Chapter 394 - 393: Sophistry

Chapter 394: Chapter 393: Sophistry

"What do you mean, ’talking nonsense’? If what Cloudmute was saying were a lie, wouldn’t Artemis have already challenged her to an arena duel to prove it?"

"Yeah, true. Our Master Artemis isn’t the type to just take an insult lying down."

"Still calling her ’our Master Artemis’? The woman’s a total hypocrite. She puts on this act of being a selfless, goody-two-shoes girl. Good grief! Turns out she secretly smokes and drinks behind everyone’s back?"

"That’s how you survive in The Black Mist World. I mean, think about it. When it comes to reputation on the regional channel, even the strongest survivor, Master Blacktiger, can’t beat Artemis, right?"

"That’s actually true."

"What are you all talking about? Does any of that matter? Isn’t the real issue what’s going on with the Expansion Crystals?"

[Chrona]: @Cloudmute, @Mountainwind, @Nathan Kane, @Artemis, how is this matter going to be handled? Don’t you all owe us an explanation?

Seeing this, Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t help but feel a little impressed.

Chrona really was a good group admin. She had principles and a sense of responsibility.

’When it was time to step up, she didn’t make excuses. She just stepped up.’

With the admin having spoken, anyone with a clear head immediately followed suit.

"That’s right, we need an explanation! I haven’t been able to upgrade my cabin for as long as you’ve been hoarding Expansion Crystals! And that’s just me! All the people in this group chat, all the people on the regional channel, you’ve affected every one of us! You have to give us an explanation!"

"So we finally know who was hiding in the shadows, hoarding everything. No wonder Artemis suddenly went after Seaview! It was a case of thieves falling out."

"If you ask me, this hoarding alliance wasn’t very strong to begin with. The conflict between Artemis and Seaview was settled with an arena duel, and now Cloudmute has gone and exposed the entire gang. I wonder if Cloudmute..."

[Cloudmute]: I exposed them! I did it so everyone can see what kind of person Artemis really is! I don’t care if I die for this. I’m not afraid of her revenge!

"Well said! I’ve always said anyone who hoards Expansion Crystals is lower than an animal. Master Artemis? Who cares if she’s ’Master’ Artemis, she’s still scum!"

"None of that matters! What matters is what’s going to happen to the Expansion Crystals Artemis and her group are holding. Now that you’ve been exposed, you’re not still planning on selling them at exorbitant prices, are you?"

As soon as that message appeared, the group chat suddenly went quiet.

Artemis hadn’t said a word from the very beginning, and she certainly wasn’t about to start now.

As for Cloudmute, who had been the most vocal, she too went silent, as if someone had her by the throat.

Seraphina Sinclair understood her thinking. ’Cloudmute originally agreed to hoard Expansion Crystals with Artemis and the others to earn more supplies and Black Fog Coins.’

’Now, she’d had a falling out with Artemis and even leaked the names of the monopoly’s leaders, but that didn’t mean she no longer wanted to profit from it. She still wanted the supplies and Black Fog Coins.’

’Of course she still wanted those hoarded crystals to be converted into tangible assets.’

But now that she was being put on the spot, Cloudmute was at a loss. Should she continue playing the righteous whistleblower and oppose Artemis, or should she find a way to protect her own interests?

During the few seconds of silence that fell over the group chat, Artemis, who had been completely quiet, finally made an appearance.

[Artemis]: Regarding the matter of the Expansion Crystals, I will now issue a formal response.

The moment her message popped up, the entire group chat was instantly flooded with countless "!" and "?". Everyone held their breath, waiting for what she would say next.

[Artemis]: First, my arena duel with Seaview stemmed from a personal grudge. It had nothing to do with Expansion Crystals. The outcome of the duel proved everything, so there is no need to mention it again.

[Artemis]: Second, regarding the hoarding. I admit that for a period of time, the four of us—myself, Cloudmute, Mountainwind, and Nathan Kane—did deliberately collect the majority of Expansion Crystals circulating in the region.

Her words were like a drop of cold water in a sizzling pan of oil, and the group chat instantly erupted.

She had actually admitted it. Just like that.

[Artemis]: Third, and most importantly. We never intended to hoard them to drive up the price. The crystals are in our possession, yes, but not so we could hold everyone by the throat and wait to sell them at an astronomical price. Quite the opposite, in fact. We did it for everyone’s sake.

[Artemis]: The Black Mist World is fraught with danger. The regional channel may seem prosperous, but there are dark undercurrents, and external threats have never vanished. The four of us were among the first to realize the importance of resources.

[Artemis]: Expansion Crystals are a strategic resource. If we let them circulate freely, only to be bought up on a massive scale by someone else, what do you think would happen? A single Expansion Crystal would cost an ordinary survivor their entire fortune! When that happens... what will you do then?

[Artemis]: That is why we joined forces. We used our own hard-earned supplies to gather and secure the majority of the crystals on the market ahead of time. As for the price? We never intended to profit from the blood, sweat, and tears of our fellow survivors.

After Artemis’s extremely long voice message was sent, it was as if the entire group chat had been put on mute. It was a long moment before anyone sent a message.

"!!!"

"????"

"I... what the f**k... I’m completely lost."

"Wait, let me get this straight... So, Master Artemis is saying they weren’t hoarding the crystals to make a profit, but to protect us? Because they were afraid someone else would snatch them all up and then sell them for an astronomical price?"

"Damn, that explanation... that’s some slick talk."

"Slick talk my ass! Who believes this crap? Protecting us? Then why don’t you bring out the crystals! Sell them at a normal price!"

"Exactly! Sounds nice, doesn’t it? ’Securely storing them’? Storing them until when? Until those rock-eating bugs show up and devour us all?!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Hey, person above, calm down. Let’s hear what else Master Artemis has to say."

"Still calling her ’Master’? You believe everything she says? This is obvious sophistry! She got caught, and now she’s trying to paint herself as some kind of savior!"

"Everyone, stop fighting! Let’s see if Artemis says anything else!"

A moment later, another message from Artemis popped up, her tone still carrying that same hint of faint helplessness.

Seraphina Sinclair listened to the entire speech, and only one word came to mind.

Sophistry.

’She’s using sophistry!’

’Still...’ Seraphina Sinclair thought, ’no matter what Artemis says, she’s definitely going to have to sell off this batch within the next couple of days.’

Tomorrow was Saturday, and the day after was Sunday.

The leaderboards updated every two weeks. The last server merge had happened right after a leaderboard update. If another merge was scheduled after this next update...

...then the Expansion Crystals Artemis and her group had hoarded would become completely worthless in their hands.

’As for whether anything Artemis said was true...’

’...that was simple to figure out.’

’Just see what price she sells them for.’

’If she sells them at a reduced price, then Seraphina Sinclair would be willing to admit that Artemis really was a selfless person, someone willing to take a loss for the greater good.’

’The problem was...’

’...was she, really?’

[Artemis]: I know that nothing I say right now can immediately dispel your doubts and anger. Words are hollow. Actions are the only true proof.