Chapter Seven: The Blue Ocean

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Chapter Seven: Azure Ocean

Dream Star City sprawls across eight hundred square kilometers, with a player population exceeding one and a half million, and more than one hundred fifty thousand AI-controlled NPCs. It ranks as the third-largest central city in the southern region of the Radiant Federation.

Here, skyscrapers with floor-to-ceiling windows rise into the sky, streets are lined with traffic lights arranged in harmonious order, magnificent shopping centers and opulent hotels abound—everything mirrors the real world, and in some ways even surpasses it.

If one weren’t living within it, it would truly feel like a dream. When the game’s developer, Lida Group, designed this city, they deliberately named it “The Star in a Dream,” thus shortened to Dream Star City. It has another resounding nickname, “The Pearl of the Desert,” and indeed, Dream Star City is worthy of such praise.

Dusk passed, night descended, city lights flickered on, neon gleamed.

Wu Hua stepped out of the administration building and spotted from afar the Desert Fox parked at the curb. Hotshot Girl was as cool as ever, standing on the back seat with her gun slung over her shoulder, waving to Wu Hua. “Get in, we’ll talk.”

As the vehicle started, Madam Driver turned the steering wheel and occasionally glanced back at Wu Hua, who wore nothing but underwear. Her gaze sent chills down his spine, like a hungry wolf eyeing a juicy morsel.

“Well, little bro, you’re skinny but surprisingly muscular. Where do you live? Do you own a house in this city? We’re not heading home tonight—how about we crash at your place?” Her syrupy voice made Wu Hua cough violently.

“Oh, got a cold? Wearing so little?” she continued in the same tone.

“No, it’s nothing, just choked on saliva,” Wu Hua managed.

...

“Second, stop flirting. Head for the best shopping center in the city. Didn’t you see that our friend here has lost all his gear?” Hotshot Girl shot her a glare, then turned to Wu Hua. “Don’t mind her. That’s just how she is. Fierce to enemies, but friendly to her own.”

Hotshot Girl’s icy demeanor had thawed, evidently because Wu Hua had eliminated Maragobi. Though he’d heard polite words before, when Hotshot Girl referred to him as “one of us,” warmth flooded Wu Hua’s heart. He’d been in this virtual world for a month and had yet to make any real friends.

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Wu Hua chuckled, “Yes, yes, a double-faced charmer.”

Madam Driver turned again, “Oh, you’re right. That’s me—a double-faced charmer. Do you like that, little bro?”

Wu Hua coughed again, violently.

She complained, “Oh my, look at you coughing—so young, yet...”

Hotshot Girl interrupted her, addressing Wu Hua, “Old Three told me about how you finished off Maragobi. I’m curious about one thing.”

Wu Hua replied, “What is it?”

Hotshot Girl said, “That magma wave did over seven hundred damage, but you’re only level thirteen, your HP shouldn’t exceed fifteen hundred. You took two waves and survived, with almost no gear on you. Did you put all your attribute points into Constitution? That seems odd.”

It certainly was strange; gunslingers typically invest in Ranged, Armor, and Agility, favoring high attack, high defense, and speed. Even those training as snipers focus on Strength at most, never on Constitution—warriors specialize in that.

Wu Hua smiled and countered, “You were hunting Maragobi—did I ask you why?”

Hotshot Girl paused, then nodded in understanding, “Good. I like dealing with people like you—never ask more than you should.”

Wu Hua smiled back, “I can see you’re a straightforward person.”

In truth, Hotshot Girl could never guess that Wu Hua had always invested all his attribute points in Strength and Constitution.

In Star Wars, the game’s setup is such that every level gained boosts abilities and grants extra attribute points: one point for levels 1–5, two for levels 6–10, three for 11–15, and so on. Higher levels earn more points, since the experience required increases, which helps “leveling experts” who lack gear.

Specialization is complex, and point allocation is an art. For example, one point in Constitution grants fifty HP, and one point in Strength increases HP regeneration by one per second. Many novices like to boost Constitution and Strength—higher Constitution lets you tank, higher Strength lets you wield heavy weapons. Most importantly, leveling, farming, quests, and survival in Star Wars are arduous; credits are hard to earn—a bundle of health potions costs three credits for ten bottles. So, from an economic perspective, Constitution and Strength save a lot of money.

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That was precisely why Wu Hua had invested heavily in these two specializations. Even after losing a level, at twelve his HP was twenty-two fifty, making him essentially a mid-level warrior.

Of course, these secrets were not to be shared—who would disclose their own background so easily?

Along the way, Wu Hua and Hotshot Girl hit it off. Wu Hua sensed that she must be someone who knows firearms and military tactics in real life, and she was clearly the type who spent lavishly in the game. He didn’t mind chatting—more friends meant more opportunities.

“Little bro, here’s your reward,” Hotshot Girl opened the trade window and placed a crystal card.

Wu Hua paused—the trade amount was one thousand credits. “We agreed on a price of one thousand, right?”

Hotshot Girl said, “That’s correct, but without you, we couldn’t have finished this mission. The extra five hundred is a personal token of appreciation.”

Wu Hua accepted without fuss—only a fool would refuse money. Of course, this was not just a simple transaction; clearly there would be more to come.

“Honestly, little bro, you’re only level thirteen but your judgment and reactions are first-rate. This was just a minor case, but if there’s ever another chance, I hope we can work together again,” Hotshot Girl said.

Wu Hua chuckled inwardly: you lost a level, yet call this a minor case. Even if it was minor, you didn’t even manage the small stuff. He thought this, but dared not say it aloud. “Sure, no problem.”

Hotshot Girl smiled and handed something over. “My business card!”

Wu Hua quickly took it—a pink, gold-embossed card, striking to the eye.

Actually, in Star Wars, players don’t need business cards; adding a friend through the receiver suffices. Yet business cards are different—usually only legitimate corporations distribute them, signifying the company has a legal address and proper financial backing. Such companies are protected by the Federation’s headquarters garrison—so you’d best not stir trouble, or you’ll be in for it.

As for clans, gangs, or factions, no matter how renowned, they’re essentially underworld groups—mess with the authorities and you’re done for.

On the card was printed: “Star Wars World, Radiant Federation, Phantom Moon City, Azure Ocean, Hotshot Girl.”