By the time Fang Zhao left Fiery Bird's R&D department, it was already quite late. Fang Zhao headed straight back to his hotel to rest. The buzz online did not affect Fang Zhao, but the people he met along the way all looked at him curiously. Some even asked if he really had a triad family background.
Rumors online ranged from a black street gang, to the illegitimate son of a gang boss, to his family's gangster history, to speculations about whether or not Fang Zhao had killed anyone. In this world, there were always people who liked to speculate with evil intentions. Furthermore, the people behind all of this wanted nothing more than to pour more black water on Fang Zhao. It would be best if they could use this opportunity to squeeze Fang Zhao out of this circle. Even if they couldn't squeeze him out, they could at least cause some damage to his reputation and popularity. After all, Fang Zhao's name had been too popular in the gaming circles for the past two days.
He had stolen the limelight for this year's annual meeting. Just look at the discussion topics in the major gaming forums. All sorts of topics regarding Fang Zhao, be it technical posts or gossip posts, accounted for more than half of the total topics!
Rumors abounded when one became popular. Fans who were more rational were waiting anxiously, while hot-tempered fans were arguing online. Those who supported Fang Zhao and those who criticized Fang Zhao were arguing non-stop. Silver Wing officials did not make a clear statement. They only asked everyone to wait. Fang Zhao would give everyone an explanation tomorrow.
The group of people had finally waited for the third day of Fiery Bird's annual gala. Gaming fans from all over the world, regardless of time zone, were all waiting in front of their screens, especially those fans who had planned to bid for their idols' items. They had long prepared their funds and were waiting.
And on this day, the topic that received the most attention was naturally Fang Zhao. Silver Wing had officially said that Fang Zhao would give an explanation today. The media was also rubbing their hands in glee, waiting for Fang Zhao to release more information so they could make follow-up arrangements.
It was the same hall on the day of the award ceremony.
Just like in previous years, the first item to be auctioned would definitely be Fiery Bird's own items. Fiery Bird fans from all over the world would be waiting anxiously in front of their screens. Even if they could not afford it, they would still be able to watch it and have more topics to discuss.
Many people guessed that this year, Fiery Bird would directly auction off a 10th-generation console. Gaming fans who were not part of the first batch of 100 users and had some assets were all waiting to fight for it.
However, what Fiery Bird had released was a first-generation mech. It was Fiery Bird's first-generation "Morning Star."
"A hundred years ago, our Fiery Bird dabbled in gaming. Ninety years ago, the first Fiery Bird game console was born. It was named 'Venus'..."
On stage, Tang Can narrated the history of Fiery Bird's games and gaming consoles with great emotion.
For gamers, the value of a game console was determined by the people who had used it.
For example, the Fiery Bird fifth-generation console used by an e-sports god 50 years ago had been sold for a high price two years ago, more than double the price the collector had paid for it.
Another thing that could attract game fans and fetch a high price was emotions.
Obviously, there was no 10th-generation console, but the nostalgia for the original console was still quite strong, especially for gaming fans over 100 years old. They had deep feelings for the original console.
During the auction of the first-generation console, Fiery Bird's chairman, major shareholders, and a few of the company's top executives had come to support. That first-generation console had an engraving. It was an inscription from the previous chairman of Fiery Bird.
"Don't forget your original intention, and forge ahead."
Looking at the enlarged inscription on the screen, Fang Zhao asked Jinro, "What is Fiery Bird's' original intention '?"
As a veteran gamer who had been in the gaming circles for many years, Jinro was stumped by this question. He thought for a bit and said, "Perhaps it is to make the company bigger and better and then manufacture the best game consoles and games?"
In the end, this first-generation console was won by a 130-year-old entrepreneur for a high price of 60 million.
Before the release of "Battle of the Century," the 10th-generation console had already been hyped up to 60 million. On the third day of the game's release, it had been hyped up to 80 million. Now, it was rushing to over 100 million.
Naturally, the first-generation console could not compare to the 10th-generation console, but the cost and technical content of the first-generation console was there. Being able to fetch such a high price was already not easy.
The chips and various components used in the first-generation console had long been discontinued. Gamers had long thrown the game consoles from back in the day to who knew where. Many first-generation consoles had already been recycled as trash.
Even if there were some that had been preserved, not every first-generation console could fetch such a high price. Collecting such a machine required meticulous maintenance, which took up a lot of time and effort. The maintenance costs were not low, and most people would not be willing to put in the effort.
Furthermore, this first-generation console still had the inscription of the deceased chairman. This was not something that other first-generation consoles could compare to. Perhaps in a few decades, as long as this machine was maintained well, it could be resold for a record price.
After the first-generation console was auctioned off, the people discussing the matter gradually calmed down. They were waiting for the second person that they had been anticipating to go on stage.
Fang Zhao walked on stage in the formal attire that Silver Wing had prepared for him. He did not wear the SilverLight team's uniform. Seeing this, many people had an idea. Indeed, the item that Fang Zhao had brought out for auction was his team uniform.
There was nothing surprising about it. It was within expectations.
When the team uniform was brought out, not many people revealed astonished expressions.
