Chapter 12
Thus, the Oasis Guild's water price had plummeted to 60 mana stones.
It returned to almost cost price just one day after they raised it lol.
ㄴ They just stacked up a shitload of unlikability points.
ㄴ For real lololol.
Still not low enough. It needs to drop more.
ㄴ For real. If you think about it, that's still up from the price they originally sold it at.
ㄴ It only looks high by comparison.
But the users' anger didn't stop there; it burned even hotter.
Because Oasis's water had originally been priced around 50 mana stones.
Title : I'm a small guild that used to buy from Oasis regularly ㅇㅇ
I just checked the shop's current stock, and it looks like it'll keep getting updated.
So I think we can just cancel our contract with them for good?
If things go well, we can buy five bottles every three days.
Actually, I think we might be able to buy even more, so why would we buy from them?
Our party had a contract with Oasis.
ㄴ It seems better to just pay the penalty and buy from the shop from now on.
The thing that's really screwing Oasis over right now is that
ㄴ when people who used to buy shit water by the party or family
ㄴ start buying from the shop,
ㄴ the number of actual consumers leaving will multiply several times over.
That's right.
ㄴ Even a family buying six bottles at a time can obviously hold out.
ㄴ They can easily manage that, for real.
No, but if you're not a member, you still can't buy from the shop, right?
ㄴ For real, isn't this only good for members?
ㄴ Are you dense;; The problem isn't that you can't buy it right now.
ㄴ The shop's stock increased sevenfold in just a week lol.
If you pay Oasis 60 mana stones for shit water right now, you're just a sucker buying at the peak ㅇㅇ
ㄴ For real lol. Just drink rainwater and hold out.
ㄴ Shit-water prices are about to get completely wrecked.
W A T E R P R I C E N O R M A L I Z A T I O N I S T H E E N D G A M E
ㄴ The god of normalization...
People were beginning to expect that the shop might receive even more updates, and their resentment toward the current water price was growing stronger.
“Krrr... As expected, markets run themselves.”
I'd seen this countless times while day trading coins. Expectations and fear were reflected directly in the price.
So for me, this situation was a home-game match.
It was no different from me being the only one using map hacks.
But would it end like this?
“Oh, no! What a disheartening thing to say.”
Shit-water prices were still 60 mana stones, which was expensive compared to the original price.
They still needed to fall further.
The funniest thing in the world is going into a stock forum packed with people who bought at the peak and making fun of them.
“Yeah, I almost got beaten to death. Mm-hmm.”
But who's going to come here? Nobody can.
So let's really get under their skin and send the price straight to hell.
- [Trolling NEET] <<< Logged in
“Sorry, Taesu bro.”
I decided to stick to what I was originally good at.
*****
“Fuuuuuck!!!”
Meanwhile, Choi Tae-su's screams rang through the Oasis Guild's headquarters.
“Why did this have to happen now!!!!”
The moment they took control of the water price, the shop update went live.
From Choi Tae-su's perspective, it was like a wild deer suddenly sticking its head in front of a speeding car.
It was nothing short of an unavoidable disaster—or a natural disaster.
“G-Guild Leader, please stay calm...”
“Stay calm? Do I look like I can stay calm right now?! How much did we make today!”
“The thing is... We barely sold anything.”
“What?”
“People are expecting that the shop will continue receiving updates... Their expectation that they'll always be able to get water from the shop is just too strong...”
“You fucking—!!”
“Who could have known the system update would line up this perfectly...”
The plan had been perfect, but it had fallen apart in spectacular fashion.
“Shop! Shop! That damn system shop!!”
Wasn't the system supposed to be fair to everyone?
He'd had a bad feeling ever since the gallery shop first opened, but was it really going to screw him over this badly?
Choi Tae-su had no way of knowing the reason, so all he could feel was resentment.
“It's just unfair targeting... Unfair targeting...”
Choi Tae-su spat a string of curses at the empty air, then finally forced himself to regain his composure while breathing heavily.
