Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2 – Methodical Guidance
”I'm sorry, we sincerely apologise for causing you this trouble out of nowhere.”
The man in a suit politely gave Ling Xiaolu a ninety-degree bow, but this was unable to get rid of his grievances.
”May I ask who are you?”
”Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself,” The man tapped a few times on the communication device. Ling Xiaolu received a request to accept the other person's name card. ”I'm the customer service manager of Xinshan, you can call me Ke Ming.”
”Hi Manager Ke. I just want to know why can't this d.a.m.n thing come off. Isn't it supposed to be only a survey?”
”It's like this, let me give you a basic explanation.” Ke Ming used his hands to simulate a rectangular viewfinder, then extended it outsides. An enlarged virtual projector screen appeared in front of Ling Xiaolu, and numbers and charts were packed densely on it.
”The stats of the combat pets in the game look very random on the surface, but they essentially abide by the laws of the original mathematical formula. This is also to maintain the combat balance in the game.”
”As for every single one of us, we also have a hidden attribute. The problem that has been plaguing us is the mismatch between the player's attribute and the combat pet's stats. It results in the engine determining it as a 'plug-in', and so these players are barred from entering.”
”After multiple tests, we've discovered that only in situations where the compatibility is higher than 92.7%, the players will then be able to successfully pa.s.s the check. Hence, we regard the 92.7% as the breakthrough point for registration.”
”Although we found the breakthrough point, there are only so many accounts who are able to achieve this percentage. Up to now, there's only 37 people who have pa.s.sed the test, and the highest percentage amongst them is 98.5%.”
”So you're saying that my compatibility with the system has exceeded 92.7%?” Ling Xiaolu asked.
”It's not just that.” He tapped the virtual screen, and on the left side of the screen appeared a human outline. On the right was data that Ling Xiaolu did not understand, and a percentage popped up in the middle of the screen, counting rapidly, only stopping when it reached 100.08%.”
”… That's me?” It took Ling Xiaolu some time before he responded.
”Yes.”
”What is 100.08%?”
”It's the system compatibility percentage I mentioned just now.”
”If it's according to data, how can it go above 100%? My maths is very good, don't lie to me.”
Ke Ming sighed, ”This is also what has been troubling us.”
”Then may I ask when would you be able to solve this problem?”
”The technical department is currently working hard to investigate the issue, we will definitely try our best to solve it as soon as possible.”
”How long is as soon as possible? One hour? Half a day? One day?”
”As this is also the first time we've met this situation, so we're unable to give you an accurate time that's needed.” Ke Ming was embarra.s.sed.
”You've researched over a year already and still haven't found the reason why people can't put on this thing. Then, how long would you need to research on why it can't be removed?” Ling Xiaolu grabbed his hair in distress, ”I don't want to spend my life wearing this thing.”
”Towards the inconvenience we have caused in your life, we'll provide the appropriate compensation. I've already requested the higher ups in the company to temporarily hire you as an off-staff tester. As long as you're wearing the device, it can be considered that you're working, and we will pay your salary accordingly.”
”Then if it can't be removed for an entire day, doesn't that mean I can earn a salary for 24 hours?”
”Exactly. Also, in consideration of the peculiarity of your work, your pay is twice the amount of other testers, and overtime will be calculated according, and will be increased during public holidays as well.”
”However, wearing this, I won't be able to do anything. I can't even go out.”
”May I ask, what is your current occupation?”
”A student.”
”A high school student? Or a college student?”
”I've just completed the high school graduation exams. When school starts again, I'll be a first year college student.” Ling Xiaolu was a little dejected. He had managed to get into his ideal school with great effort. What should he do if this thing affected his first day of school?”
”No wonder you'll purchase a game device at this time. May I ask another question, which college have you been admitted to?”
”Yanshan University.”
”Wow,” Ke Ming praised him sincerely. ”That's a very established school with a long history. The school building is nearly 500 years old. Students admitted there are truly outstanding, which major did you get into?”
”Inter-galactic navigation and communication, specialising in superionic material in the Galaxy Inst.i.tute of Engineering.”
”That's a really popular major, your results must be very impressive.”
Not everyone could become a manager of customer service. Such targeted flattering was very effective on inexperienced youths like Ling Xiaolu.
”It's decent.” His voice and expression had softened a lot.
”It's now the start of June. There's still 3 full months before school starts in September. I believe that our technical department will be able to find a way to solve this issue within three months.”
”Then what should I do about my daily routine? You can't expect me to wear this out in summer.”
”There's two ways to solve this problem. One, our company can provide someone to deliver your daily necessities to your door. As long as you need it, we can satisfy it. If you prefer shopping yourself online, our company can also fully reimburse you. The only thing is that we'll feel bad if you're staying at home the entire time.”
”Then what's the second option?”
”With the current in-game state of our company, you can resolve all your bodily requirements in the game itself. That means, as long as you maintain your food and drink intake in the game, in reality, you will also be able to receive the corresponding nutrients, and you don't have to worry about your health.”
”So high-tech?”
”Actually, there's a small group of players who have already been living long-term in the game. Our engine will periodically monitor the players' conditions, and until now, there hasn't been any problems yet.”
”Doesn't that mean that I'll be captured as a pet? Is there any way to let me enter the game using the bracelet?”
”I'm sorry, we're temporarily unable to do so. The engine can only accept a request from one device at a time. As the collar is a special device, it takes priority, and we're unable to make any adjustments to that.”
The salesperson standing by the side helped to interject, ”Actually, the human pets in the game will receive many types of preferential treatments.”
”What sort of preferential treatments?”
”For example,” Manager Ke introduced. ”The players don't have to pay for any expenses in the game. As an unbonded player, the game is completely free. Once the contract is signed, the master will be responsible for the cost of the device, the monthly card, as well as any in-game items.”
”Master?” Ling Xiaolu's mouth twisted.
”The fees will be handled by the benefactor who sign the spirit contract with you.” Manager Ke cleverly corrected himself.
”Also, what did you say just now? Monthly card and in-game items?”
”For ordinary players, the first 18 levels are free. After that, they will have to purchase a 50 dollar card every month. As for the in-game items, they're not a necessary purchase. Without them, the game experience will not be affected as well.”
”What sort of charging model is this? It's a trap!”
”This is something we have learnt from Jingshan Tech from a few hundred years ago. Jingshan Tech was the predecessor of Xinshan, and that was their operating experience for a certain PC online game. It's a well-established charging model that we've done market research on.”
”A PC online game?” Ling Xiaolu exclaimed. ”What an ancient term.”
”Yes, it has long disappeared from the scene. In our generation, there's no longer any old players of PC online games. Today, it's the VR games that are holding the fort.”
”At the end of the day, there's only a monetary compensation. It's as though I'm bargaining with a boss who's about to become my sugar daddy. Although I'm poor, I'm not at the point where I have to sell my body. I can still afford a monthly card worth 50 dollars.”