Chapter 55: Big Duck: Hey? When Are We Skipping Work Together?
"Also, Eden asked me to pass on a message! She said she and Kalpas headed back first. Sister Eden mentioned that if she stayed here, everyone wouldn't be able to celebrate properly~"
Elysia was telling the truth. After all, Eden's status was transcendent; her mere presence would make everyone stiff with nerves. It couldn't be helped—that's just what happens when you're a global superstar. As for Brother Kalpas... he probably figured things would get awkward too.
Originally, Su Mu had only planned to order a cake to celebrate—a small gesture before a bigger party once Honkai Impact 3rd was fully on track. He hadn't expected Elysia and the others to put in so much effort. It left him feeling both amused and deeply moved. He wasn't the type to be overly sentimental, nor would he reject their kindness.
"Since the atmosphere is already set..."
Su Mu raised a glass of juice. Due to the special circumstances of this period, no alcohol was provided at this celebration. If everyone got drunk, the work ahead would grind to a halt.
Elysia raised a glass of juice as well. "Then, with drinks instead of wine, cheers!"
"Ohhh!!!"
The employees erupted into a thunderous cheer!
"Long live Director Su!" "Amen to Ellie!"
Watching everyone laughing and chatting, a smile played on Su Mu's lips. However, he didn't stay to join the party. Instead, he took two bottles of soda and knocked on Bronya's office door.
"Come in."
Su Mu entered the office to find Bronya focused on her computer. She didn't look up, only asking, "Is the celebration starting outside?"
Su Mu walked to her side. "Yeah, thanks to Eden and the others... next time, we really have to thank them properly."
He handed a soda to Bronya and noticed she was dealing with the company's firewall issues.
"Even though the hacker on the other side keeps changing IPs to attack, I know it's the same person," Bronya chatted with Su Mu while engaging in the hacker battle. "For some reason, I feel a sense of familiarity with her. Her skills are excellent... but unfortunately for her, this is my battlefield. I've repelled her several times; it looks like she's giving up for now."
Bronya stopped working and let out a long sigh. She took the soda from the desk and offered a word of thanks.
"Where's Kiana?"
"There's no use in that girl staying, so I told her to go home first... though it's strange, she's been acting like she's lost her soul these past few days." A look of confusion appeared on Bronya's face. "Every time I tell her the revenue has broken another record, she seems to become more... uncomfortable."
Su Mu thought for a moment. "Maybe she's just too happy?"
Bronya shrugged. "Who knows... I've never been able to understand that idiot's thoughts."
Su Mu shrugged back. "Why don't you go join the celebration? I'll keep an eye on things for you."
Bronya looked at him. "If that hacker attacks again, do you have a way to deal with her?"
"Uh..."
Bronya popped the tab and took a sip of the soda. The cold liquid seemed to dispel the day's fatigue.
"Mr. Welt... called me." Bronya looked at Su Mu. She didn't hesitate in telling him this, because she already trusted him completely.
"Oh? Was he calling to congratulate you?"
"Mhm."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It is a good thing."
"You don't look happy."
"Well, he asked me if I wanted to promote Project Bunny 19C. He said if necessary, he would help me shoulder the pressure from the gaming industry."
"Typical Welt—a truly upright man. So, you refused?"
"Mhm, I refused. Because I told him someone else said those words to me first." Bronya looked at Su Mu, a smile appearing on her face. It was a smile without any hidden agenda, coming straight from the heart. "You... are truly a strange person. Didn't you feel even a little bit tempted by what I just said?"
"Tempted? Of course I was."
"Liar. The way you look at Bronya is like a father looking at his daughter." Bronya pouted. "I've been wondering for a while now—are you really younger than me? Or are you some kind of centuries-old spirit?"
"You're not allowed to become a spirit after the founding of the PRC, so don't talk nonsense."
Seeing the man's smile, Bronya let out a helpless sigh, looking as if she had completely surrendered to him.
"I want to thank you, Su Mu. Without you, miHoYo wouldn't have the success it has today. And I probably wouldn't have seen the day where I could stand tall and introduce the Project Bunny 19C AI to the public again."
"Then, cheers?"
"Cheers."
Su Mu and Bronya clinked their soda cans together, drinking under the moonlight. For some reason, despite only drinking soda, Su Mu noticed the "Big Duck's" face seemed a bit flushed. It struck him as a bit odd.
"Also... don't forget the compensation you owe me for helping you with that date with Kiana last time."
"I told you, that wasn't a date..." Su Mu held his forehead. "Anyway, I know. Is there somewhere you want to go? I'll definitely skip work to accompany you."
"I haven't thought of it yet. Let's talk tomorrow."
"Mhm, tomorrow then."
Su Mu tossed the empty can into the trash, stretched his body, and turned to walk out of Bronya's office. Bronya watched him leave. She touched her burning cheeks, feeling like she wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
Two people going out alone... isn't that a date? Why did I get so hot-headed in that moment and make such a request?
The next day, the first major update since the launch of Honkai 3rd was officially released. The new content and the opening of the main story stages left all players in shock!
[I can't finish it! I simply can't finish it all!]
[It's only been five days and they've released this much content? Is the Honkai 3rd production capacity demonic!]
[How can a game of this quality update so much at once?]
[Are the miHoYo employees all monsters!]
[This update added so many S-rank Valkyries and an Open World?]
[Wait, S-rank Valkyries can be farmed? My god, this game is too generous!]
[No, brothers, such a generous game might go bankrupt. I have to spend money to support it!]
[Same here!!]
Just as Su Mu had expected, players are a group of people who will treat you with sincerity if you treat them with sincerity. Therefore, after Su Mu initiated his "prodigal son" style of giving away profits, the revenue of Honkai 3rd did not decrease; it actually increased, surpassing the revenue of launch day!
[I'll drop a bit of cash for a SSS Shadow Knight: Moon, just to support miHoYo!]
[Hehe, I spent for Celestial Hymn! Theresa is too cute; seeing her in the story made me want to play as her!]
[Am I the only one who thinks the Class Monitor's armor is insanely cool? Shadow Knight: Moon can go 'Ora Ora'!]
[I love Theresa's Violet Executer! Theresa in a dress is way too beautiful!!]
Major forums were filled with players discussing their love for the various characters. Everyone gathered together, harmoniously discussing their favorite Valkyries—perhaps this was what a game was always meant to be!
END OF CHAPTER
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