"Hello, Mr. Plos. Is it true that the virtual realism of Destiny can reach the advertised 99%?" A journalist dressed in standard professional attire asked politely.
"Of course, my dear lady. I believe that wonderful world will leave you utterly captivated." Plos smiled warmly. Despite his advanced age, his voice remained powerful, and his sharp eyes occasionally flashed with a brilliance that showed no signs of cloudiness.
"Fully immersive virtual games have been around for more than 120 years now. Yet even Second World, the most successful of them all, declined within just seven years. Mr. Plos, how long do you think Destiny, a game destined to be revolutionary, will last?"
Plos narrowed his old eyes slightly. "If I must give an ideal timeframe, I would hope… forever." His voice was as composed as ever, but for a fleeting moment, an almost imperceptible, eerie smile flickered across his deeply wrinkled face.
"Destiny incorporates alien technology—does that mean its world design will be vastly different from past games?"
"A world design?" Plos thought for a moment, then shook his head. His expression gradually grew serious. "The fundamental concept of the world won’t change drastically. However, what I must say, and what I need to emphasize, is this: Though this is a simulation game, I hope people won’t treat it as just a game, but as another chapter of their lives. In truth, isn’t life itself a game filled with ups and downs? But unlike games, life cannot be saved, nor can it be restarted from the beginning. Life may be a game, but never try to game your life. Remember the name of this ‘game’—Destiny."
A strange silence suddenly filled the press conference. Plos’ sudden shift in demeanor, the gravity in his voice, and the subtle warning embedded in his words made everyone reflect deeply on what he had just said. But… no one truly understood the hidden meaning behind his words—not yet, at least.
"Mr. Plos, for some time now, players around the world have been speculating about Destiny's core intelligence system. Could you provide any details?"
Plos shook his head apologetically. "I’m sorry, but that is a classified secret. However—" he suddenly smiled mysteriously, "what I can reveal is that Destiny's core intelligence is not located on Earth. I wonder if that answer satisfies you?"
Not on Earth… Could it be in outer space? Plos' statement immediately triggered a worldwide frenzy of speculation.
"Mr. Plos, game fairness has always been one of the most crucial concerns for players. Has Destiny achieved perfect fairness?" A male journalist stood up and asked.
In every pre-launch press conference for any game, fairness was always a standard question. Over the past century of virtual gaming history, both the question and the answer had become routine—without exception, developers would pledge with absolute certainty that their game was perfectly fair. However, this time, Plos remained silent for a long while before slowly delivering a shocking response:
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"There has never been true fairness in this world."
"This…" The journalist was momentarily stunned by the unexpected answer.
"The idea that ‘everyone is born equal’ is, to me, the most absurd and laughable misconception. Some may scoff at my words, but let me remind you of some undeniable truths… A child born in a rural village may work tirelessly his entire life just to achieve the standard of living of someone born in the city, whose starting point is already the rural child’s lifelong goal. Is that fair? Some are born with disabilities, while others enter this world with perfect physiques and features. Is that fair? Two people with the same starting point—one works diligently for decades to secure a stable home, while another, through sheer luck, wins the lottery and enjoys a lifetime of wealth without effort. Is that fair? True fairness has never existed—not in the real world, nor in Destiny."
"What I can guarantee," Plos continued, "is that every player will start with the same basic attributes—the same number of free points, the same fixed stats, and complete freedom to choose their own path. But as for what fate awaits each player… only the heavens know."
Silence. A long, profound silence. Then, the room erupted into thunderous applause. Plos had skillfully turned the question to his advantage—his explanation of a fair starting point was far more compelling and convincing than any exaggerated promises. More importantly, he had voiced what many had long felt in their hearts—there is no such thing as absolute fairness in this world.
"Mr. Plos, Destiny has received full support from governments worldwide and backing from the ten largest banks. Does this mean the exchange between in-game currency and real-world money will finally be free from the chaotic fluctuations seen in past games?" Another journalist posed the question.
The phrase full support carried immense weight. Though it differed from strong support by just one word, the implications were worlds apart.
"Haha, that is precisely what I wanted to clarify." Plos chuckled. "Alpha and I spent an extensive amount of time running complex calculations regarding the in-game economy. The acquisition and expenditure of Destiny's currency have been meticulously balanced through these calculations, ensuring a stable exchange rate with real-world money. I can personally vouch for this. However, once currency exchange is enabled, the game’s fairness will inevitably take a hit—wealthy players will have a significant advantage over ordinary players. Therefore, to extend the period of relative fairness, currency exchange will not be available at launch. As for how long it will be postponed… that remains undecided."
"With your assurance, Mr. Plos, I believe all players will be at ease…"
…
…
Like a statue, Ye Tianxie watched the entire press conference without moving a muscle. By the time it ended, the clock had struck exactly noon. He turned off the television, lay back on the sofa, and pressed his fingers against the gaming wristband…
Instantly, the world before him turned blank, then transformed into the radiant, multicolored world he had seen before.
"Ding… Welcome to Destiny. Your character has been created. The game will begin in 43 seconds. Please wait…"
The voice was different from the one Ye Tianxie had heard earlier. Clearly, given the massive number of players, the system must have assigned an enormous number of NPC receptionists, making the odds of encountering the same one extremely low.
"…30 seconds remaining. Please wait…"
"…20 seconds remaining. Please wait…"
"…10, 9, 8… 3, 2, 1… Welcome to Destiny. You have been assigned to Newbie Village No. 60001. Enjoy your game."