Chapter 3344

However, since there was a ladder ranking, there should also be placement matches. After seeing the players' skill levels through placement matches, it shouldn't match opponents with too large a gap, otherwise, this game would be unplayable.

Then there was a problem: if Shiler found a partner with extremely high combat power, that might lead to playing too well in the placement matches, and afterward, he would be matched with all powerful opponents.

But if he found someone who wasn't that good at fighting, it would lead to having to save the day himself every single time, which was too tiring.

Shiler felt he still had to find a teammate with moderate strength but relatively good coordination.

Moreover, because duo matchmaking required tacit understanding, and tacit understanding needed to be honed, this meant he couldn't change teammates frequently. It was best to have a fixed teammate.

Shiler had originally thought about having one teammate for PVE and one for PVP. But he thought about it and felt he should be able to find a teammate whose intelligence and combat power were both on point; that way, he wouldn't need to change frequently, making it easier to cultivate tacit understanding.

Shiler was just mentally narrowing down candidates when Stark's team invitation was sent over. Shiler saw that this team interface was quite intelligent, indicating whether it was a temporary team or a fixed team, and also indicating whether it was participating in restricted or unrestricted dungeons.

Stark had sent an invitation for a temporary team for a restricted dungeon, clearly intending to play plot dungeons with Shiler.

In just this short while, Shiler had received a whole pile of invitations for plot dungeons. Sure enough, he was infamous for his wits, and everyone wanted to pull him to play PVE.

Shiler checked this string of invitations but didn't see his most preferred teammate candidate.

So he connected to Loki's communication.

"Hello? Loki, have you found a teammate? This is what I'm thinking..."

Shiler briefly stated his idea of finding a fixed teammate whose combat power and intelligence were both on point, and expressed that Loki was his best candidate.

Loki's intelligence went without saying; in terms of fighting, deception magic had a natural advantage. Most importantly, the two of them had similar moral bottom lines, so they could collude when playing games.

"Sorry, Doctor. Her Majesty the Queen needs to stay in Asgard, and I have to team up with my brother."

"God." Shiler sighed. "You mean you're going to take Thor to play plot dungeons?"

"Yes," Loki's tone was slightly helpless. He said, "But at least he can give us a slight advantage in arena rankings."

"You really are a good brother." Shiler sighed sincerely. Although Thor had changed a lot, the thought of having to take him to play puzzle games still made Shiler's scalp tingle.

One could only say that with such determination, Loki would succeed in whatever he did. This Prince of the Blood title was meant for him.

After excluding Loki as an option, there weren't many candidates left.

It wasn't that Shiler hadn't considered Stark, because Stark's IQ was sufficient, and he was also quite capable of fighting. But Stark's biggest problem was his personality.

Simply put, Stark loved to show off; no matter what he did, he wanted to demonstrate his super-strong technical ability, and he had to stand in the spotlight to receive everyone's cheers to satisfy his flashy psychology.

But Shiler leaned toward the "mastermind behind the scenes" type; although sometimes having someone in front to take the heat was quite good, Stark was the type who insisted on everyone's recognition, so it was inevitable that he would constantly drag Shiler to watch him perform. The two of them had poor compatibility in terms of gaming.

Then Shiler contacted Peter again; after all, Gwen was unlikely to participate in this kind of game, and Peter shouldn't have a teammate yet.

"Hello? Peter. Have you seen Battleworld's new event..."

"Sorry, Doctor. No matter what event it is, I'm afraid I can't participate; I'm really too busy here."

"Alright, you go ahead and get busy, goodbye."

Shiler shook his head helplessly. Peter was clearly busy with the starship matter; it seemed that not only would Gwen not participate in this event, but Peter probably wouldn't be able to make it either.

Just then, a name flashed through Shiler's mind. And at the same time, a communication request was sent over.

"Have you found a teammate, Shiler?"

It was Strange's voice coming from the other end of the communication. Shiler revealed a knowing smile and then said, "You haven't found one either, right?"

"Obviously, it's because too many people are looking for me, and I can't decide. So I came to ask for your opinion."

"Is that so? I think you and Loki are very suitable to be teammates. What do you think?"

"He already plans to team up with Thor; don't you know that?"

"But I think as long as you insist, he might be shaken a bit." Shiler said while browsing dungeons, "Or you could find another mage; didn't you meet Zatanna and Constantine at the Gotham Academy of Magic before?"

"I can't get along with them." Strange said, "I want to find versions of myself from other universes, but the vast majority of them are very annoying. Teaming up with them is worse than not participating in the game."

"Then you at least have to tell me who invited you so I can give you advice. Or is it actually that you went around in a big circle and discovered you weren't as popular as you imagined, so you came to me seeking a little psychological comfort?"

"Then the fact that you can have time to talk to me now doesn't that just show you aren't as popular as you imagined either?"

"You're wrong about that." Shiler snorted and said, "I'm too popular. Everyone wants to play plot dungeons with me; there are too many invitations, and I'm dealing with them."

A long silence followed on the other end of the communication.

"What's wrong? Is the signal bad on your end?"

"No. I'm dealing with things in reality; the plan for the starship completion ceremony has been finalized, and they insist I participate in the rehearsal. I'm trying to find a way to decline..."

