Great Deeds and Mission Difficulty

"Adding money? No problem!"

Upon hearing Zhu Rong's words, the captain chuckled and spoke up.

"How about 100,000?"

"100,000 Asset Points?"

Bone Spur said in surprise.

This is a number that's enough for them to pull off this job and never have to do this job again!

With this money, and perhaps through a little maneuvering, one could probably buy Second Class Citizen or even a non-hereditary baronial Noble status, and buy a house in the Inner City!

The captain spoke with a smile.

"Yes, and... it's extra."

"If you complete this task, you will receive a total reward of 150,000 points."

As he spoke, the captain shook the Gold Point Vouchers in his hand, the paper making a pleasant rustling sound.

The Big Ball and the Bone Spur are clearly interested.

However, Zhu Rong did not agree.

"Not enough, just in terms of points... not enough."

As she spoke, the captain smiled and said, "Really? You want compensation beyond the points?"

"Yes, I need the materials: 'Hate Copper,' 'Jade Laurel,' and 'Heart Vein Stone.'"

"If I find these materials, I can give up an extra 100,000 points—which should be cheaper for you than 100,000 points."

Zhu Rong spoke calmly, but the captain was somewhat unsettled.

His lifeless, dead-fish eyes stared at Zhu Rong, then a smile reappeared on his face.

"Each of the Three Great Corporations needs a copy of their most valuable batch of materials. These rare and priceless items are worth more than 100,000 points to you, aren't they?"

"And ordering three at once, isn't that a bit...?"

Zhu Rong shook his head. "This is a solution that benefits both of us."

"I don't want you to know which of these three I need the most, and... your employer probably doesn't want me to know which one he can most easily get, right?"

Zhu Rong spoke, the captain smiled.

"That makes sense, I agree."

Lin Yu listened to their conversation and silently analyzed the situation.

The possibility that this Zhu Rong is Player has increased again...

This guy's characteristic of asking for materials without paying is very much like something Player would do.

And that captain was no ordinary man either—even though he was his employer's confidant, he didn't need to consult his employer about requests for such rare materials!

"This is really interesting, truly worthy of being my 'Tier Advancement' Instance!"

Lin Yu sighed.

The captain smiled and looked at Lin Yu and the other two, "Does anyone else want to change their payment?"

The Big Ball and the Bone Spur hesitated for a moment, but ultimately neither spoke.

On the one hand, 150,000 points in one go is enough for them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, and they can retire completely after this job.

On the other hand, it's because they simply didn't have the courage of Zhu Rong to bargain with the captain who was still holding the detonation button, ready to blow everyone up at any moment.

However, Lin Yu spoke up.

I still have questions.

The captain looked at Lin Yu and noticed what he said.

Do you have any questions?

Lin Yu nodded and asked directly.

"Yes, since everyone's reaction has been so strong, and you've offered an additional 100,000 points as a reward, I'd like to ask... what's so special about Arter Mercury that makes him worth such a high reward?"

His expression was extremely sincere.

"Who is this guy?"

After Lin Yu asked that question, everyone in the private room, including the captain, looked at Lin Yu as if he were a monster.

"Arter Mercury, don't you know him?"

The Bone Spur made a big fuss.

"Is he someone I absolutely need to know?"

Lin Yu calmly countered with a question.

The captain looked at Lin Yu: "Are you really from the Great Wilderness?"

Lin Yu shrugged, without giving a direct answer.

After recovering from his shock, the Big Ball began to introduce Arter Mercury to Lin Yu.

"Arter Mercury is the Older Brother of the current Family Head, Arlan Mercury. He was the former acting Tribe Leader of the Mercury Family and the former chairman of the Board Members of the Divine Power Group. Fifty years ago, after his father passed away, Arlan Mercury inherited the title of king and became the new head of the Mercury Family and the Divine Power Group."

"But Arlan Mercury disappeared in the Great Wilderness three years after taking over, so he managed the Divine Power Group and the Mercury Family for five years—during which time the Mercury Family prospered."

"The Autumn Family, which was once subtly more powerful than the Mercury family, is now firmly suppressed by the Mercury Family... This can be attributed to Arlan's years of hard work, but in my opinion, Arter's actions during those five years deserve the most credit."

Lin Yu nodded and asked, "Then how did he end up as an A-2 at Truth Company?"

Although he didn't know Arter Mercury, Lin Yu still knew the basic facts about the City That Never Sleeps.

The Nightless Sky Family controls the Truth Company, the Mercury Family and the Autumn Family jointly govern the Divine Power Group, and the Universal Trade Association is the territory of the Solence Family.

The Saint Orchid Family is relatively neutral, holding shares in all Three Great Corporations, but its main focus is on the City That Never Sleeps Council and governing other Noble.

Although the spheres of influence of the five Royal Nobles families were not so clearly defined, even with tense relations between the companies, it did not prevent the Noble from intermarrying and maintaining friendly relations, and family members often went to work for the other two major companies.

But that only applies to the less valued descendants in the Branch Family or Direct Lineage.

How could someone like Arter Mercury, the Tribe Leader's older brother, a direct Direct Lineage of Mercury who even served as acting Tribe Leader, and who is over eighty years old, be working for the Truth Company?

"Could it be because he doesn't get along with Arlan Mercury?"

Lin Yu asked, and the captain replied in a low voice.

"It seems you really don't know anything at all."

"On the contrary, Arlan and Arter are rare blood relatives among the Noble with an exceptionally close relationship," the captain continued, taking over from the Big Ball, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at Lin Yu. "Forty years ago, after Arlan Mercury took over the family and the Divine Power Group again, Arter Mercury, to prevent any family members from harboring disloyalty, voluntarily left the Divine Power Group and took a position at the Truth Company —this prevented anyone from using his name and banner to undermine the legitimacy of Arlan Mercury's return."

Upon hearing this, Bone Spur pondered for a moment and said, "Yes, but I've also heard that Arter Mercury did this simply to save his own life..."

No, that's not the case.

The captain broke the Bone Spur, but offered no explanation.

"In short, Arter Mercury is such a legendary figure... Now you understand why they raised the price, right?"

Lin Yu nodded upon hearing this.

"I understand their thinking, but I don't see any need for him to raise the price."

"Even if he once held a high position and was skilled in political maneuvering, he is now just an old man nearing the end of his life—his glorious achievements in his youth will not change the hardness of his skull or increase the toughness of the skin on his chest."

Lin Yu said calmly.

"To put it bluntly, killing him might not be as difficult as killing a self-made Gangsters Boss from Gray Street Three."