Seeing that everyone seemed to relax a little, Entity 303 spoke up to remind them.

"Although my deduction matches our earlier guess, the current situation still isn't very optimistic for us."

Hearing Entity 303's words, Steve thought for a moment and then said.

"Actually, compared to the old world, the situation in this game world is much better now."

"The old game world wasn't even released. Back then, when faced with world-related issues, Notch only had to think about two things, his friends and the living beings of that world."

"But now, this new game world is already out, and it's achieved top-tier results in the industry."

"Now Notch has to think about profit as well."

"Even if Notch learned that his two friends died in the outside world, I don't think he'd choose to shut down the server."

"For one, technology still isn't advanced enough to let Notch's two friends 'reincarnate' into the world I'm in."

"In other words, once Notch shuts down the server, he'll never see his friends again."

"And second, Notch has to take profit into account. After all, it was because of this game that he went from being a broke guy to becoming the head of a company."

"So no matter what, he won't shut down the server."

"That means, no matter what happens, we won't face the worst possible ending."

Steve's words were mostly directed at Entity 303.

This was his own analysis, based on the environment of the outside world he currently lived in.

Hearing Steve's words, Entity 303 shook his head helplessly.

"This game world isn't something Notch alone decides. His opinion matters, yes, but he still has to take the shareholders' opinions into account."

"So I was never worried about the game world being shut down."

"What we should worry about has never been whether Notch will shut down the game world, but whether Notch will erase our King… and all of us… for the sake of his friends."

As a former game developer, Entity 303 naturally knew that the chance of Notch shutting down the game world was nearly zero.

He had never even considered that the world could be completely closed.

Just like Steve said, Notch has to think about his own interests, his friends, and the living beings in this world.

He has to find a balance between all three.

And in Entity 303's view, the only balance point Notch can find right now is to destroy the real HIM, Xu Yuan, and all of their followers.

The current situation was clear as day. The war sparked by Notch's friends against Xu Yuan was on the verge of breaking out.

Once war began, the whole world would be thrown into endless chaos.

No matter the final outcome, countless lives would be lost, something Notch definitely didn't want to see.

After all, part of his will once chose to side with the living beings of the old world.

Therefore, the only way to prevent such a tragedy from happening was to stop the war before it started.

But to do that, the problem had to be solved at its root.

Now, the source of the war was very clear, it lay with Notch's two friends and Xu Yuan. As long as Notch could convince his two friends, the war would never happen.

After all, it was Notch's two friends who started this war, not Xu Yuan, Xu Yuan was only dragged into it.

But… was Notch really capable of convincing his two friends?

Obviously not.

Putting aside whether their deaths in the real world had anything to do with the real HIM,

Even if the real HIM wasn't responsible for their deaths in the real world, he was still the one who sealed them in the Void. That's a fact that can't be changed.

After spending countless days and nights in that endless Void, the pain and loneliness had already driven them to hate the real HIM to the core.

And when they finally found a chance to escape the Void, although the real HIM couldn't stop them, another Xu Yuan appeared and kept interfering with their plans.

How could they not resent him? Could such hatred really be erased with just a few words from Notch?

Since Notch couldn't persuade his friends, he could only look for a solution on Xu Yuan's side.

But Xu Yuan wasn't the one who started the war. He was against the Void not out of hatred, but to protect the living beings of this world.

So what wrong had he done? If he hadn't done anything wrong, what reason would Notch have to convince him to give up his resistance?

Since Notch couldn't persuade either side, the only thing he could do was to minimize the loss and end the conflict in the simplest way possible.

Therefore, for Notch, the most direct and simple solution was to eliminate Xu Yuan and his followers.

Because Notch had no emotional ties with the real HIM, Xu Yuan, or those under Xu Yuan.

If he could get rid of them, the war could be stopped, his friends' hatred would be resolved, and the game world wouldn't suffer too much damage. As long as the aftermath was handled well, the living beings in this world could still live in harmony.

In other words, sacrificing Xu Yuan's side alone could bring peace to the entire game world.

From Notch's point of view, that was undoubtedly the best solution. After all, he had to consider the balance and stability of the entire world.

And because Entity 303 had tried thinking from Notch's perspective, he felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

Because he knew, no matter what, Notch would never side with Xu Yuan.

Hearing Entity 303's words, Steve was stunned.

He suddenly realized that he had been focusing on the wrong thing this whole time. After Entity 303's reminder, it all finally made sense to him.

"As the creator of this game, Notch will definitely think from the big-picture perspective…" Steve muttered.

