Chapter 99: Demand Determines Price

The system notification flashed: “Task completed: Larger Backpack, 97% complete.”

“You have obtained ‘Mitchell’s Small Backpack’.”

“You have received 400 experience points.”

“Your level has increased to 13. You have gained one skill point…”

Golden light swirled through the room as several people witnessed Lu Kuang’s level-up. He set aside the new skill point and turned his attention to the item in his hands. The backpack was a deep, elegant blue, its surface embroidered with silver-white threads that formed intricate magic runes. The faint glow pulsed slowly across the fabric, as if the cloth itself were breathing.

“Mitchell’s Small Backpack (Fine-grade Backpack)
Storage item. Can hold up to four identical pieces of gear at once.
Capacity: 13 slots
Independent space: Reduces the weight of contained items by 10%.”

Fine equipment. Thirteen slots. Ten percent weight reduction.

The three lines of text burned themselves into Lu Kuang’s eyes. His heart gave an involuntary jolt—that instinctive reaction he always felt when holding something truly exceptional. He was stunned.

He had never expected Mitchell to produce anything this good. In his original calculations, a green-grade backpack with extra slots and a modest five-percent weight reduction would already be considered excellent. This was far beyond anything he had anticipated. Back in his previous life, even at level eighty, he had still been lugging around three green backpacks.

Lu Kuang lifted the backpack, then addressed the tailor master before him with sincere gratitude. “Master Mitchell, I truly thank you. The attributes on this item far surpass my expectations.”

“Mainly because the materials you supplied were of exceptional quality, and Laila sent me a magical letter only minutes earlier than you,” Mitchell replied with a knowing smile.

“She said that although your schemes run deep and your utilitarian instincts are strong—lacking the honor of a true warrior—you are, all things considered, still a good person. So when I crafted this backpack, I invested a couple of additional spell scrolls.”

Lu Kuang opened his mouth, momentarily speechless, then muttered to himself, Half the woman is praising me, half slandering me. If Mitchell misinterprets the situation, the blue backpack I was supposed to receive will vanish.

Beside them, Yue Ye Liu Xing and Liu Xue Liang exchanged glances. Their expressions mirrored Lu Kuang’s for a moment, yet their inner feelings could not have been more different.

“That person… just received a new backpack?” the beautiful girl beside Liu Xue Liang whispered, voicing the question that everyone present was silently wondering.

A new backpack? Has this kid already finished the second stage of the backpack quest?

Lu Kuang had quickly concealed the backpack’s magical radiance, but the moment he took the item from Mitchell’s hands, everyone witnessed that brief, dazzling flash of blue light.

It was still a blue-grade piece.

The man who had earlier mocked Lu Kuang felt his face burn as if he had been slapped. He wanted nothing more than to log out and disappear from this place at once.

Compared to Lu Kuang, those of them still carrying their default backpacks now looked embarrassingly poor.

Lu Kuang remained unaware of the scrutiny. He examined the new backpack, then equipped it. From behind him, above the belt line, two small pouches appeared—one gray, one silver, each the size of a palm. The contrasting colors stood out sharply against the solitary, ordinary pack most players carried on their backs.

Even Tian Tang Yong Yan, who had long grown accustomed to Lu Kuang’s unconventional decisions, was momentarily taken aback. How long had it been since he had met this man? How many times had Lu Kuang already surprised him by forcing him to revise his expectations?

A heavy silence settled over the room. Each person turned his thoughts inward. Lu Kuang turned, flashing a smile at Tian Tang Yong Yan. “President, shall we continue together?”

“Very well.” Tian Tang Yong Yan, though outwardly composed, felt his thoughts churn. He answered with a casual smile.

“Wait!”

Lu Kuang had just reached the stair landing when Yue Ye Liu Xing’s voice rang out from behind. “Friend… would you consider selling that backpack? I can pay you in real currency.”

Yue Ye Liu Xing’s tone sounded strangely strained. He had a hundred reasons to resent Lu Kuang, yet his young master had issued a direct order: the backpack must be bought back at any cost. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward.

“Oh?” Lu Kuang paused at the landing, turned, and offered a playful smile. “How much are you willing to pay?”

Yue Ye Liu Xing hesitated, then muttered, “Thirty thousand.”

Tian Tang Yong Yan, unwilling to spare him any courtesy, snorted openly at the price, reddening Yue Ye Liu Xing’s face.

This idiot. Thirty thousand to buy a backpack? And he still wants to haggle?

A level-thirteen purple-grade piece of equipment could fetch thousands of gold coins. A backpack like this, once obtained, could serve as a lifetime companion. The price was absurd.

Yue Ye Liu Xing’s expression twisted with embarrassment. He understood the value perfectly, yet the offer had not been his idea—it had come from Liu Xue Liang.

This young master had no concept whatsoever of how items were priced in the game.

Lu Kuang had anticipated as much. He had spoken to Yue Ye Liu Xing precisely to watch him make a fool of himself.

So when the offer came, Lu Kuang gave a dismissive laugh. He cast a casual glance at Liu Xue Liang, then descended the stairs with a series of clattering steps, denying Yue Ye Liu Xing any chance to speak again.

Tian Tang Yong Yan shook his head and followed Lu Kuang down.

“Damn it, playing dumb! Thirty thousand to buy that backpack and still want to bargain?” Someone noticed Liu Xue Liang’s sour expression and immediately stepped forward to scold him.

Liu Xue Liang said nothing, but his face clearly mirrored the same thought. When he glanced at Yue Ye Liu Xing’s awkward expression, however, doubt began to gnaw at him.

Had he made a spectacle of himself again?

“President, was the previous bid not satisfactory?” Liu Xue Liang put on an expression of humble inquiry, hands clasped behind his back, and asked in a theatrical tone.

“Cough… yes, it was indeed a bit low,” Yue Ye Liu Xing managed with a strained chuckle.

Liu Xue Liang frowned, displeased. “In your opinion, what price would be appropriate?”

Lu Kuang’s good items now seemed destined to belong to him. His voice grew obsessive. “At least triple the previous offer. If it went through the auction house, the price would climb even higher.”

“Tripling it?” Liu Xue Liang’s surprise was genuine.

One hundred thousand yuan was nothing to him—mere pocket change. Yet the backpack’s value still puzzled him. It had no combat stats and could not be used for killing. Why was it worth so much?

He had never imagined that Lu Kuang, this so-called “poor guy,” could possess something of such worth. Recalling the humiliating incident at the Chunqiu Grand Hotel, Liu Xue Liang’s mood darkened further.