324: Chapter 324 I want to die a glorious death!

Inside the White Jade Capital Forging Workshop, the high temperature had not yet completely dissipated.

Director Li Guoan led Zhang Yunhai, Sun Feng, and a few others as they quickly walked into the hall.

They had been drawn here by the phenomenon of Mythic equipment manifesting just moments ago.

Everyone's gaze naturally came to rest on Chen You.

On the surface of that moon-white Flowing Cloud Daoist Robe, a seven-colored radiance flickered faintly.

With every flow of the hidden patterns, the surrounding space underwent subtle distortions.

“Little Chen, what happened?” Director Li Guoan asked.

The real-world monitoring had just issued a maximum-level energy alert, and the source was precisely this forging workshop.

“It's nothing major,” Chen You said in a flat tone. “I just put together a set of Mythic equipment, that's all.”

He then proceeded to synchronize his recent gaming experiences with them.

By now, the psychological resilience of Director Li Guoan and the others had reached an incredible level; they listened quietly without showing any obvious emotional reaction.

Director Li Guoan's gaze locked onto the space above Chen You's head—as if he could see that bottomed-out health bar.

“Your health,” Director Li Guoan frowned, “you only have one point left?”

Chen You nodded.

“Are you using your true body right now, or a Shadow Clone?” Zhang Yunhai suddenly interjected.

“A clone,” Chen You answered. “The true body is still AFK in the Supreme Training Room.”

Director Li Guoan and Zhang Yunhai exchanged a look.

A sharp glint flashed in both of their eyes simultaneously.

“Little Chen, we need to talk about the upcoming strategy.” Director Li Guoan pulled over a chair and sat down.

Zhang Yunhai brought up a top-secret report and pushed it in front of Chen You.

“According to Pan Yu's analysis of social relations, although the Guild Leaders of the Three Great Divine Races appear respectful to you on the surface—even acting like your lackeys in dungeons—this is only temporary.”

“Once interests are obstructed,” Director Li Guoan tapped his finger on the tabletop, “they will undoubtedly draw their blades against you without hesitation.”

“So?” Chen You asked.

“You need to die once.” Director Li Guoan looked into Chen You's eyes. “Since you happen to have only 1 HP left right now.”

If he were at full health, Chen You would indeed have to put some serious thought into how to die.

A dead silence fell over the forging workshop.

Chen You was stunned for two seconds before suddenly taking a step back and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Director, I've bled for the country and risked my life for the organization!” Chen You shook his head repeatedly. “Even if you want me to die, I have to die for a worthy cause!”

“Shut up,” Zhang Yunhai interrupted him irritably. “We're not asking your true body to die.”

Chen You blinked.

Oh, a clone. Then that's fine.

“You can choose to sacrifice the clone after the skill cooldown ends,” Director Li Guoan decided.

“Since you entered the Source Realm, you have never suffered a defeat, let alone died.”

“In the eyes of those foreign players, you have become an invincible symbol.”

“This kind of symbol has strong deterrent power, but it also easily triggers collective fear and backlash.”

“You want me to break this myth?” Chen You rubbed his chin.

“Yes,” Zhang Yunhai took over. “You need to die. And you must die in front of a large audience, dying in a highly dramatic fashion.”

“Let everyone see that you are not invincible, that you can bleed, and that you can fall.”

“This can greatly reduce the wariness of various factions and increase your subsequent survival chances.”

Chen You understood.

To put it bluntly, it was showing weakness.

That way, even when the newbie protection period ended, if anyone wanted to deal with him, they might underestimate him because of it.

“However, this isn't mandatory,” Director Li Guoan added.

“Use your own judgment. If a suitable opportunity arises, do it, but don't deliberately spend too much energy on it.”

Chen You nodded, indicating he understood.

“By the way, why haven't you topped up the money we sent last time?” Director Li Guoan was just about to leave when he turned back to ask.

Chen You: “...”

“I'll top up right away, right away...”

Watching Director Li Guoan and the others leave, Chen You couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

This KPI for spending money wasn't something an ordinary person could handle.

