[System Disturbance · Node02 Lockdown Expansion]
In the gray market, the ECHO system issues an abnormal bulletin:
[Node02 has entered Capital Protection Status]
[Due to unregulated issuance of unofficial token "J-Point" by Jiang Merchant Co., all related transactions are now classified as Economic Disruption Behavior]
[System will deploy "Order Enforcement Agents" to the gray market to purge anomalous nodes]
⚠️ Warning: Jiang Merchant Co., Boatshadow, Mobai, and Wuyi are marked as "Currency Order Disruptors" and must be eliminated within 48 hours.
[Player Reaction · Polarized Public Opinion]
[Jiang bro!!! Node02 just crashed—I can't get in Σ(っ °Д °;)っ][They're coming for us?! Is the whole merchant group getting wiped??][Sunlight is doing a total sweep…][But I've made $30 real cash with J-Point—I'm not leaving!][Underground circulation alliances are forming! We don't need Node02!]
In just a few hours, Jiang Merchant Co.'s Discord and forums explode with activity.
[Jiang bro, I'm the leader of the exiled guild "Iron Storm"—we want to join you.][I'm from the inter-server transport team "Nightpath"—I can provide five bypass routes around Node02.][Boss Jiang, I've got 700 players ready to join the J-Point ecosystem. All we ask is a place in your structure.]
[Boatshadow · Hunted in the Real World]
Meanwhile, Lin Wanzhou's real-life situation deteriorates rapidly.
Unmarked vehicles appear outside her residence, and someone posing as a "platform investigator" knocks on her door with threats.She receives a bank account freeze notice. Sunlight Group sues her for "breach of confidentiality."Worst of all—upon logging into the game, she's force-transferred to the System Gray Zone Enforcement Center.
A faceless NPC with the code [V] appears:
"Lin Wanzhou, for possessing unauthorized token technology, you are now labeled a 'Mainframe Defector.'Surrender the private J-Point binding key within 10 seconds, or your account will be permanently banned."
Clutching the data module in her hands, she refuses to back down.
[10, 9, 8…]
When the countdown hits [5]—a golden beam flashes across the field.
—Jiang Ci arrives, armed with a Merchant Co. Defensive Override Order.
[Force Protocol: Boatshadow integrated as "Core Consultant of Jiang Merchant Co."][Granted Gray Zone Defense Privilege][Enforcer authority nullified]
Jiang Ci stands between her and the NPC, voice calm:
"If you touch her, you're touching me."
He was able to arrive in time because—one week ago—he'd instructed Mobai to set up real-time monitoring of Boatshadow's account behavior. Once anomalies were detected, an alert chain triggered instantly.
The NPC blinks out of existence. The gray zone clears.
Lin Wanzhou stares at him, voice trembling:
"You… you realize they might freeze your real-world accounts too, right?"
Jiang Ci smiles lightly:
"But I also know, if I abandon you now—I'm not worthy of being called a player."
At that moment, the uncertainty in her eyes finally shattered into resolve.
[Jiang Ci · Declares Alliance Formation]
That night, Jiang Ci posts a global announcement on the J-Point official site:
[The Player Banking Alliance is Officially Established]Alliance Mission: To protect the fundamental rights and economic sovereignty of ordinary players within the systemEligibility: Holders of ≥10 J-Points or 1 Founding TokenInitial Members: Jiang Merchant Co., Iron Storm Guild, Nightpath Transport, Loneshadow Supply GroupSystem Integration: Alliance may submit proposals for token standards, price stabilization mechanisms, and buyback policy revisions
"We are not capital. We are simply reclaiming what's rightfully ours."
[Sunlight Group · First Official Statement]
Two hours after Jiang's declaration, Sunlight Group releases an emergency response:
[The J-Point token issued by Jiang Ci is illegal, lacks stable anchoring mechanisms, and has caused severe market volatility.]Sunlight urges platform administrators to investigate Jiang Merchant Co. accounts and restrict related users.We are working with regulators and platform officials across multiple countries to propose emergency freeze protocols.
—The war is spilling into the real world.
[System Tremor · ECHO Responds]
The next morning, the ECHO system issues a rare public bulletin—its first ever direct intervention in a player-led token conflict.This marks the system's official recognition of player monetary autonomy.
[Current currency structure has reached "Public Sentiment Polarization" threshold][Launching "Sole Candidate Trial" to stabilize economy]✅ Candidate List: Whiteblank vs Jiang Ci🕒 Time: 72 hours from now💰 Mechanism: Compete based on Player Circulation Volume, Real-World Support, and Token Trust ValueWinner shall receive 30-day trial authority over ECHO System Primary Currency Issuance
The system ends with a final statement:
"From this point on, the rules will be written by the winner."