Losing Money to Be a Tycoon

March 24th, Saturday afternoon.

SUG Club's boss, Ding Gan, had nothing to do today since FV and SUG teams did not have any competitions today. It was a good day to visit Wu Yue.

After coming back from the international competition in the United States, the relationship between SUG Club and FV Club continued to warm up. It looked like a brotherly team.

This might be the so-called 'you and I were not meant to be together but we're together because you have money'.

These two teams had nothing to do with each other in the first place. SUG Team was a well-known team in the domestic e-sports field at the end of the day. FV Team could only be considered to be out of the league. Even if Wu Yue wanted to climb higher, it would be difficult to do so.

However, the two teams went to Los Angeles together during the World Competition. SUG would also benefit as a sparring partner. Coupled with Boss Pei's relationship, the two bosses got closer and closer. Their relationship also became better.

Of course, Ding Gan often came to FV Team to learn about FV Team's advanced experience so that SUG could achieve better results.

The only difference was that Ding Gan felt that something was different the moment he entered today.

The main members of FV Team were not training. The training room was empty except for Manager Lu and a few substitute members of Team Two.

Manager Lu immediately stood up and greeted Ding Gan when he saw him. "Boss Ding."

They were all old acquaintances, so there was no need to be so polite. Ding Gan asked directly, "Eh, where are Boss Wu and the team members? Why aren't they training today? Is there some special event?"

Manager Lu explained, "Boss Ding, they are all in the conference room. Someone from Finger Games came today to talk to the team about the champion skin."

Ding Gan was stunned. "Oh! Are they only talking about the champion's skin now?"

Manager Lu nodded. "Yes, I think Finger Games has been busy with IOI's version update and preparations for the international competition. They only made time now."

"After all, someone from Finger Games' headquarters had to come personally. That's why we were delayed."

Ding Gan nodded. He had heard a little about the IOI version update.

Finger Games and Dayak Corporation's upper echelons were definitely very dissatisfied with FV Team winning the championship.

It was not because they had any prejudice against domestic teams. The key was that FV Team was a competitor's team. What's more, the key to winning the competition was the data support behind Tengda Games. This was equivalent to slapping Finger Games in the face in front of players all over the world. It proved that Tengda Games' designer and Balancer were more outstanding than Finger Games'.

It also confirmed the rumor that 'GOG was imitating IOI'.

That was why Finger Games had to plan a new version update in order to weaken FV Team's strength and to get back at them. In addition, the various overseas leagues, including the Northern American Region region, were also in the midst of preparation. That was why the designer team only came to FV Club to discuss the champion's skin now.

Manager Lu said, "Boss Ding, they might need some time. Why don't you take a seat first?"

Ding Gan nodded and sat down on the sofa, waiting for them to finish their meeting.

…

At the same time, in the conference room.

FV Team's boss, Wu Yue, the translator, and five main players sat on one side of the conference table. On the other side were two skin designers from Finger Games.

Wu Yue said, "We're almost done discussing the champion's skin."

"The heroes are the signature heroes chosen by our team in the finals, including the Ancient Lava Tree, the Storm Swordsman, the Wings of the Blade…"

"Then, the overall style of the skin.

"Since it's FV Team's skin, it must have FV Team's logo. In any case, adding the teleporting back to the city special effects and signature should be the most basic."

"Then, there are the two elements that our team likes. I hope we can add them in."

"The two of you can see it as well. Our team's logo has golden elements in it. What's more, our team members prefer golden-bright and dazzling effects. That's why we hope to add golden elements into the special effects of the skin. For example, large amounts of golden light special effects would be released from area-of-effect skills."

"Secondly, our team members use their brains to play games. What's more, they prefer cool and technologically-sensitive skins. Thus, they hope to add special effects like program codes and scientific formulas into the skins, such as guiding and showing them when they return to the city."

Wu Yue first explained the overall concept of the skin design of FV Team's champion.

After deciding on the overall style, the players had to make some special custom-made requirements for their own skin, such as the kind of teleporting back to the city special effects they should use, whether they should add special elements to their skin, and so on.

