547 Fish-Catching Internet Cafe was Ahead of Boss Pei

Zhang Yuan was shocked.

Until now, he had not even thought about trying to predict Boss Pei's direction. Everyone had been trying hard to figure out Boss Pei's deeper intentions and what he would do in the future. It seemed more than what most people were capable of.

"Are you confident?" Zhang Yuan asked.

After some consideration, Xiao Peng said, "Of course, I'm not a hundred percent confident, but I feel at least seventy percent confident.

"Boss Pei did not give us any clear instructions for Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0, but there are clues for us to follow in Boss Pei's other businesses.

"There are traces of his behavior in GOG and IOI. GOG is DGE Esports Club's main event.

"If we combine both of these two clues together, it means that Boss Pei has a plan for the esports industry. In the near future, some of his businesses might be related to it!

"What's more, at this critical juncture, Boss Pei wants us to set up a Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0. Although he didn't give us any specific requests, the internet cafe would definitely organize a combined event with the Esports Club in the future so that both can succeed together!

"Fish-Catching Internet Cafe would provide space for esports, and esports would bring attention to Fish-Catching Internet Cafe.

"The first stage of the competition between GOG and IOI has come to an end. Both are updating their content like crazy, and GOG is not at a disadvantage.

"The fact that Boss Pei wanted to create a dog-eat-dog competition means that the battle would not end just like that. After this, the real fight will begin.

"They've already gotten to this stage, and there are only two things that they could do now: burn money to attract large groups of gamers by running publicity offline in internet cafes and online through live streamers, or organize an esports competition.

"However, it would need enough gamers to organize an esports competition. That was because gamers needed to understand the game to understand the competition.

"On the whole, I think Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0 should be like a living museum for esports!"

Zhang Yuan could not help but nod. "Yes, that makes sense! However, strictly speaking, this isn't a judgment call on our part. It's all a part of Boss Pei's plan."

Xiao Peng nodded. "Yes, I know. No one can think further ahead than Boss Pei. That goes without saying.

"I mean Boss Pei has only taken the first step out of the entire plan. Although he has already planned the next few steps, he has not revealed them to us.

"I guess that Boss Pei has not taken the second step. That's why I think Fish-Catching Internet Cafe should be made into a live museum for esports and be open before Boss Pei takes that second step in his plan!"

Convinced and cheerful, Zhang Yuan nodded profusely and yelled, "Awesome!"

Xiao Peng led Zhang Yuan in. "Come, Boss Zhang. Let me show you Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0. I'm thinking of turning this place into the land for professional gamers.

"For ordinary gamers, Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 2.0 is good enough to satisfy their desires to play games together. Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0 should obviously cater to the more hardcore players.

"For example, some people love GOG so much that they formed a competition team. Apart from playing individually and in pairs, they also need to compete with other teams of the same standard as them to practice before the competition.

"To them, this is a very important hobby. It's just like square dancing was to many uncles and aunties.

"Fish-Catching 3.0 would be perfect to fill up that gap!

"Come, Boss Zhang. Let me show you the whole set-up for the internet cafe.

"The seats in the internet cafe would be in groups of five. That is the maximum number of members in each team, and that would allow five friends to play together at the same time.

"Free-seating would be allowed in the hall, but as much as possible, we should allow people to sit in groups of five if they want to.

"We'll also organize regular competitions. Then, the entire hall would become a stage for the competition, and all participants would have to form groups of five. Only those who are shortlisted by us would qualify to enter other areas.

"Those rooms by the side are individual training rooms. Only members who are ranked among the top few in the internet cafe would be allowed to use them. Moreover, they would only be allowed to use the rooms if all members of their team are here. Otherwise, they would have to wait in the lobby.

"The highest and innermost seats in the internet cafe would be left for the exclusive use of the strongest team. The team leader can sit at the highest seat, and he would represent the upper limit of the members in our internet cafe. Everyone else is to worship him.

"In addition, there's a battle room in the center of the hall with a projector and a big screen outside. Those are meant for the competitions.

"The regular competitions in the internet cafe would be live-streamed on the projector screen, so that everyone in the hall and outside the internet cafe would be able to watch. Participants would also enjoy the treatment and attention that esports celebrities get!

"Of course, this is a watered-down version. However, to be able to enjoy the attention and cheers from everyone else inside and outside the internet cafe would be worth being proud of!"

Zhang Yuan could not help but nod in agreement.

He tried hard to imagine himself entering the individual training room as the competition was streamed by the projector onto the huge screen outside. It would be an exciting experience for sure.

Zhang Yuan could not help but exclaim, "That's genius!

"Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 3.0 would be able to pick out the most hardcore gamers from Fish-Catching Internet Cafe 2.0. Then, through the regular competitions, players would be able to fight to emerge among the top few. They might even become the champion team of the internet cafe and earn the admiration of many.

"That way, we would be able to build an esports competition culture. Once the network is built, gamers would no longer view this place as merely somewhere to surf the net and play games. Instead, it would be a community…

"The only thing that's lacking is that ordinary gamers would be reduced to being an audience now."

One did not have to try too hard to figure out that only true hardcore gamers would like this place. Under ordinary circumstances, everyone would be viewed as an equal competitor.

However, over here, ordinary gamers would be seen as a part of the public. This might be a huge blow for them.

