Chapter 386 386-Loving_Lollipop's Decision
Despite his immense anger and regret, Kingserp, for the sake of maintaining Dawn Guild's reputation, ultimately chose to grit his teeth and pay the astronomical auction fee of two hundred and fifty million.
Sometimes, certain things hold more value than money, especially for a force like the top ten global guilds.
The reputation they have painstakingly built in the virtual gaming world over many years is not something that can be measured in monetary terms.
Once tarnished, the consequences are not something money can remedy.
Although a bit neurotic, Kingserp understood this principle.
The many players were astonished by the Guild Leader Kingserp's lavish spending, and they gave him thumbs up, not knowing the bitterness and frustration within his heart.
Spending two hundred and fifty million on an item he couldn't use felt as unpleasant as swallowing flies.
Especially the faint smiles on the faces of Adam and others seemed like mockery to Kingserp.
"Damn you, Galewind, one day you'll pay the price!" he raged inwardly.
Under Isabella's arrangement, the staff brought the Key of the Saint to Kingserp's box and completed the transaction procedures, transferring the two hundred and fifty million directly into Dawn Breeze Auction House's account.
Seeing nearly half of the guild's funds vanishing, Kingserp felt as if his heart was bleeding.
Yet, the troubles he was about to face were far more severe than this loss.
Although Kingserp was the leader of Dawn Guild, the funds were not earned by him alone.
The guild was backed by several mafia organizations in the real world.
The biggest issue Kingserp now faced was how to explain the expenditure to the big shots of these organizations once he returned.
"Dear players, this brings us to the end of our auction. Thank you all for your tremendous support. I hope each one of you acquired the items you desired from this auction, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event..."
With Isabella's closing speech, the auction came to a perfect end.
She expressed her gratitude to all the participants for their support and contributions.
The crowd buzzed with conversations about the auction, expressing amazement and appreciation for the events that had unfolded.
Their understanding of the value of the Key of the Saint deepened, and they enthusiastically discussed the highlights of the auction long after its conclusion.
Many players had acquired precious items at the auction and left the venue with satisfied expressions.
Of course, the majority of the players left empty-handed, but this didn't dampen their anticipation for the next auction.
By now, it was almost an unspoken consensus that the auctions held by Breeze Auction House were the most prestigious trading gatherings in the Godslayer game world.
Not only did they far surpass other auction houses in terms of the authenticity of the equipment, but the level of excitement was unmatched as well.
Though the auction lasted only a few hours, the show was absolutely captivating.
It began with a sudden disruption by NPC assassins, followed by John's formidable intervention, which made many players realize the immense strength a player could possess.
The bidding war between the leaders of the major guilds provided ample fodder for discussions among the players.
As soon as the auction ended, several related topics had already taken over the front page of the gaming forums, sparking endless debates and discussions.
On the second floor, John watched the conclusion of the auction with a sly smile playing on his lips.
He had been observing the outcomes covertly, now plotting his next move.
Although the auction had ended, certain things were just beginning.
John opened his communication channel and sent a message to both Adam and Blue Sea.
Soon, they hurriedly arrived at his box.
"What does Galewind want with us at this hour?" Blue Sea asked as he met Adam at the entrance of the box.
Adam shook his head slowly, equally puzzled. "I'm not sure. He didn't specify in the message, just mentioned giving us an opportunity to vent..."
Their gazes met, both somewhat baffled.
As they knocked on the door, Loving_Lollipop's youthful and handsome face soon appeared before them.
"Well, well, have you really become Galewind's sidekick now?" Adam hadn't even entered the box when his teasing remark rang out.
With a helpless shrug, Loving_Lollipop surprisingly didn't refute Adam's comment, causing both guild leaders to raise their eyebrows in surprise.
It seemed they hadn't expected Loving_Lollipop to accept such a jest.
Could being Galewind's underling actually be something agreeable?
Loving_Lollipop's talents were far from ordinary.
While not demonstrating exceptional social skills, his strength alone, having broken into the top ten of the Arena Leaderboard, made him a core talent worthy of being nurtured in any major guild.
Meanwhile, John was still lounging lazily on the sofa, the epitome of relaxed ease.
Hearing Adam's jest, John chuckled, "Don't talk nonsense, this kid is quite sensitive. What if he takes you seriously and refuses to join either of your guilds? Then what will you do?"
Adam laughed heartily, turning to look at the silent Loving_Lollipop beside him.
"So, kid, have you made up your mind? Which guild do you choose to join, mine or Blue Sea's?"
Blue Sea too turned with a curious and expectant look in his eyes.
Loving_Lollipop didn't immediately respond but instinctively looked up at John.
"Why are you looking at me? I just provided you with an opportunity to join a guild. The final decision should still be based on what you want…"
John casually waved his hand, passing the decision back to Loving_Lollipop.
After some hesitation, the young man spoke seriously, "I just want to ask one thing – will both of your previous promises be kept?"
Adam burst into laughter, exchanging a glance with Blue Sea, and they both nodded.
"Rest assured, if there's anything Blue Sea and I have maintained over the years, it's our commitment to our promises."
Satisfied, Loving_Lollipop nodded and then made his decision: "Then I choose to join your Genesis Guild."
Blue Sea couldn't help but smile wryly and shake his head.
Although Loving_Lollipop's decision was somewhat disappointing to him, upon reflection, it made sense.
Genesis Guild was indeed the strongest among the top ten global guilds.
It was understandable for Loving_Lollipop to make such a choice.
Besides, his Blue Sea Guild was mainly composed of magus players, while Loving_Lollipop, a warrior player, would naturally opt for a guild that suited his style better, like Genesis Guild.
On the other side, Adam's face was lit up with an irrepressible smile.
Gaining a young player with unlimited potential like Loving_Lollipop was undoubtedly a joyous occasion for him.
For guilds of their caliber, the number of members with potential was crucial.
The top echelons were already fixed and unlikely to improve significantly.
The more young members with potential they had, the farther the guild could go in the future.
Hence, the competition for talent among these major guilds had never ceased.
John, too, sported a faint smile. "Congratulations to Adam for successfully acquiring a guild member with immense potential!" He gave Adam a bowing gesture.
Blue Sea, quite magnanimous at this moment, quickly followed suit with a similar gesture to John.
Adam laughed heartily, exchanging a few pleasantries before pulling out his guild leader's token.
"Trust me, kid, you've made the wisest decision! Take my guild leader's token and head straight to our guild headquarters. You know where it is, right? Someone there will receive you specially; I've arranged everything already!"
Taking the token, Loving_Lollipop turned his head to look at John once again, seemingly out of habit.
It appeared that their interactions over time had fostered a sense of reliance in him towards John.
"Don't always look at me. Ultimately, you must walk your path on your own. A true strong person must have absolute self-awareness. You must make your own judgments in everything you do. Without conviction, it's hard to grow and develop..." John's casual words left Loving_Lollipop lost in thought for a long while.
After all, he was just a teenager, his character still in the formative stages.
John's unflappable demeanor, even in the face of immense challenges, had always inspired him with deep respect.
Subconsciously, he had started to see John as a life mentor.
Now, hearing John's guidance, Loving_Lollipop pondered deeply over his words.
After a long moment, the young man gave John a respectful bow and then, clutching Adam's guild leader token, hastily left the box.
Once Loving_Lollipop had departed, John also stood up from the sofa, stretching leisurely before turning to face the expectant Adam and Blue Sea.
"Alright, now that the minor matter is settled, let's get to the main issue..."
Adam and Blue Sea looked puzzled, only to hear John chuckle, "That Key of the Saint – do you two really have no thoughts about it?"
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