Thriller Paradise

The three walked out from the door of the altar and entered a dark tunnel. The deeper they went, the narrower the tunnel became until eventually it became the size of a normal corridor. Even though there were occasional corners, they had not encountered any split in the road.

"Hmm… by the way." Along the way, Uncle Worthless turned to Atobe to ask like he was suddenly reminded of this, "Atobe, there is one thing that I have been curious about and only you can answer it."

Atobe was startled when he heard that. He thought. [A player at Uncle Worthless' level has something that he doesn't know but I do?] "Ah? What is it?" Atobe replied.

"It's like this…" Uncle Worthless questioned, "What category of gaming studio does your Hyotei belong under?"

"What category?" Atobe repeated as if with contemplation but internally he was mumbling, [There are categories to gaming studios?]

Well… there are.

Here is the brief delineation between them, there were generally four major categories of gaming studio.

The first was the 'conglomerate type', this kind of studios were generally very large, had great financial support and lots of celebrity players. They could be seen as an organization. Their managerial range would already expand far beyond the territory of gaming, their main source of income would be branding.

The second would be the 'talent type'. This kind of studio ranged from big to small size and their basic focus was their players. Their central concept was the cultivation of celebrity players and gain lucrative income from outsourcing talent.

The third would be the 'business type', this was a more fringe-type of studio and not everyone was capable of running this kind of studio. But those who had the talent and capability to do this would be able to earn quite a bit from it. This kind of studio did not require their members to be good players, what they needed was players with good patience, good analytical power and social ability. They tackled the gaming world like how a business would tackle the market. They found their wealth through the sales of virtual items, controlling the virtual market and selling information. It was a unique path to take.

The fourth was the 'working type', most small and medium sized studios belonged to this category. Their main business was the most basic level of the industry—to coach (or to help) other players train level or gather resource. Basically these were mostly tedious and back breaking work, a long term engagement would dry one's enthusiasm and passion. Furthermore… those in this category often would be the target of derision and calumny because their gaming method would often disrupt the other players' gaming experience because their aim was expediency. Even though they were negatively labelled 'locusts' they were an integral part of the industry.

These information was considered normal knowledge. In the year 2055, if you wished to enter the gaming industry, be it as a player or to open a studio, one had to at least know these things. If one did not even understand the basic, then entering the business was basically a waste of time and enemy. At this point, I believe the readers would have realized that… yes, indeed our Atobe-sama, or rather… Jin Fugui was swept into the giant wave of the gaming trend without knowing anything. Thankfully… due to his wealthy family background, the man had more chances than others to make mistake in life.

Jin Fugui's father was an experienced business, he was an open-minded person and could see things the long distance; since his son wanted to open a gaming studio, then he would allow it, at least it was a legal business and it required little investment. Even if it ended up with nothing, he would not lose too much revenue. After all… it was better than having his son stay at home and do nothing after graduation. Therefore, Atobe carried a full chest of passion, admiration and ignorance and started his gaming journey…

"Erm… it's the kind…" Atobe stammered. "That has little members but they are all quite powerful… that kind…"

"Oh, so you're going the elite members path huh? Then you'll belong under the talent type." Ambitionist concluded. "Eh? Now that you mention it… how come I never see the main website of your gaming studio on the internet before?"

"Erm… about that…" Atobe answered awkwardly. "Since the company has just started… and the members are quite busy with in game business…" In reality though… if no one reminded him, Atobe probably did not realize a gaming studio needed a webpage to attract eyeball in the next half a year.

"So that's why." Ambitionist did not see through the lie, he added. "Hmm… that's understandable. A small studio has little members so it's common to run into these problems."

"It's actually quite impressive that a studio of that size can operate like normal." Uncle Worthless added, "I am quite impressed by Atobe. He is already the CEO of a gaming studio at his young age, I believe one must be shouldering quite a bank loan on one's back, right? Ha ha ha…"

"Erm… it's… not so bad…" Atobe found it too embarrassed at that moment to reveal that he was actually a rich young master.

"Ha ha… don't worry. Back then, Shiva, and the people from Jiang Hu all started at your current age, and see where they are now?" Ambitionist laughed. "your gaming studio has just started and you already have a popular trio in Qu Ming Nan. I can only see smooth sailing from now on." He paused. "But… since you are planning to go the path of a talent type studio, the most important thing is social contact. You will need to recruit more members even if just to fill up the member roster. When the newcomers have grown enough, you and the core members of your team can pull out to deal with the business outside of the game."

"Yes, I understand…" Atobe nodded.

