Starting the Game with Godlike Vision

Chapter 35 - The Welfare Institution

Yesterday, the sight of just one child, Yu Le, revealed little.

But today, with over a dozen children gathered in one place, the differences became striking.

Though they all dressed as boys, a closer look revealed that some, including Yu Le, had delicate, distinctly feminine features that subtly betrayed their gender.

It made sense. In the complex world of this game, safety zones ensured player security under the rules.

But beyond these zones, in more perilous instances, such protections vanished.

Children without parental guardians were especially vulnerable, utterly defenseless against ill-intentioned players.

Zuo Chengan had observed families of four or five thriving within the safety zones, functioning much like those in the real world.

The only difference was the currency—credits instead of money—and the occasional necessity for parents to venture into dungeons together.

For these families, life was strikingly normal.

However, dungeons were no playgrounds. Even in well-explored areas, misjudgments or recklessness often led to death.

When parents perished, the children left behind faced a grim future.

If the child was over 10 years old, they inherited their parents' items and points and were forced to fend for themselves.

Children younger than 10 were taken under the game's care, raised in a centralized welfare system until they turned 10, at which point they were sent to live in the safety zone on their own.

Undeniably, children with parents were fortunate.

They could laze at home under their parents' protection until they were 13 or 14, their bodies sturdier and better prepared to face instances.

Parental guidance gave them a significant advantage in survival rates and adaptability over orphans.

Once players reached the 1st Heavenly Ascension, even grinding Level 1 instances for a meager basic income was enough to stave off starvation.

Level 1 instances featured enemies with attributes ranging from 1 to 15.

Players exceeding 15 in all attributes could typically clear these safely.

Surpassing 15 and reaching an average of 20? At that point, one could confidently choose an instance with their eyes closed.

For those uninterested in growing stronger, life in the safety zone was akin to a routine job. One could set up a barbecue stall, a pancake stand, or a ring-toss game, scraping together enough credits to get by.

Weekly dungeon runs became a predictable chore, choosing comfortable dungeons that provided food and lodging, essentially coasting through life while collecting the game's minimum welfare payout of two credits.

If the stability of the safety zone could last forever, living here long-term didn't seem so bad.

But the looming threat of the Great Purge hung like a sword over every player's head.

...

Unranked after four dungeon runs?

Sensing Zuo Chengan's confusion, Tian Wenliang elaborated. "Most people think kids are burdens, so they rarely team up with us. We usually form teams among ourselves. I'm waiting for the others in my group to raise their stats before tackling the Tower of Ascension."

...

As their conversation unfolded, Tian Wenliang gradually opened up. Noticing Zuo Chengan's curiosity about the welfare system, he began recounting the life of his upbringing.

The welfare institution in the game resembled a boarding school.

During the day, children attended classes, learning literacy, arithmetic, and the basic combat skills necessary for survival.

At night, they returned to their dormitories to rest.

In many ways, these children, trained in combat from a young age, had an advantage over players who had lived mundane lives before entering the game.

The gap lay in their physical growth and life experience.

Because their bodies were still developing, their base stats lagged behind adults.

To compensate, they needed to invest more Attribute Points.

Older children often advised their younger peers to avoid dungeons until they had matured physically, even if it meant surviving through odd jobs or begging.

Tian Wenliang had taken this advice to heart.

For two years after leaving the welfare institution, he earned a living guiding players and taking odd jobs for major guilds, avoiding dungeons entirely. Only this year did he begin experimenting with simpler ones alongside friends.

The topic soon shifted back to the market.

"Though the market lacks formal organization, some unofficial rules have developed over the years," Tian Wenliang explained.

"For example, the closer a stall is to the center, the better the items. Outer stalls usually offer lower-quality goods."

He pointed at the nearby stalls. "We're still on the outskirts. Most of the items here are white or green grade. White items priced under 200 credits are fair, and green ones under 500 are reasonable. Anything higher? It's probably a scam."

As he spoke, Tian Wenliang glanced enviously at the goods displayed on the stalls.

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