The letter had been sent out, but arriving even faster than the Rat King's response was the server-wide announcement at eight o'clock in the morning.
The one making the announcement was, as always, the Weaver. Anyone who had heard her unique voice and tone even once would never mistake it for anyone else's.
【Good morning. I am very unhappy to see you all.】
As if anyone would be happy to see her.
【When the dungeon was announced on Saturday, there was one thing I forgot to inform you of in advance. Although this is my fault, since no one else knew about it either and you are all still on the same starting line, it technically doesn't count as a mistake.】
The statement was a bit convoluted. Once Cheng Shuili figured out what she meant, she thought: “???”
The other players, who had just woken up and were rubbing their eyes while listening to the announcement, also thought: “???”
Players' opinions of the Weaver certainly varied, but on one point they were surprisingly unanimous: “Is this system sick?”
【I suppose all you players are cursing me right now, aren't you?】
The Weaver chuckled twice, then said in a tone that suggested it was only natural: 【Stop for a moment, everyone. Prick up your ears.】
【There is only one piece of news to share this morning—oh, wait, you could say there are two. Regardless of the count, I advise you to listen carefully to what I am about to say.】
Cheng Shuili wore a serious expression. While she didn't think the Weaver would share anything earth-shattering, she was a person who listened to advice.
Besides, since she was already listening, she might as well do so attentively.
Many players shared this sentiment, but for some reason, they had been coughing slightly since last night. Now, while listening to the Weaver's announcement between bouts of coughing, they inevitably missed some words and were frantically begging other players for transcripts on the regional channel.
“Friends, we’ve been through thick and thin together for so long. I’ve been coughing a bit lately; my temples throb when I cough for too long, and my hearing has clearly dropped quite a bit. Is there any translator here who can provide a summary? Tell us what the Weaver said.”
“Coughing? I’ve started coughing too. It’s only happening today; I didn't have these symptoms before!”
“Me too! Ever since I got up today, my throat has been itchy, and a large bump appeared on my face. If there weren't a mirror in my vehicle, I’d definitely want to get a good look at what's going on.”
“So, where is the translator?”
“Here! Here! Friends, I was a translator in my past life. Don't worry, the moment the Weaver finishes speaking, I will post the text in the regional channel to serve everyone who can't hear this dog system clearly!”
“Great!!!”
A chorus of cheers followed, but Cheng Shuili stopped reading.
Compared to the absurdity of needing a translator, she was more concerned about the coughing.
After a moment's thought, she sent a message in the Black Feather group chat:
【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Reply with '1' if you are coughing.
The members of Black Feather all knew that the disaster this week was a plague and vaguely understood what the coughing implied. Therefore, they held nothing back, and the replies began to pop up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
“1. I stayed up late to wait for the reset at midnight and started coughing as soon as I got up. I thought I’d caught a cold, but I didn't expect so many people to be coughing.”
“111! It’s really strange. I keep coughing, but my health value hasn't dropped at all. Am I in the incubation period of the disease?”
“1. Incubation period? Honestly, I don't think it'll be long before it breaks out. Usually, things that become contagious don't kill you immediately. Black Feather has a hospital and medical supplies, and our Boss has plenty of strength and methods, so don't worry.”
That was well-said. Cheng Shuili glanced at the ID—it was Iced Americano—so it wasn't surprising.
These words clearly encouraged many people, and the replies of '1' became noticeably more active.
A moment later, the messages stopped scrolling.
Cheng Shuili counted them. Only 12 people were currently showing symptoms, and almost all of them had been recruited for specific talents.
As for those who met Black Feather's attribute requirements and were physically robust, they were essentially showing no abnormalities.
Cheng Shuili thought for a moment, then mixed a single drop of the golden liquid from the Vial of Eternal Life at Both Ends into some bottled water.
Although there was very little liquid in the vial, its concentration seemed extremely high; even when mixed into a full bottle of water, a pale golden hue was visible.
After shaking it a few times to ensure it was well-mixed, Cheng Shuili called for Iced Americano and brought the water bottle into the Black Feather territory.
Iced Americano was a young woman in her early twenties, wearing black-rimmed glasses. Her face was somewhat pale, and she occasionally covered her mouth to cough lightly.
