Su Luo closed the chat interface with Elysia, revealing the video file hidden behind it.
It contained some animated short clip fragments for "Skyfall Meteor" that Durandal had submitted.
He pondered for a moment, took several screenshots, and uploaded them to his private pilipili account. Then, he started browsing popular Honkai Impact 3rd videos on the platform, preparing to act as an insider and drop some bombshells for the players, thereby increasing the game's popularity.
After all...
[Honkai Impact 3rd Current User Statistics: 8013333.]
Thanks to the recent massive update to the main story, and players, 'twisted' by the emotional impact, spontaneously recommending Honkai Impact 3rd to their acquaintances out of 'love,' he was just a little bit away from completing the system's main mission.
Su Luo found some Honkai Impact 3rd analysis videos by major UP Masters on pilipili.
For example, one titled: "Is Himeko the Future Herrscher of Flame?"
In the video, the UP Master analyzed the possibility of Himeko's revival with a tone of absolute certainty.
Things like Himeko seeming to have one last breath left.
Or perhaps Himeko didn't fall into the Imaginary Space but remained in the space created by Sirin.
In summary, the conclusion drawn was that Himeko had a high probability of reviving in the form of the 'Herrscher of Flame.'
At that time, as a senior, a teacher, and a Valkyrie, everything she had sought to protect would be overturned by her own hands.
And this time, it would be her students' turn, Kiana's turn, to 'return the lesson' to her.
This would be a major plot twist! And it fit miHoYo's scriptwriters' consistent style.
To be fair, the analysis was quite well-reasoned and supported by evidence.
If Su Luo didn't know the subsequent plot, he might have almost believed it.
He scrolled down to the comment section. Due to the previously updated interlude chapter, "Void Firmament, Solitary Moon," the comment section was incredibly active.
Everyone was deeply concerned about whether Himeko would return.
Su Luo, who had originally intended to act as an insider and leak information, blinked and left a comment.
It's All Otto's Fault: [I think everyone shouldn't get their hopes up too high. Himeko's story had a very complete ending. Based on my understanding of miHoYo's scriptwriters, they wouldn't gild the lily by writing Himeko back.]
The video Su Luo had opened was one of the popular ones, and many players were currently watching it.
Naturally, after watching the video, they would open the comment section and thus see Su Luo's comment.
[Talking out of your ass? No one understands miHoYo's scriptwriters better than you?]
[What do you mean, 'gilding the lily'? Himeko's return would clearly be a major climax!]
[Holy crap, holy crap!! I just clicked on this guy's profile page from his videos, and guess what I saw? He actually has screenshots from miHoYo's next unreleased animated short!!]
[For real?? Is this guy an insider?!]
Many players quickly realized.
If this person was indeed a miHoYo employee, then what he said was very likely true, right?
Could it be that Himeko was really gone?
More and more people replied to Su Luo.
[Bro, are you telling the truth? And you know miHoYo's scriptwriter, right? Could you pass on our... 'kind regards' to him?]
[No! I don't believe it! Big Sis Himeko can't be gone just like that!]
[Good news! Good news! I just scrolled through this bro's space, and I found out Himeko seems to appear in the next short film! And she's with Kiana!]
[Could it be that Teacher Himeko is coming back??]
[I reasonably suspect this bro is trying to fool us, deliberately saying Himeko is gone.]
As the players discussed, the truth drifted further and further away from them.
Yet, they firmly believed in the conclusions they had discussed and reached.
They even started spreading it among various Honkai Impact 3rd fan groups.
For a time, news that Himeko would return in the next main story chapter was rampant.
Countless players were thrilled. Could Big Sis Himeko really be coming back?
Knock knock knock~~
A sudden knock came from outside the office door.
Soon, someone impatiently pushed the door open and barged in.
Kiana burst in, exclaiming loudly, "Su Luo! Bad news! It seems we have an insider in our studio!"
Durandal walked in with a serious expression and suggested, "Su Luo, I believe this matter must be handled seriously. This time it's just some version information; next time, they might sell our confidential files."
"Exactly, exactly!" *N The girls all nodded in unison.
Su Luo: "..."
"So, the question is, if none of you think you're the insider, then who is?"
"Well..." *N The girls looked at each other.
To be honest, they didn't think anyone else looked like an insider either.
Kiana crossed her arms, tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face. "It doesn't feel like anyone here is that kind of person."
