Chapter 16 -16-The Million Gold Prize

Chapter 16 -16-The Million Gold PrizeInside the manager's office at the Multiracial Commerce League, Daniel sat comfortably on the leather sofa, but the look on his face was far from relaxed. Seeing Manager Harry fall into a prolonged silence, Daniel couldn't help but frown. "Manager Harry," he said bluntly, "what exactly do you want from me?" "If there's nothing important, I have things to do—I'll be on my way." To Daniel, time was everything now. The sooner he completed his first class change, the sooner he could break through the level cap and accelerate his growth. Once he underwent that transformation, he'd gain access to higher-tier content: more dangerous versions of the Underground Labyrinth, and more importantly—the ability to participate in World Rank BOSS raids. According to what he'd read in the ancient records, the rewards from defeating World Rank BOSSes weren't even comparable to the low-tier loot found in beginner labyrinths. There were whispers of non-tradeable legendary artifacts, and even super-rare skill books with unique properties! Moreover, the Supreme Power, that mysterious divine force behind the world's rules, seemed to favor newcomers heavily. Every time a batch of rookies awakened their talents, the Supreme Power would unlock new labyrinths and unleash exclusive BOSSes, meant only for the newly awakened to challenge. Daniel had ambitions far beyond the average adventurer— he wanted to monopolize these World Rank bosses, to become their sole slayer. For that dream to become a reality, he needed every second. So right now, with Manager Harry occupying his precious time for no apparent reason, Daniel was understandably irritated. That frustration bled into his tone. Only then did Harry snap out of his thoughts. He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek purple card, which he offered to Daniel with both hands, full of respect. "Prince Daniel, please don't be upset," he said with a courteous smile. "You're already a purple card holder under Violet Commerce, so you should be well aware of what this card represents." "But what I want to emphasize is that our Multiracial Commerce League is far greater in scale than Violet Commerce." "We possess access to the most precious materials from every race across the continent." "With this card in your hand, you'll enjoy a 10% discount at any of our branches, anywhere in the world." Ten percent off might not sound impressive at first. But to any serious adventurer— that was a dream come true. The cost of materials, gear, and enchantments was astronomical. Even a small discount translated into thousands—if not millions—of gold coins saved in the long run. To Daniel, this card was more than just a minor perk. It was a strategic treasure. Take, for example, the legendary gear he was aiming to forge: "Ode to Life." One of its key ingredients was the bark of the Elder Tree of the Elves—and he needed ten such samples. Just buying those alone would cost him a jaw-dropping 10 million gold coins. But with the purple card in hand? That's an immediate 1 million gold in savings. As soon as Daniel accepted the card, his expression visibly softened. "...So," he asked more calmly, "how long do you expect me to sit here?" Harry smiled, sensing the shift in Daniel's attitude. "Well, Your Highness, at the Multiracial Commerce League, we have a special Support Fund Program designed for promising young elites of all races." S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "After reviewing your achievements, we believe you qualify for this program. That's why I'd like to propose an investment on behalf of the League." "We hope to establish a mutually beneficial long-term partnership with you." Daniel nodded slightly. The appearance of the God Rank Skill Compendium had already made one thing crystal clear: his future would require an endless stream of rare materials. Building a relationship with the Multiracial Commerce League now could prove invaluable later—especially once he began synthesizing divine-tier skills. "All right," he said. "Let's hear your terms." Harry let out a deep breath of relief. The hardest part was over. "Have you ever heard of the Challenger's Labyrinth, Your Highness?" Daniel paused. The name rang a bell. He'd read a brief mention of it before, though he hadn't paid much attention at the time. After all, the Challenger's Labyrinth was a specialized dungeon reserved for the continent's absolute top-tier geniuses. Still, he recalled the basics: The Challenger's Labyrinth was a time-limited, high-difficulty dungeon that appeared exclusively for newly awakened adventurers. It was only open for six months at a time, and each instance had its own leaderboard, showing the top 100 participants. Unlike regular dungeons, this ranking wasn't limited to humans—it included all races. Being ranked in the top 100 basically marked you as one of the most promising newcomers in the entire world. Even the teleportation gates to the Challenger's Labyrinth were unique—unlike the standard blue or green, they glowed with a brilliant violet light. After recollecting all this, Daniel nodded. "I've heard of it." "Excellent!" Harry said, visibly excited. "Then I'll get straight to the point." "We'd like you to represent the Multiracial Commerce League in this year's Challenger's Labyrinth." "With your rapid growth, I believe you have a solid chance of topping the Challenger Leaderboard." "Our requirement is simple—just reach the #1 spot, even if it's only for two hours." "Once your name appears at the top, the world's attention will follow. It'll be a massive boost to our League's reputation." "And as compensation, we're prepared to offer you an upfront investment of 2 million gold coins." "Additionally, we'd like to publicly announce that you're working with us, as a form of promotional branding." Daniel's expression remained calm on the surface— but deep inside, his heart was racing. Two million gold!? Just like that? Was the Multiracial Commerce League always this generous!? Though the request wasn't small, it was comically easy by Daniel's standards. At the current pace of most adventurers, even the fastest among them were probably still stuck at Tier-1. Which meant... as long as Daniel cleared the Challenger's Labyrinth, reaching #1 was practically guaranteed. Still, Daniel didn't accept immediately. He had one concern to address. "What if," he asked, "I manage to hold the top spot for much longer than two hours?" "Let's say... half a month. Wouldn't 2 million gold be a bit too low for that?" Harry winced. That... was a tricky question. He may have been a manager, but within the League, his rank was somewhere in the middle of the food chain at best. He didn't have the authority to approve any renegotiation. "...Please give me a moment, Your Highness. I'll have to report this to my superiors." — Outside the office, in the stairwell corridor, Harry stepped aside and made a quick call. The request was passed up the chain of command... and then passed again, until it reached a senior executive at the very top. "Heh... now that's interesting," the executive said, laughing lightly. "Daniel's already learned the art of negotiation at such a young age?" "I don't know how he managed to level up so fast, but I'd bet the royal family had a hand in it." "Still, he's just an F-rank Furniture Craftsman. Even if he tops the board... how long can he really stay there?" "Fine. Tell him this—" "Here at the Multiracial Commerce League, we believe in fair trade. If he wants more, he needs to offer more in return." "One million gold per day. Ask him if he's willing to accept that deal."