"Sigh, this dungeon run is going to be a total loss."
Gu Yi replied with a helpless look on his face.
Tao Sisi, who was standing to the side, also fell silent.
"That’s right, you didn’t get much from finding the prison this time, but didn’t those guys from the Sin Abyss Guild just deliver some profit to us?"
Long Ming said with a smile, looking at the scattered backpacks.
"That’s your loot."
Gu Yi said with a wry smile.
"They’re yours. It might not be enough to cover all your costs, but these backpacks, plus the weapons, body armor, and other gear, should be worth a decent amount. At least you won’t lose too much on this trip."
Long Ming said to Gu Yi in a carefree manner.
Hearing Long Ming’s words, Tao Sisi and the others looked at him in disbelief.
It was the first time they had seen a friend of Gu Yi’s be so reliable, and generous too.
"That’s not right. It was already a huge imposition asking you to carry us, and now you want us to take your earnings? There’s no way!"
Gu Yi quickly waved his hands, refusing.
"Alright, cut the formalities. Since you call me ’brother,’ just take it."
Long Ming said, his tone firm.
"Well... okay then!"
Gu Yi finally agreed, gritting his teeth.
Tao Sisi quickly thanked Long Ming.
"Mr. Long Ming, thank you so much."
"Don’t mention it. Hurry up and collect the loot. We need to leave this world quickly so we can save a little on the hourly fee."
Long Ming reminded Tao Sisi and the others.
"Okay!"
Tao Sisi and the others immediately went to gather the dropped loot.
Before long, Long Ming’s group finished collecting the loot and left the prison, heading for the coast.
...
「Several hours later.」
Long Ming’s group arrived at an extraction point on the edge of the island. A mechanical platform was situated there, still unused.
They walked onto it, filled with joy.
Just then, Long Ming, who was walking at the rear, secretly took out the Five-Colored Pearl and slipped it into Gu Yi’s backpack without a sound. He then patted him on the shoulder and said,
"Gu Yi, Sisi is a good girl. You have to treat her well!"
"I will. And thank you so much for everything this time."
Gu Yi replied with immense gratitude.
"It’s nothing."
Long Ming raised his wristband and tapped ’Extract’.
VMM~
The mechanical platform instantly activated. Long Ming and the others began to float up, bit by bit, before turning into a streak of white light and disappearing.
...
「Moon Wave Internet Cafe, Private Room 80.」
PSSSH~
With a hiss of depressurizing air, the lid of the game pod opened.
Long Ming climbed out, put on his shoes, and, feeling a bit tired, opened the door to his private room and walked out.
He glanced at the closed doors of the other private rooms, then stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to leave.
Before long, Long Ming walked out of the Moon Wave Internet Cafe.
But before he had taken more than a few steps, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind him.
Gu Yi, Chen Wei, Tao Sisi, and the others came chasing after him.
"Brother, wait up."
"What’s up?"
Long Ming stopped and turned to look at Gu Yi’s group, asking with a smile.
"Brother, that big orange pearl... you’re the one who put it in my backpack, right?"
Gu Yi asked, his eyes red.
"Not bad, you figured it out pretty quick!"
"Brother, you’ve already helped me out so much. This thing is too valuable, I can’t take it."
"Why can’t you take it? Didn’t you give me that Purple-Gold Scepter back then? You think that wasn’t valuable?"
Long Ming said to Gu Yi nonchalantly.
"But..."
Gu Yi heard this but still felt it wasn’t right.
"But what? Just think of it as a wedding gift from me to you two. When you get married, remember to invite me!"
Long Ming reached out, patted Gu Yi’s shoulder, and gave a faint smile.
Hearing Long Ming say this, Gu Yi turned to look at Tao Sisi beside him, then finally gritted his teeth and said,
"Thanks."
"Don’t mention it. Just take care of each other. I’m rooting for you. Gotta go!"
Long Ming waved and turned to leave.
However, before Long Ming got far, he saw Xiaoqi walking toward him.
"Xiaoqi? What are you doing here?"
"I just came over to buy something. What a coincidence! By the way, I think I just saw you coming out of Moon Wave Internet Cafe. What were you doing over there?"
Xiaoqi asked nonchalantly.
"Oh, I was taking some friends on a dungeon run."
"Then why not at Star Wish Cafe? We even have a discount."
"My friends were treating."
Long Ming quickly explained.
"I see. That’s great!"
After hearing Long Ming’s words, a brilliant smile instantly spread across Xiaoqi’s face.
"What’s so great?"
