Chapter 234-4: A Hunting Surprise, Starnet Recompense (4) |
Two hours later, Lunar Eclipse City.
Tss!
Four plumes of white mist jetted from the holes along the game pod’s outer shell, and the pod cover slowly lifted.
Alan sat up inside the game pod.
He came to the center of the room, summoned the projection workstation, sat down, and began recording his gains from recent days and planning his future development direction.
The first order on the mercenary platform had been completed smoothly, which meant this money-making channel was officially opened.
Just as Alan was busy, the ceiling’s projection lights crossed and flashed automatically, after which Starnet’s figure gathered by his side.
“Starnet.” Realizing Starnet had arrived, Alan rose at once and nodded respectfully.
“No. 16, your recent performance has been good. I have been watching the development of the Gold Coin Chamber. It is improving day by day, and it will surely bring considerable returns in the future.”
“Recently the Gold Coin Chamber has opened a brand-new line of business. On the foundation of our multi-channel connections between the Chamber and the sea-region races, I structured a mercenary platform. By helping clients fulfill their needs, we obtain bounties, and the Gold Coin Chamber takes a percentage profit from them.”
Starnet nodded at this.
“A good idea. As the trading market becomes more prosperous in the future, the mercenary platform can grow with the traffic brought by all races. It will be a source of continuously increasing income. But I want you to build, on top of the trading market and mercenary platform, an intelligence collection platform.”
“Intelligence collection?” Hearing this, Alan was first stunned, then asked.
“Starnet, do you mean that by purchasing intelligence provided by various races and then reselling it to other ethnic groups or to players, we can obtain profit?”
Starnet shook his head.
“The intelligence collection platform you described is meaningless. The value of intelligence lies in timeliness and targeting. The information that various races in Monster World can provide is mostly limited to their own domains. Even if we gather a large volume of intelligence from different races, it will be difficult to find suitable buyers. Over time we would only stockpile large quantities of useless intel and waste a great deal of sacrificial power.”
“And players themselves have Guide, which can fetch basic world information and nearby environment information at any time. They are more inclined to rely on Guide than to buy intelligence externally.”
Hearing this, Alan felt puzzled and asked immediately.
“Starnet, what kind of intelligence agency do you want?”
“Build an intelligence collection center for Primordial Monsters and Territory Nodes. As long as foreign races landing on the island can provide us with exact coordinates of Primordial Monsters and the regional coordinates of Territory Nodes, they can receive a payout from the Gold Coin Chamber, redeemable for shop currency.”
Hearing Starnet’s explanation, Alan immediately understood Starnet’s vision.
The Gold Coin Chamber’s structure destined it to contact a large number of sea-region races. As the trading market flourished, a word of mouth effect would begin, attracting even more races to the market to trade.
With such a vast pool of races, besides trade, other profit-making channels could also be developed.
The mercenary platform model was one of them, and so was the intelligence platform Starnet mentioned.
Players might not be interested in ordinary intel, but they were very interested in Primordial Monsters and Territory Nodes, especially Rule Nodes.
But finding a single Primordial Monster was not easy.
If an intelligence platform collecting information on Primordial Monsters could be set up, the foreign sea races landing on the island would all become players’ eyes outside while exploring Primordials. The containment progress of Primordials would increase significantly.
The key point was that this kind of intelligence would surely sell for a hefty price among the player community.
Thinking of this, Alan nodded and said.
“Starnet, I understand. We will resell this part of the intelligence to top guilds and small teams, earning intel profits, right?”
At these words, Starnet shook his head and asked in return.
“The profits earned by the Gold Coin Chamber, how do you plan to use them?”
“For the development of the Lunar Eclipse race, and for crafting your body after you enter the game. That will be a huge expense.”
Starnet shook his head again.
“Your series of arrangements in Monster World are gradually forming a monopolistic trend. Trading platform, mercenary platform. Although building these platforms enlarges the pie and brings extra income to all players, it is also a way to profit from other players through the platform. As this grows, later on, even if you do nothing, a vast sacrificial power income will flow in. In my view this is dangerous.”
“You must understand one thing. All players serve the will of the higher-dimensional deity, and we are no exception.”
“So you must consider what value you yourself can bring to the higher-dimensional deity.”
