"Manager, that Youtuber refused. He said no matter how much money we offer, he won't do it!"
After failing to reach an agreement with Benjamin, the NetEase staff reported the matter to their superior.
"Tsk tsk, he really won't budge at all." The leader shook his head. "In that case, let's look for other players in the top fifty."
"Alright."
NetEase had never given up on their ambition to acquire New World Studio.
After being rejected by Jenny last time, they had been using their connections to search for the specific location of New World Studio.
But after searching, they couldn't find even the slightest trace of New World!
This left them quite puzzled. Logically speaking, a studio capable of developing such a next-generation game should have left some clues behind.
With no other choice, they could only settle for the next best option and continue studying New World Studio's new game.
Since Benjamin wasn't cooperating, they would simply find someone who would.
Soon, NetEase contacted another player from the top fifty.
This time, the two sides reached an agreement.
As long as that player was willing to copy the game, NetEase would pay him $1,500.
Spending one grand to buy a game that hadn't even been released yet was quite a heavy investment.
For the player, earning $1,500 for free was something he would be foolish to pass up.
However, the result was...
The moment the player clicked to copy the files, a dialog box popped up.
'Kid, I'm very disappointed in you.'
It was accompanied by a mischievous panda head emoji.
In the next instant, the screen flashed, and the game was gone!
After a brief moment of confusion, the player panicked and immediately told NetEase. "Oh no! My game is gone!"
"Gone? How did it disappear?" The NetEase staff asked in confusion.
The player quickly explained the entire sequence of events to the staff.
The staff quickly understood what had happened.
"I see. New World Studio most likely planted a Trojan program in Subnautica."
"Once you perform any other operations on the game files, the program activates and deletes all the game files."
"What? Then what should I do?!" The player was completely dumbfounded.
"I had just downloaded this game. I hadn't even played it yet! You guys were the ones who asked me to copy it for you. Now the game is gone, you have to take responsibility!!!"
"Don't panic yet. I'll go ask the leader for instructions." The staff member said.
The player could only wait anxiously. A few minutes later, the staff member finally returned.
"We have a solution!!!" The staff member said as soon as he came back.
"What solution!" The player asked hurriedly.
The staff member said in a serious tone: "You can file a lawsuit against New World Studio! Accuse them of planting a Trojan virus on your computer!"
"???"
"Is that even a solution?!" The player was stunned and immediately shouted back.
"Why wouldn't it be a solution!" The staff member replied. "In theory, you have a chance of winning this lawsuit. After all, from what we can see, it is a fact that New World Studio installed a Trojan on your computer!"
"Through the lawsuit, you can reclaim your rights!"
This was an idea proposed by one of NetEase's leaders. He thought it was brilliant and could use the lawsuit to draw New World Studio out into the open.
As for the player's rights, they didn't care at all. He was merely a tool to lure out New World Studio.
"I don't want to make this a big deal! I don't want to go to court or anything!" However, the player was unwilling.
Mainly because he still had some dignity. When he downloaded the game, he had promised New World Studio that he wouldn't spread it.
Now he had gone back on his word first, and they wanted him to turn around and pin all the blame on New World Studio?!
Moreover, he hadn't actually suffered any real loss. Even if he sued New World Studio, there was no guarantee he would win the case.
"Then there's nothing we can do." The NetEase staff member replied very bluntly. "If you're not willing to file a lawsuit, we can't help you either."
"...." The player was furious. "So you're just going to wash your hands of this?"
"I did exactly what you told me to do. Now the game is gone. At the very least, you should compensate me with some money!"
"I'm sorry, but the loss was caused by your own mistake. This matter has nothing to do with us." After saying this, the staff member hung up the phone.
Since they couldn't use this player to sue New World Studio, NetEase naturally didn't want to waste any more time talking to him.
It was simply a waste of time.
"Fucking ChingChong, you motherfuckers!!!" Hearing the phone being hung up so rudely, the player unleashed a torrent of curses at NetEase.
He had suffered a massive loss this time!!!
He didn't get the money, and the game was gone too!
So this is the miserable fate of a traitor?
adv. 30 chapters on my patreon .com/edgyreader