My name is Xiao Mu. I am an engineer. Recently, the rise of an online game called "Legend" deeply captivated me.
One evening after work, I went to an internet cafe to relax and play games.
This game, which I stumbled upon, provided a profound sense of relaxation. I could release my work-related frustrations through it.
While playing, I imagined the monsters in the game as my bosses in real life, defeating them one by one.
The drop rates for various equipment were not fixed; I even occasionally reaped small surprises.
Overall, it was simply exhilarating!
Every day after work, Xiao Mu would be the first to rush to the internet cafe, find a computer, and embark on his "Legend" journey.
In those days, internet fees were incredibly expensive, with the cheapest being two yuan and fifty per hour.
However, the computers in those internet cafes could not meet the demands of "Legend." The internet speed was too slow. The entire internet cafe was equipped with bulky projection screens, making everything cumbersome.
The computer configurations were also outdated, running on Windows 98, a far cry from the Windows era we have today.
This wasn't the most annoying part. The truly infuriating thing was when you were in the thick of battling monsters in "Legend," and suddenly the computer would freeze, causing you to disconnect.
Or worse, during a boss fight, when a rare piece of equipment dropped, flashing brilliantly after your arduous efforts, your game would freeze, and you wouldn't be able to pick it up, only to see a passerby snatch it away.
Xiao Mu encountered such situations many times, each time shouting in anger, "Boss, what's going on? Why is 'Legend' lagging again? Is your internet speed only 128kbps via telephone line? What's the point of such a slow connection!"
Xiao Mu's words resonated with countless "Legend" players. The game was fun, but the internet speed was a major letdown.
Later, Xiao Mu discovered a new place, an internet cafe with the direct name "Legend Internet Cafe."
Upon entering, Xiao Mu saw a row of brand-new computers.
As soon as Xiao Mu entered, the boss eagerly approached him, saying, "Brother, you're here to play 'Legend,' right? I have dedicated broadband here, with a 1Mbps speed, and brand-new, high-end computers. However, our internet fees are a bit steep, four yuan per hour!"
Hearing the boss's words, Xiao Mu exclaimed in surprise, "What! You have dedicated 1Mbps broadband that won't lag during 'Legend'?"
The boss proudly slapped his chest, "Absolutely! It's incredibly smooth. Otherwise, we wouldn't dare call ourselves 'Legend Internet Cafe,' would we? Brother, come and see for yourself, everyone inside is playing 'Legend'!"
Xiao Mu looked inside and saw that the place was almost full. All the computer screens displayed the game "Legend," with everyone engrossed in battling monsters.
"Boss, I've scoured the entire city, and yours is the only internet cafe with such powerful internet speed and a great gaming experience. This time, I'm going to clear the game and get my revenge!"
"Indeed! We were just passing through the forest and saw a boss drop a huge amount of loot. I directly picked up an exquisite Blackwood Sword! This sword is amazing, it even has +1 Luck! Do you guys dare to challenge me!"
"Amazing, boss! Brother, which server are you on? Is the Blackwood Sword still available? I'll buy it for five thousand!"
"Old brother, you're too late. I sold it for four thousand the same day. For us common folk, it's all about having fun!"
Xiao Mu immediately turned to pay, "Boss, activate my account. I'll top up a hundred yuan first!"
Xiao Mu loved this environment and the atmosphere. While he was playing, a crowd of players would gather behind him to watch.
It must be said that with the internet fee and the game card cost, it easily added up to over four yuan per hour.
Most people played for four hours, which could consume their entire day's wages.
In those times, the average person's income was around four to five hundred yuan.
Despite this, "Legend" remained incredibly popular, leaving countless people astonished.
No one expected that the internet fees and game card costs wouldn't deter people from entering the game.
With 1Mbps internet speed and newly configured computers, playing "Legend" was indeed thrilling, though there was still a slight hint of lag.
Netizens couldn't help but complain, "Boss, can your internet speed be any faster? If it were a bit faster, I could have healed us, and our team wouldn't have been wiped out."
Those around nodded in agreement, "Exactly, boss. Although your internet speed is faster than other cafes, when everyone is playing, there's still a bit of lag."
Hearing the complaints, sweat started to bead on the boss's forehead.
He had invested a considerable amount in this "Legend Internet Cafe," including the cost of new computers and dedicated broadband.
Fortunately, the four-yuan internet fee allowed him to recoup his costs quickly, but this was all dependent on the cafe being full.
If players stopped coming due to speed issues, his investment would be a total loss.
"Everyone, please wait a moment. I'll call Tietong Company. I installed their broadband."
The boss then went to call and inquire about the internet speed. Ten minutes later, the boss returned, looking refreshed.
"Everyone, I just called. Tietong Company can upgrade my internet speed to 2Mbps, but I'll have to pay more for the broadband. If the speed is upgraded, my internet fee will also need to increase to five yuan per hour. Brothers, do you agree? If you agree, I'll call them to upgrade the speed right away!"
When the netizens heard this news, their internet speed would double, which was acceptable. The only downside was a one-yuan increase in the hourly fee.
This was not a big issue. They wanted to play the game comfortably, to be the kings of the game, to experience a smooth and seamless gameplay.
Since they could accept four yuan per hour, five yuan for double the speed was also reasonable.
"Boss, call them immediately!"
"No problem, as long as the speed is fast enough, I'd even pay six yuan."
"Anyway, I only play for two hours a day, and a pleasant mood lasts all day. Five yuan is fine!"
Everyone present felt that doubling the speed for just a five-yuan increase was a small price to pay.
Upon hearing everyone's agreement, the boss excitedly made the call to upgrade the broadband and double the internet speed.
"Brothers, the call has been made. In ten minutes, we will be able to enjoy 2Mbps of gaming bandwidth, and our 'Legend Internet Cafe' will truly live up to its name!" the boss said with a smile.
"Alright, boss, your service is truly efficient!"
"I have high hopes for you, boss. If you don't get rich, who will? People like you have a future."
With the enjoyment of 2Mbps bandwidth, the players' enthusiasm for the game surged. The gaming experience was incredibly awesome and satisfying!