Chapter 1908: The Inside Story of the Engagement
"Isn't this the biggest news from Platinum Eye recently?" Xu Huo glanced at him. "What's there to say about it?"
Xin Rong still had that exaggerated expression. "When the engagement news first came out, we thought they were about to slap on that damn plaster from the Lang family. Never expected such a twist."
Xu Huo waved over a few fruit platters, casually handed one to him, and continued walking. "Probably the terms weren't agreed upon."
But Xin Rong raised a finger and shook it mysteriously. "Things aren't that simple."
"What's wrong with a strong alliance? If the terms aren't right, everyone sits down and negotiates again. It's just a matter of who takes a little more and who takes a little less."
"To tear things apart like this all at once—all that preparation and buildup beforehand goes to waste, doesn't it?"
"Besides, even though it was Miss Peipei who was engaged, if the conditions were right, switching to Miss Coco wouldn't have been impossible. After all, Miss Peipei is still young. For a tighter collaboration, having the adult Miss Coco fulfill the engagement would have been more logical."
Xu Huo understood. "You mean they never intended to honor the engagement from the start?"
Xin Rong snapped his fingers. "Exactly!"
"After the engagement fell apart, I gradually picked up some news and realized things weren't that simple."
Saying this, he placed several anti-eavesdropping items around them and modified his appearance with a device before continuing. "Do you know what the latest weapon Platinum Eye is developing now?"
"A new energy weapon using special ores as a power source?" Xu Huo said.
Xin Rong nodded. "You know regular thermal weapons can't be stored in the luggage compartment. That's both to ensure the game experience and to reduce unnecessary trouble. After all, if weapons could travel back and forth on the trains, the game world would be a lot more chaotic."
"But new energy weapons can be stored in the luggage compartment. You've seen the power of the new energy cannon. Recently, they've been developing a full range of them—whatever effect you want, they've got it. The more they produce, the more they sell. Eventually, the game will ban this type of weapon from the luggage compartment."
Xu Huo paused in eating his fruit. That made sense. The purpose of banning thermal weapons from the luggage compartment was to limit large-scale warfare. Players relying on one or a few individuals had limited combat power. Even Carmen Field and several super players' impulsive defensive battles only ended with the loss of a game district—nothing more than a scratch to the vast game world.
Moreover, for the game, players holding items could be defended against by closing their personal panels, instantly cutting off their arms. But weapons in hand could be used even by ordinary people.
"So the engagement between the two cities was about developing new weapons?" he asked.
Xin Rong gave him a "you guessed it" expression. "By the time new energy weapons are banned, it'll be too late to develop new ones. Platinum Eye certainly can't afford to fall behind others."
"Rumor has it that at other wormhole points, someone has invented a low-energy consumption energy conversion system. With a specially crafted system chip, even ordinary ores can achieve unprecedented power."
"Using this chip requires developing new supporting equipment. This will be a major revolution in the weapons industry."
"Setting everything else aside, just the low-energy, high-output aspect alone is enough to tempt many. And I hear the supporting equipment used by the person who developed the conversion chip is very 'crude.'"
"Do you know what 'crude' means?"
"It means the weapon itself is easy to obtain, and the game might not be able to ban it." Xu Huo immediately understood.
All thermal weapons in the game world showcased advanced technology—the more powerful, the more so. That made them easy for the game to filter out. But if the materials composing the weapon were simple, the game couldn't expand its filtering scope because they might resemble many everyday items stored in the luggage compartment.
"That's it!" Xin Rong's voice was barely restrained with excitement. "It's not just Platinum Eye and the Lang family looking for this chip—many people from other wormhole points are searching too!"
"And here's the coincidence: both Platinum Eye and the Lang family suspect the other has obtained this chip."
"So this engagement wasn't for negotiation or profit exchange at all—it was to swallow the other side whole!"
Xu Huo was somewhat surprised. "That was Platinum Eye's plan?"
Xin Rong cleared his throat. "These are just rumors, but I think that's the truth. Think about it—no one who gets the chip is going to give it away for free. Technology equals life. What good are money and resources? Besides, whether it's us or the Lang family, neither would be willing to cut off a limb for the chip."
"I bet the Lang family thought the same way, which is why they went along with the engagement."
"So how did it end up falling through?" Xu Huo asked. If it had been a city-destroying war, Platinum Eye wouldn't be this calm now.
"I'm not too clear on the specifics..." Xin Rong said regretfully. "You have a good relationship with Miss Coco. I was hoping you might know something."
"You overestimate me." Xu Huo smiled. "Even friends don't spill all their secrets."
Xin Rong laughed and patted his shoulder. "I've always said you're too modest. Miss Coco doesn't lend out her Platinum Badge lightly."
Xu Huo didn't explain further and casually changed the subject. "Did Platinum Eye suffer heavy losses?"
"Probably not crippling." Xin Rong said. "Otherwise, the city would have activated emergency mode by now."
"But I'm really curious about what kind of chip it is. If it's really that useful, the game world might see some big changes."
"If such a chip really exists, shouldn't it end up in the hands of the Game Government?" Xu Huo countered.
"That makes sense too." Xin Rong didn't find this unreasonable at all. Seeing a floating rubber doll ahead, he quickened his pace, scooped up Xiao Yuan, and placed him on it. "Uncle will teach you how to play."
The rubber doll floated and could carry lighter people. Xiao Yuan was initially flustered but, after getting used to it, even asked Tan Qi to sit with him.
Xin Rong cooperatively pulled over another doll and placed Tan Qi on it as well.
After they had run and jumped for a while, Xin Rong turned back to Xu Huo and said, "You can contact Miss Coco directly. If the city government has any new business outsourcing, make sure to remember me."
Xu Huo found it amusing. "Alright, I'll remember."
Xin Rong was a local and knew the best places to have fun. After finishing their shopping, the group changed course to the Sky Amusement Park, planning to use the Platinum Badge Xu Huo had to cut in line for the hidden attractions.
"What hidden attraction needs line-cutting..." Xu Huo sat on a wide platform wrapped in a transparent film. Before he could finish speaking, a gentle force sent him soaring into the sky. The protective layer, made of special materials, gave a lightness like floating in midair, as if sitting in a bubble, effortlessly ascending higher.
"Look at the sky castle!" Xin Rong pointed upward.