Chapter 39: The GM was flooded with reports again, and the account search left them bewildered.

News of the Abyss Dungeon being collapsed by Lin Ye exploded across the entire server for an entire night. But what really gave the officials a headache wasn't the destroyed dungeon, but the subsequent wave of reports.

The morning after the Abyss Dungeon was cleared, GM Xiao Zhou had just sat down at his workstation when he discovered his backend had been flooded with report messages.

[Report System Prompt: You have 235,678 unprocessed report messages.]

230,000.

Xiao Zhou rubbed his eyes, thinking he had misread it. He counted again—it was indeed 235,678. And it was still growing at a rate of over a hundred per second.

"Xiao Zhou, the boss wants to see you." A colleague patted his shoulder, his tone filled with sympathy.

Xiao Zhou's legs went weak, and he dragged his heavy feet toward the Technical Director's office. Pushing the door open, the Technical Director was sitting behind his desk, his face ashen. The screen in front of him displayed the real-time data of the report backend—the number of reports was still jumping crazily, having already broken through 300,000.

"300,000 reports." The Technical Director gritted his teeth and said, "Do you know what this means? It means one-tenth of the players on the entire server are reporting the same person."

Xiao Zhou swallowed: "Boss, I..."

"What about you?" The Technical Director slammed the table, "The Abyss Dungeon was destroyed, there are 300,000 reports, the entire server's public opinion is blowing up, and the higher-ups have already called me three times to scold me. Explain to me, what is going on with this 'Ye'?"

Xiao Zhou opened his mouth, unable to say a single word. What could he say? That 'Ye's' Talent couldn't even be checked by a GM? He had said this eight hundred times already, but no one believed him.

"I'll give you one day." The Technical Director said coldly, "Within one day, check the account data of this 'Ye' for me. If you can't find out, then get lost."

Xiao Zhou walked out of the office, his legs still weak. He had already been demoted twice; if he lost his job again, he wouldn't be able to pay his mortgage. He gritted his teeth, returned to his workstation, opened Lin Ye's account data, and began to verify it.

The result was the same as before—insufficient permissions, unable to view.

[System Prompt: You are attempting to access player [Ye]'s Talent data. The data permission level is SSS, your permission level is C, access denied. To access, please apply to the server administrator.]

Xiao Zhou tried the combat logs again—

[System Prompt: You are attempting to access player [Ye]'s combat logs. This log has been encrypted, the encryption level is SSS, your permission level is C, access denied.]

Xiao Zhou tried the character attributes again—

[System Prompt: You are attempting to access player [Ye]'s character attributes. These attributes have been encrypted, the encryption level is SSS, your permission level is C, access denied.]

Xiao Zhou collapsed into his chair, his eyes unfocused. He couldn't check anything. Permissions weren't high enough, the encryption level was too high, he couldn't even see the most basic character attributes.

"Brother Zhou, what's wrong?" The colleague next to him leaned over.

Xiao Zhou gave a bitter smile: "I can't check any of that 'Ye's' account data. Permissions aren't high enough."

The colleague leaned over to take a look and gasped: "SSS-level encryption? This is higher than our GM permissions?"

"Yes. So the boss told me to check, but I can't. The boss scolds me, but I have no choice."

The colleague patted his shoulder sympathetically: "Why don't you tell the boss the truth? If you can't check it, you can't check it. He can't force you, right?"

Xiao Zhou thought about it, and that was true. He stood up and walked back to the Technical Director's office.

"Boss, I can't check it." He said directly.

The Technical Director's face darkened: "What do you mean you can't check it?"

Xiao Zhou showed him the permission prompt on the screen. The Technical Director stared at the line "Your permission level is C, access denied" for a long time, his face growing darker and darker.

"SSS-level encryption?" He whispered, "There's something in this game with higher permission than a GM?"

Xiao Zhou nodded: "That 'Ye's' Talent has been like this since the first day of the server. We have never been able to check his Talent data."

