DADH Chapter 41

The Dragon Slayer Game Studio.

As the game grew more and more popular, the daily flood of revenue that once captured their attention no longer seemed significant to them. While a significant portion of that revenue was now flowing into the pockets of the game’s biggest financial backer, the team of developers and programmers at the studio remained unfazed.

After all, without the funding from the Jing family and the various high-end technological support they had brought in, it would have been impossible for Dragon Slayer to come into existence in such a perfect form in such a short time.

Sometimes, success and the right timing were inseparable. With the entire interstellar industry currently focused on ecological simulation holographic technology, who knew if there would be a competitor entering the market ahead of Dragon Slayer in two years?

The reason Dragon Slayer Studio had been reluctant to accept investment was not to monopolize this lucrative opportunity but rather stemmed from their passion for technology and gaming. They didn’t want the investors to have too much control and risk losing the essence of the game.

The Jing family’s investment not only came with no strings attached but also provided various forms of convenient support. They were truly the perfect benefactors, a rarity in the entire interstellar industry.

As they casually observed the steady stream of revenue flowing into the Jing family’s coffers, the studio didn’t feel any bitterness about not getting a big piece of the pie. Instead, they took pride in the fact that their creation had earned them recognition and success.

Look at this! Even though the Jing family had invested in Dragon Slayer just to save their youngest son, who would have thought that their game could make so much money!

After a few days of increasingly impressive revenue figures, the studio’s employees had become less surprised by the easily quantifiable stream of income. It was just another few hundred million credits, after all—just numbers.

What they cared about more was the ever-evolving world they had collectively built.

A group of people marveled at the comparison between the initial database of the holographic world and the current one.

A programmer projected a map onto a public screen and enlarged it for everyone to see. “Wow, look at the Northern Desert here. It seems like the boss for that dungeon is missing?”

“Isn’t it still too early for this dungeon to open?” someone suggested.

One of the technical experts responsible for dungeon design took a drag from his e-cigarette and reassured everyone, “It’s okay; we and Old Wu have already considered this. When the first player reaches the level required to open a particular dungeon, no matter where this boss has gone, it will eventually return.”

Old Wu was responsible for one of the most challenging aspects of the technology, the design of the “world rules.” It was a complex technology akin to a cosmic program.

In other words, when a player reaches level 50, either the missing boss will return to the dungeon due to irresistible forces, or a new boss will take its place.

In any case, dungeons would not be in short supply. The studio had discussed this countless times before.

So, the current goal was not to question but to appreciate the world they had collectively created, and everyone began scrutinizing the map. Finally, they found the missing dungeon boss outside the newbie village.

It was a large sand vulture with a crown, playfully hopping around on the shallow riverbank, sending nearby ducks scattering in all directions.

After chasing away the ducks, it began to harass the village poultry kept nearby. In high spirits, it even picked a fight with a passing yellow dog. In short, it didn’t look like a formidable level 50 dungeon boss but instead had become the local bully in the village.

Finally, after provoking a group of large white geese coming downstream, the boss was pecked for two kilometers, surrendered, abandoned the ground battlefield, and flew up into a tree.

Programmers: “…” Is this what we designed?

No, everyone looked at the dungeon designer simultaneously, “Is this the ridiculous design you came up with?”

The designer dropped his e-cigarette from his mouth with an embarrassed look, scratched the back of his head awkwardly, and admitted that he couldn’t think of a personality projection at the time, so he borrowed his pet dog’s traits for inspiration.

Old Wu, who was deeply immersed in his “cosmic program” for the world rules, suddenly looked up. “If I remember correctly, you own a Siberian Husky, right?”

The designer chuckled and picked up the fallen cigarette from his leg. “You’re right.”

Programmers: “…” That explains it.

The head of the publicity department had a sudden idea and thought of new promotional material. He opened his keyboard and began typing rapidly.

The staff member responsible for displaying the boss on the map muttered quietly, “Never mind…” Then he switched to another map. “Let’s take a look at the dungeons that are already open. I have a feeling that even the boss in this beginner dungeon seems a bit strange. Did you borrow some eccentric traits again, big shot?”

The man who picked up the cigarette smiled and then gave a mischievous glance toward the back of the technician’s head, answering naturally, “You bet.”

Suddenly, the people around exchanged knowing glances between the junior staff and the mentioned VIP.

They got it!

The only one who didn’t catch on was still studying the boss. After checking several clearance records, he excitedly called everyone’s attention, “Guys, doesn’t it seem like the boss’s reaction is a bit slow?”

Everyone: “…”

“Haha, you’re right, it’s definitely slow!”

–

[Main Quest Update 1-2: Rescue the Hero [by the River] completed.]

[You saved the hero’s life, established a friendly relationship, and gained +60 favorability points!]

[You have established a friendly relationship with the River Clam King, gaining +60 favorability points!]

[You have gained 1000 experience points, leveling up from lv10 to lv12.]

[You have earned 800 copper coins.]

[Hunger +5]

[Main Quest Update 1-3: Perhaps the hero knows something.]

[Occupational Quest: Life Town – Occupation]

[Congratulations on saving the hero trapped by the river clam! The hero heard that you want to go to Life Town and has decided to guide his savior!]

While still by the river, exchanging puzzled looks with the man in black, Jing Nian suddenly received a series of quest notifications.

Because he had previously completed the bonus task of capturing thieves, Jing Nian had leveled up by 5 levels, and now he had inexplicably gained 2 more levels.

Jing Nian was utterly baffled.

Had holographic games become this easy now?

He could understand the increased favorability points from the River Clam King since he had promised to help contact the person the River Clam King cared about. But when did he save a hero?

As he pondered this, a weak figure crawled out of the water grass nearby. The person’s tanned face, tinged with a ghostly pallor, reached out a hand towards Jing Nian as if beckoning for help.

“Kind-hearted person!”

“Kind-hearted person! Look over here!”

It took Jing Nian quite a while to realize that the word “hero” was written on the disheveled forehead barely visible beneath the water grass.

 

Author’s Note:

Three updates today, I’m not short of words, hehe.