Chapter 153.2 The Horror Club
The game’s mechanical voice sounded cold and merciless, “Please carefully check the attribute panel.”
When Wen Shi opened it. It clearly stated that it had to be used more than four times.
“……” Isn’t it supposed to be greater than or equal to?
Before he could berate the exploitative game, Wen Shi stumbled, and his transformed body couldn’t even maintain balance.
The entire floor suddenly started shaking violently as a strange, eerie sound came from underground, as if magma were about to erupt. The remaining monsters scattered around like headless flies, and the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling shattered due to the bizarre air currents. The deafening noise spread like shockwaves.
Holding onto the gambling table and avoiding falling shards of the chandelier, Wen Shi glanced at Li Nan. “Should we run?”
A chasm cracked open in front of them. Using his cat-like agility, he leaped onto another gambling table while peering over. The abyss was so deep that he couldn’t see the bottom, unsure of what might be lurking down there.
“Grim Reaper enters the live stream.”
The temperature on Wen Shi’s electronic watch suddenly dropped significantly. The blood circulation he had just managed to restore was now hindered again, making his left wrist stiff.
The rest of the message notifications appeared insignificant in comparison to the two prominently highlighted in red. Meanwhile, the live chat went completely wild.
“True spirits, two true spirits!”
“F—ck, it’s the Mirror God. Seeking the truth of transcendental philosophy, Mirror God, my Eternal God!”
“Isn’t the Mirror God supposed to be sleeping at Frank Hospital all this time? Why did they suddenly appear?”
……
The comments were scrolling so fast that some were impossible to read. This was the first time Wen Shi realized there was a fan culture among monsters. However, his attention was drawn to a single word in one of the comments.
Philosophy.
This Mirror God seemed to be the same true spirit he had encountered in Sunset Town. Wen Shi looked at the comment and a thought crossed his mind. It seemed that Song Yan would transform into【Philosophical Mirror】, rather than grow violently.
On the other hand, he was almost certain that there wouldn’t be a violent confrontation later on.
Monsters loved strength, and the fact that this Boss Mei had such high popularity meant they were likely extremely fierce. Not only would the game make it difficult for players to deal with such a creature, it would probably generate some random quests.
Because they shared the same perspective, quite a few viewers also joined in on Li Nan’s side. He looked at the innocent-looking little girl on the scale and said, “This might be a bit troublesome.”
Wen Shi used his eyes to inquire about information regarding Boss Mei.
Li Nan shook his head and said, “I haven’t heard of this boss, but the thing she’s sitting on might be the legendary Money Scale.”
He went into a bit more detail, “I’ve read the old version of the ‘Virtual World Guide,’ which mentioned that the Money Scale is the only thing not governed by the game. It operates by its own set of rules, free from the game’s influence.”
Wen Shi couldn’t help but take another look at the balance scale, its two trays shining with a cold metallic sheen. The trays appeared shallow at first glance, but a second look left him wondering about their depth, like an unfathomable chasm underground.
Boss Mei’s gaze fell upon Wen Shi.
She held her slightly chubby cheek with one hand, her voice carrying a playful and childish tone.
“My livelihood depends on the bloody transactions among these monsters, but you’ve killed my guests…” The plum blossoms on her shoulder trembled with her sigh. Boss Mei stared at Wen Shi with her big eyes. “It’s only fair to repay debts. Tonight, you’ll have to fill the rest of the transactions all by yourself.”
She beckoned Wen Shi to come over.
Wen Shi hesitated for a moment and walked over himself, leaving the ghost children behind.
Just as Wen Shi was about to reach Boss Mei, the little girl’s pure white hand suddenly gripped the snowy-white plum blossom branch on her shoulder, one end draping on Wen Shi’s shoulder, and the frontmost flower bud slowly blossomed.
Boss Mei nodded in satisfaction. “Your life is quite valuable. You’re qualified to participate in the gamble.”
“Gamble on what?” Wen Shi asked calmly. “Life?”
Monsters didn’t desire money much. They often played with lives instead.
“Indeed, many people want your life. They’ll help fill the other side’s stakes.”
