Swish, swish, swish.

The sound of pens scratching on paper echoed through the Hongmen Club.

With every player that signed the 【Myriad Treasures Transaction Contract】, Gentleman Penguin’s expression grew more complicated.

His heart was bleeding.

His very own, personally crafted contract was being used for such a black-hearted transaction!

It was simply unconscionable!

While weeping internally, Gentleman Penguin began to modify the remaining blank contracts in his briefcase. He mixed hidden clauses into the golden thread pattern.

Since you were the one to cross the line, don’t blame me for doing the same!

Hmph! The people who trade with me in the future are in for a treat.

And they can all thank this bastard named 【Yan Shuangying】!

“Mm, not bad. Remember, after you return to your world, find a Descender named 【Yan Shuangying】 and hand over what you owe me to him.”

Wu Wang chuckled, pocketing the transaction slips.

“As compensation, he’ll give you a few special little things as a souvenir.”

Wu Wang hadn’t said it outright, but it was written within the contract’s hidden golden thread pattern.

The so-called “souvenirs” were the 【Contaminated Relic】s.

It was a trade, after all. He had to give them something, or the contract’s fairness would be compromised, rendering it worthless. His maneuver barely scraped by that rule.

But his words stunned the players.

They had assumed the debt would be collected the next time they entered an Instance. They never expected to have to pay up as soon as they returned to the real world.

“Excuse me,” the Poet of the Myriad Springs Division asked, clearly confused. “Can this player, 【Yan Shuangying】, truly represent you? If he fails to bring the payment to you in an Instance, would that be considered a breach of contract on our part?”

He had read the clauses very carefully. Besides, he believed such a great being wouldn’t bother playing games with mere contract loopholes against players like them.

The other players looked just as confused.

As the current highest-level batch of domestic players, they had all at least heard of one another, even if they’d never met.

But none of them had ever heard of the 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】 having contact with a player.

Who was this 【Yan Shuangying】? Was there even a player with that name in the high-rank matches?

“Of course. He is the private tutor to my personally appointed Holy Son,” Wu Wang said with a smile.

“Besides, who told you he needs to bring the payment to me in an Instance?”

The players froze.

A scalp-numbing chill crawled up their spines, like a centipede skittering across their skin.

Holy Son? Private Tutor?

And what did he mean by that last sentence?

Not in an Instance? Then he’s going to…

Holy shit! Could it be…?

Sensing their inner turmoil through the Abyss God’s Mark, Wu Wang adopted a mysterious expression.

“I can feel your fear. That’s right, it’s just as you’re thinking.”

He leaned in slightly.

“I… intend to take a vacation in your world.”

This time, their anxious hearts finally gave out. Every player wore an expression of utter disbelief.

In all their years as Spirit Calamity Players, they had never heard of a being from an Instance traveling to the real world.

Then they remembered the Open Beta was just around the corner.

Could this be related to that?

“What? You think your world is so special?” Wu Wang continued to bluff. “You’re allowed to become Descenders and travel to other worlds, but beings like me aren’t allowed to visit yours? A bit arrogant, don’t you think?”

He knew, from the lack of information on the Spirit Calamity app and his conversation with Xiezhi, that the major organizations and high-level players were desperate for any information on the game’s fundamental nature.

A few casual remarks from him would be enough to have them tearing their hair out for weeks.

And who could blame them for believing him? He was the 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】, after all.

BOOM!

Just as Wu Wang was gleefully preparing to reveal even more “top secrets,” the sky outside cracked with thunder.

The deafening roar was audible even deep inside the cruise ship, sending a wave of panic through the players.

They thought the great being before them was throwing a tantrum. They’d already seen him unleash his fury on the Calamity Cult before letting Gentleman Penguin turn them all into question marks.

Little did they know, the very “great existence” they feared was panicking right alongside them.

Wu Wang felt his own heartbeat quicken.

He had a very bad feeling.

Creeak.

The main door swung open, and Mary walked in with a gentle smile.

She first asked Gentleman Penguin about his dietary restrictions and preferred spice level, then glided over to Wu Wang’s side.

