When a boss appears in front of players, resistance is almost nonexistent. Unless the punishment for attacking is exceptionally harsh, players will instinctively rush forward, eager to land a few blows.
As one of the players behind Bai Yi charged, others quickly followed suit, their excitement palpable.
But Bai Yi simply stood there, unfazed.
Boom!
A sharp collision echoed through the air as the player was sent flying by a mental force, crashing heavily onto the ground.
[Spiritual Defense: Your spiritual energy naturally forms a solid protective layer around your body. The defense grows as your spiritual power increases.]
At Bai Yi's current level, his mental defense was nearly impenetrable, even for players of the same level. A level-one player was no match for it.
The player, groaning as he got up, cursed angrily: "What kind of shitty game is this? The boss is literally an official?! And he's a damn Glory Hero?"
As he ranted, a name appeared above his head and glowed a furious red.
The appearance of this symbol indicated that he had attacked an important federal figure, and as a result, he'd now be pursued by law enforcement—or worse, expelled from the city.
At the same time, Bai Yi's own panel updated:
[You are attacked by player [Turkey Flavored Rice Crust]. The position [Glory Hero] allows you to mark the attacker as a violator. Do you wish to mark them?]
It seemed this position had some unexpected uses. It was just a matter of whether to pursue the matter or not.
Looking at the confused players, Bai Yi smiled and addressed the offender: "It seems there's been some misunderstanding, but don't worry. I'll let this slide this time. Just remember to respect the laws of the Federation in the future."
As he spoke, the red name above [Turkey Flavored Rice Crust] began to fade.
Bai Yi thought for a moment, then channeled a surge of magic through his mouth, continuing, "The compensation I mentioned earlier still stands. An ordinary person's monthly salary is about 30 to 100 copper coins. I can offer each of you 100 copper coins, or the basic knowledge of the Federation. Choose wisely."
The players glanced at one another, unsure of how to respond. After all, this game felt more like a real world, with magic and its own rules.
"I... I want the money!" one player raised his hand weakly, a mix of hesitation and desire in his voice.
Bai Yi nodded and, with a flash of his space ring, a heavy money pouch materialized and flew directly into the player's hands. The weight of the coins made his eyes widen in amazement.
As the other players saw this, their eyes gleamed with greed. The thought of such a large sum of money was irresistible, and even those who were initially hesitant now eagerly raised their hands. Even the player who had been knocked offline by Sabo earlier returned to the game and silently joined the others.
One million copper coins. Or 100 gold coins. The value was staggering, and no one could resist.
As Bai Yi distributed the coins, he noted the players' anger had mostly dissipated. Smiles spread across their faces as they clutched the bags of copper coins. It was hard to stay angry with such a generous offer.
Bai Yi turned to the few remaining players who hadn't yet spoken, smiling as he asked, "What about you? Don't you want it?"
Wei Lu, after a moment of thought, spoke up: "I choose the basic knowledge of the Federation."
The others nodded, understanding that in a game with 97% authenticity, knowledge of this world's rules was invaluable. They had to adapt quickly, especially if they wanted to navigate the complexities of such an immersive environment.
Bai Yi smiled and nodded in agreement. He raised his hand and, with another flash of his ring, more than a dozen books materialized in the air, flying toward the players. These books contained the fundamental laws and life skills of the Federation.
[You have received the complete Federal law and basic life knowledge.]
Each player received two books, their expressions reflecting what they had expected: a game that adhered to its own currency system and laws.
"Thank you, Mr. Bai Yi," Wei Lu said, bowing slightly. A prompt appeared on his panel: [Bai Yi Favorability +1.]
Bai Yi appreciated these experienced players. They were quick to understand the world's rules, making them valuable assets in guiding the other players who were still learning.
"As long as you don't break the law, you'll have no further restrictions in Dongwu City," Bai Yi said with satisfaction, turning to leave.
Sabo followed closely behind, though he couldn't help but glance back at the group of over 9,000 players. A hint of regret flickered in his eyes.
Once Bai Yi and his companions had left, the players quickly recovered from their initial shock. They jumped around curiously, banging their heads against walls or rolling around in excitement. Some even called out "space" as if trying to break the game's limits.
It was a chaotic, bizarre sight, almost like a gathering of the insane.
As the complete story unfolded on the forum, the community exploded with discussions. Some players even began reporting the game company's sensory shielding system, speculating on its implications. Others found it fascinating—at least in Dongwu City, players had been thrust directly into the game's world, unlike those in other cities who were still stumbling through everything.
Bai Yi kept an eye on the unfolding events for a while before turning his attention back to Sabo.
"Tell me everything," Bai Yi said quietly.
Sabo glanced around, ensuring they were not being overheard. Despite their fame, people dared not approach them directly, though the extraordinary beings of this world could only greet them from a distance.
"Their blood and flesh are unlike anything I've seen. Once detached from their bodies, they dissipate in ten seconds. And..." Sabo paused, his expression serious. "They don't have souls. I'm starting to understand why this is such a headache for you. If these things were to grow uncontrollably, they could destroy the world without an evil god's help."
Bai Yi's expression darkened. "Are you saying something even more dangerous than the evil gods could arise from this?"
Sabo nodded gravely. "Yes. These beings are more terrifying than we can imagine. They don't need restrictions—they're the true chaos."
"No need to seal them off, not yet," Bai Yi said after a moment of thought. "If the city lord asks, just tell them it was a prediction made by a genius who foresaw the problem. We'll withdraw the soldiers. There's no need to keep the place under lock and key."
He still had use for the players and needed to study the mysteries of light and darkness further.
A flash of his space ring, and a motorcycle materialized. Bai Yi climbed on and turned to Sabo. "By the way, give me the teleportation array you used last time."
Sabo's face darkened as he handed over a book from his arms. "If you hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten about that damned goblin boy. I still need to settle the score with him."
Bai Yi grinned, appreciating the humor despite the situation. "At least it's useful. The setup cost isn't too high."
With a roar of the engine, Bai Yi revved the motorcycle and sped off toward the inner city, leaving the chaos behind.