Chapter 15
A philosopher once said: if you want to shatter a window, you first have to say you’ll tear off the roof.
Negotiations always start with raising the price sky-high, then bargaining down.
Lu Chuan was anything but an easy guest. Compared to him, the other guests seemed honest and simple.
Yet now, whether it was Lucas or the players, both felt a strange sense of respect toward Lu Chuan.
In Lucas’s eyes, this Mr. Jin could grasp the situation of all the other guests without leaving his room. Lucas even suspected that the guests were acting according to Mr. Jin’s plans—though he had no proof. Even so, the signs pointed clearly to Mr. Jin being far from ordinary, and likely the core leader among these guests. This time, Mr. Jin’s initiative in hosting a banquet was, in fact, giving Lucas face.
If all the guests really did leave the castle, it would be a terrible outcome for Lucas.
So no matter what, this Mr. Jin’s goodwill had to be accepted.
And to Zhang Wanxi and the other players, this Mr. Jin seemed even more unfathomable. He could actually make a high-level NPC obey him?
It seemed Zhang Wanxi was right—this big boss was the real deal.
If Lucas and the players ever compared notes, they’d quickly see that Lu Chuan was stirring up trouble behind the scenes. But there was no trust between players and NPCs. That meant Lu Chuan’s lies not only couldn’t be exposed, they actually raised his standing in their eyes because of the natural hostility between the two sides.
“System, you know something? Since ancient times, the ones who became leaders weren’t the strongest in battle or the most talented in writing. It was those who could make both scholars and warriors willingly assist them—that’s true ability.” Lu Chuan grinned at #888. “I’ve never been a guildmaster before. But management is management—this will be good practice for me.”
Host, you really look like a supervillain right now!
But #888 dared not say that.
The host had his own rhythm—it was best not to disturb him.
“System, aren’t you going to ask me why I’m hosting a banquet?” Lu Chuan pressed.
[Uh, host… is that really something I need to ask?] #888 was confused.
“Of course! You’re mine alone, so you have responsibilities.” Lu Chuan answered carelessly. “For example, when you don’t understand something, you have to ask me—so I can show off how clever I am. Since I can’t reveal my brilliance openly right now, I can only act impressive in front of you.”
He had studied so much, worked so many jobs, earned so much money—all so that one day he could show off properly.
Lu Chuan wanted to be a guildmaster not just because it was profitable, but because it was stylish.
Just imagine: once he became Guildmaster, players from all over this infinite world would bow and address him as “Guild Leader.”
Wherever he went, prestige followed.
Just thinking about it thrilled him.
In the past, Lu Chuan’s life had been stifling. Despite his natural talent for making money, ancestral rules had bound his hands. He could only watch while idiotic superiors strutted before him.
If not suppressed into silence, then suppressed until an explosion.
“System, do you understand? Besides making me a God of Wealth, you also need to provide me with emotional value. Since ancient times, haven’t all rulers had one or two flattering courtiers around them? They may not have been upright, but they said pleasing words and gave emotional support.”
But I’m just a system…
#888 still didn’t dare resist. Pitifully, it replied: [Yes, host. Then may I ask—why exactly are you hosting a banquet?]
“Two reasons. First, gathering all the players together—if Lucas is the one to bring them, they’ll be far more willing to accept me, and I won’t have to convince them one by one. Second, I want to probe Lucas. What secret is this castle hiding? Why did he panic the moment he thought players might leave?” Lu Chuan stroked the gilded vase beside him and smiled. “Instead of passively searching, it’s better to strike proactively. With so many players gathered, I don’t believe the NPCs can resist making a move.”
Once they did, the key clues would surface naturally.
Then, the dungeon would be easy to crack.
To prepare for the banquet, Lucas recalled all the servants.
Knowing Mr. Jin’s preferences, he ordered every piece of tableware in the castle to be plated with gold dust, with only Mr. Jin’s set made of solid gold.
The banquet hall itself was decorated until it glittered extravagantly.
Though a full imperial banquet was impossible in such short notice, they still managed to prepare 108 dishes.
Naturally, so many tasks required many servants.
For a while, the players realized that all the servants who had been watching them constantly had vanished. Lucas’s only requirement was that they stay quietly in their rooms, change into proper attire before the banquet, and wait for servants to escort them to the hall.
With no surveillance, the players all gathered in Zhang Wanxi’s room and began firing questions at him.
“Where’s this big shot from? Tell us in detail how you met him, so we can guess.”
“Has the boss done anything else? Spill it.”
“He’s not from your Noah Guild—could he be from our Resurrection Guild?”
“Heh, why couldn’t he be from ours instead?”
…
“I tested with my skill—Lucas is at least level 50. That’s the kind of NPC who could be a boss in a normal dungeon. Yet he treats Mr. Jin so politely. Mr. Jin could very well be an S-rank player—or maybe even someone on the God-Tier Rankings!”
