Chapter 1026: Chapter 1025: Did You Think the System Would Let You Slack Off?
For Fang Zheng, the entire banquet went quite smoothly from start to finish. Whether it was the people from the Heavenly Dao Palace or the Game World, they all got along quite well. Illya, Little Hei, and Yoshino got along well with kids like Silica, and Black Snow Princess had a lot to talk about with Tilia and Kurumi.
Even Natsuse, Nobiru, and Tina found some good friends.
"Now this... what should I do?"
Looking at the two standing in front of him glaring at each other, Fang Zheng sighed helplessly and asked. Hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Black Cat and Eiriri stood aside with a look of indifference.
"Don’t ask me, I’m just here for the fun."
"I’m just helping to inquire, nothing more."
Faced with Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Black Cat and Eiriri quickly distanced themselves, but the two staring at each other did not seem ready to give up.
"How dare you try to snatch the script from me? I’m the number one light novel writer on the ORICON chart, Yamada Elf!"
Elf glared fiercely at the black-haired elegant beauty in front of her and stomped her foot in anger. Hearing her words, the elegantly dressed and curvaceous black-haired beauty on the opposite side snorted softly.
"Hmph, just a washed-up light novel writer. Can you even keep up with the current trends?"
"What did you say? A mere waste that can’t even sell five million copies dares to criticize me... Fine, I’ll show you my true power. Even if you cry and beg for mercy, I won’t let you off easily!"
The two arguing people were guild members Elf from Dark Moon Sword Guild and Eiriri’s friend Shiyu of Misty Hill. The reason they came to Fang Zheng was simple: both wanted to adapt the experiences of the Dark Moon Sword Guild in the game into a novel, so they asked Black Cat and Eiriri for help. Surprisingly, when the two met, they clashed directly, leading to the current scene.
To this, Fang Zheng wasn’t surprised. After all, since ancient times, writers have been rivals, and competitors are enemies. One is a super best-selling light novelist with five hundred million sales, and the other is a hot romance novelist. Meeting over the same topic is like Mars colliding with Earth.
"Guild Master!"
Elf obviously didn’t want to keep arguing with Shiyu of Misty Hill. She turned directly to Fang Zheng and dashed in front of him.
"Give the adaptation rights to me. I’m also a member of the Dark Moon Sword Guild. Compared to this big-breasted bimbo who only writes crappy romance novels, I’m clearly the better writer!"
"Who are you calling big-breasted and brainless?"
Hearing this, Shiyu of Misty Hill couldn’t hold back. She also stepped forward and looked at Fang Zheng.
"I can definitely use your stories as material to complete a magnificent novel. Although I haven’t participated in that game, I can ask Eiriri..."
"Hmph, you’re only getting second-hand information."
"But according to Eiriri, you’re just a second-tier member of the Combat Group, right? You’ve never participated in a BOSS raid. Can you write about the thrilling raid battles well?"
"Ugh... but I hear about their BOSS battle experiences from Black Cat and Eiriri every time! No problem at all! On the contrary, a romance-obsessed light novel writer like you shouldn’t ruin our stories. They’re the result of our blood and sweat... In any case, I absolutely won’t accept you writing this novel!"
"Hmm..."
Watching the two argue, Fang Zheng was also lost in thought.
Frankly speaking, he was more inclined towards Elf, as Elf is a guild member, and at least Fang Zheng didn’t have to worry about her writing something inappropriate. But on the other hand, as Shiyu of Misty Hill mentioned, Elf hasn’t written a novel in two years, so it’s hard to determine whether her current skill has regressed or improved...
Fang Zheng certainly hoped to publish a novel to give the Dark Moon Sword Guild the recognition they deserve, which would also benefit them. But how to go about it...
"Here’s what we’ll do."
Thinking of this, Fang Zheng came up with an idea.
"I can’t decide who to let write it just yet, but as a writer, you need to speak through your work. I’ll give you a topic, and you write the first part based on it. Whoever impresses me will get the adaptation rights—just write the first part, the segment when the Death Game just starts until I form the Dark Moon Sword Guild. No problem, right?"
"Of course, no problem."
Upon hearing this, Elf immediately lifted her head proudly.
"That’s a piece of cake for me."
"Indeed... you’ll see how far behind the current trend a washed-up light novel writer is."
Shiyu of Misty Hill responded sarcastically, but clearly agreed to Fang Zheng’s request.
Both were action-oriented, and within half a month, Fang Zheng had almost simultaneously received submissions from both.
