Shen Qinghan widened her eyes, shocked as she looked at Zhao Ming.
Create a game to experience war within the Anti-War Competition organized by the Six Major Federations.
Will it be popular?
Don't even ask, it surely will be.
After all, Zhao Ming is doing something unique, how can it not be popular?
Even if it's not popular.
Those warmongers eager to promote war will definitely support Zhao Ming's game, hoping to watch the spectacle.
But what happens after it becomes popular?
Aren't you afraid of being sent inside...
Are you crazy?!
Shen Qinghan took a long time to come back to her senses and spoke through gritted teeth:
"Are you crazy?"
"If you want to die, don't drag me into it."
She is the company's second largest shareholder; if there's a problem with the game and Zhao Ming goes inside, she won't escape either. She isn't too concerned for herself but fears it might implicate her family.
There are people in various positions in her family, and if it really enrages the Federation...
The elders in her family could get implicated, and the Shen family's political enemies aren't few. If this gives them political leverage... the consequences are unimaginable, something Shen Qinghan cannot tolerate:
"No, absolutely not."
"Even if all the money is lost, you cannot participate."
"Promoting war is an idea too dangerous."
Zhao Ming looked at Shen Qinghan, who seemed as tense as if facing a formidable enemy, feeling inexplicably puzzled.
Isn't it just a game... is it that serious?
Thinking he might not have explained clearly, Zhao Ming began to speak:
"It's not promoting war but allowing players to 'experience' war."
Shen Qinghan's brow furrowed:
"Is there a difference?"
"The main purpose of the Anti-War Competition is to appease the public and oppose war."
"Other people's shooting games are mainly about competitive combat, but you created a game for players to experience war."
"Who knows how those warmongers would celebrate."
"If those warmongers mock the Federation in the future, you'll be recorded by the Federation."
Zhao Ming's expression turned quirky, rubbing his chin:
"Celebration?"
"They probably... won't be able to celebrate, right?"
Players are just playing as cannon fodder, where's the room for celebration...
However, Zhao Ming also understood where the difference in communication with Shen Qinghan lay, the angle of immersion differed. Zhao Ming thought for a bit and explained:
"The game I am making might differ somewhat from what you imagine."
"According to the thoughts of normal people or war enthusiasts."
"If a war starts."
"I would command thousands of troops, I would be the lucky one undefeated in battle, I would become a hero who killed countless enemies."
"Isn't it true?"
Listening, Shen Qinghan nodded, speaking:
"True."
"What's wrong?"
"Is there a problem?"
War... isn't it supposed to be like this?
A hint of confusion flashed in Shen Qinghan's eyes.
Upon hearing Shen Qinghan's words, Zhao Ming's lips curled upward, speaking:
"That's a big problem."
"You think so, others think so too."
"Then the question arises..."
"Who's going to die?"
"Not everyone can be generals commanding thousands of troops, nor everyone can be lucky undying veterans, nor heroes who killed countless enemies."
"Such achievements have to be highlighted by someone's death."
Blue Star has no history of world wars, and the concept of war remains a fantasy, even occasional border conflicts between the Six Major Federations are suppressed, making it impossible to understand the brutality of war.
"A bullet is very light, only weighing tens of grams."
"But it's also very heavy."
"Heavy enough that that few grams of projectile can destroy a mother's eighteen-year-old child, destroy the pillar of a family, destroy a happy family of three, leaving the elderly to bury the young."
"What I want is for players to experience the brutality of war."
"And the ruthless destruction of their bodies under fire."
"Only by understanding the brutal nature of war can people genuinely resist it from the bottom of their hearts."
"How could this not be considered anti-war?"
After listening to Zhao Ming.
Shen Qinghan was profoundly shocked, this was an angle she had never imagined.
Past games were all about competition and combat; die and you respawn, there was no real feeling.
If you really argued from Zhao Ming's angle.
This indeed constitutes anti-war.
After a moment of silence, Shen Qinghan took a deep breath, her expression grave:
"If that's the case."
"Then it's indeed feasible, but is there enough time?"
"Can it be made in nine days?"
Although the idea sounded promising, according to Shen Qinghan's understanding, good games aren't made in a few days unless crudely made.
There are only nine days to the start of the competition, isn't time too tight?
However, in reality.
Zhao Ming is merely short of Emotion Value, can directly extract a film clip from the system and render it into the game instantly, not even requiring much computational power, just need to set some gameplay and rules.
Zhao Ming spoke:
"It's no problem to make it in nine days, the game CG is pretty much done."
"Right now it's just lacking attention."
"I need to stir up some buzz about Emperor Penguin Group copying our game, add on a few other matters to boost the hype."
"It'd be best to get a lot of attention before the competition starts."
Actually, Zhao Ming primarily wanted to earn some Emotion Value, after researching a bit just now.
Exchanging for movies like Normandy Landing and Battle of Stalingrad needs tens of thousands of Emotion Value, with the game yet to be released, where else can he get Emotion Value from.
But for swapping individual text materials or a film clip, the needed Emotion Value isn't much.
Just need to stir up hype, provoke discussion about him.
The earned Emotion Value should be enough for exchange.
Upon hearing Zhao Ming's needs, Shen Qinghan spoke:
"I'll handle the attention part."
"I'll manipulate some online buzz, and just post about it."
Zhao Ming nodded, considering and then spoke:
"Can you get a few reporters over?"
With Shen Qinghan's resources, it should be no problem.
And indeed, it was true.
Though Shen Qinghan did not agree immediately:
"Why do you need reporters?"
"Doing an exclusive interview?"
"Just write it directly, no need to come over."