Actually, auctioning off the team uniform was something that Silver Wing had considered for a long time before deciding on. At the start, Wayne had wanted to suggest that Fang Zhao bring out something that would attract more attention, such as music scores or manuscripts, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was not appropriate.
Fang Zhao might be quite popular now, but whether it was in the gaming circles or in the composing circles, he was still a newcomer. There was no need to talk about the gaming circles, but the main issue was the composing circles. This might incur the displeasure of many veteran composers.
More conservative academics might feel that this sort of behavior was disrespectful to the works. Auctioning music scores in the gaming circles? Could those gamers understand music scores?
Of course not. There were too few gamers with a professional foundation. For the majority of gamers, music scores were on the same level as Oracle bone scripts. In any case, when placed in front of them, it was the same: they could not understand it.
And for some sensitive composers, they would think, By auctioning off your music scores for a high price, are you trying to prove that you are better than others? Can artistic attainments be measured purely by auction value?
They were not in the same circles and had no accumulated experience. From the perspective of a newcomer, Wayne ultimately still suggested that Fang Zhao be like everyone else and auction off his own clothes. This was definitely not wrong.
Some people noticed that on the chest area of the jacket that Fang Zhao had taken out, there was a badge. That was the captain's badge. Looking at the close-up on the big screen, other than the tree-shaped team emblem, there was also Fang Zhao's name engraved on the badge.
Yesterday, during the live broadcast of the exchange match, Fang Zhao had worn this badge for the first time in public. It was just that the cameras had not given him a close-up.
"Auctioning off the team uniform to give away the badge?" someone online commented.
"This has never happened before, right?"
"In the past, only the team uniform was auctioned off, not the badge."
Just as everyone was discussing, Fang Zhao, who was standing on the stage, spoke.
"I received a call from my great-grandfather yesterday. The old man saw those rumors online and was very angry."
When they heard Fang Zhao mention "great-grandfather," some people pricked up their ears. They wanted to know where this great-grandfather of Fang Zhao's was from. Was he from the rumored black street gang?
As if he knew what everyone was thinking, Fang Zhao displayed a photo on the big screen behind him. It was a box filled with neatly arranged military medals.
The buzz of discussion in the conference hall died down in an instant.
"The old man insisted that I post these. These are the military medals that my great-grandfather and great-grandmother received. The two elders served on the Sirius."
The Sirius, one of the pioneers of space exploration in the New Era, had already been decommissioned. But it had never disappeared in various films and was well known by people. The medal itself represented the significance of an era.
In the online forum, the gaming fans who saw this scene were also surprised.
"Served on a warship? That sounds so cool! "
"Cool my ass! Serving on a warship is even more tiring than mining! And it's even more dangerous! Not to mention the first batch of warships. Not many of the people who served on them survived, right? "
"Based on these medals, Fang Zhao's great-grandfather was at least at the regimental rank. He definitely had the right to carry a gun, and it might even be a rare gun model."
"I'm jealous. Fang Zhao must have played with those guns before."
"No matter what, at least it proves that Fang Zhao's family isn't a gang!"
This time, no one linked Fang Zhao or his family to gangs that might or might not exist. No matter what they were thinking or whether they still had doubts, they would not say it out loud. Just this box of military medals and the fact that he had served on the Sirius was enough for them to show their respect to the old man. As for whether Fang Zhao really had nothing to do with the mafia or if he had killed anyone, they could only rely on evidence. Without evidence, they didn't dare spout nonsense. If they weren't careful, they might get into trouble. It would have been fine if Fang Zhao's great-grandfather had passed away, but the two elders were still alive and well. If they were to be held accountable, they would be in deep trouble.
Fang Zhao ignored everyone's reaction and continued, "When I visited the two elders during Memorial Day last year, I discussed military service with them. But because of work arrangements, I didn't apply for military service last year. But this year, I have decided to apply for the April term."
Military service required one to apply for two periods a year: April and October.
What Fang Zhao meant was that he would apply for the April term. What about the game? Not playing anymore? What about the team? Was the number one throne going to change hands?
The quiet conference hall started buzzing again. Some people were so happy they wanted to jump up and set off firecrackers. They had been racking their brains to squeeze Fang Zhao out. Who would have thought that Fang Zhao would actually be doing his military service! Hahahahaha!
There were also people who regretted that they wouldn't be able to meet Fang Zhao in-game. They wanted to battle him before he started his military service.
Fang Zhao paused briefly before continuing. "From today onwards, I will temporarily leave 'Battle of the Century' until I return from my military service."
Gaming fans were dumbfounded. So soon?!
Everyone had too many questions they wanted to ask, but Fang Zhao did not continue. He didn't need to say too much. After all, this was Fiery Bird's auction, not his personal meet-and-greet. Time was limited. After a few key points were briefly mentioned, the rest would naturally be explained by Silver Wing's people.
Fang Zhao was temporarily withdrawing. Even if he returned from his military service, the captain's position might not be handed to him. That meant that in the short term, there would only be one captain badge on this set of team uniforms!
Thus, when the auction started, the numbers shot up.
On the big screen, the starting bid jumped from 10,000 to 100,000, 200,000, 500,000, 800,000...
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