Everyone immediately clicked the link that Huang Wang had shared to get more details. When they were done, they all sucked in a deep breath.
That was a major move by Boss Pei!
An entire street in Times Square was featuring GOG’s advertisements. At a certain time each day, all the screens would display GOG’s poster. It was very awe-inspiring!
The advertising screens in Times Square worked on a rotation basis. Each advertisement would be displayed for a few seconds at a time. Ye Zhizhou had purposely chosen the same interval for every screen, so that GOG’s posters would all appear at the same time at regular intervals, thus creating an impressive scene.
GOG’s mobile version was being aggressively pushed in the overseas mobile application stores. Since IOI didn’t have a mobile version, GOG was unstoppable in dominating the market.
GOG’s advertisements could also be seen on major video websites overseas. They were in subway stations, bus stations, and stop signs.
The craziest thing was that GOG had even sponsored all the veteran esports clubs overseas, so that they were all wearing GOG’s logo on their uniforms!
The clubs that had set up IOI teams were placed in an awkward position. Each time their teams streamed live, they would be running advertisements for GOG through their uniforms; thus creating a very illusive entertainment effect.
All the advertising material had constructed a singular image for GOG: Multifaceted Man, a new hero!
That had taken the world by storm some twenty years ago, but it had slowly disappeared from most people’s sights and minds. When it appeared again on such a large-scale, many foreign gamers exclaimed in surprise and felt so close to GOG.
At the same time, GOG sold its heroes’ skins for a very low price overseas, putting it in stark contrast with IOI.
There was another piece of huge news. A global invitational competition would take place next month. One could say that it would be the biggest competition GOG would organize this year, and the championship prize would be a million US dollars!
Of course, other teams would win prizes based on their ranking as well, but they wouldn’t win that much.
The officials promised to sell some skins especially for the competition in the weeks leading up to it. All the income earned within three months of the competition would be re-invested into the competition to supplement the prizes!
That figure would surpass the boundaries that any esports competition had put in place thus far.
There were rumors that Finger Games was considering organizing a global competition as well, but the total value of its prizes would only add up to a hundred thousand US dollars. That was one-tenth that of GOG’s.
Of course, Finger Games had not responded to any of the rumors. It was still unknown when and where IOI’s first global competition would be and how much the total value of its prizes would be.
Huang Wang exclaimed, “I feel like GOG is going to spread to the rest of the world soon. A million US dollars! It’ll be streamed around the globe, too. I really want to take part in it.”
No one said anything in response because everyone wanted to go as well.
Which esports athlete wouldn’t want to stand on the world stage and enjoy the moment when they held up their championship trophy?
Yet, everyone knew full well that the DGE Club had conflicting interests and would not be allowed to take part. Those were the rules.
Old Zhou comforted him. “Don’t think about it anymore. Boss Pei must have another plan for us. We should just focus on training.”
Huang Wang sounded sorrowful. “But Boss Pei has not visited us in a long time, and he’s so busy. Could he have forgotten about our club…?”
The moment Huang Wang finished speaking, they heard footsteps coming from outside.
Zhang Yuan turned around and shouted in surprise. “Boss Pei? What are you doing here?”
The team members turned at once. Indeed, it was Boss Pei!
Pei Qian smiled. “I heard that you’re taking part in a competition on live-stream, and so I came to take a look.”
More accurately put, he was there to check how deep their knives were in his back. He had to prepare to defend himself. However, Boss Pei’s words carried a whole other meaning to the team members.
“Boss Pei hasn’t forgotten about us. He still cares about our situation!”
“He even made time to watch our competition despite his busy schedule!”
“We have to put on a good show for Boss Pei during the Performance Competition in the afternoon!”
All the team members were filled with renewed motivation!
Chapter 619 - Coach Ma's Lessons in Professional Farming
Pei Qian casually picked up the program sheet for both teams. Different methods and requirements for winning were written on it, and they seemed to be arranged in order of increasing difficulty.
Until now, both teams had already ticked off three methods.
Pei Qian knew very well that each tick represented fifty thousand yuan earned by the club! He only needed one or two seconds to calculate that both teams had already won three hundred thousand yuan for the club!
It was ridiculous.
I invited you here to burn money for me, but you ended up doing the opposite.
Cheaters! I’ve raised you in vain!
Of course, three hundred thousand yuan was a small sum, and Boss Pei did not need to feel so furious. However, the important problem was that this was a bad sign.
If the DGE Club’s two teams managed to put on a good show from beginning to end and won every single game…
How much traffic would that bring to DGE?
Then, its popularity on every single forum would shoot through the roof, and all kinds of sponsors would fight one another to throw money at them.
What’s more, the DGE Club had already accepted two sponsorships. Of course, Zhang Yuan would increase his asking price. Then, how many major sponsors would increase their offers just to win the opportunity to sponsor the DGE Club…?
The situation looked disastrous.
Thus, Pei Qian felt the need to break the teams’ winning streak. He could not let them win the entire competition, just as they planned. Otherwise, the live-stream platforms would have a field day, and Boss Pei’s hands would be tied!
