Sword Among Us Novel - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Happy’s Worry
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Xu Xin dragged all of them to their base outside the university with a mysterious air about her.
Just as Happy had expected, Xu Xin had also discovered his identity in the game, and once she watched the final battle between Happy and Orochimaru, she ran over for this matter.
“I have a suggestion in regards to keeping Happy’s identity a secret. None of us should reveal him for the time being, and we should match our statements so that we can protect our members’ privacy no matter who we talk to.”
When they arrived at their base, Xu Xin revealed her plan excitedly.
“Right now, Happy’s reputation is very high in our university. It even surpassed Tea Words and Phoenix Dances’ reputation. I believe that as long as Happy keeps his identity a secret, outsiders won’t know that he is a member of South China Martial Arts Ranking Board. It will help strengthen the relationship between us and them in the future…”
Bai Lang was stunned. “What do you mean?”
The other two wolves also sat down with attentive expressions.
“Think about it, Puffy God, Rascal, and the others were against the fee collection system South China Martial Arts Ranking Board had launched, and they even boycotteded it. If we grow larger in scale in the future, our influence and the benefits we gain will also become greater. Will the other students think that we’re standing above them by then?”
That sentence instantly made the trio sink into deep thought, and they began to reflect on their actions.
After pondering for a moment, the trio looked at each other and nodded.
If it were not for Happy and Xu Xin’s suggestion to bring out 10,000 RMB as prize money to indirectly weaken the people’s rejection toward the system and also increase the temptation of the martial arts tournament, perhaps Puffy God and Rascal’s attempts to boycott the tournament would have worked, and they would have definitely not seen the grand scene of around four thousand people participating in the tournament.
They had solved the crisis at hand, but in the future, when South China Martial Arts Ranking Board received the recognition from the official website and could organize other events, similar situations might appear again…
But if Happy acted on their behalf and called out to the people to join the event, many of the students in the University of South China would be willing to support the event because he had defeated Orochimaru and saved the university’s reputation.
With that being the case, Xu Xin’s considerations were very reasonable!
It was no wonder then that she had run over in such a hurry. She had come over for this reason.
Xu Xin seemed to have planned many things. The more she spoke, the more excited she became. Her eyes sparkled, and she looked incredibly charming.
“We can also use Happy’s popularity and everyone’s curiosity toward his identity to interview him… As long as Happy reveals a bit of his growth and experiences in the game when he shows up, it will definitely reduce the people’s aversion toward us.”
Once he pondered over this for a while, Happy knew that this method was plausible. He would definitely receive funds for those interviews. As for how much he would receive, it would depend on South China Martial Arts Ranking Board’s publicity efforts. At that time, they could say that they used the profit they gained from the trading platform on these things, and it would mean that they had indirectly returned the money to the people. 1
If they did this, it would be quite beneficial for building up South China Martial Arts Ranking Board’s reputation and greatness. They might even be able to greatly increase the profit they could earn from the trading platform.
On one hand, Happy was grateful for Xu Xin’s professionalism, but on the other hand, he could not help but feel a little disappointed. 2
However, he quickly cast it aside and focused his attention on Xu Xin’s novel ideas. What he did not notice, though, was that Xu Xin would occasionally reveal a nervous look in her eyes when she spoke about the second half of her plan.
This was because her ideas were all tailored specifically for Happy.
Aside from the interview, she also intended to use Happy’s name to organize a major competition every month to renew the Power Ranking Board on South China Martial Arts Board. She believed that even Puffy God, NotasRascal, and all the other people who had great charisma would not be able to resist the temptation. They would continuously work hard to repeatedly challenge Happy and attempt to surpass him nonstop.
She had even further plans…
If Happy gained the title of champion for South China Martial Arts Ranking Board during the national tournament between regions, he would build up an even greater influence and reputation on the official website. He might get the powerful players from other websites to challenge him and join their website, which would attract them to the multiple platform trading system they planned to establish in South China Martial Arts Ranking Board in the future. 1
It could be said that not only had Xu Xin thought about what they should do for the website, she had even laid out a pretty decent long-term plan for them.
“Then we’ll do it like that.”
Happy nodded, having made his decision.
“After the tournament ends, I will first reveal what I have learned from reaching Grandmaster Realm in hidden weapons.”
“Alright, this publicity stunt will be enough. The effect will last for a long time,” Xu Xin agreed.
Her current self was a little different from the Computer Engineering Department princess that Happy once knew. She was no longer a bashful girl who would not speak up and had no opinions of her own. She now looked like a leader who could control and affect others. 1
This feeling made Happy find the situation a little inconceivable.
Not only had his return to the past brought about some qualitative change to certain matters, he had also influenced the people around him. Xu Xin, the Three Lonely Wolves, and also… Orochimaru, kind of?
If this continued, perhaps the world he was once incredibly familiar with would change completely! At that time, would the one emperor, two empresses, three kings, seven dukes, and thirteen aces still appear? Would the events he once experienced happen just like they did in his previous life?
Happy could say nothing about that.
He sucked in a deep breath, and a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes.
“Happy?” Xu Xin had been keeping an eye on Happy’s expression all this while, and she swiftly noticed the changes in his emotions. She quickly stopped speaking and called out to him in slight nervousness. “Happy… if you think that my suggestions are a little too much, we can change.”
She had just reached the point where she suggested Happy to temporarily move out of the university in case Phoenix Dances and the others figured out his identity or if he accidentally revealed it himself. He could stay outside and simply not reply to the rumors.
When she saw the befuddled expression on Happy’s face, she thought that he had become angry, and she tensed up.
“It’s nothing, I just thought of something else just now.”
Happy smiled in anguish before he waved his hand and showed that he was okay with the idea.
However, he did not expect that his expression would make Xu Xin even more nervous. She was certain that Happy did not like her suggestion just now, but did not want to voice it out, and she became so anxious that she did not know how to handle the situation anymore.
Once Happy recovered, he explained himself. “It’s really fine. I was thinking that when I fight against the top players from the other websites, I might not be able to rank very high.
“The other websites will have players in Blessed Realm as well. I can only guarantee that I won’t be ranked at the bottom, but it’ll be difficult for South China Martial Arts Ranking Board to rank among the top.”
In truth, he had thought of this.
It was actually not his intention to reveal too much of his power in the University of South China. If he continued to act in such a flashy manner, it would not be in line with his personality and attitude.
Besides, the most important thing was that South China Martial Arts Ranking Board’s development was far too quick. It would soon escape from the Three Lonely Wolves’ control, and if they lost control of it, the website might die.
Happy did not wish to see this happen.
And once he was pushed to the eye of the storm and the martial arts geeks from the game came looking for him, he would be incredibly annoyed. Hence, he decided that he would only use lightness skills and hidden weapons to hurt others in the tournament and avoid close-quarters combat so that he could avoid drawing even more attention to himself. [1] 1
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS
Mogumoguchan Mogumoguchan
Translator’s Note:

[1] The original is supposed to be “he could draw even more attention to himself”, but I think the word “avoid” is missing, because if that word is really not supposed to be there, the sentences will contradict each other.