Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 873: Chapter 872 This Is Truly Speechless

Regarding Argo’s request for cooperation, Fang Zheng didn’t think for long before nodding in agreement.

On one hand, he indeed needed to gather enough information, but this game world is so vast that relying on Fang Zheng alone was clearly not sufficient. Mobilizing the masses is a tried and tested strategy passed down by our ancestors, and Fang Zheng certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough not to use it. As for Argo, she would be responsible for helping Fang Zheng gather the information he needed, and then Fang Zheng would use this information to build the data model he wanted. If he had any results, he would, in turn, provide feedback to Argo. If there was particularly important information that was crucial for survival, Argo would pass it on to other players free of charge.

After all, even though she was an information merchant, they were all like grasshoppers tied to the same rope. It wouldn’t make sense to let someone who has a way to lead everyone out of misery get conned just to make a profit, right?

However, Fang Zheng’s request left Argo somewhat puzzled.

”The history and culture of each level, and the information and records regarding Creatures... what use are these things?”

Honestly speaking, after hearing Fang Zheng’s request, Argo felt her jaw drop. She could understand that Fang Zheng wanted her to gather information, but what are you going to do with these things? This is just a game, and you want to investigate the local customs and cultures?

”You just don’t get it.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand at Argo.

”A competent game designer will always put all the clues in front of the players. For example, BOSSes. We all know that in online games, it’s almost impossible to pass a BOSS at the first try. However, players can’t just charge in blindly, relying on numerous deaths to guess what skills the BOSS has or how much damage is done, that’s just too moronic. Generally speaking, regarding each instance BOSS’s skills and combat characteristics, the scriptwriters and planners will subtly provide players with clues in the previous quest flow. For instance, if an instance has both Priests and archers as minor monsters, then you have to be cautious that the instance BOSS may likely use their skills. Furthermore, previous instances will certainly include their identity information concerning the introduction of these BOSSes, allowing players to deduce which skills they might have.”

At this point, Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”So, in theory, a good online game, if players are meticulous enough to discover all the clues left by the designers, can be completed by defeating the instance BOSS at one go. It’s just that most players lack this patience. Since they think it’s better to sacrifice lives to pile up attempts, let them. We’ve already told you all the clues and tips. It’s not my fault if you don’t pay attention, right?”

”Whoa........”

After listening to Fang Zheng’s introduction, Argo was completely stunned. She stared wide-eyed at Fang Zheng.

”Are all of you game designers that devious?”

”Thank you for the compliment.”

Fang Zheng accepted Argo’s praise without any guilt. A game designer who doesn’t make players gnash their teeth and cry out isn’t qualified as a competent game designer, right?

Of course, Fang Zheng also wasn’t sure if this game was like that, after all, according to his experience, anything flaunting a ”No. 1 XX” label usually didn’t focus too much on the storyline. Especially such virtual reality games where players don’t care much about the plot at first; as long as they can enter another world, they’re satisfied.

However, Fang Zheng felt that there was nothing to lose in trying. Argo was the one going out and collecting information anyway. As for whether this information would be usable... they’d see.

Luckily Argo didn’t know what Fang Zheng was thinking, or she’d definitely risk her life fighting him.

And after countless inhumane experiments on this poor wild boar creature, Fang Zheng had summarized some patterns.

From a damage data perspective, the physical model inside the game isn’t much different from reality. Of course, there’s still a gap. It’s normal since a game is ultimately just a game. Expecting it to achieve seamless realism like The Matrix of Hackers is unrealistic.

Two days later, Fang Zheng released his first ”Survival Guide” manual through Argo.

In this manual, Fang Zheng fully demonstrated the true spirit of a game planner and designer. Many times, peers would go by the principle of seeing but not revealing. But now, Fang Zheng didn’t care.

Making a game that can risk lives, and I can’t use some insider tricks?

Thus, in this ”Survival Guide 1.0,” Fang Zheng almost marked all the character system options, items, and how to use the interface. This included the fighting characteristics of the current beginner plains area monsters, how to dodge or block to reduce damage, and the limit of monsters one could pull while grinding solo, the safety line of health, as well as the movement trajectories of various Creatures.