She leaned in and whispered, in a voice only he could hear.

“Sir, That One asks you to tone it down a bit.”

Wu Wang froze.

I’m so screwed!

The real 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】 is supervising me!

It was like the big boss getting a sudden whim to check the security cameras, only to find his underling using his name to spout nonsense and ruin his reputation.

How could that be allowed? If he kept this up, the Spirit Venerable would probably summon him again.

He could already imagine being soaked in the Sea of Desire for the next few hundred years.

“Ahem! Anything further is not for mortals such as you to know,” Wu Wang said, hurriedly trying to salvage his image for his watching boss.

“In short, this body is my personally appointed Holy Son, and Yan Shuangying is his private tutor. I hope you will not make things difficult for them when you repay your debts.”

He let a threatening edge creep into his voice.

“After all, I don’t wish to make things difficult for you, either.”

As he spoke, the Aura of Desire surged from his body.

The players’ mouths instantly went dry as all sorts of buried, unmentionable desires swirled in their minds.

Their faces turned beet red, each one struggling with all their might to keep from doing something shameful.

A moment later, Wu Wang retracted the aura.

Seeing the “we understand” expressions on their faces, he knew his intimidation had worked.

“The Holy Son is still very weak, so I shall take my leave with him. The private tutor will be here to greet you shortly.”

Wu Wang shot Mary a look.

She understood immediately. With a wave of her hand, she teleported him off the floor.

“Then I shall take my leave as well,” Gentleman Penguin said with a slight bow. “Others nearby are calling for me with a 【Myriad Treasures Merchant’s Coupon】. I must attend to business.”

Mary tried to stop him.

“Aren’t you going to stay for the chopped chili fish?”

Gentleman Penguin shrugged helplessly.

“I have already eaten. It’s just that someone earlier claimed a dish cooked by tapping it with a cane has no soul, and insisted I must experience the charm of a handmade one. That is why I lingered. It seems I am not fated to enjoy it now. Thank you for your kind intentions, madam.”

“Oh, right. Please relay a message to your Holy Son for me.”

His voice dropped slightly.

“This place doesn’t just have 【The Twisted】 and 【Suffering】. It seems there’s also a touch of 【Hope】 mixed in. He has secretly opened a small Instance hidden within this one.”

“The ones calling for me now are likely from the Abnormal Affairs Bureau.”

With that, Gentleman Penguin used his cane to draw a familiar black circle on the floor.

He took off his top hat, held it to his chest, and bowed in farewell.

His figure slowly vanished into the circle.

His parting words, however, left the players’ minds racing.

The Abnormal Affairs Bureau? They’re in a small Instance?

No wonder we haven’t seen them this entire time!

There are other experts here? What are they doing?

No one believed the Bureau had stumbled into it by mistake. This 【Relic Scramble】 was an Instance they had opened with a key in the first place. It was only natural they’d have a few secrets up their sleeve.

Since they hadn’t come to Aiguyi Town, it was obvious they believed the rewards in that small Instance were greater.

Damn it! While we were over here getting scared out of our wits, they were off farming 【Relics】?

The players on the cruise ship wanted to cry but had no tears.

But then they thought about the “secret intel” they had just received from the 【Spirit Venerable of the Sea of Desire】.

Suddenly, it didn’t feel so bad. Information was priceless, after all.

The players felt they hadn’t lost out. Gentleman Penguin felt he had made a huge profit.

As for the Calamity Cult members… their conditions were stable, and they raised no objections.

And so, a world where no one gets hurt was achieved.

Meanwhile, Wu Wang’s own thoughts began to stir.

He had learned of the small Instance’s existence from Mary’s telepathic message.

There must be fun to be had over there! How could a fun-seeker like me miss out?

He was going to go over and mess with the people from the Abnormal Affairs Bureau!

As for how to get there…

“Big Boss! Do you have any thoughts on this 【Hope】 entity?”

“Do you need me to go sound them out for you?”

“You know me, I’m the most helpful person there is!”

“Send me over to have some fun, pretty please…”