The First Pot of Gold
As a fourth-rank expert highly regarded by the Gang Leader Gu, Mad Blade Qin Mo's words carried considerable weight.
The Money Gang members, who had originally planned to rush forward, immediately stopped and looked at Gang Leader Gu.
"Brother Qin, your expression changed slightly as you looked at Mad Blade Gang Leader Gu Qin Mo."
Mad Blade Qin Mo was a fourth-rank expert he recruited two months ago.
A fourth-rank expert is considered the highest combat power in Qingxiang City; they are extremely rare and hard to come by.
To recruit Mad Blade Qin Mo, Gang Leader Gu paid a monthly fee of a thousand taels of silver, in addition to providing a mid-level martial arts manual each month.
"Gang Leader Gu, please wait a moment."
After speaking, Mad Blade Qin Mo stepped forward and looked at Su Yuan, saying, "You come from the Canglan Empire?"
Mad Blade Qin Mo is also an Empire Citizen player, and his current question is a kind of "secret code" among players.
Only players know the concept of "empire," and within the game? Only the Great Yong Dynasty exists.
"Right!"
Su Yuan nodded. There was no need to hide this. Knowing that he was Empire Citizen Player did not mean that Su Yuan's real identity was known.
The Virtual World Network places great importance on the privacy of citizens' personal information.
Moreover, there's a layer of the <Shattering the Void> game separating them.
Upon hearing Su Yuan's reply, Mad Blade Qin Mo's brows relaxed slightly. "What's your name? How should I address you?"
"You can call me Wu," Su Yuan said.
This is a name that Su Yuan made up on the spot.
Virtual World Network place great importance on the privacy of citizens' information; unless players voluntarily reveal their identities, outsiders cannot know their true identities.
But this does not include Su Yuan.
Through the Grey Mirror, Su Yuan could clearly see the Mad Blade Qin Mo in front of him.
Mad Blade Qin Mo, formerly known as Qin Mo, Level 9 Lifeform from the Luoshen Star Sector of the Canglan Galactic Human Empire.
"Wu, what brings you here?"
Mad Blade Qin Mo thought for a moment and then asked.
Su Yuan stated directly, "I will take over the Money Gang."
This is also the purpose of Su Yuan's visit.
"Having taken over the Money Gang," Mad Blade Qin Mo fell silent.
The Money Gang, one of the three major gangs in Qingxiang City, is incredibly wealthy; who wouldn't want to take its place?
For players who Empire Citizen, joining the Money Gang does not simply mean becoming part of the ruling class in Qingxiang City.
It's also a money tree.
The Money Gang controls the most profitable businesses in Qingxiang City, with a daily turnover of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, and the revenue is steady and continuous.
It's important to know that the currency in the <Shattering the Void> world can be exchanged for real-world Canglan Coin.
"How do you plan to take control?" Mad Blade Qin Mo glanced at the Gang Leader Gu beside him. "Kill him or control him?"
Mad Blade Qin Mo gently shook his head.
As a player who started playing the game at the beginning of the Shattering the Void world, Mad Blade Qin Mo has also figured out the core of the game.
That is order.
The Great Yong Dynasty is currently at its peak, everything is orderly, and the government is more powerful than ever before, capable of suppressing everything.
The three major gangs in Qingxiang City may seem powerful and influential, but they are nothing more than puppets pushed out by the government to make money.
Behind the Money Gang stands the "Golden Guard".
The Golden Guard is the violent law enforcement agency of the Great Yong Dynasty. In the Dayong Nine Provinces, every city has a branch of the Golden Guard, which is specifically used to suppress powerful individuals who have reached the highest level.
The commander of the Golden Guard in Qingxiang City is a peak fourth-rank expert.
Kill or control the Gang Leader Gu? Forget about controlling the Money Gang, they were suppressed by the Golden Guard within half a day.
This is also why Mad Blade Qin Mo was willing to be recruited by Gang Leader Gu.