Moreover, unlike other game manuals that emphasize strategy against Creatures and instances, Fang Zheng’s manual entirely highlighted how players could stay safe during battles and avoid rushing blindly to their deaths. Fang Zheng also gave a lot of practical advice, telling players what to do if something seemed wrong, and reminding them not to mess with suspicious places. According to common game designer tendencies, a place that looks suspicious is indeed suspicious. Trust your intuition—it’s never wrong to turn back resolutely!!

Furthermore, in this manual, Fang Zheng combined his battle experience from both the Main World and the Black Soul World to teach players some simple and practical cold weapon defense skills.

After all, complete stealth is different from ordinary games. In common games, you can defend just by pressing a key, but complete stealth games are almost indistinguishable from reality. This means players must actively use the weapons and shields they’re holding to block and be effective.

However, obviously, players in this world are all modern urban residents. They probably haven’t even gone for a solo walk in the wilderness, let alone used cold weapons. And who knows how much of what they learned from books, movies, and games is real? So Fang Zheng simply made a cold weapon literacy session for everyone, explaining how to hold a sword to maximize its power, or swing more flexibly.

Of course, to avoid boosting these players’ confidence, making them think they could save the world, Fang Zheng deliberately wrote a passage at the end of the manual: ”I understand you long to see your family again as soon as possible, but I hope you think about whether you’d prefer to open your eyes and see the faces of your family and friends or hope they are crying as they send you into the cremation furnace?”

As for how many players would heed these words, Fang Zheng didn’t care. He had said all he could. If players insisted on courting death, then Fang Zheng couldn’t help it.

This survival manual’s release was immediately snatched up by players, especially those new to the game world. They also wanted to survive but utterly didn’t know how. On the first night after entering this world, many trembled in fear, experiencing sleepless nights, looking into a dark future, uncertain if they had the confidence to survive until they could leave the game world.

Fang Zheng’s guide, released by Argo, for these players was akin to a traveler trapped in the wilderness obtaining a stick or a machete. Although simplistic, it at least provided them with the courage and ability to fight!

But for Fang Zheng, things weren’t as he imagined...

”Not a single person?”

Fang Zheng looked at Argo in astonishment.

”You mean... not even one player wants to team up with me? Am I that unwelcome?”

”Of course not, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s question, Argo quickly shook her hand.

”In fact... they simply don’t dare to team up with you.”

”...What do you mean?”

”It’s like this...”

Argo explained to Fang Zheng. Nobody joined Fang Zheng not because they didn’t want to, but because they didn’t dare!

It took Fang Zheng three days to write this Survival Guide manual. During that time, many players formed guilds to help each other. Some of these people were friends inside the game, and some were friends in real life. It was unlikely they would abandon their buddies for Fang Zheng. As for solo players... the reason left Fang Zheng speechless.

They were afraid of being a bother to Fang Zheng!

After all, with the release of the Survival Guide, Fang Zheng’s fame spread throughout the game. Considering the effectiveness of his writings, Fang Zheng’s status in players’ minds was further elevated. But precisely because of this, many players dared not team up with Fang Zheng, fearing their lack of ability would drag his team down. If others noticed, they’d suffer public condemnation and might as well apologize through seppuku...

”There’s this kind of move...”

After hearing Argo’s explanation, Fang Zheng was speechless. In Chinese online game novels, the moment a big shot waves, countless people rush in, leaving not even a strand of golden leg hair, yet these Japanese... are actually afraid of being a bother to the big shot?

Did I mess up by showing off too much?

No matter how much I calculated, I didn’t account for the Japanese national character...

There was nothing Fang Zheng could do about it, anyway, the word was out. Now it was a matter of... seeing if anyone wanted to contact him. After all, Fang Zheng couldn’t possibly clear all hundred levels relying just on Restia, Ester, and himself. He needed a core team, but it seems... forming this core team was more difficult than Fang Zheng envisioned.

”...Forget it, let’s leave it at this for now. In any case, keep an eye out for me over the next few days. If anyone’s interested in teaming up, contact me immediately.”

Ultimately, helplessly, Fang Zheng could only leave Argo with these instructions.

As for what’s next... I’m afraid it will depend on fate.