Chapter 300: The Outcome is Decided

Chapter 300: Chapter 300: The Outcome is Decided

Time waits for no one. The life-or-death battle in the arena could end at any moment.

Cold sweat dripped down his back again.

He gritted his teeth, no longer hesitating.

’This isn’t the time to be precious about treasures. Staying alive is what matters!’

If he could just latch onto a big shot like Blacktiger Ford, there might be a chance for a turnaround.

[Zane Pierce]: I have it! Master, I have the Unsealing Hammer! I’m willing to give it to you! Just promise to protect me this time, to give me a way out!

He immediately sent a screenshot of the [Unsealing Hammer]’s item information to show his sincerity.

Seraphina Sinclair glanced at it briefly. After confirming it was the correct item, she was finally certain of her suspicion.

This item was indeed the reward for ranking first.

This meant that Artemis, Seaview, and Chrona all had one.

After a moment’s thought, Seraphina Sinclair closed the chat window with Zane Pierce.

’As for this item... I could get it by using an arena challenge, or I could get it by having a nice chat with Artemis.’

’Of course, that’s assuming the one who walks out of there is Artemis.’

If Seaview won, Seraphina’s only option would be to use an arena challenge.

So...

She would wait.

Seraphina was completely at ease, paying no mind to Zane Pierce, who was like an ant on a hot pan.

Seeing no reply, Zane Pierce stood up and paced around anxiously. Finally, steeling himself, he tagged Chrona in the group chat.

[Zane Pierce]: @Chrona, help me contact Master Blacktiger! He suddenly stopped replying to my messages!

Amidst the ongoing discussion about Artemis and Seaview, this message stood out like a sore thumb. The mention of Blacktiger Ford made the other survivors in the group chat react like sharks that had smelled blood, instantly growing excited.

"Huh? Zane Pierce? Master Blacktiger? What’s going on?"

"Whoa, one big fight just ended. Is there some new drama unfolding?"

"Come to think of it, wasn’t Zane Pierce usually the first one to speak up whenever we discussed anything in the group? He’s been surprisingly quiet this time."

"Just being quiet is one thing; people get busy. But for him to show up and immediately ask Ms. Chrona to tag Master Blacktiger? There’s definitely a story there!"

"Besides, if he needed to talk to Master Blacktiger, why not just message him directly? Why go through the trouble of asking Ms. Chrona to help? It’s not like Ms. Chrona has that much free time."

Everyone here was ranked first or second in their respective Zones. Their strengths were more or less equal, and they all had to think carefully before using an arena challenge, so they spoke without reservation.

Chrona had high emotional intelligence, but she wasn’t stupid.

From that one sentence from Zane Pierce, she could guess there was some kind of conflict between him and Blacktiger.

And with that business between Artemis and Seaview...

In short, regardless of whether Zane Pierce was involved with them, she had only one principle.

Don’t get involved!

’What’s that?’

’I was tagged?’

’Oh, I’m on the move, fighting monsters, opening supply crates... anyway, no time to check messages.’

Zane Pierce waited a few minutes. Chrona didn’t respond, but the group chat grew even more active with the topic of Blacktiger Ford that he had brought up. Some even began to boldly speculate about his relationship with Seaview and the role he played in the whole affair.

Every guess was like a needle piercing his heart, making him increasingly anxious and panicked.

He didn’t dare say more in the group chat, afraid that the more he said, the more he would slip up and reveal.

But his private messages to Blacktiger Ford went unanswered, and his plea to Chrona was ignored. He felt as if he’d been abandoned by everyone on a deserted island, and the tide was rising.

"No... I can’t just sit here and wait to die..." Zane Pierce took a deep breath, forcing himself to think calmly.

’Blacktiger Ford closed the chat. Maybe he’s waiting for the arena result, or maybe... he thinks my offer isn’t enough?’

’If my offer isn’t enough, then I’ll add more!’

[Zane Pierce]: Master! Besides the Unsealing Hammer, I have lots of other items! I can give you all of them, as long as you save my life! Also... also the Black Fog Coins, the five thousand I mentioned... No! I have a total of 11,678 Black Fog Coins. Those, plus my supplies, all of it for you! Everything!

After sending the message, Zane Pierce was so nervous he kept tapping his panel. He would also switch to the Zone channel from time to time to see if the arena match was over.

He waited for a long time—or perhaps his anxiety made it feel that way, as every second stretched into an eternity.

After a period of torment, Zane Pierce couldn’t help but up his offer again:

[Zane Pierce]: I still have value, Master! I know a lot of things about the Monopoly Alliance’s internal affairs, all of it absolutely true! Add that to the deal!

His messages were clear and logical up to this point.

But after this text, they turned into voice messages.

Seraphina Sinclair tentatively played one. It was filled with meaningless wails and cries.

After listening for just a moment, she closed Zane Pierce’s private chat window.

’This kind of pointless breakdown and noise has no value, aside from exposing his weakness and stupidity.’

Compared to Artemis or Seaview, Zane Pierce was truly on a much lower level.

As for the conditions he offered, Seraphina Sinclair was indeed a bit tempted. The only reason she hadn’t replied earlier was simply because she hadn’t seen the messages.

The fight between the two big shots had caused a huge uproar in the Zone channel, and the discussion there was far more interesting than in the small group chat.

Seraphina couldn’t resist watching for a bit longer. By the time she opened the private chat again, Zane Pierce had already given up and was having a complete meltdown.

Just as she was contemplating whether to say something, she caught a glimpse of a small announcement in the Zone channel refreshing at that very moment.

The winner was—

Artemis!

’Took them long enough, though.’

Seraphina had just opened her chat window with Artemis when a message came through.

[Artemis]: It’s settled.

Seraphina replied coolly, "Congratulations."

She had just sent it when a second message arrived.

[Artemis]: He wasn’t weak, and he had quite a few tricks to save his own skin. He managed to drag things out for a while, otherwise it wouldn’t have just ended now. But before he died, he explained everything.

[Artemis]: He and Zane Pierce did this together. As for their goal, you know it too, Blacktiger, or you wouldn’t have come to me directly. The funny thing is, the two of them actually signed a trade contract. In comparison, our alliance looks like a thrown-together amateur troupe. We didn’t even sign a proper contract, which is why all this trouble started.

At this point, her tone suddenly shifted.

[Artemis]: Blacktiger, we’re both victims here. I guess this means we’ve become acquainted through conflict, right? If you had attacked me directly today, you would have fallen right into Seaview’s trap.

Since the other party had taken the initiative to build a rapport, Seraphina Sinclair went along with it.

[Blacktiger Ford]: If it weren’t for me, you’d probably still be counting the money for the person who sold you out.

[Artemis]: You’re right. I owe you one for this.

’A favor?’

Seraphina Sinclair’s brow furrowed for a moment, then quickly smoothed out.

[Blacktiger Ford]: I don’t need a favor. The Unsealing Hammer, you have one, right? After killing Seaview, you should have gotten his, too. That’s the only item I want.

There was a pause on Artemis’s end, as if she were checking Seaview’s belongings.