Xiao Peng smiled. "Boss Zhang, I thought about that as well, and so I made the necessary arrangements.

"So you see the new ROF system units?"

Zhang Yuan looked at the computers on all seats. "Yes, there seem to be more lights now, and they look fancier."

"There are lights on the front, the side, the back, and the top! All of these lights support RGB programming. In other words, you can program it such that there would be special lighting effects for each command.

"Thus, I asked Min Jingchao and the others to create a little function for me.

"GOG's program would send signals to the programmable RGB lights, causing special lighting effects based on the pre-assigned settings!

"For now, this is my plan: there would be unique lighting effects for the first kill, double kills, multiple kills, kill streaks, becoming legendary, increasing in rank, and the like. Any player that achieves any of the above would see the corresponding lighting effect on the system unit!

"That way, one would just have to look at the special lighting effects on the system unit to figure out if he got the first kill, became legendary in the game… entered the Great Master or King tier…

"In other words, even if you are an ordinary player whose team cannot compete against most of the other professionals in the internet cafe, as long as you play here and do something impressive; others would notice.

"An experience like that cannot be replicated elsewhere!"

Zhang Yuan gasped in amazement. "Amazing. I didn't know that RGB could do that. But… why have you only done it for GOG and not IOI?"

Xiao Peng shrugged helplessly. "I approached Shang Yang Games, but they need Finger Games' approval to make any changes to the game's program. It'll be more troublesome. What's more, I don't think it's necessary. Boss Pei obviously just wants IOI to push GOG further."

Zhang Yuan was stunned. "Really?"

Xiao Peng nodded. "Of course. Otherwise, why would Boss Pei set up an Esports Club for GOG and not for IOI? Obviously, he thinks more highly of GOG.

"Since IOI is destined to be a cannon fodder and has a smaller market share in the local gaming industry, it would make more sense to focus on GOG's gamers."

After some consideration, Zhang Yuan said, "Hmm, that seems logical. When do you plan to open the internet cafe?"

Xiao Peng: "Next Wednesday. I still have to tie up some loose ends."

Zhang Yuan nodded. "Alright, once you open for business, I'll bring the few young fellows from DGE Esports Club here. They can play an exhibition game for the best of five and attract some customers for you!"

Xiao Peng was elated. "That's great! They're all King-tier competitors; it'll be exciting to watch!"

…

At that moment…

"Mr. Liang, coffee." The Management Trainee of Sloth Apartments set a cup of coffee in front of Liang Qingfan.

Liang Qingfan muttered a 'thanks' and then continued working on the design without looking up.

A few days ago, Liang Qingfan had officially joined Tengda Corporation and become the man in charge of Sloth Apartments.

Pei Qian also successfully arranged for this junior, with a degree in Architecture, to become the Management Trainee. He was to assist Liang Qingfan and gather updates for Boss Pei.

"Hu… I'm finally almost done."

Liang Qingfan heaved a sigh of relief.

After working hard for over a week, Liang Qingfan was almost done with his plans to modify the three buildings. He was quite happy with what he had achieved thus far.

He revised his plans again and again, feeling increasingly proud of himself.

I can make even such odd-looking apartments look so perfect…! I'm a genius!

This seemed to validate what Boss Pei had said: only such difficult and odd-looking apartments could reveal a designer's true standards!

Liang Qingfan was even beginning to think that it would be a waste not to publicize his beautiful plans and designs.

"Should I take a couple of photographs? No, that would be too simple. I should video-record the entire thing.

"I would probably grab a lot of people's attention if I put such a design online, right?

"Yes, I should get a professional camera crew.

"Tengda Corporation's Fei Huang Workspace seems professional enough, right?"

The more Liang Qingfan thought about it, the more fitting it seemed. In any case, they were all under Tengda Corporation. It should be easy to set something up, right?

The cost wouldn't be a problem. It was all Boss Pei's money after all. The most important thing was that he would be able to trust an insider to do a good job of filming the apartments.

However, Liang Qingfan had no way of contacting Fei Huang Workspace, and it didn't seem appropriate to bother Boss Pei over something so minor.

Fortunately, he had a Management Trainee with him.

"Do you know anyone from Fei Huang Workspace?" Liang Qingfan asked him.

The Management Trainee: "Er…"

He hesitated because he only knew Fei Huang Workspace's Management Trainee. Yet, they were meant to be undercover. Should he admit that he knew someone or not?

He considered it for a moment. It did not seem right to admit it or to deny it. If he admitted it, he would expose his own identity. If he denied it, he might delay Mr. Liang's work.

After further consideration, the Management Trainee decided not to answer the question head-on. "I think Fei Huang Workspace's employees are still on holiday."

"Holiday? The entire department is on holiday?" Liang Qingfan looked suspicious.

The Management Trainee nodded. "That's right. It's a special arrangement within Tengda Corporation, due to Fei Huang Workspace's outstanding contributions…"

The Management Trainee explained the entire situation to Liang Qingfan.

Then, Liang Qingfan nodded. "Oh…"

What a pity. He would not be able to engage Fei Huang Workspace's help because they were not even working.

It was Friday today, and it was almost time to leave work.

It looked like he had no choice but to look for a professional film-maker tomorrow to film the apartments.