Chapter 460: Opening a Branch

"What the heck? Brother Huang, you're not kidding, are you?"
Su Hao was stunned when he received a voice call from Huang Fengwen.
"I swear on my gear from next week, this is absolutely true!"
Huang Fengwen on the other end of the line seemed even more excited than if he had closed a multi-billion dollar deal.
"Let me tell you, that Commerce Minister Henderson, he has a dull and boring face, looks like the kind of ultimate hardcore gamer who would divorce his wife for work.
But what happens? He's a hardcore veteran! A seasoned gamer!
From Atari to PS5, four generations under one roof, and no matter what new game it is, he has to be the first to 'taste' it!"
Su Hao, of course, had also looked up information about that Commerce Minister Henderson.
The man in the photo had the standard "24/7" elite face, exuding an aura of asceticism that said, "I can't stand not working overtime for a day." He didn't seem like the hardcore gamer who would treat games as a form of mental addiction.
"Do you know what's the most outrageous thing?" Huang Fengwen's voice rose eight octaves.
"The game he plays the most, the same game we play!"
"...Really?" Su Hao's eye twitched.
"Absolutely! I was shocked!
He said he'd been playing that crappy game—no, that great game—for over ten years! A true veteran!
Of course, he'd quit and come back, come back and quit, over and over again, like trying to quit smoking—he just couldn't break the habit!"
*Beast World*.
For their generation, those four words weren't just a game; they were a totem of youth etched into their very bones.
As a living fossil of the online gaming world and a pioneer of MMORPGs, it has long transcended national borders, boasting a group of die-hard fans worldwide.
These old guys, usually impeccably dressed and dignified, pontificating about everything...
But once the night is quiet and they log into the game, that DNA etched deep within their souls instantly stirs, transforming them back into the carefree youths who would stay up for three days and nights straight for a single piece of equipment.
The only drawback is that this game is too "old-fashioned," perhaps so old that even the game designers have gone bald, making fresh blood rarer than pandas.
The remaining small group of players are either true fans or old-timers like them.
And let me tell you, once you're hooked, it's like falling into a spider's web—no one can escape.
Even if he quits eight hundred times, he'll eventually succumb to withdrawal symptoms, rolling back in tears, kneeling at the server entrance shouting, "I'm back!"
"He said the greatest joy of this game is bragging and joking with his brothers, conquering all corners of the land.
The tragic thing is, this time he impulsively returned, only to find…
His old guild had disbanded! It's deserted, like his home has been ransacked."
Huang Fengwen's tone was filled with the lament of a fellow sufferer.
"He wanted to find a new guild, but with his status, he's busy as a spinning top all day, with no fixed time to participate in activities. What guild would take in a 'ghost member' like him?
He's stuck in the middle, a lonely ghost."
"It sounds like...you two had a very deep conversation."
Su Hao clicked his tongue in amazement. This wasn't a business meeting; it was clearly a long-lost online friend reuniting in person.
"Don't even mention it! The atmosphere at the beginning was so awkward you could dig a three-bedroom apartment with your toes.
But then we accidentally started talking about games, and wow, once we started, it was like a river bursting its banks—we just couldn't stop!
Especially after discovering we were kindred spirits, we felt like we'd known each other forever, we were practically ready to chop off a chicken's head and become sworn brothers on the spot!
Two hours flew by!"
Huang Fengwen said smugly.
Finally, I told him, 'Brother, leave this to me. I'll figure out a way to solve the guild's problems!'
"Guess what? Without a word, he gave me his personal contact information right there!"
Su Hao's heart skipped a beat.
He knew very well what an important connection the Minister of Commerce was for Fang Huan Investment!
This was a powerful figure with immense influence within the US. If they could get him on Fang Huan Investment's side, it would be like giving Fang Huan Investment a golden shield for its business in the US!
"Holy crap. Brother Huang, brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Your trip to the US... was textbook-perfect 'game diplomacy'!"
"Hey, it was pure luck, pure luck!" Huang Fengwen said modestly.
"But seriously, we have to get this done with him.
Looking at him, he was really itching for it, that agonizing feeling of wanting to play but not being able to, that agonizing, agonizing feeling..."
"Sigh, I feel you. Brother, you know what I mean, right?"
"I know, I know it all too well." Su Hao instantly empathized, deeply agreeing.
"Is there anything more heartbreaking than wanting to play a game but not being able to?"
His mind raced, a bold idea flashing through his head like lightning.
At this moment, it wasn't out of business calculation, but rather the resonance from the depths of his soul as a fellow enthusiast that made it impossible for him to remain indifferent.
"Brother Huang, how about this? Let's... go big!" Su Hao's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Let's hire a few top-tier gamers and top guild management talent with high salaries, and open a branch of our 'Trinity Guild' in the US!
Aren't there several of our guild members who frequently travel to the US for business?"
"Perfect! Let's recruit them too, build them a base, so they can find their organization when they're on business trips and have fun with their local guild brothers!"
"Oh? You mean, like this gaming building we have here, we can set up a physical base over there?"
"Exactly! The US is vast and sparsely populated; setting up a manor or villa there is much easier than back home!
Besides, when you or I go there, we'll have a secret base to relax and enjoy ourselves, right? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"So, will those few members be in charge of guild management?"
"Yes! We'll also hire a few professional 'playmate/operations managers.'
They'll be responsible for recruiting new members, maintaining guild activity, organizing events, coordinating the schedules of the top players, and providing five-star service!
We'll ensure that VIP clients like Minister Henderson enjoy a truly royal gaming experience!"
"Let the big shots enjoy themselves online and reminisce after logging off!"
Huang Fengwen was silent for a few seconds, then burst into a thunderous laugh:
"You kid...you're quick-witted! This idea is brilliant!
Henderson mentioned to me that he has several like-minded people who have reluctantly gone AFK because they can't get together due to real-life reasons.
By setting up this platform for them, we're essentially giving them an irresistible temptation. This is a sure thing!"