Chapter 220 Chapter219-Breaking the Rules, Forced Trade （1st update, Cheer me with Power Stones!）
Even as John continued his conversation with Blue Sea, he seemed to sense Treasure Thief Rat's growing anxiety.
Abruptly, he pivoted to face the creature, a smirk playing on his lips, "Why are you looking at me with such eyes?"
Caught off guard, Treasure Thief Rat faltered slightly, managing to reply in a stiff tone, "No... no reason... It's your turn to trade now."
John stepped forward nonchalantly, leisurely browsing through the available items for trade.
A plethora of dazzling items rapidly scrolled before his eyes.
For some inexplicable reason, John took a considerable amount of time without settling on an item to trade.
He appeared genuinely conflicted.
From the sidelines, Treasure Thief Rat waited in silent anticipation.
Even though it was inwardly bursting with impatience, wishing to end this unexpected trade session quickly, it dared not rush John.
While interacting with Blue Sea and Adam, the Rat could assert some semblance of authority.
But with John, it hesitated even to utter an extra word.
"How to decide... there are so many wonderful items. I want so many of them... It's such a dilemma," John murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Treasure Thief Rat could do nothing but wait patiently.
Suddenly, John flashed a brilliant smile at it, "Considering how elusive you are and how rare our encounter is, perhaps we could say it's fate. How about letting me pick a few more items?"
Immediately, a guarded expression surfaced on the Rat's face. "No, the rules are the rules. You can only trade for one item at a time," it asserted with unwavering conviction.
John grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth, "But I desire so many of them. What do you suggest we do?"
Seemingly sensing something amiss, Treasure Thief Rat quickly hid the details of the displayed items.
Its plump form quickly retreated several steps, proclaiming with caution, "You have one chance to trade. If you don't make a choice soon, I'll consider it a forfeit."
Drawing a sly smirk, John responded, "Only noticing something's off now? Isn't it a bit too late?"
With a nonchalant snap of his fingers, the very fabric of the space around them began to shift dramatically.
"Abyssal Prison, activate."
John whispered an incantation in his mind, and the space around them was swiftly isolated, its ORDER beginning to invert and change.
The distant light started to distort as darkness gradually enveloped the entire area.
[Abyssal Prison (Divine Skill)]: A gift from the Warden of the Abyss. Upon activation, it can seal and bind an area within a 1000-yard radius. The caster can freely alter the ORDER parameters within this space. Except for time and space, all other foundational elements can be controlled...
Treasure Thief Rat's face contorted with shock, and panic began to set in.
Suddenly, it found that its prided means of escape, be it burrowing into the ground or teleportation through space, had become utterly futile within this dark realm.
With eyes locked onto John, it inquired with a trembling voice, "What's the meaning of this? Restricting my movements—do you intend to force a trade?"
Amidst the boundless darkness, John seemed like the sovereign of this realm, exuding an aura of dominance.
"Oh, nothing much," he said nonchalantly. "I just wanted to have a proper chat. There's no need to be in such a hurry... You see, you can't escape now. So, why not let's discuss our trade?"
To stealthily construct the Abyssal Prison, John had to be incredibly meticulous.
He'd refrained from engaging much with Adam and Blue Sea earlier, focusing all along on achieving this goal.
Aware that Treasure Thief Rat was exceptionally sensitive to energy fluctuations when skills were deployed, John gradually channeled his inner energy during the Abyssal Prison's invocation, ensuring everything occurred without a sound.
That was the very reason he had chosen to trade last...
John was never one to play by the rules.
Having finally encountered the Treasure Thief Rat, how could he possibly be content with just trading for one item?
The rat, in sudden realization, sprinted backward, attempting to flee this anomalous realm.
But no matter how ardently it tried, it found that it couldn't create any distance between itself and John.
Even though, by its own perception, it felt like it had darted thousands of miles away, a mere glance over its shoulder revealed John standing just five steps away, offering a cryptic smile.
Treasure Thief Rat raised its golden miniature shovel, warning with a fierce determination, "I caution you, don't defy the rules. I'm not to be trifled with..."
Yet, to John, such a display appeared downright comical.
