Chapter 134: Benefit Game and Internet Alternatives (Two-in-One)

Willis was as bustling as ever in the morning.

Among the most lively, busy, and down-to-earth places was the entrance of the Dragon Factory.

At dawn, the wide factory entrance was already a hubbub of voices.

Both sides of the road were almost entirely filled with tricycles favored by the common people.

Most of these were small vendors selling breakfast.

They sold a wide variety of food including soups, bread, pancakes, cold dishes, and even some using small stoves to sell hot food.

At each stall, several workers stood.

Some showed signs of overnight fatigue from working overtime.

Others were full of energy, ready for a new workday.

Today, something seemed off at the front of the Dragon Factory.

The workers were too excited, chatting incessantly while waiting for their meals.

“Have you heard? [Conquest] opened a new dungeon, and someone made 110,000 gold coins overnight! My goodness, gold coins!”

“What? 110,000 gold coins?”

A worker in line spoke up, and the retired mercenary selling pancakes, Tempur, perked up his ears.

Since getting injured and unable to wield a sword and shield, he turned to a small business—selling pancakes.

Barely managing to support his family with help from old friends.

Life only began to improve after the Dragon Factory started operating in Willis.

Selling at the Dragon Factory entrance for a day outperformed ten days of his previous sales!

It’s no exaggeration!

Previously, even in the wealthy capital of the Kewell Empire, most of the common folks only had two meals a day.

Seeking food when hungry, discarding extras when full.

Thus, his business naturally was very poor.

Barely meeting the basic needs of his family.

Now, with Lord Ajef opening the Dragon Factory, people were coming and going.

The Dragon Factory was also known for its high salaries.

With money in their pockets, workers were willing to spend.

He even bought a tricycle.

Not for luxury, but for faster transport to secure a good spot.

“Just 110,000 gold coins! My gosh, I am so envious. That guy completely hit the jackpot by stumbling into the dwarf mithril smelting plant, making 110,000 overnight!”

“Dwarves? Smelting plant? What’s going on?”

“You don’t know? Dwarf King stole the Internet God’s production line, apparently from our Dragon Factory, and even humiliated the great Internet God, who declared war on the dwarves!”

“When did this happen? I didn’t know!”

“The declaration happened suddenly last night. Didn’t you see? My gosh, a legendary floating city bigger than Willis was hovering in the sky, heading straight for Khazad-dûm! It was so imposing the dwarves were too scared to show up.”

The worker’s face was flushed with excitement as he gestured.

“Another exaggeration from the Internet, that’s a floating airship created by the Internet God! Way more powerful than a floating city!”

Someone nearby scoffed.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s a floating city or an airship, it was impressive!”

“Yeah, it could yank someone from the ground into the sky with a beam of light!”

“Hey, hey, brother, what’s with the 110,000 gold coins?”

“Oh gosh, it’s a long story. You better check online yourself!”

“I…I can’t read!”

“To simplify, [Conquest Sub-Dimension] opened a dungeon to the dwarf world, Khazad-dûm! As the Dwarf King stole the Internet God’s production line, the Internet God retaliated, letting us loot the dwarves’ wealth, which can be exchanged at the Internet Bank for real money.”

“What? It can be withdrawn real money?”

The night shift workers, unaware of this, were stirred.

During this, Tempur, tending a pancake stove, listened and finally pieced together the situation, his eyes flashing with envy.

“Envy won’t help. Back when I was a mercenary, I heard someone finding an abandoned dragon lair and making millions overnight. Besides, dwarves aren’t easy to deal with; they hide underground!”

Tempur couldn’t help but join the conversation.

He had heard many overnight riches stories in his life.

Such tales were what originally motivated him to become a mercenary.

But dreams are wonderful; reality is harsh.

In reality, there aren’t so many sudden riches stories.

Even if they exist, they’re for few individuals; don’t expect them to happen to you.

So despite occasionally logging into [Conquest Sub-Dimension], he limited his involvement.

He found investing time kneading dough to make more pancakes for a steady income more worthwhile.

“Exactly! Our Guild Leader with many brothers labored all night, using deceitful tactics, yet only made a little over a thousand gold coins from a dwarf cave raid! After splitting, I only got 53 silver; tell me, isn’t that infuriating?”

“What? 53 silver? That’s decent! I was busy all night, only got a Demon-breaker Blade, divided among the team, resulting in just 9 silver each, and I lost a magic puppet!”

“Whoa, you guys did well! I only made 2 silver.”

A stone thrown into the pond created ripples.

As the topic spread, the factory entrance became more lively, with many sharing their gains.

