Safely back home, we quickly dove into game development.
In the center of the laboratory, the Dragon Heart Stone was set up, and the red magic of the stone began to flow through the Irene Tower.
“Here we go!!! Here we go!!! Bang!!”
“Whoa!!! I feel so powerful!!!!”
The first game developed with the Dragon Heart Stone was progressing with tremendous enthusiasm.
Everyone was furiously working away, eyes glowing with red magic, as if they were high on something.
Only Sylvia watched with a worried expression.
“It’s just too weird.”
“It’s fine, Sylvia. They’ll all adjust.”
The problem was that the red magic was making everyone high, but the effects of the Dragon Heart Stone were indeed real, and the Irene School was creating the game at the fastest pace ever seen.
Thus, the world’s first open-world game, “Triad,” was released.
*
Once “Triad” was unveiled to the world, it delivered a cultural shock to gamers.
The upgraded graphics and loading speeds made possible by the Dragon Heart Stone, along with the vast open world, provided an experience of freedom previously unknown in games.
The open-world game that allowed players to roam wherever they wanted became content in itself, sucking away the gamers’ time.
Another element excited gamers worldwide.
It was the fact that the mysterious crime city “Triad” had been fully realized.
As both the name of the game and its setting, “Triad” was shrouded in rumors as a crime-filled city.
Some claimed it was a nonexistent city, while others said once one entered the den of criminals there, there was no escaping.
Curiosity was natural, especially since such a city became the game’s stage.
When players first experienced “Triad,” many were surprisingly disappointed to see it resembled an ordinary rural town.
“What the heck, it’s just a plain country town.”
For those expecting a demonic fortress or monster lairs, the slightly run-down provincial look of “Triad” was saddening.
Then, the gamers were greeted by a group.
“Hand over all your cash!!”
These were criminals threatening them with magical guns covering their faces, and what followed next made the players doubt their own eyes.
“You hand it over! You punks!!”
The protagonist they controlled also pulled out a gun, and comrades armed with staffs and guns appeared, robbing the criminals, making people realize this was indeed a crime city, and that they were criminals themselves.
Thus, through the event that was crowned “The Most Intense Game Intro,” gamers began to enjoy just how fun a game could be without morals in a crime-riddled city.
In “Triad,” gamers could really play freely.
They could receive missions from the four organizations at will, engage in non-criminal businesses, or become troubleshooters solving NPC’s requests.
They could participate in the city’s gambling races for fun or hunt nearby monsters to become hunters.
Of course, stealing money from passersby, hijacking carriages, or creating mayhem with guns and magic were all possible.
Naturally, if they went too far, instead of police, the action squads of organizations would intervene, but similar to GTC, if they escaped, the stars would disappear, and the alert would ease.
The basic plot of the story was to grow one’s organization into the top organization in “Triad.”
The best event, unanimously agreed upon by all users, was the “Bank Heist.”
The protagonist’s organization launched a heist on the bank to block the crimes of the rival organization and earn money, leading to dozens of enemy carriages chasing after them in a dramatic scene.
In a world without Hollywood-style action films or chases, this was the first chase experience for the people, and gamers went wild over the spectacle.
Even users who usually skipped the story deemed this event a must-play, establishing the “Bank Heist” and “Chase” as the game’s core identity.
Adding to this, Yuren using “Triad” as the model had a positive role.
Had it been modeled after some real-world city, the game could have faced serious issues.
Even though it was just a game, if a gamer stormed a royal palace or a government building, they could easily draw suspicions like “Are you a traitor!?”
But “Triad” was a crime city.
There were no buildings related to public authority, just fellow criminals, so nothing they did would be a big deal.
Actually, that city might be overflowing with crime, making it hard to live, but their country seemed more livable without such issues, leading to a surprising trend of encouraging people to play the game.
This was a flow even Yuren hadn’t anticipated.
*
Another unexpected development for Yuren was…
“Now, let’s begin discussing ‘Management Strategies for Triad.’”
The official involvement of public authority in “Triad” had begun.
Although it was located on the outskirts of borders and was out of reach due to the business ties of important people, “Triad” had become too famous through the game, shining a light on the criminal activities taking place there, compelling officials around the world to feel the need for intervention.
After lengthy discussions, the three countries agreed to elevate “Triad” into a self-governing city, appointing managers and joint management under the three nations.
This agreement was made possible thanks to Sion’s proactive cooperation after taking over Karma following its downfall, becoming the top organization in “Triad.”
The issue that arose was that the intervention of public authority made conducting criminal activities more challenging, reducing the income of residents, but surprisingly, this was resolved with an unexpected approach.
“Come visit! The thrilling city of Triad!”
A travel package was introduced, allowing people to experience the crimes available in the game, causing tourism to “Triad” to blossom.
From the cheapest “Street Robbery Course” to the most expensive “Organization Conflict Course,” and the once-a-week large-scale robbery-based “Carriage Chase Show,” “Triad” transformed into a city of thrills and tourism, realizing the dark desires of men, becoming a dream city.
In another sense, it had turned into a city of darkness.
*
“Long time no see, Shasha.”
“What is it, Nevi?”
In the southern café that was once the peaceful zone of Triad, Shasha and Nevi met after a long time.
Looking at Shasha, Nevi complained with a face that seemed about to drop dead.
“You said you were busy since you became a leader, but you seem pretty free.”
“Free? Hell no, I’m only getting two weeks off. Plus, I need to check out the ‘Carriage Chase Show’ tonight. But what about you? You seem to have too much free time?”
“Too much free time? Stop kidding! I feel like I’m gonna die after playing the role of a robber four times in one day!”
Nevi grumbled, her face heavily tattooed.
She glanced at another carriage rolling into Triad.
“Don’t you feel like we’ve become clowns? No matter how much money we make, I miss the old days.”
For Nevi, today’s Triad was not the city she had dreamed of.
She had wanted a darker city full of conspiracies, but today’s city was nothing like that.
Laughing at her remark, Shasha replied.
“What’s wrong with being a clown? I’m just grateful to enjoy this thrill.”
“Are you seriously the Shasha who declared she’d become Sion’s right-hand woman?”
Nevi knew Shasha as a rookie with an overwhelming desire for promotion.
But after that day’s incident, Shasha had become incredibly humble.
She spoke as if she was a different person.
“Having seen the skills of the real deal, if someone like us barges in, we’d lose our heads in an instant.”
“That’s true…”
The incident with the Black Shadow was known throughout all of Triad.
It made sense. In just a day, an entire organization was wiped out.
And it was only the work of four people.
Nevi had no idea what Shasha had witnessed firsthand, but she could imagine somewhat.
“And I’m not giving up on my dream to become a leader.”
Shasha grabbed a blue dagger placed on the café table.
“Who knows? Maybe if I enjoy this moment like a legend, I’ll become one too.”
Yes, she decided to enjoy this moment.
That day, the four legends were savoring every moment.
Their vibrant demeanor inspired her to also do the same.
To enjoy, no matter the crises she faced.
“So I’m heading to the chase show now.”
“Alright, have fun. Final Boss.”
Shasha was tasked with the role of the Final Boss in the chase show.
She was also the only one who witnessed that legendary day and wanted to experience that moment once more.
Thus, to relish the thrill of that day again, Shasha took to the stage.
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