The Technical Director was silent for a long time. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Old Zhang, can you check that 'Ye's' account data on your end?"

The other side of the phone was silent for a few seconds, then a hoarse voice came through: "Can't check it. His Talent is native code, bound to the game core. Forcing a check will trigger an automatic defense mechanism, and the entire server will crash."

The Technical Director's expression changed: "It's that serious?"

"More serious than you think." Old Zhang sighed, "I advise you to let it be. That 'Ye's' Talent is not something we can touch."

The call hung up. The Technical Director collapsed into his chair, his eyes unfocused.

Xiao Zhou asked cautiously: "Boss, then about the reports..."

"Forget it." The Technical Director waved his hand, "Can't handle it. Don't deal with it."

Xiao Zhou let out a long sigh and turned to leave. The Technical Director called him back: "Wait."

"Does the boss have any other instructions?"

"Go send a message to that 'Ye'. Just say... just say the officials hope he won't cause such a big stir in the future. We won't pursue the matter of the Abyss Dungeon."

Xiao Zhou was stunned for a moment: "Not pursuing it?"

"Pursue what? He cleared the dungeon, he destroyed the core, and the players on the entire server are praising him. If we pursue him, aren't we just asking for trouble?"

Xiao Zhou thought that made sense, nodded, and returned to his workstation to send a private message to Lin Ye—

[Private Message] GM001: Brother Ye, congratulations on clearing the Abyss Dungeon. The officials said we won't pursue this matter. But we hope you... pay a little attention to the impact in the future. After all, the dungeon was destroyed, and it's hard for us to explain."

Lin Ye replied in seconds—

[Private Message] Ye: Not pursuing it? What about the 300,000 reports?

Xiao Zhou smiled bitterly—

[Private Message] GM001: Regarding the reports, the officials have already decided not to process them. All your operations are in compliance with the game rules, and there are no violations.

[Private Message] Ye: What about the Black Market Guild's bounty? Buying my life for 10 million real currency, you guys don't care about that either?

Xiao Zhou was stunned. The Black Market Guild's bounty? He hurriedly checked the backend and sure enough, he saw a bounty record—an anonymous player offered 10 million real currency to kill Lin Ye, with the Black Market Guild as the guarantor.

[Private Message] GM001: This... the Black Market Guild's bounty is a player-to-player action, and the officials generally don't interfere. But if you are being maliciously hunted, you can contact us at any time, and we will provide protection.

Lin Ye laughed—

[Private Message] Ye: No need for protection. I'll just ask one thing—is the Black Market Guild's bounty legal?

Xiao Zhou hesitated—

[Private Message] GM001: Strictly speaking, it's illegal. The game rules prohibit malicious bounties and hiring people to kill. But the Black Market Guild is too powerful, and we have never been able to investigate them.

[Private Message] Ye: Can't investigate? Then I'll help you investigate.

Xiao Zhou was stunned—

[Private Message] GM001: Brother Ye, are you going to make a move against the Black Market Guild?

[Private Message] Ye: It's not making a move, it's reasoning with them. They put a bounty on me, I can't just pretend I didn't see it, right?

Xiao Zhou was silent. He knew what Lin Ye meant by "reasoning"—with Zhao Kai it was "reasoning," with the Heavenly Temple it was "reasoning," and with the Abyss Dungeon it was "reasoning." Every time he finished "reasoning," the other party would either go bankrupt or quit the game, and even the dungeon collapsed.

[Private Message] GM001: Brother Ye, take it easy. The Black Market Guild is not Zhao Kai, nor the Heavenly Temple. Their power is spread across the entire server, and even the officials can't do anything about them.

[Private Message] Ye: Don't worry, I have a sense of proportion.

Xiao Zhou looked at this message, feeling completely uneasy. Lin Ye's "sense of proportion" was completely different from what a normal person meant by "sense of proportion."

