Charles: "Report complete, please continue the flight!"
The dust settled, and Orson received the equipment sent by Charles.
As previously agreed, the legendary items dropped by the Thousand Hands Guild would go to him, while items below the Heroic grade would be taken by the Bright Galaxy Guild (UJ district).
The Bright Galaxy Guild would serve as the tax collectors for Godslayer in the UJ district. All guilds that had a "good cooperation" with Orson would have their Tithe collected by them.
Lauren: "The Tithe for the first week is all here—12,000 Soul Essence Stones, 50,000 basic materials for potions, 100,000 bundles of furs..."
With the current market price of 20 gold coins per Soul Essence Stone, this batch was worth 240,000 gold coins.
As the first-tier players entered the 40–50 level range, demand for Soul Essence Stones would soar, and their price would rise to around 80 gold per stone.
This meant that this batch of stones alone was worth almost one billion gold.
"Only 12,000?"
Orson frowned when he heard this number.
Though it seemed like a lot, it wasn't really when you considered that there weren't many players who could gather a team to mine and withstand high-level elite monster attacks.
Moreover, when large guilds mined, the first priority was to satisfy the miners themselves when it came to the ownership of the Soul Essence Stones.
The guilds could only collect a portion of the output as a protection fee.
In reality, the Soul Essence Stones that landed in the guild's hands would be around 20–30% of the total output.
Orson's Tithe was set to take 10% of the miners' total output.
This nearly accounted for half of the guilds' total earnings.
But even so, with more than ten mining zones and the 10% yield, only 12,000 Soul Essence Stones was much less than Orson had estimated.
Lauren: "It is indeed less than expected. Our analysts estimate that there's a shortfall of around 5,000 to 6,000 stones."
"I understand. They need to be pressed harder," Orson smiled calmly.
This was a normal situation. Many small guilds were still waiting for him to be taken down by the NPC army.
With the war on the horizon, these guild leaders had calculated that he was too busy to check this issue right now, so they were hiding some of the numbers to minimize their losses.
Besides, only the Thousand Hands Guild had been forced into submission by Orson in the UJ district.
The other guilds likely still harbored hopes of turning to other top guilds once Orson was gone.
Charles: "Burn them for three days and nights, and they'll behave."
Lauren: "I fully agree with that, but my suggestion is to first establish a solid foothold."
Orson nodded in agreement, then disbanded the group chat.
Seizing the Soul Essence Stone veins was just the first step. The real work was in steady progress, taking it one bite at a time.
Global Announcement: "Lord Cain of Pondenorlin City will lead his army to the first battlefield in two hours!"
"Please, all members of the Godslayer guild, prepare for battle!"
Global Announcement: "The base battlefield will enter a danger mode in two hours. The protection for guild base ownership will be lifted, and experience point penalties for death will be doubled. Guild base ownership protection will be temporarily disabled!"
"All guilds will receive an invitation to participate. Whether to join the battle will be decided by the guild leader. Please make sure to prepare for the fierce battle!"
As the announcement echoed across the region, the world channel went silent for a few seconds.
Extras 80: "They're here! The Godslayer guild is being pushed to the edge!"
Extras 717: "What? Does this mean guilds can compete for the Celestial Fortress?"
Extras 3218: "Hahaha, Celestial Fortress? Do you think Orgod is messing around after conquering the Thousand Hands Guild last night?"
"Ding-dong—"
"You have received an invitation!"
At the Slaughter Guild base.
Slaughter Spree looked at their leader, Demon Emperor, with a glint of eagerness in his eyes: "Did you get it? Boss, should we fight?"
Slaughter Spree: "This is an SSR opportunity! According to the intel from the UJ district, Orson's attack last night pissed off all the major factions. I think the UJ district will send everyone they've got! This is our chance!"
Blank, who had just finished executing a complex combo on a training dummy, suddenly stopped. She gave Slaughter Spree a blank stare, as if he were a fool: "Have you ever not had an SSR opportunity? Do you remember what happened outside Saint Maiden City?"
