T0 Gaming Guild Saves the World.

Chapter 205, Section 204: Courting Death
News kept popping up in the group chat. Jiang Heyi was receiving congratulations from several guilds of the Chosen of Khorne. After the Four Primals overturned the table, his bed also encountered some fun.

"How many?"

"Five or six, I guess?" the woman in bed said helplessly. "They're really annoying; they started popping up as soon as we went back to school."

What bothers him in bed is the influx of suitors who have come up to him since he became famous.

Her bedding was quite nice, and even before people around her knew she was a wealthy woman, there were already whispers about her.

This is a common romantic storyline on college campuses, but I have absolutely no interest in it.

"You also like girls who are sweet and soft?"

The jailer made a startling remark, but the bed remained perfectly calm.

"No, it's not that. I just don't feel anything for them," the woman in bed complained. "Their overly eager attempts to find common ground are really awkward."

"Isn't it easy to find topics related to games?" Jiang Heyi was also puzzled.

Even setting aside the topic of the Stars of Proof, being cooped up in the group is like being a monster of the Dragon King level.

Her relationship with the prison guard reminded Jiang Heyi of the "long-winded phone calls" of her parents' generation, the kind of terrifying thing where people could chat on the phone from morning till afternoon.

Forget about having topics; even if there aren't any, they can create entirely new battlegrounds and drag you into it to chat.

"So, it's because we don't click?" Zhong Zemo joined the conversation.

"Sigh, you know what, there are indeed people who really hit a nerve with me, but it's still the same problem, we have nothing to talk about."

A bombshell topic was thrown out from under the covers.

"If I try to talk to them about mobile games, I can only manage to talk about mobile games, and even if I expand on that a little, they don't play as many as I do. What should I do?"

what……

Given her family's financial situation and her quirky, adolescent personality from childhood, it's hard for ordinary people to be as "homebody" as her.

Consoles, PCs, and handhelds – all three are compatible.

I know a little about physical cards.

I've bought quite a few figurines and miniature figures; I even have a dedicated room at home to store my collection.

Unlike those who claim to be homebodies but are actually just using fashion items as a label, her background is exceptionally complex, which is why she has the ability to identify those who are just cramming in at the last minute and using a fake persona to get close to her.

This is absolutely unacceptable to those who value shared topics and interests in bed.

The person named "Xiao Tang," who was just politely rejected by the bed, belongs to this category.

Xiao Tang prides himself on being a seasoned anime/manga enthusiast.

In fact, just this one sentence was enough to clear the bed of potential problems.

In the words of the prison guard...

"Who goes around claiming to be a 2D anime/manga fan?"

Even a seasoned anime fan like the prison guard would never easily reveal his otaku identity before confirming the nature of someone he knows, for fear of getting into trouble.

You know, this is the prison guard, a social terrorist.

Even he would rather accept other degrees of social death than be executed by outsiders for using the name of "anime/manga."

"When asked if he plays games, he knows all about mobile games like the back of his hand."

"Aside from mobile games, he never answers when asked about his Steam inventory."

"I made a few jokes, and he couldn't catch any of them... Even so, he still couldn't read the room and just clung to me."

Just hearing about it makes me feel so tired... My bed is so patient, it didn't even give him a cold shoulder or embarrass him.

"I used to fantasize about potatoes and Kashgar, like French fries, but now it seems I should just treat those ill-intentioned people as a joke."

"It's so much better in the group chat. You guys can pick up on any joke I make. It feels like coming home."

Jiang Heyi was stunned. So the root of the problem was with him?
"Ugh, Potato, you deserve to die!" You could practically feel Zhong Zemo's gritted teeth through the screen. "My headlights aren't working, can you take a look?"

Jiang Heyi didn't argue, but sent some strategy guides to Khorne and the others, and casually typed on the keyboard.

"Sigh, it's time to go out and buy groceries, otherwise I won't have a hot lunch when I get home with fries."

"Wow, they're jumping up and down!" the jailer exclaimed, "I support the full insurance and half-carriage justice execution!"

Zhong Zemo said, "Hahahaha, what a joke, I'm jumping!"

The blanket said fiercely, "They're all buried together, one in the South Pole and the other in the North Pole!"

Orange Tea also joined the fray: "And Kshatriya, take them down, one in the game, one outside the game!"

"I've developed a disease that makes me die whenever I see couples showing affection in public. I'm going to die!"

Jiang Heyi's words actually brought out the four original entities that were watching the show from the shadows.

He suddenly recalled his life in college.

Everyone in the dorm calls him "son" or "godfather" all the time, and they're constantly cursing him. We have to play the cyber family tree game several times a day.

An outsider would probably think that this dormitory had some deep-seated grudge.

However, when they went their separate ways, the guy who never drank got himself so drunk that he couldn't even speak properly.

