Pre-season Day
The group, who hadn't left the game pool for a long time, finally returned to the small TV area.
Mu Sicheng screamed the moment he stepped inside. Staring wide-eyed at the central hall, he exclaimed, "What the hell is this?!"
The small TV area—once densely packed with rows of screens—had sunk in at the center, revealing a massive circular pit. Layer upon layer of seats filled the hollow space, forming a viewing arena reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum. From the edge, looking down, it resembled a vast, flat-bottomed pool.
At the center of the arena floated a gigantic screen made by stitching together countless small TVs on both sides. Spectators streamed in continuously, taking their seats and chatting excitedly.
"Oh, right. This is your first time seeing the small TV area during league season, God Mu," Wang Shun said, slapping his forehead. "I forgot to mention that the central hall undergoes major renovations during the league."
He pointed to the massive pit Mu Sicheng was staring at. "Some of the small TV areas are converted into viewing pools. The one you're looking at is the largest—it's reserved for the mid-season tournament. We can't access that one."
"The mid-season matches are broadcast live there."
"Besides that," Wang Shun continued, gesturing around them, "there are many viewing pools of different sizes. Preseason matches are broadcast in those."
Mu Sicheng frowned. "So these pools are like the recommendation spots on small TVs? Some have better placement and higher exposure than others? How do we make sure our match gets into a good pool?"
Wang Shun smiled. "That involves something called the gambling pool."
Mu Sicheng raised an eyebrow. "Gambling pool?"
Wang Shun nodded. "Over the past year, the points the audience accumulated from supporting you will be multiplied fivefold by the system and added as base funds to your [Gambling Pool]. The same applies to your opponents."
"In general, the larger the base funds of both teams, the larger the combined gambling pool. That determines the size of the viewing pool you're assigned, its position, and the exposure you receive."
Mu Sicheng raised his brows. "So if I want our match broadcast in a high-exposure viewing pool and attract more spectators, either we need a high total of charged points—or our opponents do?"
"Exactly," Wang Shun replied with a smile. "But you don't need to worry. Even in the preseason, you're already considered a high-value team. Your viewing pool won't be bad."
"And as the matches progress, spectators will continuously invest points into your [Gambling Pool]. As long as you keep winning, your viewing pool will only improve."
Mu Sicheng crossed his arms, glanced at the largest viewing pool, and snorted. "Our match will definitely be broadcast there eventually!"
"That's assuming you make it to the mid-season tournament," Wang Shun said, pushing Mu Sicheng forward. "Come on. Let's head to the preseason registration point to draw opponents."
As he walked, Wang Shun suddenly looked back. "By the way, Du Sanying is essential for team selection. Where is he?"
Bai Liu stepped aside slightly, revealing Du Sanying trembling behind him, on the verge of tears.
Clutching Bai Liu's clothes, Du Sanying whimpered, "Wuwuwu… where is this place…?"
"It's been a week," Bai Liu said calmly. "He's forgotten everything again."
Wang Shun: "...=="
Let's just ignore that.
After Wang Shun spent nearly half an hour explaining everything to Du Sanying until he was practically hoarse, Du Sanying barely understood where they were and what he was supposed to do.
Bai Liu led him to the preseason registration office.
The area was packed, especially near the team-drawing station. Few of the players looked friendly; many stared openly at Bai Liu's team—good-looking and wildly popular.
With trembling hands, Du Sanying reached into the large lottery box and pulled out a slip of paper. He glanced down and read softly, "Nomadic House?"
The surrounding players' expressions shifted. Wang Shun's eyes lit up.
[System Prompt: (Nomadic House) has forfeited. (Wandering Circus) wins without a fight and absorbs the opponent's gambling pool.]
[Please select the next team.]
Du Sanying hesitated before drawing again. "North Star?"
[System Prompt: (North Star) has forfeited. (Wandering Circus) wins without a fight and absorbs the opponent's gambling pool.]
[Please select the next team.]
Silence.
"[Stern River Ship Helmsman]?"
[…Has forfeited…]
"[Sheep-Horned Snake Shadow]?"
[…Has forfeited…]
"[Stormtroopers]?"
[…Has forfeited…]
"[Minions of Uza]?"
[…Has forfeited…]
"…"
The surrounding preseason teams stared at Du Sanying as if they could burn a hole through him. Their expressions were twisted with disbelief.
Every single team forfeited?!
For others, a random draw meant a life-or-death battle. They had to fight with everything they had just to win one round.
