Chapter 57

Chapter 57. New Update (4)

And right after reading the update message…

—————————————-

<Resource Mining Fleet is under attack!>

<Resource Mining Fleet is under attack!>

<Resource Mining Fleet is under attack!>

… … … … … …

—————————————-

‘Ana.’

From my sprawling resource mining zones, all sorts of warning messages began to flood in, making my head spin.

If there were three silver linings in this unfortunate situation, they would be:

First, after the last user’s resource zone raid incident, I had equipped my resource mining ships with all sorts of evasion-enhancing gadgets.

Second, since some resource zones are frequently attacked by pirates not under the control of users or ‘Marian,’ I had deployed part of my fleet there.

Although it wasn’t intentional, thanks to that, I was able to fend off attacks on a few of my sprawling resource zones with minimal damage.

Of course, since my fleet was only deployed to less than a third of the 30 or so resource zones, it wasn’t long after the flood of attack messages appeared that…

—————————————-

<Resource Mining Fleet 1 has returned urgently.>

<Resource Mining Fleet 2 has returned urgently.>

… … … … … …

—————————————-

I could see my scattered mining fleets limping back, battered and bruised.

“Ugh…”

“This is… pretty serious.”

“Commander, if you entrust the fleet to me… I’ll sink every last one of those bastards who invaded our resource zones right now.”

“If you just give me the anti-ship equipment, I’ll slice them all up!”

“Oh my, oh my♡ How dare they attack our Commander’s precious fleet… Such fearless little rascals♡”

As I let out a frustrated groan, Jessica, along with Belial, Ignis, and Pashtira, each reacted in their own way.

But I shook my head, trying to calm the rising anger.

Of course, the other three responded with, “If the Commander says so… Sigh, I guess we have no choice.”

But my adjutant, Jessica, tilted her head in confusion, not understanding my actions.

“This is unlike you, Commander.”

“Hmm.”

“Is there a reason for this?”

To Jessica’s question, I shrugged my shoulders and opened my mouth, recalling something I had forgotten due to how long ago it was.

“This situation… it’s an event that pops up before you choose which faction to side with.”

“…Ah.”

“It’s a setting to show off the strength of their faction, so it’s not just me getting hit.”

With that, I explained the last of the three silver linings: the fact that I wasn’t the only one suffering.

To prove it, I opened the Community Window right there and showed Jessica the sight of users who had spread their resource zones like octopus tentacles, only to get thoroughly screwed.

“Jessica.”

“…”

“I am not alone.”

Although Jessica’s expression turned quite complex at my ugly display, I thought to myself, “What does it matter if I’m not the only one suffering?”

And so, with our bunny girl Jessica, I began another joyful and happy exploration of the burning gallery.

And the first post we saw today was…

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Title: WTF, Devs, You Sons of Bitches

Author: Anonymous

Content: [Full Notice Image]

Why the hell are resource zones getting wrecked left and right? LOLOLOLOLOLOL

The veterans told me to spread out like an octopus, so I just started doing that 3 days ago, and now this BS LOLOLOLOLOLOL

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Comments:

-[You too?]

-[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

-[Lord, another one has ascended.]

-[Poor thing…]

-[Another newbie got tricked.]

—————————————-

It was the cry of a newbie who had just realized they’d been tricked by the veterans.

And judging by how this cry was setting the gallery on fire, it seemed quite a few users were suffering through this update.

“…Wow.”

Perhaps the ugly sight of the ‘Commanders’ was quite shocking.

Jessica, looking at the gallery, seemed about to say something…

Even while mumbling with my mouth, I quickly shut it, unable to bring myself to speak. Or, I let out some short sighs or exclamations, sending confused glances around. But despite the outcry from newbies, some lost souls, and clean returnees like me, surprisingly, the gallery’s public sentiment didn’t stay focused on other users for long. The reason was nothing else but…

—————————————-

Title: Look at the newbie who got trolled by the old-timer

Author: Marshmallow

Content: [Resource Fleet Raid Messages]

We didn’t know either, damn it.

Comments:

– [Short and thick one-liner]

– [LOL]

– [Why did the old-timer get wrecked too?]

– [The sinking message bestowed upon him]

—————————————-

Title: Went to see the newbies’ resource zone getting wrecked.jpg

Author: Ddongpootsan Uncle

Content: [Image of a Chinese lady]

But when I came back, our resource fleet had been sunk.

Tears came to my eyes as soon as I saw it.

Comments:

– [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

– [Why is Pootsan Uncle suddenly using Seoul country bumpkin speech?]

– [Dropped his act as soon as his fleet got wrecked, huh?]

– [LOL]

– [Can’t keep up the act when he’s the one getting hit LOLOLOLOL]

—————————————-

It’s also becoming apparent that even those old-timers are getting screwed over by the updates pushed by the management.

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Title: Should we curse the management or the developers?

Author: Gooooolden Melona

Content: [Screenshot of a barely surviving resource mining ship’s precarious HP]

This guy barely escaped after our base got wrecked last time, and now those bastards have wrecked our precious resource mining ship…

I’m feeling so disillusioned.

If it weren’t for the fact that logging out is impossible, I’d probably rage quit and go to sleep by now.

Comments:

– [This guy had everything wrecked except his ship, how did he survive?]

– [Supernatural survival entity appears LOLOLOLOL]

– [No, seriously, how did he survive?]

– [A passing old-timer helped me, and now I’m living like a basic income recipient with clan support] (Author)

– [LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

– [Is that clan name Justice by any chance?]

– [Yeah, that’s right] (Author)

– [I’m also on basic support there now, nice to meet you, buddy]

– [Family reunions happening here too]

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With such pitiful stories coming out, the discord among users quickly subsided. And as the icing on the cake…

—————————————-

Title: Proof of losing 25 resource zones.

Author: Icarus

Content: [Resource Zone Raid Image]

Hehe.

Comments:

– [Damn, 25 resource zones LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

– [Wow, insane]

– [This is what it takes to be a top ranker, huh?]

– [Is it true that not a single resource mining ship got wrecked?]

– [Must have straws stuck everywhere]

—————————————-

By sharing my own damage situation, I decided to hammer into those who kept lashing out at me that we’re all in the same boat. And while at it, I also tried to plant the idea that I suffered the most… but…

—————————————-

Title: Stop freaking out, nya~

Author: Nekokawaii

Content: [52 Resource Zone Raid Messages]

Shut up, nya~

Comments:

– [Wow]

– [Wow]

– [Wow]

—————————————-

“Wow.”

With the appearance of a friend even crazier than me, unfortunately, that plan crumbled to dust.