Chapter 145: Just a Second-Class?
"Who doesn\'t know that the major families control all the resources, and have even slandered ordinary players multiple times for their own gain!"
"Do you think you can fool anyone? Previously, a player at Advanced Base 441 got an B-level class change quest scroll, but was directly captured by you and had their scroll taken away. You even destroyed their physical body!"
"And at Intermediate Base 5111, a diamond-grade item appeared. Didn\'t you kill all the guild members who discovered it?"
"You guys…"
She frantically exposed their dirty secrets.
Teresa\'s aggressive accusations were intended to enrage the family leaders, hoping they would kill her and her companions immediately.
"To avoid… putting the master in danger for a rescue." she thought.
Although Teresa knew Sterl was usually rational, as a subordinate, she couldn\'t let her master take any risks.
In Teresa\'s view, despite her master\'s immense strength—capable of killing third-class players in one hit—such a move probably consumed a lot of energy and couldn\'t be used easily.
Sterl had managed an instant kill of a third-class player before, but that was under the advantage of a sneak attack.
Now, with multiple third-class players from various families present, wouldn\'t her master be walking into certain death if he came to their rescue? Even if the chance of that happening was one in ten thousand, Teresa wanted to eliminate that risk!
She thought, even if her master had made breakthroughs due to his formidable talent, he might have only increased in level slightly. Breaking through to second-class was still uncertain!
Given the current situation, if Sterl came, it would be a death sentence!
She only wanted a quick death! To be killed along with Daphne and the other players as soon as possible…
Although death wasn\'t the end, because in reality, the families\' power was equally terrifying. Such major forces had already arranged for some professionals to patrol and act as enforcers in the real world.
After being deleted in the game, Teresa and the other players would undoubtedly meet a miserable end in reality…
But she didn\'t hesitate in deciding to sacrifice herself!
"In reality, the master and I have no contact at all."
"Even if the master wanted to help, he wouldn\'t have the chance. He wouldn\'t be in any danger."
…
No one knew Teresa\'s thoughts.
But her provocation worked!
After her revelations, the expressions of the ordinary second-class players below changed. They were well aware of the major families\' domineering and disgusting behavior.
What Teresa said was most likely true!
Or rather, the sudden disappearance of players on the rise in those bases had always aroused suspicion.
The people below had different looks in their eyes, but considering the third-class powerhouses above, they kept silent. They were all adults and understood the need to avoid harm.
Cursing the major families behind their backs was one thing, but facing them in person, which ordinary player wouldn\'t kneel and lick boots?
The tiniest bit of benefit from the major families could make an ordinary player\'s life, while their slightest targeting could make it a living hell.
While the players suspected Teresa might truly be wronged, they still shouted:
"Shut up! Still trying to argue!"
"Killing the base commander is an unforgivable crime!"
…
Although they appeared fervent, their momentum had undeniably weakened.
The expressions on the faces of the many third-class players on the tribunal above were sinister. They could clearly see that the players from various bases already believed about eighty percent of the dirt Teresa had thrown out.
The third-class players were extremely angry—
Just because they did it doesn\'t mean you can say it! How audacious!
"Since you are incorrigible."
"I hereby sentence all of you to death for the crime of betraying humanity."
"First, we\'ll deal with your game characters. Then, in the real world, you will face a second trial!"
Astrid stated coldly.
The so-called second trial, of course, meant capturing these people in reality and torturing them until they revealed the way to easily obtain second-class equipment.
Human willpower has its limits, especially after a game character\'s death, where all supernatural power turns to nothing. How could ordinary flesh and blood withstand professional interrogation?
The players below, although aware that the major families were no saints, also judged that Teresa and the others likely did kill the base commander, so they joined in the clamor.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The shouts were deafening!
Astrid began to step down from the tribunal slowly, raising a scepter in her hand, golden light shining upon her.
Astrid was poised to slam the scepter into the ground!
This was the signature move for her golden-quality skill [Divine Punishment], perfect for executing "sinners"!
Teresa and the other players were filled with terror and despair.
To be honest, losing just their game characters was already a significant blow, as in the real world, ordinary people couldn\'t survive and would quickly succumb to illness and death.
