Chapter 278

Chapter 278: Chapter 275: "A Well-Intentioned Lie Noel’s words were like opening a window for Su Ming’an, allowing him to realize this overlooked fact. ...Yes, what about the children?

People’s attention is always focused on the new world, the thrilling instances, the puzzling clues, the powerful players... They rejoice in world transformation, in their own increased strength, and in their rejuvenated bodies. They concentrate on the strongest players and the largest groups, but it’s so easy for them to forget the overlooked ’minorities.’

Even including Su Ming’an.

He had never considered before, what about those children who have yet to form their worldviews, or even those who can’t walk, the infants still swaddled in their cribs... what should they do in such a world?

If it is said that everyone has the chance to pick up weapons and enhance themselves, these children don’t even have the power to resist.

Noel looked at him, his tone extremely heavy, as if confessing:

"...Su Ming’an, I’ve seen many children and envisioned many scenarios."

"It’s imaginable, how helpless the children who can’t yet walk must feel... they can only watch themselves die helplessly in the instances."

"Children whose divine wisdom has not yet awakened can’t even understand the clue panel’s interface."

"Even if they’ve experienced painful deaths, and returned to their personal spaces, they still don’t know where they can get out, where they should go, what the end of this game might be..."

"Even then, there are many children still trapped in narrow spaces, unknown to others, and I don’t know how to save them..."

"What we see here, these are the lucky ones—they’re at least ’visible’ to us. They have the chance to be saved, educated, and guided."

"Nevertheless, they still lack the protection of parents, the nurturing of family love, and can’t find a home for their souls."

"People can only see what they are able to see, much like the tip of an iceberg. And the things we pity, the things we sympathize with, are all things we can ’see.’

"But what about those existences beneath the iceberg? No one knows, no one sees where their souls die."

"—And what I originally wanted to do, was to protect these homeless children, without a destination, within my power."

As he spoke, he sighed very softly, very lightly: "I tell them it’s dangerous outside, tell them not to listen to the system, not to enter the game instances. As long as they quietly stay here, I will give them candy, snacks, pretty clothes, organize singing and dancing bonfire parties... I tell them, as long as they get through these twelve months, their parents, who are traveling, will come to pick them up, and they will have a better life than before, and meet many new friends..."

"But in reality, where have their parents gone, whether humans will still exist after a year, and what the world will look like, no one knows."

"I use the kindest of lies to conceal the most brutal truth."

"I cannot be responsible for my own lies, once the game ends, I do not know where they will go, whether those whose wings are bound and cared for in the greenhouse will still have room to grow..."

"Because I’m afraid of their death."

"I’m afraid these children, who can’t be more innocent, will be trained by the cruel game into the worst versions of themselves."

"I’m afraid these blank-slate children will become monsters who mindlessly destroy and commit violence."

"Afraid that their not yet fully formed worldviews will be molded into the shape of criminals and arsonists."

"I’m afraid they will go mad."

"Afraid to see their uncontrolled future."

"...And afraid of the ’me’ who controls their future." Noel said, clenching his fist, "...I’m in fear of myself, who makes arbitrary decisions and capriciously paints others’ futures."

"Hmm..."

Having listened to Noel’s long series of thoughts, Su Ming’an nodded: "It’s time to be afraid."

Noel was taken aback.

A rare expression of surprise rose from his face and was quickly contained.

"I thought you’d be consoling me with a long speech," the surprise still lingered in his eyes, "I was ready to argue with you."

"Generally, I don’t go out of my way to correct someone’s fundamental views," Su Ming’an said. "This is your place, built with your Points, your Ivory Tower, crafted by your hands, the decisions made by you. It’s not my place to interject, nor is it my task to guide you. And these children are beyond my reach."

"You... really are different from what’s said about you on the forums," Noel chuckled.

"Personally, I think it’s better to keep these children sheltered than to send them out," Su Ming’an spoke gently. "In the Second World, you’ve seen it too, I met a twelve-year-old named Qin Ze. He was smart, shrewd, and fit for this game. Noel, I believe that those suited for the game won’t be deterred by your lies; they’ll naturally choose the way of rebellion and join this harsh game. Those used to obeying their elders and not accustomed to choosing any other option are naturally unfit for taking big steps forward.

So, essentially, there’s nothing wrong with what you’ve done. You’ve successfully segregated the children who choose to enter the fray from those who choose Protection."

"Long-missed theory, yet a familiar sensation," Noel sighed. "You’ve comforted me."

With that, he stopped the recording and organized the conversation into his notebook.

Only then did Su Ming’an remember that Noel had claimed to be a supporter of his theories...

"Then, see you at the auction."

As he was leaving, Noel waved to him.

"Goodbye."

Space swirled around him, gradually enveloping him, the figure of the boy waving his hand fading from his sight.

When the scenery cleared again, he found himself in his familiar personal space.

"Ding-dong!"

Su Ming’an opened the world forum panel.

The UI of the world forum seemed to have been optimized again, with the Boss Rabbit’s avatar rotating eerily on the panel while several large blocks appeared in rectangles at the top of his vision.

He closed the welcome message and glanced at the hot posts on the main interface.

The main interface posts weren’t as idiotic as before; when he was in the previous world, he remembered them being filled with optimistic projections of the future or praise for all sorts of players at the self-help meetings. Now, the forum seemed more rational, devoid of the star-chasing vibe.

...Perhaps they were all scared straight by the Sixth World.

Su Ming’an clicked open the "Proportional Analysis of Weights" post.

What appeared before his eyes was a well-prepared table, marking the Combat Power, World Ranking, and Proportion of every top-ranked Player.

He glanced over it, the proportion data for the first and second place were absent, after all, this proportion can only be seen by the Player themselves.

