DevilFuckers...….
I had heard that name before.
It was a federation that had been steadily growing over the past few years.
While their strength was average, they were more influential than most other Gold-graded federations.
"Sir, they're trying to cause trouble by hiring people to spread bad rumors about the game. Should we hire others to counter them?"
Ekapal asked.
"There's no need,"
I replied.
"How much does it cost to hire thousands of people to write bad reviews? They can't sustain it for long."
It would cost between 10,000 and 30,000 coins to hire that many people.
Even a Gold-graded federation couldn't afford to keep that up.
As for the damage they might cause, I could handle it.
I had enough money to keep the company running for a year, even without earning anything new.
Besides, I was planning to introduce ads on the game soon.
"How is the implementation of ad features going?"
I asked.
"We're in the testing phase,"
Ekapal said.
"All the previous tests showed good results. We should be able to add the feature to Dungeon Dashers soon."
"Great! Get it implemented as soon as possible. Also, we're going to start developing a new game. Send a graphics designer and a programmer to my office."
"Yes, Sir!"
"Oh, and find a Gold-graded federation that's struggling financially,"
I added.
Ekapal hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Sir, I think I know a federation that's about to go bankrupt,"
Ekapal said.
"Oh? Which federation?"
I asked.
"Do you remember the federation that recently tried to clear the 30th floor of the Obelisk Tower?"
"NightShade?"
I recalled seeing some news about them when I was researching Malus fruit.
"Exactly, Sir. They failed to clear the 30th floor and owe a large amount of money to the bank. They took out a loan to buy resources for the attempt, but now the federation is on the brink of bankruptcy,"
Ekapal explained.
"Perfect!"
I said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Though it was unfortunate for NightShade, they were exactly what I needed.
"Ekapal, reach out to their federation. Tell them we'll cover their debt on one condition—they have to work under us."
Ekapal stared at me in shock, as if I'd just told him the earth was flat.
"Sir! I don't think they'll agree to that,"
he said, clearly skeptical.
"Just ask them. You never know,"
I said firmly.
"Alright,"
Ekapal replied and left the office.
A short while later, a group of ten employees, experts in graphic design and programming, arrived at my office.
I explained my vision for a new game.
I wanted to create something for the PC.
Ideally, it would be on the scale of Fortnite or Dota 2, but the designers and programmers in this world weren't advanced enough to build such a complex game.
So, I chose a simpler idea—something fun that didn't rely on high-quality graphics.
The answer was clear: Minecraft.
Minecraft was one of the greatest games on Earth, with 140 million active users.
Its graphics weren't impressive, but the gameplay was what made it special.
I decided to create something similar and named it
"WorldCraft."
I explained my idea to the team, answering their questions as they jotted down notes.
Everyone seemed eager to start working on the project.
The meeting with the graphic design and programming team lasted three hours, leaving me exhausted.
However, it was worth it.
Once the new game was launched, the company would have another source of income.
Even if DevilFuckers continued to disrupt Dungeon Dashers sales, I'd have a backup plan to keep the company afloat.
The game idea was simple enough to develop, and with the team's size and skill, I estimated they could complete a prototype in three to five days.
In the meantime, Dungeon Dashers was suffering due to the negative reviews.
I decided to shift my focus to other developments and address the company's bigger problems.
The most pressing issue was that we didn't have a federation to protect us from rival federations.
"Ekapal, have you contacted the NightShade federation?"
I asked.
"Yes,"
he replied.
"But they want to meet you before agreeing."
"Understood,"
I said.
I wasn't surprised.
No federation would agree to work under a company without meeting the person making such a bold proposal.
Money alone wouldn't convince them.
Fortunately, I had something else to offer.
The meeting with NightShade's federation master was scheduled for the next morning.
After a long day, I returned to my dorm and went to bed.
The next morning, I trained in Shadow Style swordsmanship at a rented facility.
Practicing on campus made me uncomfortable due to the constant stares from other students.
Despite my sore muscles from the previous day, I pushed through the training session.
At 7:30, I returned to my dorm, showered, and had a simple breakfast of cereal and yogurt at my small desk.
Skipping school, I headed to the office to deal with the fallout from DevilFuckers's attacks.
Dungeon Dasher's downloads had nearly flatlined overnight, but I wasn't overly concerned.
It was a temporary setback, and I knew the game would regain popularity.
At 9:00 a.m., Ekapal led NightShade's federation members into my office.
Their federation master, Baksa Boo, extended his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Baksa Boo, the federation master of NightShade,"
He introduced himself.
"Thank you for coming. I'm Xerox Zee, owner of Tech Genesis. How can I assist you?"
I replied.
Baksa was an imposing figure—tall, muscular, and covered in tattoos.
He wore a steel mask with narrow slits for his eyes and had a shaggy beard.
Despite his rugged appearance, he greeted me with a smile, though his sharp teeth gave it an unsettling edge.
"I wanted to see who had the guts to tell a Gold-graded federation to work under a company. I didn't expect to find a kid here,"
he said bluntly.
Though his words were harsh, I sensed no hostility.
Baksa seemed straightforward and unfiltered.
"Are you disappointed?"
I asked with a smirk.
"No,"
he said, chuckling.
"I like your boldness. So, what can you offer us? Convince me, and NightShade will work for you."
"Alright,"
I began.
"First, I know your federation is struggling financially. You owe nearly three million coins. We'll pay off your debt and provide resources for future raids, including the Obelisk Tower."
"It's a decent offer, but not enough to make us work under you,"
Baksa replied.
"Other companies could offer the same deal."
"Other companies aren't willing to take the risk with your federation right now,"
I said firmly.
"But hear me out. I'll also help you reach Rank-10."
The room fell silent.
Baksa's vice-federation master was the first to react.
"Don't spout nonsense!"
he snapped.
Baksa raised a hand to silence him, studying me intently.
"I know it sounds unbelievable,"
I continued.
"But I'm willing to sign a Mana Contract to prove it. If I fail to deliver, I'll pay the price. But if I succeed, your federation will work for me."
Mana Contracts were binding.
Breaking one meant death.
"Are you serious?"
Baksa asked.
"If you can guarantee my ascension to Rank-10, NightShade will follow you without question."
"Then let's seal the deal with a test,"
Baksa said.
"I need to know what kind of person you are. Fight me."
"…Fight?"