My Players Are So Fierce - Chapter 390

Chapter 390: Transia’s First Offline Casino is About to Open!

Adele quickly brought her Uncle Bella and Aunt Bernice back to the Crimson Citadel, where Grand Duchess Tris was already waiting.

According to Tris’s own boasting, when she was “young”, she had “interned” for a while in the Moon Holy City of the Sanghai Empire, and had her own unique understanding of death spirit energy, although she hadn’t reached the level of a death magic master, but as an undead physician examining Bernice’s condition was still something she could handle easily.

Although Tris spoke vaguely, Murphy could roughly guess.

Tris’s “internship” in the Sanghai Empire most likely wasn’t through the formal “vampire study abroad” program, and there was a high probability that she had secretly hidden in their holy city to steal the mysterious knowledge belonging to the Moon priests, and probably hadn’t even learned it well before being discovered.

She could only flee in embarrassment, just like her experience of being chased after failing to steal the holy grail from the Elf Kingdom.

Otherwise, with Tris’s personality that values knowledge and loves taking risks, she wouldn’t have allowed herself to give up halfway in the study of death knowledge without reaching the master realm.

Including this time, how many times has the continent-shaking Crimson Witch eaten humble pie?

While others’ continent-shaking means being undefeated across the land, Tris’s continent-shaking means being chased and beaten by everyone, isn’t this treatment quite peculiar?

However, in terms of attitude towards seeking knowledge, Tris’s seriousness and rigor was enough to make Murphy, who had been slacking in this aspect and had practiced several advanced sword techniques to master level but was still a half-baked summoner, feel ashamed and unable to show his face.

At present, while Tris was examining Bernice’s body and studying the unique profession of Netherworld Knight specific to the undead faction, Murphy also heard Adele’s relay of Hog’s request in his office.

“Indeed a clever fellow, perhaps too clever.”

Murphy shook his head and said:

“Looks like it hasn’t been idle during this time, and has already learned from the simplified continental history about Transia’s chaotic ‘vibrant and competitive’ state when facing the Black Plague.

Obviously Hog is already having security anxiety.

As those who supported it, we must give it some confidence at this time.”

“But getting the administrative office to recognize Hog’s clan as members of Transia will definitely cause quite a stir.”

Adele said very hesitantly:

“I estimate Miriam and Professor Malcolm would approve, as the Regent is already worried sick about manpower, while Professor Malcolm is focused on achieving racial equality.

However, Transians are crude and stubborn, they won’t easily accept a group of gnolls as their neighbors, especially given that this place has suffered from the poison of gnolls for hundreds of years in the past, the hatred between both sides is already very difficult to resolve.”

“Then simply don’t resolve it, leave it to time.”

Murphy wasn’t so worried, he said to Adele:

“The locals used to hate witch hunters too, but look now, young people are actively going to Morland Village to take the witch hunters’ hunting trials.

Although this is partly due to the re-spread of the Avalon faith, it’s obviously also because the witch hunters have never been absent from any battle since the establishment of the Crimson Citadel.

Although we Transians are crude and stubborn, the harsh living environment has also made us realistic and steady.

The locals won’t care about things that can’t help them eat and dress warmly. As long as Hog and its clan can firmly stand on our side this time during the Black Plague and make visible contributions to Transia.

I believe it’s only a matter of time before the locals accept them!

After all, judging from Kenport’s situation, the difference between Transia gnolls and Dark Mountain gnolls is quite large, if we have to say, you could say they’re two different species without any problem.

Moreover, the Smuggler’s Woods is far from Transia’s human residential areas, that place is considered a border in various senses.

Unless doing shady business, locals are unlikely to have any contact with Hog and its clan in their lifetime.”

At this point, Murphy looked at Adele.

He said softly:

“You decide this matter, Adele! You are the Baroness of Shadow, that’s your territory, I shouldn’t override your authority to decide everything there.

You also need to learn to shoulder your management responsibilities, rather than pushing your duties to me in the name of ‘loyalty’, just like Maxim who is the Baron of Leim but has barely managed his territory for a day.

I now find that in his mouth, loyalty is not only a self-proclaimed label, but also the perfect excuse when being lazy.

Ah, this is probably what we often call ‘appearing foolish while being wise’.”

“Uh okay, master, but let’s discuss these things after the Black Plague ends.”

Lady Adele hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said:

“As you said, if Hog wants to get a permanent fief and occupy a place in Transia’s management layer, it and its people must make more contributions to this land.

Burying Kenport is a good start, the fall of Plague Town will be an excellent progression, and the Black Plague will directly determine our and their fate.”

“Mm, let’s do that, comfort it first.”

Murphy nodded.

He picked up his quill and continued perfecting the design of “Dungeon 003” in his notebook. As Adele turned to leave, Murphy seemed to casually ask:

“Still not planning to use the source blood? Bella and Bernice are very concerned about your situation, even though they’re already dead, they still hope you can gain freedom.”

This question made Lady Adele stop in her tracks.

She was silent for several seconds before biting her lip and saying in a subtle tone:

“Then what about you? Do you want me to leave you forever? Do you feel my loyalty is still insufficient? I can improve, I can learn from Maxim.

