Chapter 74: The Plan "Xin . . . ," Xiaxia’s eyes widened with surprise, and her smile grew even wider. "Are you considering joining our guild now?"
"Temporarily," Xin responded quickly, without a moment’s hesitation.
Xiaxia’s expression shifted, and she grumbled in disappointment.
"What’s your plan?" Scarlet asked, her tone tinged with skepticism.
Xin understood that he needed to provide some convincing evidence to make the girls believe his words. He needed to offer them a glimmer of hope.
Acting swiftly, he showcased his items and skills related to golem creation. Xin still kept his stats a secret, especially his infinite CHA attribute.
"You . . ." Xiaxia seemed utterly taken aback. A rare class she had never even heard of before, exceptionally rare equipment, and a level 5-tier slot! How on earth had Xin managed to acquire all of these on Newbie Island?
"T-this . . . this could actually work," Scarlet muttered, clearly stunned.
"I trust you both to keep my identity as Lord Schrodinger a secret," Xin said firmly.
"Absolutely, you can count on my friends," Xiaxia affirmed, her tone serious. "But seriously, Xin, how on earth did you manage to acquire all of this on Newbie Island?"
"Luck was on my side," Xin replied casually, placing a reassuring hand on Xiaxia’s shoulder. "The Sunblade and Spellguard Shield are now yours. We can also use these items as bait to entice the guild to accept our challenge."
"You . . ." Xiaxia’s disbelief was evident in her expression. She felt like she was in a surreal dream. "You’re giving me . . . legendary equipment?"
"That was my intention all along."
"X-Xin . . ." gratitude welled up in Xiaxia’s eyes. "Are you really offering this, not just temporarily? You won’t change your mind later?"
"Do you want these items or not?"
"I want them!" Xiaxia responded eagerly. As the legendary equipment transferred into her inventory, she muttered in a daze, "T-this . . . these are legendary items. I’ve never owned one, let alone wielded, anything like this before."
Marry’s happiness for her friend was evident. "Congratulations, Xiaxia. Looks like your brother isn’t such a block of ice after all."
Should I just retrieve the items? Xin mused to himself.
Scarlet’s excitement was palpable as she rubbed her hands together. "Alright, what’s the plan? Who are we going to challenge?"
After a brief moment of contemplation, Xin spoke up, "How about challenging Doom Serenity?"
The girls fell into a sudden silence, their expressions shifting as they recognized the name. Then, almost in unison, they turned to Xin, their voices raising in disbelief.
"That’s Tiffany’s guild!" they shouted simultaneously.
"You must be out of your mind," Xiaxia chimed in. "Challenging her guild would only make us look like vengeful troublemakers."
Scarlet nodded in agreement. "And it’ll certainly drag Xiaxia’s reputation down."
"Besides, the public would think that she’s not over Tristan yet, and this would only fuel that fire," Marry added.
Xin attempted to calm their protests. "Consider it a strategic move for publicity."
"Publicity?" Xiaxia’s confusion was evident.
Xin affirmed, "Good or bad, publicity is still publicity. If you’re aiming to save your guild, winning against them won’t be enough. You need to attract attention to the fight itself."
Xin gazed at Xiaxia with a serious expression. "Yes, they might mock you initially, but that’s precisely what we need. We want all eyes on you. You’ll become the center of this battle, proving to everyone that you can triumph against the odds."
He continued with a solemn tone, "So when new members start joining, it won’t be because of some random guy but because of you. That’s how you’ll gain loyal members in the end."
A stunned silence settled over Xiaxia as she absorbed Xin’s words. His seriousness and dedication to her cause left her speechless. She felt a rush of gratitude that he was willing to go to such lengths for her guild.
Scarlet playfully draped an arm over Xin’s shoulder. "What an amazing brother you’ve got there, Xiaxia. I’m quite envious!"
Marry joined in, her smile radiating optimism. "With him on board, our chances seem much better."
Xiaxia cleared her throat, regaining her focus. "We can’t be certain yet. Our success will depend on whether the rules are in our favor."
She turned to Xin. "And about the golems, creating them requires materials, right?"
"Don’t worry about that. I’ve got it under control," Xin assured. With the golden tools in his possession, he had a clear plan in mind.
Xin intended to gather the necessary materials by mining in Eternia. Establishing a bank account was also on his to-do list to manage inventories more efficiently.
"Now, what rule should we set?" Scarlet inquired.
The group delved into a deep discussion of strategies throughout the night, only wrapping up when it was time for Scarlet and Marry to head home.
Scarlet and Marry both had vehicles and drivers at their disposal, alleviating any concerns about their late-night departure.
Evelyn returned home as well, accompanied by Mr. Fey, who personally saw her at their doorstep.
"Would you like some coffee, sir?" Evelyn politely offered as Michael stood outside their door.
However, the intense gazes from Xin and Xiaxia prompted him to decline. "I’ll see you at the office tomorrow." With those words, he departed.
"Are you working even on a national holiday?" Xiaxia inquired, helping her mother with her belongings.
"I need the overtime to manage our debts," Evelyn explained.
Yet, Xin couldn’t help but suspect otherwise. It seemed evident that Michael Fey was using every opportunity to get closer to his mother, all under the guise of working overtime.
Xin was well aware of it, and it he was sure that Michael was aware of his awareness.
Except for Xiaxia and Evelyn, who still held the belief that someone like Michael Fey wouldn’t be interested in dating their mother, everyone else seemed to grasp the situation.
Overcoming this barrier and misconception would be quite a challenge.
Yet, Michael knew that he had to tread carefully. Pushing too hard or rushing things might lead to resistance from Evelyn or, even worse, cause her to distance herself from him entirely.
So, Xin found himself musing about Michael’s next steps.
"Hey, what’s that smirk for?" Xiaxia’s voice brought Xin back from his thoughts.
"Nothing," Xin replied, his expression returning to its usual impassiveness.
Evelyn joined the conversation, asking, "Have you two eaten yet?"
"Yeah, we’re good. How about you?"
"I’ve had my meal. You guys lock up. I’m turning in early." Evelyn headed for the shower, leaving Xin to ensure the doors were securely locked.
Just as Xin was about to set up his sleeping arrangement in the living area to dive into the game, Xiaxia’s voice reached him again.
"Xin."
He turned his attention to her. "Yeah?"
Avoiding his gaze, Xiaxia spoke, her words slightly hesitant, "I wanted to thank you. I really don’t want to lose my guild, so . . . I appreciate your help."
Xin blinked slowly and deliberately. "You and Mom shouldn’t be worrying about anything anymore. Now that I’m back, I’ll take care of everything."
With that, he left the room, his back to Xiaxia.
As he walked away, a small smile tugged at Xiaxia’s lips, "Quit trying to act all cool . . . you block of ice."