The two designers listened to the translation and nodded while recording seriously.

FV Team's request sounded very reasonable.

Everyone loved ballers. The sense of technology and numbers suited the taste of the internet addicts. This series of skins should be quite popular.

One of the designers considered it seriously. "We can set the theme of the skin as' Black Gold Technology '. The normal skin is black as the main color, and it is paired with some golden lines. The shape of the armor is high-tech armor. All weapons, be it cold weapons or hot weapons, are changed to high-tech styles."

"As you level up, the golden elements on your body will gradually increase, and the sense of technology will become stronger."

"As for special effects that are similar to program codes, they can be added in large quantities when releasing guiding skills or returning to the city. It gives people the feeling that they are in a hacker world."

Wu Yue was elated. "That's right, that's the feeling we want!"

"Then, let the team members explain in detail the requirements for their own skins. I'll leave first."

…

After leaving the conference room, Wu Yue could not help but smile.

Sure enough, the two designers from Finger Games' headquarters did not have any doubts.

In fact, Wu Yue and his team members had already discussed this many times and reached a consensus.

Whose should be given the credit for FV Team to win the first championship?

Of course, it was Boss Pei!

If Boss Pei had not spent a lot of money, provided food, accommodation, and internet cafes, and provided the players with a perfect training environment, found a special data analysis team and sparring team, and greatly improved FV Team's game understanding in a short period of time, how could FV Team have won the championship with their original strength?

Thus, he had to pay tribute to Boss Pei for this champion skin!

However, he could not make it too obvious. It would be best if the designers of Finger Games could not tell, but it would be best if domestic players could tell at a glance.

Thus, Wu Yue and his team members discussed for a long time and finally decided on the two elements of gold and data.

The golden element was similar to the Coin-Scattering Hedgehog Modest in GOG. They were both to commemorate Boss Pei's generous spending on the FV Team. The digital element represented the strong data support provided by Tengda Games.

Leaving the first set of champion skins in IOI as a souvenir for Boss Pei could only be considered as barely repaying Boss Pei's kindness to FV Team!

Ding Gan was sitting on the sofa in the training room. When he saw Wu Yue walk out of the conference room, he immediately stood up and greeted him.

The two of them were very familiar with each other by now. They sat on the sofa and exchanged a few pleasantries. At the same time, they chatted about the recent events between the two clubs.

Ding Gan looked at the second team members who were training in the training room and suddenly felt that something was amiss.

"Eh, Boss Wu, why do I feel that your team members seem to be bulkier than last time? The effect is too fast, almost catching up to DGE's monsters!"

"Why is it that my team members have not seen any effect after training for so long?"

Wu Yue was stunned for a moment. "How would I know? Perhaps people's physiques cannot be compared."

Ding Gan pondered for a moment. "That's not right either. Your team members' physiques are indeed different, but overall, their physiques have improved. My team members' physiques are also different, but they are still fat when they should be fat and skinny when they should be. There's no change at all!"

"Are our team members going to a fake gym?"

Wu Yue pondered for a moment. "Then… could it be a problem with the diet?"

Ding Gan lightly slapped his thigh. "Yes, that must be the reason!"

"At that time, Zhao Xuming asked us to hire a cook and find a gym nearby to apply for a membership card. He told us that the remuneration was the same, so I didn't pay much attention to it."

"It doesn't look like that at all!"

"The remuneration is the same, but the effect is much better!"

As a rich second-generation heir, Ding Gan did not visit the club often. He only visited occasionally. Previously, Zhao Xuming had given all the clubs the same allowance, so Ding Gan did not think much about it.

He did not expect the gap to be so huge after some time!

Ding Gan could not sit still anymore. "No, I have to go back and take a look!"

…

After leaving FV Club, Ding Gan drove straight back to SUG Club.

However, he did not go in directly this time. Instead, he found a place by the roadside to park his car and waited patiently.

