Chapter Fifty-Eight: Haken's Brutal Beating

Half an hour later, Nine Suns Bei Bei leapt from his chair in excitement, darting around the room as he stared at the twenty million gold coins newly added to his account. Eventually, he returned to his seat, his face flushed, and addressed his streaming audience: "Look, everyone, this new event is clearly much easier to win than the previous horse racing one. As long as you equip all the accessories, your winning rate will noticeably increase. Though the payout ratio has decreased, the odds of winning are higher, and most importantly, you can cheer and encourage during the competition—there’s a real sense of participation! Brothers, you should try out this new event. As for horse racing, luck isn’t on my side today, so I won't touch it!"

The chat was awash with praise, stirring up players in the game to leave Xie Jing’s event and flock to the speedboat showdown.

Xie Jing’s premonition had come true.

When the servers reopened, the dazzling speedboat event was clearly more enticing than the straightforward brutality of horse racing. Both events were built around the same core format: eight advance to four, four to two, then the final showdown. However, Xie Jing’s was direct, while the event set up by Goose Corporation featured modifications and live streaming, which greatly excited the players.

For a moment, Xie Jing’s stall was deserted; most players crowded around Haken Vance, trembling with anticipation.

Staring at the paltry three million investment displayed for his event, Xie Jing locked his gaze onto Haken Vance, whose smiling mouth curled upward as he glanced sidelong at Xie Jing with a trace of disdain.

“Is that supposed to be a taunt?” Xie Jing couldn’t decipher Haken Vance’s intentions, but he knew that if things continued as they were, his event would not survive, and his goal of one hundred billion would become nearly impossible.

No, he had to do something!

Xie Jing racked his brain but could not think of a good solution.

…

Goose Corporation Tower, DNF Operations Department.

A cheer erupted from the office as Parker Wet watched the gold coins increase, his pride palpable.

"Over a hundred thousand players are participating in the event now, and there are few left at the horse racing side!"

Brother Zhang nodded approvingly, commending Parker Wet and the planning team.

"You’ve done well this time, the event is well designed. You’re truly professionals; once this is over, I'll request a bonus for you all!"

The team was overjoyed, applauding and cheering.

Brother Zhang pressed his hands down, his face suddenly turning stern. "Have you found that person yet? What’s the security department doing?"

"They’re still checking the surveillance. We don’t know who altered the data that day, so they’re reviewing footage day by day."

Brother Zhang sighed, his stern face softening into a smile.

"Well, regardless, the planning team performed admirably today and deserves recognition. I plan to hold a meeting tomorrow to reward you all in person..."

---

"Brother Zhang! Brother Zhang! Look!"

Before he could finish speaking, someone pointed at the game display behind him, interrupting him in shock.

A foreboding feeling surged within Brother Zhang; he turned to see a terrifying scene on the game screen...

Under the gaze of hundreds of thousands of players and millions more watching streamers, an unbelievable spectacle unfolded.

Xie Jing slowly left his stall, passed through the crowded throng, and arrived before Haken Vance.

"Huh? Why is the horse racing NPC approaching the speedboat showdown NPC? Is this some special Easter egg in the game?" Nine Suns Bei Bei watched with interest, narrating the scene.

"Look, everyone, the speedboat showdown NPC Haken Vance seems to be saying something to Edward—could this be an interactive event between the two? Goose Corporation really put effort into this; today’s event is fascinating!"

"Wait! What just happened?! Did I see Haken Vance pull out a weapon, only to be slapped by Edward and sent spinning through the air countless times? What’s going on?!"

"Ah! Edward is kicking him! Even though it’s a 2D screen, I saw Edward kick the event NPC three times. Oh, it looks like there’s blood!"

As Nine Suns Bei Bei exclaimed in surprise, the streaming chat erupted, scrolling non-stop.

【666, DNF live stream NPC fights!】
【This game is so well made! I declare my return!】
【Watching NPCs fight live in the Great Monkey’s stream!】
【Goose Corporation’s planners are geniuses!】
...

Not only Nine Suns Bei Bei, but Brother Zhang and a crowd of Goose Corporation staff watched the screen, dumbfounded.

"What... what are the game characters doing?!"

"Boss, he seems to be beating up our new event NPC!"

"I know!" Brother Zhang was on the verge of madness; the scene before him shattered his long-standing sense of reality. What was this?!

Because players had fled, one event NPC was beating up another live!

"I..." Brother Zhang opened his mouth, but was at a loss for words.

...

Smack!

Xie Jing kicked Haken Vance, sending him crashing into a speedboat at his stall, denting it deeply.

---

"Will you talk or not? Will you?"

Xie Jing grabbed Haken Vance by the collar, glaring at his swollen, pig-headed face with fury. "If you dare say one more word—"

"Hah... hah..." Haken Vance clutched Xie Jing’s hand, still glancing up at him with a sidelong look.

"You… this… orphaned… animal..."

Bang!

Xie Jing kicked him again, launching him across the room.

The mention of his parents was Xie Jing’s deepest wound. When he approached Haken Vance’s stall, Yuan En had tried to persuade him to relocate, but unexpectedly, Haken insulted his parents directly.

"You little brat, don’t you know to call me ‘Big Brother’ when you see me? Your parents are dead, aren’t they? No manners at all!" He even tried to slap Xie Jing.

This remark ignited Xie Jing’s rage; the word ‘parents’ was the most precious thing to him, and he acted without hesitation.

Afterward, he realized Haken Vance had no real strength. Xie Jing restrained his fury, holding back his power, but just now, Haken had refused to surrender and repeated his insult.

From the sky, Haken crashed heavily to the ground, now bleeding from every orifice and barely breathing.

"Edward, stop! You’ll kill him!" Galantis’s voice sounded from nearby, and a ball of holy light enveloped Haken, slowly healing him.

Xie Jing exhaled deeply, walked up to Haken, and looked down at him.

"Leave. Don’t come back. If you do, I’ll forgive you."

"Heh... cough cough... you’re finished. The God of Versions has his eye on you! You’re finished! Hahaha!"

Haken laughed maniacally, his expression fierce.

"The God of Versions is the ultimate deity, our last hope! You’re finished!"

Laughing, Haken quietly dissolved into white dots, starting from his feet, fading bit by bit from the game...

Goose Corporation Tower.

A programmer rushed to Brother Zhang, panic written across his face.

"Brother Zhang, the event NPC’s code has malfunctioned—it deleted itself for no apparent reason!"