The second day of the preseason.
When Du Sanying made his eighteenth draw, a team finally appeared that did not give up.
But this team… walked onto the stage in tears.
Wang Shun sat in Bai Liu's viewing pool, one eyebrow twitching, while Bai Liu sat calmly beside him.
The opposing team sat on a bench far away from Bai Liu, trembling all over. From time to time, they stole glances at him. Whenever Bai Liu glanced back casually, they nearly screamed in fright. The five of them huddled together, shaking and sobbing.
"The Clown's declaration scared them earlier," Wang Shun said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "They think you're also the type who enjoys killing people."
Bai Liu smiled. "Even though they're so scared, they still came to compete with us. Not bad."
"Not everyone can afford to give up their rights," Wang Shun sighed. "A small guild like theirs doesn't even know if it will survive next year. They have to gamble at least once."
Bai Liu looked up at the large screen in the center of the viewing pool. "Do you think we can end this match before the team battle today?"
Wang Shun paused, then thought for a moment. "I'm not sure."
"In the preseason, matches also use a points system. But unlike the mid-season tournament, where results are settled comprehensively, here each match is settled individually."
"A singles match is worth 1 point, a doubles match 3 points, and a team match 8 points. Even if you win both singles and doubles, you only earn 4 points, so normally you'd still have to play the team match."
"From that perspective, singles and doubles seem unimportant. Regardless of the outcome, everything appears to depend on the team match."
Wang Shun's tone turned serious. "But that's not entirely true."
"There's a special situation where the match ends immediately if you win both singles and doubles."
He pointed at the panel. "There's a rule called the time-limit rule."
"If a singles or doubles match is completed within one hour in one dimension, the winning side's points are doubled."
"In other words, if we finish both singles and doubles within one hour, the total points will double to 8."
Wang Shun looked at Bai Liu. "At that point, the match ends early. We call it 'killing the match early.'"
"Killing a match early is almost impossible in the mid-season or playoffs. It's rare even in the preseason. Finishing within one hour requires an overwhelming gap in strength."
Bai Liu rested his chin lazily in his hand, the corner of his mouth lifting. "So if we manage to end the match early, the attention we receive will multiply as well, right?"
Wang Shun nodded. "Yes. It demonstrates absolute dominance. Strength is the most attractive quality in this league."
"If we can produce an early kill this soon in the league…" Wang Shun inhaled deeply. "The attention it generates could instantly compensate for our lack of exposure in the game pool."
He glanced at Tang Erda, who was warming up. "Ending a match early… that's probably every tactician's dream."
The large screen flickered.
[System Alert: Singles match is about to begin.]
[Wandering Circus (Rose Hunters) vs. Celephais (Walkers)]
[Game: "Dream Ship." Victory condition: Kill the captain of the Dream Ship. The first player to reach the Lost Land wins.]
[The game begins!]
A flash of white light enveloped Tang Erda and his opponent. The next second, they appeared on the giant screen.
-----------------
Seven-dimensional minutes later—
Tang Erda logged out, slinging his gun over his back.
His opponent followed, kneeling on the ground, eyes dazed and body trembling in pain as he logged out.
Tang Erda hesitated, then walked over and helped him up. He nodded naturally. "Thank you."
[System Prompt: Player (Rose Hunter) killed the match early, won the singles match, and scored 2 points.]
Tang Erda returned to Bai Liu's side and sat down. He nodded in greeting.
"Well done, Captain Tang," Bai Liu said with a smile. "Our turn next."
Bai Liu and Mu Sicheng stood up.
[System Alert: A doubles match is about to begin.]
[Wandering Circus members Bai Liu and Mu Sicheng vs. Celephais members Wang Ling and Undead Soldier.]
-----------------
Fifty-seven dimensional minutes later—
Bai Liu adjusted his white shirt and logged out alongside a grumbling Mu Sicheng.
"Damn it, why did it take so long?" Mu Sicheng complained. "Tang Erda only needed seven minutes. Why did we take over fifty?"
He shot Bai Liu a suspicious look. "Was there something wrong with your command?"
Bai Liu replied calmly, "Yes. Especially when you suddenly fell behind midway and rushed off to kill the boss alone, nearly dragging me down with you. I'd say there was indeed a problem."
