'What the heck are you going on about?!'
"They believe that based on the speed current players fork out cash, they should be able to gain five thousand taels of silver every day. They spend around two thousand taels of silver on medicinal pills, so if they just focus on farming money, they can reach an astonishing degree of gaining fifty thousand taels of silver and spending only ten thousand five thousand taels of silver.
"When our people linked it to the average income of the people in society right now, with the current exchange rate, a smart professional player would be able to earn around 800 to 1,000 RMB in a day!" Glutinous Rice provided a general figure with her clear voice, and it allowed Happy to realize something.
"As of now, everyone only earns an average of 200 RMB per day in society," Phoenix Dances said.
"Are you saying…"
"The income in the game is too high. It can be because the game is currently very popular in the market and the players have expectations that are too high. However, once it goes over its initial popularity, it will definitely drop to the level that society can accept."
"Which means…"
"The preliminary assessment given is that the drop in silver crumbs will reach three to four times its current value!"
Happy tried hard to recall the events in his previous life. Back then, the exchange rate between cash and in-game money was basically fixed at a conversion ratio of 1:100.
The assessment of the students in the Economics Department was very reliable!
"So you decided to change all the cash flow in the faction into RMB?"
"Not all. We've come up with the cash flow that the faction needs. Once we did that, the higher management all agreed that we should exchange three quarters of it," Phoenix Dances answered. "This is a way for us to retain the value of the faction's funds, because you're at the highest level of management in Beautiful Robes Faction, and you are also the elder with the highest contribution points. Hence, once we contact the buyers, we will make sure that we will get your approval first before we make the trade."
Happy smiled. "I believe in everyone's judgment!"
"So does that mean you agree to it?"
"Yes, it'll be good to have cash at hand. Why should I refuse something as good as getting cash?" Happy said while smiling. "By the way, you also mentioned something about an assessment regarding masterpieces?"
Glutinous Rice was clearly the one who had all the data at hand. When she heard him, she said, "That's right! As of now, the price for low-grade masterpieces is between fifty thousand taels of silver to one hundred thousand taels of silver. Middle-grade masterpieces are between eighty thousand taels to two hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver. They are all dropping in value.
"As for high-grade masterpieces, since their drop rate is low, they are currently going at a stable rate of five hundred thousand taels of silver and above. As for sabers and swords, the lowest is at eight hundred thousand taels of silver. Supreme grade weapons like Silver Wolf Emperor Breaker Swords have already gone up to the price of two million taels of silver!"
She paused for a moment, then earnestly stated that low-grade and middle-grade masterpieces were soon going to saturate the market. They should thus seize the time to sell them. Beautiful Robes Faction would continue to make sure that they had a steady source of high-grade masterpieces, because in the future, they would definitely be the common trend!
Once Glutinous Rice finished speaking, a hint of confidence and pride appeared on her face.
Even though Happy's abilities had filled the students of the University of South China with admiration to him, they could use their own strength to fill that top player on the Famous People Rank with admiration for them!
However, when Happy heard the last things she uttered later, he said, "That's not necessarily true."
"Hmph?"
The two girls instantly showed that they thought otherwise.
"You don't have to be in a hurry about this. I believe that you know that occupations are beginning to become popular in World of Martial Arts. This is another system. You made a very sufficient assessment of the weapons and armor, but you overlooked occupations. This system hasn't risen to the surface yet, so it's too soon to come to a conclusion about it."
The certain in Happy's voice and the liveliness of his eyes made the two girls suddenly feel the pressure of facing the top player on the Famous People Rank. They could not help but listen to his words.
"Alright, we can set this aside for the time being and continue observing it. But there is still something else that I wish to get your approval on. I have decided to step down."
Phoenix Dances' words shocked both Happy and Glutinous Rice!
Chapter 301 - “I Won’t Let You Down”
"I have decided to step down!" Phoenix Dances repeated under Happy and Glutinous Rice's shocked and puzzled gazes. "I should have already stepped down a long time ago. The other sects have very powerful figures as sect masters. They are all people on the Dragon Rank, Phoenix Rank, or the Famous People Rank, but I'm nothing. I'm just someone who was nominated. This will affect the faction's future development. Besides, there are plenty of people who refuse my leadership. Happy, since your identity has already been exposed, don't run away anymore. It's about time for you to return!"
Phoenix Dances said her last sentence in an incredibly serious manner, and she also said it earnestly!
Glutinous Rice fell silent.
Happy also understood what Phoenix Dances meant.
"Is there someone who is against you being the faction master?"
Phoenix Dances shook her head. "No, but I can't keep occupying this position. The others might have not said anything because they want me to preserve my dignity, but I know very well that while I might be able to be a good higher-level manager, a faction master must be able to control all faction members through strength! Right now, there are plenty of members in Beautiful Robes Faction whose strength is above mine. Glutinous Rice, One Circle, Flying Dragon, Tea Words, Rampaging, Bum, and the others are all stronger than I am. The only person whom they truly accept has always been you, and we knew this since the start."
