Edward couldn't help but admire the Qimen Company. While it might not match the reputation of the Blue Ocean Company, it was undeniably a prominent player in Dream Star City. He had heard of their slogan, "Walking the Unconventional Path," which was quite fitting.
In his experience, most big gaming companies leaned toward traditional routes—auction houses, mercenary guilds, elite teams—but Qimen was different. They delved into various ventures, from black market dealings and quest assignments to advertising and media, even running a television station in Dream Star City. Their unconventional approach made them stand out, and they thrived on the edges of the gaming economy.
As Edward entered the luxurious conference room with Motorola, Tiana served them tea. "This is our company's specially developed focus tea. It helps with stamina recovery," she explained.
Skeptical, Edward took a sip. The sweet aroma was refreshing, and soon enough, he noticed his stamina recovering faster than during regular sleep.
"Impressive!" he exclaimed.
Tiana smiled, revealing the patented nature of the drink. As Motorola recounted the events in Ice Creek Path, Tiana listened intently, recognizing the peril and skill in their encounter.
After a pause, her demeanor shifted from cool to appreciative. "Mr. Explosive Madness, you have remarkable skills. On behalf of the Motorola siblings, thank you."
Edward stood to return the gratitude. "It's also thanks to top-tier sharpshooters like Motorola here," he replied, recalling the striking moment when the dagger had sliced open the boss.
Tiana laughed softly. "Are you interested in Qimen, Mr. Explosive Madness?"
"Not really," Edward shook his head, wary of joining organizations based on past experiences.
Tiana seized the opportunity to elaborate. "The game's been live for a month, and while Qimen is still growing, the success of a company isn't just about its chosen path."
"What is it about?" Edward asked, intrigued.
"Popularity," she replied, her eyes sharp. "Popularity drives business, and business drives wealth."
Edward felt respect for her insight; as the CEO, Tiana had a clear vision. She turned to him, "You must be quite knowledgeable about firearms?"
Modestly, he replied, "I dabble a bit."
"Have you heard of the Survival Path quest?" she asked.
Puzzled, Edward realized that game quests were typically random. "What quest?"
Motorola laughed, "Brother, you really have been focused on your marksmanship! How do you not know about this?"
"Tell me! The name sounds thrilling!" Edward urged.
Tiana stood, gesturing to the electronic map on the wall, "You've been to the eastern area of Dream Star City?"
"Yes, that's Mirage City," he replied.
"Not anymore," Tiana corrected. "It's been expanded."
Edward's eyes widened. "Have they discovered new regions?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Blue Ocean Company recently sent a development team to break new ground there."
Edward recalled the spicy team he had seen earlier. "Blue Ocean again? Impressive."
Tiana's expression shifted slightly. "What's intriguing is that this game draws players in with two opposing federations."
Edward remembered choosing the Radiant Federation when entering the game, while the opposing one was the Sacred Federation. Oddly, he had never encountered anyone from the latter.
"Right, I've never seen members of the Sacred Federation," he noted.
"Blue Ocean has found them recently," Tiana continued, pointing at the map. "Beyond Mirage City lies a vast ocean, and reliable intel suggests that on the other side is the Sacred Federation."
Edward nodded; official messages were usually trustworthy.
Tiana continued, "Currently, normal transport ships can only navigate inland. To sail the open seas, they need larger vessels, so Blue Ocean plans to construct a major seaport there. They're also looking to build supply ships and battleships. Rumor has it, they even have plans for an aircraft carrier."
"An aircraft carrier?" Edward and Motorola exchanged incredulous glances.
"Can they actually build that?" Edward questioned, skeptical.
Tiana chuckled. "Not yet, but eventually it's possible. The current engineers and techs aren't up to it, but as they level up, anything could happen."
Edward had once dismissed such notions, but after witnessing Flying MM's modification skills, he felt more inclined to believe.
"What does this have to do with the Survival Path quest?" Edward asked, still puzzled.
"Everything," Tiana's tone turned serious. "The Survival Path is tied to what their architects discovered while laying the groundwork."