As soon as Boss Mei finished speaking, a cold mechanical voice spread to every player’s ears:
“Attention all players, if you wish to hunt Player 460872, please come to the third underground floor of Golden Plum Casino for Boss Mei’s betting game.”
“Friendly reminder, Boss Mei dislikes stingy guests. Please bring enough chips.”
What the chips referred to wasn’t specifically mentioned. Because the scale was too high, Wen Shi could only look up at the little girl and ask, “What if no one comes?”
“There will be someone,” Boss Mei replied with a cheerful smile, her red robe and plum blossoms giving her a festive appearance. “One person, even if unwilling, must come. You two have a debt relationship, and that relationship relies on the【Super Abacus】. The abacus is also a branch of the Money Scale. I’m going to amplify this gamble further. He has no choice.”
Wen Shi thought to himself that there were no free lunches in this world. Using godly weapons also came with risks.
Ji Yuanzhi had previously mentioned that as long as one remained indebted to Wangcai Bank, there was a chance to reverse-plunder the godly weapon behind the bank.
It seemed that the Money Scale was above the level of godly weapons. According to Boss Mei’s words, the bank’s godly weapon was under her control. Once Boss Mei wanted to increase the volume of debt transactions, Bank President couldn’t possibly refuse. He had to attend this betting game.
However…
Wen Shi’s eyes darkened slightly. Even without this connection, he believed that Bank President wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity.
The bank had been secretly waiting to inherit his legacy.
Bank President arrived later than expected, and he wasn’t alone. When the elevator doors opened, there were seven people behind the chubby man. Among them, only two were bank members, and the rest were top-ranking players.
Wen Shi’s expression turned slightly cold. Bank President seemed to know more about the Money Scale than the others, as if he came prepared.
After entering the third underground floor, Bank President only gave Wen Shi a faint glance as he walked to one end of the scale on his own.
Wen Shi watched him, then turned and walked to the other end. Both sides stood in a silent confrontation, almost reaching a breaking point.
“Don’t be so tense,” Boss Mei said. “Perhaps no one will die in this game tonight.”
Two pieces of paper with plum blossom symbols flew to each of them. When they took them, they realized that they were similar in size to banknotes but had no amount on them. They contained information about the game rules.
【Money Scale Gameplay Overview:
Both sides select valuable items as chips. The scale will tilt towards whoever has more valuable chips, granting them the first move.】
【First Move: In the Money Scale game, it specifically means that a new game will be generated based on the first move. The player with the first move has the privilege of placing the initial bet.】
【Secrets to Winning the Money Scale:
1. First move guarantees victory.
2. Quantity change leads to qualitative change. With bigger bets, making the first move does not necessarily guarantee victory.】
【Please spare no effort to secure victory. The winner can recover all the chips!】
Wen Shi frowned. “So, the new game is generated based on the first move?”
Boss Mei patiently explained and gestured to the two players present, “As an example, the one who offers more chips can sway the balance in their direction and secure the first move. If the balance tips toward the person on the left… What is your surname”
The player instinctively replied, “Zhang.”
Boss Mei politely addressed him as Mr. Zhang, “Mr. Zhang, once you make the first move, the Money Scale will autonomously search for things connected to you, thus shaping a new gambling scenario.”
A plum blossom appeared on the player’s shoulder. Boss Mei collected it and continued, “Perhaps the balance will create such a gambling scenario based on Mr. Zhang’s experiences. Is there a godly weapon hidden in the fairy tale forest, or is it beneath the deep sea?”
The player’s face turned pale. He possessed a crucial clue about the godly weapon’s location, likely inside a fairy tale instance.
Boss Mei: “And Mr. Zhang here has the privilege of placing the initial bet in this scenario.”
Wen Shi raised an eyebrow. “I see.”
Player A, with information that Player B didn’t know, determined the game scenario. That was why having the first move guaranteed victory.
He contemplated for a moment before asking, “Can the items used as chips be used in the future?”
Boss Mei smiled knowingly. “Before the game begins, everything is frozen.”
Wen Shi’s breathing tightened slightly.
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