《The New Era Project》Chapter 19: Chance Encounter
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Online is a post with a picture of Feng Ye and a corresponding post which details a reward for roughing him up. Unfortunately for the original poster, pretty much most espers ignored him. Espers feel that they are special. They have awakened which allows them to describe themselves as one up above humans. Seeing this post, most espers snort in disdain. Asking an esper to deal with some normal plebeian? They will just laugh and ignore. The only ones who took up the offer were around rank E to rank F who have some ability, but don’t differ quite much from athletic non-espers.
The individual who looked like a young master stares at his phone. Naturally, his father was truly a part of the board of directors. However, he was a distant father and his threat pretty much was just relying on powerful connections. This individual who looked like a young master was named He Yun.
Today’s hot tempered action was because earlier today, he had bumped into some fellow former classmates who also had relations to members of the board of directors. They triggered him which had led him to head towards the gaming cafe to vent his anger into stomping noobs, but the area was full. With nowhere to vent, he decided to first offer a good deal to the nearest individual who occupied a station. This individual happened to be Feng Ye. As a result of “Feng Ye’s” rejection of his offer, the current situation had developed.
As he scrolls through his posting, he notices some comments about a sighting of Feng Ye on the B2 floor. He already posted so he cannot retract his offer. He Yun sighs and smacks himself on the face. He was truly a waste. As he wanders through the busy corridors of the shopping floor, he realized that he was triggered and wasn't rational. His triggered mental state had clouded his judgement. Such an unnecessary overreaction.
He sighs. He was no different from the League of Legends players who lose their lane and rage. They then become a buffet dish for the enemy team due to their clouded judgement and impulsiveness. The mental state of a iron elo player. He understood that he almost became the cliche rich young master waste who becomes a stepping stone for the protagonist. As he calms down, he remembers that he also had the experience of a weak one. As a waste, he was despised. Besides his connection to his father, he really didn’t have anything else. In this society where one’s ability affected one’s status, the weak one is neglected.
He continues to scroll through the comments that continue to be posted. Some of the comments request him to modify the offer to challenging Feng Ye to a fight in the combat arena instead as they didn’t want to wait who knows how long until Feng Ye takes a step outside. There seemed to be a lot of support for this request and He Yun agrees, then closes the discussion. He will head down to distribute the cash and then will no longer be involved. After the incident, he’ll apologize and try to make it up to him. Although Feng Ye looked like a weak plebeian, he was also a weak young master. A level 1 crook who met another level 1 should band together. He realized this reality. He Yun wasn’t an idiot he was blinded by anger which caused him to overreact.
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He Yun heads down to the combat arena on floor B2.
Shira, with Feng Ye’s appearance, strolls around curious of this floor. B2 is quite interesting. It was initially a special training area which had intense training rooms like gravity rooms, and stress tests. However, due to popular demand, they have newly opened a combat arena as an expansion to the floor. This area allows for users to resolve disputes, practice combat against each other, and challenging champions for cash prizes. To earn some quick cash, one would register as a participant and will be matched with others who registered. Registration requires a registration fee. If the individual wins a match, they can choose to claim a monetary reward double of the registration fee or continue to challenge. If the individual chooses to continue to challenge, then their monetary reward would double. Every match won doubles the monetary reward. However, it has to be in a streak. As soon as one loss occurs, it’s over. The individual who loses will simply lose their qualifications to continue challenging and forfeit their initial registration fee. Naturally, they can rejoin as long as they pay a new registration fee. For every payout, the arena takes a service fee.
Champions are individuals who have set up large winning streaks with no losses yet. Anyone can challenge a champion but needs to pay three times the standard registration fee. If they win, they will be given a monetary reward ten times the standard registration fee.
Naturally, there is also a large betting area. The names of registered individuals for the challenges or conflicts are shown on screens and users can choose to opt in and bet on a side to win. A small service fee is taken from the complex for these transactions as well.
Shira strolls and takes a look at the two individuals in combat. Behind her a form approaches. Shira doesn’t pay any attention to the form behind her as she feels no malicious intentions. The form behind Shira comments. “You should be careful of the two fellows in the arena.”
Shira hears the man’s words and immediately finds the voice quite familiar. Akimichi? When she turns around, she sees no one behind her. Odd. She suspects if Akimichi was actually present or not. Quite an interesting encounter.
At this time, a group of of individuals walk towards her. It is extremely obvious that these individuals had ill intentions. One of them, “Hey, would you dare to go down and fight it out? It seems that you have annoyed someone who you shouldn’t have annoyed.”
Shira complies, “Okay. However, what do I get if I win?’
“It’s okay if you are afraid to. You shouldn’t have messed wa…. Wait, did you agree unexpectedly?” The entire group is confused for a moment.
Then the group laughs. “Win? You do know that we are rank E and rank F espers right? You winning is pretty much impossible.”
