Vol. 1 Chapter 6 – Pross

“Hello, Mr. Pross. Can the virtual world of Destiny really reach the advertised 99% realism?” A reporter dressed in standard professional attire politely asked.

“Of course, my lovely lady. I believe that a wonderful world will leave you enchanted.” Pross smiled peacefully. Though he was old, his voice still brimmed with strength, and the occasional gleam in his sharp eyes showed no sign of cloudiness.

“Full-dive virtual gaming has been around for over 120 years now, yet even the most popular game, Second World, only lasted seven years before its decline. Mr. Pross, how far do you think this era-defining Destiny can go?”

Pross narrowed his old eyes slightly. “If I had to set an ideal time frame, I would hope for… eternity.” His voice remained as gentle as ever, but a fleeting, nearly imperceptible strange smile crossed his wrinkled face.

“Since Destiny incorporates alien technology, will its worldview differ greatly from that of past games?”

“Worldview, you say?” Pross pondered for a moment, then shook his head, his expression slowly growing more serious. “There won’t be any fundamental change to the worldview. But what I want to say, and must say, is that although this is a simulated game, I hope people won’t see it as just a game, but rather as another chapter of their lives. After all, isn’t life itself a game full of twists and turns? But the difference is, life has no save points, and there’s no chance to start over. Life can be a game, but… never try to play with your life. Remember the name of this 『game』—Destiny!”

The atmosphere in the press conference hall suddenly became eerily quiet. Pross’s sudden seriousness, the solemnity in his voice, and the faint warning undertone made everyone silently contemplate every word he said. Yet, no one truly understood the deeper meaning behind his words… at least not at this moment.

“Hello, Mr. Pross. Recently, players around the world have been discussing and speculating about the core AI of Destiny. Could you perhaps reveal something about it?”

Pross shook his head and apologetically said, “I’m sorry, that’s a secret that can’t be disclosed. However…” he added with a mysterious smile, “I can tell you this: the core AI of Destiny is not on Earth. Does that answer satisfy everyone?”

Not on Earth… could it be on an alien planet? Pross’s words immediately sparked global debate.

“Mr. Pross, fairness in games has always been one of the biggest concerns for players. Can you tell us if the world of Destiny has achieved perfect fairness?” A male reporter stood up and asked.

In any game’s pre-launch press conference, fairness is always a must-ask question. Throughout the hundred-year history of virtual gaming, the question and its answer had always followed the same predictable script. Without exception, every developer would guarantee the fairness of their game. Yet, Pross remained silent for a long time in response to the reporter’s question before slowly uttering a sentence that left everyone speechless: “There has never been true fairness in this world.”

“This…” The male reporter, caught off guard by the unexpected answer, hesitated for a moment.

“Heaven treats everyone equally? In my opinion, that’s the most absurd and laughable misconception. Many might scoff at what I’m about to say, but allow me to remind you of a few basic facts. A child born in the countryside can work hard their entire life, just to live a life akin to that of a city dweller, while another child is born in the city, with a starting point that others strive a lifetime to reach. Is that fair? Some people are born with disabilities, while others are born with perfect bodies and looks. Two people with the same starting point—one works hard for decades to finally secure a stable home, while the other wins the lottery without lifting a finger and lives a life of luxury. Is that fair? True fairness has never existed in this world. It doesn’t exist in the real world, and it won’t exist in the world of Destiny. What I can guarantee is that every player will have an equal starting point—everyone will get the same number of free attribute points, the same fixed attributes, and the freedom to choose their own profession… But after that, what fate each player will experience… who knows?”

Silence. A long, enduring silence. And then, thunderous applause. Pross had taken a step back to push forward. His explanation of an equal starting point was more convincing and persuasive than any of the past guarantees, and it resonated with countless people… Yes, true fairness had never existed in this world.

“Mr. Pross, with the world’s governments and the top ten banks fully supporting Destiny, does that mean the past issues of uncontrolled fluctuations between in-game currency and real-world money won’t happen again?” Another reporter asked. The phrase 『full support』 carried immense weight. Though it differed by only one word from 『strong support』, it signified two completely different concepts.

“Heh, this is exactly what I wanted to address in particular. Alpha and I spent a long time conducting precise calculations on the issue of currency exchange. The acquisition and expenditure of Destiny’s in-game currency have been rigorously designed based on the results of these calculations. I believe the exchange with real-world money will not disappoint anyone. I can assure you of this here and now. Additionally, once currency exchange is enabled, the fairness of the game will take a significant hit. Players with wealthy backgrounds will have far more advantages than the average player. Therefore, to prolong this period of relative fairness, the currency exchange will not be opened immediately. As for how long it will be delayed, that decision has yet to be made.”

“With Mr. Pross’s personal guarantee, I’m sure all the players will feel reassured…”

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Ye Tianxie sat still, like a carved statue, as he watched the entire press conference unfold. By the time it ended, the clock had already struck noon. He turned off the TV and lay back on the sofa, his fingers pressing on the game wristband… Instantly, the world before him turned blank, then transitioned into the colourful, vibrant game world he had seen earlier.

【Ding… Welcome to the world of Destiny. Your character has been created. The game will begin in 43 seconds. Please wait…】

This voice was different from the one Ye Tianxie had heard before. Clearly, with such a massive number of players, the system had assigned a vast number of NPCs to greet them. The chance of encountering the same one twice was extremely low.

【…30 seconds remaining. Please wait…】

【…20 seconds remaining. Please wait…】

【…10, 9, 8… 3, 2, 1… Welcome to the world of Destiny. You have been assigned to Newbie Village #60001. Enjoy your game.】