[ ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS ]
> The server will undergo its first Closed Beta update in 20 minutes. The patch notes have been posted on the official website.
> Please log out within 20 minutes. Players who remain online after this period will be forcibly disconnected.
> Ice & Fire: Mount & Slash will return tomorrow night, better than ever. We look forward to seeing you then!
The announcement caught the players in the middle of trading completely off guard.
Many players, seizing the opportunity, grabbed gear from others without paying the Kingdom Coins deposit and vanished into the crowd, logging off instantly. This triggered a wave of cursing.
Others took it a step further, starting a "Zero-Dollar Shopping Spree" at small guild stalls. The guild members, furious, drew their swords. Tensions flared, and blades were drawn everywhere. It looked like a massive gang war was about to erupt.
Players from smaller guilds, who loved watching drama, stood on the sidelines and fanned the flames:
"Get 'em! Don't be a coward!"
"Why are you scared? Chop him!"
"Charge!"
The scene descended into chaos. It wasn't until Viserys, face black with anger, sent in the Unsullied squad with spears leveled that the players finally cooled down. They warily picked up their gear and retreated to their rooms, eyeing each other suspiciously.
"Damn it. If I wasn't afraid of someone stealing my gear in the confusion, I would have thrown hands with them today!"
"I've hated those guys for a while. Just because they follow a rich boss in real life, they think they're hot sht? Bunch of lackeys!"
"Stop being sour just because you can't eat the grapes!"
"Say that again!"
"Sigh. Players are strong because they are chaotic, but they are also weak because they are chaotic."
Viserys, watching everything from a distance, couldn't help but sigh at the ragtag mob.
He shook his head in disappointment. But then again, he never expected the player legion to be a disciplined, iron-blooded army from the start.
On the contrary, this behavior—starting a fight over nothing, doing whatever they wanted, challenging gods and dragons just because they had a health bar—this was the true style of the Fourth Scourge.
"System Sprite, increase the registration cap to 3,000. Once these players log off, I have a feeling the registration numbers are going to explode."
Withdrawing his attention from the players, Viserys instructed the Fireboy.
"Host, the game's popularity is about to reach a new level. Would you like to purchase a premium website template?"
Hearing the Fireboy trying to upsell him a 1,000 Kingdom Coin website skin again, Viserys waved his hand in refusal.
When the game wasn't popular, you wanted me to pay for a new skin. Now that it IS popular, you still want me to pay? Doesn't that mean the game got popular for nothing?
---
Earth.
Just as Viserys predicted, most players started shilling Ice & Fire to their friends and family the moment they logged off.
The "Just Here for the Memes" group chat, which Viserys had renamed to "Ice & Fire Vanguard Group," saw its member count skyrocket. As players uploaded screenshots, the discussion heat reached critical levels.
> Goji_Berry_Enjoyer: Registered. Waiting anxiously for the helmet.
> Bun_Immortal: Yo, weren't you the guy who insisted everyone in this group was a paid shill working for the devs? Why are you pre-ordering a helmet now?
> Pineapple_Pizza_Lover: Exactly. Listen to my advice: this game is too deep for you. Let us scammers suffer alone.
> Goji_Berry_Enjoyer: Did I say that? I don't recall.
> Ghost_Rider: You traitor. Have you forgotten our original vow to expose this scam? Goji, you've changed!
> Goji_Berry_Enjoyer: You return your helmet first, then talk to me.
> Ghost_Rider: I advise you not to talk nonsense! I definitely did not register on that scam website!
> FaFo: Guys! Look at the patch notes on the official website!
[ Screenshot Attached ]
> Patch Note 1: Mercenary System Open. All guilds can now register as mercenary companies in Pentos under His Grace's introduction. Wait for the opportune moment to seize the city for the King.
> Patch Note 2: Closed Beta player cap increased to 3,000.
> Patch Note 3: Silver Chests added. Guilds completing Mercenary Missions in Pentos have a chance to obtain Silver Chests. Note: Silver Chests may contain Valyrian Steel Swords, Unicorn Foals, and Griffin Eggs.
> Patch Note 4: Fixed minor bugs.
> FBI_Open_Up: Holy crap. Silver Chests? Griffin Eggs?! If I get one, I'll basically be a god in the game!
> Mouse_Is_Duck: If you get a Silver Chest, you'll be a god in real life too. Let me make this clear: The Brotherhood Without Banners is determined to get a Silver Chest. If any brother gets there first, we can negotiate the price offline!
> Storm_Dominator: Hello, brothers. I'm a straight shooter. In real life, I'm from the Lin Family of Jianghuai. My father is Lin Tian. Those who know, know. I'm a P2W player.
> Tomorrow, I'm creating a guild. Anyone interested, come to me. 20,000 RMB signing bonus. Monthly salary of 3,000. I only need 30 elites. No casuals.
> Minister_of_Excuses: Boss is loaded! Do you need Pyromancers?
> No_Cure_For_Stupid: Guild Leader, what are you doing?! Are you abandoning us?!
The appearance of "Storm_Dominator," claiming to be the young master of the Lin Family, instantly pushed the hype to a new level.
> Nebula_Breaker: @Storm_Dominator Recruiting isn't just about talk, Old Lin.
> [ Red Packet Sent ]
> [ Red Packet Sent ]
> [ Red Packet Sent ]
Before the group could react to the Lin Family heir's offer, a sudden rain of Red Packets blinded everyone.
> Step_Sis_Im_Stuck: Holy sht! 500 RMB per packet! This is the biggest Red Packet I've ever snatched!
> Bun_Immortal: @Nebula_Breaker Boss, are you making a guild too? I'm a Blacksmith, first-gen player. Do you accept craftsmen?
> Nebula_Breaker: Brother above, find me tomorrow in-game. I am from the Ming Family of Jianghuai. If the Lin Family offers 20k, I offer 25,000 RMB signing bonus. Monthly salary 3,500.
In a villa in Jianghuai, the Third Young Master, Lin Yan (Storm_Dominator), put down his phone with a cold face. He didn't care about the Ming Family's second son trying to one-up him. Instead, he turned to his computer and seriously studied the game's official website.
For Lin Yan, who was bored of—or rather, had whaled out on—every popular game on the market, a 100% realistic VR game was exactly what he needed.
---
The Zhao Family.
Zhao Xiaotian leaned over his father's desk, hands pressed firmly on the surface.
"Dad, you've seen the photos. This game is blowing up. The heirs of the Lin and Ming families in Jianghuai are already throwing money to recruit players!
"Right now, they just treat it as a novel game. But once they log in... with their vision, they will definitely realize the value of securing a foothold in that world for real-world benefits.
"Dad, I dare say, within thirty years, no game will be able to match Ice & Fire."
"Third Brother?" Zhao Hongtian looked past his son at the person entering the room.