Regarding the content on that game’s official site, no matter how enthusiastically the players discuss, no matter how many videos and photos are posted, the experts have consistently maintained a skeptical attitude.
In fact, anyone with a little understanding of current internet and biotechnology knows that the so-called realistic simulation technology is absolutely impossible at this time.
It’s like a space elevator that appeared out of thin air, without a frontier science foundation, without a blueprint from scratch, without overwhelming publicity, appearing so abruptly.
This makes one suspect whether it’s some kind of massive collective marketing scam.
Until a package was left at the doorstep, with nothing seen on the door’s surveillance, no delivery person, just a notification text.
The tightly sealed box appeared out of thin air in the blind spot of the surveillance, making one shiver; if he hadn’t received a notification in advance, he would have even considered calling to check the neighborhood’s surveillance.
After opening it and seeing the black helmet, the expert recalled what players who had entered the game said on the forums, contemplated for a whole day, and finally, seeing the launch time had arrived, cautiously put on the helmet.
His rational mind told him this was irrational, yet he had to do it, or he wouldn’t be able to complete the task assigned from above.
Could it possibly lock the exit button and cook my brain with microwave radiation?
The expert sprang up straight like a zombie from the modification pod, looking at his hands incredulously.
If it weren’t for the game-style data differentiating reality in his view, he’d have thought he’d been kidnapped to some foreign country.
He was both clear-headed and confused; the astonishing reality had his mind in a freeze.
Upon closer inspection, there was a strikingly handsome figure he recognized but also found unfamiliar.
"You finally woke up."
Behind him stood a large group of people; they were the last batch of players awarded game slots in version 0.4, indicating the total number of players in-game officially reached three digits.
Hu Lang: "You’re so slow, Miao, we’ve all been waiting for you, the first batch has already set off."
Blue represents wisdom: "Exactly."
Actually, Lin Miao wasn’t sure every person who received a helmet would log in diligently, and if someone hadn’t logged in half an hour after the designated time, he’d proceed to familiarize new players with the game.
It’s known he hadn’t led newbies for a while; the first two batches of 0.4 players didn’t receive such treatment.
Of course, their embarrassing behaviors were consistent; if some actions weren’t poorly influencing, he’d have loved to take photos and post them on the official site for memory’s sake.
Lin Miao coming today specifically signified that ’the game would have some minor content updates.’
Now, the office already had three bases: Stone Ridge Mountain town as the beginner’s village, Stone Ridge Mountain tunnel jointly managed with Adcardo as a transit station, and the factory in the city.
However, the population in the beginner’s village was still considerable, even busier than usual, only because several large trucks were parked outside.
The drivers were workers from the original factory who could drive, according to the foreman’s provided information, these people had no criminal records and were relatively honest, they unhesitatingly chose to become drivers over resigning.
Don’t think these people only bore the loan for their prosthetic limbs, in reality, the money they earned each month barely sufficed, if dabbling in bad habits like drug abuse or immersion in dreams, they’d surely be saddled with debt.
Besides, although the work location was in the Evil Land, the salary was higher by seven to eight hundred compared to before as assembly line workers, and they didn’t need to continue on the line, only driving for 10 hours daily under the risk of being attacked by Night Wanderer Chaotic Blade Association, from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Lin Miao also considered that newborn players wouldn’t have startup capital, initially only able to hitch rides with veteran players’ convoys, it was impossible to afford rented vehicles, thus a timed free convoy was divided out from the factory workers specifically for newbies.
Every five hours a trip, requiring at least four players to set off.
Moreover, a few handguns on board were prepared for defense, usable only when in combat mode, along with some tools necessary for material gathering.
Gloves, chainsaw, sledgehammer...
Of course, the profit compared to renting a vehicle slightly decreased, changed to 80 euros per person.
After almost a single trip, one could scrape together a day’s accommodation fee, meal fee plus dream usage training fee; if they picked up interesting items, they could take them to the workshop or W for appraisal and keep them.
Moreover, the original office combat suit limited to one per person was back on sale, still at 200 euros a set, previously players dared not show them off fearing they’d be damaged, keeping them hidden in bedrooms, worn only to show off occasionally.
Apart from these, newbies could also apply to workshops or Red Barrel’s construction team as apprentices, although some related industry knowledge was required.
Several players sat excitedly in the shaky open car compartment of the truck.
"The wind hitting the face feels just like real." The expert’s mind now rid of any doubts, only wished to wholeheartedly immerse in this game world.
Standing up, he spread his arms towards the direction of the wind, letting the air mixed with the smell of adhesive blow over him.
After all, as prompted by the veteran players [Resident], he’d already turned off his sense of smell, so the stench didn’t matter.