Chapter 102 - A Large-scale Organization

The axe-wielding Warrior left with his 10 gold coins. The onlookers also gradually dispersed when they saw that the show was over. Currently, the three teenage wannabe heroes, who had tried saving the damsel in distress, were stoically being complimented by Xi Xiaotian for their efforts.

Standing by the side and watching all these, Gu Fei tried to slip away. However, Xi Xiaotian noticed his minute movement and hollered, Stay there!

Theres nothing else to do, so Im leaving. Chat on without me, Gu Fei passed this as goodbye.

Theres something! Xi Xiaotian stated rather firmly.

What else is there? Gu Fei asked, beaming.

Xi Xiaotian looked at him without saying another word.

Gu Fei sighed, Fine! Todays my fault for slandering you. Im sorry! Deep down, Gu Fei was unwilling to apologize. Xi Xiaotian squatting at a corner of Peddlers Street to sell odds and ends was something he could not accept as for real; it was a pity that he had no evidence to prove her otherwise. Gu Fei remained suspicious largely because he intuitively knew that Xi Xiaotians passion for swindling was not inferior to his passion for kung fu.

Hearing Gu Fei apologize, Xi Xiaotian smiled triumphantly, You didnt slander me; I really do have an ulterior motive.

D*mn! Knew it! Gu Fei howled in his mind. On the surface, his facial expression remained unchanged, Whats your purpose, then?

Xi Xiaotian did not speak but looked toward a certain direction. Gu Fei followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at a man. It was the guy from that group Gu Fei had expected to get his second battle from previously. The man was currently squatting by the corner with a stall set up in front of him. From time to time, he would throw a glance over to them.

What? Gu Fei asked, puzzled.

Xi Xiaotian turned around and coaxed the three wannabe heroes to leave, before pulling Gu Fei to squat by her stall, That guy right there is part of that equipment-robbing gang that Ive just told you. Theyve a few good items on them.

How long have you been eyeing them? Gu Fei asked.

Quite a while, Xi Xiaotian admitted, adding, I noticed their gang in my trips at the Trade Exchange and Auction House. They took note of those players who had bought top-grade equipment. Afterward, they attacked them. I thrice witnessed them PKing players possessing top-grade equipment.

Thats too much, Gu Fei felt disgusted.

Xi Xiaotian nodded her head, I feel that this gang isnt just a random party. The members most likely belong to the same gaming workshop, or maybe theyre part of the same clan guild.

Seeing Gu Feis look of confusion, Xi Xiaotian gave a more detailed explanation, When we, the players, first entered Parallel World, were randomly assigned a city. The world map isnt officially released yet; there aint teleportation portals for traveling between the in-game cities either. These workshops and clan guilds naturally cant gather in one place. Thus, every city has some of their players, temporarily doing their own things. For now, they wont unfurl their workshop or clan guild banners.

Gaming workshop? Clan guild? Actually, Gu Fei was confused about those.

Dont you know what they are? Xi Xiaotian asked.

Gu Fei laughed awkwardly, Ive heard of them. I just dont know the particulars.

Ill give you a quick rundown, then. Gaming workshops exist for the purpose of earning profits. So if those of a gaming workshop obtain the dropped equipment of the targeted players, theyll sell them when the time is ripe. If its a clan guild doing the stealing, Im afraid the goal will be strengthening the clan guild using the ill-gotten equipment. The pieces of top-grade equipment are probably used by them once they obtain them, Xi Xiaotian explained.

So which group do those guys belong? Gu Fei asked.

Ive a feeling they belong to a clan guild. The purpose of workshops is to earn money; they care more about the gaming regulations and environment than anything else. Renowned workshops are organized and have strict rules, so they wont do such lowly acts. Still, theres a possibility of those guys belonging to a small workshop that does this sort of killing the goose that lays the golden egg thing. But the scale of these small workshops is limited. In games like this where entering a city is entirely random, its quite difficult for them to gain a foothold in any city, Xi Xiaotian elaborated.

That makes sense, Gu Fei nodded his head.

Ive reached out to the gangs victims for more information; I was thinking of identifying the gang members through the stolen equipment. Yet, those stolen goods all vanished. They didnt appear in the Auction House or any Trade Exchange platform. Theyre not seen in any players hands in various grinding maps, too, Xi Xiaotian said.

Gu Fei realized what she was doing, So you came all the way to Peddlers Street, hoping to see if theyll appear here?

Xi Xiaotian nodded her head, While the chance of them appearing here is slim, this is the only trail I can pick up.

Gu Fei laughed, Youve forgotten another trail.

What? Xi Xiaotian asked.

Mailbox, Gu Fei answered.

OH! Xi Xiaotian knocked her head lightly with her fist as she received this epiphany.

