Chapter 1381 This Time the Champion Skin Should Be Fine, Right?

Finger Company has internally decided to expedite the production of the FV team's champion skin, as its early release would improve the current state of IOI's domestic server.

If it were delayed by half a year, IOI's domestic server might need to be merged into the Asian server. Wouldn't releasing the champion skin then be too late?

Of course, Finger Company remains cautious about the champion skin.

They had been burned by the FV team before...

The previous champion skin set seemed harmless on the surface, but players immediately recognized it: it was a complete tribute to President Pei, Tenda, and GOG!

This left Finger Company with a nasty taste in their mouth. They paid the bonuses and created the skin, yet everyone praised Tenda. How infuriating!

So this time, while Jin Yong was tasked with communicating, Cledian and Finger Company's skin designers would closely monitor the process to prevent a repeat of the previous situation.

In short, they rejected anything related to Tenda!

Jin Yong has completed the initial communication with the FV team and is briefing Cledian and the skin designers.

Jin Yong explained, "This time, the FV team didn't request any Tenda-related elements, but... their requirements are still a bit strange."

"They want to create skins for several popular heroes, but they want them to be based on their own signature heroes."

"For example, the jungler's signature hero last year was Storm Swordsman, but he couldn't use Storm Swordsman this year, so he chose the strong meta jungler heroes."

"This time, he chose Void Lurker, which he used in the finals. He wants Void Lurker to look like Storm Swordsman, close in appearance, and include Storm Swordsman elements in the recall animation: Storm Swordsman's armor shatters, his sword falls to the ground, and Void Lurker emerges from within."

"The others have similar requests."

The crowd exchanged glances, and a brief silence fell over the room.

This request was indeed a bit odd, especially since the visual difference between Void Lurker and Storm Swordsman was so significant!

According to the lore, Storm Swordsman is a relatively normal human figure, clad in storm-infused armor, wielding a longsword, and moving swiftly and nimbly. He is known as a noob-stomping hero.

Void Lurker, on the other hand, is a Zerg-like void creature. It has a vaguely humanoid form and possesses high intelligence despite being a Zerg. Its weapons are two sharp claws, and it can use void power to become invisible and teleport. It is a popular hero favored by European and American teams in the current meta.

After being buffed, this hero is considered a top-tier jungler. The FV team had to practice him diligently to win the championship, and they ultimately won the finals with him.

But to force these two heroes, with such different appearances, into one?

Cledian was speechless. "How much does he like Storm Swordsman? He already got a champion skin last year. He changed heroes this year, and he still wants another one."

Jin Yong asked, "So... can it be done?"

Cledian nodded. "It can definitely be done."

"We can make Void Lurker into a humanoid hero similar to Storm Swordsman. Since the claw attack animations can't be changed, we can change them to holding two swords. We can also make slight adjustments to the movement and attack animations to resemble Storm Swordsman."

"Of course, it can't be exactly the same as Storm Swordsman, or it would be a mess in the game. We still need to retain Void Lurker's characteristics as much as possible."

"The key question is, would there be anything inappropriate about doing this?"

Jin Yong thought for a moment. "Probably... not. Last year's champion skin used many GOG elements, so it felt familiar. But we can just use all IOI elements in this skin, right?"

"Storm Swordsman is an IOI hero after all. This is just like our 'element swap' skin that we released before. That skin was quite successful."

The "element swap" skin that Jin Yong mentioned was a skin set that Finger Company had released before. For example, there was a character in the game similar to a beastmaster or hunter, a humanoid hero who could summon beasts. This skin put clothes on the beasts and animal hides on the beastmaster, achieving the effect of "element swapping."

The reaction was quite positive, and many people bought it.

Cledian thought about it and realized that he had a point.

Last year's skin had GOG elements, but this year's request from the FV team, while a bit strange, still complies with the champion skin production rules. Secondly, the FV team members do favor those signature heroes, which is well-known.

Moreover, since no GOG elements are used, it's just messing around with IOI's own heroes.

Finger Company's higher-ups believe that they should try to satisfy the FV team as much as possible, as long as their requests aren't too excessive.

After all, they are counting on the FV team's skin to recover the domestic market. What if they don't meet the FV team's needs well enough, and the players don't buy the skin when it comes out?

If it's revealed later that the FV team originally wanted a certain skin, but Finger Company refused and made them change their request, it would be all over.

