"Of course, I could actually be considered your fan too."
"Arranging this kind of meeting was really not easy."
Lu Ce's brain was practically crashing. He just couldn't understand it. The world was so big. Even if Jiang Yuan had truly come out from that world, how could he possibly have ended up right by his side!
Was it really just this much of a coincidence?
It had only been a day. He truly hadn't expected to see this person in the real world.
No, with that fanatical believer-like behavior of Jiang Yuan's, it was probably going to be a bit tricky. Lu Ce wasn't in the habit of being someone else's object of worship.
To be honest, that feeling of being fervently regarded as a master was something he himself was quite unaccustomed to. It was only Pride who took such things as completely natural.
"He found you... how could he have found you?!" Lu Ce whispered through gritted teeth.
"I'm afraid it wasn't you who summoned him, was it? What did you tell him?"
"I didn't say much. Don't be so suspicious."
"Oh, right, don't slip up later. Your current identity is also a member of Divine Punishment."
Lu Ce: ......
There's a 'later'?
Tch, with Jiang Yuan's level of mental acuity, it would be far too easy for Xie Antong to brainwash him.
Just what nonsense have you been telling him?!
Feeling somewhat helpless in his heart, he still looked up and noticed that Jiang Yuan himself didn't seem to have any sense of nervousness.
Although he also didn't know why he had been pulled up here, that strange man in red clothes had only told him, "Just say a few words, show off your strength a bit."
What exactly did 'just say a few words' refer to?
Saying 'the world belongs to the Heaven and Earth Society' at this point probably wouldn't work anymore, would it?
Should he say "the world belongs to Divine Punishment"?
But regardless, facing the scene before him, he didn't feel particularly unfamiliar.
Because in his memory, in the world he once came from, scenes like this had happened many times, similar to pre-battle mobilizations.
So he was definitely very familiar with it, and there was nothing to be stage-frightened about. In fact, when not in front of Pride, Jiang Yuan wasn't a very introverted person.
Clasping his hands in a fist salute, he spoke clearly to the crowd before him:
"Hello everyone, my name is Jiang Yuan. I've just arrived in this world and am currently a member of Divine Punishment."
He didn't need any microphone or similar device. He was familiar with this sort of thing. In the previous game, he had addressed the entire city, and every single person could hear him.
As soon as he spoke these words now, they immediately boomed like thunder, startling Zhao Jiacheng beside him.
An imposing aura unconsciously leaked from him, causing everyone before him to instantly panic. A parachuted-in World Rank 5—such a person was normally impossible to see.
Truly extraordinary strength!
Retracting the aura from his body, Jiang Yuan continued:
"My apologies. Before I came, Team Leader Zhao asked me to say a few words and demonstrate my strength, so I hope I didn't startle everyone just now."
Zhao Jiacheng: ?
Huh?
No, you just said it outright! How can you just say something like that directly?!
His face instantly became very stiff.
"It was the leader of Divine Punishment who recommended I reside here. In the future, I might become neighbors with all of you."
Jiang Yuan continued speaking. Hearing this, Lu Ce at the bottom of the stage immediately twitched at the corner of his mouth, thinking, *Just as I expected.*
Xie Antong also slapped her own forehead in exasperation.
With just two sentences, Jiang Yuan had sold out every single person who could possibly be sold out, leaving the people below utterly dumbfounded.
Those accustomed to hearing official jargon and platitudes found Jiang Yuan's way of speaking quite jarring at the moment.
But Jiang Yuan continued, determined to shock with his words, his eyes sincere as he looked at the people before him.
"To you, I am a person from another world. My goal in coming here is to follow... well, and to seek revenge."
"I have witnessed the annihilation of a world. My world was destroyed, everything turned to nothingness. Now, it's your world's turn."
Everyone: !?
Great, now it was everyone's turn to be utterly bewildered.
Hey buddy, what are you saying with that big mouth of yours? How did the world just get destroyed?!
Zhao Jiacheng was completely dumbfounded, thinking, *Is this how people from your world all talk?*
Although within the Dragon Group, there had always been worries—worries about the game's descent, its changes to the world, even the descent into chaos—it wasn't supposed to be said like this.
After these few sentences, he felt Jiang Yuan didn't have bad intentions, but he also seemed a bit... lacking in common sense...
Jiang Yuan turned a blind eye to everyone's gazes. In fact, he really couldn't discern much change in people's expressions. He continued:
"Having come to this world, I naturally don't wish to see the scenario of a world's destruction happen again in my presence. Therefore, I am willing to do everything in my power to protect this place."
"May we unite as one and face the potential Despair head-on."
"Additionally, I actually noticed just now that some among you have a look in your eyes, your hearts harboring improper thoughts!"
Jiang Yuan's eyes swept over the crowd. Several people couldn't help but lower their heads.
"I can only say, in my world, I've seen similar people. I know what you're thinking."
"Those who think of being the smart ones early, offering a token of surrender to join the other side, often don't end well. When necessary, I might also kill you."
Jiang Yuan's voice held no killing intent, but it sent chills down the listeners' spines, as if he had already witnessed too many things, grown accustomed to everything in the world, become numb, made it all routine.
Instantly, the entire venue fell silent. Those who originally had some ulterior motives in their hearts now didn't dare to reveal even a hint more.
Zhao Jiacheng immediately felt something was wrong. This guy was way too terrifying. The idea was to intimidate the petty villains, but this intimidated everyone, starting with direct threats.
He immediately stepped in to smooth things over, uttering a few diplomatic phrases, stating that these were extraordinary times, and announced some temporary policies and such.
Afterwards, everyone dispersed.
The crowd dispersed quickly. Although Jiang Yuan looked harmless, what he said really made people not want to get too close.
As the crowd scattered, Jiang Yuan didn't know what to do either and could only look at Zhao Jiacheng.
At that moment, Xie Antong emerged from the shadows, walking over to Lu Ce's side, just in time to be seen by Zhao Jiacheng.
Zhao Jiacheng quickly spoke up:
"Oh? Leader Xie is still here?" he said as he walked forward. Seeing this, Jiang Yuan also slowly approached.
"Mhm, came to take a look." Xie Antong nodded, looking at Jiang Yuan. "Still adjusting?"
"No trouble adjusting. Thank you for your trouble."
"Um, you said before..."
Xie Antong directly interrupted him, raising a hand to point at Lu Ce, indicating:
"This person is also a member of Divine Punishment, quite capable. You should get to know him."
Lu Ce: .......
Hearing this, Jiang Yuan looked over. Instantly, his whole body stiffened, his gaze somewhat fixed, and he asked strangely:
"Hello... have we met before?"