Chapter 144: Chapter144-The Sting of Betrayal
If John truly reneged on his word, their losses would be substantial.
To their relief, however, John shook his head.
He said, somewhat helplessly, "What are you thinking? If I said I'd let you go after taking the money, I definitely will. The reason I told you not to be in such a rush to leave is because I want to propose a deal to you."
Upon hearing John's words, everyone paused in unison, taken aback.
Benedict, watching from above, suddenly had a bad premonition.
"This kid isn't planning another cunning move, is he?"
At the bridgehead, while the group sighed in relief, curiosity also piqued.
The shirtless assassin asked, puzzled, "What deal?"
John held up two fingers, a sly smile on his face.
"For 20 million, I will guide you to earn points and secure a spot in the top one hundred of the assessment. You can pay me after you've secured your spot. As you've seen my capabilities, trust me, this won't be difficult for me. Would you consider it?"
As soon as John finished, everyone gasped in shock.
They stared at John, disbelieving what they had just heard.
20 million for a spot in the top one hundred of the assessment?!
Including Hannah, the gaze of those present shifted dramatically towards John, filled with fervent interest.
Even if they couldn't succeed, they wouldn't incur any loss.
But if they could make it, not to mention 20 million, even 200 million would be considered worthwhile!
At the bridgehead, hearing John's proposal, the group collectively caught their breath.
The prospect of 20 million federal coins for a guaranteed position among the top hundred contenders of the assessment left them incredulous.
Their eyes widened in sheer disbelief at John's audacity.
The value of such an offer, including for Hannah among them, turned their gazes towards John burning with intense eagerness.
Failure bore no loss to them, yet success, transcending the cost of 20 million, even 200 million, they deemed a fortune well spent!
...
The outside world was in an uproar, with everyone looking at John as though he were a lunatic.
Some were baffled, saying, "Is this guy crazy? He actually wants to take these people through the assessment together? How is that possible?!"
Others sneered, "I heard he's from some backwater place; he must be desperate for money."
Some shook their heads, "Securing a spot is not so easy, let alone leading others to pass too. This guy is literally daydreaming."
A few pondered, "Actually, it might not be impossible. With his strength, if he really wants to boost these people's points into the top one hundred, it could be feasible."
Yet another commented, "The question is, what kind of genius with such capability would stoop to do such demeaning tasks!"
The crowd was momentarily lost for words.
Indeed, what kind of prodigy with such talent would need to resort to such actions for money?
Only someone as unique as John would think to do so.
In the skies above the Enchanted Forest, even Benedict was left speechless by John's antics for a long while before he couldn't help but bitterly smile, "This kid really knows how to cause worry, coming up with such an idea."
With no other choice, Benedict had to contact the academy's higher-ups again.
Such an occurrence was unprecedented in the history of the Stellar Test.
He needed confirmation from the upper echelons of the Star Cluster Academy on how to proceed.
At the top of the gymnasium, upon hearing Benedict's report, the high ranks of Star Cluster Academy were also stunned by John's maneuvers.
Vice Principal Geoffrey, holding his forehead, said, "What goes on in his mind, I'm truly at a loss for words. He actually thought of selling points and spots for money."
A grade director frowned, "No matter what, this is still the Stellar Test. If we let him continue like this, it might impact our academy's reputation."
After some thought, Geoffrey said, "Paying to avoid elimination isn't a big deal. Giving some unlucky students another chance is fine, but hiring others to farm points and positions absolutely cannot be allowed."
Another grade director agreed, "Exactly. Otherwise, all examinees might as well pay geniuses to fight for them. What's the point of the assessment then?"
The leadership concurred, finding the logic sound.
They communicated their decision to Benedict.
Nodding, Benedict then used his mind power to issue a warning to all candidates in the Enchanted Forest.
He stated firmly, "There have been instances of examinees engaging in cheating transactions within the test dungeon. This serves as a warning! Additionally, the academy strictly prohibits any forms of cheating and rule-breaking during the assessment. Violators will be expelled from the Stellar Test and barred from enrollment permanently."
Benedict's voice echoed throughout the Enchanted Forest.
The candidates still undergoing the assessment, upon hearing his words, all wore expressions of surprise on their faces.
Who was this big shot who forced the academy to issue a direct warning during the assessment?
John and the others naturally heard Benedict's announcement, which effectively doused the fiery enthusiasm of everyone present at the bridgehead with cold water.
They sighed and lamented as if they had missed a tremendous opportunity.
