Great, we're doomed now!

"But they really want to play! Can't you give them another test slot? I promise I won't tell anyone, and I'm even willing to sign an agreement!"

"This isn't a D&D-style tabletop role-playing magical world. It's supposed to be another world, but there are no magic-based classes. The main weapons are melee weapons like swords, guns, and bows. You have to fight monsters at close range—it's pretty hardcore. I don't think it's suitable for you."

"Hmph! Little Shou, you haven't been fooled by my appearance, have you?"

Chika tossed her long hair: "Did you really think I was just a pure, cute, and delicate pretty girl like I look?"

"Pure and cute? Wow~" Ye Shou read aloud, "I can't tell at all."

"I'm actually a hardcore gamer who likes challenging games!"

Chika was already used to her childhood friend's mockery, and said smugly, "I beat that 'Dog' game in just thirty hours!"

That's about average for someone – Ye Shouwuyan.

"It doesn't matter, but the official launch is only a few days away, so forget about the closed beta. How about I send you a top-of-the-line gaming helmet later?"

"I knew Xiao Shou was the best to me~!" Chika was overjoyed at getting the benefit.

Despite her privileged background, the Fujiwara family has a strong tradition of strict discipline and discipline of their children. As the second young lady, Chika doesn't have much pocket money, so it would be quite difficult for her to save up enough for a high-end "NERvGear".

"Then I'll leave the administrator account to you as well!"

"Hey!" Ye Shou's eyes sharpened instantly. "You... are you trying to cheat?"

"Cheating? How can what players do be called cheating? It's to improve the game experience!" Qianhua opened her innocent big eyes. "Isn't it a waste not to use such convenient connections?"

"The moment you said that, you were no longer a hardcore gamer."

—To say it so openly and honestly, no wonder she's a politician's daughter!

On the way back, Ye Shou noticed that Liuli was sometimes lost in thought and sometimes blushing, looking absent-minded, so he asked with concern, "What happened?"

"...Huh? Lord Ye Shou?"

"You seem a bit off today, your face is so red... Do you have a cold?"

Ye Shou didn't act arrogantly; he simply reached out and touched the maid's forehead, comparing it to his own.

"It seems a bit hot."

"……too."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Too close!"

Liuli dodged backward, her gaze shifting: "I'm just a little tired."

"Let the doctor check you out when you get back."

Ye Shou returned to his seat, looking slightly apologetic: "Being my assistant is definitely not an easy job. I know I've been too capricious most of the time... I appreciate your hard work."

"No, I can share Lord Ye's burdens..."

The girl's cheeks flushed crimson, and she lowered her head shyly like a water lily: "It is my mission (happiness)."

-

"Master...Master Ye Shou..."

The bright moon hung high in the sky. In the dimly lit room where the moonlight could not penetrate, Liuli lay on her side on the bed wearing only a thin nightgown.

The handkerchief, which she had carefully put away during the day, was now in her hand. She smelled it gently with a guilty conscience, her eyes sometimes glazed over and sometimes lost in thought, and she felt inexplicably sad.

The scent, Lord Ye Shou's scent... mingled with my own...

"Well!!"

The bed sheet draped over her body took shape at that moment, outlining the lines of her curled-up legs, like a goddess statue carved from white jade.

"Lord Ye Shou..."

Unease, restlessness, shame, guilt—she had to stop, her reason told her!

But... I can't stop!

-

"Ok?"

Slightly distracted, Ye Shou looked out the window blankly, but quickly refocused his gaze.

Am I just too tired?

Shaking his head to calm himself down, Ye Shou turned his gaze to the digital clock on the table.

A special date has been marked, and the countdown has begun.

"Kayaba Akihiko... I'm really looking forward to the server launch day."

Chapter 9: Video Games Can Make Teenagers Violent

My face is itchy...

He opened his eyes, and a pure and beautiful face filled most of his field of vision. The maid looked down and was only about ten centimeters away from him.

—Their eyes met for a fleeting moment.

After a brief pause of one second, the girl naturally and lightly reached out and placed her hand on the small server on the bedside table, past Ye Shou's line of sight.

Her expression was focused, and she would occasionally furrow her brows slightly, as if adjusting something. After about ten seconds, her brows would relax, and she would straighten up with a smile.

"My apologies, Lord Ye Shou."

"It's alright." Ye Shou casually sat up and leaned against the headboard. "How long did I sleep?"

