The conference room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by Tiana's voice. "The Survival Path is actually an underwater passage that connects to a military base, a demolition hub. If an explosion occurs, the passage will open up, allowing the two federations to interact."
Edward couldn't help but admire Tiana's information-gathering skills; this was insider knowledge.
"I got this intel from the federation headquarters," Tiana smiled, as if sensing his thoughts.
"Not everyone has that kind of access," Edward remarked.
"True, but right now, the Sacred Federation has also activated the Survival Path quest. They intend to protect the base and prevent the passage from being opened," she explained.
"And what about us?" Edward asked.
"Our side is divided. One faction advocates for aggression, led by Blue Ocean Company, which has a clear advantage," Tiana replied.
Edward knew that, while the federation was technically a government, its actions depended on the majority opinion of the players. With Blue Ocean's reputation, many would follow their call for aggression.
"I personally support going to war," Tiana continued, "because conflict means profit for the company, especially for a conglomerate like Blue Ocean, which needs sales for its weapons and energy."
Edward sighed inwardly: typical of corporate ambitions, even in times of crisis. Yet, he couldn't deny his curiosity about the quest—it sounded intense, and he could exploit the chaos to his advantage.
"This quest is federation-level, meaning large teams can participate. It's not a triggered event, so any casualties are on the participants. The goal is simple: destroy the base and return alive," Tiana said, trying to downplay the danger, but Edward sensed the gravity. This wouldn't be easy; it would be extremely challenging.
"Sounds like it's not a one or two-person job," Edward remarked.
"Exactly. The news just broke today, and already over ten thousand players from Dream Star City have signed up, not counting those from other cities. Just by registering, they can collect 500 credits at the federal headquarters," Tiana explained.
Edward was taken aback. "500 credits each? The game company is really investing heavily in this event."
"Large-scale tasks like this are likely about more than just opening a passage, but the specifics are tightly guarded by the government," she added.
"Miss Tiana, I assume your company will be involved as well?" Edward asked.
"Impressive insight, Mr. Explosive Madness. Yes, we at Qimen are preparing to recruit an elite task force—quality over quantity. We need 13 members, and we have 12 already," she said.
"Sounds promising. What's the compensation?" Edward inquired.
Tiana chuckled. "You're straightforward, which I appreciate. Our requirement is simple: we've developed a Kermore M18 super mine. After activation, it will explode in 30 minutes, displaying Qimen's logo."
Edward laughed. Qimen's strategy was smart; if this elite team detonated the mine, the company's reputation would skyrocket.
"And the compensation?" he pressed.
Her smile widened. "Besides system rewards, each member will receive specialized gear, a 10,000 credit deposit, and upon completion, 200,000 credits, along with a Qimen platinum VIP card for 50% off all services."
Edward's heart raced. 200,000 credits equated to around 30,000 yuan—Qimen's boss was willing to shell out serious money.
"That's quite a generous offer," he remarked.
"Compared to Blue Ocean, it's still not enough. I've heard they're sending a special task force, including members of the 'Seven Fairies.'"
Edward was taken aback. "This quest is creating quite a stir."
"With your skills and intelligence, I'm confident you can handle this task. If you're interested, meet me here tomorrow at 9 AM, and I'll provide more details," Tiana said.
"Sounds good," Edward agreed. Knowing there would be an electronic contract reassured him; it would be legally binding under federation law, ensuring that breaches would lead to penalties. This demonstrated Qimen's sincerity.
After leaving Qimen, Edward logged off and immediately opened his computer to check the player forum for Star Wars.
The forum was buzzing with activity, mostly focused on the Survival Path quest. Players were split into two camps: Radiant Federation players clamored to eliminate members of the Sacred Federation, eager to destroy the military base and earn points.
He learned that the quest involved scoring points—10 for each player killed, and these points could be exchanged for credits, experience, and merit points. However, 1,000 points were required for just one merit point, making it a steep climb.
On the other side, Sacred Federation players were fervently declaring their intent to defend the base at all costs, determined to eliminate any Radiant Federation player attempting to breach it.
The forum was chaotic, with arguments flaring up everywhere.
Edward noticed an interesting post from a family in Dream Star City called "Dragon City Clan," recruiting players for the quest. They were offering 300 credits and three health packs just for signing up, and had already recruited over 8,000 players. It was clear they were paying for exposure, attempting to recruit players en masse for a high-risk mission.
He realized that just having numbers didn't guarantee success; a strategy could backfire spectacularly.
After a restless night, Edward logged on early, arriving at Qimen's conference room to find a large gathering already in attendance.
Tiana approached him with a smile. "Just in time! Let me introduce you to my boss, Mr. Tie."