"Miss Yvette invited me to attend a seminar?"
Lorne looked at the letter the postman had just delivered in disbelief. He read the small piece of paper over and over, wondering if he was hallucinating from excessive overtime—perhaps it was a premonition of sudden death.
"What's wrong, Lord Lorne?" Selena walked into the office carrying a stack of documents, observing his expression with hesitation.
"Norelia University has actually established a 'Magic Game Research Society'..." Lorne handed the invitation to Selena. "What is there to research about such a thing?!"
Selena, however, didn't find it strange at all. "Magic Games are such a great invention; it's only natural for humans to worship them, isn't it?"
No, it's not natural at all!
Lorne had seen literary research societies, film societies—fine, he could even count anime societies. But a gaming research society... even He himself felt the stuff he made didn't warrant academic study.
Honestly, this is just a group of bored college students forming an organization so they can play games openly, isn't it? Students, wouldn't it be better to spend your precious time studying?
"If you don't want to attend, I'll go decline it for you."
Selena was about to leave when she heard Lorraine shout, "Wait!"
"My Lord?"
"On second thought, there's no harm in attending..."
Lorne turned around to face the office wall. Tacked there was a massive world map he had bought from a bookstore just yesterday, claimed to be the clearest and most detailed version currently in print.
In one corner of the map, Lorne had pinned a red thumbtack—that was the location of Norelia.
The "City of Academics," Norelia, had a resounding reputation, but on the map, it was merely a border city. There were more and larger cities in this world—for instance, the capital of the Coastal Kingdom. In this era, its permanent population already exceeded two million, and it was the residence of the wealthiest and most influential people in the country.
Lorne had long intended to promote Magic Games to the capital. Imagine how the tycoons there would throw money at this novel invention!
But he knew it wouldn't be as simple as opening a shop in Norelia. The capital was the territory of the old nobility; doing business there required "greasing the wheels" at every level.
Moreover, one couldn't forget that the headquarters of the global toy giant, "Toy Joy," was also in the capital. Through the connections of Chris's father, Mr. Wyne, Toy Joy was already aware of the existence of Magic Games.
If Lorne wanted to expand into the capital, he would first face the challenge of Toy Joy. Without the protection of a "big figure," he wouldn't be able to move an inch.
And finding an "ally" in the capital wasn't actually that difficult. The granddaughter of the Coastal Kingdom's Grand Marshal, a direct heir to a military dynasty—wasn't she a loyal fan of Magic Games?
"Selena, send a reply to Miss Yvette. Say," Lorne picked up a bright blue thumbtack from his drawer, "that I would be delighted to attend their meeting and am honored to exchange insights with such discerning and studious young people."
With that, he pressed the thumbtack firmly into the center of the map—Royal City, the capital of the Coastal Kingdom.
"Fellow enthusiasts, please welcome with warm applause the inventor of Magic Games—Mr. Lorne Dungeon!"
The hall erupted in deafening applause, nearly lifting the ceiling. Someone had even brought a camera; the flash of the old-fashioned magnesium bulb nearly blinded Lorraine.
He waved to the crowd with a stiff smile and stepped onto the podium.
The Magic Game Research Society had secured the university's academic lecture hall. The hall, which seated two hundred, was packed to capacity, with people even sitting in the aisles.
Aside from society members, many regular students had flocked to the event, and there were even guests from outside the campus. Lorne sharply spotted the figure of Miss Grace, the editor and reporter from The Herald, among the audience.
Yvette presided over the meeting. She gestured for the audience to quiet down, and the tidal wave of applause finally subsided, albeit reluctantly.
"Mr. Lorne, everyone here is a loyal fan of Magic Games. Please, say a few words to the group!"
Since he was giving a speech, he naturally had to be prepared. Lorraine took out his Magic Slate and tapped it lightly. A beam of light shot out from the slate, hitting the front of the hall. Lorraine's meticulously crafted PPT appeared on the white screen.
Gasps of awe immediately filled the hall. Many teachers at Norelia University used slides for teaching, but they were limited to simple text and images. How could they compare to Lorraine's PPT—so beautiful, so clear?
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished Professor, and students, good morning. I, Lorne Dungeon, am honored to be invited by the Magic Game Research Society to participate in this seminar. First, I want to thank everyone for your enthusiasm for Magic Games and your love for our company. I also thank the colleagues of the Magic Game Research Society for their tireless organization and support.
