Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47: Group Action
Xiaoqi led Long Ming out of the office and toward the stairs.
Many club members were arriving for their "shifts" just then. Seeing Xiaoqi, they smiled and greeted her.
"Xiaoqi, you’re not on shift today?"
...
"Yep, I’m leading a team today!"
Xiaoqi replied with a sweet smile.
"Huh, who’s that behind you? Haven’t seen him before!"
A hearty-looking uncle with rugged features asked, his curiosity piqued by the sight of Long Ming trailing behind her.
"This is Mr. Long Ming. He just joined our Fifth Rat Team. I’m taking him to participate in a group guild quest."
Xiaoqi introduced him to Li Gao.
"Got it."
Li Gao smiled, looking at Long Ming’s handsome face.
Soon, Long Ming followed Xiaoqi to the second floor. Unlike the layout of the Star Cafe’s second floor, the club area was open-plan.
There were rows of reclining gaming chairs, each with a helmet fixed to the top. Players could lie back in the chairs and wear the game helmets to play Civilization Paradise.
Nearly half the chairs were already occupied by players who had entered the game.
Xiaoqi enthusiastically explained to Long Ming.
"These game helmets are all for public use. There are no assigned seats, so any guild member can use them."
"Okay."
Long Ming nodded indifferently.
"Xiaoqi, you’re here."
An overly eager voice called out.
Long Ming turned his head to look.
He saw Cao Jie approaching with a few friends, a broad smile on his face as he greeted Xiaoqi.
"What’s it to you whether I’m here or not? You’re in the combat group, and I’m with the Rat Team."
Xiaoqi’s attitude instantly turned cold, a stark contrast to how she treated Long Ming.
Hearing Xiaoqi’s words, the smile on Cao Jie’s face froze.
Then he noticed Long Ming beside her, and his heart sank. Still, he feigned nonchalance as he asked.
"Xiaoqi, and this is?"
"Mr. Long Ming, a newcomer to our group. Is there a problem?"
Xiaoqi replied coldly.
"Of course not."
Hearing this, Cao Jie’s gaze toward Long Ming grew even more wary.
’What a joke. Even though Xiaoqi is in charge of the Fifth Rat Team, the Rat Group has so many people. Why would she need to personally guide a new member?’
The more Cao Jie looked at Long Ming, the more familiar he seemed. Then it hit him—this was the guy Xiaoqi had wanted to add on WeChat.
A hint of hostility, almost imperceptible, flashed across Cao Jie’s face.
Long Ming keenly sensed Cao Jie’s hostility. A flicker of confusion appeared in his eyes as he quickly racked his brain.
He quickly confirmed he had never seen this guy before.
"Long Ming, you can log into the game first. I’m going to change my clothes. The meeting point is in Starry City at coordinates 7784, 5214, 1523. Make sure you don’t go to the wrong place."
Xiaoqi ignored Cao Jie and instructed Long Ming.
"Okay."
Long Ming nodded, found a gaming chair, lay down, and put on the game helmet.
SHHH!
When Long Ming opened his eyes again, he was inside Starry City.
He raised his wristband to check his location and started walking toward the meeting point.
Before long, Long Ming arrived near the meeting point.
He was greeted by the sight of a dense crowd of players, all wearing matching armbands, gathered together. Their numbers were still growing.
But Long Ming didn’t know any of them, so he just stood off to the side and waited.
He glanced at his wristband. There were still about ten minutes until 8:30, so he idly browsed through its various interfaces.
When Long Ming flipped to his character status screen, a look of surprise flashed across his face.
He didn’t know when it had happened, but his agility and Intelligence had both become 6.
Long Ming’s brow furrowed. He checked his wristband but couldn’t find any notifications.
However, he suddenly recalled something. When he’d jumped out of that window, his movements had seemed particularly agile. After all, Shi Qiang and the others couldn’t even get up to the window.
’But when did my base stats actually increase? And what are the conditions for growth?’
This left Long Ming rather perplexed.
"Long Ming."
A sweet voice called out.
Long Ming looked up and saw Xiaoqi walking toward him.
Xiaoqi had shed her maid outfit and changed into form-fitting camouflage. Her ponytail was tucked away under a cap.
In an instant, she had transformed from a sweet maid into a dashing, heroic figure.
"Xiaoqi, you’re here."
"Mhm."
"Xiaoqi, why are there so many people here? How many are participating in this?"
Long Ming asked curiously.
"Not too many, just two thousand. One thousand are combat members, and the other thousand are from the Rat Team."
Xiaoqi explained with a smile.
"Oh."
Long Ming nodded.
Just then, the noisy scene suddenly fell silent.
Long Ming instinctively turned his head and saw Mira approaching with a group of people. She was dressed in a gray combat uniform and carried a brand-new rifle.
She was a completely different person from the sexy, charming persona she had before.
"Captain Mira!"
The combat members all greeted her.
"All combat personnel, begin the headcount!"
Mira issued the command efficiently.
Watching this, Long Ming asked Xiaoqi curiously.
"Manager Mira plays too? Doesn’t she have to look after the Star Cafe?"
"There are five managers at the Star Cafe, and we take turns! Each manager is in charge of a combat team. Sister Mira leads the Fifth Combat Team, and they’re our regular partners."
Xiaoqi gave Long Ming a brief explanation.
"I see."
Hearing this, Long Ming looked thoughtful. ’It seems the five managers are appointed by the five shareholders.’
’But this model is quite normal for a partnership structure.’
At this point, Xiaoqi saw that most of the Rat Team members had arrived. She walked to the front and addressed the crowd.
"Listen up, everyone! At 8:30 sharp, use your Level 1 Random Experience Scroll. Remember, time it to the second—not a moment sooner, not a moment later!"
"Understood!"
"After you get matched and enter the transport platform, everyone is to gather in the northwest corner. The highest-level guild member on site will take command, and everyone must obey unconditionally."
"Yes, ma’am!"
The crowd responded in unison.
"Now, everyone take out your Level 1 Random Civilization Experience Scroll and get ready!"
Xiaoqi took an experience scroll from her inventory.
Long Ming also took out an experience scroll, his eyes fixed on the time displayed on his wristband.
The seconds ticked by, and soon the time was 8:29.
Just then, Mira and Xiaoqi shouted to the entire assembly.
"Countdown: 60 seconds."
...
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"2!"
"1!"
Long Ming instantly activated the experience scroll in his hand.
SHHH!
As the scroll lit up, Long Ming was immediately enveloped in white light.
When the white light faded, he found himself on a small, top-shaped mechanical platform.
The entire platform was crowded with people.
Long Ming immediately ran toward the northwest corner. He soon spotted Mira, Cao Jie, Xiaoqi, and the others.
He was a bit surprised they had all been matched together.
Just then, Mira shouted efficiently.
"Headcount!"
"Yes, ma’am!"
Cao Jie and the others immediately started counting.
