That's How You Rake In a Lot of Money

"I have a dream!"

"I dream of a world where everyone has food to eat and clothes to wear. I dream of using technology to benefit society..."

The dim underground parking garage seemed to have transformed into a spotlight-lit stage. Li Si's words were impassioned and compassionate, rising and falling in turn. His heartfelt speech left almost everyone present stunned.

"At some point, I gradually lost sight of my original purpose. I sank into my desire for money and became the very person I used to hate most..."

"But—and I must say, but—just now, I saw your bright, clear eyes. I saw the longing and envy shining in them. At last, I understand. I regret what I've done..."

Li Si was overcome with remorse, pounding his chest and stamping his feet.

"I must apologize!"

He bowed deeply. "I'm very sorry, but my resources are limited. I only have thirty suits of armor left, and I can't provide one for everyone."

"But if you'll trust me, please wait for me to come back. I promise I'll find a way for everyone to have the chance to get their own suit of armor at an affordable price!"

With that, Li Si bowed deeply again, his expression sincere. Then he silently packed up his stall, slung on his backpack, and hurried out of the underground parking garage.

"???"

"What's going on?"

"Wasn't he going to lower the price? Why'd he run off?"

Some players looked utterly confused, still unable to figure out what was going on.

Others, however, looked grief-stricken and full of regret.

"So I really did misjudge him. This NPC has such a grand dream... What a thought-provoking speech!"

"I must repent. I secretly called him a Merchant in my head because of his prices."

"Me too. I have to repent as well."

"If only we had a Scientist this great in real life. Then our country would surely prosper!"

"..."

All right, some of them were simply sentimental or had a touch of the artist about them.

Still, Li Si's speech really had moved quite a few players. And with the herd mentality kicking in, most of them chose to stay and wait for him, waiting a full two hours.

"Hey, hey, look! It's that NPC! He really came back!"

It was late at night. Darkness blanketed the sky, and the moon hung high overhead, casting its serene light over the world.

Two hours later, Li Si returned, accompanied by two security guards from the Osir Tower property management team.

"Didn't he say he was going back to get the goods? Why's he empty-handed? His backpack's gone, too."

Everyone stared at Li Si in puzzlement.

"Thank you all for trusting me and waiting!"

Li Si had put on quite a show. Like a genuine English gentleman, he placed one hand over his chest and bowed sincerely. "Please, follow me. I'll make good on my promise."

"Wow, I just realized how handsome this NPC is. So elegant! Does this game support dating? I want to pursue him!"

Some female players were captivated by Li Si's refined manner, their eyes sparkling.

Most of the others, however, were delighted and hurried after him.

Players were still players, after all. Li Si's speech had certainly played a part in keeping them there, but their main concern was still the benefits. They had waited this long to buy a set of gear at a discount, hadn't they?

"All right, we're here!"

Before long, Li Si led the players to their destination.

It wasn't far away. It was on the second floor of Osir Tower, an unused office building with plenty of vacant floors. Li Si had temporarily rented this one.

"What's this?"

"Th-this many... Are they all suits of armor?"

The players were immediately dumbfounded when they entered the second floor and saw what was inside.

Cardboard boxes. Row upon row of cardboard boxes.

The spacious floor, which had been completely empty, was now packed with boxes. They stood no more than a hand's width apart. Even a rough count showed several hundred, maybe a thousand, filling the entire floor.

Some sharp-eyed players noticed a red line painted about a meter from the elevator exit. The two security guards who had been following the Merchant NPC stepped out and immediately took up positions on either side of the line, like a pair of door gods.

"Boss, what's all this..."

Someone hesitantly looked at Li Si and couldn't help asking.

"I promised you all that everyone would have the chance to get a suit of armor of their own!"

Li Si gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle and wiped away two nonexistent tears.

"But my suits of armor are all handmade, and my production capacity is simply too limited. To honor my promise, I racked my brains and came up with a way to give everyone the chance to get a suit of armor. And that is..."

"And that is what?"

Li Si gave the player who'd asked an approving thumbs-up in his mind, then grinned and finally bared the fangs he'd been hiding all along.

"Box opening!"

"I thought it over and decided that only a raffle could give everyone an equal chance, while also letting them get what they want at the most affordable price."

"Each draw costs just five thousand U.S. dollars. For only five thousand dollars, you could win a two-piece suit of armor worth twenty-six thousand! Sigh... I'm taking a huge loss here. I really am too kind!"

Li Si lowered his head from the ceiling and let out a sigh.

"You Merchant..."

The players exchanged glances, and the same words came out of their mouths.

"I take back my earlier repentance..."

One of the players who had repented earlier quietly lowered his head and murmured.

"Sure enough... a Merchant turning over a new leaf... that's just not realistic."

"The city's full of tricks. I'm going back to the countryside."

A tall, burly player shed tears of regret.

"Ah, son, the country roads are slippery, and the tricks are even more complicated. You'll get used to them."

Li Si patted him on the shoulder.

"I'm such a fool. Astral Gaming Company promised there wouldn't be any in-game purchases or pay-to-win. I actually believed them."

One player gave a bitter smile, utterly despairing.

"I... I... I've never seen anyone so shameless!"

A somewhat introverted young man in glasses saw everyone voicing their opinions and figured that if he didn't say something, he might seem out of place. But he couldn't think of anything to say. After struggling for a while, he blurted out this line, face flushed red, leaving everyone speechless.

"Hm? Young man, may I ask what your relation is to Prime Minister Zhuge?"

Li Si was startled. He hopped back a step and folded his arms across his chest.

"..."