After everyone gave up on the trade, a system notification sound rang out.
Back in his own quarters, Valerius quickly opened the livestream. As expected… it was lively.
[Seele]: Such a good opportunity slipped away. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.
[Bronya]: This… honestly, it's not really Gepard's fault.
[Natasha]: Without knowing exactly what the item was, making that kind of decision is understandable.
[Serval]: How is it not his fault? It is his fault. He's been in the army too long—his brain's gone stiff.
[Lynx]: Wuwuwuwu…
[Valerius]: He gave up the trade for you, you know. Are you sure this is okay?
Valerius really felt that these sisters weren't very reliable. Gepard had clearly given up the trade to bring victory back to them, yet here they were scolding him. Didn't that sting their conscience at all?
[Herta]: Valerius… what's the next trade going to be?
[Beidou]: Do it again—smash it in front of them. That was kinda satisfying to watch.
[Yukong]: Repeating the same trick… seems unlikely.
[Ruan Mei]: There is still a certain possibility, but at this point, those players will probably think much more carefully.
[Jing Yuan]: Psychological warfare—Mr. Valerius plays it smoothly.
[Valerius]: You flatter me.
[Sparkle]: Valerius, Valerius—take me with you next time, will you? I really want to participate.
Seeing such interesting things but being unable to join made Sparkle unbearably envious. If she could get in, she'd definitely make a big scene.
[Valerius]: If you get drawn next time, won't you be able to join then?
Yeah right—letting a chaos-lover like you in? The whole place would explode.
[Seele]: Come on, tell us—what's the next item? I'm curious.
[Valerius]: Guess.
[Herta]: A gacha machine?
[Valerius]: And why do you think so?
[Herta]: If the trade failed, you could've just left. Why did you smash it with a hammer in front of them?
[Kaeya]: Wasn't that just to annoy them?
[Xingqiu]: Killing the heart as well as the body.
[Zhongli]: That is part of it, but more importantly, it tells the players that there are rewards hidden in the trades. This way, even if Mr. Valerius offers ordinary items later, they will hesitate and consider more carefully—making it easier for trades to succeed.
[Keqing]: Right… that way, their points won't be safe anymore.
[Hu Tao]: So evil… turns out everything Valerius does has a reason behind it.
They had thought Valerius smashed the gacha machine just to spite them. Now it seemed that was merely one layer of the trap.
If he smashed one again next time, those players would probably break down crying.
[Valerius]: For the next trade, I'm planning to put this up…
He sent a screenshot of an item.
The entire livestream froze.
[Herta]: Th-this… you're really putting that up?
[Sparkle]: Anticipating… so anticipating.
[Sampo]: Now this is getting interesting.
[Topaz]: After missing out on a grand prize once, if they miss this too… just thinking about it is terrifying.
[Yae Miko]: Truly inhuman. Love it. Want to see more.
...
Three days later.
After the previous incident, everyone now looked at Valerius as if they could shoot fire from their eyes.
Seeing him once again pushing a box toward them, Jean immediately became highly alert.
"Trade time again. This item is still three points—are you buying?"
Hearing that it was another three-point item, Kuki Shinobu became even more wary. She had a bad feeling—something big was about to happen again.
"Can I hold the box?"
"I swear I won't open it."
Valerius rolled his eyes. Nice thought.
"No. Decide quickly. I still have other people to trade with."
With no clue what was inside, the two exchanged looks, both hesitating.
Buy it, and it might be a trap—points were tied directly to final victory.
Don't buy it, and it might be another amazing item.
After a long pause, Kuki Shinobu seemed to make up her mind.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, we still have eight points. We'll definitely make it in the end."
This was an uncertain variable. Shinobu decided it was better not to take the risk.
As long as they didn't spend a single point now, wouldn't they still have a chance to win in the end?
Even if it was a gacha machine, what—could it let them directly draw eight points' worth of rewards?
"All right."
Jean thought about it and felt the same. As long as they didn't give in, Valerius couldn't trick them.
"Fine. Don't regret it."
Seeing them give up the trade, Valerius grabbed the box and ran—
the way he bolted made it look like he was afraid they might change their minds.
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.
"…Um, why do I feel like Valerius was afraid we would succeed in the trade?"
"I kind of felt that too…"
Their hearts skipped.
Oh no.
Did we just miss another grand prize?
Once the thought appeared, it refused to go away.
They had spoken so confidently earlier, but who knew if they could actually win in the end?
What if the other teams ended up with more points?
Wouldn't it have been better to grab something good earlier?
That way, even if they lost in the end, it wouldn't be for nothing.
"…Forget it. Let's not think about it."
Since the decision was already made, thinking more would only hurt. Jean decided to stop dwelling on it.
She picked up the controller.
"Let's play. This time, let's see whose blocks last longer."
"Alright. Loser runs three laps around the room."
"Deal."
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