But this guy was drawing like he was scratching off lottery tickets—with a 100% win rate. Each draw swallowed an entire gambling pool.
Du Sanying looked helpless under their stares and glanced at Bai Liu. Bai Liu smiled gently and gestured for him to continue.
"Butcher?" Du Sanying drew another slip and raised his head.
Everyone held their breath.
[System Prompt: (The Butcher) is actively preparing for battle. Please proceed to Game Pool No. 17.]
A collective sigh of relief swept the crowd—finally, not another forfeit.
"I—I—I give up! I forfeit!!" a panicked voice suddenly cried out. "I'm not fighting Mu Sicheng!"
Mu Sicheng turned sharply at the sound of his name, looking fierce—then paused when he saw the speaker's face.
"Waaah! Mu Sicheng beat me before, and I couldn't beat him back!" the man sobbed while running away. "He even took off my pants and showed them to the monsters!!"
"I'm not letting him take my pants off again!"
[System Prompt: (The Butcher) has forfeited. (Wandering Circus) wins without a fight and absorbs the opponent's gambling pool.]
Everyone: "…"
What the hell is going on?!
Bai Liu slowly turned to Mu Sicheng. "You have that kind of hobby?"
Mu Sicheng exploded. "How is that my fault?! I was trying to steal from him, but he set me up! Since I couldn't steal anything, what's wrong with bullying him a little? I didn't even kill him!"
Liu Jiayi sneered. "Only an idiot like you would do something that boring."
Mu Sicheng fumed. "The result is what matters!"
Du Sanying continued drawing. "[Witch Saigao]?"
A man nearby stood up, voice trembling. "I'm the tactician of [Witch Saigao]. We also forfeit."
"Our entire team was saved by the Witch. We're all fans of Liu Jiayi. We'll never hurt her!"
He looked at Liu Jiayi tenderly. "Little Witch, win our share too!"
Then he ran off crying.
[System Prompt: (Witch Saigao) has forfeited. (Wandering Circus) wins without a fight and absorbs the opponent's gambling pool.]
Liu Jiayi: "…"
Mu Sicheng dragged out a mocking "Wow~" and looked down at her sideways. "So only idiots like me do boring things, huh?"
Liu Jiayi replied blankly, "What are you saying? I'm blind. I can't see or hear you."
Du Sanying drew again. "Silver Rose Team?"
Tang Erda froze.
A man stepped out from the crowd and smiled bitterly at him. "I didn't expect we'd meet like this, Mr. Hunter."
"It seems I have no choice but to forfeit."
He walked up, shook Tang Erda's hand, patted his shoulder, and sighed. "Keep going. Take care."
Tang Erda paused before returning the handshake. "Sorry."
Wang Shun quietly explained to Bai Liu, "Silver Rose used to employ Captain Tang. After he left, their ranking plummeted. They've struggled in the preseason for two years."
"You could say they relied entirely on him."
Du Sanying drew again at Bai Liu's signal.
"[Puppet Relics] Team?"
A man pushed through the crowd and stopped before Bai Liu and Mu Ke, smiling faintly. "Long time no see, Mu Ke. Bai Liu."
Mu Ke blinked. "Fang Ke?"
Fang Ke scratched his head. "You've got a good memory. You still remember me."
Mu Sicheng squinted. "You look familiar… but I can't remember from where…"
Wang Shun sighed. "He was the last surviving puppet Zhang Kui created. Same batch as Liu Huai and Li Gou. After Zhang Kui died, he left the King's Guild. I didn't expect him to form his own team."
Mu Sicheng snapped his fingers. "Right! Bai Liu saved him during the train explosion."
Fang Ke looked at Bai Liu and Mu Ke with complicated emotions before smiling softly. "After Liu Huai died, I was the only puppet left alive. I joined other guilds as a tactician."
"But I guess I'm not meant to be someone else's tactician."
He raised his hand. "System, I abstain."
[System Prompt: (Puppet Relics) has forfeited. (Wandering Circus) wins without a fight and absorbs the opponent's gambling pool.]
Before leaving, Fang Ke turned to Mu Ke. "Win Liu Huai's share too."
Mu Ke nodded. "I will."
Fang Ke looked at Bai Liu and smiled. "I think you can do it."
"You found a very good operator this time."
Then he waved goodbye and left.
Du Sanying continued drawing.
The surrounding spectators' expressions shifted—from shock, to envy, to jealousy, and finally to numb hatred.
At this point, no one even seemed surprised anymore.
What was the point of competing?
They might as well just shut it all down.