Ashen Dragon

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Mantou's videos and Singo's strategies caused a huge stir among the player community. The 10 limited-edition [Mysterious Invitations] in the trading post were already sold out.

The big guilds all declared that they would stop pretending and started monopolizing the previously ignored faction contribution quests, while the money quests were left in the dust.

So, the players set off on a frenzy of chasing faction contributions, working tirelessly day and night for free for Cassius, with the task board even being looted.

"Let me be a dragon vein sorcerer!"

"I want to be a dragon knight!"

"Ahhh! Give me divine gear!"

"The sky is a man's romance!"

Excited players shouting these slogans appeared in the mines, beside the city walls, on rooftops, and even beside dung heaps.

Even Mezulash was struck by the players' overwhelming enthusiasm for work, rushing to create many new tasks.

And at this critical moment, Cassius pushed his advantage further, rolling out his long-prepared fully automated harvesting machine— the faction position system.

Using players to manage players, driving management costs into the negatives. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Currently, only three low-level positions were open: tax officer, clerk, and security officer.

They were responsible for assisting in collecting taxes, recording and processing paperwork, and maintaining city security. Barto City would give them appropriate outfits and accommodations. Their only salary would be daily faction contributions, and the amount would depend on their performance.

Even these low-level positions required an application standard of 3000 faction contributions, which most players had not even reached a tenth of that number.

As a result, they could only sigh in exasperation and continue to work hard, dreaming of a better future.

At this moment, the famous "Black Slave Team" was overly excited, having endured eighteen days of brutal torture to meet the requirement.

[Faction Position System Activated!]

[Your contribution value is 6457, you may choose the positions: [Tax Officer][Clerk][Security Officer]]

[Note: The base daily salary for low-level positions is: 100 faction contributions]

[You can earn additional faction contributions through commissions.]

Mantou pointed at the prompt on the panel and said, "This system is awesome, you get a base salary of 100 faction contributions every day, looks like we won't have to work random jobs anymore!"

"Yeah, it's finally over."

Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded with lingering fear. If not for her strong professional ethic, she would not want to stay another moment in those dark and dirty mines.

Natural War Maniac touched his bald head: "It's indeed pretty good."

Singo skimmed through the detailed job descriptions and summarized, spouting off, "My opinion, I mainly recommend the security officer and tax officer positions."

"For security officers, you get an extra 150 contributions for every crime you catch. Heh, you know how high crime rates are in the player community."

"As for tax officers, you earn contribution commissions based on the taxes collected. We might even swipe some gold coins; there's a lot of room to maneuver here."

"And for clerks? They handle 4000 words of paperwork daily and a base of 1500 contributions monthly."

"Not even a dog would take that job."

He reiterated his classic statement.

Natural War Maniac, Mantou, and Summer Night Autumn Rain all proposed in unison: "Then let's go with security officer."

After all, tax officers drew too much hate.

Singo flashed a sinister smile: "Heh, then I'll be a tax officer. I'll make the players realize that paying taxes is as inevitable as death."

Mantou felt a chill down his spine, once again acknowledging that Singo was an absolute freak.

Who knows how this future tax officer would torment the other players.

[You have chosen the faction position— [Sheriff]]

[You may reside in the [Barto City Security Officer Dormitory]]

[You need to go to the [Barto City Administration Hall] to collect your outfit and weapon.]

Mantou and his team first checked out their pretty decent new dormitory, then headed to the hall to collect their armor and weapons.

"Wow, this is so cool!"

"The perks are amazing."

Mantou marveled at his shiny new [Sheriff's Armor][Sword of Order].

It was far superior to the gear Singo had taken and sold earlier, a qualitative leap indeed.

"Though Xin Dog is a bit of a jerk, he's really competent," Mantou sighed.

The armor was refined iron armor, hard to purchase for players. The weapon was a standardized iron longsword, with an exquisite crest engraved on the chest of the armor and the hilt of the sword: a golden vertical pupil surrounded by flames— the symbol of the Ashen Nest.

They even gained the right to use horses.

Donning their new gear, wielding the longsword, and riding high on their horses.

"In spring, the horses gallop briskly, taking in the sight of Barto's flowers in one go."

He recited proudly.

Mantou felt elated, all previous gloom vanished, and even his gaze towards the players working hard had a hint of arrogance.

The players in the square noticed Mantou, thinking he was an NPC at first, until they recognized the [I'm Going to Eat Mantou] identifier above his head.

"Is that really Mantou?"

"Where did they get these stylish outfits?"

"Did he rob a bank?"

"Where did he get the mount? I want to ride a horse too."

"Seeing Mantou living so well is more painful than seeing myself living poorly."

A dusty-faced player just out from the mines exclaimed: "Wow, that's the Black Slave Team?"

Mantou heard this and immediately widened his eyes, raising his sword to point at the player, shouting according to the security manual:

"Citizen, I am responsible for maintaining public order here. Watch your words!"

"Do not provoke the security officers!"

...

"Pfft!"

Watching the scene from the cave, Cassius burst out laughing, almost spewing flames, thinking Mantou sure knew how to put on a show.

The Red Dragon exhaled a breath of sulfurous hot air.

But it was good this way, having them as positive examples of working for the Ashen Nest, letting all players understand the importance of striving for faction contributions so Cassius could reap the benefits.

"Heh heh..."

Cassius let out an insidious laugh.

After most players met the faction contribution requirements, he planned to initiate a "consumption upgrade."

He would put items on par with the former [Mithril Shop] into the new [Diamond Treasure Shop], and ramp up the faction contribution requirements several times over, continuing to make them work for him for free.

"Don't worry, everyone."

"There's plenty of time ahead."

In just over a month of closed beta, Cassius had already mastered the essence of harvesting players like crops.

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