Episode 25: Over one billion players.

I'm resting in my bed and looking at the forum.

[Forsaken- v.s. Supremacist]

[D: Isn't it obvious which clan is the strongest now? LOL. I watched the whole stream. Ivonna with six of her friends defeated Queen Arachne while Kingstar failed miserably with his thousands of players. Quality is always better than quantity!

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S: It was embarrassing to watch. I'm Kingstar and Queenstar's fan, but man... that was pathetic. Are Ivonna and her friends know the mechanics of the World Boss? Because they did that so smoothly with zero mistakes.

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U: Ivonna took advantage of Kingstar's raid teams! She didn't deserve it! Without Kingstar's raid teams, they wouldn't be able to kill them.

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D: [Without Kingstar's raid teams, they wouldn't be able to kill them.] LOL! You're delusional. Do you even watch her stream? Kingstar and his raid teams barely did any damage to Queen Arachne. Ivonna and her friends killed all of them with a single attempt.

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O: I was part of Kingstar raid teams. I will tell you this. The World Boss was invincible! My level is 159 and I didn't even scratch the mini-boss! I'm also Kingstar's fan, but Ivonna and her friends got my respect! They defeated the World Boss and prevent us from getting a penalty. It doesn't matter which is the strongest for me. I'm just grateful that the World Boss got defeated.]

The heat keeps rising. I don't know what will happen to the game because of these two clans. I personally don't care about all that, but if these clans are making the game looks bad in public, I'll handle it personally since I promised Becker to take care of his legacy to me.

Emma knocks on the door.

"Come in, Em."

Emma opens the door while looking at her phone. I tilt my head.

"What is it?"

Emma sits on my gaming chair and moves closer to my bed. She then shows her phone.

"Look at this."

A headline news anchor is looking at the camera with Legacy of the Betelgeuse as the background.

"Legacy of the Betelgeuse now reached one billion players and it keeps raising every second! The CEO of the game publisher stated that it was not because of them, but it was because of the game itself. Representing the people how it feels like to live in a fantasy world without boundaries.

From celebrities, artist, singers, influencers, to businessman, are now playing this game! Everyone is having the same dream which is to live freely!

Oh, I almost forgot! Forsaken- Clan will be holding an auction in the game! All the players around the world are welcome to join the auction and celebrate the success of defeating the World Boss. It will be held at the Alliance Kingdoms' Kings Palace. I heard that some players are already placing a bid on the item for over ten million dollars!

That is it for today. I will see you all tomorrow!"

Emma is grinning happily. I look at her and raise my eyebrow while smiling. I approach her and mess her hair.

"So you're showing off your clan, huh?"

Emma is laughing while fixing her hair.

"You can go and play without me now since you'll have Ivonna and her friends accompanying you in the game. They're experienced players, so I believe they can answer all of your questions."

Emma nods with understanding.

"Yeah, I already have plans tomorrow with them. So I'll be playing for a whole day tomorrow."

Emma lifts her index finger.

"Ah! I also have good news for you. When the box is sold, they're going to give us 10% of the money! How great is that?!"

I chuckle and shake my head.

"It's yours. You can have my portion as well. I don't need it."

Emma is surprised and grabs my hand.

"Are you being serious right now? It's one million dollars we are talking about! Why you don't want it?"

I smirk and shake my head.

"I'm good. Even if you insisted on giving the money to me, I will not use it. I have enough money in my bank account. So, just take it for yourself."

Emma furrows her forehead and staring at me with suspicion.

"Well then, I'll keep your money in my account. So when you need it, I will give it to you, how about that?"

I chuckle and shake my head.

"Fine... do what you want."

Emma is playing with her lips using her fingers. I look at her.

"What is it? Just say it."

Emma stops playing with her lips and looks at me with her eyebrows raising. Then she sighs.

"Well... I quit being a stripper, so I'll be here all day. What I'm trying to say is, I might have not enough money to buy food for a month with the money I have in my bank account. But, I will repay you when I get the money from the auction."

I raise my eyebrow.

"So what you're trying to say is you need money?"

Emma is looking at me with guilt written on her face.

"Yes... but if you don't want to then it's okay. I can eat instant ramen every day for a month, and I think I might be able to survive until then."

