Chapter 89: The Grand Deception: Three Guilds and the Femme Fatales

Everyone believed themselves to be in control, convinced of their own cleverness.

Such was the case for Black Mirror Healer, and equally so for this newcomer, Jiuge.

“Jiuge?”

Black Mirror Healer’s gaze sharpened, yet a surge of wild joy erupted within his heart—the big fish had taken the bait!

Jiuge, the Vice-President of the Myriad Souls Hall, represented an organization that was a colossal power, standing on equal footing with Sword Sweeping the World!

This charade had not been in vain!

Having sacrificed over a hundred lives, they had finally earned the trust of those with ulterior motives!

Su Shunhua, however, found himself regarding Black Mirror Healer with newfound respect.

This seemingly simple, burly dark-skinned man proved far more astute than his appearance suggested, his acting so flawless it was practically beyond reproach.

Jiuge and Black Mirror Healer were comparable in stature, though as a shield warrior, Jiuge at least didn’t appear as incongruous as Black Mirror Healer.

“Haha, it’s me, Black Mirror Healer, long time no see!

We can reminisce later, as I have matters to attend to right now.

Ladies, how about we add each other as friends?

I’m not asking you to join our guild, merely to form an alliance with the Myriad Souls Hall.

I guarantee that under the protection of the Myriad Souls Hall, Sword Sweeping the World will not dare to touch a single hair on your heads!”

Jiuge extended friend requests to them with a hearty laugh.

Su Shunhua and Yingning exchanged glances before accepting.

“There are no other options; I’ve heard of Jiuge.

He is indeed a renowned figure in the Myriad Souls Hall.”

Having experienced so much, Yingning was no longer the novice she had been when first entering the game.

She no longer panicked at the sight of prominent figures from major guilds, instead understanding how to respond and leverage situations rationally.

“Don’t act impulsively.

Let’s observe the situation first,” Yingning advised.

Su Shunhua nodded in agreement.

Jiuge then laughed again, addressing Black Mirror Healer.

“Black Mirror Healer, could you perhaps ask your people to withdraw?

You see, you’ve frightened our two ladies!”

“Who do you think you are?

You tell me to withdraw, and I withdraw?”

Black Mirror Healer sneered, then his gaze hardened.

Suddenly, dozens of white lights flickered into existence behind Jiuge.

Black Mirror Healer focused his eyes, realizing they were all high-tier combatants, on par with the elites he had brought himself!

These were teams emerging from a dungeon, having originally been clearing the Spider’s Nest.

Upon seeing this formation, Su Shunhua knew there would be no fighting today.

He retracted his priest’s staff and began to crack sunflower seeds, settling in to watch the show.

“What a coincidence.

You’re not the only ones from Sword Sweeping the World preparing to clear the hard-difficulty Spider’s Nest today.

Our Myriad Souls Hall’s elite team is also on their way.

It’s been a while since everyone practiced, so how about a friendly spar?”

Jiuge’s threat was direct, yet highly effective.

Black Mirror Healer had only been putting on an act, of course, so a real fight was out of the question.

However, the performance still needed to be thorough.

Besides, one fish wasn’t enough.

Black Mirror Healer spoke coldly.

“Jiuge, are you truly willing to go to war for these two women?”

The moment these words were uttered, an unsettling sensation permeated the air—that of a femme fatale (TL Note: ‘Hongyan Huoshui,’ referring to a beautiful woman who brings disaster, often leading to conflict or ruin), with two armies poised for battle solely over a beauty.

Su Shunhua and Yingning, as the subjects of this bizarre situation, felt profoundly awkward.

It seemed the title of ‘femme fatale’ would be impossible to shake off now.

Su Shunhua wondered how many busybodies would relish discussing it.

He imagined they would be dubbed ‘the two women who nearly sparked a modern Trojan War’.

“I believe these two ladies are worth it.

Myriad Souls Hall brothers, what do you all think?” Jiuge declared, loudly addressing the elite members around him.

“Worth it!”

“Haha! Of course, it’s worth it!”

“What’s wrong with men loving beautiful women?

Especially two goddess-tier beauties!

It’s absolutely worth it!

Ten thousand times worth it!”

The long-standing conflict between the Myriad Souls Hall and Sword Sweeping the World had meant their members had always viewed each other with animosity, often clashing in battle.

Now, to appear as heroes saving beauties, their sense of accomplishment exploded!

“Very well, then let the battle commence.

None of you will leave here today,” a commanding male voice echoed from behind Black Mirror Healer, instantly making the atmosphere tense once more.

Black Mirror Healer stepped aside, revealing Jiangu’s figure.