At this moment, Lin Ye was sitting on the third floor of the Commoner Supermarket, looking at GM001's private message, the corners of his mouth curling into a wicked smile.

"Black Market Guild?" He whispered, "Bountying me for 10 million? Then don't blame me for being impolite."

Su Qinghan walked over and handed him a report: "The Black Market Guild's information has been found. They are not a normal player organization, but a cross-server gray industrial chain. Hiring killers, reselling accounts, power leveling with cheats, monopolizing resources—they do everything. Their headquarters is in the Black Market District on the east side of the main city; that is their territory, and even NPCs don't dare to manage them."

Fatty Wang leaned over: "Brother, are you really going to move against the Black Market Guild? They seem very powerful."

Lin Ye laughed: "Powerful? Zhao Kai also thought he was powerful, the Heavenly Temple also thought they were powerful, and the Abyss Dungeon also thought it was powerful. What was the result?"

Fatty Wang thought that made sense and chuckled.

Qin Wentian stood to the side, hesitated for a moment, and said: "The Black Market Guild is different from Zhao Kai and the Heavenly Temple. They have plenty of money, plenty of people, and plenty of means. And they have people inside the official staff, so reporting them is useless."

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow: "People inside the official staff?"

"Yes. It is said that the boss behind the Black Market Guild is an executive of the game company. That's why the officials have never been able to investigate them."

Lin Ye laughed: "Interesting. An executive? That's even easier to handle."

"What do you plan to do?"

Lin Ye took the [Eye of the Undead] out of his backpack and weighed it in his hand: "First, I'll probe their bottom line. Fatty, come with me to the Black Market District tonight."

Fatty Wang's legs went weak: "Brother, can I not go? I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what? I'm here." Lin Ye patted his shoulder, "Besides, your European Emperor constitution might come in handy."

Fatty Wang agreed with a bitter face.

That night, Lin Ye took Fatty Wang and quietly sneaked to the Black Market District on the east side of the main city. This place was completely different from other parts of the main city—the streets were narrow and dim, and on both sides were all kinds of shady shops, selling cheats, selling accounts, selling intelligence, hiring killers—everything was available. The players coming and going on the street were all wearing black robes, unable to see their faces or their IDs.

Fatty Wang shrank behind Lin Ye, his voice trembling: "Brother, this place is so scary..."

Lin Ye laughed: "Afraid of what? It's not a dragon's den or a tiger's lair."

He walked to a shop with an "Intelligence House" sign and pushed the door open. Inside the shop sat an NPC wearing a mask, with a row of crystal balls in front of him.

"Guest, what information do you want to buy?" The NPC's voice was hoarse and low.

Lin Ye sat down: "I want to know who put a bounty on me."

The NPC was silent for a few seconds, then said: "10 million gold coins."

Fatty Wang gasped: "10 million? Why don't you just rob someone?"

The NPC ignored him and stared at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye laughed and took an Abyss Crystal out of his backpack, placing it on the table: "Is this enough?"

The NPC picked up the Abyss Crystal and took a look, his eyes lighting up: "SSS-level Abyss Crystal? Enough. The person who put a bounty on you has the ID 'Black Hand'. He is the second-in-command of the Black Market Guild. He was entrusted by someone else to issue this bounty. The identity of the client cannot be found."

"Black Hand?" Lin Ye remembered the name, "Where is he?"

"In the deepest part of the Black Market District, the headquarters of the Black Market Guild. But outsiders cannot enter that place. There are four level 60 NPC guards at the entrance, and a layer of magic barrier."

Lin Ye stood up and brushed the dust off his body: "Thanks. The information is very useful."

He took Fatty Wang out of the Intelligence House and walked toward the depths of the Black Market District. When he reached the end, a black fortress appeared in front of him. Four tall NPC guards stood at the entrance, black energy emitting from their bodies, their eyes cold.

[Black Market Guild Headquarters · Forbidden Area]

Level Requirement: 60

Admission Condition: Black Market Guild Member

Current Status: Entry Forbidden

Fatty Wang's legs went weak: "Brother, we can't get in..."

