In the summer of Rong City, the sultry air enveloped the entire city.

A young man lay lifelessly in front of his computer in his rented apartment.

"Hey~ why isn't this crappy air conditioner cooling? How am I supposed to live?"

The person speaking was Wang Xun, a college graduate in architectural arts who had been out of school for less than two years. In layman's terms, he was in the renovation business, a neighbor to the civil engineering guys.

However, he had quit his job a couple of days ago because the continuous overtime and the invisible and intangible overtime pay had completely crushed this young man's psychological defenses.

He decided to just laze around in his rented apartment for a while.

Feeling a bit bored, Wang Xun took out his phone and ordered a cup of Mixue Ice Cream. He was also preparing to browse some Tiktok videos, but as soon as he opened the app, a pop-up suddenly appeared on his phone screen.

'Shocking! The classic game 'Age of Sail' has officially launched a brand new version, a new version you've never seen before!!'

'Steer your fleet through the waves, defeat sea beasts, open up new sea routes, and explore treasures buried at the bottom of the sea. The collision of technology and mystery, all in the new 'Age of Sail'!'

Coupled with its somewhat sloppy poster, Wang Xun found it hard to believe this slogan.

At least others have 'photoshopped' or CG images, but you just have a UC Shock Department-style text and a mosaic poster. Who would believe it?

Then, swiping his finger upwards, Wang Xun was still hoping to catch a glimpse of some dancing girls.

“Wow, quite the effort, even Tiktok has so many pages of recommendations?”

Wang Xun's finger kept swiping up, but each time he swiped one away, another one popped up, it was almost like they were playing a trick on him.

But at the same time, a hint of curiosity arose in Wang Xun's heart. He was a hardcore gamer himself, and the IP of 'Age of Exploration' was indeed a 'treasure from the ancient times'.

It's just that recently, he hadn't seen any plans from major platforms about 'Koei' restarting this classic IP.

Wang Xun hesitated for a moment, but after a while, he still clicked on it.

A download progress bar appeared at the top of the screen, but to Wang Xun's disappointment, judging from the download speed, the game's content wouldn't exceed 300MB.

The form determines the substance to a certain extent. A mere few hundred MB of content is not enough to show too much.

It also seemed to indicate that this game was likely just a facade.

In Wang Xun's somewhat disappointed expression, a mosaic-style app icon with the words 'Age of Exploration' appeared on the screen.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Damn! It's pixel art style?”

Disappointed, Wang Xun directly gave up the idea of opening the game, but long-pressing the icon didn't bring up the uninstall option. Instead, it automatically launched the game after he released his finger.

“What the hell?! What kind of small, no-name studio is trying to rip off a big IP? This thing doesn't have a virus, does it?!”

Although his phone was from the unlucky 'Black Shark' manufacturer, it was still something he had bought with his hard-earned summer job money, secretly from his parents.

If it got ruined because he downloaded a random game, it would really hurt. It's not even easy to repair these things now.

As the game started, a slightly dilapidated sailing ship appeared on the phone screen, accompanied by hollow and desolate background music.

At the same time, a line of narration text slowly appeared on the interface.

【Prologue】

【This is a land abandoned by the gods】

【Humanity tenaciously survives in the cracks of the sea】

【The development of technology has led countless explorers and adventurers to bravely set out towards the mysterious sea for various reasons】

【The steam engine pulled the ironclad ship and sounded the horn of civilization, the Age of Exploration has arrived】

【But everything on the sea is so dangerous, just the unpredictable weather is enough to swallow most of the unlucky ones, perhaps only the most shining stars among humans can reach the other shore】

【Will you be the one to conquer the sea?】

【Please create your character】

【Start】【█】

Yo, is this a text-based game?!

It seems a bit different from the previous merchant gameplay, new setting? New background?

The elements are quite complete, like a mixed porridge.

But as long as it's fun, the rest doesn't matter too much, but damn it, it doesn't let me choose to refuse!!

Wang Xun, who had been momentarily impressed by the music, began to doubt the quality of the game again.

Oh well! Let it all be destroyed.

Since I'm already here, I might as well see if this game is made by a human or a ghost.

He looked at the interface again.

【Please create your character profile.】

With Wang Xun's click, an input box appeared again on the interface.

But before he could continue, an expected pop-up appeared, 《Notice on Preventing Minors from Becoming Addicted to Online Games》.

He skillfully skipped through the lengthy information to the end, filled in his identity information, and finally, it even required facial recognition.

After Wang Xun patiently completed the operation, the phone interface changed again.

【Congratulations on completing your character profile.】

【Please select your character's initial background】

【Fallen Noble】【Day-to-day Sailor】【Merchant Ship Guard】【Pirate】

These background options seemed to have the feel of a good game. After a little thought, Wang Xun directly chose the first one, 【Fallen Noble】.

Anyway, it's just a text-based game, and it's hard to say if I'll even open the game a second time.

Which background to choose shouldn't matter much, and a fallen noble is still a noble, so the identity is pretty good.

【Please enter your in-game name】

Since I've chosen to be a noble, the name should align with a big shot.

Hmm, let's go with Jack, to commemorate that 'big shot' who left a deep impression on me.

As for the surname, Wang Xun thought of the protagonist of a nautical adventure game he once liked, Drake sounds pretty good.

【Character creation complete】

【Name: Jack Drake Identity: Fallen Noble】

【World background embedding... Please wait】

A dilapidated ship rises and falls on the screen, accompanied by the sound of waves.

【Game start, wish you a pleasant journey.】

【In a dilapidated hut shrouded in the night, a young man named Jack Drake wakes up from a dream.】

【The nightmare of his family's destruction a year ago surrounds him.】

【Even the butler who protected him during the escape passed away two days ago due to severe injuries.】

【The path ahead seems very confusing, what should you do?】

Wang Xun couldn't help but frown after reading the text.

"Damn it, this fallen noble really has nothing left."

“Let me see, how does this thing work.”

After clicking the screen again, three options appeared on the interface.

【Explore the Room】 【Observe from the Window】 【Leave the Room】

Following the classic text-based game progression, Wang Xun, who has a collector's habit in games, decisively chose the first option.

When you don't know the follow-up content, prioritizing the exploration of the current scene is a must-have operation for old players.