A creature devoid of any combative prowess, merely at level one, daring to threaten him?
Without any discernible movement, John vanished from his spot, reappearing behind the rat in a split second.
He laid a gentle hand on the rat's shoulder, murmuring, "Oh? I am genuinely curious just how formidable you truly are..."
The rotund form of the Treasure Thief Rat froze, not daring to move an inch.
Moments later, with a mournful expression, it pleaded, "You shouldn't do this. Spare me, and we can negotiate..."
John raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly, "Now, we can have a proper conversation about trading a few more items, can't we?"
The rat's face twisted into an anguished expression.
While such a look might not seem out of place on a human, on a rodent's visage, it bordered on the absurd...
Deep down, it genuinely did not wish to acquiesce to John's demand.
But now, with the tables turned so decidedly in John's favor, resistance seemed futile.
"Alright," the rat began hesitantly, "I can make a slight exception and allow you to trade for two items. But only two, not a single one more."
The Treasure Thief Rat's face contorted in anguish, looking as if he had lost his very dignity, a sight so pitiable that John nearly felt sickened.
John, sensing an opportunity, attempted to barter further. "Two items seem a bit too few, how about five?"
The rat's head shook furiously, resembling a tambourine being rattled.
He retorted instantly, "Five? Impossible, absolutely impossible. Even if you were to end me, I'd never consent to such an outrageous demand."
John feigned annoyance, "You shouldn't be so absolute. Surely your life is worth more than these treasures?"
With a righteous tone, the rat responded, "That's debatable. While my life is indeed precious, these treasures are just as invaluable. I'd rather perish than trade five items with you."
John's facade betrayed displeasure, but inwardly, he was elated.
With the rat's words, he sensed room for negotiation.
He knew all too well that creatures like the Treasure Thief Rat were inherently greedy, valuing every treasure they acquired as if it were priceless.
The idea of parting with five items in one transaction was inconceivable.
Yet, John wasn't going to use the Abyssal Prison merely to haggle for one additional item...
After feigning contemplation for a moment, he candidly proposed, "In that case, let's meet halfway – three items. Not a single one less."
The rat remained visibly torn, hesitating for what felt like an eternity.
Impatient, John allowed a surge of energy to swirl within, and the hand resting on the rat's shoulder began to emanate a mysterious luminescence.
"If you find three too much, then perhaps we have no need to continue this conversation... I wouldn't mind ensuring you vanish from this world entirely," John's voice was calm, but an undeniable intent to kill permeated the air.
The Treasure Thief Rat was instantly terror-stricken, hastily nodding in frantic agreement, "Alright, alright! I agree to trade three treasures, just please, don't kill me..."
Only then did John's face break into a satisfied smile.
He patted the rat's shoulder lightly, saying contentedly, "That's better. See? It's much nicer when we complete a transaction amicably, given our destined encounter."
Wearing a face full of dismay, the rat muttered, "Devil! You're truly a devil! I must've forgotten to seek an omen from the god of fate before I left today, or else I wouldn't have crossed paths with such a detestable human like you."
John, however, was indifferent to the rat's emotional turmoil.
He waved his hand breezily, all smiles, "Hurry up and display the attributes of the items available for trade. I want to carefully select the treasures I desire..."
With a reluctant heart, the Treasure Thief Rat once again showcased the items from his treasure trove.
He was resentful, but well aware that he couldn't resist the inevitable.
John's brief manifestation of power had sent shockwaves through the rat's psyche.
It was an overwhelming energy he had never sensed before.
Now, recalling that force, the rat felt a chill of fear that made his very soul shudder...
John began leisurely examining the items' attributes.
Meanwhile, Blue Sea and Adam, also trapped within the Abyssal Prison, looked on with astonishment.
It was the first time they realized that the John they knew harbored such a cunning side.
Even though the rules permitted only one trade, John cleverly elevated the stakes.
However, glancing around the dark expanse of the prison, Blue Sea and Adam understood.
Of all the players, only John could achieve such a feat, because he possessed the requisite strength.
This was the allure of the gaming world...
As long as one's power was formidable enough, they could defy the very rules that bound them!
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