Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
How many players were there in the entire Heavenly State? Millions! The number of online players for Dream Dota League had already reached 800,000, and there were still countless players queued up. If they were all put in one server…
Not to mention whether the server had a big enough capacity, the key was the cost.
Currently, even if the servers cost 500,000 each, how much only would 40 servers cost? 20 million.
Alas, Hong Dali spent 200 million at once…
But it was evident that Hong Dali didn’t feel that there was any problem with this. He grinned and answered, “Wrong, it’s all the players in the world.”
As expected, squandering needed to have a setup! Look at his setup—he’d spent 160 million on servers at once to fit in all the players in the world! But thinking about it carefully, it was really awesome…
“Alright, I support!” Now, Tang Muxin didn’t dare to object to Hong Dali’s squandering. Squandering really took skills. Hong Dali could earn money just by squandering, but if she squandered, she would only lose money. She had to concede to him on this…
Just when everyone was laughing and joking, suddenly, a lackey hurriedly ran in and said, “Young Master, there are many reporters outside wanting to interview you about our Dream Dota League’s combination of virtual and reality. Will you see them?”
Upon hearing the lackey’s words, everyone instantly focused their gazes on Hong Dali.
This was a great opportunity to advertise. If he accepted the interview and held a press conference, the advertising effect would be totally unquestionable!
But with Young Master’s personality of fearing troublesome things the most…
As expected, Hong Dali resolutely shook his head and said, “Don’t accept it. I’m very busy, how would I have the time to deal with reporters?” As he spoke, he turned his head and said to that lackey, “Tell them that before 2114, I don’t have any free slots in my schedule.”
Pu chi! Upon hearing Hong Dali’s words, everyone around couldn’t bear with it and burst out laughing.
“O… OK.” The male lackey went out with his forehead brimming with sweat…
“Oh right, Xinxin, I heard that previously you’d been bullied by that so-called Spiritual Sword?” Hong Dali suddenly asked, “How did they bully you? Did they attack you in all aspects?”
Previously, Tang Muxin had been helping Hong Dali to look after Dream Dota, and all the various statistical data of Spiritual Sword had heavily oppressed Dream Dota. Thus, it was normal for Hong Dali to ask Tang Muxin whether she’d been bullied—If he didn’t even care about this, then how would he keep his standing in the world?
“Yes,” Upon hearing Hong Dali’s mention about this, Tang Muxin was very aggrieved. Pouting, she said, “Their tricks are very powerful—they do low-profile advertisements first, and then their advertisements are all over the place; they declare free of charge things, create hype about the prices of the equipment, double the equipment drop rate, live broadcasted the statistics of their popularity, and activated the Tieba forum to go against us, making us not have any power to retaliate.”
“Oh, is that so.” Hong Dali was totally unconcerned and still had a cheerful expression. “Then we’ll bully them in return one by one, heh heh.”
“Really?!” Tang Muxin said in shock. “Dali, aren’t you always very carefree? You’re really willing to help me vent my anger?”
“I’m carefree,” Hong Dali felt strange and asked, “But I’m not a fool. Would I still pretend not to see that my future wife is being bullied?”
“Dali, you’re great!” The little lass was very touched, as she went to him and kissed Hong Dali on the cheek. “I love you to death!”
Hong Dali clenched his fists tightly and shouted loudly, “I love myself too!”
Li Nianwei covered her mouth as she smiled and said, “Young Master’s protective personality is the most likable.”
After everyone joked and laughed for a while more, Hong Dali snapped his finger and said, “Let’s go to the fourth-floor laboratory to take a look!”
…
Chenhui Building, ninth floor, outside the main entrance.
“Dear viewers, I’m a reporter from Play Together website. According to reliable news, Young Master Hong Dali is currently inside.” A female reporter held the microphone and stood outside the main entrance of the ninth floor, the cameramen furiously taking shots. The reporter continued, “I wonder whether Young Master will have the time to come see us? Will we be able to get the latest news of Dream Dota League? Let’s wait and see.”
After a short while, that male lackey that had previously gone in to inform came out with his forehead full of sweat. All the reporters hurried forward, and the reporter of Play Together loudly asked, “Mr. Li Yang, may I know whether Young Master is free now?”
“Our Young Master says…” Li Yang was drenched with sweat. “He doesn’t have any empty slots in his schedule before 2114…”
“So busy!” All the reporters exclaimed in shock. The female reporter of Play Together almost dropped the microphone in her hands. “Mr. Li Yang, did Young Master really say so? He already doesn’t have free time before 2114? We’re talking about a hundred years!”
“Yes!” Li Yang was very troubled as well. “Young Master has said so, I can’t do anything about it too!” As he spoke, he hurriedly ran back in.
