27: I understand. This is called pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger, right?

"Uncle Wang, are forum points delayed?"

Cheng Zhen refreshed the page several times, but still didn't see the points credited. He couldn't find customer service or anything similar in the forum, so he asked the veterans.

After the last instance ended, Cheng Zhen thought these few people were not bad, so he exchanged contact information with them.

Originally, he wanted to ask the bald guy, but the other party was currently muted and couldn't even send messages, so he sent a message to Jacket Uncle.

A few seconds later, Jacket Uncle sent a 59-second voice message.

Hmm, very typical of middle-aged people...

"Little Brother Cheng, the income settlement for instance strategy posts usually takes some time."

Jacket Uncle explained to him: "Because the correctness of the strategy affects the safety of many people within the instance, it cannot be taken lightly. It basically requires a period of trial and verification to confirm the accuracy of the strategy."

"Official strategists always review various strategies. If the publisher's strategy is highly accurate, it will also increase the publisher's credibility weight. Conversely, if reckless writing leads to serious consequences, criminal liability will be imposed."

Jacket Uncle also gave Cheng Zhen some information about the forum.

"So that's how it is..."

Cheng Zhen thought for a moment, then asked, "But I didn't encounter any review when I posted the strategy; the post was published directly."

Jacket Uncle: "Anyone can post, but strategies that pass the review will have an official seal. Look at those Great God (great gods) on the rankings; their strategies all have seals."

"With an official review seal, others will dare to trust the content of the strategy. Currently, the payments in your post are in a temporary state. Once the official strategists verify and approve it, they will transfer the money to you."

"However, this time is not fixed; it depends on when they can schedule an instance."

"Huh?"

Cheng Zhen was dumbfounded, "It's just a four-star instance. How long will that take, until the year of the monkey and horse?"

He thought he would suddenly become rich overnight, but he's stuck halfway and can't get his hands on it. How frustrating!

Jacket Uncle comforted him: "Don't worry, I heard that official strategists always give preferential treatment to players like you who are on the rankings."

"But I remember the official strategists have always wanted to solve this instance. Didn't they contact you after you posted the strategy?"

"Maybe they'll even reward you with rare items for solving this problem, haha."

Cheng Zhen looked at the message interface, staring at a user he had blacklisted, lost in thought.

Jacket Uncle was puzzled: "Didn't they send you a message?"

Cheng Zhen: "...Maybe, probably, seemingly, perhaps, they did?"

Jacket Uncle: ?

He didn't understand, but he respected it.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Um, the bald guy hasn't made a strategy either, what he said before wasn't very accurate."

"Actually, the main payment method for purchasing strategies is mostly Huaxia coins, not points."

Cheng Zhen was confused: "Why? Aren't everyone in the forum strategists? Isn't 0.1 points easy for them?"

"It's precisely because everyone is a strategist that every point needs to be carefully calculated."

Jacket Uncle explained: "Only points can be used to buy Endless Game items in the mall. Money can be earned, but points can only be obtained by going into instances, so it's safest to hold onto them."

"Moreover, strategists' skills are generally more practical, so earning Huaxia coins is incredibly easy. Therefore, they mostly pay with money for reading."

What he said was true. Not to mention others, just Jacket Uncle's skill... Although it was a bit disgusting, when he worked part-time at the hospital, the injured healed incredibly fast, and doctors didn't even have to work overtime at night!

"There are also the 'loafers,' those who only use 'Newbie Cards' and 'Downgrade Cards' to clear low-risk instances. They are the main group who purchase strategies."

"But because they only clear low-star instances, they don't have many points, so they definitely use money to buy strategies."

"Well, look on the bright side, at least you can become rich overnight and earn a million a day!"

Cheng Zhen: "..."

He never thought that one day he would be unhappy about becoming a millionaire.

(ಥ_ಥ) I want cash!!! I really, really want it!!!

Indeed, life is full of uncertainties.

Cheng Zhen was about to say something else when his phone suddenly rang.

His Homeroom Teacher's voice came from the phone: "Cheng Zhen, just now the official strategists contacted our school, specifically asking for you."

Cheng Zhen: ?!

Looking at 'Official Strategist Headquarters' in his blacklist, Cheng Zhen felt a flush of shame.

Cheng Zhen felt that this misunderstanding couldn't be entirely blamed on him.

Who would just offer him rare items right off the bat? Isn't that a blatant scammer? Who knew you official strategists were so... unreserved!

Now they've even found his school. Are they going to confront him in real life?

While he was feeling guilty, he heard his Homeroom Teacher ask, with surprise and disbelief: "They said you're a rising genius on the New Talent Rankings, is that true? Oh my, you should have said so earlier! I spent half the day trying to talk you out of it. If I had known my student was so promising, how could I have stopped you!"

Cheng Zhen felt a little embarrassed: "Heh, I just wanted to keep a low profile."

"I understand."

His Homeroom Teacher expressed understanding, "This is called 'playing the pig to eat the tiger,' right? All the novels I confiscated use this trope."

Cheng Zhen: "...Exactly, Teacher, you're so trendy."

After receiving an affirmative answer, his Homeroom Teacher hung up the phone, completely satisfied.

The next morning, Cheng Zhen arrived at school and then experienced what it felt like to be publicly shamed.

A huge red banner was ostentatiously displayed on the school gate, proclaiming:

"Congratulations to our student Cheng Zhen for bravely conquering the instance and ranking on the New Talent Rankings!"

Cheng Zhen: "..."

Toes curling.jpg

This is way too embarrassing, seriously!

He somewhat wanted to tear that thing down, but his Homeroom Teacher was standing at the school gate, waving happily when he saw him coming!

"Teacher, this is a bit too..."

Cheng Zhen really wanted to tear down the banner, but his Homeroom Teacher shook his head, indicating that it was the principal's idea.

"It's all because of the school next door. Two years ago, one of their students made it onto the New Talent Rankings, and their principal has been showing off to our principal for two years."

"Our principal waited bitterly for two years and finally got you. Then he knocked on the factory door overnight and ordered a banner twice the size of theirs, planning to show off back at them."

Cheng Zhen: So I'm just a tool for their battle, huh?

Are those two really principals? Even elementary school students are more mature than them!

Then Cheng Zhen followed his Homeroom Teacher all the way to the principal's office, belonging to a certain childish ghost.

Upon opening the door, besides the principal, whose wrinkles were stretched wide from smiling, there was also a man in a uniform.

The man was very tall, looking to be around thirty years old. Seeing Cheng Zhen arrive, he smiled and extended his hand.

"Hello, Student Cheng. I am Men Lei, the Team Leader of the Third Group of the Official Strategy Team."

"Hello, Team Leader Men." Cheng Zhen awkwardly extended his hand. "Yesterday, that was a misunderstanding on my part. I apologize."

"No worries."

Team Leader Men smiled slightly, "I'm glad Student Cheng downloaded the anti-fraud app and has excellent vigilance."

Cheng Zhen gave him a mental thumbs-up. He could even praise that; no wonder he was a team leader.

"Student Cheng, I have two purposes for visiting today."

Team Leader Men said warmly: "First, we want to accelerate the progress on the Mountain Sacrifice Child instance, to quickly lift the instance's block and weaken it, thereby breaking the 'newbie graveyard' curse."

"And as the MVP clear of that instance, I very much hope you can assist us. We can provide you with several rewards based on the information you provide, including but not limited to rare items."

"And the second purpose is..."

"Are you interested in becoming an official strategist?"