Rebirth is fine, but I get eight hundred dollars right from the start?

After Wang Bo sheepishly gave up his seat, the crowd in the experience area not only didn't disperse, but instead seemed to be twisted by some invisible hand, with the tail of the line swinging to the side of the booth, layer upon layer, so crowded that even the air conditioning couldn't get in.

The blue light from the screen illuminated the young faces, and the sound of keyboard typing mingled with the buzzing of the computer case.

Some parents followed suit, pulling their children out of the crowd and half-pushing them to the computer, muttering, "It won't hurt to try," but their eyes couldn't hide the complex emotions—both hoping their children could get some exposure and secretly competing with each other.

Most people are thinking, "Let's see just how difficult this lousy game really is!"

A few mothers in the corner whispered among themselves, tapping their phone screens and secretly recording videos.

The young men who sat down, the younger ones were probably fourteen or fifteen, with stubble on their chins, and the older ones looked to be almost twenty. But when they leaned back in their gaming chairs, they all stood up straight, with almost the same arrogance on their faces—they gripped the mouse tightly and typed loudly on the keyboard, as if just sitting here meant they had already stepped halfway into the professional arena.

My mind was racing with one thought: Defeat Tale, defeat the pro player, and I'll be famous today!

Then they all exploded one by one.

The second guy in the plaid shirt picked Irelia, but he was constantly being kited by Zhang Hai's casually chosen Fiora from level one, and was finally killed in front of the tower with a single blow.

The third guy, who wore glasses, tried to be clever by saying that he played the jungle/support role and asked to change his solo match opponent.

Zhang Hai then got up and left his seat, and Ming Kai and Xiao Xiao took his place.

However, even though he wasn't facing off against Zhang Hai, Ming Kai, or Xiao Xiao, whose laning skills were professional-level, this kid still managed to cosplay as Red Poppy.

"I want to challenge Emperor!"

After several rounds of questioning, the expressions of the onlookers changed from cautious scrutiny to gleeful enjoyment, as if they were watching a spectacle with amusement.

At that moment, a punk teenager with his nostrils pointing to the sky squeezed into the crowd.

"I'm currently at Black Rose Diamond Rank 2, so I'm qualified to challenge you."

Lin Shu smiled, moved over, and said, "Of course!"

puff……

Xiaoxiao, Mingkai, and Zhang Hai, who had just stood up, exchanged a glance and could no longer hold back.

An older woman in a floral dress came over and asked curiously, "Young man, you've reached Diamond 2? That's pretty high, isn't it? My son is only Platinum, and he keeps saying he wants to get to Diamond..."

"Ahem... Auntie, let's just say that."

Zhang Hai coughed lightly, wiped away non-existent sweat, and lowered his voice, "Just as easily we single-handedly crushed those youngsters around Diamond and Platinum ranks, our captain beat us just as easily."

"diamond?"

"At the top of the Rift, you might not even have the chance to be matched with him if you're not at the highest rank."

Mingkai: "Commendable courage!"

"pity……"

What's the pity? Mingkai didn't say, because the answer was already given on the big screen.

A few minutes later!

"Aaaaaah!!!"

"So close, so close, I'm almost at level six!"

"I can't hit them! Why can't I hit them? They're all ranged heroes, why can't I attack them?!"

"Let me touch it, let me touch it."

"Last hit, last hit, one hundred last hits and I can win... Can't I just focus on last hitting properly?"

The atmosphere in the Shanghai All-Star live stream room 2 was filled with laughter as the "Shamate" teenagers wailed and lamented.

[Level up to 6? You don't actually think leveling up to 6 will be useful, do you?]

[The classic "almost" moment—almost getting solo-killed is still "almost," hilarious.]

[You said it was almost? It was almost a billion!]

"Let you touch it? If the other side lets you touch it, your screen will probably go black immediately."

[Is this what they call "I could do it too"? Going up there to deliver yourself, huh?]

This guy's movement is like the old man sunbathing downstairs from my house. Diamond 2? I'm better than him even in Gold.

[The guy upstairs is wrong. He definitely has the ability; it's just that his opponent was too strong, making you think he's nothing special.]

[That makes sense, considering he's facing E, who can easily dominate even the highest-ranking players.]

Welcome to the professional esports arena. This is reality, not your ranked dream.

As for the scene, several parents nearby finally couldn't hold back and laughed heartily, just like the viewers in the live broadcast room.

The woman in the floral dress held up her phone, the camera swaying as she said, "This is much more interesting than those variety shows on TV."

……

As darkness fell, the lights inside the stadium shone through the cracks in the doors, illuminating the ground outside.

The flow of people in front of the booth was constant. Some people would look around and leave, and then new people would come over to look at the display boards, ask questions, and pick up brochures.

The staff who helped with the on-site shifts changed twice, but the sign on the booth that read "Take Esports Seriously" remained standing there, standing out brightly in the evening light.

Backstage, the post-match interview with Xiaowei had ended. He walked out along the passage and saw a group of people still surrounding the booth in the distance. He paused for a moment.

He saw Lin Shu sitting in a chair in the Q&A area, with a parent in a gray coat standing in front of him. The two were talking to each other across the table.

Further on, several other parents were clutching the science booklets they had received, pressing their knuckles on the covers to leave imprints, as if considering the questions they needed to ask.

Oh, I just remembered, I think I left something in the lounge.

I need to go back and get it.

Smiling, she ran back to the passage without looking back, afraid that the men would see her and conscript her.

In another corner, after beating up several children to their hearts' content, and when no more audience members signed up for the experience, Zhang Hai and his two companions finally had some free time.

Zhang Hai and Ming Kai leaned against the wall behind the booth, drinking water side by side, occasionally glancing at the activity in front of the booth.

Xiaoxiao squeezed through from the other side, carrying bottled water she'd somehow gotten her hands on. She tossed one to Zhang Hai and the other to each of them, then unscrewed one and took a swig, mumbling, "Do you think this stuff can really change a parent's mind?"

Zhang Hai caught the water bottle, smacked his lips, and said, "Whether they can change their minds is unknown, but at least they can see what kind of people we are now."

"They are competitive athletes who stand tall and strive for victory, not internet-addicted teenagers who sit and play games."

Mingkai didn't say anything. He took a sip of water, screwed the cap back on, and looked at the crowd in front of the booth, and at Lin Shu, who had been talking nonstop since the beginning.

He silently thought to himself, "Actually, Emperor is already changing."

(This is the third update. These chapters were really difficult to write. I had to show the changes, but not too exaggeratedly, and most importantly, I didn't want it to affect the later plans.)