Rita Skeeter's question was equally critical.
This was an unavoidable issue in the process of virtual reality going global.
Before the Second Magic was made public, virtual world technology appeared in the public eye as a platform for interactive information exchange.
For this kind of thing to spread, it inherently faced many "unsuitable" problems.
"Thank you for your question. I have certainly considered the issue you raised."
In Roger's previous life, there were such examples.
Many! Google entering the East, TikTok going overseas, the "wonderful adventures" of various internet tech companies in India, and all sorts of messy affairs all foreshadowed what Roger would face in the future.
First was information management. It was highly probable that other countries would not allow all the information of their own wizards to be completely undefended in the eyes of wizards from other countries.
Even if Roger allowed them to establish their own separate local networks, the essence of virtual world technology was magic, not data code. With magical means, it would obviously not be easy for them to protect database security.
Some countries' Ministries of Magic would certainly have such concerns.
There were also issues with local culture and customs. Roger's virtual world had no "internet cleanup." If the exchange of certain speech and sensitive information went unregulated, the consequences...
And if they were to regulate it, that would bring even more problems.
Just thinking about it was troublesome.
Finally, and an issue that couldn't be bypassed, was the trouble related to money.
Roger had previously said that he would not prohibit ordinary wizards from creating DLC functions and plugins with creator permissions, and would allow them to charge reasonable fees to maintain a positive cycle.
But the problem was...
This world is not balanced! Just like in the Muggle world, commoners in the five major powers are simply more equal than commoners in third-world countries.
The African World War, which killed millions, didn't even make a decent ripple in international public opinion; even the gossip about the British Royal Family was louder than them.
This was even more true in terms of technological development and infrastructure.
Many third-world countries couldn't even guarantee 24-hour electricity nationwide.
It was the same in the wizarding world.
Think about the Greek Ministry of Magic with its handful of cats and dogs, and then consider the grandeur of the German and British Ministries of Magic.
It's important to know that in all of Europe, only three wizarding schools were top-tier: Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons.
For wizards from other smaller European countries who wanted to learn magic...
Since the International Statute of Secrecy was signed, the wizarding society's Ministries of Magic have been divided by Muggle national borders.
The regional development of wizards was also severely inconsistent; this conclusion could be easily drawn.
Last school year, Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, wanted to find dark magic creatures to experiment with his theories.
But he couldn't find any corresponding dark magic creatures in Britain and had to go to some remote European countries to look for them. Voldemort's survival by hiding in small countries also proved something indirectly.
The Five Benevolent Ones of Earth, not only did Muggle technology crush other countries, but even on the magical level, they crushed smaller countries.
Therefore, if Roger's virtual reality technology was fully promoted, it would inevitably lead to a consequence.
Just like how those internet tech giants harvested those small countries, many wizards in small countries would face being harvested by wizards from major powers with superb magical skills! Tax evasion and profit shifting, market monopolies and suppression of local industries, and even using the convenience of virtual reality to exert some form of dominance over the public voices of other countries through public opinion offensives were all possible occurrences.
"My advice regarding the issue you raised is that I will respect the opinions of each country and local laws."
"However..."
"I think that, often, being an ostrich doesn't substantially solve some problems."
"The power of virtual reality is undeniable."
"Since you are a reporter, you must have many channels to access information."
"Please imagine now, if a Muggle country had no electronic signals at all, how would that country modernize?" Roger asked back.
"The same logic applies to virtual reality."
Roger paused, then continued, "In the future, if a country's wizards do not have virtual reality technology, they will find many things quite difficult."
Roger's implication was simple.
He would respect everyone's choice and would not force them.
He wouldn't blast open the doors with cannons and practice "open the door, free trade."
But everyone should also understand that the wheels of the era are rolling forward, and sometimes, you can't refuse something just because you subjectively want to.
Wizards from other countries, with their seven-times speed thinking acceleration, accumulated nearly a century of knowledge before the age of twenty.
The wizarding world is not entirely peaceful; competition still exists.
In such a situation, how can you compete with others?
What you are rejecting is not just a new thing.
When you choose to reject it, you create a gap in your very life level compared to wizards who accept virtual reality technology!
Before the Second Magic was revealed, it was inconvenient for Roger to speak too directly about some things.
However, he was doing his best to convey information through indirect means.
"Of course, if someone not only wants to refuse it themselves but also wants to do something else, I wouldn't mind using some rather drastic measures!" Roger said with a very serious tone at the end of his reply.
What Roger was referring to was naturally the situation where some people, after seeing the general trend represented by Virtual Reality, would want to crush it before it even gained momentum.
During the Qing Dynasty in the East, the emperor at the time had very frequent correspondence with some of the powerful elites in the West.
He was well aware of what was happening on the other side of the world, but he chose not to follow the changes of the era.
The reason was simple: he was the emperor.
If he refused to change, his country could still endure for another hundred years.
But if he accepted the world's changes and chose to embrace them actively, the vast dynasty might collapse in a very short period.
Perhaps this would be a better future for most people living on this land, but he would become a sinner who failed his founding ancestors, the grave digger of the dynasty.
Roger did not want people making such unwise choices in his future plans.
If someone not only refused it themselves but also tried to drag others into opposing it with them...
"If someone wants to stir up trouble, there's no need for any schemes or tricks. I can see you directly." Roger swept his gaze across the venue, his eyes deep, pausing almost imperceptibly as he looked at a wizard who called himself 'Tom.'
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