He used to be stingy and would mooch cigarettes, tissues, and water cards from everyone he met, but now he's eager to pay the bill, more anxious than anyone else to do so.

The guy, who always swore and seemed unapproachable to outsiders, was crying his eyes out.

Compared to the neighboring university where they spent four years in polite and distant dormitories, only to pack their bags and head off to different parts of the country without even having a farewell dinner, Jiang Heyi preferred the atmosphere of the former.

I thought that once I entered the workforce, I would no longer have access to such a circle of friends.

Although Jiang Heyi already harbored doubts about what was hidden behind the Proof of the Stars, no matter what the future held...

Thank you, Witness of the Stars, for bringing them all together.

Jiang Heyi doesn't go to supermarkets to buy groceries; instead, she chooses large farmers' markets.

Jiang Heyi's presence seemed out of place as the weekday approached noon.

This place has never been a playground for young people; all you see are elderly folks with their bargaining skills up their sleeves.

"Stir-fried eggs with chives... Oh, and I want fries too."

Jiang Heyi glanced at her phone's memo app and quickly started searching around.

"Alas?"

He rubbed his eyes, looked at them a few more times uncertainly, and then slowly walked forward.

"Bonjour?"

The woman turned her head, saw Jiang Heyi, and started babbling on and on in surprise.

Nong Ya made the same old mistake again—forgetting to translate.

She turned her phone screen around.

"What's the potato grower doing here?"

"Of course you come to the farmers' market to buy vegetables, so why are you wandering around here with a camera?"

“Travel vlogs, huh? Travel guides say that the best way to understand your lives and get into your daily routines is to find a farmers' market and go inside.” Nong Ya was very enthusiastic. “These are sights you can’t see in shopping malls and supermarkets.”

Jiang Heyi glanced at the elderly men and women haggling over prices, the vendors hawking their wares, and the dazzling array of goods displayed on their stalls.

Indeed, it's rare to see such a bustling market scene on foreign servers.

"Popular Potato, I saw in today's news that you are the first people in the entire server to obtain rainbow equipment. Do you have any thoughts to share?"

Nong Ya switched to being a reporter and quickly obtained firsthand information.

Jiang Heyi muttered to himself as he selected the chives.

"It's something you get by just playing through the story; it's not that difficult."

"Can you disclose the specifics of how to obtain it?"

"In the Great Snow Mountain Demon storyline, switch to the Sea Demon King's Court, achieve the win-win storyline of the [Royal Capital Rebellion], make every decision correctly, max out your reputation, and gamble a little on luck, and you'll get it."

Jiang Heyi said, "Isn't it simple?"

Nong Ya was stunned, muttering something in French.

Jiang Heyi was puzzled; why did the person fall silent after asking a question?

Nong Ya remained as quiet as a chicken until he had filled his basket to the brim. Leaving the farmers' market, she suddenly asked, "I'm planning to use the visa bug again. Does the potato expert have any recommendations for the next stop?"

"Aren't you planning to go back yet?" Jiang Heyi asked in surprise. "If you don't log into StarCraft, won't the guild kick you out?"

“Who said I’m not online? It’s just a time difference,” Nong Ya said. “I’m a master of single-player games.”

"Can you connect to the French server from within China?"

"Why not?" Nong Ya tilted her head, seemingly puzzled as to why Jiang Heyi asked this question. "Easy direct connection."

"I'm even updating the news about the boundary between the virtual and real worlds back to China from within the game," Nong Ya said proudly. "I haven't missed a single update from you guys!"

Would you consider this the leading fan of the boundary between reality and illusion in France...?

Urged by Nong Ya, Jiang Heyi reluctantly offered the option of "Cheng Ning".

"When you're not traveling, you can bother the other people on the boundary between the virtual and real worlds. There are still 3 people there right now."

After saying goodbye, Nong Ya suddenly paused.

If she remembers correctly, Potato is also from Chengning...

Why is he still in Guangfu?
This is definitely big news!
Nong Ya pushed through the crowd, trying to catch up with Jiang Heyi.

Unfortunately, the elderly people, though seemingly frail, formed a human wall that was practically a wall of sighs, effectively trapping Nong Ya in the crowd. She could only watch helplessly as Jiang Heyi left.

When French Fries got home, he smelled the aroma of food filling the room and quickly took off his clothes, leaving him in only a tank top and shorts.

"It's so hot..."

The weather in Guangzhou in October is no different from that in July and August; it's unbearably hot.

Jiang Heyi looked at the cool fries and watched the sweat trickle down her collarbone, then took a deep breath.

French Fries seemed to only just realize what was happening, staring blankly at Jiang Heyi for two or three seconds...

She rushed back to her room, put on a coat, and then came out blushing.

