Absolute Death Game

Glancing at his current attributes and skills, Qin Shimoon thought it belied his significant progress since he first entered the game. Perhaps it was time to venture into the wilderness beyond the village to encounter some monsters. After all, it would be a bit embarrassing to have played the game for so long without having fought a single monster. Unfortunately, it was already time to finish work for the day.

"OK, everyone, pay attention, tomorrow is a day off, you can leave the company to take care of your personal affairs, like shaving your beard or something?" Li Jian humorously said, pointing his finger at Qin Shimoon, who only then realized that he had neglected his appearance over the past few days, his beard had entirely taken over his chin, feeling all fuzzy to the touch. "However, everyone take note, before leaving, you must report to Miss Qin, and also, Miss Qin will give each of you a phone to keep turned on 24 hours, just in case the company needs to call you back at any time. SO, HAVE FUN."

"A day off, huh?" For the first time, Xiao Buli felt the passage of time, as if transitioning from the world of the game back into reality, which seemed surreal. What to do on a day off? As a freelancer, he had no real concept of what a rest day entailed, and this left him feeling somewhat lost. Perhaps he should first report his safety to Mr. Bang, as his own "disappearance" over the past few days might have worried him. Since they had almost always communicated within the game, Xiao Buli hadn't yet had the chance to tell Shaobang that he had started the job, and felt that he should talk to him about the game's content, fearing he might be disappointed.

Early the next morning, Xiao Buli was waiting outside Miss Qin's office, ready to report his departure and collect his phone.

"Good morning, Xiao Buli." Qin Shimoon's voice was as ever full of vitality and sweetness.

"You're here to report your departure, right? Hehe," said Qin Shimoon, smiling knowingly as she opened the door, her cuteness amplified. Xiao Buli nodded slightly in response.

The reporting process was simple. He filled in his departure time and Qin Shimoon gave him a passcode card for the digital lock. Xiao Buli, always sensitive to numbers, noticed the code wasn't the same as before, an indicator of their regular updates on the door's security code, to maintain thorough security measures.

A cutting-edge smartphone was assigned to Xiao Buli, who quirked an eyebrow at the lavishness. Since joining the company, he found that everything one needed for daily life was well-provided for. Not only was the cafeteria's refined and delicious food free, but the lounge also offered an assortment of complimentary snacks, cigarettes, and fruits. Even though due to the game, there was seldom enough time to sit and enjoy them, whenever anybody ate, fresh supplies were promptly replenished. Thus, working here meant one's monthly salary was essentially pure profit. It seemed that to reinforce how capable the company was, even the everyday contact phones were the latest models, costing close to five thousand yuan—a fact that made Xiao Buli click his tongue in amazement.

After leaving the company, Xiao Buli immediately called Mr. Bang, only to find out that he was not in the bar but at home. Having no other option, Xiao Buli went to his house instead.

Mr. Bang came from a wealthy family. Although he usually lived in the city, his family home was outside the city, a beautiful manor with a view of classical Chinese gardens, located in the suburb. Whenever the weekend arrived, he had to 'obediently' return home. Mr. Bang often joked that if he ever found himself in dire straits, he'd set up a table at the entrance and charge admission fees, claiming that the spectacle would attract more attention than any tomb or garden, easily bringing in dozens of visitors a day to sustain his lifestyle of indulgence. However, these remarks were usually made in jest among friends. At home, he reverted back to being the obedient son in front of his parents. The existence of that distant yet real manor served as a constant reminder to Xiao Buli of the gap between them.

The guard at the gate, upon hearing Xiao Buli's introduction, quickly called Mr. Bang for confirmation and opened the gate. An excited Shar Pei dog, drooling all over, rushed towards him, startling Xiao Buli, though he didn't dodge. Somehow, he sensed the dog wasn't hostile.

In the face of the animal baring its teeth and barking furiously, Xiao Buli chose to look it in the eyes. After a few seconds of eye contact, the dog's growling gradually subsided until it vanished. Xiao Buli smiled, realizing the dog merely lacked affection.

He reached out to scratch the Shar Pei's chin, and while the dog was initially wary, it quickly succumbed to the pleasure and closed its eyes. After a while, the dog rolled over, wagging its rotund body and trying to wiggle its stub of a tail, appearing like a huge silkworm cocoon.

Xiao Buli found this amusing; he usually wasn't fond of pets like cats and dogs, but at that moment, he felt inclined to tease it. While stroking the dog's exposed round belly, Xiao Buli knew that exposing its belly was a dog's way of showing affection. Together, man and dog playfully frolicked in front of the main entrance, making the guard's jaw nearly drop. Could it be that this "General Barton" belonged to him?

"Wow," Mr. Bang said, stunned by the scene upon his quick arrival after receiving the call. When had his family's "General Barton" become so harmless? "Have you learned some Taming Skills?" asked Mr. Bang, who was immersed in gaming for years.

"Yeah, how did you know?" Upon hearing that, Xiao Buli responded with surprise, naturally associating Taming Skills with those from his game, and giving Mr. Bang a strange look.

Mr. Bang was stunned for a second and then burst into laughter, "When did you also grow a sense of humor?" He chuckled and gestured for Xiao Buli to come in.

Laughed at by Mr. Bang for a while, Xiao Buli soon realized that what Mr. Bang asked was just a joke. His serious answer must have seemed like a witty comeback to others. Xiao Buli smiled helplessly, finding it funny that he was now confusing game with reality. The more he thought about it, the funnier it became, and the two of them walked in laughing together without another word.

"Does your family live inside the park?" Xiao Buli joked as they walked on. Mr. Bang laughed sheepishly, "I'm really helpless, very helpless."

After passing by the staggered pavilions, they reached Mr. Bang's residence. Contrary to Xiao Buli's expectations and different from the white walls and black tiles they had passed, Mr. Bang's place was a very modern building that seemed somewhat out of place within the estate. "I just couldn't stand those somber and oppressive styles. Modern architecture suits me better, but it took me years of battles to win this from my grandfather. The location is a bit off, but at least living here, I don't feel like a zombie from the Ming and Qing Dynasties," Mr. Bang explained, seeing Xiao Buli's expression.

They sat down in the living room, and Mr. Bang eagerly asked while taking a drink from the cabinet for Xiao Buli, "So, Vice-President, is that game any good? Is there anything worth investing in?"

Taking the whiskey on the rocks that Mr. Bang handed him, Xiao Buli nodded and then shook his head, "It's much better than expected, but also much worse than imagined."

Mr. Bang immediately had a puzzled look on his face, "What do you mean by that?"

"Simply put, the game's graphics and engine are near perfect, able to crush any other online game on the market right now. With just a little bit of hype, it could definitely attract a massive player base. The potential is huge," Xiao Buli explained.

"But," Xiao Buli sighed, "the design of the game is problematic, has no leveling system, and obtaining in-game currency is extremely difficult, practically making it unplayable."

Gu Shaobang was surprised, "Even you think it's unplayable? That's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it?"

Xiao Buli explained, "Let me put it this way, I've been playing for a week now, eight hours a day, and have only earned 4 silver and 23 copper. Then, I spent 3 silver coins on a Basic Swordsmanship skill in Newbie Village, so tell me if I'm exaggerating."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shaobang was speechless for a while. He had never heard of such a bizarre game before and pondered with a frown, "So, does that mean this game is a no-go?"

"Not necessarily. I think the game is still in the testing phase, because there are very few players that I've come across, almost like a LAN game. I assume the content will be modified in the future," Xiao Buli speculated.