With his strength, killing the Gang Leader Gu would be a piece of cake, but what would happen after that? Facing the pursuit of the Golden Guard, he would find it difficult to move an inch in Dayong Nine Provinces.
"Are you going to stop me?" Su Yuan asked.
"Never mind." Mad Blade Qin Mo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Please do as you wish."
He could sense that Su Yuan was also a fourth-grade expert, and in reality, he would probably be an eighth or Level 9 Lifeform.
There's no need to risk your life against a powerhouse of the same level for a mere thousand taels of silver a month.
Based on the exchange rate, 1,000 taels of silver is equivalent to 100,000 Canglan Coin, and the cost of dying and re-entering the game once is also the same.
Brother Qin, you...?
The Gang Leader Gu looked grim.
However, he also realized that the powerful figure carrying the long spear in front of him should also be a fourth-rank expert.
Otherwise, Mad Blade Qin Mo wouldn't have given up on attacking.
"You all attack together!"
Without hesitation, the Gang Leader Gu immediately ordered the Money Gang members he had brought to take action.
Wow!
Mad Blade Qin Mo was merely a subordinate recruited by Gang Leader Gu; strictly speaking, their relationship was one of cooperation. Mad Blade Qin Mo wouldn't risk his life for Gang Leader Gu for such a small reward.
But the other experts in the Money Gang are different; they were all trained by the Money Gang, so they are naturally extremely loyal.
However.
Buzz--
Su Yuan gripped his spear and swung it around, unleashing an invisible, scorching aura that enveloped all directions, causing all the powerful members of the Money Gang to retreat.
"Hmm?" Mad Blade Qin Mo, who had retreated to the side to watch the battle, was startled by what he saw.
"Wu is already comprehending the power of the universe?"
As a Level 9 Lifeform in reality, Mad Blade Qin Mo knew what this meant.
The power of the universe can theoretically only be comprehended by Starry Sky Lifeform, but theory is theory, and reality is reality.
A very small number of exceptionally talented life forms may comprehend a fraction of cosmic power when they are stuck at the level 9 limit.
Furthermore, life forms with profound backgrounds can also perceive the power of the universe to some extent by utilizing external resources.
"Wu"
Mad Blade Qin Mo immediately realized that his decision not to intervene was absolutely correct.
In his view.
Su Yuan must have terrifying talent.
Either they have a powerful background.
Neither of these is suitable for conflict.
Compared to the simple thoughts of the native inhabitants in the game.
Empire Citizen players have many more things to consider.
It's not just about evaluating factors within the game.
It also needs to take into account the background outside the game.
Click!
The sharp tip of the spear was pressed against the Gang Leader Gu's forehead.
The Gang Leader Gu immediately broke out in a cold sweat and repeatedly begged for mercy, "Great hero, spare my life! Great hero, spare my life! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"
Although he had the Golden Guard, the most Dayong and violent law enforcement agency in Dayong, behind him, Gang Leader Gu dared not mention it at all.
Who knows if this will provoke Su Yuan?
Do you want to live?
Su Yuan looked at the Gang Leader Gu.
He had no intention of killing the other person.
To truly control the entire Money Gang, killing alone is not enough.
"I want to live, I want to live," the Gang Leader Gu said immediately.
The higher one's status, the more one desires to live. Those common folk might risk their lives, but not Gang Leader Gu.
"If you want to live, hand this letter to Commander Lu."
Su Yuan took out a letter and handed it to Gang Leader Gu.
"Letter?"
The Gang Leader Gu was slightly taken aback.
The Commander Lu mentioned by Su Yuan is the commander of the Golden Guard of Qingxiang City, and also the real backer of the Money Gang.
"Get out of here now!"
Su Yuan looked at the Gang Leader Gu.
"Fine. I'm leaving."
The Gang Leader Gu immediately left the Huayue Pavilion.