“...Hey. How's public opinion?”
Choi Tae-su asked as he licked his blood-crusted lips.
“Th-that... Well, I...”
His subordinate stammered, trembling like a leaf.
Seeing that, Choi Tae-su hurriedly opened the gallery.
- W A T E R P R I C E N O R M A L I Z A T I O N I S T H E E N D G A M E [415]
- Gallery users are starting to see the system's philosophy, upvote this lol [456]
- Oasis <<< These bastards don't understand what's wrong right now ㅇㅇ [566]
- Even 60 is fucking expensive, let's just wait three days~ [667]
...
Public opinion had gone completely to shit.
“Aaargh!!!”
Among them, Choi Tae-su opened the post with the most upvotes.
Title : [Trolling NEET] Breaking news ㄷㄷ Current situation of pissed-off veteran Stalkers;;
Apparently, the hardcore Stalkers who just bought shit water for 150 mana stones went completely berserk when they suddenly heard the price had dropped to 60 ㄷㄷ
Apparently, they're on their way to smash the Oasis trading post;;
Wow, Oasis is screwed lol.
ㄴ Fuck, I was in a hurry, so I bought it for 150.
If they suddenly drop it to 60, anyone would go berserk lololol.
ㄴ For real, they'd be pissed lololol.
If this is true, there'll be a physical confrontation at the trading post, won't there?
ㄴ You can't handle veteran Stalkers once they get pissed ㄷㄷ
Veteran Stalkers are coming here?
If they're people who bought from me under contract, are they the Viper Party? Or the Red Mane?
“What the fuck! Who's outside?!”
“No one! Not even a single rat has passed by!”
“?”
“They all left after protesting because of the shop.”
What?
Then what the fuck was this guy talking about?
When he hit refresh, an even nastier post popped up.
Title : [Trolling NEET] Breaking news ㄷㄷ Oasis trading post's water price has just dropped to 45 mana stones lololol
I just went to the trading post.
Apparently, public opinion was bad even at 60, so they just lowered it to 45 ㄷㄷ
Wait, 45 mana stones?
ㄴ It got cheap as hell lol.
ㄴ For real, it looks like these bastards are starting to panic lololol.
Ah, I bought it for 60 mana stones earlier;;
ㄴ Me too.
ㄴ Fuck, I should've waited a little longer. 45, seriously;;
They lowered it to 45? Fuck, when?
“Who did it! Who lowered it to 45 without telling me!!!”
“Huh? N-no, we didn't lower it...?”
“?”
Only then did Choi Tae-su realize what was happening.
“Th-this bastard, don't tell me...”
Was he just trolling? Pure, malicious trolling?
[Trolling NEET] Wow, Taesu bro must really be in a hurry.
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] He says almost all the Stalker parties protesting have arrived, so he's suddenly lowering it to 30 mana stones;;
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] He came out to the trading post himself and is shouting through a megaphone (not a cash item), veins bulging, telling everyone to calm down because he'll lower the price;;
Wow, 30 mana stones??
ㄴ The system is really normalizing things thanks to it lololol.
ㄴ The fact that Trolling NEET specified it's not a cash item is killing me lol.
ㄴ ㅇㅋㅋ
Wow, if that's true, Oasis is completely screwed.
ㄴ The parties contracted with them would be the Orange Zone Stalkers;;
ㄴ If they go head-to-head, even Oasis would be nervous, right?
“Aaaaargh! I didn't lower it, you bastard!!”
Choi Tae-su's fingers trembled with rage as he personally posted a clarification.
Title : [Oasis] Look at this bastard spreading nonsense!!!
(Roughly, a quiet photo in front of the trading post. JPG)
It's quiet in front of the trading post. Nobody's coming!!
And we haven't lowered the price. It's still 60 mana stones, you crazy bastard!!
[Trolling NEET] WTF;;
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] I was just talking shit.