Phoenix Dances paused for a moment before she suddenly revealed a hint of a smile. "Besides, I want more time to train so that I can become stronger as well, or else, I'll feel as if I'll be further and further away from you."
Glutinous Rice instantly fell silent. She blinked and looked elsewhere.
A strange atmosphere filled the living room.
'Can this be considered a confession?'
An unknown amount of time passed.
"I can't return right now."
Happy stared into Phoenix Dances' eyes with a sentimental look.
"You're better than I am as a faction master. You are also more experienced than I am. At the very least, I wouldn't have been able to make Beautiful Robes Faction as prosperous in such a short amount of time. You've done much more than I expected. Everyone can see this, and they know about this as well. You're just thinking too much, can't you see it?"
When his gentle voice entered her ears, Phoenix Dances suddenly felt excited for having her efforts recognized. For the first time, her face turned red, and her voice became much softer.
"I'm not the only one who managed to do this. This is a result of everyone's hard work…"
Glutinous Rice was stunned speechless. She could not believe her eyes, so she rubbed them hard while screaming in her heart, 'Big sis! What the heck happened to you?!'
"That's the spirit. Promise me that you won't go overthinking things. You're doing spectacularly, so continue being Beautiful Robes Faction's master. You can ask others to help you with management on usual days. Then, you'll have more time to train."
"Okay." Phoenix Dances nodded vigorously.
Glutinous Rice could not bear the sight.
'If the university knew about this, who knew who many hearts would be broken? Big Sis Phoenix Dances is absolutely on the road of falling into the river o
f love. No, wait, she's actually about to drown in it! We're doomed!'
Glutinous Rice knocked her head against the dining table with a loud bang.
Upon hearing it, Phoenix Dances instantly snapped out of her stupor. She seemed to realize that she had lost her composure, and she looked slightly alarmed. Feeling slightly panicked, she didn't even give any thought to her words next. "When are you coming back?"
"Hmm… I'll probably be wandering around the game for a little longer." When Happy thought about Thunderous Battle and the others who had already headed to Baokang to begin developing the sect, he changed the topic of conversation. "Phoenix Dances, do you still remember that I once mentioned to you that you should pay attention to developing the herbalists, ironsmiths, and tailors in the faction?"
Phoenix Dances nodded. "I have a dormmate of mine taking charge of this. Aside from herbalists improving rather slowly, the ironsmiths and tailors have been improving very well. The things they create are not that much inferior to grade nine masterpieces. But the higher the grade of the weapons are, the rarer the materials and ores for them are. Their progress has thus started to slow down."
She paused for a moment before she added, "But the Dew Pills you used in the royal mausoleum do indeed have great effects. Once we came out, we put up a lot of requests in the commision shops to buy tuber fleeceflowers and other materials for Dew Pills. We have quite a lot of them gathered in the storage now."
"Very good." Happy's expression was one of satisfaction. "Herbalists are very important, but just buying those materials for the consumables should be rather tough. You will have to occupy a permanent resource point for a continuous stream of materials."
"But there aren't many herbs in the cities around us." When Phoenix Dances said that, she noticed the smile on Happy's face, and she could not help but be stunned. "Do you have a good resource point?"
"That's right!" Happy smiled. "Baokang, in Hubei province. I have a friend who is prepared to build a sect there, but the situation over there is rather complicated, and they don't quite have enough hands. I'm thinking of asking you to send some people over there to help them. While doing that, you can also get a resource point."
"A friend?" Phoenix Dances thought about it before she said, "A friend who can build a sect… Is it Thunderous Battle?"
As expected of the girl who was capable of managing Beautiful Robes Faction, she was very smart. She had formed the composite abilities of Happy's friends, and she managed to make the correct guess!
"That's right, it's him."
"With his abilities, he can become a sect master, but if my guess is correct, there is someone else supporting him aside from you."
"There's Little North as well."
Happy's smile grew brighter as he told the truth. The Phoenix Dances before him seemed to be more m.a.t.u.r.e and smarter than the Phoenix Dances in his previous life. There was no need for him to hide the truth from her.
"I originally wanted them to join Beautiful Robes Faction, but the faction has already developed well. If they enter now, two groups might end up appearing in Beautiful Robes Faction. After all, the University of South China is in itself a group. Hence, when they suggested to build a sect, I agreed."
"Then, you…"
Phoenix Dances and Glutinous Rice looked over at him nervously.
Happy quickly smiled and said, "I won't join either of the sects."
"Will your status with Thunderous Battle's sect be the same as with us?" Phoenix Dances asked in a manner of getting straight to the core of the matter.
Happy gave a noncommittal nod. "Maybe."
The two girls were instantly at ease, but they could not help the puzzlement they felt. "I thought that you men usually like being the boss and leading a bunch of lackeys."
"Who do you think I am? An emperor with a harem? I prefer living my life doing whatever I please and going wherever I want. I don't want to be restricted. Leading a group of people is rather stressful. Don't tell others about what I said though." When Happy said the last part, he once again reminded the duo seriously, "Keep my actions a secret! I think that Beautiful Robes Faction is developing just fine right now."
