Chapter 114: Words That Hit Hard
[Spending 208,000 points.]
[Remaining trial points: 1,106,500.]
I purchased every item in the The 2 shop at once. The process felt similar to last ti. Like swiping a debit card, my accumulated points disappeared, and the items floated before my eyes.
Scrolls with distance-shortening and distance-lengthening features. Elixirs, random boxes, and the Root of the World Tree, just like the ones I had consud before. And lastly, the Wish-Granting Scroll.
Hehe.
It was almost too easy. Was this what it felt like for billionaires to shop at departnt stores? The items, which were supposedly difficult to acquire during past trials, were all effortlessly within my grasp. Of course, that didn’t an earning the points was easy.
[Hidden condition achieved!]
[You purchased all items in the The 2 Shop.]
[The ‘The 2 Exclusive VIP Shop’ has been unlocked.]
As expected…!
My heart raced. I had anticipated this, but that didn’t make it any less exhilarating. Because who wouldn’t feel this way? This was the sa shop that got a godslayer-rank item. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would offer this ti. The excitent was overwhelming.
“You really are sothing else.” Floa glared at , clearly envious. “Hoarder. Greedy pig. Did you really need to buy everything to feel satisfied?”
“Quit whining and open it up. I’ve got plenty of points.”
“Haah. As expected… You’re insufferable every ti I look at you.” Shaking her head in exasperation, Floa waved her hand.
[The currency for this shop is trial points.]
[Each item is limited to one per person.]
[List – 1/1]
[1. Reward Probability Amplification Scroll – 1,000,000 Points]
“Wow.”
As expected, it was the sa this ti.
It’s another absurdly overpowered scroll.
This scroll guaranteed rewards two tiers higher than what I would normally receive. So if I managed to get an S-rank item as expected…
I could end up with an SSS-rank item.
With a 100% guarantee, at that. There was no room for hesitation.
“I’ll use up the remaining points. I’m buying it right now. Not buying this would be a cri.”
“So you did have enough points?”
“Of course. Didn’t I say I had plenty?”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying.”
—Snap!
Floa snapped her fingers with a look of irritation.
[Spending 1,000,000 points.]
[Remaining trial points: 106,500.]
Done!
With this purchase, I instinctively felt it…
This the is practically a freebie now.
From the mont I captured the poison mist creature, everything had been tilted in my favor. If points were a asure of privilege, I was holding an unprecedented diamond spoon. And barring so extraordinary incident, no amount of dirt spoons could break this diamond one.
When people gather, conflict is inevitable. Even among those who considered themselves close, disagreents would occur. Now imagine hunters from different countries and cultures coming together—friction was bound to happen.
“Ah, for fuck’s sake. Your stare is suffocating.”
And there was always one person who fueled the fire, the one who couldn’t hold back and voiced what others only thought—Olivia Rodrigo was one such person.
“Mister, why do you keep looking at like that? Aren’t we supposed to be a team now?”
The middle-aged man, who had been sitting quietly, stiffened. Her sudden provocation was likely because Team Leader Joo Donghoon wasn’t present to keep her in check.
Honestly…
The man shook his head. He figured avoiding crazy people was always the best policy. She had been grumbling throughout the march and even took jabs at the team leader last ti.
“It’s starting again.”
“Doesn’t she ever get tired?”
“Vice leader, are you going to let this slide?”
Even the other mbers, who had been holding back, began voicing their frustrations.
When I returned from my eting with Floa, I sensed the tense atmosphere and stopped. I wondered if sothing had happened while I was away. Crouching, I observed the situation.
“Olivia, your task was to set up a shelter with Olena. Are you finished with that?” asked the vice-leader, Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgnt.
“Screw that.”
Olivia’s response was unexpected. Though she lacked so tact, she hadn’t been this rude in my presence before.
“Honestly, everyone here is pretty much the sa except for the team leader. Do you really think having a title makes you special?”
—Step, step.
Olivia walked nonchalantly toward the center, followed by a lackey whose na I didn’t know.
Hm.
Using the Great Blue Heart Technique, I assessed her strength.
She’s unexpectedly decent.
For soone with such a sharp tongue, she wasn’t weak. Her power was on par with the Spear of Judgnt.
Zhang Wei the Spear of Judgnt, Olivia Rodrigo, and Vladimir Rodigin the Spatial Mage. These three had comparable power levels, while the rest of the team mbers were either slightly or significantly weaker.
Not that it matters.
Even their combined strength couldn’t even fill Floa’s toe.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
“Right, the vice leader is doing his best.”
“Besides, he was chosen by the team leader. It’s natural to follow his orders.”
Looking visibly uncomfortable, the team mbers began speaking up.
“Heh,” Olivia snorted. “Everyone here is so damn naive. Tsk, tsk. You all don’t know how to raise your worth.”