"Brother Wu, you..." Mad Blade Qin Mo also realized at this moment.
Su Yuan wasn't stupid; he had already taken Commander Lu's factor into account.
That letter was intended to deal with Commander Lu.
Mad Blade Qin Mo was curious: what exactly was written in the letter that gave Su Yuan the confidence to take over the Money Gang?
Su Yuan smiled slightly, sat down in the main seat, and glanced around. "What are you standing for? Let the music continue, let the dance begin."
From the moment Su Yuan left until he ordered Gang Leader Gu to deliver the message, although the time was short, it was like experiencing several rollercoaster rides for everyone present, especially the Hua Family.
In particular, Su Yuan's actions at the end, which forced the fourth-rank expert Mad Blade Qin Mo to refrain from making a move and dealt with the strongmen brought by the Money Gang in just a few moves, made the Hua Family patriarch tremble with fear.
"Where's the songstress? Songstress, hurry up and come on stage!"
The head of the Hua Family immediately realized what was happening and hurriedly ordered the scattered and fleeing singers to return to the stage.
Huayue Pavilion.
The Gang Leader Gu steadied himself; only now did he realize he had survived.
"That person."
The Gang Leader Gu looked extremely solemn.
"Boss, what do we do now? Should we gather the brothers?"
One of his subordinates came over and said.
"Should we gather our brothers to their deaths?"
The Gang Leader Gu glared at his subordinates. With the strength of a fourth-rank expert, even if they couldn't win, they could hide and assassinate. What could the Money Gang possibly use to resist?
"Now then?"
His subordinates hesitated.
"Send the message!"
The Gang Leader Gu looked at the envelope in his hand and said through gritted teeth.
Huayue Pavilion, the music began to play again.
"Wu, who are you waiting for here?" Mad Blade Qin Mo asked curiously as he sat down beside him.
"Wait for Commander Lu," Su Yuan said calmly.
Commander Lu, as the commander of the Golden Guard of Qingxiang City, is not an Empire Citizen player, but a native of the game.
In fact, the current high-ranking officials in the Great Yong Dynasty of the game "Shattering the Void" are all natives. Players have not been in the game for long, and even if they manage to sneak into the officialdom, they are unlikely to climb very high.
The native inhabitants of the game are not merely data, but intelligent life forms with their own grudges and affections.
Commander Lu. Eighteen years ago, he was being pursued by his enemies. His wife and children fell off a cliff while fleeing. Although their bodies were never found, the chances of them surviving in that environment were slim.
Since there was no body, it's more likely that it was carried off by jackals, wolves, tigers, or leopards.
No remains were found.
However, Su Yuan learned through the Grey Mirror that Commander Lu's son was not dead.
Instead, he was discovered by a passing monk and taken to Mount Shaoshi to become a novice monk.
In fact, even without the Grey Mirror, Empire Citizen and Players could potentially discover this secret by thoroughly studying the Chronicles of the Shattering the Void.
The Golden Guard branch in Qingxiang City.
Commander Lu sat there with an air of authority, watching the gang Gang Leader Gu, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly.
"Commander, you must stand up for me!"
"I feel incredibly wronged, "the Gang Leader Gu shouted.
"Useless piece of trash."
Commander Lu frowned. "Give me the letter."
Commander Lu also became interested in the letter that Su Yuan asked the Gang Leader Gu to deliver to him.
In broad daylight, holding a gun to the head of Gang Leader Gu —wasn't that a slap in the face to Commander Lu?
But the other party was a fourth-rank expert, yet he was so confident in sending a letter.
Are they sure I won't dare to turn against them?
"Good"
The Gang Leader Gu immediately took out the letter.
Commander Lu opened the envelope, glanced at it, and his expression changed slightly.
A moment later.
Commander Lu suddenly stood up, folded the letter, closed his eyes, and said, "I never thought that at this age I would still be able to find out."
Commander Lu was deeply moved; the letter contained information about his son.
