Chapter 180: Girlfriend, pride, and friends (4)
"Oh, Mary just messaged me," Jake said.
"The gorilla is not so slow! But it must be that Monica, right?"
"I think so. She once saved us before the gorilla's wrath."
"Yep, yep."
Lukas and others weren't surprised when they heard about Mary's call. Instead, they recalled their younger days and their first meeting with Mary.
Nonetheless, it was already suspected that the top guilds would try their best to join the esports scene with their guilds rather than nationalities. In fact, many of them had reached out to the company to ensure that the esports wouldn't become a national event.
Mary's best friend must have already told her about those plans.
Lukas added, "I know you're a real deal, Jake! She wants you in because alt chars are banned from competing in esports. You're classified as a newbie, as your first character hasn't crossed level thirty yet! You can safely join in and show others your gaming talents!"
"That's so convenient… wait a second," Jake said before turning his eyes to the game system.
[Mary November: Why are you not calling me?! Why are you declining my calls?!]
[Archer: Ignored.]
[Mary November: I'll kill you! Don't even think of turning off your virtual reality helmet!]
[Archer: You're really the gorilla. Anyway, ignored for now. Don't bother.]
[Mary November: :skull: :dead: :over: :theend:]
Jake coughed. "So, the esports scene for the lowest division means that alt chars are banned and that the company will try to implement new stuff here before putting them live in the higher divisions?"
"More or less that," Felix nodded. "I heard they want the first lowest-division esports game to be an international event. They want to test the waters with international stuff here first."
Marc said, "I can see records being broken when all international stars from each continent fight against each other."
Lukas chimed in, "The lowest division will be like an appetizer! Like a vodka!"
"Yeah, eat more," Jake said as Lukas raised a bottle of raw poison.
Lukas said, a slice of meat dangling from his lips. "You can either make your own team or join someone else, preferably a top guild. Those guys already have accountants and the entire network required to operate in both worlds. If you get your own team and become famous, tho, others will flock to your side. Your choice."
"You must pass the examinations," Marc reminded.
Jake nodded.
Because it was the start of the esports scene, it was like a free market. Anyone could join, given competent skills. There weren't many connections on the scene, and the company would decide the first esports players.
Jake didn't have to join any guild and could make his own team.
Joining a guild meant that they would take a percentage of his income.
The first income, particularly in the lowest division, wouldn't be high. It could be peanuts.
Jake could also hire someone to look after his team.
'I have a connection with Maria and Damien Twice. I might ask them for help if this really becomes something I build on my own. It won't hurt to ask Mary later. Her guild wants me the most, so she will spill the beans,' Jake thought.
"What is your plan?" Jake asked.
Lukas chuckled. "We'll enter the examinations with our own team. It's not like our contribution to our guild is low or anything like that, but the guild leader will send his friends first and foremost. We won't even bother talking with them. Besides, they would have already contacted us if they were interested in us."
Felix and Marc agreed.
"Yeah, there aren't connections in the esports scene yet, but the guilds have their favorites," Jake nodded. On top of that, there were many more high-level players desiring to enter the esports scene than low-level players.
It could be said that Jake had less to worry about than his friends.
That said, his spot wasn't given.
Jake had fought against strong players on the training grounds and even lost. There were more starting points in the continent belonging to North America Player Base. He should take the prospect of many irregulars like him waiting for their moment at face value.
"It's going to be so difficult to balance, though," Felix added. "Let's say Jake doesn't level up and only raises his stats through other means. I don't think the company would allow him to do that. They probably would throw him to a higher division and force him to level up in this way."
"True that, bruh!" Lukas agreed.
Jake said. "It's not our problem, is it?"
Marc faintly smiled. "Yeah, but what if you build your entire life and play style about esports, only for the company to refuse your participation? It'd hurt."
"Oh, bruh, it'd hurt so damn much!" Lukas responded, raising another glass. This one was such a loss cause when it came to drinking…
Jake brightly smiled. "Well, it's still an opportunity! Ya guys know any good and trustworthy editors? I want to start a social media channel and see how I can do it here."
"Oh, what's your first video about?" Marc asked.
"About my duels against players on the training ground. I took over the weekly mini-event," Jake smiled.
His friends' interest in his archery heightened upon hearing about that.
Jake had a good time talking about it, including his loss, as it was still a good battle.
His time with friends actually ended when the skies turned dark.
Jake left the restaurant completely drunk.
He shouted to everyone in the streets, "The world shall listen to the melody of my soul! I love you, everyone!"
Staggering, Jake made his way to Viktor's workplace.
Viktor was nowhere to be seen.
It was also so dark.
That didn't stop Jake from wanting to listen to the melody of his soul.
And because he was so drunk, the unique skills stemming from his constitution took over him.
He summoned his bow without opening the game system.
He did the same with his arrows.
Ultimately, Jake logged out without even peeking at his game system's notifications.
If he did, he would have seen an astounding notification.
[You have learned The Rapid Release Skill(Rare)]
The next day, Viktor stared at him with dead fish eyes.
"You used the gift."
"I was drunk… sir."