Unlucky ones got lost in Khazad-dûm without making any copper.

Skilled ones earned nearly a gold coin.

Of course, many gained just a few silver or copper.

On a glance, most made some profit.

Many openly claimed:

“Dwarves are really rich! Even their low-rank soldiers wear armor and wield weapons, possessing magical tools. Way richer than those orcs dressed in leaves. Forget finding a smelting plant, even slaying a dwarf isn’t a loss.”

Hearing the discussions, Tempur looked at the copper coin from pancake sales feeling unsatisfied.

Thinking: maybe, I should try my luck?

Even though I’m old, I still have skills. With magic puppets, I might not lose to dwarves!

While pancake master Tempur pondered, next to him, the noodle vendor Fanny remained cool.

Ignoring outside rumors, she focused on her work.

Arranging wooden bowls neatly on the Table, using a slotted spoon to load each with hand-pulled noodles, adding cooked offal, and finally sprinkling spices.

These spices were her noodle’s secret to success.

From the [Forest of Magic], a secret known only to her from Pus’s mother.

She took some from Pus’s mother and planted them, trying them in offal. To her surprise, the results were amazing.

Offal, the entrails of animals, was food for the lowest class in Kewell Empire.

It was the cheapest meat-based food for the public.

Due to the heavy rank smell and being waste organs, it was considered unappealing.

Only those deprived of meat would patronize.

So with spices masking the offal’s rank odor, Fanny’s noodle business suddenly flourished.

Although a bit pricey, demand exceeded supply.

The aroma was too tempting.

Now her stall was crowded, keeping her too busy to look up.

Finishing the last bowl, she inhaled slightly.

Just as she was about to collect money and continue, greasy hands reaching for bowls didn’t appear.

Puzzled, she looked up to find the buzzing discussions had vanished.

A young man dressed in sword-practice attire on a bicycle stopped by, smiling: “Auntie, how much for a bowl?”

Fanny’s pupils dilated.

The man’s attire instantly revealed he wasn’t a commoner or mercenary.

He was…a noble!

“Nine coins a bowl…” said Fanny instinctively, then swiftly added, “No money required…sir, take as you please.”

“The wood bowl must cost around ten coins, right? I’ll take it with the noodles!”

The young man said, placing his hand over the bowl, and it disappeared.

Then, about twenty copper coins stacked where it was.

After leaving money, he leisurely pedaled off on his bicycle.

Fanny was stunned.

Until the young man vanished, the factory entrance was lively again.

Her stall was suddenly packed.

“Oh, was that…Lord Ajef?”

“Yes, I’ve seen him in the factory!”

“That was indeed Lord Ajef!”

“Lord Ajef eats offal noodles?”

“Hey, Auntie, get me a bowl too!”

“I’ll have one as well.”

Countless workers crowded, eager to taste the noodles that attracted Lord Ajef.

Yu Sheng’an didn’t realize his noodle purchase boosted the vendor’s fame.

He was merely drawn by the food, reminding him of home.

He was off to a meeting.

A meeting he called in response to the Kewell hierarchy.

Justin’s overnight wealth stirred both players and Kewell’s elite.

Early that day, Dundar subtly expressed interest in the Khazad-dûm battle.

Yu Sheng’an’s initiated war mode aroused Kewell’s envy.

Yu Sheng’an convened the meeting.

Instead of teleporting, he leisurely rode his bicycle to cool Kewell’s leaders.

On the way, Yu Sheng’an showed off.

But it didn’t cause a stir.

The reason was simple: too many cosplaying as him.

Streets were filled with people wearing white sword-practice suits on bicycles.

Despite his signature black hair, he blended into the crowd.

Even if some recognized him, they were too surprised to react, and he rode off.

Long missing street-strolling, Yu Sheng’an saw Willis busier, loaded with mercenaries transporting goods.

Clearly, industrialization invigorated the city.

Watching busy mercenaries, Yu Sheng’an pondered.

Transport capacity, a serious industrial cost burden on Kewell!

Save up for teleportation array planning, or a green-skin train would suffice.

Human labor, horse-laden transport had high costs.

Thinking while wobbling into the Felix Magic Academy, he parked his bicycle at the ring-shaped magic tower.

Upon reaching the anti-magic conference room, three Archmages awaited.

“Sorry for the wait.”

“Greetings, Lord Ajef!”

The Archmages, despite waiting long, dared not show displeasure, standing to salute.

Yu Sheng’an nodded, casually sat on a high-back chair, from his space ring pulled the offal noodles bought earlier to the surprise of the three Archemages.