Furthermore, the letter also mentioned a birthmark on his son's body, a birthmark known only to Commander Lu and his wife.
Knowing about this birthmark means that he must have seen his son.
Eighteen years.
Commander Lu collected his thoughts and looked at Gang Leader Gu, "Where is he?"
"Ah?"
The Gang Leader Gu immediately sensed something was wrong.
But daring not to disobey Commander Lu's wishes, he quickly replied, "That person is still at the Huayue Pavilion."
Huayue Pavilion.
Da da da--
Dozens of Golden Guard clad in golden armor quickly surrounded the Huayue Pavilion.
Commander Lu strode into the Huayue Pavilion.
"Commander Lu," the head of the Hua Family, was trembling with fear.
He dared to say a word to Gang Leader Gu, but what about Commander Lu?
This guy is a killing machine.
"You may all leave."
Commander Lu walked up to Su Yuan.
Wait until everyone around has left.
Commander Lu then began, "Your Excellency has quite the methods, going to great lengths to obtain information about my son. Tell me, what do you want?"
"I want the Money Gang," Su Yuan said directly.
From beginning to end, his goal was Money Gang.
"The Money Gang?" Commander Lu frowned.
The Money Gang is the Golden Guard's biggest means of accumulating wealth.
"Don't worry, I won't shortchange you on your share of the profits each month."
Su Yuan said.
"Please tell me where my son is first," Commander Lu said.
"That won't do," Su Yuan said with a slight smile. "What if I tell you and you don't agree?"
This isn't a "what if," it's something that will definitely happen.
The Money Gang amassed millions of taels of silver for Commander Lu every year. Even though Su Yuan guaranteed that the share would not be reduced, Commander Lu would not give up so easily.
"You believe my promise so easily?" Commander Lu laughed.
"I know Commander Lu is a man of his word," Su Yuan nodded.
"What if I refuse?" Commander Lu, looking at Su Yuan.
"With Commander Lu's strength at the peak of the fourth rank, I am indeed no match for him."
Su Yuan shook his head. "But it will be difficult for Commander Lu to keep me here. The dozens of Golden Guard surrounding Huayue Pavilion can't stop me."
"And if I escape, I will never return in this lifetime, Commander Lu will never know a single piece of news about his son."
These words were spoken.
Commander Lu remained silent, carefully considering the matter.
He had more to worry about; if he fell out with Su Yuan, the other party would definitely target his son afterwards.
At that time, Commander Lu, who has just learned that his son is still alive, will probably have to face the pain of losing his son again.
How can I believe that's my son?
Commander Lu said.
The fact that they have the same birthmark could also be a coincidence.
"Once you find your son, Commander Lu can verify it by any method—bloodline connection? Or any other method, it's all acceptable."
"If he weren't your son, I would willingly hand over the Money Gang."
Su Yuan said.
In the world of "Shattering the Void," powerful individuals can sense the bloodline of their offspring through certain methods, making it virtually impossible for someone to impersonate another's offspring.
"Okay, I agree to your request."
Commander Lu remained silent for a long time before speaking solemnly.
Su Yuan is right. He is ruthless and vicious to outsiders, but he keeps his promises. If he doesn't agree, he doesn't care. But once he agrees, he will definitely do it.
"Make a deal."
A smile appeared on Su Yuan's face.
Taking control of the Money Gang is a crucial step for Su Yuan to integrate into the universe.
The businesses controlled by the Money Gang, after deducting various expenses and the portion handed over to bribes,
Su Yuan receives 23,000 taels of silver from the Money Gang every month.
Twenty-three thousand taels of silver, when exchanged for Canglan Coin, amount to two million three hundred thousand Canglan Coin.
Two million three hundred thousand Canglan Coin a month, twenty million Canglan Coin in ten months, and two hundred million Canglan Coin in one hundred months, equivalent to the value of two normal life-bearing planets.