I handed over the game to the gaming industry, and the government gave me a hacked version.

Chapter 368 Do you want me to be the city lord?

The three top-ranked figures on the leaderboard stared intently at Chen You, holding their breath.

It seems to be awaiting some terrifying prophecy that could overturn the order of the Origin Realm.

Chen You looked at their tense faces and sighed silently in his heart.

Something terrible has happened?

Yes, something really big is about to happen.

A high-dimensional female psychopath not only tried to trick me into giving her cultivation techniques, but also wanted to have an online romance and cultivate together with me.

Would you believe me if I told you this?

"It's nothing," Chen You said calmly. "Isn't that how all online games are? It's normal for the system to drop a few frames occasionally during self-checks."

Don't you guys regularly clean up the memory?

The three of them were stunned.

System self-check? Clear memory?

What kind of profound legal terminology is this?

Salos wanted to ask more questions, but Chen You didn't give him another chance.

"Hurry up and finish whatever blessing ceremony you're going to do as soon as possible."

Chen You didn't want to get entangled in this issue; the more he said, the more mistakes he would make.

The familiar process continued, and in less than ten minutes, the final boss appeared. Chen You didn't even bother to look at the loot and simply exited the instance.

There are still a few hours until the guild boss battle at 8 pm.

Chen You glanced at the mission panel.

The main quest, "The Revival of Hidden Star City," has been completed.

"Go and turn in the task, and while you're at it, try to find out what Sander has to say."

Chen You continued riding the White Rabbit towards the City Lord's Mansion.

Entering the city lord's mansion without hindrance, Chen You had just passed through the front hall when he heard a dull thud coming from the backyard.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Along with the sound of impact came a series of loud, forceful shouts.

"Simply because!"

"Simply because!"

Chen You's lips twitched slightly, and he quickened his pace toward the backyard.

The scene before him plunged him into a five-second silence.

The dark-skinned, robust female city lord, James Sand, was currently shirtless (wearing only a thick animal skin chest wrap) and frantically ramming her head against a huge obsidian rock in the center of the courtyard.

With her left shoulder lowered and her right foot pushing off the ground, she repeatedly rammed her shoulder into the obsidian in an extremely awkward yet explosive posture.

Each impact leaves a white mark on the stone.

"Lord of the City," Chen You interrupted her.

Sander stopped what he was doing, turned around, and saw that it was Chen You. His eyes lit up immediately.

"Chen! You've come at the perfect time!" Sander strode over and patted Chen You on the shoulder without any hesitation, making Chen You's health bar tremble.

"The supreme combat technique you taught me, called 'Iron Mountain Lean,' is practically tailor-made for me!" Sander pointed at the obsidian, his face full of excitement.

"I can feel my physical strength breaking through its bottleneck! And with the mantra 'Only Because,' my explosive power at the moment of exertion can be increased by thirty percent!"

Chen You rubbed his temples: "Whatever makes you happy. I'll hand in the mission."

He took out several documents stamped with the Chamber of Commerce's seal from his backpack and handed them over.

"The trade routes in the northern snowfields have been cleared, and caravans have resumed operations."

Sander took the document, glanced at it casually, and tossed it onto the stone table.

[Ding! The main quest "The Revival of Hidden Star City" has been completed.]

[Rewards: 50000 Experience Points, 1000 Reputation Points in Hidden Star City.]

"Well done, Chen." Sander's expression instantly turned serious.

He strode up to Chen You and pulled out a roll of yellowed parchment from somewhere. "But there are still many things waiting for us in Cangxing City."

"Although trade routes have been restored, the city's management system has been paralyzed due to prolonged energy depletion."

"Now, we need someone with high prestige and power to act as the city lord and preside over related matters."

System notification sounds simultaneously:

[Ding! Main quest triggered: Acting City Lord.]

[Mission Description: Over the next 24 hours, act as the acting city lord to manage Hidden Star City, handle unexpected government affairs, reinforce fortifications, and prepare for the upcoming 'Winter Festival'.]

[Quest Rewards: 800000 Experience Points, 5000 Reputation Points in Hidden Star City.]

[Note: You may not leave the area of ​​Hidden Star City during the mission; otherwise, the mission will be considered a failure.]

Chen You stared at the two keywords "24 hours" and "cannot leave," his eyes wide like saucers.

"Wait, how long did you say?"

"Just one day, my friend." Sander patted Chen You on the shoulder with surprising force.

"Today, I need to retreat into seclusion to master the combat techniques you've taught me. The safety of the city rests entirely in your hands!"

"I'm entrusting this to you, my foot!" Chen You almost jumped up. "I have a cross-border... no, cross-guild brawl in five hours, and you expect me to sit here painting walls all day?"

Sander looked bewildered: "A brawl? When it comes to the honor of the Origin Realm, building our homes is the top priority! Can you really bear to see the people of Hidden Star City shivering in the dead of winter?"

Looking at Sander's face, which was full of "moral blackmail," Chen You took a deep breath and decisively chose—money power.

A bright (and fake) smile spread across his face.

"Lord Sander, you see, although I am quite capable, managing a city is really not my forte."

"I'd be so embarrassed if I accidentally destroyed the Cangxing City Management Office."

Sander said seriously, "No, I believe in your potential..."

"I'll offer five thousand gold coins," Chen You said, holding up one finger.

Sander's words trailed off, his Adam's apple bobbing violently: "This isn't about money, it's about responsibility..."

"Ten thousand gold coins," Chen You said expressionlessly, raising the price.

Sander's eyes instantly turned red.

"Friend...you're testing my professional ethics." Her voice began to tremble.

"Twenty thousand gold coins."

Sander slapped his thigh hard, so hard that it knocked over the stone bench next to him.

She turned around abruptly, her back to Chen You, her voice filled with painful struggle.

"The ancestors of Hidden Star City are watching me from heaven... I cannot..."

"Thirty thousand. If you're not interested, I'm leaving." Chen You interrupted her spellcasting animation and turned to leave.

"etc!"

A gust of wind howled past.

With an agility completely disproportionate to her size, Sandra slid in front of Chen You, gripping his hands tightly with a tender, affectionate look in her eyes.

"My ancestor just appeared to me in a dream! He said that adaptability is the first rule of survival!"

Chen You's lips twitched.

Sander leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Chen, we've been through thick and thin together, I can't let you down."

"A day is indeed too long. How about we compromise and just go through the motions? Two and a half hours! Only two and a half hours!"

"Two and a half hours?" Chen You raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Sander said quickly, afraid that Chen You would change his mind.

"All you have to do is sit on the throne in the city lord's hall, stamp a few urgent government documents, and show your face."

"I'll leave all the remaining trivial matters to my adjutant! It won't interfere with your gang fights!"