Chapter 97: Regional Announcement

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Regional Announcement

[Pretty Guardian]: Big shot, I feel like you’re more reliable. Let’s just trade, the two of us.

’It should have been this way from the start.’

Seraphina Sinclair was overjoyed and immediately replied.

[Seraphina Sinclair]: Okay, what do you want? The stuff ThreeChickenButts offered? I can throw in some extra supplies.

The other person replied quickly as well.

[Pretty Guardian]: Since it’s you, big shot, I don’t want that other stuff. Give me runes instead. Besides the Fire Drawing Rune, you must have other types of runes, right?

’Of course I do.’

Seraphina Sinclair thought for a moment, then sent over the descriptions for the Corpse Suppression Rune and the Blood Stopping Talisman.

The other party was clearly impressed.

[Pretty Guardian]: Yes, yes! Big shot, can you give me two Corpse Suppression Runes, one Blood Stopping Talisman, and three Fire Drawing Runes?

The other person seemed worried they were asking for too much and quickly added another line.

[Pretty Guardian]: Or just one Corpse Suppression Rune is fine, too.

For the current Seraphina Sinclair, this was just a matter of spending ten minutes.

Trading ten minutes of her time for something that could save her life three times over.

’Worth it! Totally worth it!’

Seraphina Sinclair agreed to the trade without a moment’s hesitation.

The two of them immediately placed their items in the trade window, and the transaction was completed instantly.

Once the item was in her hands, Seraphina Sinclair finally saw what it looked like.

It wasn’t the modern technological creation she had imagined, but rather more like an ancient, bronze magical artifact.

The main body of the signal beacon was a round Compass, slightly smaller than her palm. It was cool to the touch, its surface covered in a smooth, warm patina, and its edges were engraved with dense, arcane, and indecipherable runes.

The center of the Compass did not hold a traditional compass needle, but rather an extremely unique pointer.

It was not made of solid metal, but looked like a wisp of thick, black fog that had been forcibly solidified and bound. About half a finger long, it floated above a groove in the center of the Compass, rotating slowly and silently on its own.

On the back of the Compass was a slightly concave, smooth area. When Seraphina Sinclair’s fingertip accidentally brushed against it, a faint, moonlight-like glow lit up, outlining an extremely complex, three-dimensional runic sigil and conveying a clear meaning to her.

This spot is for recording and binding your current "coordinates."

Coordinates!

Seraphina Sinclair thought for a moment. She didn’t choose the mobile cabin, but her own bathroom instead.

When it came to safety, there was truly no place that could compare.

The problem with choosing the mobile cabin was that if an irresolvable monster had slipped inside with the black fog, the cabin would no longer be a safe place.

And since Seraphina Sinclair intended to use the signal beacon for escaping, she naturally had to choose a safe location.

The bathroom was the best choice.

She went to the bathroom, chose a spot, and only then did she follow the instructions, placing the signal beacon on the floor.

[Directional Teleportation Beacon] has recorded the current coordinates.

[Uses remaining: 3/3]

[Next use: Ready]

After setting it up, Seraphina Sinclair felt a faint connection being established between herself and the location.

’I guess this connection only gets stronger after you pay 100 sunshine, huh?’

Seraphina Sinclair thought sarcastically, then returned to her mobile cabin to finish her breakfast.

The trade was over, but the drama in the regional channel was not.

The buyer with the ID [ThreeChickenButts], after being mocked by everyone in the regional channel, seemed to have a complete meltdown.

He stopped mentioning his "brother’s analysis" and "cost-effectiveness," and started spouting nonsense, even resorting to profanity.

[ThreeChickenButts]: @Pretty Guardian You damn idiot#! What are you so smug about? Didn’t you just get lucky and unbox some piece of junk? Aren’t your hands burning from taking that much dirty money?

[ThreeChickenButts]: And all you bootlickers! Acting like a bunch of country bumpkins! So what if it’s an E-level item? It’s probably just a one-time-use piece of garbage! It’ll be hilarious if the teleportation fails and she lands in a pile of monsters!

[ThreeChickenButts]: So what if I backed out? I’m happy about it! I felt like it! I unboxed that damn return certificate myself, so I’ll use it if I want! It’s none of your damn business! Look at all you salty losers hopping around!

This illogical tirade only made everyone else in the channel even more speechless.

"He’s triggered, he’s triggered. He’s totally triggered."

"Classic case of impotent rage. I’m dying."

"Resorting to personal attacks now, are we? That really shows his true colors."

"And he’s cursing her to fall into a pile of monsters? What a truly vicious mindset."

"@ThreeChickenButts, just give it a rest. The more you talk, the more pathetic you sound. The Divine Artifact is gone, you wasted a rare item, and now you have a bad reputation. You’ve lost so badly you don’t even have your pants left."

[ThreeChickenButts]: It’s my stuff, I’ll do whatever I want with it! What are you sour grapes losers going to do about it? You can only run your mouths in the regional channel. What kind of damage can you possibly do to me? Bunch of ¥%!

That much was true.

Seraphina Sinclair felt a bit of regret.

But just then, a notification that looked like a system announcement abruptly appeared at the very top of everyone’s regional channel interface. The font was a cautionary, dark red:

[Regional Announcement: After review, it has been determined that survivor "ThreeChickenButts" abused the trading support item "Return Certificate" and has engaged in multiple instances of malicious slander and provocation against other survivors, causing a negative impact. As per the rules, he will be penalized with a "Regional Reputation Rating Downgrade (Initial)." Under this rating, future trades initiated by him may be subject to additional system taxes, and other survivors will receive a risk warning when trading with him. We ask all survivors to cherish their reputation, engage in friendly trades, and jointly maintain order in the region.]

As soon as this announcement appeared, the entire regional channel fell silent for a few seconds.

Behind the name of ThreeChickenButts, who had just been throwing a tantrum, a small, gray [Suspicious Reputation] tag had conspicuously appeared.

Immediately after, the channel exploded.

"Holy crap?! There’s actually a reputation rating?!"

"Here it comes, here it comes! The system’s justice may be delayed, but it is never denied!"

"Hahahaha! It’s like a satisfying novel plot coming to life! The comeback was way too fast!"

"See that, @ThreeChickenButts? Did your ’brother’ predict this part?"

"Higher taxes, risk warnings... hahaha, who’s going to dare trade with him easily now?"

"Serves him right! So satisfying!"

"Let’s all thank ’brother’ ThreeChickenButts for using his own tragic fate to give us a vivid demonstration of the consequences of asking for it. Thanks, man!"

[ThreeChickenButts] never sent another message. It was unclear if he was too ashamed or had gone off to smash things in a rage.

But the gray tag after his name remained, firmly nailed there like a pillar of shame, a warning to all.

Seraphina Sinclair silently watched this farce conclude in such a gratifying manner, deepening her understanding of this world’s rules.

’Trade with caution, but a good reputation is even more valuable.’

She drank the last mouthful of her warm porridge, then cleaned the iron pot and chopsticks.