"Miss Yvette asked me to speak about the mental journey of creating Magic Games. It's a long story, but I think it boils down to one word: 'Passion.'
"Passion, as the name implies, means fervently loving something. Only with passion can one have the patience to 'grind a sword for ten years'—or even twenty years for two swords. Only with passion can one have the persistence of 'one minute on stage, sixty seconds off stage.' Without passion, whatever you make will only remain an empty shell. Only with passion can the things you create possess substantial inner meaning.
"Students, you have not yet entered society, so perhaps you don't have much realization or experience regarding this issue. Once you enter society, you will find that after entering society, you will have many realizations and experiences.
"The topic of passion, if we're talking about it, isn't long if it's long, and it isn't short if it's short. In short, only by being passionate about your work can you do a job well. Not just work—in studies and in life, there must be passion everywhere. That way, you can do well in your work, studies, and life. Thank you everyone!"
The students: "...?"
Why does it feel like he said a whole lot of words, but also said nothing at all?
A few people clapped hesitatingly. Others, wanting to show they fully understood the profound meaning in Lorne's words, followed suit. Seconds later, another wave of applause hit. Everyone clapped as hard as they could, as if the louder they clapped, the more they proved their deep understanding and passion for Magic Games.
Lorne nodded in satisfaction. It seemed his "Nonsense Literature" skills, honed to the maximum level under his former leaders, had not rusted. Back in the day, he had relied on this very skill to fudge his annual reports.
It took Yvette quite some effort to quiet the applause again.
"Now, it's time for the Q&A session. Let us leave the choice to Mr.Dungeon..."
Before she finished, a forest of raised arms sprouted in the lecture hall.
Lorne pointed randomly. "The student with the glasses."
The boy who was picked stood up overjoyed, his expression as if he were being received by the Queen.
"I... I would like to ask Mr. Lor... Lorne..." he stammered excitedly. "Is there a connection between the backgrounds of the games under Dungeon Entertainment?"
Lorne raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?" he asked back.
The boy took a deep breath. "I suspect that Five-Colored Stone Match-3 and Hero Legend 2 exist within the same worldview. According to the game text of Hero Legend 2, the universe it's in is composed of many, many 'worlds,' such as the Frost World and the Archipelago World. The player's main quest is to find the Eastern World and drive out the evil entrenched there. And this Eastern World, I believe, is precisely the world of Five-Colored Stone Match-3. I want to ask if you intend to build a unique universe where various stories take place but share the same background and intersect with each other..."
The words poured out like a flood. After finishing, the boy cast a gaze at Lorne that was both expectant and apprehensive, like a child waiting for their grades in a teacher's office.
Lorne scratched his head. This question was quite unexpected. He had thought these students would be interested in behind-the-scenes secrets of game development.
"Your suspicion is correct. The backgrounds of the various games are indeed related," Lorne answered. "As for the specifics of that connection, to prevent spoilers, I cannot reveal too much for now."
The boy sat down, both happy and a bit unsatisfied. Lorraine then pointed to a girl.
"Hello, I am a sophomore in the History Department," the girl said politely. "I have an unrefined theory about Hero Legend 2 and would like your guidance. I wonder if you have heard of the term 'Romanced History'? Simply put, it's when writers create fictional stories based on real history using historical figures as protagonists. The outline follows history, but the details vary significantly. In short, Romanced History is a literary work and differs from actual history."
Lorraine nodded as he listened. This is probably like the relationship between 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' and the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms,' right?
The girl continued, "If we view the background of Hero Legend 2 as history occurring on some distant planet, then is the game plot the players experience a form of Romanced History?"
"Could you be more specific?"
"The game plot is different from the true history. What the players experience is just a 'romanced' version, while you have left clues of the true history in the text that only careful players can find. For example, in the game, you can pull the hero Achilles. He is a Greek warrior who accompanies the player until the end of the Trojan War. But the item description for Achilles' exclusive treasure, the 'Golden Armor,' says this—"
The girl took out her Magic Slate and read aloud: "'Armor of gold, yet also armor of blood. Achilles was provoked by Agamemnon and refused to fight, so his close friend Patroclus put on this armor, disguised himself as Achilles, and went to battle, ultimately losing his life. Achilles was heartbroken by his friend's death, little knowing they would soon meet again. The hero's weakness lies in the heel.' I think this hints that Achilles eventually died in battle, right? This contradicts the game plot but is the true history."