Pei Qian quietly read the program sheet from start to finish.
Include Coach Ma and win?
This program sheet seems to be arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Does that mean that all team members think adding Old Ma to their teams would pose the greatest challenge?
That’s great! I shall summon Old Ma, then!
If Pei Qian wanted to take part, he would definitely be able to as well. However, he would only play the part of an actor. Then, if he ended up with a score of 0-27, he would be personally attacked.
If the news that Boss Pei didn’t know how to play GOG spread, then Pei Qian would not be able to tolerate it. He would feel even worse than if people said ‘Boss Pei doesn’t know how to lose money’!
Although Pei Qian wasn’t strong at the game, he was not terrible. He could not allow people to think that he was such a noob that he did not know how to play GOG at all!
Thus, he needed his good friend, Old Ma, to help him with this. In any case, Ma Yang was really terrible. No matter how many times he got killed, it would be due to his own skills.
Pei Qian called Ma Yang and asked him to come down at once.
The team members were already warming up when they heard Boss Pei call Coach Ma and invite him to come down. All of them were stunned.
Was Boss Pei… intending to see how hard we can work? Why else would he immediately push us into hell mode?
Huang Wang and Jiang Huan exchanged a look, and each could see the imposing look in the other’s eyes.
Calm down. It’s not like we’ve never brought Coach Ma to a mock competition before. We’ve gone through this. We have a complete battle plan. As long as we carry it
out strictly—no matter how hard we have to fight, we can still win in the end…
Huang Wang and the others kept comforting themselves inside to calm themselves down.
…
Before the competition started, Ma Yang finally arrived.
“Brother Qian! Your best employee has arrived!”
Ma Yang looked very excited. “Brother Qian, don’t worry. With Coach Ma stepping out, the other parties will definitely be restrained!”
Pei Qian smiled, feeling only one thing inside.
Good!
He sniggered and casually said, “Old Ma, didn’t you play the game with them before?”
Old Ma shook his head. “No…”
Pei Qian: “?”
Why is Old Ma lying through his teeth? Didn’t he say he had personally stepped up the last time?
Ma Yang explained himself very seriously. “Brother Qian, I didn’t play a game with them. I participated in a mock competition. I was not just an ordinary player but a special tactical coach.
“Brother Qian, please respect my professionalism. Never say that I was just playing a game with the team members.”
Pei Qian: “…”
After remaining silent for a few seconds, he patted Ma Yang on the shoulder. “Alright, Old Ma. I appreciate your candor. You’re really a valuable treasure that I can’t go without. How did the mock competitions go with you as the special tactical coach?”
Ma Yang very proudly replied, “We won them all!”
Pei Qian: “?”
Won them all? Wasn’t this supposed to be hell mode?
Pei Qian had initially thought that, with Old Ma in their team, each team would be playing with four members against six. The chances of winning should have been forty percent at most.
How could they have won them all?
Have I worked so hard to plan all of these things in vain? The teams could win, even with Ma Yang on their side!
No way, I have to calm down. I have to break their winning streak no matter what!
There must be some other way!
Pei Qian remained silent for a moment, and then asked, “What position did you play in? Were you the leader?”
Ma Yang shook his head. “No, Brother Qian. I was the bottom-laner—the classic carrying position!”
“Hmm…” Pei Qian fell into deep thought.
He was beginning to understand why the teams were able to win, even with Old Ma. If four members were to carry deadweight, the two positions in the bottom lane were the best.
That was because two people only needed to remain under the tower to kill soldiers. If the other partner was highly-skilled, he could look after him. They would not lose the lane just because of the deadweight.
The top-laner, midlaner, and jungler would be in charge of the other three corners and destroying the opponents’ jungle. Those in the bottom lane could slack and win.
What’s more, they could say that Ma Yang was in a position to carry the group in the bottom lane, but in reality, he would have the support protecting him. Thus, he wouldn’t die so easily.
That was why the teams could still win with him in the mix.
After some consideration, a light bulb switched on in Pei Qian’s head.
He had an idea! He could just switch Ma Yang’s position, couldn’t he? If Ma Yang was placed as the top-laner, mid-laner, or jungler; he would be badly beaten up, wouldn’t he?
If anyone in those positions collapsed—even just for a while, he could catch up by farming. An experienced esports athlete may be able to catch up on development, but Ma Yang would just give up on himself.
So, which position should Pei Qian choose?
On further thought, he decided to make Ma Yang a jungler!
The DGE Club’s teams had very strong junglers. If Old Ma played in the top or middle lane, he could be made to remain under the tower to kill soldiers. The opponents would push through the lanes and DGE’s jungler and support would go after them.
That way, Ma Yang would have successfully acted as bait.
Thus, making him a jungler would be Pei Qian’s best bet.
Ma Yang was rubbish at being a jungler. That meant the other team’s jungler would maximize the pressure on all three lanes. If the team were slightly more experienced, they could counter-jungle so that Old Ma becomes nothing more than a super-soldier.
