Wan Shitong Was Going to Have Her Fill of Lessons

"…And that's the long and short of it."

"As for the things I've mentioned, please discern the truth for yourselves. After all, the level of the Venerables is still far too distant for us players."

"Some of the content is speculation based on what I've seen and heard, so I can't guarantee its complete accuracy."

"But at the very least, I am sincere in wanting to be friends with all of you."

With a casual wave of his hand, Wu Wang smiled. An exquisite glass of red wine materialized in front of each person.

He raised his glass and offered a toast to the crowd.

"May you all ascend to the pinnacle of the Spirit Calamity and show the gods the glory and courage of humanity."

With that, he tilted his head back and downed the expensive wine. It cost 200 Calamity Coins a glass, and ordering thirty-seven of them made his heart bleed.

Tears welled in his eyes. His love for these Calamity Coins ran deep.

The other players were swept up in the atmosphere. One by one, they stood, raising their glasses. After exchanging glances, they clinked their glasses and drank together.

"Show the gods the glory and courage of humanity!"

"I hope we all fare well after the Open Beta!"

After drinking the wine, the players urgently needed to process the information they had just received. They exchanged a few pleasantries with Wu Wang before choosing to depart.

As they left, they were still buzzing with discussion.

"【Suffering】and【The Twisted】are entangled? Do Venerables even have genders?"

"The fusion of faiths is within their range of tolerance? Doesn't that mean the relationships between the Venerables are actually quite ambiguous?"

"In that case, wasn't Aiguyi Town just a lovers' quarrel that the players disturbed? No wonder the final stage was so difficult."

"I think the real problem is with【Hope】and【Desire】. Especially how【Hope】secretly gave birth to【Suffering】's child."

"So【Desire】came to the real world to escape a love affair? No wonder Yan Shuangying didn't dare to speak with us in detail inside an Instance."

"The fact that he dared to tell us these things behind his Benefactor Lord's back is already the height of benevolence."

Listening to their discussion, Wan Shitong couldn't help but feel her lips twitch. As Gentleman Penguin's apprentice, she naturally knew more than the other players.

Some of what he'd said was true, but other parts were things she either couldn't confirm or knew nothing about.

But even the true parts sounded so different coming from Wu Wang's mouth.

Especially the part about【Hope】giving birth to【Suffering】's child.

She had discussed the final seed from【Aiguyi Town】with her master over the past three days. Gentleman Penguin had mentioned in passing that the seed was most likely a product infused with the power of【Hope】and another Venerable.

He couldn't be sure which Venerable it was, since he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

It was merely an infusion of power, yet Wu Wang had twisted it into【Hope】bearing【Suffering】's child. Something felt very off.

"Stop thinking about it. It's our turn now."

Wu Wang's words pulled her thoughts back to the present.

But first, she couldn't help but ask.

"Do you plan on never entering an Instance again?"

"Hmm? What makes you say that?" Wu Wang asked, surprised.

Wan Shitong rolled her eyes.

"Then how can you openly gossip about four Venerables like that? Aren't you afraid They'll find out? Aren't you afraid of running into Them in an Instance?"

Wu Wang shrugged nonchalantly. He smiled.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I believe They are magnanimous."

"Besides, if they got angry over a few rumors, wouldn't that just prove the Venerables have emotions and humanity? It would validate my claims."

When it came to sophistry, he was a master.

The important thing now was the transaction. He had to get information about Zhuge Yue here.

With that, Wu Wang took out a bowl of【Void Yellow Sand】from his inventory. The amount was roughly two-thirds of the hourglass Wan Shitong had shown him before.

The seemingly ordinary sand made the Information Broker's eyes go wide. Her gaze was glued to it, unable to move. She was practically drooling.

No one knew how much she wanted the【Void Yellow Sand】.

Aside from being a way to obtain a Legendary-grade item, this sand could also shore up a weakness in one of her own powerful items.

If Wu Wang gave all of this to her, she would be just a little bit away from filling the hourglass! If she was lucky, she might gather the rest within a year.

