Chapter 173 - PLAYERS' (ON THE PLAZA) REACTION
AFTER the video finished, Luo Yan couldn't hide the wide grin on his face. It even felt like if he didn't stop, his smile would definitely reach his ear. Especially when he saw the reaction of the players on the plaza. Because of his position, he could see their expressions more clearly. And based on what he was seeing right now, most of them were astounded and no doubt impressed by what they just watched.
"What was that?" said a female player near him. "Do you think it's some kind of advertisement?"
"It's definitely an advertisement," answered another female player who's most likely the other one's friend. "The only thing that could be played on the plaza's screen are ads, announcements, or replay video of tournament fights. Since we're still far off from tournament season and it didn't even look the least bit like an announcement, it could only be an advertisement."
"Then it must be for a new business establishment that the game is planning to launch."
"I think so too as well. Based on how intricate the design of the building was and how it's located at the recreational garden here in Goldcrest City, it could only be another in-game business."
The other one nodded. "And there were those NPCs. Players who are just starting their business wouldn't be able to hire all those NPCs. And they seemed to be role-specific NPCs too."
Luo Yan almost wanted to laugh because of how wrong they were. All the points they've mentioned were valid. It just simply didn't apply to him. Or more specifically, to his pavilion.
Of course, the design of the building was that intricate because the game designers themselves designed it. It's from one the game tasks, after all. He got the location because Shen Ji Yun tipped him off about its sale. As for the NPCs, well, they're a package that came along with the pavilion. So there.
But people assuming that his pavilion was an in-game business and not something that solely belonged to a player could actually be to his advantage. If they think that the game itself was the owner of the business, then they would be more inclined to visit and be one of its customers. If they knew that a player, just like them, was the proprietor of the business, they might think twice about spending money on it. After all, it's only human nature to not give more to people who were already living better than you.
With this misunderstanding, his pavilion would surely earn more.
"Its name seems to be 'Yuexing'," he heard one male player said. He was talking with a group of other three male players.
"What kind of business do you think it is?"
"Have you seen the video and all those beautiful NPCs? It's definitely that kind of business," one said moving his eyebrows up and down as if cueing his friends about something only males could understand.
"But isn't there a ban against touching NPCs, you know, in that way?"
"Maybe they lifted it. Who knows," the one who said that Yuexing was that 'kind' of business shrugged. "But one thing's for sure, I'll definitely go once it opens. I especially want to see that last NPC. Even if half of her face was covered, I could tell she's the most beautiful."
"Yeah, I totally get that feeling too."
"And she's an elf to boot. But I wonder why she's black haired? Don't elves usually have blond hairs?"
"She's an NPC. Of course she'd be different."
"That makes sense."
Luo Yan was a bit creeped out when he heard all that. After all the 'NPC' they were talking about was him. He was actually contemplating whether he should show at the video or not. He truly didn't want to dance again. But because all of his employees were NPCs, none of them could show the 'mystery' that he wanted. So in the end, he had no choice but to step up.
He used that healing dance he swore he would never use. But that's the extent of it. He made sure that his appearance in video would be as short as possible. The design of the robe he wore was gender fluid. Because he didn't want to wear something so glaringly feminine. He also had to apply temporary black dye to his hair. Because his avatar's white hair was just simply too eye-catching. Of course, he also had to cover most of his face.
But based on the conversation he just heard, it seemed like that didn't really do much at all. Even if he only appeared for like 20 seconds and with half of his face covered up, his presence was still the most striking. He sighed. Sometimes, his beauty could be really troublesome.
"It's going to be launched on 21st this month, right?"
Luo Yan heard that question from one of the group of male players talking earlier.
"Are we going to the opening?"
"Of course we're going! I have to be the first customer of that black-haired elf," the guy who had been making dirty jokes and had been showing the most interest towards the elf said.
"You're really digging that NPC, huh?"
"I kind of understand him. If you see a beautiful girl covering her face, you just have the urge to remove it."
"What veil? I'd rather remove her clothes," that one guy said again, his tone full of perverted insinuation.
Luo Yan felt like a vein in his forehead just popped when he heard that. He was about to say something to shut the guy up, but the said guy spoke again.
"I couldn't wait to fondle all that soft skin under that complicated robe—"
The guy wasn't able to finish what he's saying because a broad sword was suddenly pointed at the side of his neck. Based on the guy's stiff body and wide eyes, he was obviously shocked.
Even Luo Yan was surprised. Because the person who pointed the person was none other than Shen Ji Yun. He didn't notice when he stood up from his chair. Heck, he didn't even see him move at all!
"W-what the hell are you doing?" the guy seemed to finally regain the use of his tongue and shouted. He actually wanted to say more. But the dark expression of the man in front of him, as well as the coldness in his eyes, prevented him from doing that. He couldn't even move. Because if he did, he had no doubt that the sword would cut his neck!
"I'm challenging you to the Arena," Shen Ji Yun said with almost no emotion in his voice. But anyone who heard him would definitely feel a semblance of fear. "Either agree or die here now."