[PS: Participants will receive priority exploration rights for the new map in the next update and have the opportunity to join in the building of special structures in the area, leaving their name behind]

———

[Sword Saint: Watson District is on fire, hurry up and come help put it out!]

[Brother Dao: Fire? What's the situation?]

[Sword Saint: Such and such, this and that]

[Expert: Didn't you leave anyone on guard duty, everyone went to loot, and ended up getting ambushed with heavy casualties?]

[6]

[Sword Saint: How were we supposed to know the fight wasn't over? This game doesn't have any indicators or background music to tell us.]

[Brother Dao: I'm out conducting an interview, exclusive news, afraid I can't help now.]

[Brother Ni: Holy crap! Just announced an event task, participants will receive a permanent limited title as a reward and priority exploration rights for the new map!]

[Brother Dao: Screw the interview, I'm not doing it. I'll find someone to replace me, heading over immediately.]

[Bigshot: Permanent title? New map exploration rights? What are these things? Are these rewards for tasks?]

Bigshot threw the bowl from the sink, wiped his hands casually, and dashed out of the kitchen.

Weiwei: "What are you doing? Did you finish washing the dishes?"

Bigshot hesitated hearing this voice, but kept firm thinking about the permanent event title, and glared at Weiwei saying

"Damn it, wash them yourself. I'm going to be a Hero of Fire!"

"???

"...Uh...I mean...I have something urgent, please handle the dishes today."

"You're going to play that game again, right?"

"Ah, only my dear wife understands me."

"Get away from me. Remember to pick our son up from school tonight."

"Mission will be accomplished!"

"Huang Xudong, call Peinan to log in!"

"Why? He and I are still in a meeting."

"Screw the meeting, log in quickly! End-of-version event, permanent title. The meeting can be tomorrow, this title won't be available if missed!"

And so, one told ten, ten told a hundred. Originally, everyone was busy with their own affairs during the day, hustling for life and studies, but upon hearing the news, they all dropped what they were doing.

Work can resume tomorrow

Miss this raid event and it's truly missed. Even reviewing in Hyperdream gives no rewards.

Thus, under any circumstances, they couldn't miss this event. A permanent limited title was even more precious than gold.

Though there's speculation the game is cashing in at the end of its lifecycle, with rapidly inflating stats and various limited titles and equipment on sale.

But at least for now, this title is immensely valuable.

——

Watson District Dock

The fire had been burning for twenty minutes, yet not a single fire truck was in sight.

Although Sword Saint and the others managed to get the fire company's phone number from the residents, the operator's voice was forever calm, even carrying a hint of annoyance for being disturbed by Sword Saint's call at night.

So, players, knowing the fire company was unreliable, chose to take action themselves first.

"Quick, run this way!"

Masked Rider stood under a building affected by the flames, guiding the fleeing crowd.

The flames spread too quickly.

If they were typical concrete buildings, they might not burn so fast. But Californian homes, following the American tradition, mostly use simple composite wood panels, which burn completely once ignited, even God's intervention can't help.

Plus, recent earthquakes causing massive house collapses, these uncollected ruins and mountains of garbage bags make perfect fuel.

And the buildings aren't much better; under the chimney effect, flames can surge from the first floor stairwell to the fifth or sixth floor in minutes.

The blazing flames dyed every corner within eye's reach red, making the whole world seem engulfed in a sea of flames.

Not until the blaze lit up most of the dock did the fire brigade slowly appear on the street.

They leisurely parked their vehicles on the fire zone's edge, then symbolically attached hoses to their trucks, spraying weak jets that couldn't possibly extinguish the fire at the residences.

Sword Saint originally hoped for help, with his mouth slightly open

"What are you doing?"

The firefighter glanced at this smoke-blackened passerby and casually said

"Putting out the fire, citizen. Don't interfere with our work."

"You call this putting out a fire?"

Sword Saint pointed at their tiny water hoses and then at the hydrant nearby

"Can't you use the hydrant water?"

The firefighter leisurely explained

"Night City's water resources and reservoirs are private property of Whole Foods Co. and Continental Foods Corporation."

"Of course, if you, as a citizen, are urgent to save your home, you can send me the address and place an order on our Night City Municipal Fire Company's website. They are our company's partners."

Then, like a salesman, this firefighter tried pushing their company's firefighting packages on Sword Saint

"Silver firefighting package: 200 Euros, initial firefighting water 5 tons, 15 Euros per ton afterwards, no guarantee of building integrity."

"Gold firefighting package: 500 Euros, initial firefighting water 10 tons, 12 Euros per ton afterwards, no guarantee of building integrity but we will strive to ensure family safety and can rescue one specific item."

"Platinum firefighting package: 2000 Euros, unlimited water…"

He babbled on about company products, trying to scrape off the last bit from this seemingly urgent disaster victim.

In fact, it wasn't just him; salespeople from the fire company were all deployed persuading every resident near the disaster site to purchase their products for some peace of mind.

"Platinum membership… Platinum membership…"

Sword Saint nodded repeatedly at this jabbering firefighter… sales rep

Then immediately pulled a gun from his waist, aimed at the man's head. Other firefighters quickly dropped their hoses, some drawing guns to stand off with Sword Saint, others hiding

"I now give you two options"

"Gold membership: I shoot you all dead now, toss your bodies into the fire, and leave some ashes for your company's boss to mix with rice."

"Platinum membership: call your men and follow me to put out the fire; your vehicle and your men are now under my command."

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