“Bought them outside the factory, smelt good. Want some?”

Yu Sheng’an asked out of politeness.

How to share one bowl?

Maybe there’s more in his space ring?

But these are offal noodles!

Such cheap food, even a fallen noble wouldn’t eat.

The Archmages quickly shook their heads, exchanging a puzzled glance.

Internet God’s intention?

Did he see through their intentions, warning no matter how small the profit, don’t try extracting it from him?

Thinking this, the Archmages’ eyes flickered.

“Been busy lately, just say what’s needed.”

Yu Sheng’an spoke while enjoying noodles.

Tasting them, not bad at all.

Obviously cooked with spices, no rank odor, with the offal texture softened, chewy yet tender, full of flavor.

“We came for the Khazad-dûm situation, shocked at Dwarf King Kauth’s despicable actions, completely disregarding Kewell. We’re willing to serve you!”

Dundar spoke seriously.

“Oh? How do you plan on serving?”

Yu Sheng’an inquired while slurping noodles.

“Though unaware of your strategic plan, from what we see, the dwarves’ lifeline is in your hands! But once they react, they’ll intercept magical puppets on the surface.”

“Thus, we’d like to procure floating airships with magic towers, dispatch magicians to suppress any surface-outcropping dwarves!”

Dundar said somberly.

After a night of study, Kewell’s top level found this a weak link in the Internet God’s strategy, offering them entry.

“Fine!”

Yu Sheng’an nodded.

Dundar trio rejoiced.

But Yu Sheng’an’s next sentence froze their delight.

“However, Kewell magicians aren’t allowed to go in person.”

“Lord Ajef, we’ve examined your floating airships; with magic towers, they’re highly safe, securing magicians’ personal safety. Only using magical puppets can’t maximize magician power, harming the strategic execution.”

Zimor explained hastily.

“Then would you be warehouse mice, right?”

Yu Sheng’an’s words stunned the Archmages.

Before they understood ‘warehouse mice’, Yu Sheng’an put down the chopsticks, leaned back in the chair, voice chilling.

“Airships, dwarf treasure, you can have them, but by my rules, don’t try to be clever. Understood?”

Why reject the Archmages’ proposal?

Profit-driven;

Also centralized control.

Think about it, if he let magicians into Khazad-dûm, they’d open private traps, secretly transporting the riches back to Kewell?

Certainly, inevitable.

Because Yu Sheng’an levied taxes!

Tax rate used super-progressive scales!

The more wealth exchanged, the harsher the tax.

Minimum 3%, maximum 40%!

Yu Sheng’an didn’t care about money but the cost of war and control over the Fourth Calamity.

He was a platform operator. If people bypassed his platform to form vertical alliances, wouldn’t he become a ‘philanthropist’?

Once this loophole opens, with human wisdom, schemes will certainly emerge.

By then, helpers guiding the way around rules would be ‘saints’.

The rule maker, investing in creating the platform for wealth, would become the ‘villain’.

That’s human nature.

Yu Sheng’an’s setup was akin to courier ‘transit centers’.

Transit centers had many advantages but were primarily to control grassroots franchisees!

As all goods passed through transit centers, remote franchisees had to comply regardless!

Yu Sheng’an’s Fourth Calamity was similar.

Whether eyeing Dofi Sub-Dimension mines or dwarf treasures in Khazad-dûm.

Fine, use my platform, pay dues, earn per skill.

But try bypassing my rules, and I’ll unleash airships over Willis!

Ultimately, the Kewell Empire wasn’t conquered by Yu Sheng’an’s force.

His control was always weak.

Mainly through the Archmages, indirectly controlling the Empire.

If relations soured, even slaying the Archmages would hardly stabilize Kewell quickly.

Reality isn’t a game.

Doing so, what would noble magicians think?

Some would surrender;

But most would panic and flee.

Simply put, this is a power game.

Achieving goals with minimal cost is what an excellent strategist does.

Facing Yu Sheng’an’s firm refusal, Dundar and the Archmages paled.

They tried to argue, but words failed, fear flickering deep in their eyes.

In a daze, it felt like the Internet turned into a vast net, trapping them tighter with every struggle.

No wonder ‘Interconnectivity’ bore the ‘net’ suffix.

It hinted at the true essence of the Internet.

…

…

As Dundar and the Archmages realized the Internet’s perverse properties;

The Five Prime Gods feared deeply.

“We must quickly research an Internet alternative, or our missionary zones will fall to the Internet God!”

In the lonely stone palace atop Saintord’s Cordillera Mountains came an eerie voice.

“The Underworld God’s authority could accomplish this.”