The Building Stood Empty

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!"

"Old John and I had been friends for over fifty years. Every time we went to have a deep exchange with a Zero-Ring Succubus Warlock, Old John paid the bill. How could he have scammed me?"

The Zero-Ring old warlock Delaine rose to his feet, clutching his silver metal identity plaque, ready to find his old friend and demand an explanation.

Suddenly, a silver-haired young First-Ring Warlock ran down the street, turned toward the crowd, and raised an arm as he shouted, "Quick! Get to the Exchange Building! If you're late, there won't even be a single Element Crystal left!"

"Gulp..."

Hearing that, Delaine swallowed.

Glancing at the fifty thousand Merit Points on his identity plaque, he could not help hesitating. "Could the rumors be true? The Abyss Sunshine Project was a scam, and all of us were deceived!"

"I don't believe it! Even First-Ring Wizards joined the association. How could it possibly be a scam?"

A Zero-Ring Wizard Apprentice wore a resolute expression, yet his feet carried him involuntarily toward the Exchange Building.

"Quick! Hurry to the Exchange Building! Why are you closing up? We exchanged all our resources for Merit Points!" The owner of a shop selling Zero-Ring materials kicked the clerk who was about to close the door, then hurriedly joined the crowd seeking justice.

"Ah... I still have tens of thousands of Merit Points that haven't been exchanged. Hurry, maybe I can still get some of them back." A Zero-Ring Warlock who had come to earn resources raised his metal plaque and joined the crowd.

"I knew it. How could there be such a good deal? Ten percent interest every week—give me a few years, and I could buy the Wizard Black Tower outright. I said this had to be a scam." A