"Indeed," Theresa nodded in agreement. "Everyone has been together at miHoYo for so many years. I know everyone well; no one seems like that type."
Durandal made the same gesture as Kiana, thoughtfully adding, "If we're talking about who has the biggest suspicion, it must be the person who joined miHoYo last."
She paused as she reached this point in her analysis.
Because the last person to join miHoYo was herself.
Hearing this, the girls all turned to look at Durandal in unison.
Kiana's eyes slowly widened, just as she was about to say something shocking.
Rita raised a hand, interrupting Kiana, then looked at Su Luo with her usual elegant smile.
"So... Su Luo, is there something you'd like to tell us?"
Su Luo coughed lightly twice. "Cough cough, although the process and results were accidental, I did intentionally release the information."
"Huh? Ahhhh!!" *N
"Su Luo, Su Luo, why did you do that!?" Kiana zipped to the front of the desk.
They were still wondering who had leaked the information, only to find out it was their own boss?
"Don't rush, don't rush."
Su Luo calmly pushed away the beautiful face that was almost pressed against his. "What do you think of the players' vitality after the insider leak?"
Kiana stepped back, and Bronya, holding a laptop, stepped forward to answer in her stead. "Since the last main story update, players have recently entered a fallow period, and their enthusiasm has indeed declined. Some players who aren't interested in daily content have even stopped logging in."
She flipped the laptop around. "However, starting just a moment ago, a large number of players have logged into the game and started grinding dailies, probably preparing to save crystals to pull for the next Valkyrie battlesuit?"
"That's my objective."
Su Luo stood up and explained, "Sometimes, releasing a bit of information to the players isn't necessarily a bad thing for the game. It can extend their enthusiasm for the game. When passersby see Honkai Impact 3rd being so lively, they're more likely to get fully invested."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
The girls thought about it carefully, and it seemed to be true.
"In short, I hope Honkai Impact 3rd's active users can break ten million soon!"
"Ten million?"
Kiana belatedly realized, "So we're about to have ten million active users!?"
She knew Honkai Impact 3rd was popular, but she didn't have a concrete concept of just how popular it was.
One had to know, ten million exceeded the total user base accumulated over many years by their previously most popular game, "Nonsensical Hero's Grand Adventure."
"That's right," Su Luo replied with a smile.
"Oh! So strong!"
Kiana got excited, then hugged Mei and cheered, "Mei, Mei, our Honkai Impact 3rd is really so strong!!"
"Kiana, your reflex arc could circle the Blue Star several times."
Mei, being hugged by Kiana, first let out a helpless complaint, then gently pushed Kiana, reminding her, "Also, everyone is watching, let go of me quickly."
"I wasn't paying attention to this before."
Kiana let go of Mei, put one hand behind her back, and chuckled twice.
"Pfft~~" *N The others couldn't help but chuckle seeing her like this.
After a while, Kiana recovered and became curious about another matter. "Su Luo~~ When do you think Honkai Impact 3rd will reach ten million users?"
"By the time we update to 'Skyfall Meteor,' it should be about there."
Su Luo replied thoughtfully, "Even if we're a little short, when everyone is free at the end of the year, many people will definitely be looking for games to play. Honkai Impact 3rd will undoubtedly be their best choice, and we'll definitely have enough by then."
"I believe we definitely won't have to wait until the end of the year! After all, it's our Honkai Impact 3rd!" Kiana said with full confidence.
Su Luo smiled. "Then I'll take your auspicious words, Kiana. If we really achieve the goal before the year's end, I'll give you all double year-end bonuses."
The girls' year-end bonuses were not small, and doubling them would be a significant expense, but he didn't care about the money.
"If you say that~~ I'll have to think of a way to strive for it~~"
Kiana wasn't greedy for the money; she just found it interesting.
At the same time, she also wanted to repay Su Luo. After all, thanks to Su Luo, miHoYo and everyone could have what they had today.
"I have an idea."
"Hmm? What idea?" Su Luo was somewhat curious about what Kiana wanted to say.
"What do you think about us doing a face-reveal livestream playing Honkai Impact 3rd? That would definitely cause a sensation, right?" Kiana suggested excitedly.
Su Luo was slightly stunned.
If Kiana and the others were willing to do a face-reveal livestream of Honkai Impact 3rd, it would be far more than just a sensation!