According to the club's arrangement, after the afternoon training competition, they would arrange for a fitness period. After they finished working out, they would come back to eat, then rest and continue playing the evening training competition.

He looked at the time. The training competition should be over now. As long as he waited at the entrance, he should be able to see his team members going for training.

Ding Gan waited in the car for more than half an hour. Sure enough, he saw the members of SUG walk out of the club and walk towards the nearby gym.

There were many cars by the side of the road, and Ding Gan had deliberately chosen a place far away to hide. Thus, the team members did not realize that their every move had been seen by their boss.

Ding Gan got out of the car and followed quietly after the team members walked away.

The members of SUG had been training in the nearby gym for a while, but it was completely ineffective. Not only did they not close the gap with the members of FV Team, but they were even worse.

This made Ding Gan, the boss of the club, very uncomfortable!

He quietly followed them to the gym near the training base and then followed them in.

At first, Ding Gan was a little worried that he would be discovered. However, he quickly realized that he was thinking too much. There were many people in the gym during the weekend. He blended into the crowd and his team members did not notice him at all.

In order to avoid being exposed, Ding Gan deliberately hid for a while. He waited for the team members to change and start training before hiding in the crowd to observe.

The team members found a private trainer and began their training for the day.

However, Ding Gan frowned very quickly because he saw that these team members were not training seriously at all. Instead, they were slacking in groups!

There were many people in the gym to begin with. Many of the equipment in the strength area were occupied. They could only queue up if they wanted to use them. The private training only brought the team members to do some physical enhancement training on the yoga mat. The team members were not particularly serious. They would lay down on the yoga mat and give up if they were slightly tired. It did not achieve the best training effect.

Ding Gan now understood why it was ineffective after training for so long.

That was because the cook auntie and ordinary gym could not replace Fish-Catching Take-Out's fitness meals and Deposit Fitness!

The trainers in the gym were still considered to be doing their job, but on one hand, the equipment arrangements in the gym were not that free. They had to line up. On the other hand, the private training did not dare to train the players so hard. The players were slacking, and the private training did not dare to say harsh words. They could only let it be.

Thus, this fitness training slowly flowed into shape.

Ding Gan even suspected that these team members usually came to the gym based on their mood. If the club manager was not around, the private trainers at the gym would not say much.

What's more, it was definitely not just SUG Club. The other clubs apart from FV Team were definitely similar because the figures of the members of the other clubs were obviously similar to SUG, there was no difference.

Ding Gan was unhappy.

Why was it that everyone's money was the same, FV Team could use Fish-Catching Take-Out and Deposit Fitness, the training effect was so good, we could only hire a cook auntie and an ordinary gym, we could not see the effect even after training for a long time?

He did not mention it before because he did not realize that there would be such a huge difference.

Now, he was going to collaborate with the bosses of a few clubs to propose to Zhao Xuming. It should not be a problem to change it to Fish-Catching Take-Out and Deposit Fitness, right?

After all, Fish-Catching Take-Out and Deposit Fitness had opened in Shanghai recently. Taking in these professional players should not be a problem.

At that thought, Ding Gan left to contact the other club owners to pressure Zhao Xuming.

The team members were not working out and still wanted to slack off? No way!

…

…

March 26th, Monday…

Pei Qian went to his office as usual to check on the various departments.

"I haven't seen these physical industries for a while."

"Let's take a look today."

Pei Qian found Fish-Catching Internet Cafe, Fish-Catching Take-Out, and Deposit Fitness reports in the various department's work reports. Then, he opened them one by one.

Pei Qian had not seen the work reports of these departments for a long time since the physical industry entered the first-tier cities.

It was mainly because he was afraid that he would only be able to create trouble for himself if he saw how business was booming and the venue was filled.

However, Pei Qian was in a good mood today. He had mentally prepared himself in advance so he clicked on it.

"Fish-Catching Internet Cafe is indeed full not long after opening."

"Alright, it was expected. There's nothing much to say."

"Eh? Manage Deposit Fitness is doing well? Many people are refunding money?"

