Chapter 35
The Cube World’s third update arrived just over ten minutes later. At that time, Jiang Jitang had just returned home and was still showering when his phone lit up.
Minister Jiang sent a message informing him about the Cube World’s third update, which this time involved an unprecedented breadth of personnel.
Combining his wet hair back, Jiang Jitang opened his phone.
The whole world was focused on this event. The number of active users on the Cube World forum reached a new high. They were desperate to know the contents of the third update.
Official and unofficial, organized or lone wolves, even Parsons on the top floor of Jin City’s international hotel was looking at the forum.
In corners unnoticed by ordinary people, changes affecting the future were taking place.
“After the update, the exemption right exchange activity will cease.”
“Simultaneously, 100,000 wealth and power inheritors globally ranked top 100,000, aged between 14 and 48, who have not yet entered the game, have been selected. Also selected are the globally top 100,000 high-charm humans, the globally top 100,000 intelligent humans, the globally top 100,000 high-combat prowess humans, and the globally top 100,000 most vicious and violent individuals.”
“A total of five hundred thousand new players. They will randomly enter the Cube World within the next ten days.”
“If there are deficiencies among these five hundred thousand players, they will be automatically replenished. Meanwhile, the standard for selecting abnormally deceased individuals to enter the game remains unchanged.”
“Lastly, team formation will be restricted.”
“?” The shocked Jiang Jitang turned off the showerhead and wiped his face. He read the newly updated content again.
“Five hundred thousand people who divided up ninety-nine percent of the human world’s assets? Deficiencies automatically replenished?” Even thinking with his knees, he knew this news was absolutely explosive.
More explosive than the Blue Planet being kidnapped.
Because if the Blue Planet were kidnapped, these high-ranking officials and powerful people might still live comfortably, but now they were entering the game.
Wow. Brilliant!
Putting aside personal standpoints, this move directly turned the Cube Game from a niche thing into the absolute center of the world.
Was the Cube World afraid that Blue Star civilization wouldn’t pay enough attention or effort, so it used the most extreme method to get the upper echelons involved?
It even considered the stability of the external world, not selecting the ‘owners’ of wealth and power, but the ‘inheritors’.
These weren’t just simple rich second generations, but included and were not limited to the second and third generations of financial conglomerates, academic cliques, and nobility. Those second and third generations who ranked lower and weren’t selected also faced potential danger.
This move was too clever. It lets the older generation continue maintaining normal social operation outside, while the younger generation strives to survive and clear the game world. Wouldn’t future resources inevitably tilt towards the game?
Moreover, normally, many of the second and third generations who reach the inheritance stage are products of elite education. They have talent, they work hard, and they have sufficient resources. Such a high starting point would be a waste not used to ransom Blue Star.
Hmm, this might even help those families screen for excellent heirs, killing three birds with one stone.
Following the update were detailed explanations about the selected individuals. For example, inheritors of wealth and power involved various aspects: royal families, nobles, consortium tycoons from various countries, and those inheriting political connections, academic circle connections from their elders were all within this scope.
High charm value was similar; high appearance/looks was one aspect, but eloquence, breadth of knowledge, etc., were also reference factors. The legendary beauties and seducers from various circles would all enter; this was a larger, more dangerous stage.
Intelligent humans were a mix of high IQ, high EQ, high knowledge, and high talent – so outstanding they made ordinary people feel despair.
Only the most vicious and violent were straightforward, judged solely by how many people they indirectly or directly killed, and whether it was out of malice.
Those on death row couldn’t make the cut.
Because they killed at most a dozen or two, but capitalists could cause thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of deaths with a single move. War instigators and conspirators were even more impressive; genocide was something they could do.
“So many talented people are coming. Good thing I’m not included… Huh?”
Jiang Jitang paused, remembering something strange: “I remember there was a ‘harassment signal’ once, and the system shut it down. Was that an invitation?”
Ding!
[The tasker’s existence has been hidden. The tasker is a tasker of the Wish Fulfillment General Store; other organizations have no right to snatch.] The speech bubble seemed to say nothing, but revealed everything.
It might not be able to confront head-on, but it could achieve ‘no such person found’.
“So I was selected too.”
No significant wealth or power, not evil to that extent, high combat prowess doesn’t really count either, just empty physical strength, so…
“I have high charm value?”
Jiang Jitang looked skeptical. Was he that good-looking? He didn’t usually see the vegetable vendor uncle giving him a two-cent discount.
Besides the newly selected players, there was also a ‘restrict team formation’ content update later, but few noticed it at the moment.
A very simple sentence: After the update, team formation props will be restricted. Team members cannot exceed three people. The level gap between team members cannot exceed three tiers. Each player’s number of team formations cannot exceed their number of solo runs.
