“Wow, the customs of the otherworld are really interesting, I love those drinking games where you can openly drink, and I finally found out why those little apprentices’ hand seals are so good.
It turns out their dexterous fingers were cultivated through finger-guessing games since childhood! No wonder even those complicated secret hand seals that could sprain fingers don’t stump them.”
At midnight, Murphy woodenly supported the drunk Tris back to the Blood Vulture Halls. The Blood Vulture Grand Duchess he was supporting by the waist now had no dignity as a powerful figure, her cheeks flushed red as she still marveled at how enjoyable this otherworld feast was.
Of course, she didn’t actually eat much.
After all, the otherworld Sichuan flavors were still a bit too “intense” for traditional vampires’ tastes.
Even the usually valiant Maxim was defeated by a plate of spicy rabbit heads, let alone Tris, an “old lady” with milder taste preferences, when Murphy cooked for her before, she would cry out even with just a little chili oil in a bowl of meatball soup.
Tris’s joy wasn’t from tasting otherworld cuisine.
Her happiness was simple.
It started when the student faction came over to toast during dinner, originally to express respect for Lord Murphy and Lady Tris. However, after learning about otherworld dining etiquette, Tris immediately became energized and demonstrated the supreme prowess of a vampire alcoholic in this aspect within just 2 hours.
The student faction members were all drunk under the table, and even those veterans from the Big Bird Spin Spin Spin team were all logging off in a daze.The fact that Tris could still stand showed her super talent in this area.
It was only because vampires had unique physiological forms that didn’t require frequent bathroom trips, otherwise Tris’s stomach would have exploded.
Murphy hadn’t expected Tris to be so happy tonight, and he didn’t stop his “girlfriend” from enjoying her simple pleasures.
Except it was a bit annoying having to carry her back to the office at the end.
“Don’t drink so much next time, it’s embarrassing.”
The Governor sighed, carrying the already dozing Tris as he pushed open her office door, but immediately noticed a set of still-operating alchemist tools arranged on the messy desk.
Spirit flames were burning silently according to preset conditions, while the liquid in the large beaker had become viscous and was emitting a strange smell.
Murphy knew nothing about alchemy.
But he could roughly understand that Tris seemed to be conducting some kind of crystallization operation. He didn’t disturb those things, but planned to take Tris back to his place to let her rest properly.
However, before leaving, Murphy keenly noticed a card Tris had placed on the desk, and the diagram on it made his eyes widen.
“Is the periodic table some otherworld knowledge that Lumina brought back last time? That little sister really has guts, daring to teach anything. This laboratory-style crystallization method must be taught by her too, right?”
Murphy complained, carefully closed the door and brought Tris back to his office, then settled her on his small bed, helped her remove her outer clothes and covered her with a blanket, finally bending down to kiss her forehead.
Actually in this situation, if Murphy was a bit more mischievous, Tris’s chastity would probably be gone.
However, the Governor showed considerable restraint, after all it wasn’t purely physical so there was no need to rush to that extent. He got up and sat in his chair, planning to look at posts on the forum.
This had already become Murphy’s necessary pre-sleep routine, like a stubborn habit, he couldn’t sleep well without browsing a few times each day.
However, as soon as he opened the forum, he saw a private message from 【Wan Hao】.
Wan Hao: 【Hello Administrator, I’m a player who just entered the game today. I have a request regarding a friend of mine.
He’s encountered some very troublesome situations in the real world, and I hope to use your company’s technology to help him work through his current situation. If possible, I can truthfully inform your company about his circumstances.】
Murphy blinked.
The situation Teacher Li described immediately reminded him of that very special player Little Ashina, so he replied without hesitation:
Alpha: 【I need to know more specific information before I can submit an application to the development team.
Also, please understand that the current game testing logic of 《Reality Realm》 is based on test participants fully autonomously deciding to participate in story progression, meaning we won’t use forced methods to distribute game terminals.
This is very important!
Even if my report is approved, you’ll still need to have your friend personally fill out the test application.】
Wan Hao: 【Of course, I’m on my way to his home right now, Mr. Administrator.】
Alpha: 【Just call me Brother Alpha like the others do, no need to be so formal. But has your friend’s situation deteriorated to the point of needing our game terminal to return to normal life?】
Wan Hao: 【Well, it’s not that bad, still much better than Little Ashina’s situation, but my friend’s biggest problem isn’t with his body, but his psychology.
Before we got into a car accident together, he was a promising lawyer.
But after life’s turning point, he not only lost his life but also his job. Although the other party’s compensation is enough to ensure he won’t worry about food and clothing, but as you know, for people with ambition, having dreams shattered is more painful than physical torture.