Phoenix Dances and Glutinous Rice shared a glance. They were slightly surprised, but also excited.
Even though they understood what Happy meant when he asked them to keep doing whatever they were doing, they were still caught slightly off guard. Through the blueprint Happy had developed based on the other aspects of the game, they could sense that he was not a person without ambition!
But once he succeeded, as the mastermind, even if he did not join any sect, he would become someone who cannot be overlooked by anyone in the game, including those in the top three sects!
Once they finished talking, the afternoon lectures were about to arrive, and the two girls left reluctantly.
Before Phoenix Dances passed through the door, she suddenly turned around and went to embrace Happy. "I won't let you down."
Once she finished speaking, she turned around and quickly ran down the stairs.
Glutinous Rice only registered what had happened after some time. She cast a glance at Happy, who was frozen on the spot, and rushed off to chase after Phoenix Dances.
Chapter 302 - Set Sail, Planning
When Happy returned to the game, he sent Phoenix Dances the forty or so equipment and masterpieces he gathered from the royal mausoleum. He then rode on Hoof Shadow to a small port town near Gusu City.
Shanhe [1] was an entrepot for Gusu City, and many merchants sent their goods to Changjiang through there. Then, they would transfer those goods to nearby cities or used the sea to send them everywhere in the country. They might even send the goods out of the country. The convenient maritime transport allowed many merchants to gather in one place, making Shanhe into a small city, and the place bustled with activity.
When Happy stood at the port with the wind against his face, he could see a huge transport fleet nearby. The Murong Clan flag tied to the bowsprit was very eye-catching.
He put away his horse and arrived near the transport fleet. Someone immediately came down from the ship with majestic gait. He was a middle-aged man with a brocade robe. There were two martial artists who looked like armed escorts behind him, so they were probably his bodyguards.
"I am Xu Hong. Greetings, Officer Happy." The presence of a wanderer was thick around Xu Hong, and he was very wary. When he arrived in front of Happy and wrapped his fist in his palm to speak to him, his two subordinates looked around them warily.
"Thank you for waiting for me for so long, Officer Xu." Happy wrapped his fist in his palm and returned the salute.
Xu Hong laughed boisterously. "Officer Happy, you are far too polite. The wind outside is great, so why don't we talk on the ship?"
"Alright, please, lead the way!"
"This way, please!"
The group entered a rather large cargo ship.
Happy noticed that every cargo ship was basically the same. The ship bilge was filled with bags of salt. Around them stood thirty or forty strong and capable armed escorts and archers, so the defenses were not weak.
Under Xu Hong's lead, Happy entered the second level of the cargo ship. It was a quiet and elegant place. His field of vision was also wide while there. A few servant girls brought them tea before stepping away.
"Please, sit down."
Happy did not put on any acts of courtesy and simply sat down.
"Officer Happy, I have to tell the truth. The path we'll be taking is one that I have traveled for a few years. I have gone through hundreds of battles, both big and small. Even though I have suffered losses before, I can be considered to have greeted the pirates in Changjiang and offered them gifts in exchange for their support. They were also intimidated by the Murong Clan's fame, and we have enjoyed around a year of peace and quiet."
Happy nodded without a word.
Xu Hong's tone changed. "The escort for the salt ship fleet this time might not be small, but I
still have confidence that we can arrive at our destination safely. However, when we were prepared to head out a few days ago, a letter came from our clan, and they delayed our departure with a great sense of urgency. We have been held back for a few days without reason.
"I do not understand what the lady is worried about, however. If we delay our journey any longer, these goods might end up going past their expiry date, and the Murong Clan will be considered to have broken their promise.
"The lady said that the moment I reach the fleet, it may set sail," Happy said calmly.
Xu Hong's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Truly!"
Xu Hong stood up with a whoosh. "Then, I will be at ease. If we set sail immediately and head forward at full speed, we will be able to send the goods on time."
As he spoke, he gave an order to a person beside him, and the man quickly walked outside the room.
"Boss Xu gave his order! The fleet is to set sail!"
A loud voice spread across the surface of the river.
The people on board the large ship fleet quickly got to work.
Soon, Happy felt the ship begin moving. Wind from the river blew at his face, which was a really refreshing and pleasant feeling. He then immediately stopped talking to Xu Hong so that he could stand up, draw the curtains, and head out.
"Officer Happy, since you were sent by the lady to escort the ship fleet, if you have anything you need from me, please tell me." Once Xu Hong finished speaking, he wrapped his fist in his palm toward Happy and left to command the ship fleet.
Happy stared at Xu Hong's back for a while before he redirected his gaze to the rising and falling waves.
The item protection quest he had received was very strange.
The Murong Clan had received information that someone might attack the ship fleet, but the source of the information was of unknown origins.
Xu Hong had also not received any clues.
The contents of the quest were not about escorting anything either. Happy was just to follow the ship fleet and observe. That left him quite puzzled. He had to pay attention to his surroundings to see whether he could gain additional rewards.
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