Bai Zhiyuan's repeated accusations struck deep into everyone's hearts.
They shattered all arrogance and pride, crushing it into dust and trampling it into the ground.
Even now,
These high-and-mighty management personnel had never truly acknowledged the rapid rise of Lingjing.
Their long-held position as the dominant player had made them complacent.
A careful review of the past six months revealed that the unknown newcomer designer had not only consecutively released several hit games.
But had also gained the attention of the official channels, who even regarded Lingjing as more outstanding than Penguin in the VR game sector.
All of this, if not pointed out by Bai Zhiyuan, who knew how much longer these people would have remained lost in their own conceit before waking up.
By then, it would likely be too late.
Cai Qingsong's forehead beaded with cold sweat, his anger gradually giving way to a calm.
Chen Liang swallowed, ultimately choosing not to be the first to speak.
Liu Geng's eyes, however, lit up. He re-examined the usually quiet art director who had proven himself so resolute at this critical moment.
A consensus formed in everyone's minds: Bai Zhiyuan was right.
"It's widely rumored online that we don't make AAA games because Penguin disdains the meager profits, deeming it beneath them."
"In reality, we all know why we don't do it. Confronting the disparity with Lingjing and understanding the current situation is key; we cannot establish a foothold in areas where others excel."
"And once they deeply cultivate our territory (online and mobile games), can everyone present here guarantee they will still be able to dictate terms so imperiously?"
As Bai Zhiyuan finished speaking, the expressions of those present flickered with uncertainty.
A great sense of crisis washed over them. They all knew Bai Zhiyuan wasn't exaggerating; Lingjing was indeed preparing to invade the mobile game market.
And it was targeting the lucrative anime mobile game sector, a prize that Penguin had long coveted but could not attain.
They had been waiting, planning to formulate countermeasures only after the opponent's games were truly launched and their data was available.
Not only that,
The competitor was even venturing into VR games. By the time they decided to encroach upon the online gaming market,
Shaking Penguin's foundations…
They dared not continue down this path of thought. While gaming wasn't Penguin's sole business, it was an indispensable part of its three core pillars.
It was one of Penguin's genuine three legs.
Losing one might not prevent it from walking, but it would certainly be incomplete.
"Director Bai, what do you suggest we do? We'll listen to you!"
"Yes, yes, Director Bai, do you have any suggestions?"
Everyone looked hopefully at Bai Zhiyuan, as if she were their only beacon of light.
Cai Qingsong was stunned. Sitting in the main seat, he appeared no more significant than a common subordinate.
He had lost popular support and his authority. The fact that everyone was directly addressing Bai Zhiyuan, ignoring his presence, said it all.
"Conceal yourselves, clean house, shed your arrogance, and respect your opponents."
With that, Bai Zhiyuan gathered her documents and walked directly out of the conference room.
She left behind a room full of bewildered faces, the air thick with awkwardness.
Two days later, Cai Qingsong voluntarily requested a transfer from the game department to the network communications department.
A week later, the headquarters issued its appointment order: Bai Zhiyuan was promoted to Vice President of the Game Department.
Internal reforms at Penguin were in full swing: layoffs, heavy recruitment of highly skilled, versatile talent, and a massive influx of energetic, innovative young blood from campuses.
Lingjing's existence had truly made Penguin feel unprecedented pressure from top to bottom. Fortunately, this massive corporation had not entirely decayed.
It could still be saved.
...
January 21st.
This was the release day of "Ark of Doom."
And Mo Zhi's day of reckoning.
"Damn it, how is this chicken so hard to beat!"
Not long after her stream started at 9:30 AM, Mo Zhi's enraged roar echoed through the broadcast room.
The official server of "Ark of Doom" was scheduled for release at 4 PM.
Mo Zhi had woken up early, planning to tackle the three-cell difficulty in the morning to maintain her feel for the game, and then embark on her Ark journey in the afternoon.
However, she had inadvertently stumbled into the Toxic Sewers.
Upon seeing the deformed rats, colorful scorpions, and disgusting worms,
The soy milk she had drunk for breakfast nearly came spurting out!
Enduring the intense revulsion, Mo Zhi furrowed her brow and slowly pushed forward.
Then she encountered the Sword Saint, who had become an elite monster!
Fortunately, she was no longer the same person she used to be.
With her skillful shield parries, she easily took down the Sword Saint.
After finally fighting her way out of the Toxic Sewers, the "Corrupted Prison" immediately tripped her up.
After over a week of practice, she could now easily clear the two-cell difficulty, or the third iteration.
However, the fourth iteration presented a significant leap in difficulty, and it had been troubling her for three to four days.
She would die several times just trying to get out of the prison at the start of the fourth iteration.
On this particular run, Mo Zhi had painstakingly reached the "Corrupted Prison," only to be blinded by a chicken!
A chicken!
Could chickens even bully people now?
"Son of a bitch! I refuse to believe a mere chicken can trample me."
It was early morning, and Mo Zhi was still full of energy. Although she had died more than ten times since her stream began, her mindset remained calm.
This was a result of the training she'd undergone this past week; she died over a hundred times almost every day. If her mentality weren't strong, she would have uninstalled the game and fled long ago, just like Dai Xiao Mei.
"Again!"
Rolling up her sleeves, Mo Zhi continued her charge towards the three-cell difficulty!
Once again in the "Corrupted Prison," facing the blue chicken,
Mo Zhi rolled up her sleeves and got straight to it!
She was determined to reclaim her past humiliation from this chicken that couldn't play basketball!
As everyone knew, a chicken that couldn't play basketball was not to be respected.
Being killed by such a chicken, she could already imagine being made into various viral gag videos by numerous uploaders in the "Guichu" (funny compilations) section the next day.
This was a battle for her dignity!
"Come on!"
With a shield in her left hand and a sword in her right, Mo Zhi fearlessly charged towards the blue demon chicken.
The chicken, originally named "Peck-Grounder," Mo Zhi felt should be more aptly named "Peck-Grounder Because." Its only move was to slam its head into the ground, releasing mid-range ice shards.
And these ice shards could not be parried. The first time Mo Zhi encountered the blue demon chicken, she suffered from a lack of experience, foolishly raising her shield to block.
"This time, I won't fall for your tricks again!"
*Screech—!*
The blue demon chicken pecked the ground, releasing ice shards to block Mo Zhi's path. Mo Zhi leaped into the air, stepping on the chicken's head to vault to the other side.
That's right, she planned to attack from behind!
However, the moment she landed, the blue demon chicken instantly turned, pecking at her wildly.
Tricky demon chicken!
Mo Zhi instinctively parried, but it was an invalid defense.
[Flesh Destruction]
"Aaaahhh!!!"
"Are you playing dirty?!"
"No honor!"
Mo Zhi was furious. Every move she could think of had been anticipated by the designer and adjusted accordingly.
Hence, the tricky demon chicken appeared!
The audience who had tuned in early were few, but they were all laughing hysterically, their bullet comments flying across the screen.
'So relatable, my blood pressure is already soaring!'
'It's like I'm seeing myself, my fists are clenched!'
'Second time around!'
'I'm getting a stroke!'
'As everyone knows, you can't beat the chicken without basketball!'
...