Pei Qian could not help but smile when he saw the work report from Deposit Fitness last week.

It seemed like Deposit Fitness was not acclimatized to Shanghai!

Many people signed up for Shanghai's Deposit Fitness when it first opened, but they were quickly dissuaded.

There were too many requirements for Deposit Fitness. They had to buy fitness meals from Fish-Catching Take-Out and strictly implement the fitness schedule. Many people could not persevere.

In fact, Deposit Fitness had been in the same situation when it was first opened in Jingzhou. It was only after washing off a few groups of people that the customer base was roughly confirmed. After a period of time, the Deposit Fitness became popular because the customers' fitness effects were very obvious.

The white-collar workers in Shanghai had obviously overestimated their perseverance.

"That's not bad. This situation can last for at least a month or two, right? I don't want to incur losses. I just want to earn money slowly."

Pei Qian opened Fish-Catching Take-Out's report again. The situation was slightly better than Deposit Fitness, but it was far from being as popular as Jingzhou.

The reason was very simple. On one hand, there was no garbage classification in Shanghai. On the other hand, there were many delicacies in Shanghai. Fish-Catching Take-Out was not as competitive in Shanghai as Jingzhou.

"Eh, this means that the situation is much more optimistic than I imagined?"

Pei Qian was elated.

Just as he was feeling happy, he received a new week's work report.

Pei Qian opened the new week's work report for the Deposit Fitness.

However, after reading two lines, Pei Qian's smile froze on his face.

"All the club members of the ICL league have been transferred to Deposit Fitness? What's more, all their daily meals have been changed to Fish-Catching Take-Out's fitness meals?!"

A bolt out of the blue struck Pei Qian.

What was going on?

Wasn't everything fine last week?

Didn't they not use any Tengda industries before the ICL league? What was going on?

Pei Qian immediately called Chang You.

"All of the ICL league teams in Shanghai are going to use our gym. What's going on?"

Chang You was a little surprised. "Eh, Boss Pei, don't you know?"

"That's true. You might not have paid attention to the business in Shanghai."

"It's like this. SUG Club's Boss Ding realized that the fitness effect of his team members was very bad. After training for a long time, there was no effect. In the end, he realized that it was because the gym he found was not good. The team members did not train well when they were working out. They were all slacking."

"Other clubs more or less have similar situations. Only FV Club uses Deposit Fitness. It works very quickly."

"That's why the club owners are unhappy. Everyone has the same subsidy. Why should they use inferior services?"

"These bosses are still very concerned about these things. After all, the remuneration is the same. The effectiveness of the team members' training is not good. On one hand, it affects the view, and on the other hand, it would waste time."

"Therefore, the bosses of several clubs went to find Zhao Xuming together and asked him to change all of them to fitness meals for Deposit Fitness and Fish-Catching Take-Out. He could not treat them differently."

"What's more, they have a very good reason. The bodies of the players are part of the appearance. It's beneficial for the club and even the commercialization of the entire ICL league. What's more, the higher the quality of the players' training, the more hope they have of winning glory for the ICL league in the future…"

"Zhao Xuming probably thinks that we're spending the same amount of money anyway. We've already worked with Tengda on Bunny Tail live-stream. It doesn't matter if we have further collaboration."

"Coincidentally, Deposit Fitness still had enough space in the store, so I signed them all and gave them a small friendship price."

"I've already spoken to the trainers over there. They have to be strict with these professional players and strive to train them into muscular men so that the Deposit Fitness can make a name for itself in Shanghai!"

Pei Qian hung up and fell silent.

Things were getting very bad!

The ICL league had already made Pei Qian suffer once. Bunny Tail Live-Stream had inexplicably attracted a lot of attention because of the ICL league. There were more and more viewers, and he could not chase them away.

Even Deposit Fitness and Fish-Catching Take-Out had not escaped the clutches of ICL!

Pei Qian could not sit still anymore. He immediately got up and prepared to go to Bunny Tail live-stream.

He had to do something to salvage the situation!