Starnet’s voice grew solemn as he continued.
“Your idea of forming the Gold Coin Chamber is good, but you must understand that the higher-dimensional deity did not create the player system and guide us to Monster World so that we could comfortably earn sacrificial power and enjoy monopolistic dividends there. His purpose is, through our actions, to push the development of the player legion, to observe how we grow and evolve in this challenging environment, break through limits, and ultimately challenge the Black Tide.”
“The development of the Gold Coin Chamber is certainly important, but it is only a means, not the end. If you only indulge in building platforms to earn sacrificial power while ignoring the true intention of the higher-dimensional deity, we may ultimately be eliminated or even erased.”
Hearing this, Alan’s brow furrowed, and an unease rose within.
“Starnet, you mean we need to provide more value to the higher-dimensional deity? But we are already promoting Monster World’s economic development, connecting various races, and even creating more opportunities for players. Is that still not enough?”
Starnet shook his head.
“Not enough. The higher-dimensional deity needs more than economic prosperity. They value more the overall growth of the player legion.”
“Only by striving in that direction will your every action meet the deity’s expectations.”
“So I require you to set up an intelligence collection platform to acquire coordinate intel on Primordial Monsters, Territory Nodes, and Rule Nodes from various races, then publish this intel on the forum free of charge. As for who contains them, that is not our concern.”
Alan’s eyes gradually brightened. He understood Starnet’s deeper meaning.
“Starnet, you mean we use the Gold Coin Chamber’s funds to purchase coordinate intel on Primordial Monsters and Territory Nodes from the various races, then publish these intel free of charge to all players. In this way, players can find and contain these resources more quickly, thereby accelerating their growth. Although we spend sacrificial power, we indirectly push the overall strength growth of the player legion, aligning with the higher-dimensional deity’s expectations.”
Starnet nodded with a note of approval in his tone.
“Exactly. What the higher-dimensional deity needs is not a Gold Coin Chamber that monopolizes the market, but a catalyst that can drive the overall growth of the player legion. Through the intelligence platform, we make resource intel public, giving more players the chance to access high-value resources. This will let the player legion grow faster and let the higher-dimensional deity see our value.”
Alan added thoughtfully.
“Moreover, this method of publishing intel free of charge will also enhance the Gold Coin Chamber’s reputation. Players will realize we are not merely an organization that earns sacrificial power, but a platform that truly serves the player legion. In this way, our influence among players will increase greatly, and we may even attract more players to join our trade organization and mercenary platform.”
Starnet smiled and nodded.
“Precisely. The core advantage of the Gold Coin Chamber lies in our trade relationships with the races. The intelligence platform can transform this advantage into a concrete contribution to the player legion, establishing a virtuous development cycle. Races provide intel, we pay sacrificial power, players obtain intel. The ultimate purpose is the recognition of the higher-dimensional deity.”
Alan nodded, excitement flashing in his eyes.
He had completely grasped Starnet’s design.
The essence of the intelligence platform was a bridge of communication between them and the higher-dimensional deity.
Through this platform, they could prove to the deity that they were not only seeking their own profit but also contributing to the growth of the entire player legion.
Starnet continued at this point.
“However, the building of the intelligence platform must be cautious. We need to ensure the authenticity and timeliness of the intel, to avoid players wasting time due to incorrect intel and to avoid wasting sacrificial power due to erroneous intel. We must build closer cooperative relationships with the races to ensure the intel they provide has value. We even need to establish a system for it, such as certifying first and then paying after receiving intel, or paying a portion first and the rest after certification is completed…”
After listening to Starnet’s explanation, Alan nodded earnestly.
“I will personally take charge of building the intelligence platform and set up a dedicated intelligence review team to verify and screen the intel provided by the races to ensure that every piece of published intel is accurate.”
“Very good. Remember, the core goal of the intelligence platform is to serve the player legion, not to earn sacrificial power. All your future arrangements must always adhere to this principle. The higher-dimensional deity will recognize our value. Only then can the Lunar Eclipse race go further in Monster World.”
“Understood. I will do my utmost.” Alan nodded gravely.
Starnet’s figure dissipated at this moment, and the ceiling projection lights switched off automatically.