After Li Yang had left, all the reporters directly broke into chaos—
“Oh god, I know that Young Master is busy, but he shouldn’t be this busy, right?” “Young Master isn’t trying to brush us off, right?” “No, no, Young Master has obtained the ‘National Well-Being and People’s Livelihoods’ Scientist’ title, how is it possible that such a person would brush us off?” “It’s possible, possible. Researchers are usually very busy, it’s normal that Young Master doesn’t have time.” “Yes, then why don’t we study into what kind of questions we should ask when Young Master comes out. Young Master wouldn’t stay inside forever, right?” “Makes sense, then what should we ask?”
Just then, Play Together’s female reporter thought for a while, then said, “Why don’t we ask whether this game will collect fees. At least the official site hasn’t given a clear answer yet. Oh, and also about whether this game will drop some equipment—players should be concerned about this.”
“I think that’s fine. This is good, later we’ll ask about this!”
“Sure sure sure, let’s wait for Young Master to come out, then we’ll ask this question. In that case, it would be easier to account for after we return.”
Just as they were speaking, a reporter with sharp hearing anxiously said, “Everyone stop talking, there are sounds of footsteps. Maybe the Young Master is coming out!”
Instantly, the entire hall was completely silent.
After a short while, the main door on the ninth floor was opened. Hong Dali brought Tang Muxin and the nine big lackeys along as they walked out in high spirits. Upon seeing the reporters, Hong Dali was instantly stunned for a while, then he felt strange and asked, “All of you haven’t left yet? You’ve been waiting for me?”
If they didn’t express their sincerity this time, when would they be able to?!
The female reporter of Play Together hurriedly said, “Young Master, we know that you will definitely be very busy because you need to do research, so we’ve been waiting for you here and didn’t dare to disturb. We have a few small questions, we hope that Young Master will answer them.”
“Oh, is that so…” As Hong Dali looked at the reporters present who looked full of anticipation, he nodded with some difficulty. “Alright, then hurry up and ask, my time is very tight…”
“Sure, sure!” The female reporter from Play Together hurriedly asked, “Young Master, Dream Dota’s popularity is increasing at a rapid pace, may I know what are your thoughts towards the fees that the game will collect in the future?”
“Fees? What fees?” Hong Dali felt strange and asked, “I didn’t say that I want to collect fees.”
“Ah?” Once Hong Dali said this, all the reporters present noted it down in unison—Dream Dota, permanently free.
The Play Together’s female reporter asked again, “Then, will pieces of equipment be dropped, those that can be sold for money? Or perhaps, are you going to put props on sale in the future?”
“About this, there aren’t any props that will cost money.” Hong Dali touched his chin. “It’s permanently free, and when the players have reached the bronze level, they’ll be rewarded with 8,000 gold coins to buy heroes or skins that they like. When they reach the silver level, they’ll be rewarded with 100 yuan; 1,000 for the gold level, 10,000 for the platinum level, 100,000 for diamond level, and the highest king level will reward one million. The users online can collect them.”
This time, all the reporters were astonished!
Not only were the props free of charge, when the players reached a certain level, they could also earn money!
Play Together’s female reporter curiously asked, “Then Young Master, may I know how you plan to earn profits from this game?”
“Profits? I’ve never said anything about profits.” Hong Dali felt strange and said, “I’m a prodigal, I’m only concerned about spending money, not concerned about earning money!”
Once he said this, all the reporters present collapsed.
…
Shanghai Tianhai City, in an ordinary two-story small building.
“Mr. Shiroishi, the nation has already clearly expressed its support for Hong Dali, what should I do now? What should I do? You need to give me an explanation, right?” Sun Yuanzhou angrily pranced around in the room. “Previously, I’ve been tricked by you to go and oppress Hong Weiguo. Now I can’t even save myself! What should I do with this loss? What should I do?” Sun Yuanzhou appeared extremely anxious, that slight hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth had instantly vanished…
Towards Sun Yuanzhou’s raging, the always confident Shiroishi Kazuma was now frowning deeply.
He’d made all sorts of predictions for the various possible scenarios, but he’d never thought that Hong Dali would actually do this! He knew that Hong Dali’s technology was very powerful. Back then, he’d gone to the battle scene of Dream Dota at West Fourth Loop, and initially, no matter how powerful a Holographic Projection was, it would have a limit to it, and at most would only be able to attract a portion of curious players to enter the game and experience it.
It might increase his number of online users to 400,000 or even 500,000, but it would definitely not go higher!
But now, it was completely different.
Now, Dream Dota could be said to have completely gotten the upper hand!
Though now its popularity was still not as high as Spiritual Sword, it was probably only a matter of time before it overtook it. There was definitely an intrinsic difference between the projects that the nation supported and those that the businessmen created by themselves.
Just the steering of public opinion alone would be able to reach a very exaggerated level!
The combination of sports and online gaming, with the way the world valued sports, once this piece of news was released, its popularity would definitely spread like wildfire throughout the entire Heavenly State. And even the world!
Alas, thinking up to this point, Qian Youjin suddenly frantically ran in and loudly said, “Mr. Shi, bad… bad news! Latest news of Dream Dota is out!”
