Chapter 17

It is not just in Mo Xiaomo’s livestream.

Other streamers who watched the game CG on the Polar Star official website have also started discussing with their viewers which faction is better to choose.

Based on everyone’s analysis and understanding of the game CG.

The Empire is definitely the strongest, followed by the British-French Federation, and finally the Soviet Federation.

So when some streamers initiated polls.

The Empire’s support rate was, unsurprisingly, the highest.

However, the second place was the Soviet Federation.

The British-French Federation received the fewest votes; despite looking stronger in the game CG, it only managed third place.

Clearly, the shock brought by the Soviet Federation has left a deep impression.

Inside Mo Xiaomo’s livestream.

She is discussing the dilemma of which faction to choose with her viewers.

Time passes quickly.

Mo Xiaomo’s attention is diverted by a message sent by a viewer in the chat:

"What? The early access download link is working?"

"I’m going to check it out right now!"

It is already nearly 2:30.

There is only half an hour left until the start of the competition.

And the early access links for the streamers have also begun to open.

This makes the viewers incredibly envious.

The news brought by viewers from other livestreams energizes Mo Xiaomo; she hurriedly clicks the link in her private messages and enters, and sure enough, the download button has lit up.

Mo Xiaomo chuckles and begins downloading the game.

A moment later.

The game finishes downloading and is installed by Mo Xiaomo into the prepared virtual sensory pod.

Mo Xiaomo walks into the pod, switches the livestream perspective to inside the pod, and follows her own view:

"Brothers, let’s go!"

Mo Xiaomo enters the game with great enthusiasm.

The screen is pitch black.

Then, it slowly brightens, revealing a massive world map.

Mo Xiaomo knows this is the background exposition.

The background voiceover slowly begins:

"After the First World War, the Empire, as a defeated nation, fell into an unprecedented crisis."

"Economic collapse and hyperinflation were like poison, slowly dragging the Empire toward death."

"The unemployment rate of the Imperial citizens reached one-third of the Empire’s population."

"At this time."

"A veteran who had participated in the First World War and was unwilling to accept the decline of the Empire stood up."

"By promoting nationalism and slogans of reviving the Empire, he quickly gained massive support."

"In just a few short years."

"This former Imperial veteran became the Leader of the Empire."

"With the Leader’s rise to power, he led the Empire to accumulate strength based on a military-first policy."

"Six years later..."

As the voiceover pauses, Mo Xiaomo and the viewers in the livestream are astonished.

The First World War, the Empire was actually a defeated nation?

This is quite a contrast to what was in the game CG.

And economic collapse and hyperinflation, with a national unemployment rate reaching one-third?

Holy crap?

It didn't collapse under such circumstances?

It could be pulled back?

That is absolutely insane!!!

At this moment, on the world map appearing before her eyes, the Empire’s territory begins to expand.

"Following an order from the Imperial Leader, the Empire’s invasion began..."

"The Polish Federation, Danish Federation, Norwegian Federation, Dutch Federation, Belgian Federation, and French Federation fell one after another; for a time, wherever the Empire’s military might pointed, nothing could rival it."

Every time the voiceover speaks a sentence, the Empire’s territory expands a little; in just a few short sentences, it has already occupied most of the field of view.

The chat in the livestream has already exploded.

[Holy crap? Holy crap?! Holy crap?!!!]

[Is this right for the Empire? They must be cheating!]

[Wait, is this right?]

[This fall happened too fast, did no one resist?]

[This is truly absurd!]

[They are cheating, definitely cheating!!!]

Mo Xiaomo’s eyes also widen.

At this moment, the map slowly disappears.

The screen darkens, and the voiceover begins again:

"Following the fall of the French Federation, the Allied Federation implemented a counterattack to turn the tide of the war as quickly as possible."

"Preparing to open a second front."

"To share the pressure for the Soviet Federation, which was clashing with the Empire."

"Normandy, a location with superior geography and close proximity to the British Federation mainland."

"Became the target of the Allied Federation."

As the voice finishes.

Mo Xiaomo enters the training ground, and an extremely concise beginner tutorial appears.

After teaching Mo Xiaomo how to fire a gun, it ends.

Then, only a [Normandy Landing] button appears before her eyes.

Mo Xiaomo clicks it.

It displays [427/500].

She is a bit confused.

Just as she is thinking about it.

The screen suddenly brightens and switches.

The scene has suddenly changed to the open sea.

Mo Xiaomo discovers she already has a virtual body and is on an assault boat; there are no health bars or anything of the sort, just a virtual copy of herself, saving even the need for modeling.

"Huh?"

"Does the plot start right away?"