"Alright. But if you focus on things in the real world during this time, then you won't have the trouble of choosing a teammate. That can be considered a good thing."

"Hmm. I have another surgery." Strange responded and then hung up.

After Shiler returned to the real world, he drove to the Presbyterian Hospital, entered the neurosurgery office with ease, leaned against the office door, and said, "Your surgery ended so quickly?"

Strange's consciousness seemed to still be immersed in Battleworld; it took several seconds before he came back to his senses, glanced at his watch, and then said, "How did you get here so fast?"

"I came from the Brooklyn district." Shiler placed the coffee opposite Strange, who was filling out case reports, and then said, "How many more surgeries do you have today?"

"Two." Strange's gaze was fixed on the screen, then he lowered his head to glance at his watch and said, "There's another one in five minutes."

"Did you decline the rehearsal for the completion ceremony?"

"I don't have time to go." Strange said somewhat impatiently, "And I don't know what there is to rehearse there; the Ancient One can just go when the time comes; they are the ones who are fellow countrymen."

"Then do you intend to stay in the hospital the whole time?"

"Can't you go out if you have nothing to do?" Strange looked up and stared at him. "I still have over 80 case reports to finish; if you keep bothering me here, I won't finish them by tomorrow morning."

"Let's negotiate," Shiler snapped his fingers and said, "I'll help you finish the reports, and you cancel the next two surgeries."

"Cancel them?" Strange snorted coldly and said, "Do you know they waited three years here to get their surgeries?"

"Since they can wait three years, they won't mind waiting one more day."

"What are you trying to do?"

"It Takes Two. Don't you still not have a teammate?"

Strange narrowed his eyes.

"Don't look at me like that," Shiler stood up, turned a circle in the middle of the room, and then said, "I saw you were too pitiful, so I declined those invitations and came specifically to help you out; moved, aren't you?"

"You didn't find a suitable one, did you?" Strange buried his head again, typing on the computer while saying, "You wanted to find a teammate who could fight and whose IQ wouldn't drag you down, and after picking and choosing, only I was left."

"You saw right through that." Shiler didn't deny it either, spread his hands, and said, "How about it? Do you want to team up?"

"I have a question," Strange looked up at him and said, "I admit your intelligence is fine, but if you separate from your symbiote, how are we going to fight in the arena?"

"This is where your important role is reflected." Shiler said righteously, "You are the Sorcerer Supreme."

"So you want me to fight two-on-one?"

"It's not that pessimistic."

"Extremely pessimistic." Strange continued to lower his head and type on the keyboard, then said, "If you just wanted to find a thug, you could go to any universe and find a Thor; in the end, isn't it just hoping I'll also shoulder a portion of the intellectual work?"

"I guarantee it's a very small portion." Shiler sat back down and said, "And I'm not completely without combat power; I won't let you fight two-on-one."

"The surgeries can't be canceled," Strange said, "Either you wait for me to finish the surgeries, or you go queue with someone else first."

Shiler was waiting for these words; he pressed his middle and index fingers together and flicked Strange's computer, then said, "I'll wait for you to log on."

This wait lasted until the middle of the night. It was about 2:00 AM when Strange finally logged on. As soon as the communication channel opened, Shiler really couldn't help it; he said, "What kind of vampire schedule is this?"

"Vampires don't get up as early as I do." Strange's voice was still very calm; he said there was another surgery at 5:30 tomorrow morning. "We only have three and a half hours."

"Good God. It won't be long before God is very happy that his hands have finally returned."

"You're so concerned about my body; then all my patients suddenly requesting urgent surgery a while ago, presumably that has nothing to do with you either?"

"Uh..." Shiler was choked up for a moment; he had indeed thought of a way to drag Strange in New York using surgeries a while ago. He braced himself and explained, "Perhaps your appearance in the documentary caused a fan craze, and they specifically came to find you for urgent surgery to appreciate the charm of the Hands of God."

"Which dungeon do you intend to queue for?" Strange asked.

Shiler was actually looking too. Duo dungeons didn't allow choosing specific dungeons, but you could choose themes. It wasn't all puzzles; there were also some parkour or extreme sports-like ones.

"I lean more toward puzzles," Shiler said, "Or do you want to experience wingsuit flying in Battleworld?"

"Do you think my cloak would agree?"

"What? The two of you don't count as two units?"

"He is my equipment, not a sentient symbiote; of course he counts as one person." Strange's tone was slightly gloating.

Shiler sighed; the fault lay in Gray Mist being too smart.

"Wait a minute. If the cloak doesn't count as a living creature, couldn't you throw it on the scale?"

"Are you crazy? Why would I sell my own cloak?"

"I'm not asking you to sell it, just to weigh it and see how heavy it is." Shiler frantically incited him, "As long as you don't click the confirm button, it won't be sold. Aren't you curious how much your equipment is worth?"

"Not curious," Strange said, "Material desire is the root of destruction."

"You're really becoming more and more like a Sorcerer Supreme."

"You're wrong. I'm afraid I'm the only one among all the Stranges who is still insisting on being a surgeon."

"Yes, but God is probably more eager to have his hands back."

(End of chapter)