“If I don’t get anything if I win, then not interested. Bye.” Shira turns around about to leave.
“...” The group has a moment of silence. In each of their minds, they collectively are thinking the similar expression. Are you the victim or are we the victim? Unexpectedly, asks for a reward when we are here to beat you down… Each of them felt insulted that this non-esper had acted as though they were nothing to mention before them.
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At this time, He Yun arrives, Shira notices that this is the individual who looks like a young master and she stops her footsteps. He Yun arrives in front of Shira and apologizes. “Sorry, I was hot tempered beforehand. I was in the wrong to demand a position.” He then turns towards the group. “Sorry, there’s no longer a need for the task. Here’s the cash for your time.” He hands the group the cash. The group takes the cash, but aren’t feeling well.
“If you win, you can take this cash. However, if you lose. You will kneel down towards us and shout loudly that you are a level 1 thug paying respects to level 100 mafia boss.”
Shira turns around. “Okay.” The contents of this wager are then registered. It is essentially Shira against each group member 1v1.
He Yun, as he is no longer involved, hears this wager just as he is about to take his leave. “Are you legit? Those are real espers.” He inquiries Shira.
“Yes, what’s wrong. Isn’t this how mafia works?” Shira replies.
“...” He Yun is speechless.
The arranged battle is determined to be in a few hours. Shira heads to a nearby restaurant to enjoy the last hours of Shira Takeover. That’s right, midnight is approaching and Shira’s 24 hours of fun are about to come to an end. Feng Ye will be pleasantly surprised. He Yun also decides to tag along. They both face each other across a table for two at the restaurant.
He Yun looks at “Feng Ye”, “I am really sorry for the inconvenience and issues I caused. I was impulsive and too triggered at the time.”
Shira nods. “Do you frequent that cafe often?”
He Yun replies, “Yea, I do… why?”
Shira continues. “Do you have a diamond ranked account for League of Legends that you can give me? Playing bots is not fun..”
He Yun answers. “Yep, I have an extra one.”
“Okay, give me it and I will forget the incident from before.” Shira nonchalantly replies.
He Yun lets out a sigh of relief and writes down an account number and password on a napkin and hands it over. “Thanks for being so open minded. Here’s the credentials.”
Shira takes a look at the credentials and memorizes it. She then puts it into her pocket. At this time, the clock hits midnight and Shira decides to let Feng Ye regain consciousness.
Shira relieves the Shira Takeover condition as per agreement and Feng Ye immediately is awake. At this time, in Feng Ye’s mind, Feng Ye questions the loli.
“You didn’t screw around too much did you?” Feng Ye inquiries.
“No, just some wandering around and some gaming. Who knew that the game League of Legends was so fun and was available even in this world?!” Shira answers.
Feng Ye was surprised. League of Legends in this world? He might be able to finally achieve challenger.
“Oh, by the way, in a few hours you need to fight some rank E and rank F espers… also the guy sitting across from you….” Shira explains the situation and summarizes the major events that Feng Ye needs to take note of.
“Ah, so, the cliche rich young master unexpectedly admitted mistakes and apologizes. He also paid the price of a diamond league account? Is the script not right?” Feng Ye exclaimed in his mind.
Meanwhile, across from He Yun, Feng Ye appeared as though he is in a daze. “Hey. I am He Yun. What’s your name?”
The question reminded Feng Ye that he was across from the individual who looked like a young master.
“Hi, I’m Feng Ye. Why do you like hanging out in the Internet Gaming cafe often?” Feng Ye replies.
He Yun explains his story to Feng Ye.
Unfortunately, his father doesn’t care about him as soon as he had noticed that He Yun was a waste with essentially zero potential to awaken. His father is pretty much in name only. For He Yun, he had only his father as his mother passed away when he was born. As he was neglected, He Yun was drawn into the gaming community and thus, frequently, found the enjoyable atmosphere within the cafe. His disposition is actually isn’t bad .
“Yea.. about earlier. I was triggered by some former classmates which brought a rather big mood.” He provides some more information on the reason why he overreacted.
“It be like that sometimes…” Feng Ye replies. Feng Ye then smiles bitterly as he remembers that Shira had accepted the challenges of the low ranked espers. A good opportunity though to perhaps get some energy points.
The two order some food and then immerse in the topic of League of Legends. Apparently, He Yun was also a diamond ranked player. They hit it off quite well as though they were friends for many years. Both had completely forgotten that a few hours earlier, one was trying to get the other to be beat black and blue. As Feng Ye didn’t experience it personally, he didn’t really feel anything after Shira told him the situations. As for Shira, she just didn’t care.Perhaps, Feng Ye had found a duo queue partner for League in this world. As the time approaches 2AM, Feng Ye is about to head out to the combat arena. The two exchanged contact information and split ways.
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