He’s been very depressed these years, having lost hope in reality.
I can’t think of a better way to help him.
But perhaps starting anew in another world could make him feel better?】
The administrator didn’t reply immediately, which made Teacher Li who was sitting in the taxi a bit worried. Perhaps because the administrator was also evaluating this situation?
The truth was certainly not so.
Murphy hadn’t replied because he encountered a “special situation”, the drunk Tris, as if sleepwalking, got up hazily wrapped in the blanket, and under Murphy’s stunned gaze muttered something as she opened the door and went out.
Murphy heard movement from the next office and went to check, finding that Tris had actually stopped the crystallization process of that operating set of alchemy tools while sleepwalking.
She closed her eyes and threw many materials into the viscous liquid to continue simmering, then yawned and returned to Murphy’s office to continue sleeping.
This whole smooth process left the Governor General dumbfounded, thinking that alchemist masters really were different.
But just as he closed his eyes to return to the forum, preparing to reply to Teacher Li, he felt something strange approaching him again. Opening his eyes, he saw Tris, who was originally sleeping on the bed, hazily approach him again, trying to burrow into his arms, which made Murphy smile helplessly as he opened his arms to embrace Tris.
Having finally found her “safe place”, the Blood Vulture Grand Duchess satisfyingly hummed a few times, nuzzled her head against Murphy’s chest, then curled up wrapped in the blanket and fell asleep again.
Not wanting to disturb her, Murphy maintained this posture leaning back in his chair, closed his eyes and entered the forum to reply to Teacher Li:
Alpha: 【I’ve already sent my report to the development team, and because of Little Ashina’s ‘precedent’ they didn’t block the review. However, your friend’s situation is special, so the medical team requires me to confirm that he must voluntarily participate in the testing, otherwise it will involve some troublesome legal issues.
If you can ensure this point, then after he applies, I’ll arrange to have the game terminal delivered to him as soon as possible.
According to the current game progress, the reason the Transia Administration still hasn’t produced a usable legal code is precisely because they lack relevant professionals. The company’s legal department colleagues can’t directly participate in the game progress due to contract reasons.
Therefore, if your friend is willing to contribute to this cause, we absolutely welcome it.】
Wan Hao: 【That’s good, that’s good, please wait for my news, thank you, Brother Alpha, this means a lot to both me and my friend. I won’t disturb your work anymore, thank you.】
Alpha: 【Don’t mention it, Teacher Li, we are deeply honored by your participation. The development team is cheering for your exciting duel with Mr. Turner earlier.
That battle proved that the combat logic designed by the programmers has been validated, which is equally significant for their subsequent design of various monk class functions.
Also, colleagues from the development team asked me to inquire if you would be willing to invite professionals like yourself to participate in game testing?
You must have realized that our currently developed game still has some flaws in terms of combat polish, we need a lot of data to improve it to a satisfactory level.】
Wan Hao: 【!!! You think such realistic combat experience isn’t enough?】
Alpha: 【Well, under normal circumstances it would definitely be enough, but our game has a fantasy background, right? It will definitely involve many supernatural power factors later, so…】
Wan Hao: 【Oh oh oh, I indeed hadn’t noticed this aspect.
From my personal experience, if possible, I would definitely invite more like-minded people to exchange skills here. Not to mention that in the game we don’t have to consider injury factors and can fight at full strength, this feeling is really great for us martial artists.】
Alpha: 【Thank you then, I’ll prepare several ‘special invitation quotas’ for you, any test participants you invite can go through special channel approval.
But please also help us screen during invitation, those people with improper intentions.】
Wan Hao: 【Understood! Please rest assured.】
Dealing with socially experienced people with their own principles like Teacher Li was very comfortable, Murphy only needed to hint, and the other party could understand his thoughts.
As he said, using Teacher Li as an entry point might bring him many surprises later. Not to mention, if Murphy had 30-40 fierce elite monks like Old Li under his command, then for warlords like those gnolls from before, Murphy could eliminate them in their infancy.
On this continent, monks don’t just chant sutras. In the realm of covert operations, these martial arts masters would definitely not lose to those guys from the Thieves Guild.
After handling Teacher Li’s matter, Murphy looked at today’s hot posts on the forum.
They were all complaints and records about the king of fighters championship, and the “work report” posted on the forum by the Torrent Knights. According to Typal’s summary, up until now, these role-players had searched and found an astonishing 2,300 refugees in the Seicob territory.
They had also organized special transport teams to send these people back to Crimson Citadel, just this point alone made them more reliable than other player teams.
