Chapter 582: Chapter 581: Impact on the Community

"What... what’s going on?"

Huang Shengjie was a bit confused. He instinctively looked at the veteran players in the community, only to find Deng Xiao’s expression just as surprised as his.

Lu Bingjun furrowed his brows slightly: "Hmm... it’s a situation that hasn’t occurred in the first phase.

"Items from the game appearing in the community?"

For the veteran players who had participated in the first phase, this situation was clearly abnormal.

Previously, the only way new products appeared in the community’s market was when the community fund reached a certain amount, unlocking new entries.

Moreover, the newly unlocked items were basically special tools like Immunity Coupons or First Player Identity Cards, which were clearly related to the community collective.

But this time, the situation was different.

The unlocking of these two drugs was obviously directly related to the ’Pain Game’, and throughout the entire first phase of the game, there seemed to be no instance of ’game items entering the community’.

Lin Sizhi reminded them: "The game rules previously mentioned that ’certain rules of this game might impact the community.’

"This must be referring to that."

Huang Shengjie paused for a moment: "Ah? Really?"

Qin Cheng nodded: "Yes."

He read the prompt on the product detail page carefully again: "In the Pain Game, the top two most used special drugs will be included in the community merchandise.

"Moreover, the price will be set according to the average transaction price of players trading these two types of drugs in the game.

"That means... if most players had managed to persevere, only using C-type and M-type drugs, then the drugs refreshed in the community now should be C-type and M-type. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"The lower the average transaction price of the drugs in the game, the lower their price in the community will be.

"In the ideal scenario, C-type and M-type drugs could become affordable medications to address the pain issues troubling players in the community."

Huang Shengjie frowned deeply but then felt a sense of relief: "It’s fortunate that the game ended prematurely!

"Otherwise, the further the game went, the higher the average transaction price of these two drugs would become.

"It would have been troublesome then."

Deng Xiao dismissively said: "We can choose not to buy."

The statement was made with a sense of inevitability, but it left everyone silent.

Lu Bingjun pondered for a moment: "Let’s all return to the long table and sit down. This is a serious matter that we need to discuss carefully."

The group that had already dispersed returned to sit by the table again.

Lu Bingjun looked at Qin Cheng: "Dr. Qin, you’re the expert here. Why don’t you share your opinion first."

Qin Cheng couldn’t give an immediate response, but after some quiet thought, he quickly sorted out his thoughts.

"This might be worse news than we anticipated.

"According to the current rules, some players in the community will regularly experience pain.

"Looking at the effects of these drugs, the hierarchy seems to be:

"Special drugs in the ’Pain Game’ > Basic drugs in the ’Pain Game’ > Basic drugs in the community.

"Community drugs can slightly mitigate pain, but compared to game drugs, they are hardly effective.

"If there are C-type or M-type drugs available, we might consider purchasing and using them directly. According to game experience, these two drugs appear to be safer.

"As long as they are not overused, their resistance and addiction potential should be controllable.

"But O-type and F-type drugs are different, as their dangers have already been demonstrated in the game.

"So...

"My suggestion is that it’s best not to use them.

"I know that’s hard to achieve, but it’s the only recommendation I can make."

Qin Cheng’s advice was clear, but everyone exchanged varied looks with each other.

Clearly, some advice seems right but is difficult to adhere to in practice.

Everyone was well aware of what was to come.

The intense pain in the community would continue; originally, all players could only endure it and at most take a basic painkiller from the community to slightly lessen it.

If there were no other drugs, they’d just have to bear it.

But now, everyone knew that O-type and F-type drugs could directly eliminate all pain, with effects far exceeding that of regular medications.

Under such pain, how many people can resist not taking them?

Maybe once or twice they can, but what about a week or two, or even a month or two?

Players could buy these drugs at any vending machine, even in their own rooms.

Players with even slightly less firm willpower could fall, taking one would inevitably lead to a second, then dosages would increase as the drug’s effectiveness waned, leading to addiction.

As had happened more than once in the ’Pain Game.’

If a player secretly bought these two types of drugs in their own room, it would be impossible to detect, as vending machines do not have a transaction record inquiry function.

Qin Cheng continued, "Another point worth noting.

"These two drugs have a ’restock’ rule.

"This means any player who participates in the game can choose to ’restock,’ replenishing drugs after using some of their visa time.

’Restocking’ only costs half price, and when other players buy drugs, the price difference becomes the ’restocking’ player’s profit.

"In other words... it’s like reselling drugs and making a profit.

"Given the current mechanism, if someone indeed chooses to ’restock,’ it’s hard to detect."

Deng Xiao thought for a moment: "Didn’t you say after participating in the game, they could ’restock’?

"If we notice the quantity of these two drugs increasing, we should start by checking the participants of the last game.

"Or, if we investigate thoroughly, couldn’t we find anomalies in visa time?"

Lu Bingjun shook his head: "The rule only states that players who participated in the game gain ’restock’ privileges, but it doesn’t mention a time limit.

"It’s very possible that there’s no time limit.

"That means players could retain this privilege and choose to restock two or three games later, minimizing suspicion.

"As for checking visa time, it’s basically useless.

"The rules say that visa time consumed for ’restocking’ or earned through this channel is by default hidden.

"I suspect the likelihood is this: A player’s real visa time is 50,000. They ’restock’ some drugs, the actual visa time is 40,000, but inquiries will still show 50,000.

"Or after selling these drugs and earning 60,000, it would still show 50,000.

"If that’s indeed the case, then even if checked, no obvious issues would be found.

"Perhaps only in some extreme, stringent situations will something be exposed, but..."

Lu Bingjun didn’t continue, but the meaning was clear.

The so-called extreme stringent situations would be, for example, forcing a player with 50,000 visa time to donate 50,000 or more to the community fund.

If they can’t donate 50,000, it shows there’s hidden expenditures already used for ’inventory.’

Or if they’ve donated 50,000 and the time runs out yet they’re still safe, it suggests hidden time exists.

But clearly, if the community decided to do this to a player, it would practically mean treating them as confirmed prisoners or sinners, akin to depriving them of visa time or life.

In the current normal community ecology, the vast majority of players wouldn’t dare go this far.