novelraw Chapter 80: Conspiracy
Chapter 80: Conspiracy
"George!"
That afternoon, Li Wei was holding a shovel, inspecting the irrigation channel beside the farmland and watering the crops, when he saw Penny walking over quickly, full of energy and urgency.
These past few days, he hadn't interacted much with the other family members; everyone was very busy. Especially Penny, as the process of making the compound bow was quite complex, and he simply couldn't understand it.
And now, had she finished making that compound bow?
Just as he was thinking about how to greet her, Penny stepped forward, took out a black card, and waved it in front of Li Wei. The black card vanished like mist, and almost simultaneously, he received a line of information.
"Professional Craftsman *** used a One-Star Conspiracy Card. You have been invited to join a Conspiracy Dialogue Group. The current dialogue group has two people. You can now converse without being bound by the rules, but all conversations are not guaranteed to be truthful, and the duration is limited to ten minutes."
Huh?
When did Penny get a Conspiracy Card in her hands? Did she get it from Thomas?
This Thomas really has a rich family background, doesn't he? He has all sorts of rare stuff.
Li Wei instinctively felt this was Thomas initiating a new round of trouble.Just as he was thinking this, he heard Penny lower her voice and speak rapidly, "At the end of this month, if I ask you to initiate an Impeachment against Fila, what benefits do you want?"
Li Wei was stunned. "What do you mean? I don't really understand. Where did you get this Conspiracy Card? You shouldn't let Thomas trick you."
But Penny just smiled, looking at Li Wei with a somewhat emotional expression. "George, you're not bad. Although sometimes you're a bit foolish, perhaps it's true that fools have fortune. I'm really envious of that Family Defender title of yours. Let me put it this way: cats have their ways, mice have theirs. For the sake of development, using every possible means is understandable, right? So don't worry about whether I've been tricked or not. Just tell me, can you agree or not?"
"I don't agree. Thomas and Margaret, these two veteran players, definitely have some scheme. The benefits are limited; if they eat them up, we get less!" Li Wei shook his head.
"500 points of any type of Experience!"
Penny sneered and directly named her price.
"What kind of joke are you making? In matters of right and wrong, I can distinguish the stakes clearly!" Li Wei said solemnly.
"1000 points of any type of Experience. After it's done, I'll also give you a One-Star Woodcutter Card." Penny gave a cold laugh, hitting Li Wei until he felt dizzy, his vision went dark, his legs trembled... Yes, in the face of harsh reality, what right did he have to refuse? This was the sorrow of a small character.
"Fine! Deal! But I still have to remind you, don't cry when you get tricked by Thomas later."
Li Wei gave one last warning. He had gotten enough benefits, so of course he didn't care how Thomas stirred things up. Could he possibly stir this family into falling apart?
"Don't worry, I know. In fact, of course I know Thomas and Margaret have a scheme, but I've already extorted enough benefits from him. Your sister is the Bargaining Queen, confident and arrogant!"
Penny was actually very confident, spirited and radiant, just like back then, during that moment when Mixi turned to dust amidst conversation and laughter.
Seeming to see the disbelief in Li Wei's eyes, she explained further, "Actually, even if Thomas really tricks me, I won't lose out. If I'm lucky and can become the Family Head for a month, that's a huge profit. Forgot to tell you, Family Contribution cannot be taken with you after clearing a scenario. Only the additional Clearance Evaluation is the most important and valuable. So if you can't become the Family Head, you can almost only get a passing score."
"This piece of information, I'll give it to you for free."
Wow, Penny is also clear-headed. It seems she really did extort quite a few benefits from Thomas, because just to bribe him, she used up 1500 points of Experience.
It's a shame he couldn't see the scene of Thomas being bargained down until he was hopping mad but helpless.
"What do you think Thomas's scheme is actually for?" Li Wei tentatively asked at this point.
"Thomas and Margaret themselves say it's mainly to compete for the first-mover advantage after reaching a Level 4 Camp. They don't say specifically why, but I think they aren't telling the truth, at least not the whole truth. But it's definitely related to the Level 4 Camp."
"Also, by the way, Margaret holds quite a grudge against you. She's said more than once that she'll find an opportunity to give you a good beating."
