Great, we're doomed now!

"I've only ever seen this kind of thing in comics!"

Chapter 55 is filled with a powerful burst of music!

Although this month was not without its share of unforeseen events, it was quite stable, with everything proceeding smoothly according to Ye Shou's plan.

As a new generation of "gaming headset," the AmuSphere actually resembles VR glasses in appearance, with a simple, lightweight, and convenient structure. The size of the host server has also been reduced accordingly. Remarkably, despite these lightweight modifications, the virtual reality effect hasn't been significantly compromised. While it may not match the full-power NERvGear, it far surpasses other similar products.

There were no major breakthroughs in hardware; achieving this solely through algorithm optimization seemed incredible to Ye Shou. However, when Kayaba Akihiko offered an explanation based on "quantum physics," Ye Shou had no choice but to accept it.

In Ye Shou's view, that thing was no different from metaphysics and there was no need to delve too deeply into it.

He has more faith in the chips he brought back from the dungeon. He is now selectively unsealing them one by one, allowing Kayaba and others to digest them step by step. Only after the research team of the Jiushi Group has thoroughly understood the "basics" will Ye Shou release something even more explosive.

If we combine it with Kayaba's quantum physics, we might be able to create even more advanced black technology than Cyberpunk. After all, Kayaba is also a genius in AI and virtual reality, and later he might even be able to touch on the analysis of the "soul," while Cyberpunk is relatively weak in this regard.

In terms of game operations, ALO and the new devices are unsurprisingly incredibly popular!

Its affordable price and portable size have made it more popular than helmets. Now, some people even bring their servers to internet cafes, bars, and other similar places to play online games.

—Even though they could have just connected to the internet, they still chose to meet offline.

The reason for this situation, apart from the small circle of enthusiasts, is mainly due to the recent launch of the "Electric" game platform by the Kuse Group, and its built-in development module "TheSeed".

"Electric," now commonly known as the Electricity Platform, is a platform where players can buy, download, discuss, upload, and share games and software.

Just like encouraging independent creators, the platform provides a free development module, which is Kayaba Akihiko's intelligent engine. As long as you use this module and the materials in it, even university clubs can develop their own small virtual games.

The "Power Platform" welcomes this initiative and will not charge patent or copyright fees. It only requires compliance with certain agreement terms, such as games developed using "Seed" can only be sold on the platform and must accept the platform's cloud storage technology support, etc.

Generally speaking, large corporations will exploit private developers to the bone, or wait for the right opportunity to reap the rewards. Countless aspiring talents have fallen victim to corporate "angel investment."

(But if you don't accept angel investment, you might not even be given the chance to go on stage and get ripped off.)

But how to put it in terms of the "power platform" terms... it's all about fairness, it's practically a public service!

Is this still a capitalist? This is fucking unbelievable!

It wasn't until the platform started extending olive branches to independent game developers, inviting them and their teams to join that everyone suddenly realized and thought they understood the "true intentions" of the Jiuze Group.

Small workshops and independent teams cannot compete with corporations in terms of productivity and funding. The large-scale online games under the Jiushi Group are not in the same niche as them and do not constitute a competitive relationship.

Creators who can make a name for themselves are undoubtedly outstanding, and recruiting such people can actually enhance the group's technological reserves—that's how the strong get stronger!

Those independent creators are very happy, after all, the platform terms are not mandatory, and even if you refuse, they will not suppress your game revenue. Joining a large company as a technical backbone is a good outcome for most people.

It's important to understand that many people have ideas but lack the resources, making it impossible for them to demonstrate their value. They may end up wasting their entire lives.

Now, the Jiushi Group provides the platform and basic tools. All you need is a little more initiative to turn your ideas into reality and then compete fairly based on your abilities—it's practically charity!

At first, some people suspected it was some kind of trap, that the Kuse Group was setting up a network to monopolize the industry's leading position. But gradually, some people actually made money with independent games, and some people actually got corporate contracts. Those who insisted on maintaining their independence were not suppressed in any way...

The nature of the matter began to change!

Of course, it's currently limited to Japan—the Kuseke family can protect it, and there's no intention to expand overseas for the time being.

When the world situation changes and Sawai Soichiro begins to act, that will be the time for Kuze to rise to prominence.

Speaking of Sawai, he successfully concluded his visit to Japan, receiving varying degrees of support from conglomerates such as Kuze, Suzuki, and Karasuma, with other conglomerates also making promises to varying degrees.

Even those who are indifferent to TPC haven't turned against it, seemingly not optimistic about its future. But if Japan really makes a splash, they'll definitely try to curry favor immediately.

Kayaba Akihiko, Higa Ken, and Kamishiro Rinko accepted the invitation and became members of TPC.

Ye Shou took the initiative to act as a go-between for Uncle Sawai, building a good relationship with the Fujiwara family—not the most powerful in Japanese politics, but probably the oldest and most well-connected.

The above are only some of the people Sawai contacted. Before coming to Japan, he had already exchanged emails and even video calls with many scientists. The main purpose of this trip was to meet formally and confirm each other's positions and views.

The best example is Dr. Yao, the master who developed the Magus dynamics system in the original work. He has not yet thoroughly researched the theory, nor does he have enough resources for verification research. He can't even build a small device (the resources required for his theory are at the level of a particle collider).

However, his idea of ​​"providing cheap and clean energy for mankind" resonated with Sawai's philosophy, and he readily accepted his invitation.

— Ye Shou had never heard of this person before, so it seems that he appeared out of nowhere.

What surprised him the most was Professor Agasa!

This is a relatively free scientist and inventor with few conflicts of interest. What is rare is that he has a kind heart and strongly agrees with the idea of ​​"using science to benefit mankind." He feels like he has known Sawai for a long time!