“Worth?” Jas, the Martial Artists, stepped in. “Do you think you add value to this team?”
“Oh, are you picking a fight right now?”
“I’m asking seriously. Why are you so twisted and intent on ruining the team’s atmosphere?”
“Oh, being all serious and shit, huh?” Olivia smirked. “Alright, since you’re curious, let explain. Sure, the team leader chose , but that’s that. And this trial is all about cooperation, right? That ans all ten of us are necessary. So why should I bow down just because the team leader is strong? I’m not so pushover.”
“Cooperation is exactly why—”
“Cooperation, my ass.”
“What?”
“The team leader took nearly 99% of the contributions in The 1. You know what that ans?” A grin spread across Olivia’s face. “It ans he stole our shares, dumbass.” Her venomous words were relentless. “And the vice leader is the sa. Delegating tasks, controlling us—it’s all about telling us what to do, right? What else would you expect from a red lackey? In my country, we call that dictatorship.”
“What are you saying—!” Myoi Hana tried to intervene but was cut off by Olivia raising her hand.
“Let spell it out. I hate this whole situation. Honestly, except for that Chinese guy with the spear and the Russian mage, everyone else here feels like freeloaders who just got lucky joining the team.”
“What?” Jas furrowed his brows.
Her words treated the other six mbers as dead weight. Naturally, his pride wouldn’t let him stay silent.
“I’ve had enough of your shit!”
—Whoosh!
His fist, nearly at supersonic speed, shot toward Olivia. However…
“…!”
She was no longer where he aid.
Wh-What…?
Jas glanced around, bewildered.
—Ssssh!
Sothing dark coiled around his calves like a snake.
This is—
Jas’ eyes widened.
A whip?
Indeed. Olivia’s primary weapon was a whip—two, in fact. As the second whip ca swinging at Jas to strike him hard…
“Stop.”
“Enough.”
The Spear of Judgnt and Vladimir blocked its path. Beside them stood a man who appeared to be Olivia’s lover, clearly taking her side.
Wow.
Watching from afar, I let out an internal sigh. Honestly, I thought this might blow over if I kept quiet, but Olivia was the real deal. She was exhausting to even think about.
With that kind of attitude, she probably can’t even maintain friendships, let alone work with a team…
So might argue that blunt honesty was the trend in foreign cultures, and being direct without unnecessary politeness was more charming.
But no.
She wasn’t being honest. She was narcissistic—a ntal state that disregarded the feelings of others for the sake of their narrative.
“…”
What should I do? Normally, I wouldn’t step in. I wasn’t overly kind, but I wasn’t soone who craved attention, either.
But…
I couldn’t let this slide. As the team leader, I needed to steer this trial to victory. Once I realized that, my decision was clear.
It’s ti to act.
Festering wounds didn’t heal on their own. You either cut them out or treated them aggressively. This wasn’t about being right or wrong. Maybe my way was wrong and Olivia’s was right, but for the team to move forward, soone had to back down.
And if she won’t, I’ll make her.
—Step, step.
I began walking, heading straight toward the brewing conflict.
“Ah, team leader?”
“Team leader! You’re here? Please, co quickly. Do you know what’s happening? Olivia, she’s—!”
I kept walking. Soone tried to talk to , but I ignored them. My focus was solely on Olivia.
“…”
I didn’t know how I looked right now, but I probably wasn’t overly joyous, judging from how the gathered mbers moved to make way for .
“Ha?” Olivia let out a dry laugh as she noticed approaching.
Her attitude made my already cold mood drop even lower. If there were a competition for being infuriating, she’d win hands down. Even Floa’s sharp tongue wasn’t this unbearable.
“What? Were you eavesdropping? Damn, a voyeuristic team leader.”
Had she decided to double down? Or was she pretending to be unaffected?
“Yes, well. I happened to hear everything.”
“Really?” Olivia grinned. “Then let’s make this quick. You heard , right? I hate freeloaders. The world should be fair, and everyone should get what they deserve based on their abilities.”
“…”
“And even now, while everyone was working hard, the team leader was off doing who-knows-what, and no one said anything. But I can tolerate that much. Fine.” She raised her twin whips in both hands. “But why do I have to take weaklings along just because they’re part of the team, while the strong get no recognition?”
She might have had a point. Maybe my decision to prioritize the team’s safety was wrong.
However…
I was the team leader. Regardless of whether she was right or wrong, I had to steer this team of ten toward our goal. And right now, Olivia’s mindset was a major obstacle.
“Am I wrong? I don’t think I’m the kind of talent to be sheltering those weaklings right now. What do you think?”
“Your words hit the nail on the head.” I nodded.
Olivia’s smile widened as if pleased with my response. “See? I knew it. You’re different from that uptight Jas guy. You get it.”
“Well, not quite.” I drew my staff. “You’re right. Your words really do hit hard. So, allow .”
I slamd it into the ground.
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