When she saw the water bottle in Cheng Shuili's hand, she immediately understood. Her eyes lit up as she asked, “Boss, is this…”
“Pour a little out and drink it slowly,” Cheng Shuili said, handing her the bottle. “See how much it takes to be effective.”
Iced Americano took the bottle solemnly. She immediately found a clean cup and carefully poured out a bottle cap's worth of the pale golden liquid.
She took a small sip first, closing her eyes to feel the effect.
“How is it?” Cheng Shuili asked with concern.
Iced Americano opened her eyes and said with pleasant surprise, “My throat feels much better! That itchy sensation has disappeared.”
Cheng Shuili didn't say anything, watching as she drank a few more small sips before asking, “How about now?”
“I don't feel it at all anymore!” Iced Americano's eyes shone brightly. She looked at Cheng Shuili as if she were looking at a deity; at this moment, in her heart, the Boss was no different from a divine being.
Cheng Shuili didn't pay her much attention. She looked at the bottle of pale golden water and estimated how many people it could treat.
There was no need to calculate too much. Even if this bottle of water could only fill the cap 50 times, it would be enough to help 50 people recover.
Three drops would be 150 people!
If she added a condition of one energy stone to the transaction, this business, which hadn't even started yet, would definitely be pure profit!
Cheng Shuili had an idea of the situation. She gestured with her chin for Iced Americano to distribute the water to the other infected members.
Regardless of what was happening outside, internal matters had to be resolved first.
Iced Americano naturally understood her Boss's intentions.
Not only did she handle the matter perfectly, but she also briefly described the effects in the group chat. Not only did this stabilize morale, but she also emphasized that this item had been provided by Cheng Shuili.
The Black Feather group chat was suddenly filled with flattery for the Boss, which made the corners of Cheng Shuili's mouth curl up involuntarily.
Leading a team meant being good to your members. That way, when the time came for them to risk their lives, she, as their leader, wouldn't have any regrets.
Cheng Shuili did right by everyone.
While she was working, the Weaver's announcement continued.
【The first matter is one that will be carried out immediately.】
【Merge announcement!】
【Effective immediately, all grand regions will no longer have any partitions. This means that players from the same grand region will be able to communicate freely! The total number of people after the merge will be determined by the total number of survivors from each partition!】
There had been rumors about this information in Partition 12 for a long time. Wasn't it because of this news that the leader of Dragon Soul grew increasingly arrogant, only to be wiped out by the Crow in the end?
Although this was just hearsay, many people believed it was true.
After all, Angry Crow Takes Flight really had killed the leader of Dragon Soul, and the leader of Dragon Soul had been the one to provoke her first. If he hadn't known this information, where would he have gotten the guts?
Because of this, the news, which had caused a huge uproar in other partitions, only sparked small-scale discussions here in Partition 12.
“Won't the partition leaderboards disappear after the merge?”
“Is the system trying to cut costs? There were so many partitions before, and each had its own leaderboard. After the merge, only one leaderboard will remain, and there will only be one set of rewards. Is this really reasonable?”
“It's just stingy! And they call it 'cutting costs'? Since when did that sound so nice?”
“Whatever. I couldn't get on the leaderboard anyway, and I definitely won't get on after the merge.”
“I actually think the merge is a good thing. Although we've been struggling to survive for so long, everyone was looking out for themselves in their respective partitions; we had no capital to unite. After the merge, once the situation of each grand region becomes clear, we ordinary players might even be able to get some benefits from the official authorities.”
“I think so too! And did you see the names of the factions following those people on the grand region leaderboard? Great Wall Watching! Yanhuang! Just reading them makes me feel proud. Aren't these official names?”
“Don't get your hopes up too high. The situation is different now. If the authorities can barely take care of themselves, how would they have the energy to manage us scattered stragglers?”
“You can't say it like that. At least information flow will be more convenient after the merge. The authorities definitely won't keep something that benefits everyone to themselves.”
“Great Wall Watching, Yanhuang, Dragon Chant... they certainly sound like regular armies.”
“If we could join them, that would be great. Following a regular army is better than living like this, where our lives are in danger every day.”
