NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Proclamation
[Reconnecting live stream signal…]
[Signal restored]
Guo Dengyuan sat numbly on the floor, the flickering screen finally pulling his mind back to reality.
That was…
He leapt to his feet—not just standing, but practically springing up. He realized he hadn't been forcefully redirected by Blitzstation to another stream. No, the Exploiter's live stream had returned!
On-screen, Tong Gu, the Exploiter, stood beneath a golden teleportation gate, surrounded by a crowd of people with visibly excited expressions.
Among them, a girl with a ponytail trailing to her waist was jumping up and down, cheering—a face Guo Dengyuan found particularly familiar.
Tian Rizhao sent a highlighted comment (CNY 200): Welcome back!
Wu Zhengyang sent a highlighted comment (CNY 100): Looks like you've scored highly again—well done!
The flurry of paid comments quickly reignited the stream's popularity.
Tong Gu noticed the barrage of messages. Smiling at his phone's camera, he said,
"Thank you all for your support, and I'm sorry to have worried you."
He then casually took a seat on the steps beneath the teleportation gate and began recounting the events of his battle.
The crowd drawn by the golden teleportation gate listened with rapt attention, frequently letting out gasps of astonishment as Tong Gu narrated the details.
In an office nearby, Yang Yuanping wore a peculiar expression. The "idol" he had chosen turned out to have a knack for storytelling, recounting a life-and-death battle with gripping flair.
Turning his head, Yang noticed Gong Li staring intently at her phone screen, completely ignoring her work. He coughed twice and said,
"Gong Li, arrange for some reputable media outlets to visit Tong Gu for an exclusive interview. We need to completely shift the narrative this afternoon!"
Before long, professional outlets like Shancheng Daily and Dongxia Daily arrived at the scene. By then, the golden glow of the teleportation gate had already faded, leaving only Tong Gu, a tall and imposing figure, seated on the steps. Surrounding him were men, women, and children, all listening attentively to his story of the mission and his internal transformation.
Hua Rencai, a reporter from Shancheng Daily, quickly captured the scene with his camera. Staring at the photograph, he murmured,
"It's like… a pilgrimage."
In the photo, Tong Gu sat under the teleportation gate, the bright moonlight behind him. Around him, a diverse group of people looked up at him, their expressions filled with joy and hope.
When Tong Gu noticed the reporters approaching, he had just finished recounting how he defeated Nurarihyon. The crowd suddenly realized how long they had been listening in awe.
Hua Rencai stepped forward, ensuring the cameras behind him were perfectly positioned, and asked,
"Mr. Tong Gu, congratulations on your triumphant return. This mission seemed exceptionally challenging, and you faced several obstacles. Is there anything you'd like to say to those who have been concerned for you?"
Only vetted, trusted media outlets would be sent for such interviews, and Hua's carefully crafted question reflected that.
Tong Gu looked directly at the camera, completely unflustered. He began by once again thanking everyone for their support and concern. Then, lightly patting his chest, he said,
"No matter if it's once, twice, ten times, or countless times, I will always triumph in this so-called Game of Fate. I will light up these dark teleportation gates..."
He took a deep breath, his tone becoming solemn.
"So… please keep watching me. Trust me. No matter how dire the circumstances, I will always stand here again, ready to meet you all."
At the edge of the crowd, an elderly man stood silently. As Tong Gu's gaze suddenly met his, a feeling of courage surged through the old man's heart, as though something profound had been conveyed to him.
Li Mei wept with joy and laughter, energized by hearing the Exploiter's proclamation up close. It felt as though her entire being had been filled with hope, and she couldn't wait to grab Tong Gu's phone to post a comment herself.
Meanwhile, the stream viewers were practically ready to celebrate. Even paid comments were getting buried under newer ones. Everyone was swept up in a wave of fervor.
The gloom and despair of the afternoon's broadcast were now completely washed away.
Wu Zhengyang sat at home, his wife quietly wiping away tears. As the spouse of a Saviour, she was acutely aware of the nation's and the world's dire circumstances.
Knowing that young men like Tong Gu were still alive—still fighting—was overwhelmingly heartening.
Even so, she stopped Wu Zhengyang from sending yet another paid comment.
---
In the penthouse suite of Arakawa Hotel, the finest in Mountain City, a petite woman wearing glasses hurriedly knocked on the bathroom door, clutching a tablet.
"Winterliu, that man is still alive!"
After a long pause, a cold voice responded from inside.
"I know…"
The woman wanted to show her the video, but the room's temperature suddenly dropped. Hastily retreating, she scurried away with the tablet.
---
The ones most overjoyed were the executives at Blitzstation. As a latecomer to the live streaming market, they had only managed to scrape by on younger audiences' traffic.
Then fortune struck: Tong Gu, the Exploiter, rejected lucrative contracts from larger platforms and chose to partner with them instead. They had shifted nearly all their resources into Game of Fate content.
When news came that Tong Gu's stream signal had been lost, implying his potential demise, several executives nearly broke down on the spot.
Now, seeing the stream's skyrocketing popularity and soaring revenue, they only regretted not attending the event in person.
If they had shown up to take a photo with the Exploiter and demonstrate their unwavering confidence, tomorrow's stock prices would surely soar…
They also made a note to deal with the media outlets that had spread grim speculation earlier that afternoon. For the Qin family, money wasn't an issue. Targeting Capital Daily or similar biased outlets would be child's play.
"Take them down!"
---
When Tong Gu finally arrived home, it was close to 10 p.m. Exiting the elevator, he noticed Yang Yuanping leaning against his door, looking weary.
Glancing at the now-empty Apartment 3510, Tong Gu feigned nonchalance and joked,
"Your work at the Abnormal Affairs Bureau never ends, huh? Even at this hour?"
Yang Yuanping, ever observant, noticed the subtle expression on Tong Gu's face but chose not to comment. Snuffing out his cigarette, he calmly extended his hand.
"Hand it over."
Tong Gu blinked, momentarily confused, before pulling the damaged combat suit from his backpack. Clicking his tongue, he said,
"You're a government agency, right? This how you collect from a civilian?"
Yang examined the suit in his hands, silently praying the tech department could partner with private companies to reverse-engineer it. If successful, countless lives could be saved.
He casually tossed a black box to Tong Gu, who caught it with one hand and opened it. Inside was a finely crafted badge.
"What's this?"
Yang raised an eyebrow, smiling.
"Something valuable—a Righteous Hero badge!"
Tong Gu noticed the intricate "义" (righteous) character engraved on the badge. He knew this was awarded strictly to those who had saved many lives. Beyond being an honor, it granted eligibility to establish a Private Hero Bureau with limited auxiliary law enforcement rights.
"I have no intention of doing something like that…"
Yang, now at the elevator, turned back, his gaze steely under the cold fluorescent light.
"Tong Gu, many things in life aren't about what you intend to do. Sometimes, too many people will force you to make a choice."
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