“Looks like the establishment of Torrent Fort is imminent.”
Murphy smiled, closed the forum, then stretched and entered his daily late-night sleep holding Tris in his arms.
After he fell asleep, Tris suddenly opened her eyes in his arms.
The Blood Vulture Grand Duchess still had a trace of drunkenness but was much better than her staggering gait earlier. She silently raised her head to look at the sleeping Murphy, reached out to brush his shoulder-length hair, and complained:
“Coward!”
————————
Under the peaceful night sky, Teacher Li got off the taxi and limped with his cane to a courtyard in the countryside.
Instead of knocking, he directly took out his key and unlocked it.
The yard was quiet, two well-kept border collies vigilantly examined the visitor, but after recognizing Teacher Li, they wagged their tails and pounced to welcome him.
Clearly, he was a regular visitor to this yard.
“Shh.”
Teacher Li patted the two dogs’ heads, made a silencing gesture to them, and under their guidance passed through the well-maintained garden in the yard to enter the master bedroom. He was about to turn on the light when he heard a voice from the inner room.
“Why are you coming at this time? Couldn’t sleep and came to find me for a drink?”
“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Old Li asked in surprise, then turned on the light and saw the man in the wheelchair roll out from the inner room.
This person was about the same age as Teacher Li, but empty below the waist, his double leg amputation represented past suffering that would be hard for ordinary people to imagine.
But his spirits were good.
Although his face showed age, he kept himself very clean and had a scholarly air about him, wearing a shirt and sweater with a jacket, with a bookmarked book on the table beside him.
Nietzsche’s masterpiece 《The Birth of Tragedy》.
A highly artistic professional book that ordinary people have no interest in reading. The wear on this book cover showed it was frequently read, and being able to read this kind of book with great interest fully proved that this person wasn’t a “normal person” either.
A crisp suit and casual wear hung on the coat rack at the entrance, but the suit was in a garment bag while the other clothes were frequently worn.
He looked at Teacher Li, smiled, and said:
“Since you’re here, help me make a midnight snack? I’m too lazy to move.”
“Okay.”
Old Li didn’t say much, took off his coat and went to busy himself in the kitchen.
Soon a bowl of porridge and two dishes were brought to the bedroom. While his friend ate, Teacher Li sat beside him and lit a cigarette, saying:
“I encountered something strange these days.”
“Huh? Worth you specially coming to share with me?”
The man in the wheelchair smiled and said:
“Go ahead, I’m listening, not like I have anything else to do anyway.”
“I got a game helmet, after putting it on you can go into a virtual reality game, and today I defeated a very powerful person in the game.”
Teacher Li exhaled smoke rings and said:
“Would you think I’m dreaming?”
“If you could make such wonderful jokes, you wouldn’t have failed to find even one girlfriend back in university.”
The wheelchair man sneered at this.
After taking a sip of porridge, he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and said:
“You should go back, I’m not interested in what you’re talking about, that’s fake! Old Li, you can’t convince me to abandon reality and seek some satisfaction you think I’ve been looking for in the virtual world.
I’ve told you many times, I’m satisfied with my current life.”
“Satisfied my ass!”
Old Li cursed:
“I found something good and thought of you first, and this is your attitude?
I’ve found the way for you, the development team there said they lack a legal professional in the story to help advance the plot.
I just entered the game and don’t understand much.
But I heard that actions there are player-led, that territory is still in a ‘rule of man’ stage, they need your knowledge and professional experience.
You can still use what you learned in the first half of your life to help some people. Maslow’s theory was on your lips when you were young, wasn’t realizing self-worth what you most desired in the first half of your life?”
“The last person who kept saying they needed my help personally drove the car that crashed me into this state!”
The wheelchair man said in a low voice:
“I dragged you down too, weren’t you also just one step away from your dream at that time?
That one too successful defense of mine destroyed two people’s futures and dreams in one go, just because I helped my client while wanting to maintain my own principles at the same time.
You never blame me, because we’re friends.
But I feel I no longer need a second time”
“You also said you owe me a dream.”
Old Li shrugged and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
He said:
“Then pay me back one, fill out an application and take a look, if you don’t like it you can come back anytime, no one’s forcing you. And most importantly”
Teacher Li hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:
“I feel like that place might not be completely ‘fake’.”
“Hmm?”
The wheelchair man looked at him in surprise, and Teacher Li said:
“I can’t describe that feeling, but I know a smart person like you can definitely help me figure out my doubts. Many people have gone in… I don’t know if this is good or bad, and I’m already one of them.
I feel that we adults have a responsibility to keep an eye on those reckless young people.
I really need your help!”