Chapter 1239: The Times Have Changed
Chapter 1239: The Times Have Changed
While Su Yu was contacting Simon Helag, it just so happened that Simon's adventuring guild, "Figer Nova," was holding a meeting to discuss the current bounty.
Even though the reward amount for the bounty hadn't been announced yet, it was a rare and large-scale event organized by the authorities, so the reward was sure to be substantial!
Moreover, the main members of "Figer Nova" had just returned to the Figer Hub from other star regions, making it the perfect time to participate in the bounty. Two days earlier, the guild leader, Janet, had already collected the members' willingness to participate, and many had expressed their interest.
So, as soon as the bounty was announced today, Janet gathered the guild's six most powerful members, all at the peak of the Eighth Rank, to discuss the team formation for the bounty.
In a virtual meeting room on the public network, Janet's 3D hologram was in deep conversation with the holograms of the guild's core members, including Simon Helag.
Simon Helag was a peak Eighth Rank powerhouse and one of the earliest members of the guild, essentially a veteran.
After Janet finished her opening remarks, it was Simon's turn to speak.
Simon didn't hesitate and immediately shared his thoughts: "I think we peak Eighth Rank members should split up and lead separate teams, each leading one."
He glanced at the guild's panel statistics and continued, "We have a total of 63 members willing to participate in the bounty, and we are the only six at peak Eighth Rank. If each of us leads a team, we can form six teams of ten members each to compete together."
"Really, that's what you think?" Janet looked at him with disbelief.
Although Janet's name suggested a female, it was actually a hermaphroditic creature that resembled a blue planet's otter.
Hearing Simon's idea, it was surprised and said, "You actually want us to split up and lead different teams? Shouldn't we form a single team with the strongest members together and the weaker members together? That way, we have a better chance of getting a good ranking!"
"Right."
"Leader Janet is correct."
"I agree with Leader Janet."
The other core members quickly voiced their support.
One of them even explained to Simon, "Simon, don't forget that the top ten teams get extra rewards!
All six of us are at peak Eighth Rank. If we team up with a few more Eighth Rank Upper members, our strength will be on par with any team in the hub. We might even make it to the top ten if we try!"
"Exactly, even though the rewards haven't been announced yet, the top ten rewards are sure to be substantial."
"Let's team up, and we can pick a few more reliable Eighth Rank Upper members."
Everyone was in favor of Janet's idea.
However, Simon Helag didn't agree.
He scanned the room and shook his head. "Everyone, you're all wrong, and you're wrong in a big way!
I can predict with certainty that if we form a single team, we won't even make it to the top ten, let alone the top twenty!"
"Why?" Janet asked, puzzled.
The Simon Helag she knew had always been quite normal, so why was he acting so differently today?
The other core members also looked at him in confusion, not understanding why he was saying such discouraging things.
Once everyone's attention was on him, Simon Helag sighed. "Sigh, everyone, the times have changed!"
He explained, "Your thinking is still too simplistic.
If it were back in the days when Hymn was still around, we wouldn't have any problems forming a team. Hymn would ensure the fairness and transparency of the bounties.
But those aren't the days of Hymn anymore. How can we, a bunch of rookies, possibly compete with those ‘well-prepared’ teams?"
"You mean to say..."
None of the members of the adventuring party were fools. With Simon Helrig's hint, they immediately grasped the crux of the issue.
"Right!" Janet exclaimed, realization dawning on her. "How could I not have thought of cheating!"
"And... cheating seems pretty easy, and it's even within the rules," another core member ventured, trying to analyze the situation.
"According to the current rules, there's no prohibition against teams hiring help for bounties.
For example, if the Fig Guard needs to send out a 10-person team, they can hire hundreds or even thousands of people to help them find criminals.
Once the hired help discovers a crime, the 10-person team can rush to the scene to intervene, racking up ‘bounty points’ at an alarming rate."
"Exactly," Simon Helrig sneered. "That's why I say the times have changed.
Under the current bounty rules, we can't compete with the teams sent by major powers.
So instead of us six forming a team, we should split up and each lead our own team, earning points based on our own luck."
"Ah, you're right."
"Simon, you're absolutely right."
"The times really have changed!"
"Without Hymn as our ‘mother,’ we, these children in the cradle, must face the harsh reality."
The meeting room was filled with sighs and dejection. Each member was deeply disheartened.
In the past, Hymn had always ensured fairness, giving them a level playing field to compete with others.
It wasn't until Hymn's disappearance that they realized how hard-earned that fairness had been.
Janet also hung her head in resignation, her voice weary. "Then let's do as Simon suggests. We'll each lead our own team, and..."
Before she could finish, a series of "beeps" suddenly rang out from Simon Helrig's position, cutting her off.
The sound was so abrupt and loud that it startled everyone.
Looking at Simon Helrig, Janet saw that he was just as bewildered.
"Is that... the sound of an incoming call?" Simon Helrig's face was a mix of confusion and disbelief. "But I turned off the sound alerts on my wristband as soon as I got it."
Simon Helrig had returned to the Fig Hub four days ago and received the same wristband from the Guard as Su Yu.
Unlike Su Yu, he had immediately changed the incoming call alert from a beep to a vibration, out of personal preference.
He had received messages before, but they had always been in the form of vibrations. Why was it suddenly ringing now?
"Sorry, everyone, the Guard's tech is really terrible!"
Simon Helrig apologized and quickly left the virtual meeting to turn off the sound alert.
But once he exited, he saw that the caller was none other than "Su Yu"?
Was it the indigenous strongman he had met at the teleportation station?
To his surprise, the call interface showed that the connection was already established. He could speak to Su Yu right now!
(End of Chapter)
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