When Xu Kefu entered the corridor on the 98th floor, he didn't feel anything special.

As the wealthiest and most powerful figure in the entire Terra Federation, Lai Anding's living and working environment was quite simple, with no opulence or rare cultural artifacts, and not even any visible advanced technology.

The corridor was full of design sketches and balance parameters, along with her analyses and thoughts about various factions in "Starry Abyss". Everywhere were traces of work left behind, and the bookshelves were piled with messy manuscripts. Every book seemed so heavy, and upon flipping them open, every page was dog-eared and covered in notes and annotations.

No matter how one looked at it, Lai Anding didn't seem as domineering as rumors suggested. Some said she was extravagant, but the entire corridor looked like a newly delivered rough house, large and cluttered, filled with volumes of knowledge. Walking through here truly felt like bathing in a sea of knowledge.

Without having met her in person, Xu Kefu already had a favorable impression of Lai Anding.

Once he passed through the long corridor, he saw Ms. Lai Anding reading in the central chamber.

Ms. Lai Anding was about three meters tall, with large hands and feet, and a massive build, wearing a soft brown robe. Despite her broad frame, she had a gentle appearance.

Her eyebrows were slightly thicker than those of ordinary women, yet they didn't seem too masculine, instead imbuing her with a nurturing, maternal aura. She was diligently writing on a tablet with one hand while flipping through complex reports with the other, multitasking as she swiftly drafted game adjustment plans.

Just as Xu Kefu was observing Lai Anding, the headband he wore flashed faintly.

In a distant dark basement, Xia Yubing was remotely controlling the headband, infiltrating the cognition filter.

"Has the confidentiality pact been updated? Seems like they've noticed something; indeed, we should be careful."

But even if the anti-snooping measures were updated, for Xia Yubing, it was still as easy as child's play.

Xu Kefu approached, and through the filter, Xia Yubing saw her responding to a subordinate's email:

"Xiao Zhang, you weren't in good shape yesterday, better take it easy today. Go home and rest for a while. I hope you participate in work with full energy. Only this way can 'Starry Abyss' truly become a game everyone is satisfied with..."

Her words carried a bit of parental command, but her tone was much gentle. Once she hit the enter key, she only then noticed Xu Kefu's presence.

"Oh, you must be Mr. Xu Kefu."

Lai Anding smiled slightly, brushing her hair off her forehead, and said warmly:

"I'm sorry, my studio doesn't have chairs; I usually work sitting on the floor. If you don't mind, please have a seat on the ground."

"No problem, I've been lying down all the way from the colony, standing is just fine now."

Xu Kefu replied.

"Alright then, since you say so, I won't say more, welcome to Qiqiao Network, how do you feel?"

"No wonder it's the largest company in Terra." Xu Kefu answered: "Very pleasant atmosphere, seems like the employee benefits are great too. Much more prosperous than our colony."

"Ajincour Colony has always been Terra's most important granary, every grain of rice, every loaf of bread here relies on the hard work of Ajincour farmers."

Lai Anding said with a smile:

"I used to farm as well, at this time of the year, wheat was about to overwinter, and next year would be busy again. Bringing you here, I hope I didn't delay anything?"

'Hypocrite.' Xia Yubing cursed under her breath: 'You've never left the Primordial Abyss.'

Xu Kefu blinked and said to her:

"Ms. Lai Anding, the wheat in our colony is cultivated on the solar orbit, nurtured through tiered greenhouses, so the concept of overwintering doesn't exist; it's harvested eighteen times a year."

"Ha, that's remarkable, the environment in each region is truly different."

"It's the advancement of technology," Xu Kefu said.

"Yes, technology, technology is important, but the people using technology are more important. Without the right people to operate the technology, it could lead to great disasters. At that point, even with fields yielding four hundred thousand per unit, it could cause farmers to revolt. But if the right people are in control, even a yield of four to five thousand per unit can ensure everyone's food security."

Lai Anding looked at Xu Kefu and said:

"Child, in your opinion, which is more important, technology or people?"

"...People, I guess." Xu Kefu thought for a moment, then felt it was inappropriate, and corrected himself: "No, it should be technology... no, people are more important."

"No, child."

Lai Anding said:

"The person who possesses technology is more important."

Xu Kefu didn't know what to say for a moment, and Lai Anding opened a projection, displaying rows of data:

"Xu Kefu, 25 years old, biological sex and self-identification as male, Fiery Summer-born Ajincour Colony citizen. You were initially raised in a Fiery Summer social institution, but before turning 10, you were transferred to colonial engineering, and grew up being trained as a productive worker. As 'Starry Abyss' expanded its business to the colony, the local government discovered your exceptional eSports talent, and trained you to become an eSports athlete, registering you as an athlete six months ago."

"Thank you for knowing so much about me," Xu Kefu said.

"However, Ajincour is just a national colony. Plainly speaking, the chief athlete here is equivalent to a provincial team athlete from Fiery Summer."

Lai Anding turned to look at Xu Kefu:

"You're aware that aside from being merely a planner and shareholder, my status in the Federation isn't low, and I have many responsibilities."

"In the Ajincour region, although agricultural product quality is very high, in recent years due to an overly singular industry ratio, many young people have lost interest in agriculture, leading to increased population outflow and the per capita income is only one-third that of Fiery Summer."

"This time, I called you over precisely in hopes of helping Ajincour break free from singular industrial issues and achieve balanced economic development for the colony in another way. For example, increasing tourism, eSports industry, virtual industry, etc."

"Simply put, I will help you become a truly international-level eSports player, to help Ajincour Colony alleviate poverty."

"Thank you very much, Ms. Lai Anding!"

Xu Kefu bowed his head in gratitude:

"To be able to help my hometown, I'll do whatever it takes."

"There's no need to thank me, in fact, this is merely quid pro quo."

Lai Anding smiled slightly. At this moment, she exhibited no hypocrisy, and when discussing poverty alleviation policies, her attitude was extremely earnest, as she detailed the plan to establish an Ajincour branch company:

"We hope to promote 'Starry Abyss' in the Ajincour region by focusing on individual elite players, to attract more players to join. Naturally, the benefits will try to match those of major areas like Fiery Summer as closely as possible, striving to provide Ajincour players with the same benefits without disrupting data balance."

"Just tell me directly what you need me to do."

Completely devoted to Lai Anding, Xu Kefu said frankly:

"I'm just an ordinary gamer; despite being quite notorious in the game, I have no way of changing my hometown. Ajincour used to be prosperous and beautiful, but with the loss of young people, the decline is becoming more and more evident. As long as you can change my hometown, I'm willing to do anything."

"Don't rush to boast, child. I'm very willing to change the fate of any poor individuals, but unfortunately, many things do not develop as I wish. There's always someone who will misunderstand, not understand, or even think that I would destroy the future of the nation and civilization—that this civilization is my home, my flesh and blood, how could I bear to harm myself?"

Lai Anding said self-mockingly, and then handed Xu Kefu a secret key:

"Go behind The Gate. If you truly want to help me, go and meet the player Pryor. He is the true backbone of the game. If you desire change for your hometown, or even to change the entire reality, then go and witness the truth of this world."

'This is it! The opportunity has come!'

Xia Yubing typed rapidly, her mood becoming extremely excited.

Fifteen years, she had been waiting for this opportunity.

The legendary player Pryor, the secretive senator, the behind-the-scenes mastermind and chief designer of "From Star Abyss."

This person holds all the server data.

As long as she could meet him, she would find out where all the missing players over the years had gone.

'Wait for me, Jiaozi Niu, I'm about to find you!'

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