“Whoa, the God-Tier Rankings? Those players can create guilds and become leaders in their own right.”
“There are exactly a hundred on the God-Tier Rankings. Most haven’t shown themselves in ages. Which one could he be?”
“Shh, let’s not talk about that. Since Mr. Jin doesn’t want to reveal his true identity, we shouldn’t pry—we can’t afford to offend him.” Zhang Wanxi said smugly. “Being able to clear this dungeon together with Mr. Jin and form a good relationship is already more than enough. Players on the God-Tier Rankings… there aren’t even ten of them still active nowadays, right?”
“I heard that once players reach the God-Tier Rankings, they all have their own territories inside the dungeons. They must be living like they’re in paradise, so of course they wouldn’t want to come out.”
“True.”
The players all broke into noisy chatter.
Even though one or two of them still felt that this so-called Mr. Jin was rather suspicious, in this kind of atmosphere they had no chance to speak up.
And even if they did, they would quickly be refuted.
After all, as mid-level players, their chances of ever meeting a top-tier player were vanishingly small.
In the real world, top-tier players were people you only ever saw in commercials, newspapers, or on TV. Each one had their own published biographies, and the walkthroughs they occasionally released were treated like textbooks that players had to buy.
On top of that, the game guilds deliberately shaped the image of top players—especially those on the God-Tier Rankings—into savior-like figures.
Without such iconic figures to look up to, the countless struggling bottom-tier players in the dungeons—along with the ordinary people who dreamed of improving their lives by becoming players—would completely lose hope.
God-Tier players were that hope.
As Lu Chuan had said, this infinite world was sick.
On the one hand, it granted players overwhelming power. On the other hand, it forced them to live in constant danger.
For the top players, the contrast was even harsher: adored and worshiped in the real world, yet hunted and targeted inside the dungeons. That extreme disparity was enough to drive someone insane.
Of course, that’s a matter for later.
At this moment, the gathered players were still thrilled at the thought of meeting a God-Tier player.
Lu Chuan, meanwhile, was quietly waiting for Lucas to come fetch him.
By evening, Lucas finally finished his preparations and came to find Lu Chuan.
“Mr. Jin, thanks to your efforts, not a single guest has left. They’re all waiting in the banquet hall for you.” Lucas said with impeccable grace. “Allow me to lead the way.”
Lu Chuan had already changed into a robe covered in gold flakes and gemstones.
Such a gaudy, ostentatious outfit should have looked ridiculous, but on him it seemed perfectly fitting, as if he hadn’t been overshadowed by the clothes at all.
“Butler, I’ll trouble you to lead the way.” Lu Chuan nodded slightly.
Lucas signaled with his eyes, and the servants immediately stepped back, leaving him to personally escort “Mr. Jin” toward the banquet hall.
[Host, be careful!] #888 could clearly see that the butler was up to no good—the path ahead was riddled with hidden dangers. But it couldn’t warn him directly. Thinking of how the host only had a single C-rank item, #888 couldn’t help but worry, even though it knew how formidable Lu Chuan was.
“Relax, System. I’m ready.”
Lu Chuan had already guessed that Lucas would choose this moment to make his move. It wasn’t exactly smart, but it was expected.
After all, how could the butler simply watch as “Mr. Jin” used the banquet to gather all the guests together?
Making a move now was only natural.
By now, those players in the banquet hall should also have started noticing clues. With their skills, some of them should at least survive.
But for the moment, he couldn’t worry about others—he had to focus on himself.
Although Lu Chuan hadn’t left his room much, when he first entered the dungeon, he had followed a servant to his quarters. He remembered the path to the banquet hall clearly.
Yet now, that very same path looked completely different.
Had there always been this many staircases?
Even though Lu Chuan was following right behind Lucas, he felt as if the distance between them was slowly growing.
The surroundings seemed to twist and distort.
More and more staircases appeared around him.
One was piled high with gold, silver, and jewels, heaped into glittering hills that gleamed enticingly, tempting him to claim them.
Another was lined with beautiful men and women in revealing clothes, their eyes smoldering with allure as they beckoned to him.
Another staircase was stacked with powerful items—each one valuable enough to buy unimaginable wealth and status in the outside world.
And yet another was covered in plates of exquisite food, the aromas wafting over with irresistible allure.
A voice whispered ceaselessly in his ear:
“Take whatever you desire—everything you want is here for you.”
“Why struggle with life and death in the dungeons? Wouldn’t it be better to stay here?”
“As long as you wish it, you can be the master of this castle.”
…
In the banquet hall.
Zhang Wanxi and the others had already arrived.
Everyone except Zhang Wanxi was stunned speechless by the dazzling golden extravagance of the place.
They gathered in small groups, chatting while they waited for Mr. Jin.
“Welcome, everyone!”
Without anyone noticing, Mr. Jin was already standing on the dais above them, raising a wine glass with a bright smile.
