The screen flashed:
UNAUTHORIZED AETHERIA TRANSACTIONS NOW ILLEGAL
Penalties:
First Offense: $500,000 fine, 5-10 years imprisonment
Second Offense: $2,000,000 fine, 15-25 years imprisonment
Organized Operations: $10,000,000+ fines, life imprisonment
Max felt his blood run cold. They were treating virtual item trading like one of the most serious crimes imaginable.
The news cut back to the anchor.
"The decision has sparked massive controversy. Critics argue that the UN is overstepping its authority, while supporters claim this is necessary as billions of dollars flow into the game daily."
The screen showed street protests—people holding signs reading "VIRTUAL FREEDOM" and "UN HAS NO RIGHT" clashing with counter-protesters supporting the regulations.
"Let's go live to our headquarter in New York, where the first US Authorized Trading Headquarters opened just hours ago."
The feed switched to a young reporter standing outside a massive building, with a long line of people crowding the block.
"Thanks, Akiko. I'm here at the Manhattan ATH, one of the five headquarters opening all over United States tonight. As you can see, despite the late hour, hundreds of players are already lining up to register their Aetheria accounts with the IAOO system."
The camera panned to show the crowd—people of all ages, many wearing gaming merchandise, some with professional camera equipment.
"Under the new regulations," the reporter continued, "all players must register their real-world identity with their Aetheria account through an ATH facility. This links your character to your legal identity and tax obligations. Any income earned through Aetheria—whether through item sales, streaming, or sponsored play—is now subject to tax."
The screen showed the interior of the facility—rows of registration booths, biometric scanners, and IAOO officials processing paperwork.
A young woman being interviewed said, "I've already made over $30,000 selling legendary drops. I want to do this legally, pay my taxes, not risk going to jail. The penalties are insane."
Another player, an older man, rolled his eyes. "This is bullshit. The government has no right to control what we do in a video game. This is dictatorship."
The feed cut back to the news anchor in Tokyo.
"Japan has announced the opening of twenty Authorized Trading Headquarters across the nation, with the largest facility here in Tokyo opening tomorrow morning at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center. Finance Minister Takahashi Kenji made the announcement earlier today."
Max's attention sharpened. Takahashi—Velara's father.
The screen showed a press conference. Finance Minister Takahashi stood at a podium, his expression serious and professional.
"Japan fully supports the IAOO framework," he said in Japanese, with English subtitles appearing.
"Aetheria Online represents both an economic opportunity and a potential threat to the stability of global economy. We must ensure that this virtual economy benefits society rather than destabilizing it."
A reporter asked, "Minister Takahashi, what about players who have already conducted transactions outside official channels? Will they face punishment?"
"The IAOO has announced a 30-day period," Takahashi replied. "Players who register their accounts and declare previous transactions will not face penalties for past activity. However, after the period ends, punishment will be severe."
The news anchor returned. "And law enforcement is already underway. In China, authorities have arrested over two hundred individuals suspected of operating unauthorized gold farming operations. In Brazil, a major account trafficking ring was dismantled this morning, with assets worth over $5 million seized."
The screen showed footage of police raids—armed officers entering warehouses filled with gaming equipment, people being led away in handcuffs.
"The European Union has gone a step further," the anchor continued. "The leaders have announced that all major tech platforms—including streaming services, social media, and payment processors—must implement IAOO compliance systems. Failure to do so will result in massive fines and potential operational bans."
A new graphic appeared:
MAJOR PLATFORMS IMPLEMENTING IAOO COMPLIANCE:
Twitch/YouTube: Must verify all Aetheria-related content creators through ATH registration PayPal/Stripe: Blocked from processing Aetheria transactions outside official channels Discord/Reddit: Must report suspected illegal trading activity
VirtualStream: Content featuring unauthorized transactions will be removed, uploaders banned
Max felt like the walls were closing in.
The news continued: "The IAOO has also announced partnerships with Kronos Interactive, the developers of Aetheria Online. Together, they're implementing in-game monitoring systems to detect unauthorized transactions."
The screen showed a statement from Kronos Interactive:
"Kronos Interactive fully cooperates with the IAOO to ensure a fair, legal gaming environment. Players engaging in unauthorized economic activity will face account suspension or permanent bans. We encourage all players to conduct business through official ATH channels."
"Economic experts are calling this one of the most significant shift in global finance," the anchor said. "Professor Yamamoto from Tokyo University's Economics Department joins us now."
An elderly professor appeared via video call, his background showing shelves of books.
"Thank you for having me," Professor Yamamoto said. "For the first time in human history, a virtual economy has become so large, so impactful, that it requires international governmental oversight. We estimate that within six months, the Aetheria economy will represent approximately $500 billion in value—larger than the GDP of many nations."
"Is this sustainable?" the anchor asked.
"That remains to be seen," the professor replied.
The news cut to a segment showing the first official ATH transaction—a player selling a legendary sword for $47,000, the money transferred directly to their bank account after a 15% tax withholding.
"Players are already adapting to the new system," the reporter said. "Some are thriving, others are angry, but everyone agrees—this changes everything."
The anchor returned to her desk. "In other Aetheria-related news, several major corporations have announced official guild sponsorships under the new regulatory framework. Samsung, Nike, and Red Bull have all invested millions in top-tier guilds, treating them as legitimate esports organizations."