Tokyo Video Game Tycoon.

Hey! Line up properly or I'll beat you up!

"Please do not cut in line. We are queuing according to our ticket numbers. Cutting in line won't work."

Ouch! You stepped on my foot!

It wasn't just crowded, it was overflowing with people.

At the entrance, there were more than a dozen game machines on display, with at least twenty people queuing behind each machine.

Nearby, a shop assistant was enthusiastically demonstrating and promoting the game.

Early spring wasn't too cold, but this was the first time in his life he had ever seen customers line up outside the store to play.

However, he soon realized that it was because the shop was already packed with even more people.

Those were people craning their necks to watch the game console.

It would occasionally elicit cheers and boos.

"Editor-in-chief, is this the entertainment hall? Why is it so popular?"

“I’ve been to this store before, but it wasn’t like this before.”

Several editors around Daigo Ikeda were also surprised.

"This group of people has gone crazy because of video games."

Just then, a cold female voice came from behind them.

They turned around and saw a girl who was completely covered up, standing far away in a secluded place. What was most striking was the silver hair peeking out from under her hood.

“This lady…” Daigo Ikeda wanted to approach her and ask her something.

But the girl suddenly raised her hand as if to stop her.

"Stop, just stand there, don't come any closer."

"Uh... well."

"Ma'am, are you very knowledgeable about video games?"

The girl said, "I just arrived this morning, and I've been waiting here all day."

Daigo Ikeda was taken aback.

"So popular? I've queued for a whole day and still haven't had a chance to experience it?"

The girl said somewhat awkwardly, "That's not entirely the reason. It's just that I... don't really want to go into crowds."

Daigo Ikeda didn't understand why, but it made him feel slightly relieved.

Then the girl pointed to a shop assistant not far away who was handing out receipts: "If you want to experience video games, you can go there to get a receipt, and then you can play when it's your turn."

"Thank you."

Daigo Ikeda nodded slightly, then led his editors toward the clerk handing out receipts.

Of course, he wasn't there to pick up a receipt. Zhu Youxing had told him that he could find the store manager, who would let them experience the service directly without having to wait in line.

As Aya Tsukino, who had covered herself completely, looked at the growing crowd, a slight fear gripped her heart.

Finally, she sighed.

I really want to leave. It's freezing here, and there are so many people.

But I really want to play.

But you can't get too close to others, otherwise...

She shuddered, but finally gritted her teeth and decided to wait a little longer.

Perhaps by two or three in the morning, there will be far fewer people here.

Chapter 39 A seasoned night owl

Ota Tadashi never imagined that his arcade would be so popular.

Even during the bubble era, when people consumed excessively, entertainment venues weren't this overcrowded.

He estimated the approximate income he could earn today.

Starting from one million yen.

After buying twenty-five game consoles from Zhuyouxing, he later gritted his teeth and bought ten more at full price.

There were thirty-five machines in total, and they were still packed, running non-stop.

Each game machine brings in at least 20,000 yuan in revenue, and combined with the income from his other entertainment equipment, this is the best business he has had since opening.

It has exceeded one million yen.

During the bubble era, he once came very close to earning a million dollars a day.

But it didn't work out in the end.

When the bubble burst, he had already given up hope.

But unexpectedly, the era he least expected actually allowed him to fulfill his original dream.

This reminded him of the 10 billion market that Zhu Youxing had mentioned to him.

Perhaps, it really will be achieved.

But right now he's thinking about the Japanese yen, not the US dollar.

Even late at night, the place was still very popular, but there was no longer a long queue.

After all, people who stay up all night just to experience a game are still a minority.

He even thought that it would be best to maintain the status quo, monopolize these game consoles, and then make a fortune.

However, he knew that was impossible.

This is a short-sighted act. If he really did that, Zhu Youxing would probably abandon him immediately.

To provide the best possible service to customers, he also hired additional night shift staff.

In this era of bursting bubbles, there is no shortage of people who want to work.

People passing by at night would curiously look around and then come over to join in the fun, making this place the most special spot on the whole street.

The entire street was dark, but this place was the brightest, with rising steam indicating its popularity, making the surrounding shops envious.

At three o'clock in the morning, Aya Tsukino finally found that the game console was available.

She mustered up her courage and stepped forward, but still tried to avoid contact with others.

"Hello, I'd like to try out the game console."

By this time, the shop assistants handing out receipts were already dozing off.

Most people are asleep at 3 a.m., and no matter how popular something is, it's not worth staying up that late.

Even the guests who were still having a great time looked a bit tired.

The shop assistant was startled by the sudden sound.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was a little sleepy just now. Here's your receipt."

The clerk quickly drew out a number and pointed to the game machine in the store.

"The shop is currently available, so you can go and play there. It costs 100 yen per visit."

"I want to experience that hero fighting the dragon."

"Dragon Quest? That's fine too, but you can only experience it for ten minutes at a time, which costs 100 yen. If you want to experience it completely, it will probably cost at least 600 yen."

The demo content provided by Zhuyouxing is roughly one or two hours long, which is just the right amount of time.

To increase his income, Ota Masaru simply set Dragon Quest to be charged by time, at 100 yen for ten minutes.

Even so, he still felt a little heartache, because Super Mario could bring him at least 200 yen every ten minutes on average.

But Zhu Youxing wouldn't allow this. His goal wasn't the revenue from game time; he wanted more people to be able to play.

If it were Zhu Youxing, he would prefer that people could play the Dragon Quest demo for free.

Aya Tsukino didn't care about the money; after all, she owned her own personal server, so she wasn't short of cash.

She nodded, took the receipt, and deliberately waited for the clerk to put it on the table before picking it up. Then she walked to one of the game machines that played Dragon Quest.

Then, she skillfully clicked the start button.

Although she hadn't played it all day, she had at least roughly figured out how to operate it.

She was proficient with computers and found it easy to operate.

A melody spiraled upwards, and the hero appeared in a palace.

This first-generation Dragon Quest game is a product that has been heavily modified by Takeyusei.

Apart from the main story remaining unchanged, the game system and gameplay have been enhanced and updated.

In the original first generation, there weren't even any companions; the protagonist, the hero, had to fight the Dragon King all by himself.

But here, you can bring your companions to fight against powerful enemies.

"Hero with the bloodline of Loth, the evil Dragon King is trying to rule the world. He has kidnapped my daughter and stolen the vital Jewel of Light. The world is in grave danger and needs you to save it."

"I hope you can kill the evil Dragon King, retrieve the Jewel of Light, and save the world!"

Aya Tsukino has almost memorized this story.

Because she had already watched the demonstration countless times throughout the day.

After Ota finished his demonstration, the shop assistant gave his demonstration, and after the shop assistant finished his demonstration, Ota continued his demonstration.

However, no matter how much I watched others play, I still felt a little excited when I tried it for the first time.

Now, I am the hero.

I can defeat the dragon.

Not someone else.

After receiving the initial beginner rewards from the king, Aya Tsukino controls the hero to leave the royal city and head to her first beginner destination: the town.