Jiangu’s personal arrival immediately put immense pressure on the Myriad Souls Hall players across the way.

His presence signified the arrival of Sword Sweeping the World’s elite team and a large contingent, instantly placing their overall combat power at a disadvantage.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Sword Sweeping the World, what big talk!

Myriad Souls Hall brothers, don’t back down!

Our [Berserker Association] supports you this time!”

Good heavens, another one of Asia’s Top Ten Guilds.

Today, Su Shunhua and Yingning’s reputation as ‘femme fatales’ was absolutely sealed, firmly and irrevocably!

“Alright, since the Berserker Association has stepped forward, our [Arcane Radiance] can’t just sit by either.”

The Berserker Association was represented by its Vice-President, Ronin, a burly, imposing man.

Arcane Radiance was represented by its Vice-President, Hellscream.

These two were well-known allied guilds, and it was precisely this unbreakable alliance that allowed them both to rank among Asia’s Top Ten Guilds.

‘Are your names perhaps swapped, you two?’ Su Shunhua mused.

With three Vice-Presidents and the elites of three guilds now present, Sword Sweeping the World’s combat advantage vanished in an instant.

No one saw the faint smile that curved Jiangu’s lips—three big fish had taken the bait.

‘The rest is up to you, Oleander,’ he thought.

Jiangu would, of course, not fully trust Su Shunhua, nor would the Myriad Souls Hall, Berserker Association, and Arcane Radiance grant him too much immediate trust.

Yet, trust and utility were not mutually exclusive.

Jiangu aimed to use Su Shunhua, to infiltrate rival guilds and uncover their secret intelligence.

The other three guilds also sought to use Su Shunhua and Yingning, hoping to leverage them against Sword Sweeping the World.

Su Shunhua, too, was using them, enhancing his own enjoyment of the game.

Everyone was using each other, and it remained to be seen who would have the last laugh, emerging as the sole fisherman (TL Note: ‘Yuweng,’ a Chinese idiom referring to someone who benefits from the conflict of others without getting involved themselves).

“I hope you won’t regret this.

Let’s go, into the dungeon.”

Jiangu cast a cold glance at the representatives of the three guilds, then led his elite team across the narrow bridge and walked directly into the dungeon without looking back.

Su Shunhua knew this act had concluded.

Everyone seemed to have gotten what they wanted.

Sword Sweeping the World seemingly acquired a beautiful spy and an opportunity to infiltrate rival guilds.

The other three guilds seemingly gained two ‘femme fatale’-level beauties, the allegiance of a small guild, and thwarted Sword Sweeping the World’s plans, indirectly weakening their enemy’s strength.

Everything they had obtained was merely ‘seemingly obtained’.

Only Su Shunhua and Yingning had truly reaped the satisfaction of revenge, securing the combined protection of three guilds for Gunfire Rose.

This ensured their guild would not be crushed by Sword Sweeping the World as they had feared, but instead found a quiet opportunity to develop within the cracks.

Moreover, this battle would make the name of Gunfire Rose, a small guild, echo throughout Ardel Continent.

From this day forward, Gunfire Rose would enter an unprecedented period of rapid growth!

Of the three plans, who would be the true beneficiary?

‘Pursuit II is truly enjoyable,’ Su Shunhua mused.

Feeling a sense of profound contentment, he tugged on Yingning’s sleeve, quickening their pace toward the cave.

“Come on, there’s no time to waste,”

“Into the dungeon!

We can deal with these major guilds later, after we emerge!”

Su Shunhua and Yingning had added the three Vice-Presidents as friends.

Su Shunhua then explained that they had urgent matters to attend to, and the others, stating they also needed to report to their respective guild leaders, parted ways.

Compared to the conflicts that had just unfolded around them, what they truly cared about was something else entirely.

[Sword Sweeping the World’s elite team officially begins clearing the hard-difficulty Spider’s Nest today, aiming for the first clear!]

This message instantly spread among the high-ranking members of all major guilds, causing countless individuals to tense up.

The first clear reward was incredibly bountiful, and it was a one-time prize!

It was an item every major guild fought fiercely to obtain!

Soon, team after team of experts, glowing with dazzling blue light, dove into the Spider’s Cave, their objective abundantly clear.

Regardless of the cost, they could not sit idly by!

They had to seize it!

They would do everything in their power to successfully clear the dungeon before Sword Sweeping the World!

For these colossal entities, this would be a war without smoke and fire, where every second counted from now on!

Soon, they had formed a party with Cannon Fairy, Qingyu, and Qingyu’s friend.

Cannon Fairy excitedly cheered, “Spider’s Nest easy difficulty sightseeing tour, let’s go!”

****