Building a Gaming Empire From Scratch

Chapter 156 - 156: 154: Making Money in the Virtual World?

Translator: 549690339

“Right!” Camille Victoria suddenly realized, “Why didn’t I think of just using the makeup and running without paying?

It’s not like the police would come and catch me, then escort me back to the makeup store to have it removed, right?

As long as my makeup isn’t removed, my goal will be achieved!

Thinking about it this way, Camille Victoria felt happier.

After all, who can resist the joy of freeloading?

Camille Victoria, who was slow to react, was still freeloading in the virtual world, searching for cosmetic shops to get free makeup.

Meanwhile, quick makeup artists started making real money with their newfound skills.

Not virtual currency in the game, but real Daxia Currency!

Online secondhand trading market “Sweet Fish” had already started listing “Virtual reality game makeup services.”

Prices were half the price of in-person makeup services in reality.

However, the popularity of this emerging “virtual makeup” service was off the charts, far outpacing traditional makeup services.

Interestingly, the one who first discovered this “windfall” was none other than Shui Hua, a middle school student preparing for final exams.

Shui Hua woke up at 6:30 in the morning to log into the game, and with Lance’s help, robbed two cosmetics shops and three makeup stores. Then they carefully picked and assembled a full set of tools and materials needed for their business.

By that time, Lance had already reached level 5, and his combat skills were improving quite quickly:

[Shooting Mastery Lv.5], [Barehanded Combat Lv.3], [Cold Weapon Fighting Lv.2].

With this kind of power, even robbing a small bank without a background would be possible.

Helping Shui Hua rob a few cosmetics and makeup stores was a piece of cake and completely an overkill for Lance.

However, Shui Hua wouldn’t dare to meet with her online friends under her true name, as it would expose her real identity. So she could only ask Lance for help.

She couldn’t possibly ask Camille Victoria to join her in robbing those stores, right?

It’s not that Camille Victoria couldn’t do it, but rather it’d be too embarrassing if they were caught by the police while doing so!

Anyway, after getting all the makeup materials and tools, Shui Hua went to

“Sweet Fish,” and posted an offer for “Paid Makeup Services in the Virtual World.”

The idea came to her thanks to the disguised little account of the middle-aged uncle.

She had seen someone in her money-making group making thousands of dollars by selling face parameters of their game characters.

Yesterday, when she skipped class to go to the amusement park with Camille Victoria, she won a commemorative eyebrow pencil as a reward for coming in third place in a hula hoop contest.

She opened the pencil cap and drew a few lines on her hand, and discovered that it worked. As a result, she came up with the idea – If makeup works in this game, why not create makeup services in the virtual world!

Today was the first day she put her idea into practice.

And the business took off, far exceeding her expectations!

The first order took a full half an hour to appear.

But the second order came just 5 minutes later.

And after that, like poking a beehive, the third, fourth, and fifth orders…countless orders flooded her without any pause!

Shui Hua was swamped with countless orders.

She wasn’t pleased, but rather, somewhat irritated.

Her original plan was to validate the profitability of this method, then post it in the “money-making group” she was in.

Although her little account was a middle-aged uncle with a “bastard son who played games all day,” the group she was in had both men and women members.

In that group, Shui Hua saw several middle-aged women whose lives were even harder than her middle-aged uncle persona’s.

They, too, had their own unfortunate experiences and needed to make money, but they wanted to earn it in a legitimate way, which was even more difficult and tiring than for middle-aged men.

So Shuihua wanted to give it a try and see if she could offer them a new perspective.

She has access to insider information about Cloud Dream! There will be a full 8 million Mirage units available in the next batch, which will be much easier to grab.

By then, the resale price is sure to drop a lot.

But if this money-making channel is available, maybe it doesn’t have to be sold after all?

After all, not all women can wear makeup, or even wear it very well!

Looking further ahead, there will be many more new players coming in, even foreign players, providing an endless stream of new customers!

And even if they have consumed once, there will be a day when they want to change their style, which means returning customers!

Upon careful consideration, there is great potential in this business!

Shuihua knows that there are cosmetic stores in the game, but a makeup artist designed by a computer program is not as convenient as a makeup artist in reality!

Designing the perfect makeup based on the different facial features, and even character traits of their clients is an art!

Even further, Shuihua thought, could the virtual house you see when logging into the game be turned into a “paid virtual decoration” business? There is never a lack of resourceful people in this world.

Especially when it comes to making money.

At the time Shuihua figured this out, “Customized virtual real estate services” had already appeared on the “Sweet Fish” platform and were successfully taking orders.

The per-customer price is even more than double that of virtual makeup services!

Of course, not everyone can do this business – those who can, usually have backgrounds in decoration and design in reality.

Good aesthetics and design abilities, as well as a good temperament to deal with all kinds of eccentric clients, are required.

However, the “what you see is what you get” feature in the virtual world greatly facilitates the progress of this business.

No need for renderings, no need to buy materials, no need to hire a master, just state what kind of style you want, and it can be done in half an hour.

See any dissatisfaction? They’ll change it for you on the spot until you’re satisfied!

— After all, it just requires moving a finger.

In Lincoln’s plan, players would be able to make money through the game at a later stage.

At least four or five big games need to be released first, and then some real-life branded shops need to be introduced. Once the consumption ecology is established, players will have the opportunity to make money.

He never thought that with just the first big game released, someone would find an opportunity to start making money — and at such a peculiar entry point!

All that can be said is that Lincoln is really not very sensitive when it comes to making money.

Speaking of both ends, unlike the casual players who play various activities.

Hardcore players have only one goal — speedrun!

And the competition is extremely fierce!

Not only are professional gamers like Lance sprinting, but there are also many civil masters and hardcore gamers represented by Warehouse Bird who are single-mindedly charging for the first completion of the main storyline.

To claim this honor, not only do they need skill, persistence, and physical ability but also wisdom and balance!

Because in Lincoln’s design, players can choose when to initiate key node tasks on their own — as long as their character level meets the standard.

But character level does not equal actual combat power.

Actual combat power is a combination of character level, skill level, and weapon equipment.

If you start the mission too early and your combat power is not enough to win, it’s a waste of time.

If you start the mission too late and your combat power is excessive, you may be beaten by others to complete the first run.

This first completion battle among heavy-duty players is getting more and more intense as time goes on!