After a series of ghostly wails and howls, the players gradually calmed down.
At times like this, one must maintain gentlemanly decorum and not act recklessly. Otherwise, they might flip Bai Fu's affinity from positive to negative.
These were lessons learned in blood.
On the first day of the server's opening, many players who were unaware of how "Stars Above" worked, ran up to any good-looking NPC and tried to get cozy with them.
As a result, each of these players got a thrashing, and the NPCs' affinity towards them went from [Ordinary] straight to [Looking at them like they're trash].
Some players harassed just ordinary NPCs, and even though they were spurned, it didn't affect their ability to continue playing the game.
Others were not so lucky; they messed with NPCs who were similar to "the Chicken God of Creekwood Town." Whenever these players appeared, the entire Newbie Village would come out to beat them up, and they had no choice but to delete their accounts and start over if they wanted to continue playing normally.
After these incidents, players began to take the affinity value seriously.
At this point, a group of players in the live stream were discussing just how high Bai Fu's affinity was for the players present.
[It should start at a normal 0, right? But after what just happened, I guess it might be more than 20.]
[Just 20 points of affinity and she's already treating players like this. What happens when it reaches 80 or 90? Will she take off?]
[Haha, I'm just guessing. Maybe it's more than 20.]
[Does anyone at the scene have any reconnaissance skills? Check it out.]
Digging Girl and others looked at each other in confusion.
Reconnaissance skills weren't part of the default skill set in the game; players had to actively learn them, and they hadn't come across such skills since the server opened.
However, this question was quickly answered.
While they were exchanging looks, more players continued to arrive.
One of the female players, named Dragon of Catastrophe, was particularly striking.
Even though she had chosen a very domineering name, everything about her, from her looks to her hairstyle and accessories, was cute.
Her slightly curled pink bob stood out as almost abnormal among the crowd of spiky hair, Saiyan hair, and starfish hair.
"Here I am, here I am! I thought I was late, but it turns out I arrived just in time!"
"Wait, you know reconnaissance skills?"
"Lucky, lucky." The Dragon of Catastrophe laughed heartily.
"Go, go, go; get up to the front and let me have a look!"
Thus, Dragon of Catastrophe was pushed to the front row.
In that moment, it seemed as if the whole world stopped spinning, and all the viewers were waiting for the results of Dragon of Catastrophe's reconnaissance.
Swoosh!
Dragon of Catastrophe threw out her reconnaissance skill.
Afterward, she shared the scouted information with Digging Girl, who then displayed it on the live stream.
[Name]: Bai Fu
[Template]: ?
[Main Profession]: ?
[Secondary Profession]: ?
[Life Value]: ?
[Attribute]: ?
[Skill]: ?
[Talent]: ?
[Affinity]: Treasured (82)
[Danger Level]: Red
Everyone besides Bai Fu was stupefied by the result.
[Are... are my eyes playing tricks on me?]
[You're not seeing things, it's 82, really 82! Even if you can't recognize these two numbers, you know what 'Treasured' means, right? It means FuFu truly cherishes and values us like treasures!]
[Get lost, get lost, get lost, it's Digging Girl and her group that FuFu values, not some Fun-Seekers watching the show in the live stream.]
[I'm so bitter! Why am I not at the Abandoned Cooling Factory? I want to enjoy Dear Fu's love too!]
[It's got to be fake. How can it be so high? This is 82, you know. A bit more and it would be as close as close can be. There's no way it could get so high just by helping Bai Fu once. It must be a BUG, definitely a BUG!]
Players in the live stream erupted into a heated debate about whether it was a BUG or not.
Those who believed it was not a BUG had very convincing arguments and naturally dominated the argument.
"[Are you guys silly? Fufu is inherently a kind person, and she doesn't know we can be resurrected. Just think about it, someone as kind-hearted as her witnessing us dying for her, how could her affinity not skyrocket?]"
"[Damn, that's logical. If there was an NPC who would die for me, my affection for them would definitely surge.]"
"[Dear Fu, my treasure, how can you be so adorable?]"
"[Disgusting.]"
Watching the player's discussion and the reconnaissance data displayed in the live broadcast, Bai Fu couldn't help but secretly give a thumbs up.
This Reconnaissance Skill is so accurate!
If you ask her whether she dislikes the players, of course, she doesn't.
If you ask her if she treasures the players, isn't that obvious? They help her complete tasks, flatter her, and give her a lot of gold coins. If she doesn't consider these players her "treasure," then what should she treasure?
Right now, she only wishes she had more treasures to help her ascend on the spot.
With that thought, she suddenly asked, "What's wrong with you, why have you all stopped moving?"
This puzzled voice immediately snapped Digging Girl and the others back to reality.
This wasn't the time to be battling in the live stream; Bai Fu was still standing right in front of them.
"It's like this." Digging Girl hurriedly explained, "We were just discussing, and we can't accept this money."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, we can't accept it, really can't."
"Sister Fu, don't worry about us, hurry up and tend to your wounds."
A group of players echoed in agreement.
Bai Fu's brow furrowed, "No, you must take this money, or I'll get angry!"
If you don't take it, how am I supposed to tell Martin that I arrived late and you guys took the lion's share of the money?
If I don't say that, how can I put most of the money I got from Big Brother Dabiao into my own pocket?
Bai Fu had already figured it out. The task "Debt Repayment" only required her to collect as much debt as possible, but it didn't specify how much "much" was. So later, she could just blame the players and give Martin a little something to send him away.
"This..."
Digging Girl and the others clearly didn't expect Bai Fu to be so adamant.
After repeatedly failing to decline, they could only silently accept Bai Fu's goodwill.
With this money in hand, from now on, they would do their best to protect Dear Fu!
Digging Girl was even ready to go to the Community to write an article.
That's more like it.
Bai Fu was very pleased with the players' reactions.
She had eliminated enemies, gained money, experience, and lots of popularity, while the players gained emotional value from her generosity. Everyone had a bright future!
"I should have stayed with you to bury those deceased companions, to let their souls return to the stars, but..." Bai Fu covered her chest, and with a sigh said, "The commotion here will soon attract others' attention, so for safety reasons, you should leave first, just as I am."
Patrick hurriedly asked, "Where should we go to find you if we need anything?"
Bai Fu stopped walking but didn't turn around.
"I told you the first time we met that there are some things better left unknown, but you all still came close."
She paused for a moment, as if to gather her emotions, and it took a while before she continued:
"I hope the next time I see you, you are as well as you are now."
Bai Fu left.
Under the slanting sun, her silhouette was both desolate and commanded a respectful kind of strength.
The players were somewhat dazed for a moment.
It wasn't until Bai Fu disappeared that the Dragon of Catastrophe scratched his head and asked, "Does that mean Bai Fu agrees with us seeking her out?"
Patrick nodded, "It seems that she has no choice but to accept, due to our persistence."
"Awesome!"
The surrounding players cheered.
Although pestering shamelessly is disgraceful, it really works. They could continue to increase their affinity!
"Let's go, we should leave too."
The players, in groups of threes and fives, left behind Dabiao, who was dead as can be, laughing and joking as they departed.
They felt as if they had won big today.
Not only had they won Bai Fu's favor, but they also earned far more experience rewards than laboring bricks after defeating Big Brother Dabiao. Some lucky players even found weapons; it was incredibly thrilling.
Even the battle-crazed player Black Tiger Afu, who didn't care at all about Bai Fu's appearance or identity, was now blooming with joy.
Alright, alright, alright, next time he would continue to stick with Digging Girl and the others to ride on Bai Fu's coattails!