Chapter 51: Galantis's Dilemma

During the era of DNF in its 85th update, it could be said that this period marked the game's final glorious days. For the first time, a 20-person raid was introduced, along with new epic gear and the archaic set, breathing new life into a game that many had long predicted would fade away.

At the same time, discussions about horse racing events never ceased across major online forums, message boards, and gaming groups. Some players struck it rich overnight, but many more lost all the gold they had painstakingly earned from grinding. Meanwhile, a growing number of popular gaming streamers began logging in, poring over the event details provided by Xie Jing, searching for any winning edge.

Among these streamers, Jiuri Bebe and the Big Lump were the most well-known, and the first to engage with this event.

“Damn, you monkey, yes! That’s right! Absolutely right!” The final showdown was about to begin. The champion would soon be decided between Richard, chosen by the Great Monkey, and the other victorious knight, Edward. Jiuri Bebe’s eyes crinkled into slits as he grinned, picking up the Ancient Essence Codex at his side and closing his eyes like some mystic, muttering incantations.

[That’s the spirit!]
[Come on, Brother Bei, I bet thirty million on Richard following your lead. If we win, it’s off to the club with models; if we lose, I’ll be hauling bricks on the docks!]
[The power of the Ancient Era! Wishing for clear springs and ringing waters!]
[+V for videos: 1234567890 sends two rockets]
[Damn, even buying videos these days is hard! Got to invest first!]
[666...]
...

Xie Jing watched the final round with bored indifference. Honestly, the investments on both sides were nearly equal, making the choice all the more difficult for him.

“Ah—” He yawned, stretching both arms, intending to leave it to chance with a quick game of rock-paper-scissors.
“Rock, paper, scissors! Oh, it’s you!”
He casually selected Edward, then slumped over his desk and paid no further attention.

Meanwhile, Jiuri Bebe’s streaming room was in an uproar.

[Ah, lost, but I’m oddly satisfied!]
[Why didn’t the Ancient Essence Codex work this time, Brother Bei? Did you use up all your magic lately?]
[Ever since Han Xixi came around, the Ancient Essence Codex was bound to be abandoned. Pictures can’t compare to the real thing!]
[Hey, watch your mouth up there!]
[My thirty million... gone, just like that...]

Jiuri Bebe furtively opened his eyes, saw that Richard was not the champion, leapt to his feet, glanced at Big Lump beside him, and slipped out the door without a trace.

To follow in his master’s footsteps, Big Lump had bet a full sixty million on Richard. He was absolutely stunned. In a single morning, over a hundred million was lost in a haze. Coming to his senses and spotting Jiuri Bebe making his escape, he snatched up his slippers and gave chase.

All at once, the stream was a riot of entertainment. Both Jiuri Bebe and the barrage of comments radiated a lively, joyous energy.

...

Xie Jing had grown numb to his earnings. Another ten billion gold coins had come in from this round, as if he were picking up loose change. He was already weary of sitting here, especially with Glandis and Sharan, the two young ladies, curiously watching him for over an hour.

[Host may now control the event remotely; automation is available for the activity process.]

“Wow, really?!” Xie Jing beamed with delight. His system was usually silent, but these little auxiliary features were far more user-friendly than those in most novels.

“Enable automation!”

He tapped the screen, trusting the system to handle things on its own. After a few rounds, Xie Jing realized that as long as he managed it well, there was no way not to profit.

Thus, all the players present witnessed a startling scene. The horse race event NPC stepped away from his desk and actually walked over to Glandis.

“What the—what’s up with this NPC? He can move around freely?”
“Could this be some kind of AR developed by the big tech company? This is insane!”
“Wait, is he touching Glandis’s face?”
“Hey, you scoundrel, get your hands off my wife! Let me at her!”
“Is this company trying to create a perverted old man AI or something?”
...

This spectacle, broadcast through countless streams, quickly rocketed to the top of the trending searches on forums, Weibo, and even Zhihu, witnessed by thousands of players.

Yet, Xie Jing and Glandis themselves were entirely oblivious to it all.

Glandis was a female holy warrior, bearing a massive silver cross on her back, with short golden hair and a spirited, youthful face. Her left hand was clad in golden plate, while her attire was a lightweight leather armor revealing a deep, alluring curve.

As Xie Jing approached, this seemingly brave priestess appeared almost timid.

Suddenly, Xie Jing remembered something useful.

“System, can I film videos and upload them to the platform? Does that count for increasing my followers?”

[Plan is feasible. Would you like to enable the camera?]

“Enable it!”

[Camera enabled, positioned five centimeters above your head.]

Above his head? He looked up but saw nothing. Never mind, if the system said it’s there, it must be. Xie Jing ignored the camera and turned to Glandis.

“Do you need something? Why have you been staring at me?”

“N-no...” Glandis stammered, unable to get the words out. This priestess, capable of smashing demons with a cross, was now blushing scarlet.

“Are you... are you from another world?”

“Me?” Xie Jing shook his head. “I’m a local, born and bred.”

“Oh...” Glandis looked deeply disappointed, her fair face showing a trace of exhaustion.

Xie Jing had played the game, though he was mostly focused on grinding. He only knew the basics of DNF’s lore and wasn’t particularly familiar with the NPCs’ backstories. But Glandis’s story, he did know a bit about.

Her brother, too, was a priest. He disappeared when Glandis was a child, and for years, she had longed to find him. But with her duties teaching young priests, she never had the time to search.

Her brother, attacked by enemies, fell victim to the Blood Curse and became a Pretender. Yet, through sheer will, he overcame the curse, transforming into an Avenger, able to punish demons with their own powers.

As an Avenger, he roamed the continent, seeking those who had attacked him, but never wished his sister to see his demonic form. Thus, Glandis never learned if her brother was alive or dead.

In the game, every player who approached Glandis would hear her soft lament:
“Brother Nilbas, I must find you!”

A sister obsessed with finding her brother.

If you wondered why Glandis looked so worn—it was simply because she had no news of Nilbas.

“Are you hoping to ask about your brother, Nilbas?” Xie Jing asked.

Glandis’s head snapped up, eyes wide in disbelief. Tears welled up instantly, spilling down her cheeks as she stood, trembling, and asked, “You know where my brother is?”

Gently, Xie Jing wiped away her tears, feeling the smoothness of her skin. “Your brother, Mr. Nilbas—he’s still alive.”