Don't Worry, This Isn't the Only Loss You'll Be Taking

“You're the last one, Long Aotian. Buddy, a name like that is just asking for a beating. I suggest you buy a name change card and switch it.”

At Wu Wang's quip, a short, chubby guy in the corner stood up, scratching his head in embarrassment.

“Great Expert Yan, I want to change it too, but who knew the Spirit Calamity Game doesn't even have name change cards!”

He sighed.

“I wasn't paying attention when I created my account and just picked a random name.”

“Here, this is my payment for the debt.”

With that, he performed a quick action, and an item materialized in front of Wu Wang.

Long Aotian had actually prepared two items, just like the Poet of the Myriad Springs Division. But since someone had already tested the waters, he saw no need to offer an item that, while powerful, came with strict usage requirements.

Bringing it out now would seem like a provocation towards 【Yan Shuangying】. It was completely unnecessary.

【Xiniǎo Special Drink (Epic): After consumption, this drink doubles the user's mental power, increases nerve response speed by 90%, increases dynamic vision by 90%, and reduces pain perception by 50%. The effects last for 20 minutes.】

【Remark: Tired? Fatigued? Drink Xiniǎo Special Drink!】

It was a simple and potent buff-type consumable.

At first glance, its effects didn't increase stats on the character panel, like Strength or Agility. Doubling mental power alone was useless in a head-on fight.

In reality, the latter three effects provided a combat boost that simple stat increases could not match.

The most crucial part was that it had no side effects!

Generally, powerful buff consumables came with side effects, big or small. This thing had absolutely none.

Even among Epic-grade consumables, it could be considered top-tier.

Wu Wang accepted the item.

With that, all the 【Transaction Contracts】 on his desk were now complete. He had obtained thirty-six Epic-grade items and pieces of equipment from this scam.

They were mostly consumables. Only a few pieces of equipment were suitable for immediate use.

After all, this was all to deal with Zhuge Yue. She wouldn't give him the chance to keep swapping equipment in the middle of a fight. Consumables that could be used instantly were the best choice.

“Now that the debts are paid, Great Expert Yan, can you tell us about the 【Five Great Venerables】?”

Yun Ze was the first to speak, standing up with a grin.

Everyone's faces lit up with expectation. This was the main reason they had come.

They had paid their debts. A little chat wasn't too much to ask for, right?

Furthermore, they had all been warned by the hidden clauses in the 【Transaction Contract】. They understood that any information obtained here could not be leaked to the outside world.

In other words, this would become intelligence that only the thirty-six of them would possess in the entire Spirit Calamity Game.

When the Open Beta arrived, barring any surprises, the Instance worlds would undergo a major change. At that time, those who were prepared would be able to ride the winds and soar.

Getting stronger. This was the eternal theme that Spirit Calamity Players could never escape.

This was especially true now, with the Open Beta about to lift the level cap. The faster a person grew stronger, the more likely they were to survive the unknown dangers ahead.

Wu Wang smiled.

“A chat is no problem, but there are some things I only tell my friends.”

He looked around the room.

“Are you my friends?”

Everyone exchanged bewildered looks, trying to read the meaning in each other's eyes.

The next second, Wan Shitong sighed and spoke up.

“He's planning to ask for a Friendship Fee, right?”

A man who could deal with his own master. A guy who secretly tampered with a 【Transaction Contract】. She was sure of at least one thing. The person before them was very greedy.

As soon as she said this, the players shot Wu Wang somewhat unnatural looks.

Unexpectedly, he just beamed with gratification.

“Hey, yes, yes, yes! Wan Shitong is the one who knows me best. How can we be friends without a Friendship Fee?”

The other players were speechless.

Are we going to have to give more equipment and items? they thought. It's not that we can't... but something feels off.

Can the 【Saint Son of Desire】 even use all this stuff?

Before they could ask what he wanted for this "Friendship Fee," Wu Wang spoke first.

“As friends, you just need to promise to lend me your strength once.”

“When I or the Saint Son need help in an Instance and send a request, I hope you won't refuse and will lend a helping hand. How about it?”

Instantly, everyone relaxed.

Now this was more like it.

They weren't low-level players still struggling just to survive an Instance. As players who had begun to explore the true nature of the game world, they would have been suspicious if Yan Shuangying had just blindly demanded more items. It would have made them think he was planning to run off after this one big score.

This kind of request, one involving future contact and interaction, was the mark of a veteran player building a network.

At their level, unless a Legendary-grade object was on the line, connections were always more important than items.

It was clear that Yan Shuangying wanted to build a relationship with them, too.

“Of course, no problem. We just hope Great Expert Yan doesn't drag us into the Abyss to play one of those Instances you can't come back from, hahaha.”

The players joked as they all agreed.

Wu Wang pushed the stack of 【Transaction Contracts】 on the table back towards them.

He flashed his familiar, sunny smile.

“Then I'll have to trouble you all to sign a contract.”

In fact, this scene had long been part of his plan.

Of course, he could have used this opportunity to fleece them for more items, but it would have been meaningless. He couldn't possibly use an excessive amount of items and equipment when facing Zhuge Yue. This wasn't a war of attrition, but a blitzkrieg.

Therefore, Wu Wang chose to base the transaction on an item he had received as a settlement reward in the 【Masquerade Ball】.

【Sand-Blowing Yellow-Skinned Rat (Epic): Using this item, you can designate a player from your friends list and forcibly join their Instance as they enter, or have them join your Instance mid-way, bypassing the two-player limit. The latter requires the friend's consent. When a friend agrees to join mid-way, their personal time flow will be adjusted to the Instance.】

【Uses: 3】

【Remark: Ψ I'm here to help you!】

To have so many powerful “friends” on his friends list! Of course he had to make use of them.

However, the moment they saw the contracts, everyone was stunned.

Only then did they notice that the original contract paper, when flipped over, had text on the back.

And it was the content of the new agreement, the promise to lend a hand in an Instance.

But hadn't these contracts already been used in the 【Instance Scramble】? Logically, after they had signed them, the contents shouldn't have been modifiable.

So, that meant their agreement to help him this time... was something the 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】 had anticipated from the very beginning.

That's why the content was written down so early!

The 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】 was truly terrifying.

And 【Yan Shuangying】 was also unfathomably mysterious.

It seemed that 【Pending Death】, the person they had chosen, was also a player with immense potential.

Everyone secretly nodded in approval as they signed their names.

Wan Shitong, sitting next to Wu Wang, carefully checked the back for any more hidden clauses before adding her signature.

Unexpectedly, the moment he collected the contracts, she saw a strange smile flicker across his lips.

That feeling…

It was just like the expression she used to see on Gentleman Penguin after he finished a deal. The look he would get when he returned to a safe place to admire his spoils.

It was a fusion of victory and smugness.

Crap! There's still something wrong with the contract!

Her heart skipped a beat.

Wu Wang turned to look at her, his voice a low whisper.

“It's fine, don't be scared.”

He leaned in closer.

“This isn't the only loss you'll be taking.”

Wan Shitong was baffled.

What does that mean?

Before she could decipher his words, he stood up and addressed the other expectant players.

“Alright, I'll start by telling you all about the grudges and cooperative relationships between the Venerables.”

“First up is the tale of love and hate between 【Suffering】 and 【The Twisted】.”

“And later, there's the full story of the NTR between 【Hope】 and 【Desire】…”