Online Game: My Decay Drives the Entire Server Crazy

Chapter 10: Zhao Kai’s Bill Exceeded, So I Rented the Entire Building as My Studio (Server-Wide Broadcast)After dealing with the twenty-plus elites from the Heavenly Temple and returning to the Novice Village, it was almost dark. The sky in the game changed with real-world time; the setting sun painted the roofs of the Novice Village gold, which looked quite atmospheric.

But he wasn’t in the mood for scenery; he still had a score to settle.

Opening his friend list, Zhao Kai’s ID was still online—more accurately, he was trapped in the Creation Space, waiting for the 24-hour cooldown to end. Lin Ye glanced at the progress bar of the Social Death Package; it was only two levels away from unlocking the Server-Wide Mandatory Scrolling Announcement.

A wicked smile curled on his lips as he sent Zhao Kai a private message.

[Private Message] Ye: Master Kai, have you gathered the hundred thousand gold coins?

The reply came instantly, his tone humble to the extreme—

[Private Message] Master Kai: Brother Ye, I’ve gathered eighty-five thousand, still short by fifteen thousand. Can you give me a few days’ grace? I promise I’ll pay!

Lin Ye: ”No. I said a hundred thousand, not a single coin less. However—”

He paused on purpose.

[Private Message] Master Kai: However what? Just say it, Brother Ye! As long as you can clear the debuffs on me, I’ll do anything!

Lin Ye: ”One hundred thousand gold coins, plus that purple gear you’re wearing, [ring of triumph], and I’ll clear a portion of your debuffs.”

[Private Message] Master Kai: ...Fine! I’ll give it!

Zhao Kai was now backed into a corner. Trapped in the Creation Space, he lost health when online and feared Lin Ye’s new tricks when offline. Over the past dozen hours, he hadn’t even slept well, logging on every ten minutes to check if the debuffs were still there; he was being driven insane.

Gritting his teeth, he took off his only remaining purple gear, the [ring of triumph], and traded it to Lin Ye along with eighty-five thousand gold coins.

[System Notification: You have received 85,000 gold coins and [ring of triumph] (Purple) from player [Master Kai].]

Lin Ye looked at the ring; its attributes were decent—Strength +20, Critical Rate +8%, Attack Speed +10%. He casually equipped it, and his stats boosted once more.

[Private Message] Ye: Money received. Now let’s settle your debuffs.

Zhao Kai’s heart leaped into his throat—

[Private Message] Master Kai: Brother Ye, you said you’d help me clear them!

Lin Ye: ”I said clear a portion, I didn’t say all of them.”

[Private Message] Master Kai: ...You!

[Private Message] Ye: Don’t be in such a hurry, let me finish. Regarding the debuffs on you, I can help you clear the health drain and the offline vibration effects. However—

He paused again on purpose.

[Private Message] Master Kai: However what?!

[Private Message] Ye: However, I will leave a backdoor. If you ever provoke me again or speak ill of me outside, the backdoor will trigger, all debuffs will return instantly, and this time—they can never be cleared.

The other side was silent for a full minute.

Lin Ye could imagine Zhao Kai’s expression right now—he must be both furious and terrified, wishing he could tear him apart but not daring to.

[Private Message] Master Kai: ...Fine. I agree. I won’t provoke you again.

Lin Ye smiled and began operating the Talent panel. He cleared the health drain and offline vibration effects from Zhao Kai but kept the core framework of the Social Death Package, plus a hidden ”permanent backdoor.”

[System Notification: Some debuffs on player [Master Kai] have been cleared. Remaining effects: None. Backdoor has been set; trigger condition: player [Master Kai] exhibits malicious behavior or speech toward player [Ye].]

Zhao Kai breathed a long sigh of relief as he watched his character finally stop losing health. But what he didn’t know was that Lin Ye had left a time bomb on him—if he dared to cause trouble again, he could forget about playing this game properly for the rest of his life.

[Private Message] Master Kai: Brother Ye, then I’ll log off for now. Let’s play together if we get the chance.

Lin Ye almost laughed out loud at this message. Play together? This guy was probably traumatized.

He didn’t reply, closed the private message, and checked the Talent panel—the progress bar for the Social Death Package was just one step away from unlocking the Server-Wide Mandatory Scrolling Announcement.

And Zhao Kai was the perfect test subject.

Lin Ye opened the World Channel and began typing—