If this gang really belongs to this sort of large-scale organization like you supposed, itll definitely have manpower in various in-game cities. This method of strengthening themselves mustve been adopted in every city theyve a presence. This gangs members are probably cautious enough to not use the equipment in the city theyve gotten it from. They mustve used the mailbox to exchange equipment with their fellow clan mates across the game, which will explain why you no longer see the stolen equipment, Gu Fei hypothesized.

Youre right! That must be it, Xi Xiaotian patted Gu Fei on the arm, You aint half bad.

Gu Fei chuckled. He did not actually possess a deep understanding of the game. It was only because he had written a letter back in Yueye City and learned about No Smile mailing Zephyrs Whisper to Dusky Cloud a few days ago, so Gu Fei easily made the connection.

Itll be difficult to track them down if thats really the case, Xi Xiaotian sighed. It was really easy for players to hide their identities in Parallel World. No one would know the players IGNs unless they gave those themselves, faces could be covered with pieces of cloth, and equipment could be changed if players had a few sets exactly what Gu Fei had done to hide his identity.

Thus, youre in need of a person with top-grade equipment to be the bait. This person will attract these men out of their hiding places for you to try and swindle them, Gu Fei concluded, Coincidentally, I appeared before you!

Ive never thought of that before, Xi Xiaotian denied vehemently, feeling dumbfounded, Its useless to attract them that way! If you get looted by them and lose your equipment, youll still be left in the dark regarding their identity.

Just dont die easily, then, Gu Fei smiled.

Xi Xiaotian rolled her eyes, Didnt I explain it clearly? This gang steals players top-grade equipment every day! The gang members prowess doesnt need further proving, right? Theyre in possession of some top-grade equipment, too.

So why did you stop me for? Gu Fei asked, puzzled.

Xi Xiaotian was puzzled as well, Its just to explain to you why Im really squatting in this corner here.

That simple? Gu Fei asked.

Its that simple, Xi Xiaotian nodded her head.

Gu Fei was about to say something when the system notified him of a new message. Seeing that it was from Young Master Han, he immediately opened it up to have a look: Sword Demon was killed.

Gu Fei was startled and quickly asked, When?

While hes grinding. I just received a message from him, Young Master Han said, Rays Bar. Waiting for the rest of you.

Gu Fei did not bother with Young Master Han; instead, he messaged Sword Demon, Are you at a spawn point? Dont go out yet!

What? Sword Demon asked.

Dont go out of the spawn point, Gu Fei repeated himself.

Sword Demon replied with one word, Fine!

Gu Fei stared at Xi Xiaotian, Looks like one of my friends caught the eye of this gang, too.

What?

He got killed while grinding. Oh, yeah. You know him. Frost Memories, remember? Gu Fei reminded her.

Of course Xi Xiaotian replied daintily.

Thats him. Im heading over now, Gu Fei got up.

Wait! Dont forget theyve got eyes on you, too! That man over there from their group has been watching us from the start! Xi Xiaotian reminded him as well.

Youre right! Gu Fei said as he quickly walked toward the man who had been watching him all this while.

Hey! Gu Fei shouted as he arrived right in front of the person.

The person lifted his head and was shocked upon seeing that it was Gu Fei. However, he quickly regained his composure as he smilingly asked, Do you need me for something?

Gu Fei smiled in return, Robbery.

What? The person felt stunned when Gu Fei pulled out Moonlit Nightfalls from his dimensional pocket. Gu Fei then plunged it straight toward the player. The person managed to quickly shift his body to the side to dodge the attack. Unfortunately for the guy, Gu Fei was even faster than him and had already changed his swords path to where the person was planning to move his body.

Twin Incineration! Incinerate! Gu Fei roared. A fire dragon sprang out of Moonlit Nightfalls, brushed through the person, and disappeared along with him. His parting gaze was one of disbelief.

Gu Fei did not wish to exchange blows with the man, so he casted a spell to insta-kill him. Gu Fei knelt down and carefully wrapped up the items the man had left behind in his stall.

The entire place descended into silence as he got up. All the players stared at Gu Fei with a horrified look on their faces. Quite a number of them hurriedly packed up their stalls in response to what they had just witnessed. Others took out their weapons, exchanging eye contact with one another as they planned to take down the strong foe.

Gu Fei smiled at them all, This is a personal vendetta. Everyone, just ignore me and carry on with your business.

Gu Fei headed toward the street exit under the crowds gaze. Passing by Xi Xiaotians stall, he flicked something toward her with his finger and casually said, This stuff here looks pretty good. Its my gift to you!

Xi Xiaotian caught it and inspected it. It was a crystal badge; the stats on it were garbage but it had a very pretty design. Xi Xiaotian pouted, You robbers are the most annoying. Theres not even a bit of elegance or skill in your techniques.

Gu Fei laughed as he quickly left Peddlers Street.

Silence reigned in the street. After Gu Fei left, everyones eyes fell on to Xi Xiaotian.