I…”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Murphy waved his hand to stop Adele from continuing, and said softly:

“Don’t overthink it, go do your work.”

“Yes, master.”

Adele breathed a sigh of relief and pushed open the door to leave.

After she left, Murphy slammed the pen in his hand hard on the desk, then covered his eyes with his hand, his handsome face showing a very painful and helpless expression.

Adele’s personality in the past wouldn’t have said such pitiful words like a kitten about to be abandoned, even with a hint of coquettishness.

It seems the blood pact’s influence on her mind has already become very serious, although she never shows it, but E-Sister’s dependence on him has become increasingly inescapable like being trapped in quicksand.

“If this continues it’s likely to cause problems”

Murphy rubbed his eyes and sighed:

“If I had known then I would have pinched her nose and forced her to drink it, ah, it’s all Femis’s fault! If only you were a normal vampire!

Having you sign a blood pact with Adele would have been the perfect choice, if we could have really done that, I wouldn’t need to worry and have headaches about these things now.

But considering that Femis’s birth and growth are related to Dusk, so the culprit behind this matter is still that damned cultist organization!

Damn it!

Actually causing me such big trouble, sooner or later I’ll wipe out all you dogs who do evil things!

Ah, blood pact

Really is a double-edged sword, but I am very curious how Joy Stick and Melia will develop in the future? A cross-world human-ghost love that can’t end?

Tsk tsk, this will definitely be very interesting.

Ah, a conquest-loving heartless valiant general, a blind vampire with a troubled past, a pact made not out of emotion but only for help and benefit, a twisted relationship that cannot be untangled.

All the factors for achieving a wonderful love story are complete, perhaps I should invite Knight Palanno to come to our place again to give those two a ‘pure love blessing’.

Ha!

I knew it, this will definitely be very interesting!”

————————

While Murphy was planning to enjoy others’ troubles to amuse his worried self in an inhuman way, in the village chief’s courtyard of Farm No. 3 near the Crimson Citadel, Life Is Pretty Good and his four secretaries were making final revisions to their “village development plan” that they had already formulated.

They were very busy.

Occasionally exchanging a few words before continuing to work on this plan that had been in preparation for several days, from that thick stack of papers one could see this was definitely a work of heart.

However, soon another “guest” appeared in Old Huo’s office.

Blood Rat Gang leader Dorothy silently jumped in through the window, seemingly wanting to make an entrance in the thief’s “traditional way”, but before she could take a step, she noticed a barely perceptible spirit energy trap under her feet.

That thing had already activated.

It was cunningly arranged along the tile joints throughout the office, assassins with slightly worse eyesight or less experience would be completely unable to discover it.

Just touching the spirit energy lines that had already spread out in four directions and were slightly vibrating in the shadows would trigger the trap.

Dorothy didn’t know what effect this spirit energy trap had, but she didn’t want to recklessly try it out just because her movement skills were good, any thief who lived long wouldn’t actively use their feet to test the strength of a trap with unknown effects.

High skill is not a reason for reckless actions, and good luck even less so can’t become the courage for casual risk-taking.

So the cautious Blood Rat Gang boss revealed herself on the spot, and Wild Goose, who reacted fastest, grabbed the short staff beside her, although she hadn’t passed the Black Iron trial, the spirit energy beam gathering at the staff’s tip was already quite remarkable, and combined with her excellent personal image, she indeed had some of an spirit mage’s dignity.

The other three secretary girls reacted a bit slower, but they also immediately grabbed their weapons, which from their styles appeared to be warrior, hunter and bard respectively.

Although they were all part-time administrative professions, from the four girls’ crisp and clean movements, it was clear they hadn’t slacked off in developing their personal strength.

This was also understandable.

Becoming an administrator was work, choosing a combat profession was life, elite players like them always kept work and personal life clearly separated.

“Don’t be nervous, put down your weapons.”

Old Huo was also startled when he saw Dorothy appear, as a trickster he had set up a wraith trap in his office for himself, but it seems it wasn’t enough to deal with assassins like Dorothy, though regretful in his heart he still had to maintain a general’s dignity.

While gesturing imposingly with one hand, he drawled:

“Lady Dorothy and her Blood Rat Gang are our ‘Transia Entertainment and Leisure Guild’s’ most valuable partners, I believe her visit today carries no malice.

We are friends, right? Lady Dorothy.”

“Are you imitating Murphy?”

Dorothy unceremoniously used an exquisite shadow step to traverse the shadows and appear in the chair opposite Old Huo, casually pulling out the chair and leaning back in it.

She snorted and said:

“Murphy’s style doesn’t suit you, after all you’re not a vampire, no matter how you disguise it you don’t have that naturally evil flavor…just smile, Mr. Huo.

Your smile has charisma, which always makes you more successful when deceiving people.

As for my purpose in coming today, it’s very simple.

Dividends!”

She smiled and threw a bag full of gold coins onto the table, this thing had considerable weight and made the appropriate heavy sound of money when it hit the table.