I shake my head and grab my phone. I transfer her $500.

"Check your balance, is that enough?"

Emma is checking her balance and then surprised.

"Wait! I didn't ask for this much?!"

I shrug.

"It's yours, and you don't have to return it."

She jumps from the gaming chair and hugs me. Then she kisses my cheek.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

I chuckle and shake my head.

We spent the rest of the day doing nothing and enjoyed the day in our own way.

I woke up and looked at my phone. All the news on the internet and in the game forum were all about Forsaken- Clan's auction. It will be held in Alliance Kingdoms Kings' Palace a month from now. Emma already on her pod playing with Ivonna and her friends. I left the house to go to the office because my manager called me to see him.

I'm at the manager's office and sit in front of my manager.

"Trevor, your performance is excellent. For the past two years, all the customers gave you high ratings. I think it's time for you to be a V.I.P. driver."

I raise my eyebrows.

"V.I.P. driver, sir?"

He nods and sits on the desk.

"Yeah. From now on you only have to drive customers that requested V.I.P. services. You don't have to work 24/7 anymore. Well, you still need to be ready if they requested your service in the middle of the night or early in the morning. You will also get a raise. How about that? Do you want it?"

I nod and smile.

"Yes, sir!"

He smiles and nods.

"Great! Now you will get a different car. Go to the underground floor and find the car. Here are the keys."

He walks towards the safe behind him and opens it.

"You can choose which car do you want."

I approach the safe and grab the luxury car key and give the old car key to him.

After I changed the car and left the office. I had a phone call from the CEO of the game publisher saying that he has something to discuss with me. So, I immediately went there.

I'm at the receptionist.

"Good morning, I have an appointment with Mister Jason Lloyd."

The receptionist checks her computer.

"Mister Trevor?"

I nod.

"Yes, that is me."

She nods and points at the lift.

"Go to the 73rd floor. Once you're there, tell the secretary that you are here for the appointment."

I nod.

"Got it, thank you."

She smiles and nods.

I went to the 73rd floor and told the secretary that I have an appointment with Jason Lloyd. Then she showed me his office. I entered the room and I was surprised because there are so many people in there. Everyone looked at me and I smiled. Jason approached me and greeted me. I sat among the higher-ups of the company.

Jason clears his throat and everyone is looking at me.

"Mister Trevor. Let's cut to the chase. The reason why I called you here is that we want to discuss the Legacy of the Betelgeuse."

Jason walks around.

"As you see in the news. We have reached over one billion players now. We all here agreed to make some events so the players can enjoy the game more. So we want your opinion or if can, we would like to hear some of your suggestions."

Jason sits on his chair and looks at me.

"Is there anything you have in mind?"

I'm tapping my chin and raise my eyebrow.

"Well, there's something that can make the game more fun and interesting. Which is a skirmish game. It's a good event to prepare the players for the BZM."

Everyone nod with an agreement. Jason looks at all the higher-ups and they all nod. Jason smiles.

"Okay, that is a very good suggestion. So, what will the skirmish game going to be?"

I'm nodding and looking at the ceiling while thinking. I fix my sitting.

"How about a clan versus clan kind of skirmish? All the clans no matter what are the levels can participate in the event, and let's make it regional first, then the top three winners of each region will compete against the clans' winners from the other regions. For example, Aarus clans' winners will fight the Alliance Kingdom's clans and so on."

Jason smiles and nods.

"That sounds good. We can use the BZM map for that skirmish."

I shake my head.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

Everyone is looking at me with confusion. Jason is tilting his head.

"Why is that? It's a perfect place for a skirmish."

I nod with an agreement.

"Yes, I also agree with that. But, if we are using the BZM map for the skirmish, they will memorize the area and find a spot that can be abused when the BZM event comes. So, let's use a different map, or maybe make a simple new map. Like a vast battlefield with cliffs surrounding the field so the other players can watch from above and make sure they can't interfere with the game."

Jason is laughing and clapping his hands with satisfaction.

"Excellent! We will do that! Everyone agrees with this?"

All the higher-ups approved and nodded with an agreement.

Jason clears his throat.

"Then, it's official that the skirmish game will be the celebration event for one billion players playing Legacy of the Betelgeuse!"