Chapter 10: Lin Jichen: The Unscrupulous Businessman

Wang Jinghao's gaze was cold and sharp. "Are you sure you want to go against me?"

The short-haired woman glanced at him and said, "The highest bidder wins. We each name our price—how is that considered targeting? Just because you want something, does that mean no one else can?"

"Is this how you name a price?"

"How I set my price is my business."

"Fine! Very well!" Wang Jinghao coldly threw down these words and turned to leave.

Fifty thousand was nothing to him, but spending that much on a beginner's piece of equipment? As a descendant of a business family, he didn't want to be taken for a fool.

Besides, he had a feeling that even if he agreed to pay fifty thousand, the other party would keep raising the price.

"Brother Wang, wait a moment," Lin Jichen suddenly called out to him.

Wang Jinghao turned back. Lin Jichen had a 'sincere' look on his face as he said, "We're friends, after all. If you're willing to pay fifty thousand, I'll sell you the bow."

Hearing this, Wang Jinghao was delighted and agreed on the spot.

The short-haired woman was stunned and angrily said, "How can you go back on your word? Didn't you say the highest bidder wins?"

Lin Jichen scratched his head apologetically. "Sorry, beautiful, but I know Brother Wang. He just helped me out, and I owe him a favor. Hope you understand."

The short-haired woman gritted her teeth but ultimately said nothing. After all, from Wang Jinghao and Lin Jichen's earlier conversation, it was clear they knew each other.

"Brother Lin, you've got yourself a friend! Send me your account info, and I'll transfer the money right away. Once you receive it, hand over the equipment."

Wang Jinghao grinned, pleased with his purchase.

"By the way, I also have a lot of copper coins. In the early stages of the game, a guild like yours probably needs in-game currency the most. Want to buy them too?"

Wang Jinghao was even happier and nodded repeatedly. "These copper coins are a lifesaver! I'll take them all and add another fifty thousand."

In truth, the copper coins weren't worth fifty thousand at all. Wang Jinghao simply wanted to strengthen his relationship with Lin Jichen.

Lin Jichen didn't waste any words and sent over his account details. One of Wang Jinghao's subordinates immediately logged off.

Less than a minute later, Lin Jichen received a bank notification—exactly 550,000 had been transferred to his account.

With the money in hand, Lin Jichen handed over the Green Snake Bow, more than a hundred poisoned arrows, and over a hundred copper coins, all at once.

Seeing this, the short-haired woman realized she had no chance of winning and left with her team, her face cold.

Wang Jinghao, on the other hand, was overjoyed and wanted to befriend Lin Jichen even further.

But Lin Jichen quickly excused himself, leaving Wang Jinghao slightly disappointed.

He had wanted to ask if Lin Jichen was selling his storage pouch as well.

Once out of sight of the others, Lin Jichen followed the direction in which the group of female players had left.

A stalker's pursuit begins... Just kidding.

Outside the village, in the Wild Boar Forest, Lin Jichen spotted the short-haired woman leading her team in grinding mobs for experience.

He approached, and they quickly noticed him.

"What do you want?" The short-haired woman looked at Lin Jichen with some disdain.

It wasn't because he hadn't sold her the equipment—she simply despised people like him who got chummy with Wang Jinghao.

Anyone who was close to Wang Jinghao was either his lackey or just as morally questionable.

Such a waste of a good-looking face! Hmph!

Lin Jichen didn't mind her attitude and got straight to the point. "Can we talk alone? Just for two minutes."

The short-haired woman, seeing that Lin Jichen had only just met Wang Jinghao, assumed he might have been fooled by the latter's outward friendliness.

She felt an urge to warn him, so she nodded and said, "Fine. Talk while we walk."

The two stepped aside.

"What is it? Speak."

"I'll sell you some information. Fifty thousand."

Lin Jichen went straight into businessman mode.

The short-haired woman's face darkened further. She scoffed, "Are you messing with me? What kind of information is worth fifty thousand?"

"A piece of information that will give your guild an advantage over other players. Aren't you curious why I was willing to sell such good equipment?"

Lin Jichen's words made the short-haired woman's expression ease slightly.

"Tell me first. If it's worth the price, I'll pay you fifty thousand."

Without hesitation, Lin Jichen refused. "No way. If I sold this to Wang Jinghao, I'd get at least a hundred thousand."

"If you don't tell me the information first, how can I trust what you're saying?" the short-haired woman countered.

Lin Jichen acted shamelessly and turned to leave. "If you don't believe me, forget it. I'll just sell it to Wang Jinghao."

"Wait, come back!" The short-haired woman fumed but had no choice but to stop him.

She didn't trust Lin Jichen, but she feared that if he was telling the truth and sold the information to Wang Jinghao, it would give him a huge advantage.

Lin Jichen had been expecting this. The moment she called out, he turned back with a big grin.

Seeing his smug expression, the short-haired woman gritted her teeth in frustration.

"If you're lying, I'll make sure you regret crossing Moonshadow Guild. Now send me your account details."

Lin Jichen was completely unfazed and cheerfully sent his account info.

Moments later, another fifty thousand was added to his balance.

In less than an hour since logging into the game, Lin Jichen had made a hundred thousand.

If this had been before his rebirth, he would have been so excited that he'd start singing. But now, as CEO Ma once said—he had no interest in money.

Of course, CEO Ma was just showing off. But Lin Jichen was serious.

Once the game merged with reality, real-world currency would become worthless.

For now, though, he still needed money.

He still owed Ren Lan. He couldn't just live off her, even if… well, he wouldn't mind.

"What quest are you doing?"

Instead of giving the information, Lin Jichen first asked the short-haired woman a question.

Suppressing her doubts, she answered, "The butcher's quest in the village. He needs wild boar meat. Why?"

"Drop it. Abandon the quest."

"Why?"

The short-haired woman stared into Lin Jichen's eyes.

She was starting to suspect that he was sent by Wang Jinghao to deceive her.

If that was the case, she would kill him right now.

"Go to the weapon shop and take a quest there instead."

"You can't get a quest from the weapon shop. Who are you trying to fool?"

The short-haired woman snapped, gripping her staff tightly.

"That's because you're doing it wrong. The blacksmith is forging weapons. All you have to do is help him operate the bellows for five minutes, and he'll give you the quest," Lin Jichen explained.

"Really?" The short-haired woman was skeptical.

"If you don't believe me, send one of your people to try it. Just be discreet—if other players find out, this information will lose its value."

Half-believing, half-doubting, the short-haired woman called over one of her female subordinates, who immediately set off for the village.

Lin Jichen stayed with the short-haired woman, waiting.

"This kind of information is worth fifty thousand? You sure make easy money."

The short-haired woman still felt like she'd been scammed.

Lin Jichen chuckled. "The quest itself isn't worth much, but the reward is priceless."

Saying this, he took out a letter. The short-haired woman's eyes widened. "This is… a Sect Admission Letter?"

Lin Jichen nodded. "That's right. You need this to find and join a sect."

"So grinding wild boars is useless. It only rewards you with copper coins and experience points."

"But experience and money are important, aren't they?"

Lin Jichen stretched lazily. "Experience is, but sect quests give far more. As for copper coins, they're just mortal currency. The real value lies in spirit stones."

The short-haired woman was stunned by this revelation.

"How do you know all this?"

"That's not important. Now, do you think this information was worth fifty thousand?"

After thinking for a moment, the short-haired woman answered honestly, "If what you say is true, then yes, it was worth the price."