Ulysses glanced back at Blank, ignoring her. He continued: "Perhaps we can wait and see, enter the battlefield as allies, and see the situation before making our move."
"I agree with the vice-leader," said one of the core members. "Other large guilds will definitely participate, and we, the Slaughter Guild, have no reason not to step in."
"Exactly, exactly! We have Blank with us, so even if Orson is strong at range, once he gets close, he's dead!"
Several core members immediately voiced their opinions. They had long been envious of the mysterious Celestial Fortress.
Rumor had it that Orson's power came from the hidden treasures within that fortress, and the base labyrinth had even dropped some terrifying anti-magic equipment.
Demon Emperor slowly raised his eyes, his face cold as he glared at Ulysses and the others. He sneered: "You want me to fight alongside the UJ district players? Or are you asking me to betray my own people?"
Ulysses and the others froze, not knowing how to respond.
Blank narrowed her eyes and glanced at Demon Emperor. Beneath her mask, a hint of relief appeared on her face. She thought to herself, "K.D wasn't wrong to value him."
"But wherever there's a battle, there will be a Slaughter!"
"All combatants prepare! Kill!"
Demon Emperor stood, his imposing figure towering over everyone around him. Black magic runes circled him, and he looked like a war god risen from the rivers of blood.
"Divine-grade Soul Seal: Ancient Demon's Corpse," Blank murmured to herself.
In the time that the Godslayer guild had grown, the Slaughter Guild had also been rapidly expanding.
At a place known as the Black Fortress, Demon Emperor and his guild had lost over 3,000 members and dropped an average of 3 levels, but after paying a huge price of millions in gold, he had obtained the divine-grade Soul Seal.
Meanwhile, in a five-star presidential suite in Baiguo City.
"I've given you everything, my dear."
Wedge smiled seductively, her skin as white as snow, exuding sensuality and grace.
"Cough... too bad I can't see you. I hate myself," Drunken Dream shook his head.
He stood up, pulled up his pants, put on his shoes, and left in a smooth, efficient motion.
He left without hesitation, no dragging things out.
"Leaving already? Don't you want...?" Wedge's voice trailed off in a seductive laugh.
Drunken Dream's heart raced, thinking, "If I don't go to hell, who will?" He had been acting for so long.
He had gotten drunk in a bar hours ago, and now he found himself here. Even though he was blind, he could still judge whether a woman was beautiful by touch.
He had already drunk, and now everything was set. What could he do?
"I have something to do later. I need to get back to the game," Drunken Dream muttered.
He had just learned about the "invitation," and being someone's super agent, he needed to prepare.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Wedge's voice softened as she gently wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Huh? No..." Drunken Dream stiffened.
Wedge's eyes flickered with a cold gleam as she whispered in his ear: "Are you going to betray me, my dear?"
Drunken Dream's heart skipped a beat. Since Orson had started taxing the UJ district, Wedge had become increasingly suspicious of him.
Drunken Dream knew Wedge was no simple woman. She had figured something out but still seduced him into getting drunk.
That meant she had confidence in keeping him under control.
Since Orson had made Drunken Dream an undercover agent, Wedge had already stationed people nearby to monitor him. She was great at disguise and patience. Even though the coordinates for the ancient teleportation circle and the UJ district alliance had been exposed, she never confronted Drunken Dream directly.
If Orson could make Drunken Dream an undercover agent, Wedge could turn him into her pawn.
"You're going to join the battle, right? And be on the opposite side of me," Wedge laughed softly, her tone devoid of any blame.
Dr
unken Dream's face flashed a moment of panic, but for some reason, the more Wedge acted like this, the more he felt conflicted. He murmured, "You're no match for him. In Infinite Dimensions, he's not even human anymore."
Wedge's lips brushed his ear as she whispered: "I might lose on my own, but with you, with the Xien family and the Silver Dragon's help, we can control our own fate."
Drunken Dream felt a wave of irritation rise within him. He shook his head, grabbed his cane, and was about to leave.
"I made you feel something, didn't I? If so, I'm sorry," Wedge's soft voice lingered in the air as Drunken Dream rushed out the door, his heart in turmoil.