Chun, in this state of having a red name, didn't expect to get his equipment back, so he contacted Sherry: "My dear..."
Sherry exclaimed excitedly: "You succeeded!"
Facing her expectations, Chun felt conflicted: "Actually, it was the monsters ripping each other apart, I can't prove it was my doing."
Sherry hurriedly said: "But Miss Fafnir surely knows it was you!"
Just hoping she knows so I can get some compensation!
Chun continued: "But I caught the plague, probably going to be exiled to an isolated island, I'm begging Miss Fafnir to arrange something to prevent the whole city from falling into disaster."
Honestly, up till now Chun hasn't felt weak, nor has he lost any health, really doesn't know what's so dangerous about this plague.
Sherry was shocked: "Miss Fafnir said she'll personally come to see you, just knock three times on the nearest sewer manhole cover!"
Chun was truly overwhelmed: "She'll come to see me personally? But I have the plague!"
"Let's change clothes first!"
"Alrighty!"
Couldn't believe I'd personally get to meet Black Iron City's number one NPC beauty, this connection is quite something!
Aileen laughed heartily: "Not bad, Fafnir must see you as a rare talent, get ready to recruit you into her forces, make sure to seize this opportunity! That way your little mage will also rise to prominence."
Chun really got excited: "Aileen, you admit I'm talented, don't you?"
Aileen chuckled: "Whether you're talent or consumable isn't clear yet, with her power I can't show up, I'm off to deal with the bats — don't bother me unless it's life-or-death."
—— System prompt: Your possession of the Evil Spirit has entered a dormant state.
Alright, consumable it is then.
Chun climbed over to the nearest manhole cover and knocked three times.
Immediately, a voice came from the manhole cover: "Signal received, please await instructions."
"All unrelated personnel, evacuate."
Before long, with a clanging sound, the manhole cover was pushed open by some mysterious force.
Chun climbed out to see just two figures in black robes, but they had surprisingly huge ugly bird heads!
Chun was so scared his hand trembled!
Sherry's muffled voice came through: "It's us! This is a protective suit!"
So that's what it is! This is a medieval-style anti-epidemic mask, with a long bird beak stuffed full of filtered cotton and carbon medicine, from afar it looks just like Crow Death God.
Sherry then said: "This is Miss Fafnir!"
Chun was at a loss for words, couldn't believe the famous mage he'd meet personally would appear in this form.
Fafnir bowed and performed a noble's courtesy: "I'm very sorry to meet the warrior who saved the city in this manner."
Absolutely no arrogant demeanor, truly just like a star meeting a fan, quite approachable!
Chun waved his hands repeatedly: "My lord, it's the right thing to do, it's just the monsters fighting each other, I wouldn't dare claim to have saved the city, as long as no disaster befalls the city it's fine, so I voluntarily applied for exile."
Fafnir said: "The warrior is truly humble, four sewer monsters were eliminated because of you, which clearly shows your accomplishments. Currently, we indeed have no means to deal with the plague, and exile to an island is indeed the only solution, the warrior is noble! Just for this nobility, I ought to commend the warrior. If the warrior has any requests, feel free to make them."
Actually getting a reward! You're the noble one!
But in such matters, it's best to stay humble! Maybe this is her test of my character in the process?
Chun pretended to decline: "I had some misunderstanding with Count Ramir Khan's mansion, the mistake is done, truly ashamed, don't dare to be noble."
Sherry, not understanding Chun's subtlety, hurriedly reminded: "You have ideals, remember you said you wanted to be a village head!"
Holy Shit, really? Such a big request can be casually made?
Chun exclaimed in surprise: "But I'm exiled, how can I be a village head?"
Fafnir casually said: "Under normal circumstances, with the warrior's current VIP2 merit, it's indeed not enough, but here I have a special situation, allowing the warrior to experience it for a month, is the warrior interested?"
Chun was stunned: "Is this something that can be experienced?"
"It can..."