However, Life Is Pretty Good didn’t even look at this share that could make ordinary players rich overnight, he showed his usual gentle and modest smile, and said:

“So, the scratch cards are selling well?”

“Well? No no no, I wouldn’t use ‘well’ to describe those magical darlings, I would use more vivid words, like ‘explosive’, like ‘sought after’, like ‘crazy’.”

Dorothy’s voice carried undisguised pleasure as she said loudly:

“Just the first period’s earnings, after deducting the prize money paid for first, second, third places and consolation prizes, and after deducting the machine orders and labor fees paid to subordinates, this period’s scratch cards we earned total…”

“No, don’t tell me! I don’t care about these things.”

Old Huo raised his hand to stop Dorothy’s report.

He wasn’t pretending, he really didn’t care.

Sharp light flashed in this guy’s eyes that had been cultivated from battling in the business world, he said in a deep voice:

“I said before, these small plays are just a ‘small gift’ given to gain the trust of the Blood Rat Gang and Shadow Intelligence Bureau.

If you feel satisfied with this, can we start discussing the real ‘big business’?”

“This isn’t big enough?”

Dorothy was a bit dissatisfied and retorted:

“This period’s earnings already equal my past month’s earnings when I was doing black market business! My subordinates praise me as wise and mighty, I see worship and loyalty in their eyes.

I think this is already enough to make Lady Adele feel satisfied, yet you say this is just small business not worth mentioning.

To be honest, Mr. Huo, I’m a bit regretful, this deal with you has already made me feel afraid, not just because of your attitude towards money.

More because I seem to see your ambition.

Can I still withdraw now?”

“If you want the worship and loyalty in your subordinates’ eyes to disappear, I can accept your withdrawal anytime, I will choose another partner.”

Life Is Pretty Good shrugged and said:

“Lord Maxim is organizing a new army for the Transia People’s Army, as everyone knows, training troops is most expensive, I believe he certainly won’t miss this kind of ‘loyalty-building matter’.

Or Miss Femis has always been raising funds for the construction of the ‘Midnight Tower’.

She is a wise spirit mage, she must be able to see the benefits that cooperating with me would bring, forget about one mage tower, even ten or a hundred could be built.

You see, Lady Dorothy.

Although Lady Adele being Lord Murphy’s blood descendant won’t change because of her poor work performance, I believe Lady Adele definitely hopes to let Lord Murphy see her abilities, and make her own contributions within her power to Lord Murphy’s cause.

At least not perform worse than Lord Murphy’s other descendants.

And as one of Lady Adele’s descendants, when you make decisions, you should also consider your superior’s face and dignity.

You don’t think I chose you as my partner just on impulse after studying vampire culture, do you?”

Old Huo showed a smile that made Dorothy grind her teeth, then he picked up the finalized plan on the desk and passed it over, Dorothy took it and glanced at it, saying very troubledly:

“Although this kind of thing isn’t forbidden but it…”

“Power must be used properly, Lady Dorothy, Transia has many things to rebuild, if we want this land to quickly regain prosperity we must take some unusual paths.”

Life Is Pretty Good shook his head and said:

“Moreover we’ve added enough restrictions, its influence locally will be reduced to the minimum, my suggestion is, take our plan to show Lady Adele.

It’s just building a casino for northerners and Silanians to spend money at, not something that harms heaven and earth, after all, whose money isn’t money to earn?

Sucking their blood to help us develop, isn’t this a beautiful thing?”

“Just a casino?”

Dorothy narrowed her eyes and said:

“I’m starting to wonder what you actually did in your plane? Mr. Huo, can you say such things so casually?

Any ruler with sense knows what terrible consequences letting such things spread in their territory would cause!

You are challenging the order that Transia has worked so hard to establish.”

“I’m not, I haven’t, and I’m not crazy enough to harm my own interests, because I am one of those who personally forged this order, if I dare do anything to destroy it, no need for you to take action, my comrades would first find ways to severely punish me.”

Old Huo shrugged and explained:

“This is just a ‘development experience’, nothing more, it has already been tested by another period of history.

I believe Lord Murphy will understand me, he is an outstanding ruler, he knows how to properly use various tools that can help him.

And once we get the support of the Shadow Intelligence Bureau and Blood Rat Gang, we can start construction immediately here, I’ve already contacted the Stonemason Guild, they will send some novices to build the casino’s main building.

Just one week’s time!

In at most one week’s time, this casino can open for business.

The timing perfectly matches when the first batch of northern merchants will have finished dumping their goods in Transia and plundered the wealth belonging to this land.

Neither earlier nor later would work.

Whether we can establish fame depends on this one gamble, so I hope you can actively help both our sides advance this plan!”

Life Is Pretty Good paused.

He looked at the hesitating Lady Dorothy and threw down his final trump card, saying:

“Of course, all security and logistics support for any part of the casino business chain will be handled by your subordinates, I cannot guarantee they will all become rich, but I can guarantee they will definitely be grateful to you for this new job, and will view you as the Blood Rat Gang’s eternal and only leader.

This way, your status and power in Transia can not only be guaranteed.

It can even go further, what do you think, Lady Dorothy?”