"Margaret? I'm not afraid of her one bit! Let her come if she dares! But, from what you're saying, you guys often conspire together. Is this One-Star Conspiracy Card very cheap? Are item cards flying around everywhere?"
Li Wei asked in surprise.
"This is a very common One-Star Conspiracy Card at the Headquarters. You can buy one for 300 points of any type of Experience. Over the past five months, Margaret has already used two. Thomas is now using his third. But in the past, we were conspiring on how to deal with you. Now, it's an honor that the target has changed to that old bitch Fila."
Penny clearly held a strong grudge against Fila, speaking about her without any courtesy.
However, when they were conspiring against Li Wei, they probably weren't courteous either.
So it didn't matter.
At this moment, Li Wei suddenly thought of a problem. "What if Fila doesn't make a mistake this month? I can't impeach her without a reason!"
Hearing this, Penny wasn't surprised at all and asked directly, "The nights this month are still very cold, right? Do you have to keep watch every night and add firewood to the fireplace?"
"Yes, I'm used to it." Li Wei was taken aback, beginning to understand a little.
"But in the main quest, there's no requirement for you to tend to the fire in the room while patrolling outside at night, right? You yourself are used to not sleeping at night, but try putting someone else in that position? Working during the day, patrolling at night, and tending to the fire—so much work piled on one person is unreasonable."
"Fila has gotten used to you tending the fire over the past few months. She overlooked this detail. This month, you need to find an opportunity to complain a few times to me, Thomas, Margaret, and Leon. That will establish the established fact. We're not framing her; she really didn't arrange things properly."
"The matter of tending the fire at night is really important, George. Thomas was even quite impressed with you because of this before. The spring chill is biting, and catching a cold is no small matter! If the Family Head can't even solve this detail, it's impeachment evidence handed over on a platter."
"In those previous months, if you couldn't keep the fire burning all night, do you think Margaret would have let you serve for so long? Speaking of which, you were pretty formidable. If that bear hadn't killed the plow ox, you were almost flawless."
Penny said with emotion, genuinely impressed by Li Wei.
"Understood. I have another question. Do you know how to change profession to a Warrior?" Li Wei nodded and asked again.
"Simple. You need at least two attributes to reach First-Level Awakening. Based on the definition of the awakened attributes, you determine what kind of profession you are. Actually, after clearing the scenario and returning to the Headquarters, you'll learn this for free. Of course, the sooner you know, the more prepared you'll be."
"Then are you a veteran player?"
"Veteran my ass. I only arrived three months before you. My spawn point was Kahe City. I've been fleeing the whole way, with no chance to develop. That father of ours, he should be a powerful veteran player. He traded me a very trashy item card before, but I don't know more than that. During that time, I felt like I was going through a cutscene, completely confused the whole way."
"What about Fila? What if she's a veteran player?"
"Don't know. But does she look like a veteran player to you? Alright, stop being such a question baby. Remember, when you go back tonight, find Thomas first to complete the transaction. Just give him something random. Then open a transaction for sale; he'll give you 500 points of any type of Experience. The next day, find an opportunity to trade with me; I'll give you another 500 points. That Woodcutter Card will be given to you after the deed is done."
"Wait, aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word?" Li Wei suddenly asked.
"You can certainly try."
With that, Penny turned and left, and the Conspiracy Card's dialogue group status also disappeared.
Watching Penny's figure leave, Li Wei shook his head slightly. Penny was still too eager for quick success and instant benefits. He just hoped her gamble was right this time.
But then again, this harvest was really good.
So, as long as two attributes reach Awakening, you can change profession to a Warrior. Then, he really has a chance to raise his Stamina attribute to 200 points. Once it reaches First-Level Awakening, wouldn't he be able to change profession to a Warrior?
However, Thomas and Margaret value the Level 4 Camp so much. They are already Warrior professions, having reached the level he currently hopes to achieve. So what exactly are they pursuing?
Is it just for a bit of first-mover advantage?
Li Wei slightly furrowed his brows.
Too abnormal!
It's really too abnormal.
Thomas and Margaret are practically spending money regardless of the cost. By that reasoning, what they are scheming must be huge!
But as a newcomer, he knows nothing about this and can only watch passively.
"I just hope Thomas and Margaret aren't agents sent by a hostile force to cause trouble. As long as it's not that, then other things... might still be acceptable."