FB: Chapter 74 – Real World Troubles

“This Congressional Hearing by the Exponential Oversight Committee is now called to order,” Congresswoman Cortez said. She was dumber than a box of bricks like almost all politicians, but she had a nice face and big tits, which was why she managed to get elected in her district every two years.

I was seated at a table in front of the committee by myself. “Miss April White, you may now give your opening statement to the committee.” Time to suck up once again to people in power who were assholes. The only difference between these assholes and the Human Emperor was that he had absolute power and liked to pretend to be reasonable, while these people only had a small bit of power and were completely unreasonable. I didn’t know who I disliked more.

“Honored members of this committee and to the public watching. There is no need for oversight from the government. People playing Exponential is a personal decision that the government should not interfere with. I doubt any of the esteemed committee members even knows how one gets a special legendary skill. If they don’t even know such information, how can we trust them to regulate it? I submit that the actions in Exponential are beyond their current ability to understand and thereby effectively regulate by this committee.”

“Instead, I have my own proposal, the Foxy Blight Non-Interference Law. I ask that all my supporters and fans to support it. Copies are available here for the press along with the committee. In addition a copy is currently being posted online. It basically says that Exponential is a game and that regulations should exist for the safety of use of the capsules, but that regulation of the game Exponential should be left to QAI and the management of Exponential Corporation. Thank you,” I said, finishing my short opening statement.

“We will now allow the committee members five minutes each for questioning the expert witness,” Congresswoman Cortez said. The first person to question me was Congressman Smith, a massive asshole who hated everything about Exponential. He went on a five minute rant about how the game would consume people’s souls and would destroy the country. Warning that the game would lead to the destruction of the human race.

The next congressman that was allowed to speak decided to ask me questions instead of ranting for the cameras. “My colleague across the aisle, while quite loud, did raise some points that I would like to discuss. Exponential has created a completely separate economy to our own and sapping our economy in turn. How do you respond to such an issue?”

“The fact that I am here and not the creators of QAI and Exponential is already an answer, one you don’t like but an answer. Regardless I will respond directly. Exponential is the future with the combination of medical nanites, drone warfare, and other countries now investing into capsules. This country needs me more than I need you,” I declared.

“That is an awfully bold position to take. What gives you such confidence?” the Congressman asked.

“I am the strongest player in Exponential. With the strongest guild. If I moved to another country, they would welcome me with open arms and roll out the red carpet. While I am not a fan of this nickname, people have referred to me as the God Player,” I countered.

“Sacrilegious heresy!” One of the congressman shouted. That seemed like a double negative to me. Wouldn’t sacrilegious heresy actually be non-hersey, or whatever the opposite of heresy was? They were all dumber than bricks.

“Quiet. You may speak when it is your turn to ask questions,” Cortez said and banged her gavel.

“You think your position puts you above this Congress, above America?” the Congressman whose turn it was asked me. Everyone turned to look at me intently.

“I believe that you need me as an ally, not an enemy since Russia, China, and India are buying capsules in bulk and will be sending hordes of people into Exponential. Right now the strongest player in the world resides in America and is a majority owner in an American Corporation paying massive amounts of taxes. And while Congress has a lot of power, if you pressure me unduly, I will pressure you right back.”

“And how would you do that? Give some items to some players from other countries?” the Congressman asked me.

“I would merely speak with the Human Emperor and bad things would happen.” I wouldn’t be explaining that I would make it clear these people were my allies, so he would screw them over as well. “If your intelligence services are up to par, then they would know I was invited directly to the Imperial Throne Room and spoke directly with his Divine Majesty,” I said with a smile.

“Um, what exactly does that mean?” he asked me, clearly confused. It was frustrating to deal with people who didn’t understand how Exponential worked.

“In the game world, the Human Emperor is the absolute dictator that controls all of human civilization. He is over level 500 and is considered a Divine Saint, his power unquestionable. With but a single word, he can crush a guild or any other organization. While I would hesitate to use what favor I have with him, it would be the equivalent of deploying a nuclear bomb to a country’s efforts in Exponential, with no way to recover.”

“Is this true?” the Congressman looked at his aide, who looked confused.