Mu Sicheng: "…"
His arrogance deflated instantly. He muttered, "I just wanted to finish faster…"
Bai Liu's smile sent a chill down his spine. "If you want to leave sooner next time, listen to me."
"…Got it."
Across from them, the two opposing players who had just logged out slumped to the ground, staring wide-eyed and gasping for air.
That match had been terrifying.
It was a close-contact doubles match. One Wandering Circus member had gone missing mid-battle, yet the tactician in the white shirt never panicked. He proceeded at a steady pace and nearly forced an early kill through sheer calculation.
That level of control… was abnormal.
[System Alert: Players Bai Liu and Mu Sicheng finished the match early, won the doubles match, and earned 6 points.]
[System Alert: The Wandering Circus has accumulated 8 points and won the match early, advancing to the next round.]
[Team Selephis eliminated]
…
Du Sanying pulled a team out of the box, raised his hand, and loudly announced the name: "Grave Robbers!"
…
[System Alert: Player Little Witch finishes the game ahead of time, wins the singles match, and scores 2 points]
[System Alert: Players Mu Sicheng and Bai Liu finished the game ahead of schedule, won the doubles match, and accumulated 6 points]
[System Alert: The Wandering Circus has accumulated 8 points in total, and has won the game in advance and advanced to the next round]
[Grave Robbers Team Eliminated]
…
Du Sanying leaned in to look at the team on the note: "[Winged Hounds]?"
…
[System Alert: Player Mu Ke used Flash Strike to finish the game in one dimension within one minute, breaking the record for the shortest single match, and won the title of Lightning Single, winning the single match and accumulating 2 points]
[System Alert: Players Mu Sicheng and Bai Liu finished the game ahead of schedule, won the doubles match, and accumulated 6 points]
[System Alert: The Wandering Circus has accumulated 8 points in total, and has won the game in advance and advanced to the next round]
[Winged Hounds Team Eliminated]
…
Du Sanying carefully read out the name of the team on the note: "Special Emerald Tiger."
…
[System Alert: The Wandering Circus has accumulated 8 points in total, and has won the game in advance and advanced to the next round]
[Special Emerald Tiger Team eliminated]
…
Du Sanying reached into the cardboard box under the almost dazed and awed gaze of the people around him. He read out the name of the team on it word by word: "Storm Mansion?"
The people nearby stole a glance at Bai Liu, who was standing behind Du Sanying and watching him draw the team, and discussed cautiously in low voices:
"Will they end it early again?"
"Storm Mansion was top 100 last year!"
"Let's go watch Pool No. 98!"
Viewing Pool No. 98 was packed.
"They're too strong…"
"Mostly newcomers, right? How are they this powerful?!"
"It's the tactician."
A lazy female voice interrupted.
The crowd gasped.
"Hearts—the Queen of Hearts!"
Hearts smiled and waved. "Hello."
A flushed fan stammered excitedly about betting all his points on the King's Guild.
Hearts chuckled. "Boys should save some money to get married."
The conversation shifted.
"Why do you say it's because of the tactician?"
Hearts rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the screen.
"Jiayi is strong, yes. But she's also unstable. All newcomers are like time bombs."
"It's easy to win once. It's hard to keep winning."
Her eyes settled on Bai Liu.
"A tactician balances instability."
"The stronger the newcomers, the harder that becomes. Absorbing the instability of so many powerful newcomers… that's impressive."
She smiled lazily. "I like men who are good with whips. If I hadn't met Spades first, I might have liked him too."
Some spectators muttered that Bai Liu had stolen Jiayi.
Hearts' expression cooled.
"Jiayi wasn't taken away. She chose to go."
"Don't treat her like an object in front of me."
A man sneered. "Queen of Hearts, are you still incapable of judging tacticians objectively?"
"Does being handsome or good with a whip make someone superior?"
Hearts glanced at him calmly.
"Are you the tactician of the Fanatic Lambs?"
He smirked. "Seems you remember me."
She smiled gently. "I don't remember much. I don't remember ugly men who lost to me."
He flushed with rage but forced himself to sit.
"Hearts, don't be so arrogant. After I break through this preseason, you'll regret it."
"Really?" Hearts tilted her head. "Then why don't you defeat Bai Liu first and let me see?"
"Bai Liu?" he scoffed. "Only someone fooled by appearances would think he has tactics. He's just exploiting his teammates for attention. The lowest kind of tactician."