Digital Hackers' Memories

As he manipulated his avatar to open his palm, a golden object resembling a "key" appeared in Chen Ze's hand.

"This appears to be some kind of 'UDL link' with built-in permissions?"

Without even thinking, Chen Ze knew who had given him this gift—besides Makiko, probably no one else would give him a "newbie gift pack".

The only thing Chen Ze was curious about was what the "UDL link" that Makiko had given him was for.

The usual "UDL link" is just a "shortcut" that allows you to jump to other digital spaces without using the EDEN public area.

Those "UDL links" that come with built-in permissions are more like a kind of VIP mechanism.

It not only allows users to jump to other digital spaces, but also grants them some additional privileges.

Clearly, Chen Ze's "newbie gift pack" is something similar, except that the golden key in his hand was not an official gift, but rather something that Date Makiko bought herself and then gave to him.

Chapter Thirty-One: Game Space

In the vast world of EDEN networks, there exist countless digital spaces, large and small.

These digital spaces may belong to large companies or be temporarily created by certain groups, but without exception, they all have their own purpose in being created.

Games, movies, trading, office work, and even private chats...

It can be said that any activity you can think of can have its own digital space within the EDEN network.

However, compared to large companies and events, privately run chat rooms and forums are usually unsustainable because the operating costs required are simply unaffordable for ordinary people.

Among these diverse and numerous digital spaces, immersive VP movies and VR games are the most numerous.

The renowned Yu-Gi-Oh! is one such enduring and large-scale VR game digital space.

The prototype of "Yu-Gi-Oh!" comes from an anime work in the early 21st century, and it has now developed into a general term for a large number of card games.

In traditional card game battles, players need to collect and purchase a fixed set of cards, then reassemble their own decks to participate in formal game battles.

Limited by the times and technology, traditional "card game duels" usually just involve throwing cards at each other and using various effects to defeat the opponent.

However, with the current advanced VR technology, various realistic "monsters" have long since replaced traditional cards.

For the average viewer, the thrill of a battle between top-tier gamers is absolutely no less than that of any virtual movie.

The immersive combat and the exhilarating comeback are unmatched by any VR movie.

After all, no matter how exaggerated a movie is, it still has logic and a plot. Viewers with a large number of movies often have a corresponding expectation of the ending when they see the beginning of the story.

There may be a few genius directors who can break free from these patterns, but the vast majority of films cannot escape the most basic story logic.

However, the battles between players are different, because reality is often more unexpected and exaggerated than movies, and ordinary viewers can hardly predict the unexpected events that may occur in the game.

As a result, large-scale card duels and monster battles gradually developed into a kind of carnival that was almost a nationwide phenomenon.

The most famous of these is undoubtedly the annual "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament launched by Kamishiro Corporation.

As a network giant that has maximized the "leading effect" in the digital economy era, Kamishiro Corporation now controls almost all the existing rules of the Japanese internet world.

Therefore, with such an absolute advantage, although their Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament started relatively late, it was more grand than any other private tournament.

In fact, this is another major characteristic of the global Internet era—the winner takes all.

Before the EDEN network officially became independent, only the United States and China were truly capable of doing this.

In the early 21st century, the United States, with the help of several internet giants such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Facebook, carried out massive money-making and promotional activities around the world.

Every region with internet access is using products from these American companies, and using these products generates revenue for these companies.

Only China, with its unique characteristics and massive size, has nurtured internet giants like Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com, Meituan, and ByteDance, all unique to China, despite being confined to a small corner of the country.

Until eight years ago, EDEN technology was introduced.

This allowed Japan to establish the independent EDEN network as a "third party," and through this, it gave birth to its own true internet giant—Kamiyo Corporation.

With its virtual reality technology far ahead of its time, Kamishiro Corporation has almost defeated all the old-era zaibatsu and become the true ruler of Japan in the new era.