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] (Roughly, a Big Catch! meme. JPG)
ㄴ ?!
Ah, it was bait lol.
ㄴ No wonder there was no proof lol.
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] You can tell the guild leader is personally hitting refresh because the shit water isn't selling, right?
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] But the 60-mana-stone pride is killing me lol. Fresh bottled water is 20 mana stones—does anyone actually buy shit water for 60?
ㄴ The logic is this... this...
ㄴ Ah, this guy is fucking hilarious lol.
[Oasis] Who the fuck are you, you bastard??
ㄴ [Oasis] I'll unleash my hunting dogs and have you hanged at Suwon Station tomorrow too, you bastard!!!
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] Ah, sorry, sorry.
ㄴ [Oasis] You think this is a joke? It'd take me an instant to kill a punk like you.
Just when things seemed to be quieting down, the mockery began flooding in, as though everyone had been waiting for him to show up.
[Trolling NEET] What happens if you don't let me off? What happens if you don't let me off?
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] You, young man!
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] You, young man!
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] You, young man!
[Upstanding Young Man] Did someone call me,,,,?^^
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] Not you, old man;;
ㄴ [Upstanding Young Man] ^^
[Trolling NEET] Haa... Why did the system have to update right now? lol
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] Haa... Why did the system have to update right now? lol
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] It's just unfair targeting... Unfair targeting...
“Kraaaargh! What the fuck is this guy!!!”
“Th-this user is that guy... He's a notorious user, but people also call him a sage because he got people invited to the shop... Something like that...”
“Find out where this bastard is right now!! I'll tear him limb from limb!”
While Choi Tae-su thrashed around in a blind rage, [Trolling NEET] tossed out some bait.
[Trolling NEET] Taesu, seriously, I'll tell you the one ‘Tae’-su that can overcome this situation ㅇㅇ
“...There is such a thing?”
Taesu clicked the post as if hypnotized.
Title : [Trolling NEET] Taesu lol I'll tell you the one ‘Tae’-su that can overcome this situation ㅇㅇ
You think there'd be such a thing?
Taesu got baited into clicking it despite himself. Upvote lol.
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅋㅋㅋㅋ
You think there'd be one? lol
ㄴ Ah lolololol.
ㄴ Fuck, I fell for it too lol.
This guy is just the god of mockery...
ㄴ For real, he's insanely good at winding people up lol.
“Kraaaargh! You fucking bastard!!!”
And just as Taesu was thrashing around in a fit of rage.
“G-Guild Leader!! This isn't the time.”
“What now!”
“We need to get the hell out right now!!!!”
The youngest member came running in, his face pale.
“Why me...?”
“If we keep this up, she'll come...!”
“Why! Tell them all to come!! Can't we just kill them all?”
“The Head Mod... The Head Mod is coming!!”
The Head Mod is coming.
The Head Mod is coming here.
“W-what...?”
“W-wait a second...”
At those words, everyone in the hideout froze.
“The only reason the Head Mod couldn't touch us was the monopoly we held over the distribution of water... But because of the shop, that distribution network itself has become meaningless!!!”
“Huh...? Huh?”
“People know the shop is going to replace us... So now that woman is going to come!!!”
As soon as the youngest member finished speaking, every guild member in the room except Taesu sprang into action.
“N-no.”
“Fuck, fuck, we're screwed, fuck.”
“Hey, pack your things! Pack your things!!”
“We have to run somewhere the Head Mod can't find us...”
“Hide! I said hide!!!”
Just as everyone began moving in perfect coordination.
KABOOM-!
The closed iron door of the Oasis Guild hideout bent and was ripped off in one piece.
As the thick dust settled, a silhouette slowly emerged from the darkness.
“It's already too late to run.”
Thud. Thud.
She stepped in over the broken iron door. Red eyes flashed beneath the cap pulled low over her head.
“Where's this place I can't find?”
Head Mod Baek Eunwol.
She had arrived.