Just as everyone was discussing this, the Weaver's voice sounded again, carrying the pleasure of a successful prank:
【It seems everyone is very interested in the merge. However, I suggest you first concern yourselves with this disaster. This time, the disaster for the entire server is the same—a plague!】
【However,】 the Weaver intentionally dragged out her tone, 【this plague has a special characteristic: it will have vastly different effects on players of different physiques~】
The regional channel exploded instantly:
“What does that mean? Will people with poor physiques die faster?”
“I’ve already started running a fever. Help!”
The Weaver continued with a light chuckle: 【You will have to explore for yourselves which attributes will lead to what conditions. I can only offer one hint...】
She paused intentionally, keeping everyone in suspense.
【Players with high physiques who are infected will not only avoid a drop in attributes, but will also have a chance to gain antibodies and permanently increase their physique by 5 points!】
This news was like a ladle of cold water splashed into a frying pan; the regional channel boiled over:
“What?! It can do that?”
“This is unfair! Those of us with poor physiques already have a hard time surviving, and now we’re being hit while we’re down?”
“I finally understand why those factions demand attribute points! This time, attribute points are truly tied to whether or not you can survive.”
“Damn it, I’m done for! All my other attributes are great, but my physique is under 40 points. If I’m not careful, won't I be finished?”
While players were lamenting on the regional channel, the Weaver's voice sounded once more:
【And one last thing... the plague is extremely contagious. Hmm, let me see. A new safe zone recently appeared, right? What was it called? Black Feather. Oh, everyone, during the plague, it is best not to enter public areas with high foot traffic and dense crowds like safe zones. Especially those of you with average physiques... you must absolutely not enter, oh~】
Upon hearing this, Cheng Shuili's eyes turned icy.
The Weaver's words might have sounded like a warning, but in reality, it was a blatant targeting!
The members of Black Feather had been listening to the announcement happily, but they were immediately enraged upon hearing this.
“What does that mean? Black Feather isn't the only public area! Beastman Town! The Trading Post! Which of these old-school safe zones isn't crowded?”
“She specifically named us! This Weaver is targeting us!”
“Why? Who did we offend?”
“Don't bother thinking about where the malice comes from. We only need to know who is an enemy and who is a friend.”
That was well-said. Cheng Shuili couldn't help but agree when she saw it.
The regional channel also began to discuss the Weaver's statement.
“Is the Weaver singling out Black Feather?”
“Did Black Feather offend the system?”
“Although the Weaver might be targeting Black Feather, it is indeed a well-intentioned reminder not to go to crowded places during a plague. Especially for those of us with poor physiques, isn't going to such a place just asking for death?”
“That’s a fact, but specifically naming Black Feather makes it hard not to suspect that Black Feather offended the system.”
“Black Feather... ah, let's just say Crow. Did Crow offend the system again? Hahaha, I feel like Crow is just too powerful. Is this another display of Crow's strength?”
“Last time she made the system so angry it issued a server-wide announcement warning her, and now she’s being targeted by the Weaver again... wait, hold on. Could this be the same incident? Is Black Feather being singled out now because of that server-wide announcement last time?”
Cheng Shuili herself: “...”
The system couldn't be that petty, could it?
She only owed six million, and she had already paid back over one million. It wasn't like she was trying to be a deadbeat and not pay her debts, so why target her like this?
But if this were interest...
Cheng Shuili flashed a smile. She allowed it!
She allowed the system to retaliate in such a sneaky way!
The Weaver didn't know what Cheng Shuili was thinking. She only mentioned Black Feather during the announcement because her friend Taibai had requested it.
In fact, in order to listen to this announcement, Taibai had even followed the Weaver to the broadcasting room, sporting dark circles under his eyes!
The Weaver managed all announcements and the broadcasting system, while Taibai managed the world's transactions and the circulation of game coins.
Because of the Crow... there was an unexplained debt of tens of millions. Taibai had managed to claw back the excess game coins with great difficulty, but novice protection only applied for six months, and what had already been applied couldn't be clawed back!
Even though he had tried his best to compensate, there was still a hole of six million that couldn't be filled.
Because of this, Taibai... he sighed, his gaze lingering gloomily on the Weaver in the broadcasting room.
It wasn't until he heard the Weaver say the words “Black Feather” that he finally managed a smile.
Rate on N.U.