“You’ve worked hard to make it this far, and I’m very satisfied with your performance.” Mr. Jin praised loudly. “And so, I will now reveal my true identity to you. From this day forward, you will be my most trusted people!”
Zhang Wanxi’s heart pounded with excitement.
This… this wasn’t a dream, was it?
Mr. Jin really valued them this much?
Wait—that person up there… was that really Mr. Jin?
Zhang Wanxi froze.
He rubbed his eyes, and the figure standing above wasn’t Mr. Jin at all—it was clearly the president of their own Noah Guild!
“President… President, it’s really you?”
“Thank goodness! We’re saved—who would’ve thought Mr. Jin was our president all along!”
“This is amazing!”
Before Zhang Wanxi could recover from his shock, the other players were already rushing forward in ecstasy, eager to pledge their loyalty.
Huh? They’re acting like they’re members of Noah Guild too?
Why are they treating our Guildmaster with such passion?
Zhang Wanxi shook his head hard. Something felt wrong, but he couldn’t figure out what.
“Didn’t you all want to know who the master of the castle is?”
“I already know.”
“Follow me, and I’ll lead you to him.” The “president” waved his arm high, urging them to follow him to clear the dungeon.
The servants all smiled in unison as they watched the guests trail after a phantom figure out of the banquet hall.
If the players opened their game interface, they would see their sanity plummeting.
They were being beguiled, deceived, lured away from safety.
Outside lay the castle’s many facilities—an experience that would be unforgettable for the rest of their lives.
Meanwhile—
Lucas had stopped walking.
He turned his head slightly. His once-handsome, refined features now twisted grotesquely as he stared hungrily at Lu Chuan, who had suddenly stopped behind him.
Behind Lu Chuan, a black shadow slowly oozed up from the floor of the corridor, stretching out four hands.
Two hands covered his eyes.
Two hands covered his ears.
The shadow, like sludge yet clinging like a second skin, pressed tightly against his back, trying to wrap him completely inside itself.
It cut off all sound and sight, plunging the guest into an illusion crafted by strange forces.
The illusion would grow more real the more he succumbed, offering him the most exquisite pleasures.
And when his joy reached its peak, his life would be snuffed out—forever imprisoned within the castle.
“Mr. Jin, you are truly one of the most troublesome guests we’ve ever had. Stay here forever. Our castle needs someone like you.” Lucas’s eyes gleamed with ravenous desire as he reached toward Lu Chuan’s chest. But since the guest hadn’t fully succumbed yet, he held back for the moment.
[Host, wake up! Don’t let them deceive you!] #888 was in a panic, ignoring the warning signals from the main system.
If Lu Chuan really died here, where would it ever find another host like him?
Lucas inched closer, his hand hovering just above Lu Chuan’s chest, his eyes burning with greed.
The next instant—Lu Chuan’s hand moved on its own.
He slowly lifted his robe, revealing a book.
A D-rank item: the Bible, gifted by the Church.
It carried a measure of resistance against spiritual corruption.
The Bible glowed faintly as it dissolved into his abdomen. Its light burned away some of the sludge, opening the slightest gap in the hands that covered his eyes.
Inside the illusion, Lu Chuan gazed at all the temptations around him. He nodded lightly and asked the voice that had been tempting him:
“Do I really only get to pick one of these? Can’t they all be mine?”
“…If that’s what you want, then yes.” The voice stuttered briefly, but quickly agreed. “You have the ability to obtain all the most wonderful things in the world.”
“If it were the old me, I probably would’ve been tempted.” Lu Chuan sneered. “But really, couldn’t you upgrade your tricks a bit? It’s always the same boring stuff over and over.”
“What do you want then?”
“Me?” Lu Chuan rubbed his chin. “Some existence promised me I’d become the god of this world, master of all its wealth. What you’re offering can’t possibly be worse than that, right?”
Once you’ve seen the best choice, all the rest looks a bit cheap.
“Can’t you make your illusions more realistic? Honestly, I don’t even feel like criticizing you—it’s so crude.” Lu Chuan spoke with the tone of someone disappointed in a lazy student. “Take these gold and silver treasures, for example. They’re piled up this high, yet the wooden staircase underneath doesn’t even bend? But these treasures look heavy as hell.”
“And these so-called beauties—you’ve got them in skimpy outfits, their gazes all sultry, but their faces all look like they were stamped from the same mold. Did they all go to the same plastic surgery clinic?”
“As for this food, don’t even get me started—it’s nothing but meat dishes. Not a single vegetable? Who has a banquet without greens?”
If Lu Chuan had been the one to design this, he’d have filled in all the details to perfection.
Clearly, this was just halfhearted work. Something thrown together to fool the higher-ups.
Looks like the monsters in this castle weren’t working very hard either.
Author’s note:
Lu Chuan: What? The system told me I’d be the God of Wealth, and all you’re offering is one measly castle?! Stingy!