"Under the witness of the【Transaction Contract】, I will give you this【Void Yellow Sand】, and the method to obtain the【Legendary】item…"

Before Wu Wang could finish, Wan Shitong hurriedly cut in.

"When I fill the hourglass, I'll obtain the information. I'll relay the message to you at the first opportunity, probably within a year."

"Rest assured, under the restrictions of the【Transaction Contract】, even if I don't tell you voluntarily, the information will appear directly on the contract for you to see."

"Please trust in the effectiveness of my master's contract."

Wu Wang had no objections to this. He was naturally confident in the【Transaction Contract】. Otherwise, what was about to happen wouldn't be happening.

Wu Wang smiled and traded the【Void Yellow Sand】to Wan Shitong across the conference table.

As she watched with an ecstatic expression, he took out another small cup from his inventory.

This was completely unexpected.

If this small cup was added to the mix, it would be just enough to fill the hourglass!

"You…"

She had assumed that, given Wu Wang's temperament, this was probably a bargaining chip to raise the price.

Before she could finish, Wu Wang interrupted her.

"You do, after all, know some things other players don't."

"How about this? I can give you this cup of【Void Yellow Sand】, but you have to promise me one thing."

"Don't reveal anything related to me to anyone. Not even to those Rogue Players from a moment ago."

As soon as he said this, a flash of vigilance appeared in Wan Shitong's eyes.

She squinted at Wu Wang.

"You want to sign another contract with me? You contract-swindler!"

To her surprise, he shook his head. He spoke with a sincere tone.

"No, no contract this time. Just give me your verbal promise. I trust the disciple of Black-hearted Penguin. After all, business relies on integrity, right?"

"Just think of it as a gift from a friend."

No contract? Wan Shitong froze for a moment. The vigilance in her eyes vanished.

The Spirit Calamity Game placed great importance on fairness. It was impossible for a contract to be formed based on words alone, without a party's awareness. Not even Black-hearted Penguin could do that.

In other words, this was truly just a verbal promise.

Oh, I get it.

He's worried that I'll realize some of his stories about the【Venerables】were fabricated and sell that information to the Rogue Players who just left. If that happened, his image in their eyes would be shattered.

Having figured this out, Wan Shitong nodded solemnly.

"No problem. I promise."

After all, selling that information wouldn't earn her much, and it would only serve to mess with Yan Shuangying. She might as well trade it for the【Void Yellow Sand】.

Seeing her agree, Wu Wang handed over the remaining cup.

The instant she took it, Wu Wang smiled.

From his inventory, he took out the hidden, lower half of the “Double Contract,” the one she had unknowingly signed back at the【Spirit Calamity Plaza】.

He spoke with an apologetic tone.

"Sis, you need to learn from your mistakes, but you shouldn't take on too much at once. It's easy to overeat."

"Now, would you mind answering a question for me?"

"Regarding what you know, what are Zhuge Yue's skills, items, and equipment?"

At his words, Wan Shitong was dumbfounded. The hand that had just accepted the【Void Yellow Sand】froze in place.

On a contract she had no memory of signing, a line of glaring text appeared.

【When Party B (Wan Shitong) accepts a gift from Party A (Yan Shuangying), she must answer one of Party A's questions that is within her ability, on the premise that it does not involve Party B's personal safety.】

【Note: A ‘gift' refers to the bestowing of items or equipment outside of a contractual transaction. As long as Party B has not paid any material of equivalent value, it shall be regarded as a gift.】

Clearly, the cup of【Void Yellow Sand】was Wu Wang's gift, and she had accepted it. The question was about Zhuge Yue, not her personal safety.

Therefore, at that very moment, the contract clause activated.

She had to answer Wu Wang's question.

It was just as Wan Shitong had reassured him earlier. Please trust in the effectiveness of Gentleman Penguin's contract. Even if she kept her mouth shut, the information he wanted would appear on the contract anyway.

The move was both a secret plot and an open trap.

The secret plot was the hidden contract that Wan Shitong didn't know existed, which was why she dared to accept a “friend's” gift.

The open trap was the fact they both knew she would never refuse that final cup of【Void Yellow Sand】.

This was a lesson she was going to have to swallow, whether she liked it or not.