The new rules prevented/blocked the plans of the powerful and wealthy who wanted experts to carry them to victory.
At least, interpreting it literally, new players must tackle their first instance alone. This meant that no matter how much they possessed in the outside world, upon entering the Cube Game, they still faced the possibility of death, and a high possibility at that.
The mortality rate for newcomers had never been low.
But it had little to do with Jiang Jitang. He was a tourist, and he didn’t team up.
Most importantly, he was ‘immortal’; he could afford to be reckless.
The Cube World’s three updates kept major organizations and players worldwide awake all night, and made government officials of various countries work overtime.
Although the descendants of many people weren’t selected, given the new player mortality rate in the Cube World, their descendants could also become ‘reserve replacements’.
Without a doubt, tomorrow would be a ‘brand new’ day.
Jiang Jitang thought he would be one of the insomniacs, but he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow and didn’t wake up until daylight illuminated the windowsill the next day. When he woke up, he was in excellent condition, with a rosy complexion and even fewer coughs.
“Worthy of the effect of three Wishing Stars.” Today, Jiang Jitang felt he could group-heal thirty severely injured patients.
“You can deliver packages even better now.” Golden Eye also said happily.
“…Thank you for considering my corporate drone life so thoughtfully.”
“You’re welcome, hehe.” Golden Eye said shyly.
Jiang Jitang: …
Ding!
[Daily Tasks have been updated. View them?]
“View.”
[Task 1: Please purchase 748 graduation gifts for three teachers. Funds: 360 credit points -> 1800 yuan. Note: Hope the graduating children can step onto life’s stage in their best form. (Difficulty: 
. Countdown: 34:58:23)
Task 2: Please prepare a usable exotic beast hide for a novice gene warrior, for making leather armor. Funds: 300 credit points -> 1500 yuan. Note: The exotic beast hide used for making leather armor must be low-pollution or pollution-free grade, and have at least one square meter of usable area. (Difficulty: . Countdown: 49:17:09)
Task 3: Please fulfill the Young Legion Commander’s dying wish. Funds: 1860 credit points -> 9300 yuan. Note: Before dying, she wants to see the ocean. (Difficulty: . Countdown: 27:53:41) ]
After reading all the tasks, Jiang Jitang sat up directly. He pulled his phone from under the pillow.
“Minister, is it convenient to talk?”
Looking at the third task, it required delivering the person to the seaside within 1.5 hours. If it was nearby, fine, but if it was far… Neither land nor water transport could quickly get someone to the seaside; he could only find a helicopter. And he now had 27 hours of learning time.
“Wait a moment… Go ahead.”
On the other end of the phone, Minister Jiang’s voice carried an indescribable weariness.
Had she not slept all night? With this question, Jiang Jitang asked directly.
“Emergency online meeting yesterday, mainly discussing player registration issues and medical insurance issues for each city.”
“Medical insurance issues?” Jiang Jitang picked his ears. What was he hearing? The expansion just happened yesterday, and today they were already discussing how to implement medical insurance for ordinary players?
“Only by ensuring support can we guarantee players have no worries when clearing instances. Provisions must go before troops.”
And this was just the beginning; many policies beneficial to societal players would follow. It might not be easy for players to accomplish great things, but ruining things was too simple. Appeasing them was the primary task.
As long as players were alive, no matter where they joined, it was beneficial for the overall situation.
Jiang Jitang felt deep respect. He knew he had found the right partner. Ensuring a warrior’s needs during service lets the warrior serve loyalty; ensuring a warrior’s needs during life and after death lets the warrior fight with their life.
“Player healthcare relies heavily on items, but currently, there are too few healers we can contact. Ahem, you…” Jiang Xingzhou seemed hesitant to speak.
“We can discuss it further. Can you arrange a helicopter piloting course for this morning? Urgently needed.”
“Sure, I’ll arrange it for you immediately. We’ll talk about the medical insurance thing later, alright? Don’t worry, you’re considered expert-level, a rare, cutting-edge medical resource. The benefits will be more than sufficient.” They had to be, even if they weren’t initially.
“Deal.” Mutual benefit.
Putting down the phone, Jiang Jitang immediately accepted all three orders.
Minister Jiang was extremely efficient. In less than an hour, she had Jiang Jitang enrolled in a helicopter pilot training camp.
This place didn’t just offer helicopter pilot training; there were also simulator trainings for passenger planes, attack helicopters, etc. If you were a super VIP and wanted to experience space flight, that was also possible.
“Young man, your height is a bit over, but not a major problem.” The veteran instructor taking him through training frowned at his height.
Kids these days had good nutrition, everyone was tall and big. But helicopter cockpits were still old-style, more suitable for guys under 178cm. He needed to bring this up with the higher-ups; should cockpit design consider the average height of this generation’s youth?
