When the conversation turned to Instructor Yu’s death, Su Wan paused briefly. She lowered her head and slowly removed her glasses, as though organizing her thoughts. After a mont, she said quietly,
“Instructor Yu was a veteran employee of our studio. We worked together for a long ti. Everyone is deeply saddened. But rules are rules. So red lines simply cannot be crossed.”
“The so-called red lines you speak of now will one day beco common knowledge,” Wangchuan replied bluntly. “To protect that secret, you are willing to reduce everyone’s chance of survival to zero.”
“Reduce?”
Su Wan let out a cold, mocking laugh.
“If eliminating a withering soul can stabilize society and ensure that the advancent of 《spirit realm》 proceeds in an orderly fashion, then is that not, in a way, saving tens of millions of people?”
As she spoke, she looked directly into Wangchuan’s eyes and enunciated each word clearly.
“Have you still not recognized reality? Without the state’s forceful suppression and blockade, without the coordinated supervision of all ga studios, if everyone were to flood into 《spirit realm》 at once, I fear that within five days, at least ninety percent would die inside.”
“…”
Wangchuan fell silent.
With real-world physical conditions projected one-to-one into 《spirit realm》, the elderly, children, and many people of average ntal resilience would indeed be unable to achieve even the most basic survival in the ga.
A massive influx of displaced vagrants would nurture and expand nurous bandit organizations. It would also intensify competition among the major gangs.
“There is no need to discuss Instructor Yu’s matter any further.”
Su Wan crossed her arms and spoke with firm finality.
“Captain Bai personally approached him and promised that his son would be given a Gaming Helt, allowing him early entry into 《spirit realm》. In addition, the studio will compensate him with a batch of foundational martial manuals. This matter ends here.”
Hearing that Captain Bai had personally handled the issue, Wangchuan felt sowhat relieved.
Given Bai Jingtang’s prestige and character, she would likely have resolved it in a asured and humane manner.
“Next, let us discuss your grievance with Black Panther Studio.”
Su Wan’s cool gaze fixed on Wangchuan’s face.
“Yesterday, I contacted the person in charge of Black Panther Studio. He stated that he was completely unaware that mbers of Land-Clearing Team Two had followed the Five Poison Sect to ambush and intercept you. When I approached him, he did not even know that the team leader of Land-Clearing Team Two, Qian Jiangn, had gone to Huishui County.”
“…”
Wangchuan’s eyes turned cold, and the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“Two mbers of their land-clearing team had their accounts deleted. Such a major event, and the person in charge knew nothing?”
He did not believe it.
Su Wan rolled her eyes.
“Do you think every studio operates like Warring States? Do you think every person in charge is as responsible as I am?”
“The founder of Black Panther Studio was, it is said, originally an ordinary employee recruited by another ga studio. He was not much different from you. Later, because he developed well in 《spirit realm》 and accumulated considerable wealth, he left his original company and established his own ga studio.”
“…”
Wangchuan was incredulous.
“Did he not sign a confidentiality agreent and a non-compete clause?”
“He privately paid the penalty using Gold Notes from 《spirit realm》 and obtained the company’s permission. Hmph. It was no small sum at the ti. Five hundred taels of gold was enough to purchase an entire Warring States Building.”
Su Wan’s words left Wangchuan even more astonished.
He could not help but ask, “So if we pay a sufficient penalty, we can leave Warring States Ga Studio with our Gaming Helts?”
“Of course.”
Su Wan rolled her eyes again.
“If you wish to leave the studio’s supervision, there is no problem. As long as you have created sufficient value for us and we do not incur a loss, why would we object? If you can pay a one-hundred-million-yuan penalty to buy out the services we provided in the early stages, that is a fair deal. Why should we refuse?”
“…”
Wangchuan was montarily stunned.
He wanted to argue, but found himself without words.
Su Wan spread her hands.
“Warring States Ga Studio is a legitimate studio. We are not trying to imprison you completely. If you have the ability and wish to go solo, you may leave at any ti.”
“…”
“Just like Black Panther. After leaving the company and establishing Black Panther Studio, his connections and relationships in the ga remained intact. He still maintains intricate ties with his forr company and continues to cooperate.”
“…”
Wangchuan was dumbfounded.
He had always believed that Warring States Ga Studio treated its recruited employees as objects to be ruthlessly exploited—controlling their personal freedom and even holding their lives in its grasp.
But now, thinking carefully, Heipi and Old Li had encountered trouble because they showed signs of leaking secrets.
The others had perished due to their ga characters dying and their souls withering.
Warring States Ga Studio had not imposed harsh restrictions on everyone’s freedom.
On the contrary, Su Wan had even voluntarily disclosed the origins of Black Panther Studio.
It felt as though a shackle that had long bound his heart had fallen away, and a question that had lingered in his mind for a long ti had finally been answered.
At that mont, Wangchuan felt extraordinarily light.
“Everything you said—is it true?”
“Of course.”
Su Wan replied, “But I am not telling you this to encourage you to leave the studio. I am telling you that if you wish to establish your own studio, it is actually a very troubleso undertaking.”
“Oh?”
Wangchuan’s interest was piqued. “I would like to hear the details.”
“First, you must pay a one-hundred-million-yuan penalty. For you, Hall Master Wangchuan, perhaps a few months of in-ga revenue would suffice. But you must understand—why did those above us build the Warring States Building to protect themselves?”
Su Wan blinked her bright, playful eyes, her gaze piercing straight into his heart.
Wangchuan fell into deep thought.
“Safety?”
“Exactly.”
Su Wan raised her thumb. “Funding is only one aspect. Another aspect is that in Jianghu, one’s body does not always belong to oneself. Who can guarantee that they will not make enemies in reality through their actions in 《spirit realm》?”
Wangchuan’s expression grew heavy.
Had he not already made enemies of Black Panther Studio’s Land-Clearing Team Two?
“To establish a building like Warring States Ga Studio, you would need to expend ti and money. You would have to apply to the higher authorities for a license. At minimum, you must be a Third-Rank Martial Artist to obtain a state-approved license and acquire Gaming Helts.”
“Furthermore!”
“You cannot possibly recruit and train personnel entirely on your own, can you?” Su Wan began counting on her fingers as she laid out each point clearly. “The company must purchase large numbers of robots. It must appoint soone like
to manage operations. It must establish a Gold-Farming Team and a Land-Clearing Team. It must cultivate at least one expert capable of holding the fort. By the ti everything is in place, one or two years will likely have passed.”
“And by then, 《spirit realm》 may already have been fully promoted. The competitive pressure would be even greater.”
“Your own cultivation in the ga would also have been delayed.”
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