Wang Weidong waved his hand: "No way, you can't just cut the price in half like that.

"Community 12 already has the least visa time, making Gold Coin exchanges most cost-effective. Don't be so stingy."

Chen Guangming shook his head: "Didn't you say it yourself? Money is saved bit by bit.

"Take it or leave it — 10 Gold Coins, or no deal. No other community is going to offer you Gold Coins anyway."

Wang Weidong looked at him: "Aren't you afraid I'll deliberately choose the plot next to yours?"

Chen Guangming was unfazed: "Community 12 has the least remaining visa time, you can try."

Wang Weidong immediately put on a smiling face: "Deal, 10 Gold Coins it is, consider it making a friend."

Chen Guangming first handed over five Gold Coins: "After you select the Nine-Box Grid, I'll pay the balance."

Wang Weidong took the coins and chose the A4 Nine-Box Grid.

Chen Guangming also paid the remaining 5 Gold Coins as promised.

Li Renshu looked at the five communities' final choices and fell into thought.

The Nine-Box Grid chosen by Community 12 is G7, which is the bottom right corner.

Among the remaining available Nine-Box Grids, A4 and D1 are the farthest apart.

Choosing either makes little difference, it's just whether Wang Weidong wants to be next to the A7 Nine-Box Grid of Community 9 or the G1 Nine-Box Grid of Community 17.

He ultimately chose to be next to Community 9.

This is also good news for Community 17 because only two communities are on their right side, making the competition less intense.

Clearly, Wang Weidong made his choice to pick the softer target.

Community 12 has the least remaining visa time, seemingly the weakest, but this also means they won't hesitate to spend Gold Coins, indicating they naturally have deeper pockets.

Further, they already gave Gold Coins, and Wang Weidong has to keep his promise; he can't make enemies over 5 Gold Coins right off the bat.

Even though Community 17 has more visa time, this also means its players are relatively smart and powerful.

Community 7 and Community 9 hold no advantages in Wang Weidong's eyes from Community 15, making them seemingly easier to deal with.

...

After choosing the Nine-Box Grid, only two to three minutes were left before the game officially began.

Players no longer had time to consider too many complex strategies and returned to their community player groups for a brief discussion.

Fu Chen was a bit excited: "Looking at the choice of the Nine-Box Grid, our situation seems pretty good.

"Communities 7, 9, and 15 have clustered together, while we and Community 12 each occupy a corner alone.

"As long as the G1 Nine-Box Grid is selected for auction, we can directly obtain the entire plot, and other communities can't contest us."

Li Renshu reminded: "That's the assumption in the first phase.

"If the Nine-Box Grid we selected only begins auctioning in the second phase, there might already be a 'Privileged Developer' who can participate in bidding regardless of distance.

"Currently, we are unclear about the specific order in which these Nine-Box Grids will become available for bidding."

Fu Chen nodded, understanding: "Oh, true."

The rules mentioned that in each round of the game, one Nine-Box Grid will transform into a 'Developable State,' meaning it will be opened for bidding.

But it didn't specify the exact order in which they would be made available.

If the G1 Nine-Box Grid selected by Community 17 is auctioned in the first phase, they can monopolize it; if it opens in the second phase, the 'Privileged Community' will surely become the 'Second Developer.'

Then it will be a game of tic-tac-toe to determine land ownership.

Zheng Jie curiously asked: "Looking at the outcomes, was Community 12's player fooled again?

"Did Wang Weidong from Community 15 originally intend to choose the A4 Nine-Box Grid?

"Choosing a Nine-Box Grid only hinges on which two communities they prefer to have as neighbors.

"Community 12 has the least visa time, so they're the most willing to spend Gold Coins, arguably the wealthiest;

"Our community has plenty of visa time, implying a stronger overall power, and probably some reputation.

"For Community 15, it's best to avoid both.

"So, Wang Weidong would surely choose to approach Community 7 and Community 9; irrespective of whether Community 12 gives Gold Coins or not, they'd choose the A4 Nine-Box Grid."

Cao Haichuan shook his head: "Not necessarily.

"Wang Weidong's action is likely a probing tactic.

"If Community 12's Chen Guangming doesn't give Gold Coins, Wang Weidong might treat Community 12 as an easy target and choose the D7 Nine-Box Grid between Community 9 and Community 12."

Zheng Jie was puzzled: "Really? Anyway, Community 12 has the least remaining visa time, so they are most willing to spend Gold Coins."

Cao Haichuan explained: "'Less visa time' and 'willingness to spend Gold Coins' aren't directly linked.

"Some people are more frugal when poorer, unwilling to give up even a few thousand minutes of visa time; such a situation can occur.

"This game filters out players who prefer 'prudent decision-making.'

"Whether Fan Zehui and Chen Guangming give Gold Coins will directly decide Wang Weidong's assessment of Community 12.

"If they give coins, it indicates that Community 12 indeed doesn't mind spending Gold Coins and will be tough in auctions, so it's best to avoid them;

"If not, it means Community 12's players are indeed inclined towards a prudent strategy, perhaps not knowing how to leverage their advantage. Less visa time also implies they might not be smart, and these two factors together make them the biggest soft target."

Zheng Jie was enlightened: "I see, this is also a kind of probing?

"Then it seems Community 15 indeed is not simple."

Li Renshu considered and said: "The actions of Community 15 and Community 12 should attract quite a bit of hostility from Communities 7 and 9.

"It's just a pity that the current game rules don't allow for much cooperation, so we'll just have to watch and see for now."

Fu Chen asked: "Should we try to gain the 'Privileged Community' status?"

Zheng Jie was a bit hesitant: "No need, this game is somewhat judgmental, and players holding advantageous identities generally have tough outcomes."

Fu Chen reminded: "But there are spectators in this game, and the Inner Court Players are considered advantageous compared to the audience."

Li Renshu thought it over: "Each has its pros and cons.

"Holding an advantageous identity grants more initiative but also makes one more likely to be targeted by an Imitator; not having one might be relatively safer, but it often means lacking initiative and having to rely on fate.

"We should strive to acquire more land plots but not force it. Our primary goal is to survive in the game."

...

Soon, the first round of the game began.

All players held their breath, waiting to see which plot would be chosen as the 'Developable Plot' this time.

[The first round of the game begins.]

[The developable plot for this round is: A4 Nine-Box Grid.]

[Community 15 has selected this Nine-Box Grid as the 'Priority Development Area' and thus automatically gains the status of 'First Developer.']

[Communities 7 and 9 selected 'Priority Development Areas' adjacent to this plot and can acquire the status of 'Second Developer' through bidding.]

[You can opt to forgo bidding directly or participate and then abandon midway.]

[But abandoning midway still requires paying a '5 Gold Coin' handling fee.]

[The bidding starts now, limited to 3 minutes.]

Many players were somewhat surprised.

Zheng Jie whispered: "It just happens to be the Nine-Box Grid chosen by Community 15? A one in eighth chance, is this a coincidence?"

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