Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Hidden Motives
"You’ve got such an attitude, huh? Even Young Master Gao has to come here to find you!"
The four walked closer, and one of them immediately spoke up.
"Exactly, anyone who doesn’t know would think you’re some big shot!" Another person quickly added.
"Each useless word costs an extra million, it’s now seven million!" Lin Ye said without lifting his head.
"What? What did you say?" The first person who spoke looked a bit stunned.
"Eight million!" Lin Ye spoke again.
At that moment, the two who spoke first were completely dumbfounded.
They hadn’t even started yet, and they raised Young Master Gao’s expenditure by two million...
Soon enough, they’ll probably have to cough up that money.
Now, as they looked at Lin Ye, they felt like they wanted to kill him.
"You guys, step back!" Gao Wei was both infuriated and amused by Lin Ye’s maneuver.
He didn’t expect Lin Ye to pull off such a flamboyant move.
"Eight million is eight million. The Level 7 Mysterious Island Abyss Level, can you handle it?" Gao Wei asked with a serious face.
"Since I called you here, naturally I can handle it." Lin Ye shrugged and then continued, "The premise is, you have to obey!"
"Who do you think you are? Making Young Master Gao listen to you?" Li Minghui was amused yet angered by Lin Ye.
Your arrogance should have a limit!
"Nine million!" Lin Ye said without so much as batting an eyelid.
"You..." Li Minghui’s eyes widened, but he immediately swallowed his words.
If this continues, wouldn’t it rise to ten million?
Gao Wei glared at his three lackeys with such fury that it was about to explode.
"Nine million, fine! Join my team!" Gao Wei said, anger still in his voice.
"Pay half upfront, settle the rest after the run, and your team joins mine, with me as the leader!" Lin Ye said matter-of-factly.
Paying half upfront is customary.
To ensure the person leading the run does their job well, a portion of the fee is paid after the run concludes.
But insisting that Lin Ye be the team leader truly angered Gao Wei.
He already had to swallow his pride yesterday at Ke Jue’s place for free, and now he was paying to do the same with Lin Ye!
This was outrageous!
"Don’t push it!" Gao Wei said angrily.
He felt he was already giving Lin Ye enough respect today, but this guy was really something!
"Ten million!" Lin Ye raised his head, looking directly at Gao Wei.
Gao Wei nearly couldn’t hold it in, ready to throw a punch!
However, Li Minghui held him back.
"Young Master Gao, calm down! We’re genuinely here to ask him to lead the run! Right?" He advised.
Gao Wei, upon hearing this, naturally understood Li Minghui’s meaning and forced himself to suppress the anger in his heart. After several deep breaths, he looked at Lin Ye and said, "I’ll pay you five million first; you invite us to join the team!"
Lin Ye was slightly surprised and gave Gao Wei an extra glance.
In his previous life, he started low, and although he was repeatedly oppressed by Gao Wei, it was mostly minor lackeys who caused trouble for him, and he didn’t see Gao Wei himself many times.
Later, when Lin Ye left Shan City, he cut ties with Gao Wei entirely.
By the time Lin Ye achieved success, the Noble Family like Gao’s from Shan City was already beneath his notice.
But now, seeing Gao Wei in person, he realized Gao Wei wasn’t a complete fool.
At least he knew how to control his anger.
Just this alone made him better than most of the arrogant individuals Lin Ye encountered in his previous life.
But the more this was the case, the more resolute Lin Ye’s decision became...
"Here’s your invitation, join the team!"
Lin Ye spoke casually.
Soon, the four of them joined the team, and Lin Ye also received the five million transferred by Gao Wei.
Besides Gao Wei and Li Minghui, the other two were Guo Wei, an Archer, and Shi Cheng, a Mage.
Gao Wei’s main profession was Berserker.
So the team’s composition was quite comprehensive, covering melee, damage, and healing!
At first glance, it seemed like a proper team set to tackle a Secret Realm.
But in reality, each had ulterior motives and was calculating...
"Level 7 Mysterious Island Abyss Level."
Lin Ye quickly selected the Secret Realm specified by Gao Wei on the panel.
Lin Ye had no objections to going to this Secret Realm.
Because it’s an Innate Secret Realm!
Innate Secret Realms refer to those that naturally appeared during the great change of the world.
The ones transformed from Anomalous Spatial Rifts into Secret Realms are called Acquired Secret Realms.
Generally, Acquired Secret Realms require payment, and every move you make is under the watch of the realm’s owner.
Of course, the realm’s owner usually doesn’t excessively interfere with what’s happening inside.
Unless the professionals inside encounter danger, which the owner notices, only then might they step in to help.
Thus, Acquired Secret Realms are relatively safe, but they don’t drop items except experience points.
Innate Secret Realms, despite being dangerous, are mostly free to enter, and they drop rich rewards, making them a top choice for powerful professionals.
As for the so-called hidden achievements, they only exist in Innate Secret Realms; Acquired Realms lack this feature.
At that point, Lin Ye selected Mysterious Island and then directly entered!
A bulletin quickly spread across the Professional Plaza.
[’Forest Squad’ has entered the ’Mysterious Island (Abyss Level)!’]
Any team entering an Abyss Level Secret Realm will trigger such a notification.
This time was no exception.
Although it’s only broadcast in the Professional Plaza area, it doesn’t take long before it spreads around.
"Lin Ye is diving into an Abyss Level again?"
"Damn, it’s even a Level 7 Mysterious Island!"
"I’m baffled... I’m still stuck in the Flame Forest and can’t get out..."
"Isn’t that everyone’s situation? He’s soaring through the Abyss while I’m here wrestling with goblins, sob sob..."
"Hang on, isn’t that Gao Wei in Lin Ye’s team from the Gao Family?"
"That’s right! He’s Gao Lanlan’s brother!"
"I remember Gao Lanlan! The peerless genius with SSS-Class Talent, and a Space Mage, from a few years ago!"
"Gasp!"
Instantly, the plaza was filled with the sound of astonishment.
But the awe wasn’t directed at Lin Ye, nor Gao Wei, but towards that SSS-Class genius who shocked the entire Southern Region!
SSS-Class talents appear a few times a year in the Southern Region; rare, but not region-shaking.
Yet Gao Lanlan was unique, being a Space Mage!
Her emergence revitalized the formerly quiet Gao Family, gaining more influence over the past few years.
Such is the way; a powerful professional symbolizes the ascension of a Noble Family.