Chapter 172

The representative of the Global Occult Alliance finished speaking, and representatives from other organizations took turns speaking, their messages being largely identical—players could do whatever they wanted in daily life, but at this critical moment, unity must come first.

The press conference ended, and representatives from all sides gradually departed. The electronic billboards on the exterior walls of the tall buildings lining the street lit up simultaneously, displaying advertisements.

"Fu Bao Zhai's short-term equipment rental service has been upgraded again—premium-quality gear rental starts at just 200 game coins."

"Credit Suisse's short-term deposit interest rate has temporarily increased—add an extra layer of security for your family."

"Gen-Sys Biotech's new ability-activation serum is now live—if you can't even survive today, why bother thinking about tomorrow?"

"New Lisboa Casino is now open! Sexy dealers dealing live—deposit 66, get 66 free, withdraw up to 500 bitcoins per day."

The multicolored glow of advertising lights illuminated the entire street, giving it a distinct cyberpunk vibe.

Hui Yu watched the neon lights with fascination, then turned to Li Cheng and asked, "Don't these companies contradict themselves—renting out cheap gear while encouraging players to deposit money?"

"No contradiction."

Li Cheng folded up his beach observation chair and said casually, "Equipment rental increases players' chances of survival—it requires a deposit and a contract."

Bank deposits target the remaining game coins in players' pockets—this money comes with you in life but leaves with you in death; better to temporarily deposit all your cash into the bank before a mission. If you die, the bank converts it into real currency and sends it to your family."

"Both services exist within most guilds, but guilds must consider collective interests, so their interest rates are usually lower than those offered by commercial institutions."

"Chu… Mr. Chu?"

A hesitant voice came from behind. Li Cheng turned and saw a familiar middle-aged man in a Special Affairs Bureau uniform.

Oh, isn't this the Shape?

Felix Taylor, an NPC from another world whom Li Cheng had casually rescued during a monster-themed amusement park mission—essentially an alien mutated creature.

Li Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Felix? What's with the uniform?"

"Oh, I'm now a security guard at the Special Affairs Bureau building."

Felix smiled. "The bureau's scientists re-edited my DNA, sealing my mutated form and my ability to spread infection. Now I can live a normal life—work, live, pick up my daughter from school—she's studying in this building with other kids from different worlds."

The Special Affairs Bureau was famously fond of and skilled at abducting bosses from script worlds—a reputation well known throughout the Killing Ground.

Whether it was vampire patriarchs, hyperconscious aggregates, or Omega-class psychics, rumors claimed they even dared to bring back the retainers of unspeakable gods to Louchai Street.

Compared to those heavyweight entities, a Shape was the lowest of the low.

"Your daughter's in school too?" Hui Yu perked up, tilting his chin. "What grade?"

Felix looked confused. "Uh… third grade."

Felix was rather baffled. "Uh, third year."

Hui Yu smiled confidently, speaking with the air of an elder. "Third-grade curriculum is still simple. Fourth grade is different. You've got to work hard now—lay a solid foundation for elementary-to-middle-school transition. One extra point knocks out a thousand others."

Li Cheng's eye twitched. Felix didn't know how to respond, so he chuckled awkwardly twice and asked, "Should I inform Su Jie that you're here?"

Li Cheng's eye twitched. Felix, not knowing how to pick up the thread, gave a dry little laugh and asked, "Um… should I let Su Jie know you've arrived?"

Li Cheng pulled Hui Yu away, who continued enthusiastically recounting his insights on education gleaned from short videos: "Fourth grade is critical, fifth grade is most important, sixth grade is paramount, seventh grade is crucial, eighth grade cannot be neglected, ninth grade decides your life."

Through the bustling crowd, Li Cheng had already bought most of what he needed and planned to stroll a little more before logging off.

Passing through the bustling crowd, Li Cheng had pretty much bought everything he needed to buy lately, and figured he'd wander the street a bit longer before logging off.

A noisy commotion came from not far to the north, and the crowd halted.

The space cracked open like shattered glass, a fissure appearing out of nowhere. The surrounding crowd froze, then screamed in terror: "A rift?!"

"How could a rift appear in Louchai Street?!"

"Quick, notify the security team!"

Louchai Street's underlying system had prohibitions installed: players could not attack each other, nor use spatial teleportation or flight abilities.

The spatial rift appeared directly in front of the main entrance of the Alliance of Demon Scientists' headquarters—a black-and-red, crescent-shaped spaceship building with a grotesque design.

Staff inside heard the noise and stepped out, speaking calmly: "Don't panic. This is our chairman's spatial gate. Please step back."

Passersby exchanged glances and promptly moved aside.

The spatial fissure expanded gradually, growing to over two meters wide, then suddenly opened like a human eye.

A scorching wind of over a thousand degrees surged out from behind the gate, as if it connected to a volcanic crater—deafening eruptions echoed, and the acrid stench of sulfur filled the air.

After a brief delay, a tall, slender figure clad in a long yellow robe stepped out of the gate, his face shadowed by his hood, and set foot upon Louchai Street's pavement.

A few players who recognized him whispered in shock: "The chairman of the Alliance of Demon Scientists… Truth's Side."

"One of the original ten Level 40 transcenders in the entire world."

"Ignoring Louchai Street's rules, opening spatial gates at will—is this what Level 40 means? A true man should be like this—I could replace him."

"Didn't he disappear for months? If I ran up now and knelt down, begging to be his adopted son, would he take me?"

The man in the yellow robe, Truth's Side, ignored the murmurs around him and said calmly, "I'm back."

The Side of Truth, clad in a yellow coat, ignored the surrounding whispers and said flatly, "I'm back."

The members of the Alliance of Demon Scientists gathered at headquarters chorused in unison—including Bai Lang, who had previously teamed up with Li Cheng on the Disneyland mission.

As chaotic-side players, they were all individualists, lacking the rigid internal rules of the Special Affairs Bureau or the Global Occult Alliance.

Yet they equally revered knowledge, power, and the strong.

For Truth's Side, who founded the Alliance of Demon Scientists and, under the dominance of the Global Occult Alliance, had protected them against immense pressure, they held genuine, heartfelt admiration.

Truth's Side snapped his fingers, closing the spatial gate, then casually handed a metal box to a subordinate and ordered, "Store this in the guild vault."

The metal box was no larger than a palm, vibrating incessantly, with faint traces of blood seeping from its seams.

"Yes." The subordinate received the box with both hands and sprinted toward the vault. Truth's Side stepped into the headquarters building.

Whether it was an illusion or not, as he entered the spaceship structure, Truth's Side turned his head slightly, glancing toward the street on Li Cheng's left.

Unsure if it was an illusion, as he stepped into the spaceship building, Truth's Side turned his head and glanced down the street to Li Cheng's left.