Chapter 29: Most-Wanted List at the Divine Marquis’s Mansion
In online games, loot distribution generally follows either the “roll for need” model or the DKP system.
“Roll for need” means anyone who wants a drop rolls a dice, and the highest roll wins. There are various derived rules based on this model.
The DKP system awards loot based on contribution points. A commander or the system converts each player’s efforts into quantifiable points, and players bid using those points to compete for loot.
The Thieves’ House used the DKP mode.
Seeing Yan Qing effortlessly claim the Bingzi Pepper Forest thanks to his thief points, everyone noticed a loophole in this distribution system.
All it took was killing a teammate who had amassed many thief points, or someone about to earn a large amount—then you could grab the legendary token!
This showed that when Yan Qing designed this dungeon, he’d harbored a malicious intention: a seemingly fair distribution system that enabled players to backstab each other. Even those without such thoughts had to guard against betrayal by allies.
To ensure players held onto some thief points, Yan Qing also manipulated the bidding rules.
The auction started at 5 thief points, with a minimum bid increment of 5 points—an obvious flaw.
In a fair auction, Yan Qing would have to outbid all of Medicine Master Wen’s points to win the Bingzi Pepper Forest. But with 5-point increments, he only needed to bid 36. Anyone else wanting it would have to jump to 41—and Wen only had 40, so she couldn’t.
That meant Yan Qing had foreseen that if Wen bid 40 first, he’d need only 45 to outbid her.
The gap between 36 and 45 was 9 points.
Considering a single mission yielded only 30 points, saving 9 thief points gave Yan Qing a huge advantage in the next mission.
However, this flawed auction rule undeniably created tension among teammates. Whether you secured an item for fewer points or forced someone else to overspend, it planted seeds of discord.
Finally, Yan Qing added “the current highest bidder has priority in the next round,” clearly encouraging malicious bidding and forcing non-bidders to endure first-round hikes.
Rules allowed backstabbing teammates. Benefits demanded it. Emotionally, one practically longed to betray. Yan Qing thought himself a genius—this dungeon design was brilliant!
It would have been even better if he hadn’t been glared at by Medicine Master Wen, Ying Rushi, and Shang Xinlei.
Actually, Yan Qing didn’t value the Bingzi Pepper Forest that much. For him, as the designer, those legendary tokens were just transitional toys. He knew the true game began after the fourth transformation of Foundation Cultivation.
But Yan Qing absolutely couldn’t let it go. Dropping it would be like admitting weakness: “I’m weak, I’m timid, please trample me.” The strong should take the best loot!
“Second item: Storage Ring. Thieves, place your bids.”
The hall suddenly went silent as everyone watched.
“I bid 26 points.” Ying Rushi was first to speak.
A bid of 26 thief points meant Shang Xinlei couldn’t join the bidding. And if Wen wanted to contest, she’d need to bid 31—and she couldn’t reach 36 either.
But Wen didn’t say anything.
“26 once, 26 twice, 26 thrice.”
“White Fox wins the Storage Ring.”
The ring floated to Ying Rushi. She tested it by stowing away the Brave General Sword and pulling it out again. Shang Xinlei looked envious: “Ah—if I’d known, I would have bid 29. I still don’t have a Storage Ring.”
Everyone’s mind stirred. She didn’t have one… so if Shang Xinlei really wanted it, she had a chance?
“Third item: Tome of a Random Beginner Progression Skill. Thieves, place your bids.”
The Thieves’ House announced it, and Wen spoke up immediately: “I bid 14 points.”
Ying Rushi remained silent, forfeiting her priority. Wen’s bid stood.
Yan Qing thought this was a brilliant bid.
If Shang Xinlei didn’t follow, Wen would secure the tome with 14 points, leaving her with 26. That still gave her a chance to snag the Comprehension Pill next round. Shang Xinlei only had 30 points; someone could bid 26 to disqualify her.
If Shang Xinlei raised to 19, she’d only have 11 left for the next round—too little. Then Yan Qing, with 14 points remaining, would be the one to outbid her.
ChatGPT said:
Shang Xinlei studied for a moment and sighed. “Alright, I bid 19 points.”
“19 once, 19 twice, 19 thrice.”
“Red Snake wins the Tome of a Random Beginner Progression Skill.”
“Fourth item: Comprehension Pill. Thieves, place your bids.”
“I bid 10 points!”
The speaker was none other than Shang Xinlei. She sweetly smiled at Medicine Master Wen. “Sister, I’m helping you this time. You better remember my kindness!”
Why did Shang Xinlei claim to help Wen while bidding herself?
Because her bid happened to block Yan Qing, who had only 14 points remaining, from raising the bid.
But the issue was, if neither she nor Yan Qing made the first move, Medicine Master Wen could have taken the Comprehension Pill with just 10 points. Shang Xinlei’s so-called help was only valid if Yan Qing had been rushing to outbid.
So Medicine Master Wen said nothing in response and simply raised the bid to 15 points.
With all items distributed, the current thief points among everyone were:
Yan Qing 14 points, Ying Rushi 7 points, Shang Xinlei 11 points, Medicine Master Wen 25 points.
With a nearly overwhelming advantage, Medicine Master Wen stood above the rest. As long as the next mission went normally, she had a high probability of winning the legendary token. But that was to be expected, since she essentially gave up on this round of loot sharing, only taking the Comprehension Pill, which no one else wanted.
However, would the thieves—now familiar with the rules—really just sit back and let Medicine Master Wen snatch a legendary token?
Winning loot should have been a happy event, yet the hall remained unnaturally somber, without the slightest trace of celebration. The thieves’ eyes flickered, clearly scheming something foul.
Just as everyone grew restless, the Thieves’ House narrator continued:
“Due to insufficient mission completion, you are unable to conceal your crimes. Your deeds will become widely known. The Divine Marquis’s Mansion has taken notice and issued a thirty-day bounty on you.”
“The next mission will be released at noon ten days from now. You will be forcibly teleported to the Thieves’ House. Please take note.”
After a brief pause, a grand voice echoed in everyone’s ears:
“Divine Marquis’s Mansion Announcement: Four no-name thieves have recently arrived at the Thieves’ House. They successfully stole the legendary token ‘Bingzi Pepper Forest’ from Anguo Temple in Chang’an. A bounty is hereby issued.”
The announcement repeated three times. When it finally ended, Yan Qing realized they were allowed to leave their seats.
But no one moved first.
After a brief silence, Shang Xinlei asked, puzzled:
“Why was that announcement repeated three times? And who exactly are the Divine Marquis’s people? Can they really catch us?”
That was hard to say, Yan Qing thought.