Indeed, securing their advancement through the assessment with merely two million would have been an incredible chance for them, especially considering none were fully confident in their ability to pass this rigorous test unaided.
Seeing his scheme fall apart before it even began left John with a frozen smile on his face.
According to his calculations, just from these few individuals, he could have made at least seventy to eighty million.
Had his plan been allowed to grow, he might have earned several billion federal coins.
With over ten thousand participants in the assessment and John's formidable strength, it wasn't out of reach to secure half of the top spots, if not monopolize the top hundred entirely.
However, Benedict's warning effectively vanished all potential earnings into thin air, causing John indescribable heartache over the loss of what could have been his money.
Yet, there was nothing he could do against the regulations of the assessment.
Wearing a look of deep frustration, John no longer bothered to engage with the assassin and his comrades who tried to cozy up to him.
He stepped onto the bridge and headed toward the core area of the Enchanted Forest, seeking solitude to ease his troubled mind.
The figures, including the assassin, watched John's departing silhouette with a sense of regret, mourning the nearly secured assessment positions that slipped through their fingers.
Powerless to change their fate, they reluctantly dispersed.
Shortly after John left, Hannah followed suit.
Her intention wasn't complicated; she merely wanted to get to know this intriguing young man named John a bit better.
Shortly after the crowd dispersed, a small-statured participant emerged emotionlessly from the bushes.
Eyeing the rough terrain before the bridge, he sneered internally, "To think, a genius indeed. But offending our Immortality Organization is the gravest mistake of your life. I hope you live a bit longer; otherwise, it'd be quite dull."
After casting a disdainful glance at Benedict high above the Enchanted Forest, the dwarf crossed the bridge, heading into the core area of the Enchanted Forest as well.
Meanwhile, in the spectator stands outside Star Cluster Academy, a man donning a baseball cap watched John's image in the silver mirror, his eyes flashing a sinister crimson.
Smirking, he whispered so faintly that no one could hear, "I told you, you can't escape.
Even if you join Star Cluster Academy, that divine artifact is mine!"
Thinking of the divine artifact of the Crimson Demon, Robert's eyes gleamed with fervor.
Securing that artifact could elevate him not just to the patriarch of House Carter but perhaps even to a demigod!
He was determined to obtain it at any cost.
Unaware of the dangerous attention he's attracted, John was deep within the Enchanted Forest, unleashing his frustration and heartache in what could only be described as a spell turret mode.
Waving his staff, a kaleidoscope of lights swirled around him as he released spell after spell.
"Storm Blade!"
"Thunderous Roar!"
"Thorned Rock Serpent!"
...
As a series of formidable spells erupted from John's hands, rows of giant trees toppled, creating a straight path through the forest.
This path was littered with broken branches, fallen trees, and craters, all leading straight to where John stood, showcasing his turmoil and might.
John, leveraging his arsenal of spells, bulldozed his way through the Enchanted Forest, leaving behind a trail of enormous craters created by his relentless assault, his onslaught more devastating than that of a bomber plane.
Noticing the dense population of monsters in the core area of the Enchanted Forest, John decided against the meticulous use of mental perception for targeting and opted for widespread bombardment instead.
The monsters' thoughts on this tactic were unknown, but it certainly thrilled John.
Within city limits, he had to exercise restraint with his spellcasting to avoid collateral damage.
Had it not been for the need to conserve his power during the encounter with Sebastian, he wouldn't have had to resort to using the Godslayer Blade; his spells alone would have sufficed to wear him down.
In the dungeon, free from such constraints, John unleashed his full power.
With life-draining and blood demon conversion skills at his disposal, energy depletion was the least of his concerns.
Thus, he transformed into a veritable spell cannon, wreaking havoc upon the flora and fauna of the Enchanted Forest with wild abandon.
[You have slain lv38 "Redwolf (Normal)" and gained 133000 Exp!]
[You have slain lv40 "Icefox (Normal)" and gained 187000 Exp!]
[You have slain lv40 "Earthcroc (Elite)" and gained 352000 Exp!]
...
As John's spells ravaged the land, a deluge of experience points flooded into him.
His experience points surged at a visibly terrifying rate, with his score skyrocketing just as rapidly.
Within mere hours, his level ascended to lv28, and his score reached an astonishing 15000 points, securing him the top spot on the leaderboard.
Isabella and Amelia, his closest competitors, trailed behind him, their scores not even close to a third of his.