This was evident from the moment Chen Ze first stepped into Tokyo; almost all the shops and buildings around him were products of the Kamishiro Corporation.

Only occasionally will some low-end industries, or those that are not taken seriously by the Shindai Corporation, be taken over and operated by other companies.

If regions outside of Japan are battlegrounds where other internet giants vie for market share, then in Japan, it is undoubtedly a situation where Kamishiro Corporation holds a monopoly.

This has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that Japan was able to achieve another economic boom and enter the ranks of first-class powers in just eight years.

The downside is that the monopoly of Shindai Corporation has limited the possibility of other internet giants emerging, thus preventing the national economy from making further progress.

............................................................................................................

"If there really is a protagonist in this world, then Kamishiro Corporation must be the ultimate boss behind the scenes!"

When Chen Ze used that special UDL link to jump to the annual "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament, this is what he said to the fox spirit X beside him.

Because in this special digital space, the wealth and power displayed by the Kamishiro Corporation far exceeded everything he saw in reality.

From the enormous monsters that float and soar in the sky...

Even the tiny billboards at your feet, with their neon lights flashing by...

As far as the eye could see, Chen Ze's field of vision was filled with the logo of Shindai Corporation. Even the players separated in different arenas were all wearing "skins" sponsored by Shindai Corporation.

From ancient swordsmen to anime characters, and even all sorts of bizarre and unidentified creatures...

This huge digital space has become a temporary cosplay center, with players and spectators of all kinds wearing different "skins" coming and going, making it exceptionally lively.

It's important to understand that ordinary people aren't hackers. To change their image on the EDEN network, they must purchase various different "skins."

Only in this way can one freely cosplay as different characters without affecting their own permissions and information.

"I don't know about the Kamishiro Company, but anyone who can come here must be rich."

Reijou X glanced around at the humans who were dressed even more "inhuman" than himself, and nodded with certainty.

Even though these "skins" can only be used in a limited digital space, the fact that they can attract so many "skin enthusiasts" to gather here is enough to demonstrate the influence of the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament.

"Also, don't you think you look a little strange right now?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ze, who was still observing the lively crowd around him, was stunned for a moment, and then seemed to realize something, touching his cheek.

It was only then that he realized that not only the fox spirit X, but also everyone else was casting surprised and envious glances at him.

"Ida-nee bought me a 'skin'?!"

Chapter Thirty-Two: Ryuji Mishima

Before coming to Japan, Chen Ze had heard about the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament held by Kamishiro Company.

After arriving in Japan, Chen Ze also talked to Makiko Date about his curiosity about the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament and mentioned that he also wanted to witness the grand occasion of the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament.

Chen Ze never expected that Makiko Date would give him a ticket to the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament, and it even came with a special skin.

"Spearman?"

Immediately bringing up his virtual screen, Chen Ze discovered through a 3D model scan that his current "skin" was actually an ancient-style young man carrying a simple spear.

A long white robe fluttered in the wind, and a twelve-foot-long spear was slung across his shoulder...

He doesn't need much embellishment; anyone who sees this young man in ancient costume can feel a chivalrous and awe-inspiring aura emanating from him.

Besides, beneath the white robe, one could vaguely discern traces of light armor on the young man in ancient attire.

This adds a touch of heroic and handsome charm to its already elegant and unrestrained style.

Even someone like Chen Ze, who doesn't care much about appearance, could sense the care put into this "skin".

Is this person... very famous?

Glancing at the amazed and envious looks from those around him, Chen Ze asked the fox demon X with some uncertainty.

"You really are an old-fashioned person."

With a wry smile playing on his lips, the fox spirit X explained softly.

"This is Zhao Yun, a popular character from the latest 'VR Three Kingdoms' game. Even if you haven't played it, you've at least heard of him, right?"

Faced with the fox demon's mocking remarks, Chen Ze simply shrugged helplessly.

"You know I don't play games; reality is much more 'fun' than games."