Lorne felt a sudden surge of respect. Those item descriptions were just things he had added on a whim; he hadn't expected these players to take them so seriously, even unraveling the true story of Troy piece by piece.
Are they trying to turn themselves into 'Hero-ologists'?!
"That was an 'Easter Egg' I buried," Lorne could only say.
"Easter Egg?" the girl asked, tilting her head.
"It's just some interesting small details waiting for players to discover."
Lorne naturally couldn't reveal all the eggs here. A good "Dev" should also be an excellent "Riddler." He had to make players actively lose sleep and discuss fervently to find information in the game, but at the same time, he couldn't hide the information too deep, lest the players miss it entirely.
Otherwise, how would the game maintain its popularity!
The girl followed up, "Then how do we know if what we found is indeed an Easter Egg?"
Lorraine thought for a moment and said, "When the time is right, our company will publish a 'Formula Book,' which will contain a detailed timeline and character biographies. Everything you want to know will be in it."
Someone shouted impatiently, "How can we buy it?"
"Can't you tell us now?"
"Can we pre-order the Formula Book? Will it be a limited release? Will it be restricted like the Magic Slates?"
Excellent, new merchandise decided just like that, Lorraine thought. I'll add some 'King's Power' to the book later—like a free SSR with every purchase—selling tens of thousands of copies shouldn't be a problem!
He dared to bet Wolf's tail that after the audience went home tonight, they would look for Easter Eggs in the game like crazy, competing to see who could find the most correct ones before the book's release.
He picked the next audience member. The atmosphere in the lecture hall became increasingly heated; students vied to raise their hands, hoping to catch Lorraine's attention.
But Lorne wasn't noticing the waving arms. He was watching a man in the very back row of the hall.
He wore a scarf that covered half his face and had remained seated and still from beginning to end—neither clapping nor raising his hand, looking as if he had been dragged there reluctantly just to fill a seat.
When those around him began passionately discussing game Easter Eggs, the man put on his hat and quietly left the hall.
Lorne stared at his departing figure. He had a premonition that he would be meeting this man again very soon.
The seminar concluded successfully in a "serious yet lively" atmosphere. The attendees were still lingering, buzzing around Lorraine incessantly.
Being a "Dev," this was the first time Lorne had ever received idol-like treatment in his life, and he wasn't quite used to it.
After finally escaping the crowd asking for autographs, Lorraine retreated to the back of the lecture hall under Yvette's cover. Only then did he have a chance to speak with her privately.
"Why didn't young Master Chris attend the discussion?" Lorne asked, pretending it was a casual inquiry.
"His father won't allow him to be associated with Magic Games," Yvette sighed. "His father installed anti-magic metal fences at his house and even froze his accounts at Gulf Bank. He can't even top up his credits now."
Lorne joined her in condemning Chris's father's "tyranny" for a while and chatted a bit about Yvette's experiences in the capital during winter break. Then, he put on a troubled look.
"Miss Yvette, I have a request. Actually, I've been planning to expand Magic Games across the entire country. Think about it, Miss—no matter which city you are in, you could enjoy the fun of the game anytime, anywhere. The first stop would naturally be Royal City, the capital of our Coastal Kingdom. But as you know, it's incredibly difficult for a young merchant like me with no foundation to start a business in the capital..."
He paused meaningfully.
Yvette immediately understood his point. "I've heard that merchants without a background are easily marginalized in the capital," she said.
"Marginalized" was an understatement. Many outside merchants had been hounded into bankruptcy by local chambers of commerce or competitors, or suffered undeserved calamities because they offended the nobility.
She really, really hoped she could play Magic Games at her home in Royal City!
During the time she returned home for winter break, she had truly experienced what it meant for "days to feel like years." Her social circle consisted of soldiers with muscles for brains, hypocritical nobles, and socialites obsessed with prying into whether she had met an excellent future husband at university.
To escape the boring socializing, she had to hide in her room and play games.
But she could only play Hero Legend 1 offline, watching the plot she had already seen countless times. She couldn't challenge higher scores in Five-Colored Stone Match-3, nor could she chat with friends or exchange news.
With each passing day, her longing to return to school increased. This was likely the first time in her life she couldn't wait to go to school.
Mr. Dungeon should have expanded his business to the capital ages ago! Then she wouldn't have had to suffer like that during the New Year!