“How’s your naked eye vision? Let’s test it.”
Jiang Jitang walked over. Although it wasn’t for a license test, just learning, the conscientious and responsible instructor still took him for an eye test. Well, 20/20 vision in both eyes.
“You definitely don’t have bad habits like scrolling your phone at night and staying up late.” The instructor looked pleased. “Then today we’ll first familiarize ourselves with the helicopter’s operational cockpit. If all goes well, we can try the simulator cockpit today. Don’t worry, it’s similar to driving a car, just need the right mindset.”
Jiang Jitang’s mindset was truly excellent. Moreover, he had strong memory and even stronger hands-on ability. The instructor taught him once, and he remembered everything. Sitting in the simulator cockpit seat, he didn’t make a single mistake even with his eyes closed.
Pre-flight checks, takeoff, speed changes, landing, turns, climbing, descending… Jiang Jitang copied all the instructor’s movements. The whole sequence could be described as smooth and flowing, showing no sign of someone touching a helicopter for the first time.
Stable operation, stable mindset, willing to listen to advice, and able to infer other things from one instance – his performance attracted quite a few people.
“Young man, which school are you from? Planning to get a helicopter license later?”
“First time on the simulator, and no reaction at all? Physique is pretty good.”
“Who referred him? Does he want systematic training? Flying is really fun.”
The instructor’s eyes also lit up. Although he didn’t say it, his eyes were full of the excitement of ‘discovering a good seedling’.
He wished he could pour all his knowledge and experience into the good seedling’s brain, and the more he taught, the more he felt it was a pity, like a pearl cast into darkness: Why didn’t he enter an aerospace-related major?
“Mastering these routine maneuvers isn’t enough. We encounter various emergencies in the air. You need to master the operations to handle these emergencies through training. For example, steep turns, and stalls…”
Jiang Jitang listened very carefully, engraving every word and every movement in his mind. The instructor thought he was just starting and would need to practice for ten days to half a month before getting on a real aircraft. But Jiang Jitang was prepared to simulate a helicopter using the tasker’s cart and then pilot it on-site.
He stayed at the helicopter training camp the entire day, unrelated to the outside world’s turmoil and noise.
—
When the training camp closed at 4:30 PM, he rushed swiftly to an alloy products processing factory in the suburbs. This area was full of such small workshops, mainly doing OEM processing or making knock-offs.
Actually, large factories had higher output and lower costs. But for an order of less than a thousand pieces, he didn’t dare approach a slightly larger factory; he’d be thrown out.
Jiang Jitang selected a small metal processing factory that made fruit knives.
“Two yuan for a folding knife? Don’t be ridiculous. Our factory price is five, six yuan. Two yuan? Two yuan doesn’t even cover the material cost.”
Jiang Jitang, almost sprayed with saliva, remained unperturbed:
“That’s why I’m asking for defective items, right? Besides, these things are taking up inventory space, hard to sell, isn’t the rent also money? You know the economy is slowing down now; being able to move stock is profit. It’s almost closing time, let’s be straightforward. 2.1 yuan, can’t go higher.”
The five, six yuan was just talk. Jiang Jitang knew the cost of modern metal processing. The two Damascus-patterned steel strips from industrial assembly lines he bought before were only a dozen yuan, albeit only fruit knife size.
For this bit of high-carbon steel, it really wasn’t worth five, six yuan. Even with processing fees, it wasn’t worth it.
“You can’t let me make zero profit, right? 2.1 yuan is too little.” The boss’s expression wasn’t good, but he didn’t chase him away.
Hmm, there’s a chance. Jiang Jitang was like a hunter taking aim at prey.
In the end, he managed to persuade the small boss with his silver tongue, acquiring 748 folding knives with minor defects at a cost of 2.1 yuan each, and incidentally bought 748 alloy whistles for 0.1 yuan for three.
The total for both was 1595.8 yuan. The boss took the initiative to round down, charging 1580.
“Boss, may you prosper!” He contentedly placed the two large boxes on the footrest of his electric scooter.
“Thanks for the auspicious words.” The boss, who had been half-dead with anger earlier, became calm and composed after the transaction was completed.
High-carbon steel with a blade length of 12cm, lower end being a sharp pointed blade, suitable for cutting meat and fruit. Part of the spine was serrated, capable of cutting branches and vines, very suitable for those children to carry for gathering, or, as a fallback, for self-defense.
Moreover, it came with a keyring and had various cool-looking coatings.
Even though the flaws were obvious – for example insufficient thickness at 1.5mm, the handle being aluminum alloy frame plus plastic, and they were defective items – but considering it was just over two yuan, what more could you ask for?
“Now there’s 220 yuan left, about 0.3 yuan per person. How to spend it?”