"How about this, after this scenario is over, we should add each other as friends. I do know some people in this circle and some solo professional players who are not bad, I will introduce them to you." Ambitionist offered.

"Oh! That will be such a great help!" Atobe said with both of his eyes glowing. "Thank you, thank you."

"Ha ha… there is no need to thank you…" Ambitionist chuckled. "Even though my friends have great talent, they do not have much experience, they have tried to join known studios but their resumes were always rejected. They were not interested into those medium to small sized studio who are more of the 'working type' and should they go for the smaller but strange studios… they're afraid of being scammed. If you are willing to take them, it is a win win situation."

"Erm… we technically do not know each other that well… You are not afraid I am the kind of boss who will exploit their workers?" Atobe asked with a laugh.

"You do not look like one." Uncle Worthless chimed in. "I have quite a good eye for people. Even though we do not know each other that long, but for both you and the trio, Qu Ming Nan… you guys do not look like people from those kind of background."

"Yes, I also think so." Ambitionist concurred.

"Okay… I shall take that as a compliment." Atobe replied. Atobe really had gained a lot from joining this team nightmare scenario. Whether he would get any reward from clearing the scenario aside, at least he had already gained some usual reward.

"Oh, there is something that I wish to ask you as well." Now, it was Atobe's turn to change the subject and he turned to Uncle Worthless, "Earlier it was you who exposed the Spirit of Mimicry… the basis behind that action was really only the slight difference in the disguiser's posture?"

"Yes, that was all I needed." Uncle Worthless replied.

Atobe gasped. "Where does your confidence come from?"

Uncle Worthless hesitated for a moment before he howled with laughter. "Ha ha… actually the rational is very simple, it is because I have studied many times the recording from the Tournament of the Best and I have conducted a very detailed analysis and observation of every single player's fighting style. Especially their small, unconscious habits and their reflex when faced with danger… I practically reviewed them frame by frame."

Ambitionist was quick to add. "Wow… Brother Worthless, you sure did your homework."

"Well… the same could be said for you." Uncle Worthless grinned. "I believe the research you've done will not be lesser than mine." At this point, both sharp gazes met for a moment before swiftly parting. Everything was left in the unsaid…

Only Atobe watched this exchange quietly at the side. He could not help but be shamed… These two professional players who were affiliated to no one had already done so much. In contrast, he was at the very least the leader of an entire studio but so far, he was still playing the game with the philosophy of 'I will gain money by playing game.'

Zhen Nan, Qu Ming and Ming Zi could continue with this philosophy because their job was to play the game and they had done quite a good job at it, they had basically proven themselves as having the potential of becoming a professional player. And that was the only thing they could do—to use their ability in game to help support the growth of this studio. But it was different for Atobe, he was the investor behind this studio, the decision maker and the operator. What he needed to do was far beyond the things that could be done in game.

At that moment Atobe finally understood why his three brothers often excluded him from the queue and told him quite brutally that 'he was too weak to join them and it was better that he went offline' and things along that line. Actually… it was not that they did not want to have a good time with their buddy and they did not sincerely think that Atobe was that weak. They merely wished to push Atobe to the right path for Atobe to pick up the responsibility that he should be carrying as the owner of the studio. They were no longer four students curled up in their hostel, they were adults who were now part of the society and they needed this game to put food on the table.

The trio understood this a long time ago but it had eluded Atobe until now, he was like a child who had not grown up…

At the end of the day… he was still 'playing', playing with his own youth and his family's money. The so-called 'gaming studio' was merely a front with the halo of 'dream of entrepreneurship' so that he could continue to stay together with his best bests and spend all days gaming…

Thinking back… he did not deserve to be called a 'boss' at all. He rarely spent time doing research or investigation into the game because he thought those were too boring and he never drafted any detail or long-distance outline for the studio. Basically the studio was given the chance to run wild, one day passed was one day earned…

[I really am an idiot who has not grown up…] Atobe thought to himself. [I am not a qualified leader… and I cannot be called a qualified professional player either…] he gave a long sigh and lifted his eyes to look at the two professional players who walked alongside him. [Real professional player has to be of the same calibre as these two… or else how could you even dare to call yourself a professional?]

He could not help but be reminded of a classic movie quote—Easy does not enter into grown up life.

"Hey! Look at that! What's that?!" Suddenly Ambitionist stopped moving and raised the flashlight to warn. His statement pulled Atobe's thought back into the scenario. Uncle Worthless also quickly assumed an alerted pose and focused his gaze down the direction Ambitionist was pointing.

They saw… A sheaf of verdant green light appeared at the far end of the corridor and was slowly approaching them…