But now, even dying from illness had become a luxury! The notorious interrogation chambers of the major families were infamous!
Once captured, they would find that even death would be a difficult mercy to obtain!
At this moment, many players were already trembling in extreme fear.
Teresa noticed this scene, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes. She originally thought that her death would end it all.
But now, the other players\' mentality had collapsed. Expecting them to keep secrets was impossible.
The contracts they signed earlier were just shallow restrictions. They had to obey Sterl\'s orders and couldn\'t harm him. But simply revealing information? The contract couldn\'t prevent that!
Because now, the players feared the prospect of not even being able to die in peace in the real world more than the destruction of their game characters!
And Teresa\'s despair deepened as she realized she couldn\'t kill the other players instantly while being restrained.
"I\'m sorry… Master."
"I couldn\'t protect your information."
As expected, Sterl\'s subordinates began to speak out in terror, just as Teresa had feared.
At this moment, the high-ranking third-class players also smirked coldly. They had known this outcome from the start. It was possible that Teresa alone could be extremely loyal to that mysterious entity or individual.
But for everyone to be so loyal??
Moreover, even if they were all loyal, could they all withstand torture?
From the beginning, when the family heads convened this tribunal, they had already planned to leverage the momentum of the ordinary players and use the subtle pressure of the elevated position to pry open the mouths of Teresa and her companions!
However...
While the third-class players were already wearing smug smiles, they suddenly heard some unexpected words—
The players, who had been forced to speak under pressure and fear, were not disclosing any information but instead saying…
"Lord David? Why are you here?"
"Did you come to save us? You need to leave! These are third-class players!"
"Don\'t worry about us. Just avenge us later."
…
The players, under duress and fear, were ready to reveal information.
But their hearts still leaned towards "David." After all, this big shot had been generous and showed limitless potential, so they all began to persuade him.
They believed that "Lord David" might not have the strength to rescue them now, but he could avenge them in the future!
Teresa initially felt a burst of joy, "Lord Sterl actually hasn\'t abandoned me!"
But then her expression quickly turned tense.
"Wait! No! These are all third-class players. If Lord Sterl comes this time, he might be in serious trouble."
Suddenly, Teresa felt a pang of regret!
Her own provocative actions were still somewhat too slow. If she could have acted earlier and let those family patriarchs pronounce the judgment results, although it might have caused the players to lose their composure even sooner and reveal the master\'s information, perhaps, after divulging the information, they all would have been executed.
Then Lord Sterl wouldn\'t have to waste time on a rescue and wouldn\'t be trapped in this dire situation!
She knew that the third-class players standing on the tribunal were the heads of major families!
Their strength far surpassed that of ordinary third-class players!
Astrid, in particular, possessed a fully legendary golden skill, making her a semi-legendary figure! She was one of the top powerhouses among the entire human race on Earth, vastly superior to the third-class player Sterl had previously killed—a difference as vast as heaven and earth!
Not to mention the other family heads, who were also formidable.
Teresa was almost frantic with worry: "Lord David, run!"
As she shouted, she seemed to activate some kind of item, suddenly breaking free from the shackles of the tribunal, her body enveloped in electric light, charging forward!
She was actually using her newly-acquired second-class strength to charge at the third-class powerhouses!
Her only goal was to buy time for Sterl to escape.
Teresa\'s actions instantly jolted everyone present awake.
When Sterl appeared, the other players were initially stunned—it turned out the family heads were right—
There really was someone behind Teresa and her group!
In other words, this newly-appeared figure was the one who killed the base commander!
The third-class players on the tribunal were initially tense.
According to their investigation, the commander of Base 131 was killed in an extremely short battle. Although the killer had remained elusive, this alone proved that his strength was not enough to rival the major families.
But someone capable of instantly killing a third-class player was certainly not easy to deal with.
The family heads, who had lived for countless years, were naturally very cautious and wouldn\'t act rashly without knowing their opponent\'s true strength.
But when Teresa, a loyal subordinate, charged out at all costs to buy time for the mysterious figure that had appeared,
The players present and the family heads seemed to understand—
Even his own subordinates didn\'t believe he could win!