<h4>Chapter 94 Chapter93-Failed Plot Against Others Turns Against One''s Self</h4>


    As John fell silent, hismunication channel started to sh with multiple message notifications.


    Blue Sea: Brother Galewind, if you need it, I''ve got some spare change. I can lend you some.


    (Sno requests to add you as a friend): Brother Galewind, send me your card number.


    (Bambooist requests to add you as a friend): Galewind, do you need me to bid on this item for you? Consider it a gift for our long-awaited reunion.


    ...


    John epted the friend requests, then politely declined their offers.


    Emma came up behind John and whispered, "Johnny, I haven''t sent out the proceeds from thest auction of that Legendary item. I can transfer it to you first."


    John simply smiled and shook his head.


    Everyone assumed that his silence was due to ack of funds.


    However, John was actually just contemting the best way to outsmart Darklord.


    He had seen through Darklord''s little tricks at a nce.


    So, thepetition between them wasn''t about money at all.


    They both wanted to outwit each other.


    The challenge now was who was bold enough and detail-oriented to guess the other''s bottom line.


    ...


    When John fell silent, Darklord actually started to panic inside.


    If John didn''t continue to bid, Darklord would be the big loser.


    The price for this Epic equip had already far exceeded its value.


    He would be making a huge loss.


    Fortunately, after a short pause, John calmly increased the price by another million.


    "24 million."


    Darklord felt relieved again.


    He found that Galewind seemed really desperate for this item.


    Even when he had pushed the price this far, the bastard still didn''t want to give up.


    Well then, let him bleed some more.


    Darklord thought, feeling an insane sense of exhration inside.


    His moment of glory was finally here.


    However, in his excitement, he was also reminding himself: this price increase would really be thest one.


    "25 million!"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Darklord''s heart skipped a beat because he noticed a mocking smile on John''s face, "OK, you win. Congrattions on sessfully securing this precious item for 25 million."


    Darklord turned as pale as a ghost.


    It wasn''t until Isabe on the stage struck the gavel that Darklord finally realized the truth.


    All his ns had been anticipated by his adversary.


    "Wow, someone really spent 25 million on an Epic equip?"


    "This Darklord guy is really bleeding cash now."


    "Some people are so damn rich, they just throw out 25 million without thinking."


    "Who said we first-floor yers are all broke? There are plenty of undercover tycoons among us."


    ...


    Most yers weren''t aware of the grudge between Darklord and John.


    So now they were just genuinely amazed by how rich this Darklord yer seemed to be.


    But Darklord felt like his world was crumbling.


    What had he done?


    He was going to spend 25 million on an Epic equip that didn''t even match his ss.


    The praises from the other yers sounded like mockery to Darklord, stabbing his heart like a sharp sword.


    "What do I do now? I can''t really be expected to cough up 25 million, can I?"


    Darklord was in a panic, looking at SoulSong next to him with a twisted face, only to find SoulSong even paler.


    SoulSong was numb.


    Having a leader like Darklord made him feel like he was in hell.


    "We have to pay. The deal is done, and we have to respect the rules," SoulSong said.


    Still unwilling to give up, Darklord scratched his head, searching for a solution.


    "Can we announce that we give up on the item? Real-life auctions have instances of unsold items, right?"


    SoulSong replied with a wooden face, "If thedy on the stage hadn''t dropped the hammer, you could have announced that. But it''s toote now."


    "The hammer falls, the system automatically initiates the transaction. The only way out is to refuse to pay."


    Darklord''s face turned from green to white.


    In the game Godyer, refusing to honor a transaction contract is a serious offense.


    The system would severely punish yers who vited the contract.


    Not only would the guild''s credibility drop into the negatives, but all guild members would also be banned from participating in any transactions in the future.


    If the vition was serious enough, the system could even confiscate all the yer''s assets.


    Darklord was very clear that he had beenpletely outwitted by John this time.


    He red at John with resentment.


    Their already irreconcble enmity deepened.


    Inside the private room.


    Emma curiously asked, "Johnny, are you going to give up on the item?"


    John smiled mischievously, "Who said I was giving up? If someone wants to be the sucker, I''m more than happy to let them. I''ll just snatch the equip backter."