Yes, reliable!
At that, Pei Qian cleared his throat. “Old Ma, I want to test how good you are in the other positions and as other heroes. Are you willing to accept that?”
Ma Yang patted his chest. “Brother Qian, rest assured!”
Pei Qian nodded. That’s good. I like that you are naturally bold. Good. Use the Happy Ruan and be the jungler. You’ll wander around.”
Ma Yang’s eyes lit up. “Brother Qian, how did you know that I’ve been working in that position? Don’t worry! I won’t let everyone down!”
Pei Qian nearly believed Ma Yang after seeing how confident he was. However, he reminded himself to be logical and remember that Old Ma would never disappoint him.
It was just like when Ruan Guangjian said that he didn’t know how to play the game. When Ma Yang said that there were no problems, it meant the exact opposite.
Of course, all the team members looked like brave warriors about to go out for battle.
Coach Ma was going to be the jungler, and with Happy Ruan, at that! This game would be more difficult, then.
Huang Wang and Jiang Huan had already decided to make use of the same plan from before. However, they could not use it at all now!
Fortunately, Boss Pei was a bit kinder than Zhang Yuan had been. He did not set any requirements for Boss Ma’s KDA ratio. That meant there was still hope.
They had to work hard to go through a cruel time in hell before they could play with skill and ease!
The jungler quickly got up from his seat and allowed Coach Ma to warm up.
Ma Yang accessed his customization screen very confidently, picked out over ten woodpiles, picked Happy Ruan, and then happily practiced between the woodpiles.
Pei Qian quietly nodded when he saw how happy Old Ma was.
Yes, all is good!
Old Ma really never disappoints me.
Actually, Pei Qian had considered letting Ma Yang use his account to play. That way, he would have ‘Designer of Ruan’ on top of his character, which might cause him to be made fun of even more.
However, on further thought, he realized that he could not allow others to use his account or let others train his character on his behalf. That was a principle underlying technical games.
Pei Qian believed that, even without the title ‘Designer of Ruan’, Ma Yang could still stand out!
…
The competition soon began.
Pei Qian switched on his cell phone and read the bullet screen comments. At the same time, he watched Old Ma’s first-person view. The live-stream was three or four seconds delayed, but it was not much of a hindrance.
Many people in the comments had also noticed that a member had been uncharacteristically swapped out.
“DGE.CoachMa? Why is that name so long?”
“What’s the meaning of this?”
“Er… it is probably translated to mean Coach Ma in Mandarin, but it seems weird to be used this way. It’s broken English.”
“Holy sh*t, I thought that it was Huang Wang playing as Happy Ruan, but it’s actually Coach Ma? He’s not DGE’s secret weapon, is he?”
“Alright, alright. With Happy Ruan as the jungler, the game will be a good show for sure!”
“Sh*t, is this Happy Ruan really going to show so much mercy? Isn’t he a coach? Is this how he coaches?”
“He farms, goes home, buys items, and continues farming… holy sh*t, brother. At least buy a vision ward, right? Aren’t you going to gank even once?”
“Holy sh*t, Coach Ma has gone to counter-jungle! Ah, Coach Ma was killed single-handedly by the other team’s jungler, giving him a double buff!”
“I’m sorry, Coach Ma. I wronged you. Please continue farming!”
“I think you should just stop playing. Let the other teammates take care of your jungle. That would be better than farming and giving away all the benefits…”
Pei Qian watched the live-stream and Ma Yang’s first-person view at the same time and could not help but raise his thumb.
Old Ma really wouldn’t disappoint me! He was remaining rooted in the jungle and being trashed by the other team. He was really living up to his name.
If that carried on, it would only be a matter of time before the winning streak was…
Holy sh*t.
Pei Qian had not even celebrated for two minutes before he received an update from the top-laner.
A solo kill!
Two minutes later, the midlaner gave an update as well.
Another solo kill!
Three minutes later, the bottom-laner sent the same update.
The other team’s jungler tried his best to dive, but by the time he arrived at the bottom of DGE’s tower, it was three against one. Attack Damage Carry[1] made three kills at once, sending him through the roof!
As for the few kills that Coach Ma had given to the other team… it didn’t seem to have affected the gameplay in any way.
Pei Qian was stunned.
What was the other team doing?! How could they still lose with five members against four?
Pei Qian already knew that DGE’s teams were strong, but this was ridiculous, wasn’t it? The other four members were fully focused and going all out in the game!
Before this, everyone had to think about how to put on a good show. Thus, they could slack off on the techniques and only get serious during team battles.
Yet, now, the situation was different. Coach Ma was handling the performance index on his own, and so everyone else could go all out to ensure victory!
What’s more, Coach Ma had given away a double buff to successfully lure the other team’s jungler. The other team’s jungler was so happy killing Coach Ma that he neglected the other lanes for a while.
As a result, Huang Wang and the others could go all out on their techniques and destroy everyone in their own lanes!
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