Chapter 497: Concern and Condolences from Group Members

Blue Star Blue Star →: xbiqugu

At sunset, on the rooftop of a skyscraper, a beach appeared—nearly impossible to exist atop such a building.

A man wearing swim trunks, with a circular scar on his chest, folded his sun umbrella, picked up his belongings, and walked toward a glass door.

He wore sunglasses, sported an oddly shaped goatee, and had a neatly styled traditional business haircut.

"I see here it says sales of our armor in certain regions have dipped slightly these past two days."

He casually tossed a projected electronic screen onto the sofa behind the door, sat down in an ergonomic office chair, and said:

"71st cycle, Zone VI; 72nd cycle, Zone IX; or the new zone—sales of the ARK5 suitcase armor model are only three units?!"

"Online platform sales have plummeted to zero, and people are even requesting refunds? This is awesome!"

"Javis, tell me what's going on—has a competing product replaced the ARK5 suitcase armor?"

"What do you mean?"

"That's impossible—even the cracked version of the original model couldn't be this cheap."

A virtual projection screen appeared, displaying an ARK5 suitcase armor, its expanded data annotations, and finally the price: a glaring "998" beneath the armor…

"How is this possible?!" the man exclaimed. "I was the one who suppressed the pricing for tech-class products originally!"

998 was actually one thousand points—just using consumer behavior psychology to make it feel like less than a thousand. Damn it, this damned female merchant tactic.

But even at a thousand points, don't these people care about profit?!

Even advanced technological civilizations wouldn't set a price this low—what's the difference between this and charity?

"Javis, pull up the detailed weapon specifications."

【Mr.】

"What's wrong?"

【All weapons loaded originate from Stark Industries; aside from the included magical energy, all other parameters match historical models in the database exactly, including the core frame.】

【Compared to the original historical version of the ARK5 armor, this suit's performance has been optimized by 70 percent—it no longer qualifies as a standard portable model.】

"Looks like some poor bastard Su Su Tuoni Stark had his inventory looted. Contact these people, find out how many suits they have, and buy them all."

After giving the order, he picked up the teleported iron case and began examining the specific details.

Generally, if other Reincarnators produced their own armor, the parameters would differ somewhat—especially regarding the core components.

Copying the armor isn't hard, but there's no reason to replicate Stark Industries' weapon specs exactly.

"Didn't I say all of them?"

【746 ARK5 portable armor units have been purchased, but the seller says they can continue production—if your demand exceeds 1,000 units, they'll offer a 20 percent discount off the base price of 998 Reincarnation points.】

After a long silence, he suddenly laughed: "Maybe another Iron Man has shown up—this guy's running a dumping scheme. Javis, who's selling these?"

The man ripped off his sunglasses, revealing a face identical to Su Su Tuoni Stark's—only older, more weathered:

"Isn't that guy a Hollywood actor?!!!"

"Hehehehehe, Captain, please give me your guidance on the next mission."

"Fusheng Wuliang Tianzun, drop by the shop sometime—I'll give you all a ten percent discount."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have other matters to attend to—excuse me for now."

Zhang Heng's face was ashen, his eyes blank and numb as he stared at the three before him.

The Hun Tian Di, wrapped in a cloak, face obscured, radiating a chilling aura.

A slightly chubby man who looked like he'd lost weight—Duan De the Daoist.

Wu Gen Sheng, with long, messy hair, wearing an open robe over a white horse-collar tunic.

"I observe your complexion isn't good. Here's a Miaoyin fruit—not anything valuable, please accept it."

The speaker was a white-robed Young Master, sword at his waist, elegant as jade, as if stepped from an ancient painting: "Lately I've had insomnia and nightmares; this fruit helps calm the spirit remarkably."

Zhang Heng caught the brown spiritual fruit and offered a smile uglier than crying: "Thank you."

Though this name wasn't famous and left little impression, he was still the strongest psychic on his former planet—he couldn't possibly forget what he'd seen in his mind.

Aside from Gui Li, whose origin was unknown, only Wu Gen Sheng here seemed human.

