Chapter 41

Chapter 41: The Second Group

“That’s 6,553,775 players in total. There are so many of them!” the fat player named Sun Zizai uttered this as soon as he read the message.
“Well, that was fast.” Ji Ye gave the man a careful look. He wondered if the guy was some kind of math teacher.
However, the final result did not stop there. Two more “announcements” soon followed:
[After failing their trials, 105,349 players refused to enter the Land of Inheritance again. Penalty: New player quota has decreased by 1,053,490.]
[Warning. Settlements without any players will remain inactive as they are unable to summon any champions.]
As soon as this message feed ended, several people present on that floor yelled at the same time.
“What was that??”
“There’s a penalty! So this leaves us—”
Ji Ye looked at the fat player again, who was making another mental calculation, but with an anxious look this time.
“This… This cannot be!”
It seemed that Sun Zizai no longer had what it took to come out with a result because he was too terrified to calculate it, because the final announcement was really bad news.
Countless people in this world were overeager to become players and go to the Land of Inheritance for various reasons. Sure, they would feel bad if they failed to join the “second group,” which was fine, because the majority of the population was going to be left out. There wasn’t much they could complain about.
However, if they learned about the “penalty,” they might believe that they could have become players but had to forfeit because of it. Naturally, the “failures” in the first group would immediately become the targets of accusation since they were the reason for the decreased number.
Those who had mental conditions might be spared since they didn’t have a choice. But what about “fake patients”?
Ji Ye shook his head and unhanded the fat man. “Well, there’s the ‘proof of illness’ you asked for. Just go out there and somebody will help you get one by bashing your head. Easy.”
Ji Ye didn’t have to worry about being blamed because he had completed all the three “bonuses” that would allow more players to enter the Land of Inheritance. But he had another concern right then, which was the matter regarding the “inactive settlements.” Without players and summoned heroes to protect them, they would simply be stashes of free resources ready to be claimed by alien tribes. After that happened, millions or even more “human NPCs” would either die or be enslaved.
Although, most people around the player base were only concerned about immediate benefit, rather than the wellbeing of something they didn’t even know.
“There’s only a number? They won’t tell us the names of the chosen players and their qualifications?”
“Are new players going to suddenly disappear from this world like last time? Do we have to like, ask for a day off and wait at home?”
“Oh god please bless me and let me in!!”
Working at the player base meant that some people knew more about the Land of Inheritance and were even more jealous of the chosen players. Almost everyone in Ji Ye’s view appeared to be excited.
The smaller voice of a woman was suddenly heard, silencing everyone. “Hey—hey, listen. Actually, they’ve already told us who got picked. It’s in the last message.”
People took a moment to go over those final words, before they started yelling again.
“For real, man??”
“What do you mean ‘the last message’? Is there another one behind the warning? I didn’t hear it!”
“Does it mean I didn’t get chosen? But I worked so damn hard to improve myself these days! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME??”
The ruckus intensified as a few people lost their minds.
After the penalty, the “new player count” should be roughly 5.5 million, which meant 5.5 times the current player count. That was still a small number considering the world population. If new players were distributed evenly location-wise, then there would probably be just two new players in the whole player base.
“Entry will commence 48 hours later. Those who were chosen should use this time to make preparations accordingly,” Shang Yan continued explaining while avoiding people’s gazes.
As an experienced psychiatrist, she should have known this wasn’t the time nor the right place to reveal the “limited message.” But she failed to make the right judgment after being attacked by the fat man and getting startled by the “player ticket” she had just received.
The two security officers, Ling Chen and Yang Lin, didn’t have time to assess the situation as their radios were already lit up.
“An emergency meeting is in order. Mister Ji, I’m afraid I have to leave you. Please head back to your room on your own,” Ling Chen spoke to Ji Ye with an apologetic look.
“Sure, Captain Ling. As you feared, the day is only going to get busier for you.”
Their conversation allowed the fat man to suddenly realize something as he gave Ji Ye a surprised look. “You… you were in the first group too?? Man, so that’s why you were so good…”
Yang City’s confederation office was busy passing down two emergency orders. The first order was meant to urge players who had failed to enter any settlement to give it a try within the next 48 hours, so they might see whether they could still repair the damage. Every new player counted toward their overall strength after all.
The second task was of course, to find out the names of the newly-selected players and where they lived in Yang City.
Similarly, all cities and regions around the globe were on the move.
Those who would get to experience all the amazing adventures in the Land of Inheritance were either celebrating their great fortune or fearing all the dangers they had heard from the forum. Either way, none of them would have any sleep in the next two days, that was for sure.
Nevertheless, all of this was inconsequential for Ji Ye, who returned to his room and immediately entered the Land of Inheritance again. The Twin Dragon Mount settlement needed him, especially when there were enemies about.