Chapter 199: Investing into the Protagonist
Made it real.
Not just a guild.
Not just a game.
Windfall would compete professionally.
Against Titan.
Manager Liu sighed.
"Then I suppose we’ll see each other again."
"Probably."
The call ended.
Jiang Feng stared at his phone.
Then...
A notification appeared.
LittleMaple: CAPTAINNNNNNNN
He smiled immediately.
FallenWind: What happened?
LittleMaple: YOU’RE FAMOUS
He laughed.
FallenWind: I was famous before.
Pause.
LittleMaple: arrogant 😒
FallenWind: factual.
Another pause.
Then...
LittleMaple: I’m proud of you though :)
Jiang Feng stared.
For several seconds...
He didn’t type.
A warmth spread through his chest.
Eventually...
FallenWind: Thanks, Maple.
Then...
She called.
Voice only.
He answered.
"Captain!"
"You know my real name now."
"I know."
"So you can call me Jiang Feng."
Silence.
Then...
"No."
He laughed.
"Why?"
"Captain is better."
And strangely...
He agreed.
The following morning...
The gaming industry had fully awakened to Jiang Feng’s return.
News channels ran segments.
Esports podcasts analyzed his gameplay.
Former professionals discussed whether his wrist injury mattered inside full dive.
Medical experts pointed out that Eternal Realm’s neural interface bypassed many physical limitations of conventional mouse and keyboard play.
Fans began asking an obvious question.
Had Titan released Jiang Feng...
At exactly the wrong moment?
The headline spread everywhere.
DID TITAN THROW AWAY THE PERFECT ETERNAL REALM PLAYER?
Jiang Feng read it.
Then closed it.
He didn’t want to become obsessed with revenge.
That wasn’t why he’d returned.
But...
He couldn’t deny...
Beating Titan felt good.
Very good.
At the Shen Family mansion...
Shen Tian was having his own problem.
Ling Shuangxue had turned the breakfast table into a business meeting.
Again.
She displayed market charts.
"Eternal Realm’s professional league announcement increased esports organization valuations."
Shen Tian ate eggs.
"Okay."
"Titan’s sponsorship sentiment dropped six percent after yesterday."
"Okay."
"Windfall has no formal corporate structure."
"Okay."
Ling Shuangxue stared.
"Are you listening?"
"Mostly."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Shen Tian."
He looked up.
"What?"
"Windfall is valuable."
"Probably."
"Very valuable."
"So?"
"If Jiang Feng intends to enter professional competition..."
She leaned forward.
"He’ll need capital."
Shen Tian paused.
Now she had his attention.
Bai Xue looked toward her.
"You’re going to invest."
Ling Shuangxue nodded.
"Potentially."
Shen Tian thought.
Then...
Xu Ning appeared.
[Host.]
Don’t.
[I didn’t say anything.]
You’re about to tell me investing in him will alter Fate.
Xu Ning smiled.
[It will.]
Shen Tian sighed.
Of course.
A panel appeared.
Future Destiny Event
Original: Jiang Feng struggles to fund Windfall’s professional expansion.
Original Solution: Independent gaming investor offers exploitative contract.
Jiang Feng eventually escapes agreement after major championship victory.
Associated Fate Value: 7,000
Shen Tian stared.
Bad contract trope.
[Yes.]
How bad?
Xu Ning showed him.
The investor would demand forty percent of Windfall’s commercial revenue.
Control sponsorship decisions.
Merchandise rights.
Player contracts.
Streaming percentages.
Shen Tian’s expression flattened.
"That’s disgusting."
Ling Shuangxue raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing."
Then...
He looked at her.
"What if we invest?"
Ling Shuangxue smiled.
"I was waiting for you to ask."
Shen Tian sighed.
"Of course."
She continued.
"Minority stake."
"No gameplay control."
"No roster control."
"No guild ownership."
"Commercial partnership only."
"Windfall retains competitive independence."
Shen Tian nodded.
"Good."
Ling Shuangxue looked toward him.
"You like Jiang Feng."
"He’s alright."
Bai Xue laughed.
"That’s practically a declaration of brotherhood from you."
Shen Tian stared.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Yin Suyi, who had been quietly listening, spoke.
"Invite him to dinner."
Shen Tian looked toward his mother.
"Why?"
"If we’re investing..."
"I want to meet him."
Shen Yan immediately looked suspicious.
"Why?"
Yin Suyi stared at her daughter.
"Business."
Shen Yan slowly nodded.
Acceptable.
Then...
Yin Suyi looked toward Shen Tian.
"And MoonPetal."
Shen Tian froze.
"...What?"
The table became quiet.
Bai Xue smiled.
Ling Shuangxue’s eyebrow rose.
Shen Yan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Shen Tian stared at his mother.
"Why MoonPetal?"
Yin Suyi calmly took a sip of tea.
"I’ve heard enough."
"From who?"
Everyone looked toward Shen Yan.
Shen Yan looked away.
Shen Tian closed his eyes.
"...You investigated her."
"No."
"Big Sis."
"I performed a safety review."
"That’s investigating."
"Different."
Yin Suyi continued.
"You’re meeting her Saturday."
Shen Tian stared.
"How do you know that?"
Shen Yan became extremely interested in her breakfast.
Shen Tian slowly looked toward her.
"...Big Sis."
She avoided eye contact.
"Security."
Shen Tian sighed.
"I need my own house."
Yin Suyi immediately responded.
"No."
Shen Yan said the same.
"No."
Bai Xue laughed.
That afternoon...
Shen Tian logged into Eternal Realm.
Blackstone Fortress had transformed.
Windfall banners hung from the walls.
Players repaired structures.
NPC merchants had already arrived.
The guild population had increased again.
Windfall Members: 413
Applications...
18,000+
Shen Tian whistled.
Jiang Feng stood on the courtyard steps.
LittleMaple beside him.
Several officers listened.
When Shen Tian approached...
Jiang Feng looked over.
"You."
"Me."
"Your stupid eagle keeps landing on our tower."
Shen Tian looked upward.
The Blackstone Eagle sat proudly atop the central keep.
"...He likes it."
"It’s not yours."
"The tower?"
"Yes."
"Technically..."
"Don’t."
Shen Tian smiled.
Jiang Feng sighed.
Then...
He walked closer.
"Thanks."
Shen Tian blinked.
"For what?"
"Yesterday."
"You did most of it."
"Not the tunnel."
"Moon helped."
"I know."
Jiang Feng looked around the fortress.
"If Titan had reached the core first..."
"They would’ve taken it."
Shen Tian shrugged.
"That’s competition."
Jiang Feng smiled.
Then...
His expression became more serious.
"Titan called me."
Shen Tian wasn’t surprised.
"What’d they want?"
"Mostly damage control."
"Offer you back?"
"No."
"Yet."
Jiang Feng laughed.
"Not interested."
"Good."
That answer came naturally.
Jiang Feng noticed.
"You really don’t like them."
"I don’t like what they did."
"They’re a business."
"That’s not an excuse to treat people badly."
Jiang Feng stared for a moment.
Then smiled.
"You’re strange."
"Why?"
"You’re literally one of the richest people I’ve ever met."
"And somehow..."
"You hate corporate behavior more than I do."
Shen Tian laughed.
"My family owns companies."
"Doesn’t mean I have to like stupid decisions."
"Fair."
Then...
Shen Tian remembered Ling Shuangxue.
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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!