, their willingness for dialogue evaporating into the void.
Sagittarius approached the booth of the new NPC who had posed the question. The newcomer perused the system screen, grasping the purpose behind Sagittarius's contact. "Truth be told, Mr. Sagittarius, it's been upwards of five years since last foray into a game via the brainwave system. And so, the system is defaulting to the character creation sequence anew."
"Yes," Sagittarius replied.
But the senior NPCs all turned sharply towards the enclosure of the new junior NPCs, their ears perked up as much as possible.
They heard correctly, didn't!
Sagittarius's popularity wasn't just among the players... but also the NPCs.
The new wasn't that into the game yet; her level was only at 20, which according to the guide, meant she was only just qualified to leave the starting city. That's why she hadn't had the chance to see the metropolis cities built by players that came before her. Unlike the older players, the new began organizing items in Sagittarius item box and said, "There's a set of mid-level mage gear that boosts Vit (Vitality) and adds +30 MP, one robe that boosts mid-level mage Dex (Dexterity) by +30, +18, +5 each for one piece, a pair of shoes that boost AGI (Agility) by +35, and one mage hat that boosts Int (Intelligence), plus a short blade that boosts STR (strength) by +25, along with various potions and materials. Everything has been stored in your item box."
Considering the items, in the past, Sagittarius must have been an average level 50 mage that one would commonly see, with no rare items or items with unique names in the gear at all.
The NPCs didn't think far back to five years ago about what the status of Sagittarius was, but after they listened and speculated, they came to one conclusion:
It's all ordinary items!
The appearance is default.
This means that from now on, Sagittarius is definitely going to embark on a journey that conceals his traces.
As for Lord Sagittarius of the NPCs, both young and old, they started massaging their temples, muttering "It's not the sixth sense" – this condition that he has had since clearing the quest is not because people have been talking about him so much that he's trembling and his ears are ringing.
But it was an absolute jet lag
He could only blame himself for having drunk too much before leaving Mars, resulting in insufficient rest. His body wasn't ready for interstellar travel at all.