Lin Ye laughed, raised his hand, and applied 1000 layers of debuff to each of the four guards.

[System Prompt: Target [Black Market Guard] has been applied with Decay Debuff, current layers: 1000. All attributes reduced by 100%, has entered a paralyzed state.]

The health bars of the four guards instantly cleared to zero, and they collapsed on the spot.

[System Prompt: Target [Black Market Guard] has died. You have killed a member of the Black Market Guild, your relationship with the Black Market Guild has become: Hostile.]

Fatty Wang looked silly: "Brother, you killed an NPC?!"

Lin Ye shrugged: "They were blocking the way."

He pushed open the fortress gates and walked in. Fatty Wang hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and followed.

Inside the fortress was a huge hall, and in the center of the hall sat dozens of players in black robes. On the high platform at the very top sat a player with the ID "Black Hand", level 35, wearing epic equipment, his eyes cold.

"Ye?" Black Hand saw Lin Ye, his expression changing, "How did you get in?"

Lin Ye laughed: "Walked in. Your guards were too weak, they died in one hit."

Black Hand's face was ashen: "You're courting death!"

He waved his hand, and the dozens of black-robed players in the hall stood up simultaneously, drew their weapons, and surrounded Lin Ye tightly.

"One hundred people, is that enough?" Black Hand sneered.

Lin Ye looked around, the corners of his mouth curling into a wicked smile: "One hundred people? Zhao Kai tried it, the Heavenly Temple tried it, and the Abyss Dungeon tried it. What was the result?"

Black Hand's expression changed: "You—"

Lin Ye didn't give him a chance to speak, raised his hand, and activated [Mass Decay Domain]—

Within a 50-yard radius, all hostile targets were automatically applied with the debuff. One thousand layers, they died on the spot.

"Ding! Player [Black Hand] has died, level dropped: 35 → 30."

"Ding! Player [Black Market Thug 1] has died, level dropped: 32 → 27."

Over a hundred people, wiped out in ten seconds. Corpses lay all over the floor, and equipment exploded all over the street.

Lin Ye walked to Black Hand's corpse, squatted down, and stripped all his epic equipment. Then he took a piece of paper and a pen out of his backpack and wrote a line—

"Bountying me? This is the outcome. — — Ye"

He stuck the note on Black Hand's face and turned to leave.

When walking out of the Black Market District, Fatty Wang was still in a stunned state: "Brother, you took down the Black Market Guild's headquarters?"

Lin Ye laughed: "Not took it down, just taught them a lesson."

"What about the bounty?"

Lin Ye opened the world channel and sent a message—

[world channel] [Ye]: Friends of the Black Market Guild, I have received your bounty. 10 million is too little, add more next time. Otherwise, it's not enough to fill the gaps in my teeth.

The players on the entire server saw this message and went crazy—

"Holy crap! Brother Ye took down the Black Market Guild?!"

"Black Hand was killed too? That's a big shot in the top twenty of the entire server!"

"Brother Ye is awesome! Even daring to move against the Black Market Guild!"

"10 million bounty? You're killing me with laughter. Brother Ye even cleared the Abyss Dungeon, still afraid of you?"

At this moment, in a corner of the main city, Black Hand stood up at the resurrection point, looking at his level which had dropped by 5 and his empty backpack, his face pale.

His epic equipment had all been stripped, the materials in his warehouse had all been emptied, and even the NPC guards at the guild headquarters had been killed.

"This Ye..." He gritted his teeth and said, "Is courting death."

He opened his private messages and sent a message to someone—

[Private Message] Black Hand: Boss, something happened. That Ye took down our headquarters. The brothers are all dead, and the equipment was all stripped.

The other side was silent for a long time, then replied—

[Private Message] ???: I know. I will handle this matter.

Black Hand looked at this message, his heart sinking. He knew that the boss was going to take action personally.