Was the previous team disbanded?

More like annihilated!

"Youngster, don't worry," Su Lin comforted. "They're just fans of comics."

I believe your ghost—according to the lore, you, Gu Yue Fang Yuan, are the most inhuman here!

Where's the Divine King? Save me!

"Senior," Zhang Heng's throat was dry, his voice hoarse: "I'm the team leader—"

Su Lin nodded, cutting him off: "They have no objections."

"I object!" A flicker of despair flashed in Zhang Heng's eyes.

Su Lin and the others merely wanted to form a leveling group for their online friends—after all, they could complete missions and scavenge resources simultaneously.

But Zhang Heng didn't know—he thought he'd been targeted by this group.

What are you plotting? What's your scheme?!

Even a clay figure has three parts of temper—don't think I'm afraid of you demons! This is the Reincarnation space!

"Stop practicing the technique I gave you last time," Su Lin pulled out a scripture for Heaven's Army cultivation: "This one's barely acceptable. For artifacts, each of you pick one from the shop."

Zhang Heng took the scripture and said: "Thank you, Senior, for your favor."

Fortune lies in danger—that's the core tone of the Reincarnation space.

He was just a small fry; there seemed nothing worth scheming over. If worst came to worst, he could scrape together the cost of a reserve resurrection at the Master God.

Before arriving in the Master God space, his savings could be sold for Reincarnation points.

Zhang Heng looked at Chu Lingyun; she gave a slight nod—at least they still had time to consider before the next mission.

"I can't help but feel that young brother's attitude is a bit strange," Ye Fan said, stroking his chin. "Seeing it once shouldn't be this much."

Xiao Yan nodded: "Earlier, someone named Ximen Chuixue came to order flying swords. It's normal to use an alt account, right?"

It's not like the ID 'Ximen Chuixue' means the real Ximen Chuixue, is it?

Su Lin pondered, exchanged a glance with 'Mr. Amon' and 'Master Han Guang,' then chose to drop the matter.

Zhang Heng, probably due to his past life of constant fighting, couldn't hide his thoughts at all—even without mind-reading, you could tell what he was thinking.

He was only slightly better than Song Shuhang.

"Fun," Li Huowang said of the virtual reality headset on his head.

After a while longer,

once Weigong Shilang had "visited" and "experienced" several sword-specialty shops' wares, everyone decided to close up.

The pre-orders were more than expected.

"There really are a lot of rich people in this Reincarnation space—just now a big client bought out all my stock," Su Su Tuoni Stark held a vial of Extremis serum and a USB drive containing several armor blueprints:

"Thanks to this unknown rich person, I used the Reincarnation points I just earned to exchange for design blueprints still in the conceptual stage at the Main God."

Now, the development of nanotech armor, even the Ark-50 Bloodline Armor, can be scheduled ahead.

As for whether this lazy behavior might stifle the autonomous research ability of the genius 'Su Su Tuoni Stark,' such a joke only applies to others.

This Reincarnation space has saved me a lot of effort—I have plenty of time to research weapons and armor targeting that purple sweet potato.

Oh, by the way.

There's also that Strange Doctor who, after a breakup, has a 0.000000001 chance of wiping out the entire universe.

We must guard against this dangerous individual.

Next time you meet that pajama baby, keep them as far apart as possible.

I should go back to that girl's universe with the gray hair—though I commissioned her to collect some knowledge books, progress has been poor.

Apparently, her knowledge acquisition comes from a doctor who gives her quizzes on each module, and she can't learn the next one until she scores full marks.

Returning from the Reincarnation space, Su Lin stretched and said: "Alright, time to head home."

"Aren't you still piled with memorials?" Lu Mingfei, one foot already through his own world's portal, reminded: "Come on, hardworking Emperor Tian Di."

"It's five o'clock—time to clock out. The rest can wait till tomorrow," Su Lin pulled a watch from history and said.

Meng Qi silently gave a thumbs-up; with someone leading, he decided to return to his own world first and share his recent gains with his Lady.