"I really hope to help you, Mr. Lorne. But my family has been soldiers for generations, and we don't know much about business. How about this: my grandfather knows a friend who 'knows a bit about business'; perhaps he can help you. I'll send a telegram to my grandfather right away and ask him to write a letter of introduction for you."
"I truly don't know how to thank you, Miss Yvette."
"Just make sure you take some time to attend our seminars in the future."
Lorne took Yvette's hand and gave it a kiss according to gentlemanly etiquette. Yvette giggled with delight. When Lorne promised to gift her a copy of the Formula Book once it was published, she laughed so hard the entire hall seemed to vibrate, her face full of the joy of "getting something for free."
The efficiency of Yvette's family was astonishing. A few days later, Lorne received an express delivery from Royal City. Inside was a gold-stamped envelope with a wax seal bearing the Marshal's signet, addressed to one of the Marshal's "friends who knows a bit about business."
With this letter, Lorne could finally make his big move. Opening a branch in the capital was a major undertaking; he wanted to handle it personally, delegating the operations of the Norelia headquarters to Selena and Silas.
Lorne had already written the event plans for the next few months. As long as the project management proceeded in an orderly fashion, there shouldn't be any issues.
And even if an issue arose, it wouldn't matter—at worst, he'd just send Mana Crystals to all players as compensation.
Lorne called for Selena.
"Selena, I'm going on a long journey." Lorne sat in his large armchair, fingers interlaced and resting on his lap. "Norelia will be under your management for the time being. If there are problems, you can contact me remotely via a crystal ball."
The core of a dungeon can be split. The split sub-core and the mother core can establish a magic channel to share magic power.
Lorne's plan was to take the sub-core to Royal City and place it beneath the new branch, so the magic net of the Gloomy Catacomb could cover the entire capital.
Although maintaining the sub-core and the magic channel would consume a large amount of magic power, it would also absorb the emotions of the players in Royal City and convert them into new magic power, forming a positive cycle.
Selena looked flattered. "Do you mean you want to appoint me as one of the 'Four Heavenly Kings'?"
"What are 'Four Heavenly Kings' now?!"
"Monsters that act as proxies for the Demon King to guard the dungeon," Selena said as if it were obvious. "The term has been passed down since the Era of Heroes. Have you heard of the 'Netherworld Castle'? That was also a dungeon, very famous in the Era of Heroes. The Demon King of the Netherworld Castle built four branch castles and sent four trusted generals to guard them. Only by defeating these four could the gates of the Netherworld Castle be opened. Their title was the 'Four Heavenly Kings.' If the Demon King went to inspect a branch castle, he would have one monster guard the Netherworld Castle in his stead. That monster was also one of the 'Four Heavenly Kings,' so everyone says there are actually five of the Four Heavenly Kings. The title has been passed down ever since."
...What a gamified setting! Is this other world really not some trashy light novel world?
"I prefer the title 'General Manager,'" Lorne said, choosing his words carefully.
"I follow your every decision. I am whatever you call me."
"Your loyalty is touching, so touching it's almost uncomfortable," Lorne said, shifting slightly. "In any case, I hope you can manage the shop, the company, and the dungeon while I'm away. This task is very difficult; are you up to it?"
Selena trembled with excitement. What an honor! If her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother knew, they'd definitely crawl out of their graves and dance for joy!
"I will not fail you, Lord Lorne!" she said. "When do you depart?"
"Tomorrow," Lorne said.
"Will you teleport directly to the capital? Or ride a flying monster? Given your status, only a dragon is fit to be your mount, but we don't have a dragon in our dungeon... do you think a broom will work?"
At the thought of riding on a thin wooden stick, Lorraine's groin immediately felt sore.
"No, I'm taking the train."
"Why?! Those things are slow and unsafe; I don't trust things humans invented! What if there's an accident?" Selena grumbled dissatisfied. "You should just use a teleportation spell. Although it takes a lot of magic from Norelia to the capital, it's safer! Your precious life cannot have any mishaps!"
"Teleportation spells can only take me to places I've been," Lorne reminded her. "And think about it, Selena: if I leave Sunset Boulevard with bags and luggage, take a carriage through the city to the train station, and buy a ticket to the capital, the whole city will guess my purpose within a day. They won't think I'm just going on a vacation."
"Shouldn't it be kept secret?" Selena asked.
"I want everyone to know." Lorne smiled. "Sometimes, when the prey won't come out of the hole, you need to toss in a dynamite pack."