201: Chapter 197 The Pheasant Organization

"Director Sun Zheng (Yanhuang Civilization): Fellow Yanhuang Survivors, I am Director Sun Zheng. The Revival Magic Sea Commercial Bank is not a scam."

The Symphony Realm went silent for half a second. Then, the comment section exploded.

"Storm Eye (Yanhuang Civilization): ??? He didn't run away???"

Director Sun Zheng's statement continued:

"Director Sun Zheng (Yanhuang Civilization): The truth of the matter is this—The Magic Sea Commercial Bank was indeed a project I was preparing, but last night's announcement was not released by me personally. A guard by my side unauthorizedly released the unformed bank plan and a temporary test account. This was an oversight in my management, and I take full responsibility."

"Director Sun Zheng (Yanhuang Civilization): However, the bank itself is real. My organization and I will guarantee all promises made in last night's announcement. Everyone's karma points are perfectly safe. Please do not panic."

As soon as he finished speaking—

A never-before-seen account popped up.

"Zhou Hai (Yanhuang Civilization · Former Guard of the Revival Society Defense Department): It was my fault. I released the bank announcement without the consent of Director Sun Zheng and the Revival Society. I will bear all consequences alone. I apologize to all Survivors."

Immediately after—a third statement.

Released by: Council of Thirteen (Official Account).

"Council of Thirteen (Yanhuang Civilization): Fellow Yanhuang Survivors, we are the Council of Thirteen. Effective immediately, the Magic Sea Commercial Bank will be operated by us in full. All deposits are guaranteed to be safe, but since the bank System is not yet fully established, withdrawals will be available in at least three days. However, the rebate promise for three days later remains unchanged. Please rest assured."

Three statements, three accounts, posted within fifteen seconds.

The Symphony Realm was in total chaos.

"Little Taro (Yanhuang Civilization): Wait, wait, wait. I'm completely lost now. Didn't Director Sun Zheng defect? Why did he pop up again? And who is the Council of Thirteen???"

"Iron Straight Man (Yanhuang Civilization): Is this Magic Sea Commercial Bank the Revival Society's, Director Sun Zheng's, or the Council of Thirteen's? Whose hands is my money in???"

"Wind-Chasing Youth (Yanhuang Civilization): Demand deposits, and can only be withdrawn in three days? How is this getting closer and closer to a scammer's routine???"

The chaos lasted less than three minutes.

The Revival Society's counterattack arrived.

Not one announcement. Eight.

Zheng Yuanshan, Director Lin Su, Director Zhou Ming, Chief Prosecutor Chen Tianjiao, Acting Director Liu Zhenghua—five council member accounts spoke simultaneously, plus three official department accounts from the Revival Society, all marked in red, bolded, and pinned to the top.

"Zheng Yuanshan · President (Yanhuang Civilization): Attention all Yanhuang Survivors. The following are the facts—First, Director Sun Zheng has already defected. Second, the so-called "Council of Thirteen" is an unknown organization that has never announced its formation on the Fate Platform and has never disclosed any information. Third, bank account YG053225 has been verified as Director Sun Zheng's private karma points account; there is no public fund pool."

"Director Lin Su · Deputy Director (Yanhuang Civilization): Everyone. I'll speak bluntly—Before the Transmigration, there was a company called "E*eZ*o", raise your hand if you know it. It told investors an annualized return of 9% to 14%, using the principal of later investors to pay interest to earlier ones. Over 900,000 people were scammed, involving over 50 billion. Guess what its promotional slogan was? — "Scene, Management, Interest." Doesn't it sound like the "Joint Guarantee by the Council" in last night's announcement? It's exactly the same. The people in front got money, thought it was real, and pulled more people in. The people who came later never get anything. This is a Ponzi Scheme."

"Chief Prosecutor Chen Tianjiao · Revival Society (Yanhuang Civilization): Attention all Yanhuang Survivors. At the current stage, there are no conditions for the actual establishment of the Magic Sea Bank System. This is also the reason why our Revival Society has been slow to implement this financial measure. Depositing millions of accounts is easy, but precise, split-second withdrawals are impossible to achieve. Before the Transmigration, it relied on bank computer Systems; such a System cannot be built on the Magic Sea at all. The claim in last night's fake announcement about reaching a cooperation with the Fate Platform's official AI Customer Service is even more ridiculous. Our Revival Society has just verified with our own AI Customer Service several times that it does not currently have the authorization for such functionality."

This post received tens of thousands of likes instantly.

