Max entered the Midnight Heist Lobby and immediately went into a secluded place, leaning his back against a gray background so no one knew where he was. He should've done this yesterday instead of running around evading the other streamers.
Looking at the time, he realized there were still a few minutes left until he needed to gather to hear the tournament's new rules. Opening the invitation in the stream would definitely be ill-advised, so he did it right now before starting.
Opening the game menu, Max found a red notification was nestling atop a mail icon. He opened it and saw many grayed-out emails from either his viewers, people he met in the Midnight Heist, or anyone else. He deactivated the notification for them, as they bothered him a lot.
Holding the urge to groan, he noticed one white mail. It was from the management, with the word 'Congratulations!' written before everything else.
Clicking it open, the invitation was pretty simple.
[Congratulations for advancing to Day 2 Qualifier, player Breeze.
We extend our sincerest apologies for all the trouble Day 1 Qualifier has caused you. Thus, we compensate you with 5,000 Dinar.
Day 2 Qualifier will be started at 10:10 AM as opposed to our announcement to avoid any late participants. Please enter the special Lobby through the code [9271xxxxxxx] to listen to the new rules and points acquisition.
Sincerely, Midnight Heist Team.]
Blinking his eyes, Max read the invitation again. Once he did so, he was sure that the letter said he was compensated 5,000 Dinar for the trouble they had caused.
"Bullshit! Make it $5,000 instead! I don't need in-game money, dammit!"
'I will complain to Mr. Taka!' He screamed in his mind but eventually calmed down after noticing how childish that was.
Taking a deep breath, Max calmly entered the secret code into the list of Lobby he could enter, which already had his personal Lobby, Flexy's, V-Shelter, Knighted Lobby, Mercenary Quest, and Midnight Heist.
After he entered the code, another Lobby appeared on the list. Its name was Midnight Tournament (Special), and it seemed like a private Lobby that would be gone after midnight today.
'The management team is obsessed with midnight.' Max commented silently, 'They posted their article and sent the invitation at midnight. Don't tell me they only wake up, eat, and shit at midnight too. That would be pretty funny.'
"Yes," Ranga nodded, "And I just realized, but you're the real Breeze, huh? Hahaha, I saw the video that went viral on Strike. That helped me to advance, so thank you." He said, laughing dryly.
"I am glad if that's the case," Max responded with a bitter smile.
The video he made with a resentful feeling actually helped his former teammate, which made him realize the secret. That was worth it, maybe.
"May I sit here?" Ranga asked with uncertainty, "I can find another seat if you want to be alone."
"What makes you say that?" Max asked curiously.
"Well, you look like you want to be alone." The blue-haired man answered, "Am I wrong?"
Did he exude an aura that said he wanted to be alone? Was he really that... miserable? No, that shouldn't be the case.
'It must be because I am still dissatisfied with the Midnight Heist's compensation reward.' He told himself.
"It must be your imagination." He said to Ranga with a laugh, "Feel free to sit on the empty seat. I don't mind a company. Though I am streaming right now, so if you're uncomfortable with your voice getting caught..."
"I don't mind appearing in the stream," Ranga responded and sat on the empty sofa beside Max.
They talked about yesterday's game for a while. What Max was interested in was about Ranga's first game. The blue-haired man ranted about it for a few minutes, saying it was the worst game he had experienced in Midnight Heist.
After laughing at his acquaintance's miserable story, Max was about to share his too. However, the light suddenly went out at that time, and a spotlight was focused on the elevated platform in the middle of the party floor.
Their attention shifted to the spotlight. A man in an exaggerated mask with many feathers appeared with a poof of purple smoke.
As he spread his arms, fireworks burst behind him, and his cheery voice rang.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome, and congratulations on advancing to the Day 2 Qualifier. Allow me, Moon Feather, to read the new rules for today's tournament."
The man who called himself Moon Feather bowed gracefully. Following that, applause rang loudly.