"Huh?! You're already back?" Penglai Shan Huiye held a strange coin: "I was just about to visit your worlds to collect strange creatures as Aether Spirits."

Xing also stepped out, dejected: "Don't feel like grinding events anymore."

"Has it started?" Su Lin asked. "The Nintendo lawyer letter challenge."

Xing corrected: "It's clearly the Aether Spirit Competition."

"Then let him play," Su Lin said. "Where's Emperor Yufeng?"

"He's getting along great with the Mole Party," Xing scratched his head. "He's currently playing Aether Frontiers—I saw him being so well-behaved, I forgot to bring him back. Sorry."

Since bringing that kid over, the Goethe Hotel hasn't had any supernatural incidents.

Xing originally planned to take Emperor Yufeng to the iron door behind the Bellberg Theater, to see if he could help that poor soul trapped inside.

But he completely forgot about it during this time—probably because he took on too many tasks.

"Then let him play," Su Lin extended his hand. "Give me back the Spirit Stones for the mission reward."

"Oh." Xing pulled out a Spirit Stone and returned it.

"What about work?" Lu Mingfei continued to remind. "Su Sang, you're an adult."

"If you change your nationality, I won't mind turning you into Sakura-chan," Su Lin drew the Tianqing Yu Xu Sword, making Lu Mingfei freeze in fear and stop joking.

"Isn't there still Taibai Jinxing for work?"

If you often work overtime, you'll realize that over ninety-nine percent of tasks are exactly the same with or without you.

It perfectly fits: if you don't do it, someone else will; the Earth turns fine without any one person.

This is absolutely wonderful!

Unfortunately, the one Su Lin encountered was precisely the remaining one percent.

"I'll just work overtime later."

With that decided, Meng Qi and the others gradually headed toward their own world portals. Su Lin took three wristwatches, handing two to Penglai Shan Huiye and Xing. "Go explore on your own. Remember to use alt accounts—don't let anyone recognize you."

"Oh." Xing nodded.

"Where's Yi Leina?" Su Lin looked around but didn't see her. He raised his wristwatch. "Wasn't she with you?"

"She said she wasn't feeling well, but really, she went back after learning you became Lord Haotian. Probably in chaos right now," Penglai Shan Huiye turned and pointed to a door. "Should we go comfort her?"

Poor Mr. Su Lin is also a victim here.

Why not just find a chance to have Yi Leina banish Ke Lan to another dimension? That guy can still message through the chat group.

"Isn't that something you, as her best friend, should handle?" Su Lin waved his hand and turned to leave.

Several dark shadows flashed past and blocked Su Lin's path.

"What?" Su Lin's eyebrow twitched.

"A group member is unwell; as an admin, I should visit and offer comfort," Ye Fan declared solemnly, holding an empty fruit basket.

Song Shuhang, Xiao Yan, Meng Qi, and Ke Lan collectively filled the basket.

Weigong Shilang pulled out a Golden Apple left behind by Chaldea—but Su Lin suddenly narrowed his eyes at him, making him shudder and quietly take a bite himself.

This man is the God of his own universe.

Han Li reached into his sleeve, pulled out an ordinary jade vial containing spare Spirit Liquid, split off from the small green bottle.

With a flick, he sent it into the basket, causing the strange wood-woven fruit basket to burst with vitality, blossoms blooming everywhere.

Su Lin: ""

"One more representative is still missing." Ye Fan smiled slowly. "The former administrator, Mr.?"

Su Lin turned his gaze toward Li Huowang, who remained motionless.

Li Huowang scratched his head, his eyes growing bewildered. "Mom, I understand. I'll come back right away to eat, and bring Nana too? Okay."

He turned again toward Zhongli.

The other man cupped his chin in thought for a moment, then pulled out a divine weapon dagger and placed it inside, using it as a fruit knife.

Su Lin smiled. Zhongli let out a light cough.

Sometimes such things do happen.

Su Lin stroked his chin and chuckled. "Forget it. Watching her expression when she's confused is quite amusing."

He directly seized the fruit basket in his hand; divine chains materialized in the air, binding the two nearby fire-starters and dragging them along.