Immediately after—

"God-Seeing Society · Official (Yanhuang Civilization): The God-Seeing Society issues a stern warning: The Council of Thirteen is a shady organization of unknown origin. The Magic Sea Commercial Bank is highly likely a Ponzi Scheme. All Survivors are requested to stop depositing immediately and attempt to withdraw your karma points as soon as possible."

"Little Life Society · Official (Yanhuang Civilization): The Little Life Society's stance is the same. There is no guarantee for the promises made by Director Sun Zheng and the Council of Thirteen. Please be cautious."

"Blue Sea Chamber of Commerce · Official (Yanhuang Civilization): Chamber of Commerce Warning — This bank does not have any auditable fund flow records. We do not recommend any form of investment."

"Iron Anchor Workshop · Official (Yanhuang Civilization): Workshop Reminder: karma points are hard-earned. Do not easily trust high-interest traps."

"Deep Sea Hunter Alliance · Official (Yanhuang Civilization): The Alliance has blacklisted the Council of Thirteen. All Alliance members are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them."

The six major organizations—covering almost every notable power in the Yanhuang Civilization—simultaneously, with a unified stance, collectively sided with the Revival Society.

The visual impact of this scene was devastating.

The wind in the Symphony Realm reversed completely within thirty seconds.

"Iron-Faced Ruthless (Yanhuang Civilization): It's over. All the big organizations say it's a scam. I believe the Revival Society. How do I withdraw the money? Who can teach me how to withdraw???"

"Fishing Light Song (Yanhuang Civilization): @Council of Thirteen, give us our money back. Now. Immediately."

The Council of Thirteen panicked.

Their official account issued seven soothing announcements in the next ten minutes, each tone more urgent than the last.

"Council of Thirteen (Yanhuang Civilization): Everyone, do not be misled by the Revival Society's one-sided story! Our bank is genuinely operating! The rebate will definitely be paid in three days! The Revival Society is suppressing us because we touched their monopoly of interests!"

"Council of Thirteen · Cheng Rui (Yanhuang Civilization): You organizations are banding together to bully the small! Why is it that only you can do finance? Is it a scam because we started a bank? Why?!"

Then—President Lu Xingye popped out.

"God-Seeing Society · President Lu Xingye (Yanhuang Civilization): Because you are a shady organization."

Four words, clean and crisp.

"Council of Thirteen · Cheng Rui (Yanhuang Civilization): Who the hell do you think you are? A yellow-haired girl who got lucky and caught the eye of the Fate Master, and you dare to point fingers here?!"

"God-Seeing Society · President Lu Xingye (Yanhuang Civilization): You say the Fate Master's favor toward me is just luck?"

"God-Seeing Society · President Lu Xingye (Yanhuang Civilization): I want to see who gave you the guts."

The members of the Council of Thirteen were anxious. They chose their last card.

"Council of Thirteen · Elder Lin (Yanhuang Civilization): Everyone, I am the General Manager of the Council of Thirteen. My identity before the Transmigration — formerly Lin Huaiyuan. The following is my proof of identity."

Photos. Resume. Family background.

Immediately after, the other members of the Council of Thirteen followed suit one after another.

"Council of Thirteen · Li Yanbo (Yanhuang Civilization): [Identity info]."

"Council of Thirteen · Cheng Rui (Yanhuang Civilization): I am [Identity info]."

One after another. All were [Elites].

They thought showing their status would stabilize the situation.

The result—

"Storm Eye (Yanhuang Civilization): Oh. So it was a bunch of [Elites] cashing out. I get it now."

"Iron Straight Man (Yanhuang Civilization): Hilarious, so this is the group that maliciously smeared the Revival Society before the Yanhuang Top 1000 Tournament? And now they're jumping out again?"

"Little Taro (Yanhuang Civilization): Before, you were [Elites], but now you are nothing. Everyone is equal on the Magic Sea, who cares who you are. Give the money back."

"Salted Fish Turnaround (Yanhuang Civilization): Refund! Refund! Refund!"

The entire Symphony Realm, the screen was filled with three words—

Refund.

The Council of Thirteen's replies became fewer and fewer. The intervals became longer and longer.

The last statement stopped at 7:43.

"Council of Thirteen (Yanhuang Civilization): According to the deposit agreement, it cannot be withdrawn early within the three-day fixed period. Demand deposits can be freely withdrawn once the System is perfected after three days. Please wait patiently until maturity."

After that—no response at all.

Playing dead.

At least billions of karma points, the blood and sweat of tens of millions of people.

Were frozen.