Fafnir waved her hand, a small spatial gate appeared beside her, then she took out a black glowing token and showed its attributes:
—— Bankrupt Black Flag Commerce Order: Black Iron Pioneer City Divine Artifact, Level 105, under 100 billion bankruptcy protection. Proof of lordship for Black Flag Island, proof for Chamber of Commerce President, industry-wide franchise rights. Commanding Power +105, Physical Strength, Life, Physical load of all territory residents and commerce members +105%, maximum speed of affiliated vehicles and ships +105%. Guardian God: None. Resident registration quota: 1050 households, formal commerce member quota 1050 people. Can activate commerce chat channel.
Employment binding, cannot be discarded or dropped.
Detailed usage instructions: Bankruptcy protection period is one month. You can use the Black Flag Order to invite players or friendly NPCs to join the territory as residents, or join the commerce association as members. You can appoint players or NPCs as vice lords, vice presidents, etc., to assist with management.
The Guardian God must be a creature possessing Divine Attributes, and the friendship level must reach a certain standard. The higher the friendship, the higher the residents' worship of the Guardian God, and the stronger the Guardian God's power. The Guardian God can remotely contact the lord via the Black Flag Order.
...
Chun was directly stunned by the initial attributes: "A Divine Artifact-level token! Bankruptcy debt of 100 billion!!?"
Fafnir started to introduce, "A century ago, when our family's ancestors were pioneering this continent, it was extremely difficult, with a large number of injured every day. At that time, the subordinate Black Flag Commerce Association was responsible for developing a relatively safe small island as a backup base and receiving the injured transferred from the front lines. As a result, a batch of wounded carried a severe plague that spread over the entire island, leaving it deserted. The Black Flag Commerce Association went bankrupt. Since then, Black Flag Island became a forbidden place for exiling untreatable plague victims and was renamed to the extremely feared Plague Island, which will also be your place of exile."
Chun quickly asked, "So, what's the meaning of experiencing it for a month?"
Fafnir laughed, "As you saw, you're in debt by 10 billion, with only one month of bankruptcy protection. Do you think anyone can repay a 10 billion debt within a month? If not, you continue with bankruptcy. So, it's just about experiencing it for a month."
Indeed! Even if I were to mine with an excavator, I wouldn't be able to dig out 10 billion! If I had that kind of money, I'd already be in the top 500 rich list nationally, and it would be enough to invest in starting a game company. Who would be crazy enough to save a game commerce association? And it's impossible for any bank to offer 10 billion.
Fafnir continued, "Also, have you noticed the power of this token allows you to experience being a lord, a chamber of commerce president, and a legion commander simultaneously, having the license to operate all industry with weapons, medicine, alcohol, tobacco, jewelry, spices, and other exclusive resources, which is absolutely not permitted now! The Village Chief's Order can only make you a Village Chief, the President's Order can only make you a President, the Legion Order can only let you become a Legion Commander. It's three separate promotion systems. Commerce Associations are limited to a few authorized wares. Do you know why?"
Chun returned to his senses, "Because too much power would lead to a monopoly?"
Fafnir said solemnly, "Exactly. Back in those pioneering days, subordinate organizations had great flexibility, and therefore significant power, which was comparable to that of a king, causing numerous problems. Later, everything was split up and reorganized. Since the Black Flag Commerce Association went bankrupt early on, this token was preserved. If you don't mind the debt, you can experience the feeling of running an all-encompassing business."
Holy shit, of course, I mind the debt! No matter how much money you make in the business, it can't fill the 10 billion gap. This is just grabbing a failed mega project and finding someone to take over by throwing in money!
Chun sweated and said, "What if I... do nothing at all?"
Fafnir laughed, "If you do nothing, there's obviously no loss, but you can still enjoy the 105-level token's attribute bonuses for a month, which is the direct help I can offer you."
Nice, just for that 105% is worth it!
Chun had one last question, "So with this commerce association, I'll become the world's number one commerce association, right? Isn't it unfair to those who are genuinely trying to build one?"
"The bankrupt commerce association is not listed in the commerce association rankings and does not participate in the rankings."
In other words, it's a hidden commerce association, which is good, otherwise the world's big shots might suppress it.
Chun accepted gladly, "Thank you, miss, for your gift!"