Zhao Ming chuckled:
"No, it's about something else."
"To stir up some buzz."
"Just the game stuff isn't attractive enough."
Seeing this, Shen Qinghan didn't pry further:
"Alright, I'll arrange it."
"Is the money enough?"
Zhao Ming replied:
"There's still over a million Federation Coins worth of computing power, enough to make the game."
Hearing this.
Shen Qinghan's lips twitched...
"Over a million?"
"Isn't that too little?"
"Are you sure you can take on Emperor Penguin over there? Even if it's plagiarism, they spent five hundred million to make the game."
Zhao Ming waved his hand:
"That's all just flashy stuff, useless."
"What I want is to give players the most real experience, over a million is more than enough."
"Once I've finished the game's CG, I'll send it to you."
"If there's no issue, we'll release it when the buzz is at its peak."
Shen Qinghan agreed to this, being of a straightforward and decisive nature.
Once Zhao Ming finished speaking and confirmed there were no issues, Shen Qinghan left to arrange for online commentators and reporters to come over.
After escorting Shen Qinghan to the elevator.
Zhao Ming went back to the company, looking at many employees in the office, examining them one by one.
Recalling the original's memories, Zhao Ming already had some suspects for the leak. As Zhao Ming's gaze passed over them, everyone seemed fine, except for Hao Wen, who was designing the game's core storyline and gameplay, his eyes were shifty.
Seeing this, Zhao Ming confirmed it.
After all, the company didn't have many people, including Zhao Ming, only nine.
Everyone was responsible for a segment.
There were those for voice acting, modeling, drawing, and only Hao Wen was involved in the core mechanics of the game.
Though it could be pieced together from other areas,
he was the biggest suspect, coupled with his evasive gaze, there was no need for words to identify the mole.
When he was just thinking about it in the office, it didn't feel like much.
But now, seeing this guy, unsure if it was the body's instinct or having lost over fifty million Federation Coins going down the drain.
The anger in Zhao Ming's heart surged up.
Perhaps it was related to the original's resentment.
Zhao Ming almost wanted to kick this guy to death now, but tried to suppress the anger, looking at the receptionist, Xiao Wen, and spoke:
"Xiao Wen, when the reporters come later, lead them to my office."
"Hao Wen."
"Come to my office for a bit."
The receptionist Xiao Wen nodded:
"Okay, Mr. Zhao."
Hao Wen was a bit anxious, under the inexplicable gaze of others, gritted his teeth and followed behind Zhao Ming into his office.
Bang!
The door was closed.
Inside the office.
After closing the door, Zhao Ming walked to the window, taking in a couple of deep breaths of the cool breeze outside, but the anger in his heart didn't subside a bit, just transmigrated and almost burdened with tens of millions in debt, unable to calm down.
Zhao Ming turned around, looking at Hao Wen:
"Did I pay you a low salary?"
Hao Wen immediately understood, gritting his teeth:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhao, I... plan to resign."
"The penalty and compensation, Emperor Penguin Group will pay."
This was his confidence.
Emperor Penguin would pay his penalty and compensation, and it was under a signed contract, they couldn't default.
After speaking.
Hao Wen wanted to leave, turning to open the door.
Seeing this, Zhao Ming raised his hand, grabbing the vase on the desk, quickly rushed to the door, looked at the terrified Hao Wen, and raised the vase in hand.
Crash—!!!
Flying shards exploded from Hao Wen's head.
Zhao Ming's furious voice boomed:
"You son of a b***h!"
"Make me carry a debt of tens of millions of Federation Coins, and you still want to run?!"
Punches rained down on Hao Wen's body:
"Penalty? Compensation?"
"I don't want any of that, I have to send you in, damn you spending the rest of your life in Federation Prison!"
"Bastard!!!"
Boom.
The office door suddenly shook, as if something was slammed against it causing a loud bang.
Startling everyone.
But no one dared to check what's going on.
Before long.
The two reporters arranged by Shen Qinghan arrived, explaining their purpose.
The company receptionist hurriedly led the two reporters to the door of Zhao Ming's office, knocking on the office door:
"Mr. Zhao, the reporters arranged by Mr. Shen are here."
Zhao Ming's voice came:
"Come in."
The two reporters entered the room, and were taken aback.
The room was in utter disarray, and a person covered in blood lay on the ground, struggling and rolling, looking severely beaten. A small knife lay on the floor, Zhao Ming sat on the sofa, gesturing for the two to sit down.
Since it was arranged by Shen Qinghan, the reporters didn't dare go against Zhao Ming's instructions, walked to the sofa and sat down, looking at Hao Wen, who was moaning on the floor in the distance:
"Mr. Zhao... What's this..."
Zhao Ming pressed a button on the coffee table, revealing a knife cut on the back of his hand. Two cups of water rose up, he drank two in a row, suppressing the anger a bit.
After venting for a while, his mind cleared, feeling his body lightened a bit, Zhao Ming said:
"This guy is the mole, he's the one who leaked the game's core."
"He even tried to stab me with a knife but I subdued him in self-defense."
"Unfortunately, I was working on the computer today, accidentally unplugged the camera, otherwise there'd be video evidence."
"I've already called the police."
"Just use this as your headline: Emperor Penguin plagiarizes, game company mole, boss furious, assault, vows to send him in, etc."
"Stir up some buzz for me, try to attract attention."
Zhao Ming lied through his teeth, hearing this the two reporters clicked their tongues in disbelief.
They looked at Hao Wen, who was groaning and couldn't get up from the floor, sure he attacked you?
What kind of crazy decision was that...
But this saved them a lot of work, and they directly picked up their laptops and started writing.