Extortion and a Sucker

Ding! Ding! Ding!

With every tap of Gentleman Penguin's cane on a player's head, their expression grew dazed. They began to drool from the corners of their mouths, looking like complete simpletons.

"Speak. Who are you? Why do you have the aura of my tag on you?"

As always, Gentleman Penguin stood atop his Question Mark Box. His black and white feathers were sleek and glossy, his suit exquisite and impeccable.

He frowned, a puzzled expression on his face.

He was certain the tag carried the scent of the red tentacles, but their owner was nowhere to be seen. These three, however, carried that same aura. They must have a deep connection to the thief.

"Reporting, sir! We are B-rank members of the Calamity Cult! My Spirit Calamity Game ID is 【Lan】!"

"My name is 【Lie】!"

"My name is 【Qiong】!"

"We don't know what tag you're talking about, please clarify!"

The three of them instantly became like machines, ready to answer any question.

If Wu Wang had been here, he would have seen that the large bumps raised by the cane on the men's foreheads actually had an item effect.

【Parasitic Touch. Attach this item to a target's head to make them obey any command or answer any question. The effect lasts for thirty minutes.】

【A one-time use item. It ignores the resistance of any defensive items of the same level. The target must possess a physiological head structure.】

【Note. Let me see what you're thinking...】

Gentleman Penguin's abilities were just as unfathomable. Back when Wu Wang first met him, the penguin's power to change an item's grade with a tap of his cane had been a real eye-opener.

Mary slowly walked over.

"Honorable President of the Myriad Treasures Chamber of Commerce, the esteemed Mr. Teng Xun Adolf who traverses the Myriad Realms. Please allow me to extend my greetings."

She lightly lifted the hem of her skirt and performed a standard curtsy, the smile on her face perfectly natural.

Gentleman Penguin immediately shed the vicious expression he had worn while dealing with the three men. He turned and stepped down from the Question Mark Box.

Taking the top hat from his head, he placed it over his chest and bowed slightly.

"Oh~ beautiful lady, I am deeply honored. Are you the owner of this cruise ship?"

"Have you, by chance, seen someone who uses red tentacles? I have a personal grudge to settle with him."

In response, Mary pointed a finger at the ceiling.

Then, she pointed at the three dementia-faced morons before them.

She smiled.

"I have not heard of any red tentacles. However, the companions of these three losers are on the Top Floor of this cruise ship. Would you like me to take you to them?"

Gentleman Penguin smiled faintly.

"Then I shall trouble you."

He waved his cane through the air.

The large bumps on the foreheads of the Calamity Cult trio began to change color, shifting from red to purple, and finally to a shade as black as ink. With each color change, their bodies grew increasingly frail and emaciated.

By the time the bumps turned black, the other players saw that the three men had been reduced to skeletons.

The round bumps fell from their heads, radiating an aura of satisfaction.

These 【Parasitic Touch】 were sated. Their round, swollen appearance was due to all the blood they had sucked from the three men.

When faced with those connected to the red-tentacled thief, Gentleman Penguin showed no mercy.

But in the next second, the beautiful figure ahead suddenly stopped. She turned and stared intently at Gentleman Penguin.

Mary spoke abruptly.

"These three were not for sale. How do you plan to pay for them?"

Gentleman Penguin stared, confused.

Then, Mary pointed to the other dumbfounded players from the Loser's Bracket.

"They are all my property," she said. "Detained because they lost all their chips on my ship."

"You destroyed three of my things without my consent. This constitutes theft or robbery, not a fair trade."

"Therefore, you need to compensate me for my losses."

Gentleman Penguin could only stare.

Wait a minute! Lady! Something's not right!

Weren't you just being all friendly and polite a moment ago? Why the sudden turnaround to extort me?

Mary did not speak. She simply smiled at Gentleman Penguin.

She was firmly adhering to the instructions Wu Wang had given her. 【Within reasonable bounds, turn everything into a transaction, and extort him mercilessly, in a manner akin to financial fraud. Finally, bring him to the Top Floor.】

Huuu…

Gentleman Penguin took a deep breath.

Finally, he sighed.

"Yes, I destroyed your merchandise without permission. This was not a fair trade. Please allow me to compensate you with this."

As he spoke, the question mark box beside him popped open. A scroll jumped out from within.

【100% Caught Bare-handed (Epic)】

Even though Wu Wang had only met Gentleman Penguin once, his personality profile of him was remarkably accurate.

This fellow was an out-and-out merchant, true, but he was definitely not an unscrupulous one. In fact, Gentleman Penguin was incredibly firm in his adherence to his principles.

Back then, even though Wu Wang had seemed as weak as an ant in his eyes, he had still asked for Wu Wang's consent when he wanted the 【Memory-Washing Stone】 in his possession. The penguin had insisted on obtaining it through a trade.

This proved just how profound the meaning of the word 【Trade】 was in his heart.

That was why Wu Wang had instructed Mary to frame the extortion as a trade.

After all, the penguin had countless good things in his possession, and it wasn't every day you got to meet him. Of course, Wu Wang had to squeeze a few extra things out of him!

After accepting the scroll, Mary smiled, then turned to lead the way toward the Top Floor.

Gentleman Penguin toddled along behind her on his little feet.

His expression was one of slight resignation.

To think he had come for revenge only to take a loss on his first move!

Inside the Hongmen Club.

Jinxiu trembled as she felt him pat her shoulder. The pressure from the 【Miracle of Suffering】 vanished without a trace.

Yet she still dared not make a single move.

What Wu Wang had just said and done left them all confused. They had no idea what this powerful existence intended to do.

"You… what do you mean…"

The next second, a fierce and powerful Aura of Desire erupted from Wu Wang. He was like the very incarnation of Desire itself.

He stood perfectly still, yet the surrounding players felt something stir deep in their hearts. An impatience grew within them, a need to act on their deepest desires.

At this moment, no one doubted any longer whether the one within this vessel was the true 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】.

Wu Wang said with a half-smile.

"What do I mean? Didn't you say you had a deal with me? That means we're on the same side! So there shouldn't be a problem with me being considered half a Calamity Cult Member now, right?"

Although Jinxiu was bewildered, she knew she had to play along. Otherwise, her head might be rolling on the floor in the next second.

"Yes! You are on our side…"

Wu Wang pulled her to her feet and brushed the dust from her shoulders.

He smiled.

"Since we're all on the same side, everyone stand up. Kneeling is so unsightly!"

The Calamity Cult members dazedly got to their feet. They truly couldn't figure out this 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】.

As one of the Five Great Venerables, why were His actions so erratic? One moment He wanted to punish them, the next He was standing on their side.

It was said that the more powerful an existence, the stranger their quirks. Could it be that this Venerable was mentally unstable?

"Come, come, line up in front of me."

"And do a good job blocking the animal friend who's about to show up, okay~"

"My good brothers from the Calamity Cult."

The smile on Wu Wang's face was dazzling.

As he spoke, the Aura of Desire vanished, replaced by the faint glow of the golden cane tag on his wrist.

Standing behind the others, his face began to melt and twist. Bit by bit, it reformed into a generic face, the kind that would be lost in any crowd.

Unbeknownst to anyone, his player ID also quietly changed from 【Pending Death】 to 【Yan Shuangying】.

Creeeak…

The door to the floor was gently pushed open.

A certain black-and-white animal friend revealed its face, just in time to hear the words, "My good brothers from the Calamity Cult."

He began to grit his teeth…