However, this person is rather lazy and unwilling to leave his comfort zone, so he stayed in Japan, but his wisdom will become an asset to Sawai.

To be honest, Ye Shou was a little surprised by the breadth of connections and talent pool that Sawai had shown.

But you can't envy that; the two of them aren't on the same track.

Sawai builds communities based on principles and beliefs; his strong personal charisma and exceptional political skills only make it easier for him to do so.

This man has spent two or three decades preparing, and has already gathered many talented people around him who share his ideals. Once he gains momentum, he will be unstoppable.

And Ye Shou?

All resources and manpower are centered around him; there is no shared ideology, and everyone simply acknowledges, fears, and follows him.

Of course, while Ye Shou admired Sawai's approach, he didn't intend to follow Sawai's method, because that would require all his energy to manage the organization, which would be a waste for Ye Shou.

One is to contribute oneself to the organization, and the other is to make the organization serve oneself—there is a decisive difference between the two.

Speaking of drawing SSR characters, Sawai has incredible luck—she's been abducted by aliens (more than once) and still managed to be rescued. What makes Yoruichi even more unlucky?

The rest is up to the new company, [Blue Dream].

Preparations went smoothly. Before Zejing left, Ye Shou explained the company's future blueprint to him and easily gained his support. Now the two are cooperating with each other.

Many scientists in TPC also possess a humanistic spirit and have decided to participate in research on medicine, Mewtwo, and prosthetics, and are happy to provide assistance to Ye Shou.

If it were someone else, they might worry about being betrayed by Sawai or being possessed by TPC, but Ye Shou couldn't be happier to be bound to TPC—the deeper the better!

These are pre-IPO shares!

Even if they ultimately lose to the giant conch, they can still get more tickets when they escape on the "Ark," right?

On Ye Shou's side, the relevant technologies were already prepared in full. What was needed was localization and modification. This kind of work was both tedious and massive. With TPC's help, the pressure was greatly reduced.

As for whether they would be puzzled by technology that is slightly ahead of its time?

Go talk to Akihiko Kayaba about "quantum mechanics"!

(Actually, [Mewtwo] can be classified as virtual reality. Kayaba Akihiko had also studied the soul level (Yoko), so replicating emotional fluctuations is not so incredible.)

As for prosthetic technology, there are already very advanced products in the real world, perhaps even ahead of their time, but not enough to overturn scientists' worldview.

What's truly inexplicable are the 'materials science' and 'energy transmission and energy storage' parts—these are truly cutting-edge technologies!

Therefore, this part is temporarily confidential and will not be shared with the public.

Besides setting up firewalls for the company's intranet, Lucy's daily routine included selecting people from the cybersecurity department and building a professional hacker team.

She cared deeply about the children, so she began to learn about prosthetics and made rapid progress.

Liuli is a very busy person. Whether it's a new company or the launch of a new product, she needs to keep a close eye on the situation and then select information to send to Ye Shou for review.

As for Ye Shou himself?

For the past month, he has been unusually well-behaved, either going to school, the company, or exchanging ideas with Sawai. Every weekend, he would go to Mount Sukuna to train with Kinta Keiryu in "illusion" and "kendo".

My life was both structured and fulfilling, so the month flew by!

By the end of the month, the last batch of resources he had prepared for the instance world had arrived, and everything was finally ready!

"Lord Ye Shou, shall we send these supplies to the designated warehouse as usual?"

"That's right, I'll check it out later."

Ye Shou nodded in satisfaction after reviewing the goods list.

He couldn't be sure at what time he would enter "Delicious in the Maze," or even whether it would be part of the main storyline, so he made several contingency plans, each requiring slightly different resources, which is why his luggage was a bit "bulky" this time.

Just setting it up will probably take most of the day!

"There's one more thing. I'm going to start a period of seclusion and meditation. Please clear my schedule."

"Ok."

Liuli nodded as expected. In fact, she had already considered this possibility and was adjusting her schedule.

Is it still that century-old hot spring inn?

"can."

Ye Shou smiled slightly, appearing to be in a good mood, which aroused Liu Li's curiosity.

In the past, when he went on "seclusion," Lord Ye Shou didn't seem to be looking forward to it this much. This time, the location is the same... Is there any difference?

-

The golden hourglass disappeared into the darkness, the silver pocket watch began to spin, and Ye Shou's figure gradually vanished...

Wow!

The icy lake water submerged him, instantly blocking his mouth and nose, and the unexpected incident caused him to choke on two mouthfuls of water.

But this didn't keep him in a panic. He quickly calmed down, and [Ghost Brain] even began to imagine that he was wearing fish-man flippers and that his skin had turned into shark skin with countless fine scales.

An incredible thing happened: as he swam upwards, the water flow created by his feet actually showed faint ripples from his webbed feet, and his movements were as fast as a real shark, leaping out of the water in just two seconds!

call!

Breathing in the fresh air, the lungs act like a blower, distributing oxygen to the capillaries throughout the body.

Only then, with his view opening up, did Ye Shou realize that there was a platform rising above the water not far from him, like a pillar of a temple.

"...They should have been teleported to a safe place, but the structure of the maze itself is constantly changing, so is there any error?"

Without thinking twice, Ye Shou climbed to the top of the stone pillar and began to check his belongings. Just then, a melodious and graceful song entered his ears.

The sound possessed a penetrating power beyond human comprehension, instantly drawing Ye Shou's attention and compelling him to continue listening. The rippling water also seemed to possess a magical allure, drawing him closer.

"Tsk!"

Suddenly regaining his composure, Ye Shou frowned: "A mermaid?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a square, black speaker that was a meter tall from the distorted "zipper".

Contingency plan for mermaids:

"The King's Battle Song, Initiate!"

A powerful melody began to play, it sounded like a very old song...

Youngman!