—System prompt: You have received the "Bankrupt Black Flag Commerce Order" issued by Fafnir! 30 days remain in the bankruptcy protection period.
Watching as his physical load of over 400 was instantly boosted by 105% to over 900, and his life doubled to over 400, Chun was overjoyed!
Sherry also felt delighted, "That's great, can I also learn and experience, maybe become a vice president?"
Chun laughed, "Of course you can, I invite you!"
Fafnir laughed, "The name Sherry lacks authority, let me add a prefix to make it more imposing—Blizzard Ice Flower! You should use this name to invite Sherry to the role of vice president."
Sherry was very excited, "Thank you, miss, for bestowing me with a name!"
Chun was truly amazed, it's like having a rebirth parent who can even give people new names! Great, this way the consortium will find it even harder to track.
—System prompt: You used the Black Flag Order's invitation function, successfully invited Blizzard Ice Flower to join the commerce association, and you can appoint Blizzard Ice Flower's position.
Appointing a vice president, right? Hmm? There's obviously an option to appoint her as the president?
Chun was astonished, "Can I directly appoint Sherry as the president?"
Fafnir said, "Actually, it's all possible. The holder of the Black Flag Order has the highest authority and is the actual controller. Even if the president is transferred, there's no need to transfer the token."
Holy shit, it really isn't like a normal commerce association! Yes, the legal representative is just the scapegoat; the real powerful one is the actual controller—that's you, Fafnir! You have the ultimate authority to reclaim the token after a month!
Chun decided, "Then I'll appoint Sherry as the president, to fully experience it."
Sherry was excited, "That's so generous!"
"I'm your attendant, and you're my employer, you should be the president anyway!"
In fact, Chun was also doing it to play it safe, in case a consortium expert found this hidden guild and discovered that I was the president, it would be trouble. So, as the actual controller, I still need to restrict the president's power, and for now, no players would be recruited into the commerce association.
Thinking about the consortium's investigation of Sherry, Chun felt uneasy, "Miss Fafnir, since Sherry now has a new name, shouldn't her image be also rebranded and changed?"
Fafnir laughed heartily, "Of course, I'm a celebrity, packaging and branding is my forte!"
Now I feel more reassured.
Sherry suddenly became ambitious, "Miss, what if we really repay the 10 billion within a month?"
Chun's heart skipped a beat, does she mean buried spices? But even if they are worth more than gold, they can't be worth 10 billion! Even selling at dirt-cheap prices can't fill this massive pit!
Fafnir sighed, "If you really manage it, then congratulations, you've officially got yourself a commerce association, and the king of the pioneer era has been resurrected! Theoretically, repaying 10 billion isn't entirely impossible. If you have very broad connections and borrow from nobles everywhere, getting 10 billion to make the books look good is possible. Or you could separate bad assets to form a subsidiary association. Or discover a large unclaimed mine and casually estimate it at 10 billion, or even develop some villas on Plague Island, estimate a few billion for each, all still possible."
Chun was stunned, "Casually... value estimation is okay?"
Fafnir laughed, "Of course there needs to be value estimation! Did you think value is really piled up with actual gold and silver? Just like my celebrity worth, it's all hyped valuations by the industry! If I could be worth 10 billion, I'd sell myself, and the commerce association would instantly revive!"
Chun suddenly realized, yep, value isn't just built up, it's all inflated! If exaggerating works, this debt task isn't as daunting as I thought—holy shit, calm down! This is a beginner's trap, she's spurring me on subtly to take over a failing project!
At this moment, a staff member on the street waved from afar.
Fafnir said earnestly, "Warrior, go to the dock, the ship to Plague Island along with various living supplies has been prepared for you. Because there can't be normal boatmen, I will use several magic mirror images to replace the boatmen and deliver you there, you'll arrive when the sun rises."
Sunrise, that means a few hours!
Chun asked again, "How many people are still on the island?"
Fafnir said solemnly, "I don't know, you need to investigate."
Could it be a bunch of zombies? Chun felt this might be unlocking a hidden map, "Got it."
...