"It's okay, you'll get used to it..." Jiang Heyi's language skills seemed to have malfunctioned as well. "Let's eat."

"Does he mean that once you get used to it... you won't care anymore?"

French Fries' face turned even redder.

Is this... an implication?

Even after gulping down two mouthfuls of iced drink, her face was still burning red.

The indoor air conditioning was already on, and the heat was indeed radiating outwards from the inside.

French fries only gradually calmed down after Jiang Heyi put food on her plate.

"Something happened to me after school today." She remembered the important part, "Someone wants to contact you through me."

"What do you mean?"

French Fries said, "According to his explanation, he hopes to engage in over-the-counter trading."

what?
Does anyone still dare to engage in over-the-counter trading?
Jiang Heyi was stunned. When the game first launched, all the third-party platforms had disappeared, and the administrators monitored and severely punished any private transactions.

As time went by, Jiang Heyi thought that this group of people had already come to terms with reality, and now they were actually coming to them directly.

How dare they do this?

Once detected by Starfire, the account faces the risk of being deleted and will not be allowed to register again.

This punishment applies to both buyers and sellers; anyone who wants to stay and enjoy themselves in the Star World won't dare take such a huge risk.

“It’s not just off-exchange trading.” Fries took a deep breath. “He wants to manipulate things.”

Jiang Heyi was stunned.

"What are you trading?"

"What do you think?" Fries retorted. "His words also carried a hint of threat."

Just thinking about the nasty things that person might say to the fries when they suddenly appear...

Jiang Heyi's anger immediately flared up.

Before finishing her meal, Jiang Heyi immediately informed Chen Shaoyu of the news.

Chen Shaoyu was also somewhat surprised; his mind went blank due to the blatant audacity.

The power of the candlelight was too great; without exception, anyone who tried to exploit loopholes in third-party transactions within the world of Proof of the Stars was crushed.

As for manipulating matches to achieve the goal of off-site gambling betting, that is wishful thinking.

The candlelight serves as a reminder that gambling is a high-risk activity and is strictly regulated and cracked down on by various governments.

To be able to talk about manipulating world championships, how much capital and background strength does that require?
Chen Shaoyu dared not delay and quickly found Zhu Huo to report the situation.

Almost every time she entered Candlelight's office, she was in a state of tinkering with her head in her hands, making it seem as if she was trying to find something from the light screen.

He recounted the whole story in detail, and the head that Candlelight held in his hands suddenly widened its squinty eyes.

With the keywords "gambling," "match-fixing," and "market manipulation," third-party transactions immediately seem insignificant.

She raised her head into the air, her eyes shooting out a beam of white light as she quickly searched through the flowing light screen.

Half an hour later, the candle flame, bewildered, reattached its head to its body.

"Strange...strange."

"What's wrong?" Chen Shaoyu asked.

"In the Chinese server, I didn't find any warnings about these three things... If they had planned all of this in the game, I should have found it in my information."

Candlelight thought for a moment: "Perhaps it's a missing feature in the quick search... I'll try again."

This time, the search for the candlelight continued until nightfall.

Information matching third-party transactions appeared in abundance, but none of it could be linked to the World Championship of Trading.

"Perhaps we can break through from outside the game?" Chen Shaoyu waited for a long time before finally finding an opportunity to share his thoughts. "For example, could we target someone offline to connect with the fries business?"

Candlelight suddenly realized that she was relying too much on her own strength.

In fact, there is a better way to solve this problem from a human perspective.

At the behest of the candlelight, a phone call was made to the man who had come to the Starfire Chinese server operations building to demand an explanation.

"Say it again?"

"Manipulating the World Championship, gambling, and having private contact with World Championship players?"

The man's legs buckled as he walked, and he almost fell.

The man, whose head was already spinning after a long day, felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him when he heard this.

When his family saw their usually composed man in this state, they all put down their chopsticks and looked at each other in bewilderment.

“Our contestant was also verbally threatened by the other side.” Chen Shaoyu glanced at the candlelight beside him. “You know her attitude; she’s very unhappy right now.”

Candlelight does not interfere in human affairs; human problems are for humans to solve themselves.

This was something she had assured various countries during their initial contact.

But there are exceptions.

If her rules are not followed, Candlelight doesn't mind showing some force.

The amazing power they witnessed during their first encounter.

The thought of that scene gave the man a splitting headache.

After a long day, I got home and was immediately pressured before I could even eat, which made me furious.

He disregarded procedures and directly dialed the phone number of his subordinates.

After giving his explanation, he left with a single sentence.

"Investigate, find out the truth as quickly as possible."

"If we can't find out the truth, then everyone should retire!"

The orders were passed down level by level.

This night is destined to be anything but peaceful.

(End of this chapter)