Another person ended up going to a different war zone to muddle through.
Although he now had 200 points of honor with all the main cities, if he was the first to reach the other two cities, there should still be honor rewards. While it wouldn't cause his own honor to drop to negative numbers, it would still be a significant loss.
Even though the value of the two plots of land was considerable, with his current strength, he could quickly earn enough funds. As long as he secured the land before others left the新手村 (novice village), he would be fine.
He checked the rankings. Currently, his leaderboard displayed all personnel in the Northern War Zone. The highest level was only eleven, and these last four levels were not easy to gain. The required experience was several times that of the earlier levels.
Considering his own situation, Chu Tian decided not to accept this task. Firstly, setting aside the honor points, he didn't have the funds to acquire the golden land plots in the two main cities.
Just as he was about to refuse, Lord Luo spoke again: "Little friend, there is no need to worry. Regarding the funds, this Lord can bear them entirely. Additionally, I will give this item, which I obtained while traveling the continent in my youth, to the little friend! Also..."
Luo Guo paused here and smiled, "I can give you the usage rights of the land deeds. However, would you be willing to give me fifty percent of the net profit from the shops you operate?"
Chu Tian took the item handed over by Luo Guo. Upon looking at it, he saw a mask as thin as paper.
[Mask of the Deceiver]
Attributes: Can disguise as any player.
Usages: 12/100
Usage: Apply to the face.
Special item, does not occupy any equipment slots.
Seeing the item's attributes, Chu Tian immediately devised a plan and abandoned his initial thought of refusal.
"Five percent!" Chu Tian replied.
Lord Luo was clearly taken aback, as if he had misheard. After a long moment, he reacted and said, "Forty-five percent. All the funds are provided by this old man, and you are only responsible for the operation."
"After helping you purchase the golden land deeds for 'Four Seasons City' and 'Black Earth City,' reward me with the golden land deeds number 2 and 3 around the teleportation array of 'Shengjing City,' and give me free usage of the land deeds for the other two cities. You can receive a five percent share of the net profit from the shops in these two cities, and you will also have to pay fifty percent of all shop upgrade fees later."
After stating this, and while Luo Guo stared at him in a daze, he continued, "City Lord, you should consider carefully. In at most ten days, others may arrive in the main city. After this ten-day window, let alone five percent profit, you might not even get ownership of the land deeds for the other main cities!"
At this point, Chu Tian began to become bolder. At worst, he would simply not take this task.
He was possibly the only player daring to negotiate with a God-tier NPC.
Lord Luo Guo's face turned red with anger: "I will pay at most ten percent of the shop upgrade costs, and I want twenty percent of the profit."
"For the shops in 'Four Seasons City' and 'Black Earth City,' at most ten percent of the profit for you!" Chu Tian said calmly.
"Fifteen percent!"
"I've changed my mind. For the shops in 'Four Seasons City' and 'Black Earth City,' at most five percent of the profit for you!" Chu Tian continued to speak calmly, further reducing the profit-sharing ratio.
Hoo hoo... Luo Guo clearly suppressed his anger, took two breaths, and calmed down, "Okay... I agree. Ten percent is..."
Before the other party could finish speaking, Chu Tian waved his hand, summoning the system's contract function, which appeared between them. He said to Lord Luo Guo, "This is the recording of our conversation. Come and sign, City Lord."
Luo Guo casually opened the recording. It displayed what Chu Tian had said: "After helping you purchase the golden land deeds for 'Four Seasons City' and 'Black Earth City,' reward me with number 2 and 3 land deeds of 'Shengjing City'..."
Seeing this, Lord Luo did not want to be angered again. He directly closed the recording and picked up the quill pen from the contract system.
Chu Tian then said, "Doesn't Lord Luo want to take a closer look?"
Luo Guo snorted angrily and said, "No need!"
Swish swish... With a flourish, he directly signed his name on the contract.
"Heh heh!" Chu Tian smiled and also quickly signed his name.
"Ding... Contract effective: Shengjing City Lord Luo Guo entrusts Chu Tian to go to 'Four Seasons City' and 'Black Earth City' to purchase real estate. Upon successful purchase, he will be rewarded with land deeds number 2 and 3 in Shengjing City. Subsequently, the real estate in the other two cities will be provided to Chu Tian for free use. He can receive a five percent profit share from the shops operated by Chu Tian in these two cities and will pay ten percent of the upgrade fees for all shops under Chu Tian's name! The contract is now effective. Violators will be erased by the Heavenly Dao!"
"Ding... System prompt: Accepted [Commission from Shengjing City Lord Luo Guo]. Received gold coins: 20000. If the mission fails, the gold coins will be automatically deducted!"
"What? It wasn't ten percent? And when did I say I would pay for all shop upgrade fees?" Hearing the contract prompt, Lord Luo Guo exploded. Even the wrinkles on his face were smoothed out by anger.
"Well, when you said 'Okay, I agree,' my hand trembled, and I accidentally stopped the recording. Who knew you had more to say! I told you to look carefully, but you said you didn't need to! As for all shops, that was my statement, and you didn't object..." Chu Tian shrugged.
Seeing the City Lord's expression, Chu Tian didn't dare to say any more and immediately changed the subject: "City Lord, I have chosen the location for the number 1 land deed and the guild's residence. Please help me process the paperwork!"
"Hmph! Go to the real estate hall and the guild hall yourself to handle it!" he said, waving his hand.
Captain Luo Lie stepped forward: "Please follow me!"
And so, Chu Tian was ushered out of the city hall.
Chu Tian looked at the stamped agreement in the contract system and chuckled foolishly, thinking to himself: You're just a data-based NPC, playing word games with me, I'll rip you off! But why does something feel a bit off? NPCs in my previous life were definitely not this realistically humanized.
He hurried to the real estate hall to handle the paperwork, and then went to the guild hall to choose a guild residence. Naturally, he selected the one with the best geographical location. This was the advantage of having a high level; he didn't have to settle for leftovers.
After selecting the residence, looking at the 20485 gold coins in his bag, he thought: It's okay to borrow some, right?
So, he went to the guild upgrade area and applied for guild upgrade with the NPC sitting there.
"Ding... Insufficient funds, cannot upgrade!"
Damn it, were these 20,000 gold coins just for show? It seemed the gold coins Lord Luo gave could only be used to purchase land deeds!
His little trick didn't work, but he wasn't discouraged.
He then thought for a moment and asked the NPC, "Excuse me, can I submit a guild war application now?"
"Esteemed President of the Reverse God Alliance, hello. Although it is currently a ceasefire period, given that your guild is the first Level 2 guild in this war zone, you have one free declaration of war right, which can be used to ignore the ceasefire period. Would you like to use it now?"
Chu Tian heard this and thought, there's such a good thing! It's good he asked, otherwise, if he went directly to Luo Luo's新手村 (novice village) and went on a killing spree, his name would turn as black as ink.
He didn't know how long it would take to wash it clean before he could complete Lord Luo's mission. If someone else got there first, it would be a loss.
Unless he completed the mission first, but... if his woman was bullied, making him endure it was impossible! How dare they hunt my woman, hmph hmph...
"Use it now!"
"Okay, please confirm the declared guild and the declaration text! You can set the start time. This free declaration of war is for twelve hours! If you wish to extend the time, additional fees will be required!"
He thought for a moment. Twelve hours was enough! After filling out the application form, he headed straight for the teleportation point. Because he couldn't use any magical skills within the city, not even transformation, he had to travel in human form.