Players Invade Cyberpunk-Chapter 720 - 232: Taiping Continent Handover Ceremony
The cyberspace today seems much colder than usual. Usually, players would rush into the old web to perish as soon as the revival time arrives, but now, they are nowhere to be seen. The vast square is only occupied by a few fixed programs modified by players, and other than that, it's deserted, with only Song Zhaomei standing here alone.
The unexpected coldness makes her feel somewhat lonely, even though 'cold' is a concept that doesn't exist in cyberspace, yet Song Zhaomei just feels it.
Song Zhaomei knows they're holding some New Year's celebration, but this is a separate local network server room, not connected to Night City's domain network, and all her prosthetic implants are monitored by military technology. If she connects to Night City's domain network now, it will definitely draw their attention, so Song Zhaomei dares not see what those usually cheerful players are up to.
New Year's celebration… must be lively...
Everyone must be happily drinking and having fun together.
But Song Zhaomei can't remember when was the last time she had a meal with friends.
Or rather, she can't remember if she even has anyone she can call 'friend'.
Since her boyfriend died, she betrayed the only friend she had, Li De.
Since that day, she has lived in a cage known as New America, and only when she pleases her master Miles can she earn a moment of peace.
Until Song Zhaomei stumbled into another 'Chaotic Land', although her relationship with Lin Miao was one of mutual exploitation, and the contract was just for survival without much understanding of the person, she felt a sense of 'kindness' from these people. It wasn't a feeling driven by interest but the most sincere emotion between people.
[Friend]
Recalling the actions of these people in the past, Song Zhaomei's heart was slightly moved, and her heart, long replaced by machinery, felt warmth once more.
'Forget it... I'll design some interesting programs for them, make sure these fools die less when they go to the old web next time.'
Thinking so, Song Zhaomei sat cross-legged, pulling up the program panel to start working.
And at this moment, the previously quiet cyberspace suddenly had new signals access.
One?
No
There were many, more and more figures appeared in the square.
"Miss Hacker, we've come to see you meow~"
Jackal had not forgotten that there was still a Miss NPC in the cyberspace who hadn't joined the celebration, even though the identity is very mysterious with no relevant information, not even a name, but labeled [???], yet she helped a lot in the players' conquest of the old web, even guiding quite a few hacker players.
Curious players sought information about this NPC from Lucy, but Lucy maintained maximum respect for this fellow hacker with a similar predicament, disclosing nothing, only briefly mentioning that she had a tragic past.
Even if only to repay her assistance, Jackal and other hackers hadn't forgotten about this person who didn't come to the celebration during such an important festival.
"You all...."
Song Zhaomei covered her mouth, utterly surprised to see Jackal and her companions placing a plate of candies and various dishes in front of her, with Pandora silently handing Song Zhaomei a huge lollipop.
Jackal giggled and said,
"Hey, these are sensory data we cobbled together with Arturo's help. Everyone gets one, and we've tried our best to recreate the flavors of these items. They're dishes we made during the celebration, just unsure if you'll like them."
————
The expenses for this annual event were not insignificant in terms of market value, with just the food and meat alone costing millions of Orokin according to the market price, although these items either came from hydroponic farms or were drawn from a prize pool, making the cost much lower than the budget.
Yet the raw materials for the nutrient solution of hydroponic vegetables are several times higher than those in 2024 due to logistics and chemical companies, and who knows how much meat is stored in the card pools, it might run out one day.
But spending money is about happiness, and as long as the players are happy, that's enough.
And the final vote champion went unsurprisingly to the Super Balloon.
Although the on-site vote rate for Youzi Chef exceeded those of several other programs, not everyone in the city could hear the concert he organized, while the fireworks were visible to the whole city plus two outposts.
As for the grand prize Lin Miao promised, it was to commercialize the image of Super Earth.
After all, we don't have to pay royalties to some group of bastards, right.
This is our original creation!
What opinions can the Truth Department have?
Being able to print our symbol on water is unbelievably gratifying, couldn't be happier.
Thus, [Drink this bottle of water, and become a super-healthy citizen of Super Earth!] along with the saluting photo of Cape Cockroach was printed together on the cheapest pure bottled water.
Of course, players wouldn't receive any royalty fees either, considered Lin Miao's free requisition.
And as the new year passes, it also means the world returns to normal once again; after the revelry ends, workers return to their posts, those who need to work work, and those who need to expand factory expand factory.
Only public opinion continues to be uproarious without pause.
Papers upon papers, channel after channel, radio station after radio station are spreading news about Horizon Corporation's settlement in Taiping Continent, meanwhile, Night City's media guides are unusually bringing Dog Town, Kurt Hansen, and his Netherworld Dog Team into the headlines, something previously avoided.
