2: Chapter 2: The government gave me six million, just so I could make my first recharge!

"I need to top up."

As these three words left Chen You's mouth, the air in the entire lounge seemed to freeze for half a second.

For the first time, a hint of clear bewilderment appeared on Director Li Guoan's usually impassive face.

He was clearly using his vast information-processing capabilities to try and parse this absurd yet incredibly realistic statement.

A mysterious game that could bring virtual items into reality, and might even be linked to the country's future...

And the way to get stronger in it was actually... topping up?

This sounded as ridiculous as someone suddenly suggesting a game of rock-paper-scissors to decide the final plan at a serious meeting determining the fate of humanity.

Seeing the other's reaction, Chen You felt bitter inside.

He didn't want to sound so crass, but that was the reality.

Steeling himself, he began to explain the interface he had glimpsed earlier in detail.

"When I first entered the game, I actually saw a..."

"A 'First Top-up Gift Pack' icon. It was glittering with gold, looking very tacky."

"At the time, I clicked it out of curiosity, and it nearly scared me to death."

Chen You gestured with his fingers, the lingering shock still visible on his face.

"The currency in the game is called Gold Coins. One Gold Coin costs one million."

"One million... huaxia coins." He emphasized the last two words.

At this moment, Chen You didn't know that this ratio was actually related to the development level of his civilization.

Director Li Guoan's brow twitched slightly, but he didn't interrupt, signaling him to continue.

"That First Top-up Gift Pack requires a top-up of six Gold Coins. Which means..."

Chen You swallowed hard. "Six million."

When he saw that price, his first reaction was that the game had gone mad.

What kind of game dared to charge so much?

Even daylight robbery wasn't done this way.

But now, the situation seemed to have changed quite a bit.

He stole a glance at Director Li Guoan, who was a representative of the state machine.

A mere six million shouldn't... be much for a country, right?

"Six million..." Director Li Guoan repeated the figure.

He didn't show any surprise at the amount; instead, he was deep in thought.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, making a steady 'thud-thud' sound. The only other sounds in the lounge were this monotonous noise and Chen You's slightly heavy breathing.

To Director Li Guoan, although this matter was bizarre and the so-called game seemed priceless, there were still many uncertainties.

First was Chen You's safety. If Chen You actually died in this game because of his request...

Then he would be no different from a murderer!

Second, and most crucially, was this withdrawal of virtual items a repeatable operation?

If there was only one chance and it had already been used on that "hen," then naturally, there was no need for further investment.

Should he choose to stop everything right now, or spend six million to verify it once?

Chen You's heart was in his throat. He was terrified the other would think it was a scam or that the cost was too high.

Terrified that they might think his life... simply wasn't worth it.

After a full half-minute, Director Li Guoan's tapping stopped.

He looked up and stared straight at Chen You.

"Your bank card number."

No questioning, not even any extra inquiries.

"Huh?" Chen You didn't react for a moment.

"Bank card number," Director Li Guoan repeated, concise and to the point.

Chen You's brain froze.

Just like that... he agreed? Six million? Just because of one sentence?

This was too reckless... no, this was too decisive!

Feeling like he was in a dream, he hurriedly pulled his wallet from his pocket, fished out his only savings card, and tremblingly recited a string of numbers.

"6228XXXXXXXXXXXX."

Director Li Guoan nodded, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

The call was connected almost instantly.

"It's me, Director Li Guoan." His words were brief and powerful.

"Execute the Special Grade Contingency Plan. Immediately inject six Base Units into account 6228XXXXXXXXXXXX."

There seemed to be no questions from the other end, only a steady "Yes" in response.

Director Li Guoan hung up. The whole process took no more than twenty seconds.

Chen You was still dazed, not understanding what a "Special Grade Contingency Plan" or a "Base Unit" was.

Just then, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.

Buzz, buzz.

Chen You instinctively pulled out his phone and unlocked the screen.

An official bank SMS was displayed prominently at the top of the screen.

[Dear user, your savings account ending in XXXX received a transfer on X month X day at XX:XX: 6,000,000.00 yuan. Current account balance: 6,001,258.35 yuan.]

That long string of zeros hit Chen You's retinas like a series of heavy hammers.

He blinked hard to make sure he hadn't misread it.

Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands... millions!

Six million!

Combined with the original thousand or so in living expenses left on his card, he was now a... millionaire with a deposit of six million, one thousand, two hundred and fifty-eight yuan and thirty-five cents?

Chen You felt his breathing stop.

In all his life, the most money he had ever seen was on TV, watching bank staff count bills.

Now, a huge sum of money that he might not be able to earn in a lifetime had entered his account so casually.

It took less than a minute.

Is this the power of the state?

He looked up and stared blankly at Director Li Guoan, opening his mouth but unable to say a single word.

Director Li Guoan didn't mind his loss of composure; such a reaction was within his expectations.

His expression remained serious, even more solemn than before.

"Now, enter the game again."

Director Li Guoan's command pulled Chen You back to reality from the massive shock of wealth.

"Go in and confirm two things."

"First, whether this money can actually be used in the game."

"Second, and most importantly, whether you can truly complete tasks more safely after using it."

He enunciated every word with extreme clarity.

Chen You snapped out of it instantly.

Right, this wasn't free money.

This was startup capital for him to go and fight in that game where he could lose his life at any moment.

A massive wave of fear surged in his heart again, but this time, it was mixed with a different kind of emotion.

It was the confidence of someone holding a huge sum of money, ready to dominate the game.

Even if the money wasn't his, at least he could use it for now.

"I... I understand."

Chen You took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision.

No longer hesitating, he raised his left hand and swiped his finger lightly across the simple Silver Bracelet.

A faint light glowed, and the small screen reappeared, showing only a single, lonely icon.

[Enter Game]

Under Director Li Guoan's sharp gaze, Chen You pressed his finger down hard.

In the next second, his world spun.

His consciousness felt as if it were being violently yanked from his body by an invisible hand and thrown into a bizarre vortex.

When he regained his senses, he was already standing on a lush green meadow.

The sun was warm, a breeze brushed his face, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and earth.

Not far away, smoke curled from several simple thatched huts, forming a peaceful and serene pastoral scene.

If it weren't for the "chickens" the size of calves leisurely pecking at the ground in the distance, this would have been a perfect vacation village.

[Welcome back to the Source Realm.]

The system's prompt sounded in his mind.

Chen You didn't rush to complete the task; he immediately brought up the game's main menu.

Quest, Backpack, Attributes... and that golden "First Top-up" icon.

Times had changed. The last time he opened it, he thought he would never touch it again in his life.

But now, he was being "slapped in the face" by six million.

With an excited and proud heart, he clicked on that icon.

A magnificent top-up interface popped up.

[Top-up Ratio: 1 huaxia coin = 0.000001 Gold Coins]

[Top up 6 Gold Coins for the first time to receive a Newbie Gift Pack worth 888 Gold Coins!]

Sure enough!

Chen You's heart began to race.

He quickly bound his bank card, then found the input box for the top-up amount and tried entering "6,000,000".

Clicked confirm.

[Do you confirm topping up 6 Gold Coins for the game character?]

"Yes!"

Chen You silently affirmed in his mind without hesitation.

[Top-up successful! You have successfully topped up 6 Gold Coins!]

[Congratulations on achieving the First Top-up achievement! The Newbie Gift Pack has been sent to your backpack. Please check it!]