    Emma gazed at John, not repulsed at all by his robber-like deration.


    On the contrary, she felt that the man she loved should be this domineering.


    With a reluctant heart, Darklord epted the item and put it into his backpack.


    25 million in cash, gone just like that.


    Darklord felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his resentment towards John only grew stronger.


    Gritting his teeth, he asked, "SoulSong, how much is left in our guild''s coffers?"


    SoulSong on the side could only shake his head helplessly.


    "After selling thepany''s shares, we had nine figures in funds. But now, we''ve lost a quarter of that. Bidding on those two Legendary Equip might be a stretch."


    Darklord''s face turned even paler.


    The reason he had been so low-key at the start of the auction was to pool all his resources to bid on thest two Legendary Equip.


    Now, his n had been ruined by a moment''s impulsiveness, getting royally screwed over by John.


    What was once a substantial fund was now dangerously low.


    "Can we sell more shares?... I must get my hands on at least one of those Legendary Equip items!" Darklord was desperate.


    The two uing Legendary Equip items had god-tier properties.


    Even a high-and-mighty yer like Darklord recognized their significance.


    If he could get one, his power would skyrocket.


    He must have it!


    After a moment of silence, SoulSong responded with a wry smile, "It''s tough. Most of your father''spany shares have been sold. I have no idea how we can fill the 25 million hole."


    Darklord felt helpless, the transaction had beenpleted, and his ount was definitely 25 million lighter.


    How could he recover from this loss?


    Just as Darklord was about to seek help from his own father, hismunication channel started blinking.


    [Wolf Howl has sent you a friend request...]


    There are two ways to add friends in Godyer.


    One is if both yers are in the same area, they can add each other as friends by inspecting each other''s attributes.


    This was how Bambooist and Sno added John as a friend.


    The other way is to know the other yer''s ID in advance, then search for it in themunication channel and send a friend request from a distance.


    Darklord looked around but didn''t spot any suspicious yers.


    He pondered for a moment and epted the friend request.


    Wolf Howl: Mr. Darklord, are you interested in a partnership?


    Darklord frowned and replied: Who are you?


    Wolf Howl: Who I am doesn''t matter. What matters is that we have amon enemy.


    Darklord: Galewind?


    Wolf Howl: Exactly, our guild has a deep grudge against him, and we just can''t seem to get the upper hand. Since our grievances are the same, why not join forces?


    After careful consideration, Darklord gave his answer: I''m in!


    Meanwhile, at another corner, in the Wolf Guild...


    Wolf Howl reported to his guild leader, Wolf Prime, "Darklord has agreed to coborate... Now it depends on our sincerity..."


    Wolf Prime cautiously responded, "Isn''t this a bit risky? Galewind''s identity is too mysterious, and he has deep ties with many top guilds. Even if we team up with Darklord, can we pose a real threat to Galewind?"


    Wolf Howl didn''t respond.


    Wolf Prime was cautious due to his deep-seated fear of John''s power.


    But Wolf Howl wasn''t scared.


    In terms of background, no matter how powerful the world''s top ten guilds are, could they everpare to the native forces within the game?


    With these thoughts, Wolf Howl scoffed.


    Even the most formidable yers were just small fry in front of the game''s local powers.


    As long as he found his NPC master in the game world, why would he fear a minor yer like Galewind?


    Back in the private suite on the second floor.


    John was oblivious to the undercurrents brewing.


    After Shadowchaser, John didn''t ce any more bids on the items.


    He simply let the other big forcespete among themselves.


    The epic bow-and-arrow item "Forest Hunter" went to Chillminder.


    "Flower of the Netherworld" ended up in Shadowrealm Guild''s possession.


    As Isabe''s hammer constantly tapped on the table, one top-tier item after another found its new owner.


    There was a minor episode during this process.


    An unknown independent yer somehow outbid the top powers on the second floor for an item with superior properties.


    It proved once again that this game was full of hidden talents.


    Numerous wealthy yers preferred to keep a low profile.


    One by one, the items up for auction were imed until only two sought-after treasure chests were left.


    Isabe, still asposed as ever, introduced the next item with a smile, "The next item up for auction is: Medusa''s Tears..."


    All attendees were thrilled.


    The real blockbuster was about to begin!