Two Plans and the Promise Su Yi Made to the Players

When Su Yi actually gritted his teeth and agreed to cut the price, the players were stunned. Even Enns was shocked.

He had never expected these Heroic Allies, who had appeared out of nowhere, to be of much help.

After all, this batch of guns was in excellent condition.

He had even planned to show Su Yi and his companions a good time before buying the guns.

He had only hoped to get a discount on future deals.

Yet the moment this seemingly delicate female hacker spoke up, Su Yi had actually agreed!

"One Armor-Piercing Round costs one Void Abyss Coin. Two free rounds with each gun saves us two coins, and he knocked another coin off the gun itself!"

"That makes each gun just ninety-four coins!"

Enns barely hesitated. "Good! Excellent!"

"Mr. Gheros, I'm deeply grateful that you were willing to do Winter this favor."

"Rest assured, if the guns stay this good, we'll keep buying plenty of them!"

Enns clasped Su Yi's hand, thrilled. His young face creased with smiles.

When the workers behind Enns heard the deal was done, they lit up with excitement too.

At last, they had serious firepower!

At last, they could punch through those damned nobles' cars!

Putting on a miserable face, Su Yi sighed. "Lucky you. Fine, payment first, then you can inspect the goods."

Enns agreed without hesitation.

Seeing how miserable Su Yi looked, Enns felt even more delighted. He was sure he had come out far ahead!

While the deal went through, the three players were going wild in their private channel.

Evil God: "!!! Winter, does this boss have a crush on you!?"

"He gave up three Void Abyss Coins per gun. That's ninety across thirty guns!"

"You said one thing, and the boss actually listened!?"

Winter blinked, just as bewildered. "Get lost!"

"How the hell would I know what's going on!?"

108 coughed. "Sis, customer support told me you really can marry NPCs here."

Winter: "Get lost!"

Evil God marveled. "Still, the boss really did you a favor. It's almost like he knows we're players."

108 said casually, "Probably part of the story. Customer support keeps bragging that this game gives you one hundred percent freedom."

"If you can't work with an opposing faction, how is that one hundred percent freedom?"

Winter nodded. "Probably. Every NPC here feels like a real person."

"I bet they're virtual personalities trained by some kind of cutting-edge AI."

While they chatted, the "downcast" Su Yi finished the deal with a thoroughly pleased Enns.

Su Yi received 3,450 Void Abyss Coins. Counting the goods Mantis had given him, he had made a net profit of 2,550 on this trip. He had made a killing!

As Enns and his men examined their brand-new guns, Su Yi approached Winter. "Winter."

"Do you have a moment to talk?"

Winter wasn't surprised. Su Yi had done her a favor, so he must want something in return.

"I'd be delighted." Winter dropped her wild in-game manner and spoke with the poise she used at work.

At Enns's direction, the two went to a quiet private room.

Inside, Winter spoke first. "Thank you for doing me this favor, Mr. Gheros."

"I'm truly honored. I hardly know what to say."

Su Yi smiled. "I've heard some Ancient Legends about the Human Alliance's glory before the Great Cataclysm. They've given me a particular fondness for you two."

"Besides, favors go both ways, don't they?"

Winter smiled. "Of course."

Su Yi handed her fifty Void Abyss Coins. "Payment for you heroes."

Winter eagerly accepted the money and smiled. "It's a pleasure working with you."

Su Yi continued, "Would you heroes be interested in working together again?"

"Tell me more!" Winter said at once.

That was what she had been waiting to hear!

Su Yi held up two fingers. "I need your help with two things next."

"First, I've completely cleared out Mad Dog's men, but I need a reliable new group of subordinates."

"I plan to recruit from the poorest residents of the Borderlands. They have no ties to anyone, and they're honest enough."

Remembering the pitiful look in the little girl's eyes yesterday, Winter asked warily, "What would they be doing?"

"Don't worry," Su Yi said. "Nothing dangerous."

"I need accountants, administrators, drivers, and workers. All ordinary jobs."

"They'll be paid well enough to escape poverty."

Winter studied him. "If you're paying, I'm sure they'd be happy to work for you."

Su Yi smiled. "Then I'd only be their employer, not their benefactor and savior."

"I need their absolute loyalty and gratitude. That's where you come in."

Winter was about to press him, but then she remembered the favor he had just done her. Besides, this was a game.

For the sake of future quests, she nodded. "As long as you don't go too far, we can help."

Su Yi nodded happily and went on. "Second, have you heard of the Wolf Fang Gang?"

Winter shook her head. "No."

Su Yi handed her a USB Drive. "Read up on them. This gang is loaded."

"My gun business has already affected them. A fight is only a matter of time."

"Take them down, and you'll become true heroes of the Borderlands and the Revolutionary Army's strongest supporters."

"I'll have one less competitor, which means I can supply more goods at lower prices."

Winter took the USB Drive. "All right. I'll contact you after I've read it."

Su Yi gave a slight nod and casually dangled the ultimate prize before her. "If you help me bring down the Wolf Fang Gang..."

"I can give you a share of my future arms business here."

"!!!!!!"

Winter shot to her feet, eyes wide and breathing fast.

They had just seen for themselves how profitable that business was!

Those words gave Winter a powerful reason to take action.

The offer was far more enticing than handing them a few hundred coins outright.

"Are you... serious?" Winter asked cautiously.

Su Yi smiled. "Of course."

From his memories of his previous life, Su Yi knew that near the end of version 0.1, Call Me Madman, the Lone Wolf among the ten beta testers, had discovered the very path Su Yi was taking now. He hadn't written and posted a guide to it until version 0.3.

By then, that madman had become the richest player, with a fortune of over twenty thousand Void Abyss Coins.

If the players were going to discover it themselves eventually, that could lead to a business conflict.

Better to promise them a share now. Offering it freely as a favor would be worth far more.

Winter swallowed. Her thoughts were a mess.

The sheer size of the potential profit told her the Wolf Fang Gang would be no easy opponent.

Getting involved would mean assassinations, ambushes, and kidnappings.

But then Winter thought it over and calmed down.

Who are we? We're players!

We're the Fourth Calamity! Death only costs us one Earth day. We'll be back in six game days!

As players, our chances are limitless!

With that thought, Winter smiled. "I look forward to working with you!"