Long Ming looked at Xiaoqi, a little suspicious.
"Nothing. Where are you heading now?"
"Home, to get some rest."
"Want me to walk you?"
"No need. The lower district is a mess, I’ll be fine on my own."
"Alright, then be careful on your way."
Xiaoqi happily said goodbye to Long Ming.
"Yeah, bye."
Although Long Ming was a bit puzzled, he didn’t dwell on it and headed toward the subway entrance.
...
「Noon the next day.」
Long Ming groggily opened his eyes. Exhausted, he got out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash up.
BZZT~
Just then, his phone buzzed.
Long Ming walked out of the bathroom, went to his bedside, and picked up his phone. Seeing it was a call from Xiaopang, he answered.
"What’s up?"
"Well, the countdown is down to just eleven hours. I’ve still got some money, so I was thinking, should I buy up some other stuff? The prices might go up."
"No. If you spend all your money, what will you do when you need it later?"
"Okay."
"By the way, how many medical supplies have you bought these last few days?"
"I’ve only managed to get less than 200 bottles in the past four days. You were right on the money, Big Bro. Those guys aren’t selling their stock anymore."
"Mm, I see. Anything else?"
Long Ming said as he walked to the kitchen to make something to eat.
"Nope."
Xiaopang replied with a chuckle.
"Then I’m hanging up."
Long Ming then hung up the phone.
Half an hour later, Long Ming returned to his bedroom, picked up his helmet, put it on, and logged into the game.
WHOOSH~
When he opened his eyes again, he was in Starry City.
Long Ming raised his wristband and saw a bright red countdown: 11 hours and 03 minutes.
Looking at the countdown, he felt a little uneasy.
Still, Long Ming suppressed his agitation, found a place to sit down, and took out a physical combat manual to read, studying while he waited for the version update.
...
「11:50 PM.」
Inside Starry City.
Countless players came online. Everyone was focused on the upcoming version update, discussing it heatedly.
"What do you think they’ll update this time??"
"I bet they’re going to open up Level 2 Civilizations."
"For real?"
"Of course it’s real!"
"Doesn’t that mean our equipment and Game Coins are going to depreciate?"
"You got it. Based on my years of gaming experience, every time there’s a version update, the market crashes. That’s why I cashed out all my stuff for real money ages ago."
"You’re a genius!"
...
Long Ming stood in a corner, quietly listening to the discussions of the players nearby.
He occasionally lifted his wristband to check the time. Only a few minutes remained on the countdown.
He felt a complex mix of emotions—part anticipation, part anxiety.
Time ticked by.
In the blink of an eye, the final 10-second countdown began.
The players in Starry City spontaneously started shouting out the numbers.
"10!"
"9!"
...
"1!"
"0!"
The crowd shouted in excitement.
VMMMM~
Instantly, a conspicuous notification popped up on every player’s wristband.
"Dear ladies and gentlemen, Starry City is about to close. All players will be forcibly logged out. Players currently in dungeons will also be forcibly logged out upon completion."
In an instant, every player on site was completely dumbfounded.
"Fuck, why is Starry City closing?"
"Is the game updating?"
"Update my ass! There wasn’t any update notification."
...
Long Ming was also completely taken by surprise, but before he could react, the world started spinning around him.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his bedroom.
Long Ming took off the helmet and immediately went to his computer desk to open the Civilization Paradise forums.
The entire forum had exploded. Countless threads were popping up like mushrooms after a spring rain.
"What the hell is going on? Why did Starry City close?"
"No idea."
...
Just then, Long Ming’s phone began to vibrate. Xiaopang was calling.
He glanced at it and answered.
"Hello?"
"Big Bro, something huge has happened."
"Calm down and tell me."
"Starry City is closed! This game isn’t going to pull a runner like *Black Interstellar*, is it? You still have so much stuff in there! If I’d known, I would’ve told you to cash out sooner."
"Don’t talk nonsense."
"I’m serious! Think about it, isn’t it really similar?"
Xiaopang said anxiously.
Just then, a series of shocked cries came from outside his window.
Hearing the commotion outside, Long Ming frowned slightly. He walked over to the window, phone in hand, and looked out.
He was instantly stunned by the scene before him.
In the center of Mountain City Mountain, the giant mechanical pillar that pierced through the mountain and reached for the sky erupted with a dazzling light, shooting a multicolored beam straight into the heavens.
"Something’s come up, I can’t talk. Hanging up!"
Staring at the beam of light, Long Ming’s eyes went wide, and he hung up on Xiaopang without another word.