Chapter 80: Notes Before the Official Release

I originally planned to write a monthly summary, but after thinking it over, I’ll leave it for later.

First, let me address some issues with this novel: some readers have said the plot develops too slowly—why stretch out something so simple for so long?

Actually, I don’t think this is deliberate padding or some new gimmick; the story’s natural progression is simply like this.

I want to present a relatively more authentic world, not a story where a new plot unfolds every three or five chapters.

Fast-food stories like this are everywhere else—they’re usually done by two hundred thousand words, and when you look back, you’ll likely forget what this book was even about.

In my view, a good story—at least this world, the society in which it unfolds, and the era it’s set in—should be rich and multidimensional.

I could write Chapter One: Lans suffers at Joni’s hands; Chapter Two: I give him a blow; Chapter Three: he runs into another unhappy event; Chapter Four: I give someone else a blow.

That’s not a story.

A story has rises and falls; it develops naturally.

In the morning he’s a poor kid; by afternoon the system hands him ten billion, and he lives like a nouveau riche—that’s not what I want.

Some readers also think certain plot points are clearly unreasonable—for example, why does Chobaf keep backing down and never resisting extortion?

Don’t ask me this question; go look at the news, ask people actually going through this: why don’t they resist?

They’re extorted for billions today, billions tomorrow—why don’t they run away, why don’t they retaliate?

According to your logic, they’re richer and more influential—why do they willingly submit to extortion?

Do you think they’re all in on a conspiracy just to perform for you?

Don’t imagine the Federation as some perfect place—it’s cold, savage, and cruel at its core.

If Chobaf leaves even a trace linking him to gangs or hired killers, they’ll make sure he dies without a grave.

It’s not because he broke the law—it’s because he tried to resist, tried to defy control from the “legitimate” powers.

Seizing by force has always been their habit; they’re not treating him more harshly now simply because they think leaving the money in his pocket for now won’t provoke resistance.

When someone needs him gone, they’ll show up like Arthur, giving him a reason he can’t refuse.

If he resists, he’ll die horribly.

Now, about the “private agenda” issue: I believe every author’s story is fundamentally an expression of their own perception of the world—it’s normal to have private agendas.

But if you can spot the private agenda at a glance and then attack or oppose it, that’s not my problem.

Readers who strongly dislike private agendas should seriously reflect: why are you so intensely repulsed and fixated on my depictions of social values in this book???

When I use three question marks, it’s definitely not my problem!

Next, some questions about loan sharks: why don’t these people just go to the bank for loans?

How should I answer this?

Most of you probably never tried getting a bank loan—low-income and assetless people won’t lend to you so easily. If you’ve ever researched or experienced it, you’d know how strict the review process is, and how high the actual interest rates are!

Of course, most people don’t understand this—partly because they don’t want to, partly because they have no chance to—yet they still ask me: why not go to the bank?

Now I’ll tell you: because banks won’t lend them money. That’s precisely why loan sharks still exist even in developed countries today.

As for whether the interest rates are too high?

I can only say I’ve written them lower than they really are—some data I’ve seen are so absurd I think the writers are just making things up.

Another question: why does Lans seem to have so little involvement in the current story? Most of it feels like other people’s plots.

This actually depends on the novel’s writing method: does the character drive the plot, or does the plot drive the character?

Two clear examples: One Piece is a classic case of character-driven plot—the story moves forward not because others act, but because the protagonist acts.

The other is Naruto: everyone is doing something, pushing the protagonist along a hidden thread he must follow.

Of course, this is just an illustration—it may not be entirely accurate, but roughly speaking, that’s how it works.

It’s hard to say which method is better, but I lean toward plot-driven characters, combined with my habit of embedding private agendas, watering down side characters, and fleshing out social backgrounds—the story and characters become fuller, at least I think they’re more enjoyable.

The story’s framework has just begun; the protagonist has few events he can directly participate in, so he appears less frequently.

As the story progresses, the plots connected to the protagonist will increase, and his screen time and involvement will grow stronger.

As for the “coincidence” issue: no story is complete without coincidence—if the coincidence fits the plot’s logic, I consider it reasonable.

Even Liu Xiu the Grand Sorcerer is plausible—why shouldn’t my reasonably constructed plots be?

Today someone suggested that the protagonist’s solutions are all “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” lacking the satisfaction of cunning strategy.

Here’s my thought: if a regular freelancer is now owed wages by a big boss, please use strategy to make that boss stumble due to your brilliant planning, then kneel before you, raise the few thousand in unpaid wages above his head, and beg you to spare him—let me learn from you.

Maybe then I could write this kind of bottom-tier strategic satisfaction, and realize I can’t write it because I lack experience.

Workers only do physical labor; only bosses think about company interests or business warfare.

An old reader asked: tens of thousands of bottles, guarded by only two people?

I said in the book: the workers were all laid off. Originally there were more, but since the handover was imminent and just a matter of timing, they were dismissed.

Earlier someone said the protagonist’s progress is too smooth—he keeps running into benefactors who lend him money and solve his problems.

Honestly, if you download any “XX Loan” app right now, you’ll meet benefactors too—they’ll give you a huge sum without even meeting you, and tell you you’re the chosen one.

When you tell me loan sharks lending you money are benefactors, do you know how long that’s amused me?

This loan wasn’t simply erased by Alberto; Lans recovered two debts for him, and only then did Alberto clear his debt—in other words, Lans paid a price, and Anderson was no easy target.

Some readers say the protagonist’s early methods are unsavory—I originally didn’t want to respond, but I have to.

Too many people rise through trickery and deceit—if everyone had a moral aversion to corruption, the world would have been united long ago.

Some readers say the assassination of Jimmy was overly stupid, but I think it’s not—someone just proved that shooting skills are hard to master.

Let’s not debate whether the number of bullets fired or deaths in each battle is realistic—just consider target practice: shouldn’t a high-precision pistol in a stable environment hit the target every time?

But we all know the actual outcome.

Someone might say: “That’s way too far!”

The distances in the book are many—if you have a friend who’s shot a gun, ask them: in a 10–20 meter range, with both shooter and target moving, and traffic interfering, can they hit the target every time?

Baidu tells me: at 15 meters, a 1° angle deviation causes a 4.17cm miss—meaning even tiny errors result in missing vital points.

We always think “I assume”—that’s wrong. Maybe I should’ve written him shooting Jimmy in the eye socket from five kilometers away with a semi-automatic pistol with an effective range of only eighty meters—that’d be more plausible.

These are basically all the recent issues—if you have anything to discuss or want me to answer, long-press the “1” at the end of this line and leave your comment to challenge my and my readers’ intelligence 1.

You’ll see the answers next month.

When you see this chapter, its activity period ends before August 3, 2024—if you comment after this date, I’m sorry, I may not see it.

But you can ask your questions in the latest monthly summary.

Also, thank you to my editor and chief editor for their guidance and care, and I wish myself a smooth launch.

1: This place works too.