“You don’t have anyone over level 30 reporting on staff do you? You probably watched some clips of the most recent tournament and read a report,” I shook my head as I spoke. “While I don’t want to be your enemy, I will not hesitate to crush anyone who opposes me. I have triumphed over the Dark Saint Gamabuturon in single combat.”

“Accomplishments of a game,” another Congressman said with a sneer.

“Accomplishments that have helped make me the richest woman in the world at the age of 19.”

“Would you act for the good of America in game?” the Congressman who was supposed to be asking questions got things back on track.

“As long as America does not target me, I will not target America’s efforts in Exponential. As for aid, my guild is always open to a mercenary contract of some sort. Or you can just let things play out, which would be what I would suggest.”

“You wouldn’t want money from the government?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“I just want the government not to interfere or try to take control of my guild. I am one of the few people that hasn’t signed a non-compete. If the governments moves to take my guild, I can always go join another guild.”

“Your corporation isn’t so easily moved.”

“I have enough real world money. Another country would easily offer me a trillion dollars to join them on a permanent basis based on the value I bring as an individual in Exponential. I like America because of the freedom this country gives. If you restrict that freedom, then I will consider other options,” I declared.

The questioning continued, but I continued to draw my line in the sand. If America tried to regulate my actions in Exponential, then I would respond directly against America’s interests in game in a war of escalation that no one wanted. There were more questions about the game’s mechanics, economy, monsters, and politics.

I answered general questions but refused to answer questions about my build since they were considered corporate secrets. The economy was based off of killing monsters primarily and the use and production of consumables. The monsters came from the dark gods, who were at war with the Trinity which backed the Human Empire. The Human Emperor was mostly unchecked in his power and decision making. I didn’t mention he only constrained himself from being an asshole due to public opinion and wanting to appear reasonable. It was hard to understand unless you experienced it firsthand. Other people could experience the joy of discovering this fact for themselves.

I confirmed my guild did not plan to ally with a foreign power at this time. Yes, my guild was open to power leveling and teaching people how Exponential functioned in a short period of time to help them acclimate as quickly as possible to the game environment. We would offer such a service to 100 people for free for the government to send in as a test batch and then charge for anyone else who wanted such a service. Price to be determined after the initial batch, with the results published. That way our efforts could be effectively priced.

It was an idea approved by my board, the same with my responses. If I let these people have an inch, they would take a mile. That was why I had to come off as antagonistic at first and then offer carrots. I had no doubt they had plans to start up their own guild and somehow leverage the power of the US Government to make it successful. I wished them all the luck in Exponential, because they would need it.

I also had no doubt that soldiers would do a better job in combat than regular people but being good at fighting wasn’t enough. One had to be good at the game mechanics and builds. For high end builds, going for a cookie cutter approach was a bad idea. Also, melee combat with skills and cold weapons was a lot different from using guns. That was why Champions were necessary.

We would get people up to speed in Exponential but they wouldn’t understand why I made many of the high level decisions I had. They would want to put everything into neat little boxes, but Exponential was incredibly messy. And I would love to see what would happen to the first idiot who tried to make any kind of demand of the Human Emperor, they would be in for a world of trouble. One did not make demands of the Human Emperor, instead they groveled on the ground and prayed that he didn’t pay them any attention.

The fact they didn’t even know that I was threatened with an Imperial Audit and other punishments, showed how little power and knowledge they had in the game. With the information brokers blocking all information about me, they would have to go to people individually to get information. That was beyond their capabilities right now and even in the future it was never a sure thing. I was a bit surprised they hadn’t penetrated the upper echelons of my guild, but that would change. Still, all the super-guilds always had at least one person in the Imperial Court to keep an eye out for anything the Human Emperor would do.

I had gotten put in such a position right before I was sent back in time somehow. I was the acting representative of one of the nobles that was aligned with my super guild, since the noble player had real world events they had to be present for. It was a nice vacation from the usual corporate grind to get entertainment in watching the Human Emperor punish other people. I would have had to write up several reports, after such a thing. Now other people wrote reports for me to look over. It was a distant memory, and only remembered due to the Congressional Hearing. There was no clue about why I had gone back in time. I could only chalk it up to an accident of the universe that somehow benefited me.