Looking at the surrounding environment, the planes roaring in the sky, the whispered prayers of soldiers in her ears, and this swaying assault boat.

It is clear that the opening plot has already begun.

"Holy crap? Sister Mo!"

Mo Xiaomo is a bit dazed, turning her head to look:

"Who are you?"

That person wearing the Allied military uniform says:

"I’m your fan!"

"By the way, I’m also on Sky Shark Livestream, brothers, my channel number is 16625... remember to follow..."

Mo Xiaomo’s eyes widen.

Damn?!

There’s a shill!!!

"Wait? Hold on! No advertising in my livestream!"

"Also!"

"What is going on here?!"

Only now does Mo Xiaomo realize, this isn't an immersive plot experience?

How is this being played online?!

The streamer player next to her shakes his head:

"I don't know."

"After I finished watching the background story, it showed my ranking was over three hundred."

"After waiting a while, I got in."

At this moment.

Sounds of "holy crap" ring out in their ears one after another; as the group of streamers communicate, they discover that everyone was randomly assigned to different assault boats.

Such a novel gameplay attracts the curiosity of the viewers in the livestream.

And as the assault boats charge toward the distant beach, getting closer and closer, the warning from the assault boat’s NPC commander rings in everyone’s ears:

"Don't block the ramp, landing in three minutes!"

"Everyone get off from both sides!"

Everyone has already understood that the mission is to land and seize the beach.

This is simple.

Many FPS (first-person shooter) streamers are already eager to try, ready to show off their skills.

And at this moment.

Inside Polar Star Game Company.

Shen Qinghan is sitting on the sofa, watching the reactions in various livestreams, nodding from time to time, but the suddenly started game leaves Shen Qinghan dazed.

What’s going on?

Is there a bug?

It hasn't reached five hundred people yet?

How did it start?

Just as Shen Qinghan looks up toward Zhao Ming, she hears Zhao Ming excitedly say:

"Quick!"

"Get on!"

"Hahahaha, I knew this bastard would play!!!"

"I’m going to kill you!"

Saying this, he hurriedly gets up, walks to the virtual sensory pod nearby, and lies down.

Shen Qinghan gets up, curious:

"What’s going on?"

Zhao Ming urges Shen Qinghan to quickly lie in the virtual sensory pod next to him:

"You’ll know once you enter the game."

Shen Qinghan feels it’s inexplicable, but she still lies down.

As the game starts.

What appears before her eyes is not an assault boat, but a dim bunker.

In the center of the wall inside the bunker, a number is painted with pigment.

[62]

Shen Qinghan turns her head to look, a bit dazed:

"Where is this?"

Zhao Ming next to her smiles mysteriously, pulling Shen Qinghan out:

"Look now."

Seeing the dense assault boats on the blue sea and the bombers flying in the distant sky, Shen Qinghan’s eyes widen:

"We’ve become the Imperial defenders?!"

"Didn't you say you weren't opening this faction?!"

Zhao Ming’s lips curl up:

"Who told you that? I made this game."

After saying this.

He jumps directly onto the high platform next to the bunker.

He levels the Imperial anti-aircraft gun used for air defense and aims it at the distant sea.

Shen Qinghan asks curiously:

"What are you doing?"

An evil smile appears on Zhao Ming’s face:

"The links sent out are all identity-verified."

"The early access qualification link just sent to a small streamer was taken by someone else."

"I took a look at that guy’s face."

"It’s Xu Huan."

After clashing for so many days, Zhao Ming is all too familiar with him.

After all, as a manager of a big company like the Tencent Group, one can easily find past video materials or character introductions online.

In contrast, there is much less information about Zhao Ming; many people don't even know what Zhao Ming looks like.

After all, Polar Star Game’s first game was "Cyber Blue Star: 2077".

But it was plagiarized before it was even released, so it had no popularity at all; who would pay attention to it?

Zhao Ming looks at the leveled anti-aircraft gun, eager to try.

How does that saying go? Leveling an anti-aircraft gun leads to a military court, but for now... stroking the anti-aircraft gun, Zhao Ming chuckles:

"Watch how I blast him today?!"

"There’s another one over there, go play with that one."

After finishing.

Zhao Ming pauses, seemingly distracted.

The next second.

But on an assault boat on the distant sea, a red light suddenly flashes above it.

Zhao Ming points at the assault boat with the red light:

"Just hit that assault boat with the red light."

"I’ve marked that bastard Xu Huan, others can’t see it."

"Don't worry, fire away! It has infinite ammo!"

???

Shen Qinghan’s eyes widen.

Hey?

Is this a game company?!

I’m reporting this! Someone is hacking! He’s hacking!!!

(Zhao Ming: Imperial faction, of course I’m playing it, hahahahaha!)