Chapter 29: Wanted by the Divine Constabulary

In online games, loot distribution is generally divided into the "Need/Greed" dice rolling system and the DKP (Dragon Kill Points) system.

The dice rolling system allows players who want the loot to roll for it, with the highest number winning. There are many variations of this model.

The DKP system is based on contribution; a commander or the system calculates each player’s specific contribution and converts it into quantifiable points, which players then use to bid on items.

The Thieves' Den uses the DKP system.

When everyone saw Yan Qing easily claim the "Bingzi Jiaolin" using his thief points, they all realized the loophole in this distribution model.

One only needs to accumulate a large number of thief points during a mission, or kill a companion who has earned a significant amount, to seize a legendary relic!

It is clear that Yan Qing harbored sinister intentions when designing this dungeon: the seemingly fair distribution system grants players the right to backstab one another. Even if one does not harbor such thoughts, one must still guard against a teammate’s knife in the back.

To ensure players retain a certain amount of thief points, Yan Qing also tampered with the bidding system.

The starting bid is 5 points, with a minimum increment of 5 points. The loophole here is obvious.

In a standard auction, Yan Qing would have to bid more than the total points possessed by Yao Shiyuan to secure the Bingzi Jiaolin. However, because each increment must be at least 5 points, Yan Qing only needed to bid 36 points—if others wanted to outbid him, they would have to raise it to 41, which Yao Shiyuan, with only 40 points, clearly could not do.

Yan Qing had anticipated this; if Yao Shiyuan had bid 40 points first, he would have had to pay at least 45 to claim the item.

The difference between 36 and 45 is 9 points. Considering a single mission only awards 30 points, saving those 9 points gives Yan Qing a massive advantage in the next mission.

However, such a flawed bidding rule undoubtedly heightens the tension among teammates. Whether one uses fewer points to win an item or forces others to spend more, it sows seeds of discord within the team.

Finally, Yan Qing added a rule that "the person who bid on the previous item has priority in the next round," which blatantly encourages malicious price-gouging, forcing players who haven't bid yet to endure the price hikes of others in the first round!

The rules allow for backstabbing, the interests mandate backstabbing, and the emotions practically invite backstabbing—Yan Qing felt he was a genius; this dungeon design was perfection!

It would have been even better if he weren't being glared at by Yao Shiyuan, Ying Rushi, and Shang Xinlei.

In truth, Yan Qing didn't value the Bingzi Jiaolin highly. To a planner like him, these legendary relics were merely transitional toys; he knew the real game began only after the fourth turn of Foundation Establishment.

But Yan Qing could never concede the Bingzi Jiaolin, as showing weakness would be equivalent to telling his teammates, "I am weak, I am timid, come bully me." The strong must possess the best loot!

"The second item is a storage ring. Thieves, please place your bids."

The hall suddenly fell silent as everyone observed the situation.

"I bid 26 points," Ying Rushi said first.

Twenty-six thief points meant Shang Xinlei could not participate in the bidding. If Yao Shiyuan wanted to snatch it, she would have to bid 31—and she would win it immediately, as no one else present could afford a high bid of 36.

But Yao Shiyuan said nothing.

"26 points once, 26 points twice, 26 points three times."

"White Fox wins the storage ring."

The storage ring drifted to Ying Rushi, who put it on to test it, stowing her Valiant Sword inside before taking it out again. Shang Xinlei looked on with envy. "Oh—if I had known, I would have bid 29 to snatch it. I don't have a storage ring yet."

The group stirred. "Don't have one yet"... does that mean as long as Shang Xinlei wants one, she has a way to get it?

"The third item is a random advanced skill introductory manual. Thieves, please place your bids."

As soon as the Thieves' Den finished speaking, Yao Shiyuan immediately said, "I bid 14 points."

Ying Rushi remained silent, effectively forfeiting her priority bidding right, making Yao Shiyuan's bid valid.

Yan Qing thought this was a brilliant bid.

If Shang Xinlei didn't follow, allowing Yao Shiyuan to win the manual for 14 points, then Yao Shiyuan, with 26 points left, could potentially snatch the Enlightenment Pill in the next round. For Shang Xinlei, who only had 30 points, someone would only need to bid 26 to disqualify her from bidding.

If Shang Xinlei raised her bid to 19 to keep up, she would only have 11 points left, leaving her unable to drive up the price in the next round. If anyone were to drive up the price, it would be Yan Qing, who still had 14 points.

Shang Xinlei pondered for a moment and sighed. "Fine, I bid 19 points."

"19 points once, 19 points twice, 19 points three times."

"Red Snake wins the random advanced skill introductory manual."

"The fourth item is an Enlightenment Pill. Thieves, please place your bids."

"I bid 10 points!"

The person speaking was Shang Xinlei. She smiled sweetly at Yao Shiyuan. "Sister, I'm helping you this time, so you better remember my kindness!"

Why would Shang Xinlei claim to be helping Yao Shiyuan while placing a bid herself?

Because her bid made it impossible for Yan Qing, who had 14 points left, to raise the price.

The problem, however, was that if neither Yan Qing nor she had placed a bid, Yao Shiyuan could have safely secured the Enlightenment Pill for just 10 points. Shang Xinlei's "help" was predicated on the assumption that Yan Qing would rush to drive up the price.

Therefore, Yao Shiyuan showed no reaction to Shang Xinlei's words, calmly placing a bid of 15 points.

With all items distributed, the current thief point totals were:

Yan Qing 14, Ying Rushi 7, Shang Xinlei 11, Yao Shiyuan 25.

Yao Shiyuan stood above the others with a near-crushing advantage. As long as the next mission was completed normally, she would very likely be able to bid for a legendary relic. This was natural, as she had effectively opted out of the current loot distribution, taking only the Enlightenment Pill, a reward no one else needed.

But would the thieves, now fully aware of the rules, really watch idly as Yao Shiyuan snatched the legendary relic?

Winning rewards should be a joyous occasion, but the hall was unusually oppressive, devoid of any festive atmosphere. The thieves' eyes darted around, hiding whatever malice they were nursing.

Just as everyone was beginning to stir, the narrator of the Thieves' Den continued:

"Given the insufficient completion rate of this mission, you have failed to hide your criminal activities. Your deeds will be widely spread. The Divine Marquis Mansion has taken notice of you and has issued a public notice, placing you on a thirty-day wanted list."

"The next mission will be released at noon in ten days. You will be forcibly teleported to the Thieves' Den at that time. Please take note."

After a brief pause, a grand voice echoed in everyone's ears:

"Divine Marquis Mansion Notice: Four unknown petty thieves have recently appeared in the Thieves' Den. They have successfully stolen the legendary relic 'Bingzi Jiaolin' from Anguo Temple in Chang'an. They are hereby wanted."

The notice rang out three times. When it stopped, Yan Qing realized they could leave their seats.

However, no one left first. After a short silence, Shang Xinlei asked in confusion, "Why did they say that three times? And who is the Divine Marquis Mansion? Can they really track us down?"

"That’s hard to say," Yan Qing thought to himself.