"Hmm..."
After reading the first part of the text written by Shiyu of Misty Hill and Yamada Elf, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
Strictly speaking, both have their strengths and weaknesses. The fairy, after all, is a member of the Dark Moon Sword Guild, and she mostly respects the facts in character creation and story flow, but her detailed descriptions are somewhat rough.
On the contrary, Shiyu of Misty Hill, as Yamada Elf sarcastically pointed out, worked hard to write the first part, and the plot is quite exciting. However, no matter how Fang Zheng looks at it, it feels like a palace drama script... However, in fact, inside the Dark Moon Sword Guild, you basically don’t see palace drama, so in this regard, Shiyu of Misty Hill is definitely out of the running.
After all, it’s a novel depicting their guild, and if it were Fang Zheng, he’d also want to see everyone team up to defeat the boss and ultimately win the positive energy, rather than women playing palace drama as negative energy. Not to mention, it’s adapted from reality, and if it gets published, people may suspect that the depictions truly reflect their thoughts... Even if they do, it can’t be written!
Yet, besides that, Fang Zheng also had to admit that in terms of emotional portrayal, Shiyu of Misty Hill is much stronger than Yamada Elf. If this wasn’t an adaptation with Dark Moon Sword in reality as the prototype, but merely a speculative script, then the latter would obviously have the advantage.
After reading both parties’ originals, Fang Zheng had come to a decision.
"From the big picture, the fairy’s choice is correct."
Putting down the draft, Fang Zheng looked at the fairy and Shiyu of Misty Hill and spoke. Hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, the fairy immediately lifted her head proudly, while Shiyu of Misty Hill furrowed her brow.
"Why...?"
"We’re not a romance script."
Fang Zheng patted the manuscript in his hand.
"Miss Shiyu of Misty Hill, you have to understand that this is a story adapted from reality, and you must follow reality. You can ask anyone from our guild; during the strategy period, no one was thinking about the messy things you wrote in the story. At the time, every time we fought, we worried about whether we could come back alive. Do you think we have the mood to play palace drama tricks?"
"Ugh..."
Hearing this, Shiyu of Misty Hill couldn’t help but bite her lip. As Fang Zheng said, her biggest flaw was that Shiyu of Misty Hill had not entered the Death Game; her understanding of the Death Game only came from Eiriri, not as empathetic as the fairy.
However, giving a stick and then a jujube is something Fang Zheng often does.
"But in terms of emotional description and impact, Miss Shiyu of Misty Hill indeed has unique insights, so I have a suggestion."
While speaking, Fang Zheng put down the manuscript in his hand and looked at the two.
"If you agree, I suggest you two collaborate to write this novel... the fairy will be responsible for the outline and body, and the details will be left to Miss Shiyu of Misty Hill... What do you think?"
"Eh? Collaborate with her?"
Upon hearing this, the fairy and Shiyu of Misty Hill immediately jumped up in surprise, opening their mouths to argue. However, Fang Zheng directly interrupted them.
"That’s right; after reviewing the draft, I think this is a suitable combination. You can also look at each other’s drafts and feel each other’s work... Alright, that’s that."
Fang Zheng didn’t give them a chance to argue, and they didn’t say much, taking each other’s draft and leaving Fang Zheng’s office with complex expressions. Only then did Fang Zheng stretch and exhale.
"Whew... Finally solved... But this world is really nice..."
With a sigh, Fang Zheng turned to look at the city outside the floor-to-ceiling window behind him.
If he had come to this world right after time travel, he might never have returned to the Main World. After all, in this world, Fang Zheng could live his familiar life with ease. It’s really nice... I want to stay here forever... Then there’d be luxury cars and beauties — anything I want, living here would be comfortable... It’s awesome; I don’t want to play anymore...
"Ding!"
However, before Fang Zheng’s thoughts were complete, a notification tone suddenly sounded, followed by a line of information appearing before Fang Zheng.
[Exploration task initiated. Please enter a new instance within twenty-four hours for the task.]
[Our journey is the stars and the sea, not confined to a single place; gather everything of yours and march toward the boundless star sea.]
[Requirement: New instance development level must reach 35% or higher, means unrestrained.]
[Task success will earn new force evaluation, random attribute summon boost.]
[Task failure will prohibit user from accessing the Free World.]
"........"
Staring at the system prompt before him, Fang Zheng remained silent.
I was just being a little lazy, is this necessary?