30: Copies of weapons are not allowed
Immediately, Ito Hidekazu, as the commander, directly chose Task Two for everyone: Economic Overtake!
“Sky Curtain, choose Task Two!”
【Sky Curtain Notification: All Challengers have successfully chosen Task Two. The next instance will proceed in a non-war format! This instance will test the Challengers' logic and operation skills!】
【Non-war format requires the prohibition of any weapons and any armed violent actions within the instance. All military weapons brought into the instance will be temporarily frozen!】
The moment the Sky Curtain issued the reminder, the ships anchored outside the harbor, the rows of tanks and armored vehicles displayed in the military camp, and the guns and weapons in everyone's hands all directly turned gray.
Then, they dissolved into mosaic patterns with the wind.
This sudden change startled many Challengers who were experiencing this instance for the first time.
They all stared at each other, somewhat at a loss.
“It can be played like this?”
“A completely non-war format instance, this is the first time I’ve heard of it… But aren’t instances meant for combat? If there’s no combat, what’s the point of an instance?”
“All weapons frozen, doesn’t that mean this entire game has nothing to do with military technology…”
“Can we understand it as Raging Sea turning into an instance that relies purely on brains?”
In fact, many people thought that since they chose Task Two, the economic war, the instance would most likely proceed in a combination of economic operation and military offense.
During the economic war, the enemy forces would occasionally harass them.
No one expected a complete blockade of weapons! A purely non-war mode.
An instance mode that doesn't require combat, this was a first in the Sky Curtain's instance history.
In the thousands of years the Sky Curtain has existed, all instances, without exception, involved killing and war.
They all used military weapons, tactics, and terrain to form strategic advantages and achieve victory.
To a certain extent, the strength of an instance was actually a competition of military technology, which was something everyone had subconsciously taken for granted.
Now Lin Ye suddenly came up with a non-war mode, which could be said to have broken the unwritten rules.
-------------------------------------
In the conference room of the First Instance Research Institute of the Great Summer Dragon Rising Settlement.
Ding Chang, along with a group of researchers, was watching the progress of the Raging Sea instance on the big screen in real-time, just like yesterday.
This activity was now a mandatory task for the research institute; as long as Raging Sea opened, everyone had to observe on time.
When they saw the Sky Curtain's notification about the non-war format, everyone gasped, looking incredulous.
“So instances can be designed like this?!” one researcher couldn’t help but exclaim.
“In that case, doesn’t it mean choosing Task One and Task Two are two completely different challenge modes? Doesn’t that equate to two instances?”
“Then the sheer volume of this Raging Sea instance is completely unimaginable.”
Because they had never seen it before, all the researchers looked excited.
This non-war mode instance completely opened a new world for them!
If instances didn't require weapons, it could be said that it suddenly added countless possibilities to instance design.
“What a brilliant idea, Dean Ding, this Lin Ye is truly a genius.”
“We, who specialize in instance research, never thought of this point…”
“Since this also works, should we try to create a non-war instance in the future?”
The researchers engaged in a heated discussion regarding Lin Ye's new instance format, and the conference room became lively for a while.
“Cough, cough.”
Ding Chang coughed twice, signaling everyone to be quiet, then slowly spoke.
“Everyone, quiet down. Now is not the time to discuss such long-term issues…”
“Whether it's non-war or war, they are just surface forms. The core of all instances still lies in their internal logic.”
“Since it's a new format, everyone should watch with even more focus.”
The room gradually quieted down. Ding Chang took a sip of tea, then looked at Zhao Jianyu, who was next to him.
Ever since the new round of Raging Sea began, Zhao Jianyu had an uneasy feeling.
At this moment, she was gently puffing on a slim lemon-scented cigarette, looking somewhat irritated at the ceiling.
“Sword Rain, you seem a bit worried. Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share?” Dean Ding said calmly.
“Teacher… this is what I’m thinking.”
Zhao Jianyu hesitated, but finally voiced her doubts.
“Perhaps my knowledge is limited, but I always feel that Lin Ye designing such a new instance mode within the instance is somewhat like shooting himself in the foot.”
“Hmm… tell me more.” Dean Ding still wore a benevolent smile.
“Teacher, look, a person’s energy is always limited, and an instance’s capacity is also limited.”
“Lin Ye made this instance so massive and set up so many clever ideas within it, which must have taken a lot of effort.” Zhao Jianyu frowned, explaining. “These are all his strengths.”
“Now, wouldn't a non-war mode just erase all the things he designed before? This would invisibly reduce the instance’s volume.”
“Moreover, I really don’t understand why Lin Ye, who clearly has the military power of an Aircraft Carrier, which is his greatest advantage, would choose a non-war mode that essentially negates his own advantage.”
Hearing Zhao Jianyu and Dean Ding's conversation, the other researchers also gathered around.
They all quieted down, seemingly realizing the problem as well.
This time, Dean Ding did not refute Zhao Jianyu's words; instead, his expression became solemn.
Because even he had the same doubts and speculations in his heart.
At this moment, he couldn't quite understand what Lin Ye was thinking.
Since he had such a powerful weapon as an Aircraft Carrier, wouldn't it be better to just set the instance to Task One: the war format of occupying Pearl Harbor?
At that time, sending out the world-destroying Extinguish Country Fleet, even if twenty thousand Dahe Clan Challengers teamed up to attack, he wouldn't be afraid at all.
Instead of using such a steady and even foolproof method, he chose to create Task Two, the economic war.
“Sword Rain, what you just said is actually what I was thinking.”
Dean Ding also showed a puzzled expression.
“In this world controlled by the Sky Curtain, everyone's core competitiveness is actually the technology and weapons within instances. This is why all instances have always been war-themed.”
“Because that’s the most destructive and direct way!”
“This non-war mode that Lin Ye has come up with now is actually like an equalization for all beings. Whether you are LV0 or LV4, suddenly everyone can't use weapons.”
“If this were an instance designed by a new LV1 without any technology, I would think it’s brilliant, because it would close the gap between himself and those high-level Challengers.”
“But Lin Ye is not a rookie without technology; he is currently the most popular tech guru on Azure Star. For him to do this is somewhat like crippling himself.”