The street under the night sky was slightly cool, carrying a hint of post-rain moisture.
Inside the black sedan, however, the atmosphere was even colder than the temperature outside.
Zhang Fan's mind was racing, thoughts galloping like untamed horses in his head.
"Right now, I'm completely in the dark, but I know the game's uniqueness. Survival must be my first principle."
Zhang Fan understood this clearly.
Wang Jianguo had already told him: either play the grandson or the grandfather?
One was to be among the officials managing the players.
The other was to be a wild player under management.
His fingers unconsciously tapped on his knee as he weighed the pros and cons.
Wang Yun had exposed his account, and Zhang Fan could be sure that he couldn't escape unscathed.
Being a free gold farmer?
It sounded nice, but today's car ride had explained everything.
As long as he remained a player, he could never shake off the Special Service Bureau's surveillance.
Today they could invite him into the car; tomorrow, they could break down his door.
In the face of the state machine, personal freedom was like a paper lantern, easily torn apart.
So... join them?
"Becoming an official player with a position doesn't seem impossible..."
"In the game, I have 'Heaven Rewards Diligence,' as long as I can endure. In the real world, I'm still an ordinary person, so survival is paramount."
Zhang Fan knew what could be handed over to the state and what couldn't; he was clear about that.
"Have you made up your mind?" Old Wang seemed more anxious than he was.
He leaned back in the soft leather seat, took out a slightly crumpled pack of Hongtashan cigarettes from his pocket.
Skillfully shaking out a cigarette, he handed it to Zhang Fan, an action that instantly lightened the heavy atmosphere in the car.
"Calm your nerves. This is a good thing for you. Don't be so tense, young man."
Old Wang had lost his confidence too, feeling anxious about recruiting Zhang Fan.
His voice lost some of its official tone, gaining a bit of everyday warmth.
"My surname is Wang, and I'm currently the head of the Special Service Bureau. You can call me Old Wang, or, in the 'game,' my ID is [Taibai]."
Zhang Fan was taken aback, looking at the face that had already treated him as one of their own.
Taibai?
The contrast left him momentarily unresponsive.
His guard lowered slightly, but not by much.
The goodwill expressed by the other party, he could only accept, as he couldn't think of a reason to refuse at the moment.
"What are the pros and cons of joining you? I won't look at these benefits; they're too good." Zhang Fan didn't beat around the bush, directly asking the question he cared about most.
Since it was a negotiation, the terms had to be laid out clearly.
Wang Jianguo wasn't surprised; players who wanted to join usually asked this question.
He lit his own cigarette, took a deep drag, and then slowly exhaled a white smoke ring, the smoke swirling in the dim car, obscuring his expression.
"The first benefit is more like information."
Wang Jianguo flicked the ash, his voice low.
"This 'game' is still in an absolute closed beta phase, or rather, the early stage of 'descent.' Those who can enter at this point are the first batch of players, very few and far between."
He looked at Zhang Fan, his eyes carrying a sense of someone who had been through it, as if looking at a kindred spirit.
"You, me, we are the pioneers of this era... Of course, we might also be the first to be washed up on the beach."
Pioneers of the era!
These four words struck Zhang Fan like a bolt of electricity.
He had always thought of himself as just a lucky fool, a lonely explorer.
But now, he suddenly realized that there were too many people washed up by the waves.
He was already one of the few standing at the forefront of a massive wave, no longer an ordinary person!
This feeling, mixed with inexplicable excitement, a sense of superiority, and a touch of fear of the unknown.
"The second benefit,"
Wang Jianguo didn't give him much time to process his emotions, continuing to throw out the bait.
"Regarding our Ninth Division. Here, there's no nine-to-five, no clocking in, and no ridiculous KPI assessments. At the same time, you'll receive comprehensive logistical support, ensuring your absolute safety before you grow, absolutely preventing any accidents in the real world.
Your main task is to play the game, to become stronger at all costs in the game, and then share all the intelligence you gather with the organization."
He paused, adding, "In exchange, all the organization's intelligence, including information on other players we have, game world analysis, maps of explored areas, etc., will also be open to you."
"Is there really such a good deal?" Zhang Fan was tempted; he was truly someone who valued his life, and Wang Yun's death weighed heavily on his mind.
Intelligence! It was the most crucial thing!
As a newcomer, he was completely in the dark, even learning a skill in the game required him to fumble around, relying on luck.
If he could directly obtain officially compiled intelligence, the game strategy would be much simpler!
At this moment, he already had an answer in his heart.
"The third benefit, once you reach level ten, you can apply for a martial arts manual, which might be a supreme skill. Perhaps you don't understand the benefits of martial arts now, but you'll know once you see it."
Wang Jianguo's tone shifted, his expression turning serious.
"The only mandatory requirement is that when a player loses control of their abilities in the real world and does something that endangers social safety, like Wang Yun... we need to 'clean house.'"
"However, currently, the authorities absolutely have the power to control out-of-control players, but in the future, who knows, so just pretend this doesn't exist. We wouldn't let you new players take risks."
Clean house.
These two words carried a bloody undertone.
In Zhang Fan's mind, the image of Wang Yun's inhuman strength when he went berserk and the eerie line of blood across his neck flashed instantly.
Would he have to stop someone like Wang Yun in the future?
Recalling that scene, his heart skipped a beat, and a chill rose from the soles of his feet.
But then he thought, with his 'Heaven Rewards Diligence' as a game-breaking cheat, his growth rate would definitely far exceed ordinary people.
As long as he was cautious and diligent, his future strength wouldn't be lacking.
Moreover, having an official identity as a protective umbrella could avoid many unnecessary troubles, allowing him to develop peacefully.
What he needed most was time for steady development, as long as he was given time to grow.
Whether he would become a Kunpeng or a dark horse in the future was yet to be determined.
Just as Zhang Fan made up his mind to join, Wang Jianguo extinguished the cigarette butt, leaving only a faint red star flickering in the dim car.
His expression became unprecedentedly grave.
"The fourth, and most important piece of information, is a free gift to you."
"This game is called [Death Jianghu]. We've confirmed it with... many lives."
Wang Jianguo's voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing together.
"In the game, if you die, your physical body in the real world will experience brain death within twenty-four hours."
"It's not virtual; it's real death. So, many players, upon realizing this, have their mindset twisted, leading them to do some crazy things. Of course, such people are the minority."
Boom!
Zhang Fan's mind buzzed as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer!
All previous doubts, Wang Yun's madness, the curse "you all must die," Drifting Cloud's casual "three starved to death," Wang Daniu's "Outsider bitten to death by wolves"...
Everything, at this moment, connected, forming a truth that was cold to the extreme, and cruel to the extreme!
This wasn't a game where you could make money!
This was a game where you could die!
Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, his limbs feeling numb.
The immense fear enveloped him like a cold current from the deep sea.
"So... that's how it is... I should have realized when I could use skills."
After the immense fear, what surged up was an extreme calmness.