Being flooded by angry IOI players would be a minor matter. The worst-case scenario is that everyone boycotts the skin, further accelerating player loss.

At this critical juncture, it's better to avoid trouble.

"Alright, let's go with this plan. I'll report it up the chain later. There shouldn't be any major issues." Cledian made the final decision.

...

In the evening, Meng Chang returned to his residence.

The second wave of promotional offensives for *Successor* has been launched. With more promotional funds invested, the online buzz for *Successor* remains strong, and promotional materials can still be seen on many websites.

At the same time, Fei Huang Studio's official account has started to repost and like film reviews or videos that analyze the underlying themes of *Successor* well.

Film reviews are subjective. Some people will criticize, but naturally, some will praise.

Qian's film review caused such a stir online that many fans of the original *Successor*, or those who agree with the story's core, will definitely post film reviews or videos to refute it. However, no influential figure has come forward to speak out yet, so no effective force has been formed.

Of course, anyone who wants to stand up for *Successor* now has to think carefully about the pros and cons.

Because it's easy to be accused of taking dirty money.

Even though Fei Huang Studio had a good reputation before, haters don't need a reason to hate.

Even if some people want to speak up for *Successor*, they have to consider what they can and cannot say, or the consequences could be serious.

Fei Huang Studio's official support for these people gives *Successor*'s supporters more confidence and further enrages viewers who don't like *Successor*.

As a result, the atmosphere becomes tense.

The debate isn't about whether the production of *Successor* is excellent or whether the actors' performances are good. There's nothing to argue about there.

Everyone is arguing about whether the story is logical and whether it's brain-dead.

It's difficult to reach a conclusion on these matters.

Meng Chang thought that it was about time for Tian Gongzi to express his stance.

Although the matter won't be settled until next month, he can't remain silent now, because the sooner he expresses his stance, the more prescient he will appear.

Moreover, the supporters of *Successor* are being suppressed too severely. The situation is somewhat one-sided, and a thought leader must be created to directly confront Qian's film review.

Of course, Meng Chang hasn't forgotten President Pei's instructions.

Tian Gongzi shouldn't directly engage in debate with the other party. That's pointless.

He just needs to post a simple update, express his stance, and maintain his enigmatic image. That's enough.

"I guess this is like borrowing power from a superior? On the surface, Tian Gongzi is confident and strategizing, but in reality, President Pei is arranging everything. I'm just a mouthpiece."

Meng Chang opened the Aili Island website and posted an update.

"*Successor* is a masterpiece that transcends its time. The day after the complete series is broadcast, all the arguments about it will naturally disappear. This update will not be deleted. Everyone can witness it with me."

Meng Chang was afraid of being misunderstood as being sarcastic, so he spoke in a serious tone without any ambiguity.

He even deliberately tried to appear like a fortune teller.

He is still betting on this account, but President Pei's idea of posting an update, compared to directly posting a video, is much smarter.

Explaining *Successor* in a video is pointless. Those who agree will still agree, and those who disagree will still disagree. It won't make a difference just because Tian Gongzi posted a video.

But this update adopts an enigmatic fortune-teller stance, and the effect is different.

Although there will be a lot of ridicule, the spreading effect will definitely be much better than painstakingly making a video.

Soon, the update was frantically commented on and reposted.

"Huh? Hacked?"

"Why is it just an update? Where's the video?"

"Could it be that he's taken money!"

"A work that transcends its time? The arguments will automatically disappear after the complete series is broadcast? Don't lie to me. I've already read the original novel!"

"If you weren't speaking so seriously, I would have thought you were being sarcastic..."

"Okay, first row seat, if *Successor* really blows up next month, I'll do a handstand and shit. Since the update won't be deleted, I'll just wait for this comment to get 99+ likes!"

"Acting like a ghost, mystifying things, are you a weirdo? Can't you just make a video and explain it clearly?"

Some people are excited and say they're waiting, but others start to curse.

Clearly, this update will soon be reposted and cause a heated discussion.

Meng Chang doesn't care much about these things. He won't log into this account after posting this update. The next time he sees it will be on January 13th.

Meng Chang has bet everything he can. If it doesn't work, then he'll just consider it all to be reset, and nothing happened.

If it works, then it will prove that President Pei truly has foresight that ordinary people can't match, and Meng Chang will earn a fortune because of his absolute trust in President Pei!