When it came to third place’s Edward, however, there were concrete numbers.

Su Ming’an had a premonition in his heart.

This number was more than half less than his 6.23%.

Merely two ranking positions apart.

He continued to read on.

Fourth place, fifth place... down to the tenth place, the proportions began to plummet, with percentages being 1.33%, absent, absent, absent... until 0.92%.

Furthermore, from the tenth to the twentieth position, there was a sudden drop, with each person not even reaching 0.1%.

Looking further, extending to the top hundred, the Player in the hundredth position didn’t even reach 0.01%.

In other words.

From the calculations above, the top hundred Players already accounted for more than half of the proportions.

And he accounted for nearly one third of that amongst the top-ranked Players.

This situation might relate to the excessive deaths among mid to low-end Players, but the influence of the top-ranked Players, as well as that of the Number One Player, was still so great that it alarmed him.

He scrolled down, seeing the mathematical model that the post creator had built. By estimating the Combat Power and current Points of the top-ranked Players, the creator roughly calculated the weight proportions of the Players whose information was missing.

Su Ming’an glanced at the creator’s estimated proportion for himself:

Perhaps even the creator did not expect the Number One’s weight to be so significant, the estimation was much lower than the actual number.

After completing the estimated proportions, the creator also added a paragraph:

[The infighting among humans has never ceased no matter the era, in such a competitive World, life and death struggles have become commonplace amongst Players.

To fight for their own Points and benefits, we use our courage and Wisdom as weapons, there’s nothing wrong with that, and no one should be blamed for it.

However, I still hope that, with data now disclosed and the influence being so massive, when encountering top-ranked Players, everyone would avoid their sharp edges.

Competition is not shameful, but infighting is worthless.

"I hope everyone engages in rational discussion and recognizes the importance of top-ranked players to avoid meaningless internal strife."

Su Ming’an glanced at the post author’s words and quickly anticipated what a mess the comment section would be.

He scrolled down and, sure enough, saw a chaotic mess in the discussion area.

The original intent of the post was for everyone to engage in rational discussion, to help people recognize the importance of top-ranked players, and to advise them to dodge their sharp edges in future encounters instead of blindly competing. But the commenters below had turned it into a complete muddle.

"Lol, with the heavyweights having so much influence, losing one would be a loss for the whole world."

"You hear that? Those guys who are always yelling about dueling, how waterlogged are your brains to be shouting out such notions?"

"Aren’t we supposed to unite against the outside at times like these, or are you waiting for high-dimensional beings to plant trees on your graves?"

"No but seriously, I’m really concerned about one thing. That guy has 4.89%, nearly one-fifth. If he suddenly turns on us in the late game..."

"Here we go again, the classic betrayal theory lol"

"Don’t you guys ever doubt it? No matter what, aren’t the organizers looking out for him way too much??"

"My God, there are still such comments in the forums. Does anyone seriously think our rants can influence anything?"

"Haha, the truth hurts, doesn’t it? Everyone’s guessing the truth every day and they can’t think for themselves anymore. Either decide to take him down, or keep supporting till the end. Isn’t the choice that simple?"

"Umm... I’d rather choose the former. I trust Edward more since he grew up with elite education."

"Still kissing up to the old nobility’s rotten feet? In the end, you don’t even realize how the capitalists have squeezed you dry, probably used to 996, lol (dog_head.jpg)"

"The whole journey is catered by the organizers, starting off with NPC affection, foresight off the charts, not taking roundabout paths, straight to the hidden lines, peak player performance smoother than special forces or mercenaries, and we’ve yet to see him cornered— claiming he was once an ordinary student, who believes that? If he’s not suspicious, who is? We better take him down now before it becomes uncontrollable."

"...Why has the topic drifted again? Isn’t this supposed to be about the data on proportions? How do you guys manage to drag him into any post?"

"Not joining the United Group, not joining the Dragon Country organization, not collaborating on strategies, having no regard for all extended olive branches, being exceedingly indifferent towards fellow players, proposing prophet-like theories from the First World... If the Number One Player really had some sense of responsibility, he should integrate with the masses, join some organization, and share interests with us. He chose to reject the United Group; he deserves to be knocked off his pedestal."

"He refuses to be organized and controlled, won’t explain his prophet-like behavior, won’t share his goals or wishes. It’s normal for us not to trust him, what’s there to discuss."

"Honestly, is this a world game or class representative elections? Since when do we have to accept control? Do you really think he should serve you for nothing, and why should he tell you anything? Even if he did, you’d just find another excuse. You’re just bitter a student doesn’t fit the bill, isn’t it, that even here we need to see someone’s background..."

"Just keep whitewashing. Here comes the brainless defender doggie again."

"Folks, there are fanatical dogs wherever we go; I’m laughing like thunder over here."

Reading all this, Su Ming’an didn’t really feel any disturbance.

Once discourse is elevated to the realm of the internet, free from the constraints of real identity, the maliciousness and speculation in people’s hearts are amplified without limit.

They inherently fear the appearance of beings much higher than themselves and suppress those who were once on the same level as them.

In the ordinary worlds, such public opinions might carry weight. But in a world like this, such words are nothing more than a form of self-entertainment for these people and cannot affect him in the slightest.

Just as he was about to close the window, he saw a suddenly pinned, explosively hot forwarded post.

"Noel v (Number Two of World Rankings): The prices in Main God World should really go up; you shouldn’t overfeed this bunch. The organizers have spoiled you good-for-nothings far too comfortably. So good at quibbling, you might as well rush to the construction site of the Blue Land troops; hospitals over there are short of hands, don’t dog-bark here pointlessly. If he’s gold, he will always shine, unlike you lot, a bunch of reflective glass shards. It’s fine to have an empty head, just try not to let it fill up with water, you bunch of idiots."