Afterward, Chen You forged a few more pieces of Mythic equipment, planning to bring them back to the real world for research later.

Leaving White Jade Capital, Chen You headed toward the Cangxing City Merchant Guild.

The cooldown for [Shadow Clone] wasn't ready yet, so he would continue doing quests first.

...

The Cangxing City Merchant Guild was located at the end of the main road.

Most of the building's exterior walls had peeled off, and two rusted iron gates were half-closed, letting out a piercing grinding sound when the wind blew.

Chen You pushed the door open and entered.

The light in the hall was dim, and he could vaguely see someone lying behind the counter.

This person had his feet crossed on the desk, tossing a copper coin with worn edges in his hand.

He had the same dark brown skin as City Lord James Sander and a head full of messy dreadlocks.

Chen You's gaze swept over the nameplate above his head.

【Cangxing City Merchant Guild Manager · Three Waters】

Chen You walked up to the counter and rapped his knuckles on the surface.

Three Waters didn't even lift his eyelids; the copper coin flipped in mid-air and fell back into his palm.

“We're closed. No goods, no money.”

“The City Lord sent me to handle the restoration of trade.”

Three Waters' movements paused.

He sat up straight and sized Chen You up from head to toe.

His gaze finally landed on that sliver of a health bar above Chen You's head that could hit zero at any moment.

“Outlander, in your state, it looks like you couldn't even withstand a gust of wind,” Three Waters said lazily, playing with the copper coin.

“Trade? It's crawling with mutated monsters out there; three large merchant caravans went missing just a while ago.”

“Now, even the most greedy bandits don't dare take orders from Cangxing City.”

“With everyone in a panic, how are we supposed to trade?”

Chen You leaned his hands on the edge of the counter and looked Three Waters straight in the eye.

He had already resolved the mutated monster crisis; this NPC should have known that by now.

Looking at the other's mercenary face, he sneered inwardly.

He was all too familiar with this routine.

To put it simply, he wanted a kickback.

“Name it. What are the conditions?”

Three Waters grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

“It'll cost extra.”

He pulled open a drawer, rummaged for a moment, and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment, pushing it in front of Chen You.

“Under a heavy reward, there will surely be brave souls.”

“As long as the money is right, those guards would even dare to pull the teeth of an Abyss Lord.”

“Our guild is offering four tiers of Trade Sponsorship plans. Take a look.”

Chen You looked down and scanned the parchment.

【Beggar Tier Sponsorship (1,000 Gold)】: The guild offers a heavy bounty for desperadoes. The caravan enters the city under the cover of night, sneaking in quietly without making a sound.

【Commoner Tier Sponsorship (2,000 Gold)】: Hire a third-rate mercenary group to lead the way. The caravan size is fifty people, flying the sponsor's banner.

【Noble Tier Sponsorship (5,000 Gold)】: Full escort by a Heavy Armored Knight Order. The caravan size is one hundred people; ceremonial cannons will be fired upon entry, and a banner printed with the sponsor's name will be raised.

【King Tier Sponsorship (10,000 Gold)】: Legendary giant beasts pull the carriages, with a thousand-man luxury honor guard leading the way. The caravan holds high a massive gilded portrait of the sponsor; flower petals are scattered throughout the city upon entry, and the sponsor's prestige is announced server-wide.

After Chen You finished reading, the corners of his eyes twitched slightly.

The designers of this Yuanjie System must have definitely interned at Penguin or Pig Factory.

They had the psychology of spending money to show off down to a science.

“Little brother, I suggest you choose the Commoner tier,” Three Waters rubbed his hands, smiling like an old chrysanthemum.

“It doesn't cost much and guarantees the mission's success. Plus, you get to fly a banner—so much prestige!”

Chen You didn't speak, wondering if this system had been monitoring him all along.

Director Li Guoan had just told him to find an opportunity for a public fake death.

This “Trade Sponsorship” mechanism before him was practically a tailor-made stage!

Chen You looked up at Three Waters.

“I'm not interested in any of these tiers.”