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

Chapter 902: Chapter 901: Shared Joy Is Greater Than Solitary Joy

As it turns out, girls really do pay attention to looks.

After switching to the shapeshifting weapons Fang Zheng specifically made for them, the entire raiding party unleashed 120% of their strength, practically sweeping through and defeating the boss monsters of the second, third, and fourth layers. Those bosses that appeared terrifying to most players became nothing more than mere prey to Fang Zheng’s group.

”Ah, the Dark Moon Sword is really something...”

Sitting in the chair, Argo couldn’t help but sigh as she looked at Fang Zheng. She took the records of the fourth layer’s creatures and attack patterns from Fang Zheng, smiling as she looked at him.

”Thanks to you all, the players still in the Starting Town have relaxed quite a bit. They’re no longer as tense as before and some are even beginning to enjoy the game...”

”Is that so...”

Hearing Argo’s sigh, Fang Zheng slightly raised an eyebrow.

”By the way, I have two important things I need your help with.”

”No problem, what is it?”

Argo took the battle records handed by Fang Zheng, storing them away while curiously looking at him.

However, what Fang Zheng said next took Argo by surprise.

”First, please inform the leaders of the other guilds that the Dark Moon Sword will not participate in the raid of the fifth layer’s boss. They are free to take it on themselves. If they can’t beat the fifth layer, they can just remain stuck there.”

”Eh... eh eh eh?!”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Argo screamed, slamming her hands on the table in astonishment as she stared at him wide-eyed.

”Wh-Why?”

”It’s time they put in some effort.”

Facing Argo’s surprised inquiry, Fang Zheng nonchalantly took a sip of juice.

”You know, our Dark Moon Sword raiding party only has fifteen members, and even with substitutes, it’s fewer than twenty. Right now is manageable, but as the game progresses, relying solely on us to clear all the bosses is impossible. We will inevitably need cooperation or joint combat from other guilds. If they don’t accumulate experience fighting bosses early on, they’ll be at a disadvantage later. Also... I don’t want to be a hero who saves the world, nor do the girls. Saving ten thousand lives is too heavy a burden for them.”

”Hmm... that’s true...”

Argo, not being a fool, understood Fang Zheng’s implication. He didn’t want the Dark Moon Sword to believe only they could save the trapped players in the game world. While it might bring pride, it also adds pressure. Some people might yearn for glory, while others might resent it. For Fang Zheng, he clearly didn’t want such glory.

After all, clearing the entire game is the shared mission of all players trapped in this game. You can’t just leave this burden to a group of young girls and then sit back to watch.

Being a Magical Girl saving the world isn’t a good gig.

As for the strength of other guilds, Fang Zheng wasn’t worried. Since the raiding party at the frontlines started using custom-made weapons, most of the weapons and gear from defeated boss loot, unless extraordinarily special, were sold by Fang Zheng to other guild combat teams to enhance their strength.

Incidentally, up till now, they’ve yet to find a two-handed sword in the maze instances.

But Fang Zheng didn’t care anymore.

If they don’t give me one, I’ll make one myself!

Ha!

”So what’s the second thing?”

”Well... it’s quite simple.”

Facing Argo’s inquiry, Fang Zheng pondered for a moment.

”Have you ever thought about... changing your profession?”

”...If you’re asking me to join the Dark Moon Sword, then no.”

Argo clearly wasn’t interested in Fang Zheng’s recruitment. In fact, she didn’t dislike Fang Zheng or the Dark Moon Sword; she just preferred a free and untethered life as an information broker.

”I didn’t mean that.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand and continued.

”You know, several issues of the Survival Manual have been released, and almost every player in the game has one by now, right?”

”Yeah, thanks to you. I still remember the hidden skill trigger conditions you wrote earlier... it drove quite a few players nearly crazy...”

Recalling those days, Argo couldn’t help but shiver.

”Someone was practicing singing outside my window every night instead of sleeping, nearly driving me to a nervous breakdown!”

”You could move to another place then. Anyway, I’m not here today to discuss that. My point is...”

Fang Zheng stared at Argo, speaking each syllable deliberately.

”I wish we could publish a periodical based on the Survival Manual.”

”A periodical...?”

”Yes, the Survival Manual has mostly covered what I need to write. As for the creature types on each level, skills, and areas, you can’t expect us to investigate everything. The Dark Moon Sword’s main task is to conquer bosses. There are so many maze instances on each map, and we don’t have the time to handle them all.”

”Hmm... what you say makes sense.”

Listening to Fang Zheng, Argo nodded. Indeed, the Dark Moon Sword is the hope to clear the game and free all players from their struggles; they can’t be bogged down by such time-consuming tasks.

”In the game, we lack external communication means, and no tools for interaction. Therefore, I believe publishing a newspaper or periodical is the best way. We could release it weekly, encouraging other players to send us their encounters and findings about creatures, maze characteristics, strategies, and questions in the game. We would then select and publish them.”

In the internet era, print media has waned, but Fang Zheng fondly remembered the magazines he subscribed to as a child like ”Popular Software” and ”Video Game Software.” Each issue published game guides and had sections devoted to answering players’ various questions and challenges during gameplay.

”Would that... work?”

Being a product of the digital information age, Argo was unfamiliar with print media. Her mind was set on the fixed communication methods of websites, forums, and social networks. Magazines... seemed almost extinct to her.

”How will you know unless you try? Plus, you’ll need some staff for layout and processing—just the thing, you can hire some unwilling to venture players in the Starting Town. If they can’t handle swords, then layout, clerical, and proofreading should be manageable.”

”That’ll cost a lot of money.”

Hearing this, Argo grimaced.

”It’s simple, really. You can tell your readers in this issue of the Survival Manual that starting next issue, it will be revamped. Tell them we’ll be adding new columns and types, but also inform them they will need to purchase a subscription—a Survival Manual for 50 Core each. It’s not expensive, right? With over nine thousand players in the game, that’s not a small number collectively. You can take a portion of the earnings as pay for the staff you hire, and you can also approach other guilds to pay for ads in the Survival Manual. Aren’t those all sources of income?”

”... That... could actually work?”

After hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Argo thought carefully and increasingly felt that his proposal was practical. With excitement, she stood up promptly.

”I’ll go try it out now! If I encounter anything difficult, I’ll come back to you!”

Watching Argo leave enthusiastically, Fang Zheng’s lips slightly curled. This was why he had Argo publish the Survival Manual in the first place. The spread of information is crucial, but Argo, as an information broker herself, was narrowly focused on the information itself. From Fang Zheng’s perspective, that was short-sighted. Such a channel must be utilized effectively, right?

However, Fang Zheng didn’t expect that two days later, he’d receive news from Argo.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, Dark Nebula and the Red Knight Order have decided to conduct a joint raid on the fifth layer boss. However, they have a small request.”

”A request?”

Hearing Argo’s message, Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow.

”What request?”

”They hope Mr. Fang Zheng can join the raid to conduct live teaching and guidance.”

”Oh?”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng paused for a moment, then nodded.

”No problem, I agree.”