JSBC

The square was alive with restless energy. Players gathered in tight clusters, shifting anxiously on their feet, while Jerry's battle-worn mercenaries stood like statues, arms crossed, their eyes scanning the crowd. The tension in the air was thick, as if everyone sensed that something big was about to happen.

At the center of it all, standing atop a crude wooden platform, was Jerry. His presence alone commanded attention. Battle-hardened, scarred, and with the aura of a man who had survived the worst, he scanned the crowd with sharp, knowing eyes.

He exhaled and spoke.

"Starting today, we're implementing a point and currency system."

A murmur spread through the players like wildfire. Confusion. Curiosity. Skepticism.

Jerry let them talk. He wanted them to. He needed them to.

But when he raised his hand, the square fell silent in an instant.

"Here's how it works," he continued. "Every task you do—hunting, gathering, crafting, exploring, or even helping in the village—earns you points. The harder the task, the more valuable your contribution, the more points you get." He motioned toward a young woman with short brown hair standing beside him. "Laura will be in charge of tracking progress. If you have questions, ask her."

Laura took a step forward, holding up a tablet—carved crudely but undeniably functional. Despite the setting of World of Solva, Shaoran had ensured that every administrative system had a way to work efficiently.

"I'll be monitoring everyone's efforts," she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her new responsibility. "If you want to earn extra, then put in extra effort. There will be… special rewards for those who excel."

A few chuckles rippled through the players. Some of them were still taking this lightly.

That would change soon.

Jerry reached into his pocket and pulled out something small, something metallic.

A single coin.

Sunlight caught its surface, making it gleam. The murmurs died down as every eye locked onto it.

It was unlike anything they had seen before.

Three faces were engraved onto the surface—Jerry's own, Uncle Bai's, and Shaoran's.

Jerry flipped it between his fingers and held it up for all to see.

"This," he said, voice steady, unwavering, "is JSBC—the official currency of World of Solva."

A moment of silence.

Then, a scoff.

"Wait, wait," a player in the crowd said, squinting at the coin. "You're introducing an in-game currency? What's the point? We already have trade."

Jerry's smirk widened, but his voice was cold.

"This isn't just an in-game currency." He let the words sink in before delivering the hammer blow.

"This coin can be exchanged for real-world money."

The village square froze.

Some players inhaled sharply. Others stiffened, eyes darting between each other.

One player let out an awkward laugh. "Yeah, right."

Jerry's smirk remained. "You think I'm joking?" He turned the coin in his fingers again, the sunlight catching on its polished surface. "This isn't just a reward system. It's the foundation of an economy."

Silence.

A few players exchanged wide-eyed glances. Others frowned, trying to make sense of the implications.

Then, someone asked the million-credit question.

"What's the exchange rate?"

Jerry's smirk deepened. "That depends… on you."

He let that sit for a second before continuing.

"There are two versions of JSBC—copper and silver. Copper is used for small transactions inside the game. Silver? Silver is where things get interesting." He tossed the coin into the air and caught it. "Silver JSBC can be traded for real-world currency."

Now the entire square was locked onto him.

Jerry's voice turned colder, sharper.

"But here's the thing—you cannot buy these coins with real-world money." He let that statement hang in the air, watching as realization dawned. "The company won't sell them to the public. They must be earned. Through sweat. Through effort. Through work."

Another ripple of murmurs.

This time, not confusion. Not skepticism.

Excitement.

Greed.

A new kind of hunger lit up in their eyes.

And then, from the back of the crowd, a voice broke through the noise.

Uncle Bai.

"The game is still in beta," he said, arms crossed, voice like gravel. "That means the first people holding these coins… are you." He let that sink in before adding, "What happens next is up to you."

The shift was instant.

Expressions changed. Players who had been relaxed were now tense. Calculating. Scheming.

Jerry could see it. The gears turning. The understanding settling in.

And before the night was over, the storm would hit the outside world.

At first, it was a trickle.

"Anyone selling JSBC? I'll buy!""What's the exchange rate for JSBC?""Does anyone know the supply cap?"

Then, within hours, the floodgates burst open.

The forums were swarming with speculation. Players hoarded coins, scrambling to gather as much as possible. Even those who had never paid attention to in-game economies were suddenly interested.

A group of finance-savvy players created a website dedicated to tracking JSBC prices. Unofficial marketplaces popped up overnight. Some players—likely real-world traders—began forming underground trading groups.

Then, the mainstream media caught wind.

"Virtual Game Coin Gains Real-World Value—A New Digital Gold Rush?""Investors Eye World of Solva's Beta Economy""A Beta Test with a Real Economy—What's the Catch?"

At first, the outside world scoffed.

"It's just a game.""Sounds like another crypto scam.""Why are people spending money on a beta test?"

Then, People noticed the people who is spending the most money.

Serena. Terry. Marcus. Naila. Akari Cypher. Masaru Nova. Sehun Orion. Jihyo Stellar. Mina Aurora. Aether Solaris. Anya Celeste.

These weren't just random gamers.

They were heirs. Sons and daughters of business magnates, political figures, and corporate titans.

The market shifted again.