"Even after three hours, your biological clock remains as regular as ever."

The maid's eyes flickered: "If only I could sleep a little longer..."

"what?"

"It's rare to see you enjoy a game so much; I hope you can enjoy it a little longer."

"That won't do. Today is a big day, so we have to prepare well in advance."

Ye Shou rubbed his temples, quietly waiting for the soreness in his body to subside, and then stretched out his arms and legs.

Have you done everything I asked you to do?

"Using the reputation of the Kuse family for such a trivial matter is naturally easy, but... why is that?"

Liuli had regained her composure by this time, revealing her professionalism as a corporate elite.

"This seems to pose a potential problem for the new project. The operation of SAO is secondary; if the reputation of [Rect] is affected..."

The maid wasn't worried about the operation of "SAO," or "Sword Art Online," after its launch. In fact, she wouldn't care even if it failed on the same day.

The focus of this project is the groundbreaking "full immersion technology," namely the "NERvGear" gaming headset, which, like the personal computer that emerged in the late 20th century, is an invention that will change the entire world.

As for whether the game software included is Tetris or Sword Art Online (SAO), it doesn't really make a big difference. What Kuze Group wants to earn is never a "blockbuster online game," but rather "the right to define the most cutting-edge technology."

—Just think about how outrageously profitable some graphics card sellers are!

Basically, as soon as Sword Art Online launches, players experience the immersive thrill of the game, and like otaku tamed by a succubus, they can no longer be satisfied with just their waifu body pillows.

Kuze Group didn't even want a game that would dominate the market; they just wanted SAO to create an unparalleled craze in a short period of time. Strictly speaking, allowing the industry to "flourish" was more in their interest!

As for the gameplay and the success of subsequent operations, those are not issues they should be concerned with!

That's precisely why Liuli felt puzzled:

The important thing is the gaming headset; the quality should be strictly controlled to create a legendary product. But Kuze's orders are...

"Is it to keep Kayaba Akihiko here?"

"……what?"

"I see," Liuli said thoughtfully, then suddenly realized, "In this way, no other group will dare to make a move. As expected of Lord Ye Shou, he has thought so far ahead!"

"Um?!"

Kayaba Akihiko is indeed a genius. Although Ruri is not a professional, she can see that his skills are far superior to those of his peers. What is even more commendable is that as a researcher in "quantum physics", he is able to apply theoretical techniques in practice... This is truly remarkable.

Therefore, even though he is a bit eccentric, everyone still chooses to accommodate him. (It's an alternate world with almost no magic elements, which is fatal to the gameplay.)

To put it bluntly, even if SAO were to die out, Kayaba Akihiko would still be a guest of honor at the Kuze Group—this person himself is worthy of such dedication.

Therefore, making SAO controversial from the moment it launches would undoubtedly diminish Kayaba Akihiko's credibility as a "game producer." He could even proactively mobilize the media to let the outside world know that Kayaba is a "difficult person to work with."

Even the young master of the Kuse family couldn't suppress Kayaba Akihiko, so how much confidence could the other major families have?

To put it bluntly, Ye Shou dared to take the risk of this project because his position within the family was already very stable and unshakeable, while others did not have such a solid foundation.

At the height of public opinion, if Ye Shou were to step in to save the game's operation and salvage Kayaba's reputation, this great scientist would be extremely grateful to the Jiushi Group and would be bound to their cause from then on.

—That's what Liuli thinks.

"I understand! What a brilliant tactic! It both deters outsiders and bestows favors upon Kayaba Akihiko. Indeed, following you always brings new insights!"

"……Oh."

What does she even know?

Ye Shou was a little confused, but seeing how interested Liu Li was, he nodded in agreement.

"It's getting late, let's go out."

"Yes."

Liuli knew that today was the official launch day, and Ye Shou must want to witness this moment at the company, so she arranged her schedule well in advance.

"What time are you going to give the speech? I'll let them prepare."

No, there will be no speech.

Ye Shou smiled slightly: "Cancel all of today's schedules, and do not inform anyone of my actions."

"Huh?" Liuli looked up in surprise. "But today is..."

"Don't ask anything today, just be a good boy and do as I say."

"……Yes."

Meeting Ye Shou's deep gaze, Liuli's heart skipped a beat, and she obediently lowered her head.

Without any other attendants, Ye Shou and Liu Li arrived at the SAO operations building by car.