"If he can't find a way to satisfy both sides… he'll choose to sacrifice the few for the sake of the many…" Steve continued.

"Our King… will be the one sacrificed…"

The last sentence came out especially heavy.

At that moment, no one understood the logic of this situation better than Steve.

He himself had once made a sacrifice for the greater good.

Steve had sacrificed himself and left the Trial Grounds for that very reason.

If Notch wanted to protect the whole world's situation, he'd definitely do the same.

And the side he would sacrifice wouldn't be his two friends.

The only possible sacrifice left was Xu Yuan's side.

Hearing the analysis from Entity 303 and Steve, everyone fell silent.

The atmosphere instantly froze. Everyone felt a deep sense of helplessness and anger.

"Our King did everything to protect this world, yet in the end, for so-called 'world peace,' he'll be the one sacrificed?!"

"Why? Why should the final decision be made by someone who's never taken responsibility for this world?!"

"So no matter what we do, it's all a dead end, isn't it?!"

"..."

Hearing their voices, Entity 303 sighed heavily. How could he not feel the same frustration and helplessness? He spoke slowly.

"There really isn't anything we can do to change the situation…"

"No matter how many followers our King has, no matter how much he's done, in Notch's eyes, he's still the first one that can be sacrificed."

There was bitterness in Entity 303's tone.

"Unless Notch can personally understand everything our King has done…"

At that moment, it was like something suddenly clicked in Entity 303's mind. His once-dim eyes suddenly lit up.

"Notch is in the Trial Grounds!! He's still in the Trial Grounds!!" he shouted excitedly.

"He still has a chance to meet our King!!" Entity 303's voice was filled with hope.

"As long as he can meet our King, he'll understand everything our King has done!!"

"Then he won't think about sacrificing him anymore!!"

"There's still time… we still have time!!…"

Entity 303 spoke urgently, as if he could already see hope ahead.

Finally, he turned anxiously to Steve.

"Contact Peng Peng right away! When the Trial Grounds pause next time, tell him to make sure Black Knife passes this on, our King must meet Notch before the Trial Grounds end!!"

———

[Inside the Trial Grounds, in the Forest's Meat Field]

After half an hour of detailed "training" from Xu Yuan and the Pillager King, the Pillagers had finally graduated and were ready for work.

Seeing that the Pillagers were all about ready, Xu Yuan turned to the Pillager King.

"That's about it. You can start sending them 'on stage.'"

Hearing Xu Yuan's order, the Pillager King nodded and was just about to send the "actors" in, when one of Wu Li's men led a player into the meat field.

The player rushed in quickly, taking a few hurried steps before kneeling before Xu Yuan.

"My King…"

"Notch has entered the rainforest!"

The player paused, worried that Xu Yuan might not fully understand, and quickly added, "The boss confirmed it… it's the Notch, the legendary Notch…"

Hearing that, Xu Yuan was slightly surprised.

"What a coincidence?"

Of course, Xu Yuan knew Notch was also participating in the Trial Grounds, but he hadn't paid much attention to Notch's whereabouts.

Because Xu Yuan knew very well that Notch wouldn't be involved in the final battle.

After all, Notch's reason for entering the Trial Grounds was different from everyone else's. He wasn't here for the rewards.

Notch likely joined out of curiosity, curiosity about this mysterious realm that had suddenly appeared in the game world.

Xu Yuan had thought that within the vast Trial Grounds, he'd never cross paths with Notch. But unexpectedly, Notch had come to him on his own.

Notch taking the initiative to come was, for Xu Yuan, a huge surprise.

In truth, Xu Yuan knew that Notch would be the key figure deciding the fate of the world.

And he also understood that, when the time came to make the final choice, Notch would likely lean toward his friends' side.

Xu Yuan had already considered the possibility that Entity 303 mentioned, that Notch might erase him and everyone connected to him.

But no matter what, Xu Yuan could never allow that to happen.

So, Xu Yuan had to make contact with Notch.

Originally, according to his plan, he was supposed to meet Notch only after leaving the Trial Grounds, before the Void could reach him first.

But now, it seemed that meeting had come much earlier than expected.

Which was fine. Since Notch had entered the rainforest, that meant he had already seen the rules Xu Yuan set up there.

He should also be able to understand what Xu Yuan's ultimate goal was.

"Looks like it's time for a proper chat with the creator."

Thinking that, Xu Yuan turned to the Pillager King.

"I'll leave the rest to you. I'm heading back to the rainforest."