Silicon Invasion

The waiting area wasn't boring at all. Besides enjoying the embarrassing displays of the newbies, there were dozens of screens hanging in the air.

After obtaining authorization, these screens could display the player's first-person perspective or a God's-eye view.

Usually, novices wouldn't reveal their perspectives to avoid attracting more ridicule.

Therefore, whenever a screen was lit, it usually meant the person had some confidence in themselves.

Impressive maneuvers would also elicit gasps and cheers. If one reached a certain level, they might even be scouted and recommended to related leagues.

At that time, if you really had the strength to win some awards, you wouldn't lack flowers or beauties.

Mechs were originally created to fight silicon-based beasts and explore Maikan, but in the early stages, before any results were achieved, related research required a lot of financial support.

Although the Seso Alliance had decent scientific research capabilities, it was composed of dozens of countries. Allocating funds involved too much red tape. Seeing that the research was about to lag behind other major powers, the person in charge gritted their teeth and sought their own way out.

Thus, a mech competition came into being.

However, due to limited conditions, mechs were only in the early stages of research, and many things were not mature. Therefore, this so-called mech competition looked like a turn-based game where tractors grew arms and legs.

Several things that could barely be called mechs would exchange a punch for a kick, without any movement or positioning, lacking any skill whatsoever.

But this very thing ignited unprecedented enthusiasm in people. Mechs weren't just a man's romance, they appealed to men, women, young, and old alike.

Where there's demand, there's a market.

Nowadays, high school leagues, corporate leagues, online virtual leagues, and so on have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, attracting people's attention and eyeballs.

Among them, the online virtual league is based on Ace Mech Pilots as a platform.

Although Ace Mech Pilots couldn't be popularized on a large scale due to gaming equipment issues, the cost was much, much lower compared to real mechs.

Moreover, even if a mech in the game was destroyed, it was just a pile of data that could be restored immediately, and the player wouldn't be in any danger.

Therefore, there were more and more frequent related competitions, which well filled the gap of the few and infrequent real mech competitions.

It is said that this Starlight Arena also has a team participating in the surrounding competitions, and it seems to have achieved some results.

However, because these competitions were relatively small in scale and had no radio broadcasts, Luo Rui, who only came once a month on average, really had no channels or time to pay attention.

People pointed and commented at the screens, talking loudly and offering their opinions freely. Luo Rui felt that there were no impressive maneuvers on display. Most were at the level of just getting rid of being a newbie, not even as good as he used to be, let alone now.

Getting into a mech was a huge drain on both physical strength and money. Most people would rest for a while after playing for ten or twenty minutes, so although there were many people in line, Luo Rui and Fatty only waited for a little over an hour before it was their turn.

"Luo Rui, watch how I crush you today!"

On the way to the changing room, Fatty took the lead in provoking Luo Rui, dragging him into the trash-talking phase.

"I don't believe it."

Luo Rui succinctly quoted the famous host's three-word motto.

"Don't believe it? Dare to make a bet?"

The two had been evenly matched in the past. Fatty had practiced a few times after the holiday, while Luo Rui would need a game or two to get into the state, so he felt he had a big advantage.

"Two all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ meals!"

Luo Rui was stunned. Was there such a good thing? He quickly placed his bet.

Fatty was also stunned after hearing this. Luo Rui's gluttonous appearance from a few days ago flashed before his eyes, and he couldn't help but shiver. Brother, I haven't seen you for a few days, and your skills have improved. With just six words, you have successfully disrupted my mindset.

"No, change it."

"Why?"

Luo Rui was a little puzzled. 88 yuan 8 x 2, was this condition too much?

"I'm afraid of bearing criminal joint liability!"

Fatty looked scared.

"Damn it! Do you think I'm stupid? Could I really eat myself to death?"

Fatty frowned at this. He wouldn't have thought so before, but after the last all-you-can-eat experience, he had a hint of suspicion about it.

Seeing Fatty not saying anything, Luo Rui seemed to understand the crux of the matter: "Don't worry, I'll just go by myself after you buy the tickets."

"That's fine!" Fatty nodded, approving the condition, but he still felt that something was not right.

"Then let's go, time is money!"

Being short on cash made Luo Rui very sensitive to money.

"Wait, I haven't said my condition yet!" Fatty finally realized something and quickly stopped Luo Rui.

Oh ho, this kid still wants to win?

"Say it, but don't go too far, it has to be an equal exchange!"

"Have Uncle Luo take me fishing a few times."

The words were inexplicable, but Luo Rui understood as soon as he heard them.

Fatty liked fishing, but he was limited by time, energy, and the limited fishing spots he knew. Every time, he could only gather in piles and try his luck.

But Luo Rui's dad was different. He was a veteran fisherman who went out at least 300 days a year, rain or shine, except for holidays and hailstorms.

His long-term attendance made Luo Rui's dad very familiar with the waters near Dongmu County. He knew exactly where to go when the temperature rose, where to go on cloudy days, what kind of wind to go to which place, what kind of bait to use, what kind of additives to add, and what length and hardness of rod to use, what kind of line and hook to use. It was all a set of knowledge.

Luo Rui's basement was full of equipment that Luo Rui's dad had accumulated, looking like an armory. Luo Rui searched for a few kinds online, and those things were not cheap, and he didn't know where the old man got the money.

At first, Luo Rui's dad brought fish home every time he went fishing, and the family ate fish in different ways every day, making Luo Rui sick of eating it, and even his breath smelled like fish. Later, when his family stopped eating it, Luo Rui's dad and mom sent it to the neighbors, and after three months, they successfully made the left and right neighbors also sick of eating it.

Later, under everyone's strong protests, Luo Rui's dad learned to release the fish. Every day, he took a photo of his catch and pretended to be something in his fishing friends group, and then released it all.

Luo Rui might have been immune to fishing because he had been sick of eating fish since he was a child, which made Luo Rui's dad quite regretful. Where is it more enjoyable to pretend to be something in front of his son than in front of outsiders?

Later, he found that his son's friend also liked fishing, so he tried to save the country by a curve, taking Fatty to fish a few times.

The tactic was successful. Fatty became Luo Rui's dad's little fan from then on, bragging in front of Luo Rui every now and then, making Luo Rui's dad quite proud.

But the good times didn't last long. Fatty also joined a few fishing friends groups. After posting photos of his catch, he was praised a few times, and he floated and shared the fishing spots.

Those were all private plots that Luo Rui's dad had developed over the years. Very few people knew about them, and everyone cherished them very much and never revealed them to the outside world.

As a result, it was good now. Not only were the fishing spots trampled by the crowd, but they were also plowed by net workers and electricians several times in turn. In the end, even the whitebait and wheat ears that the anglers hated the most were gone.

This matter made Luo Rui's dad very angry, and he parted ways with Fatty from then on, and went to play by himself.

Now this is Fatty also learning to save the country by curve?