As a typical Chinese student, even in this day and age, openly discussing games is still a very taboo thing.

Even though Chen Ze's parents were very open-minded, he was so engrossed in studying hacking techniques that he rarely encountered classmates who were also obsessed with games.

Especially when it comes to game characters in the EDEN network, only a minority are willing to discuss them when they can't actually interact with them.

At least among Chen Ze's classmates, there were no super-rich people who could afford to travel to Japan specifically to play "VR games," nor were there any game enthusiasts who were like "know-it-alls."

"But this 'Zhao Yun' is really handsome."

His movements were both graceful and composed, his martial prowess tinged with a subtle air of menace...

After carefully examining his "skin," Chen Ze finally understood why others were giving him such amazed looks.

"It's actually a limited edition 'Zhao Zilong of Changbanpo'?!"

Just as Chen Ze was about to continue observing his skin, the crowd around him finally couldn't help but marvel and expressed their deep feelings.

"I think this was a souvenir from the game's launch?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and 'Guan Yu, who passed five passes and slew six generals' will also be released at the same time!"

"This is something money can't buy! I'm so lucky to have found it here!"

"That's not the point, is it? The point is that anyone who owns this 'skin' is definitely a tycoon!"

"And that fox spirit next to him, I don't think I've ever seen a similar 'skin' in any game before. Does anyone know where it comes from?"

"Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons)? Heian-kyo (Kyoto)? Or some other game?"

……

"Is...it really that exaggerated?"

Seeing this, Chen Ze and the fox demon X first looked at each other in a daze, and then simultaneously and tacitly took off running.

I have a feeling that if I don't run away soon, the consequences will be unimaginable if I get surrounded by these enthusiastic game fans.

............................................................................................................

In a corner of the Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament arena.

"That skin? And that Digimon?"

Ryuji frowned as he watched Chen Ze and the fox spirit X flee in a disheveled state.

As the leader of the special hacker group "Butterfly," Ryuji Mishima usually acts alone.

Even Chitose, the "Butterfly's" strategist and diplomatic mastermind, rarely managed to track his whereabouts.

Just like this time, no one expected that the usually serious and earnest Ryuji would sneak into the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" tournament venue.

This feeling is like throwing a real "wild wolf" into a group of huskies—not only incongruous but also bizarre.

"Is this someone Makiko knows?"

Staring thoughtfully at Chen Ze's gradually disappearing figure, Long Si inadvertently thought of the carefree policewoman again.

The "Changbanpo Zhao Yun" skin was a gift from Ryuji to Makiko Date.

Or more precisely, it was an item that Ryuji secretly took from his sister Erika's "spoils of war" and gave to Date Makiko as an "apology gift".

As for how Ryuji and Makiko met?

Then we have to mention the hot-tempered "Officer Matayoshi Goro".

Because in addition to being Makiko's superior, Goro Matayoshi is also a half-guardian and financial backer of Ryuji and his sister, and even the "Butterfly" organization.

Like all teenagers going through a rebellious phase, young Ryuji was just as impetuous and arrogant as Chitose.

This led the two to abuse their hacking skills for quite some time, and they almost ended up in a juvenile detention center as a result.

Fortunately, Goro Matayoshi noticed these two misguided teenagers and was willing to vouch for them.

In addition, because Ryuji and Chitose were relatively young, they were given leniency and not severely punished.

After that, Ryuji's parents were involved in a car accident, and out of sympathy for the young brother and sister, Yoshikichi Goro took care of them in every way.

This included commissioning Ryuji to investigate "hacking" and having him complete some online bounty tasks issued by the "Computer Crime Investigation Division" within his capabilities.

It can be said that Ryuji's transformation from a malicious hacker into the "Butterfly Boss" can be largely attributed to Goro Matayoshi.

However, what Yoshikichi Goro didn't expect was that although Ryuji had become an upright hacker under his influence, he still had a ruthless side.