My Players Are So Fierce

“The Ghost Ship from the first phase is about to be cashed out for rewards, you’re really not planning to get in on it?”

On the shore of “Swarming Fishes”, Little Brother Fu yawned as he leaned against Stinky Bao the Scorpion Lion, enjoying the view of Mermaid Players darting around in the water. He spoke to Boss Huo, who was sitting next to him, holding up the Adventure Assistant to take photos of Chenyu splashing about:

“Isn’t this exactly what you came for?”

“What do you mean I came just for the Ghost Ship, who told you that? I didn’t even join this event, I don’t have a single point of military merit, what am I supposed to use to redeem a Ghost Ship?”

Old Huo curled his lip and said:

“I just came to clear my head, check out the goods, then decide whether I should burn some resources in the latter three phases to push hard and get myself a ship. Of course, the main task this time is still to check in on my good brother. You haven’t been back to Transylvania in ages, I’ve got to show some concern, right?”

“Get outta here, you spend all day whispering sweet nothings with your little lover, you still remember you’ve got brothers? Since when are brothers more fragrant than chicks?”

Little Brother Fu snorted, shifted into a more comfortable position, and lay buried in the Scorpion Lion’s loose, warm mane, saying:

“If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. What happened?”

“Two things.”

Old Huo pulled out some cigarettes produced by his own casino from his bag, lit one for himself, and blew a smoke ring as he said:

“One in reality, one in-game. Let’s start with the real-life stuff. Your old man came to see me a few days ago. The old guy, I don’t know where he heard about your disgraceful business of being hopelessly addicted to the game, came over to drink with my old man and mentioned it to me, told me to talk some sense into you and get you to do something serious, saying it’s not good for someone so young to be this obsessed. I’m guessing it’s your dear big brother and dear big sister secretly fanning the flames. You really are laid-back. Want me to come up with a plan? With the skill level of those two useless clowns whose only talent is stirring shit and tattling, I’ve got plenty of ways to teach them some manners. What level do they think they’re at, trying to compete over the family assets like other people? Isn’t that embarrassing?”

“Quit it, stay out of our crappy family drama; your surname isn’t Zhou.”

Little Brother Fu’s face instantly darkened at that.

As if sensing its master’s displeasure, the Scorpion Lion, who was lying there chewing on a highly venomous sea serpent like it was a pack of spicy strips, let out a low, throaty roar.

That made Boss Huo glance in surprise at this pair of master and pet in full slacker mode, thinking to himself that Little Brother Fu’s Summoning Technique really was impressive; they were already at the level of being spiritually in sync.

Ha, other people raise dog-sons in reality, and Little Brother Fu goes off to another world to raise a Scorpion Lion.

“Don’t mention them, they make me sick!”

Mou Niqiong closed his eyes and said:

“It’s just that tiny bit of family property, fighting over it day in, day out, it’s exhausting. I’m not getting involved. You spend your whole life chasing money and for what? When you’re old you still end up being played like a fiddle by your own sons and daughters teaming up to scam you. It’s mortifying. I ran off back then exactly to get some peace and quiet. They can say whatever they want, I’m not bothered. Talk about the second thing. What happened in-game now?”

“I’m a bit short on cash lately, so, I’m here to borrow some Gold Coins to spend.”

Old Huo blew out a smoke ring, grinning cheekily as he said to his hair:

“I know your investment in Stick Brother’s guild is making money hand over fist. I heard Stick Brother’s already planning to open guild subgroups, and he’s applied with General Maxim to head to the Brass Ruins for training, and to loot some treasure while they’re at it. Based on the shares you hold in Happy Stick’s little company, as long as they casually stumble on a few dwarf vaults, you’ll instantly become the richest guy in Transylvania. Little Wei Ming’s money is just pocket change. If we’re talking about Brother Fu, the real rich one is you, you lucky bastard.”

“No way, seriously?”

Boss Huo’s words sounded casual, but Little Brother Fu had grown up with him; there’s no way he didn’t understand this guy’s character. Old Huo had never taken the initiative to bring up money in front of him. The fact that he was saying it now, even as a joke, proved he really did need a sum of money.

Mou Niqiong sat up, asked Boss Huo for a cigarette, and asked:

“Isn’t your casino booming? Aren’t you partnering with Lady Taylor to open a branch in Charldo Harbor? I heard you’re also working with the Cape Family, so the cash flow shouldn’t be low, plus you’ve got the commercial subsidies from Crimson Castle. No matter how I look at it, you shouldn’t be short of money. Tell me the truth, what’s really going on? You didn’t piss off Governor Milian, did you? Damn, how does a businessman like you dare go up against the authorities?”

“Where’s your brain running off to? Am I that stupid?”

Old Huo waved his hand, glanced at the four golden flowers racing each other in the water, and spoke softly:

“The profits from Treasure Bay are money I’m saving for Chenyu and the girls; I can’t touch it. What I want to do now, I have to use my own money. I’m not going into details; you’re not interested in business anyway.”

“Come on, if you want to borrow money, I’ve at least got to know what you plan to do. Spill it, we’ve got nothing else to do anyway.”

Little Brother Fu perked up, sat cross-legged on the reef and said to Old Huo:

“As long as it’s legit business, I’ll empty my pockets to support my own brother. You talk first, what are you planning?”

“Well, it all started because of this.”

Old Huo fished a gleaming Gold Coin out of his pocket and flicked it to Mou Niqiong. The latter caught it in his hand and immediately felt something was off—there was none of that cold metallic sensation, instead it was as if some warm, coiled power was dwelling inside, ready to burst forth.

Startled, he activated Item Identification. When he saw the big words “Thing of Faith · Follower Emblem”, his eyes went wide and he cried out:

“God of Wealth? How did you get involved with her?”