Rioneed: VRMMORPG

Ibro wasn't that interested in following the auction over his runes. He had already realized how strong his runes were in the market.

He had a golden goose that would continue to lay golden eggs for him all the time. As he expected, his runes were sold at a very high price. Each was sold with a price of 50 million gold coins.

That gave him 100 billion gold coins. When his rune auction ended, the next item was exposed at once. This was a very big block of ore.

As the description said it was very huge but very light in weight. Although Ibro was interested in the mystery behind this ore, he didn't participate in the war of bidding over this ore.

At the end, it was sold by 300 billion gold coins. Ibro was speechless of this high price. He thought his runes were really so expensive but this single block of ore had gained triple what his runes got him.

That made him feel worried over the final item auction. When the sword was offered to bidding, a sudden wave of price increase had erupted to raise its initial price from 100 billion gold coins to over 500 billion gold coins in no time. Ibro felt speechless.

"From where these guys get all these gold coins?!"

"These aren't paid using gold coins; they are paid using their own empires' currencies.

Most of them had old empires so their currencies are much stronger than the gold coins. They can easily pay an astronomical amount of gold coins with ease."

Ibro got the idea. These people were using their currencies and not gold coins. That made him wonder what his own currency would be like. He wanted it to be as strong as those old fogies' currencies.

Although he knew inside him that would be impossible in the beginning but he hoped he could reach their level one day. He watched helplessly as the sword was being sold by a price of 850 billion gold coins.

He was depressed somehow. He really hoped to gain this sword. That would have helped him a lot in his future struggles. As he was about to stand and leave, the interface changed and a middle-aged man appeared in it. Ibro looked at this strange-looking man with questions in his eyes.

"Hi, Mr. Rioneed. I'm the heir to the throne of the Krod Empire. My name is Zolad. I'm pleased to meet you."

"Hello lord Zolad. Excuse my ignorance, I don't know how to call you."

The middle-aged man laughed as he said:

"Lord is fine. When you become like me you will know that titles aren't important anymore."

"Then what is important?"

"Aspirations and power to achieve and protect them."

"Oh, you are an aspiring person. I like people like you lord Zolad."

"It seems you are also like me. That would make things easier. As far as I know, you have entered into a deep mess that you have no benefit at all from. I'm here to help you get out from this mess."

"Really?"

"Yes. As you can see I have the Yotar Sword. This sword is very important to my empire, but if I choose between it and you, I will choose you then."

Ibro wasn't stupid. He guessed some of the goals that his heir wanted to meet with him for. Though he faked ignorance as he replied plainly:

"What do you mean lord Zolad."

"As the saying goes, having one man is better than having an army. You are a huge gain for any empire, even an old empire from world number 5 like mine."

Ibro smiled and refused politely:

"I already have an empire."

"Well, as far as I know, your empire will cease to exist in one month from now."

Ibro didn't feel any anger; instead, he was eager to know more about the upcoming ordeal. The more he knew the more prepared he would be.

"Last time I checked my village was still standing here."

"That's only for now. You have opposed a non-stoppable force Mr. Ibro. Your actions have angered people, you should never anger them."

"That is my own business."

"I admit that. But I also admit that I have a way to give you some time to survive. Although I can't fully extricate you from this mess, I can help you withstand it for a longer time."

"And you plan to do this with this sword?"

"Not only this sword. Don't belittle my empire.

Although I can't send you any armies to support, so do your enemy. All we both can do is to send some special items that would change the fate of the war."

Ibro didn't get tempted as he knew there was nothing free in this world.

"What price should I pay then to have this chance?"

"Nothing big. You will only swear your allegiance to me and support my future reign as an emperor. That will give you unlimited supply from me and my empire and also will shield you for a while till you can move to me here and take asylum at my empire."

Ibro smiled faintly in reply to his offer. That old fox was trying to annex him to gain his support, he wanted to use him to reach the throne. Ibro wasn't in such a dire situation to accept such a desperate offer. Zolad had sensed Ibro's line of thoughts so he said in a warning tone:

"I advise you to think clearly and slowly. I don't need your answer for now. But I want you to choose what is best for you and your future."

"Thanks for your offer Lord Zolad. My future is here with my village. I appreciate your kind advice and your good will to help me but I can't abandon my people here."

The face of that man changed slightly then it returned to the normal look. He said in a cold tone:

"You know people are used to begging for a chance to have my interest and support and you refuse my offer to you. This is really insulting."

"I'm sorry but I'm not the one who asked to meet you lord Zolad. I believe you are a busy man. I will talk to you in the future."

Zolad looked with angry eyes towards Ibro while muttering:

"You are really a mad man like what I heard. Fine, I will watch you die and will tell jokes about how foolish you were."

Ibro didn't even glance at him while Zolad disappeared from the screen. Ibro was about to leave the room when another person appeared in this window.

Ibro didn't know if this room was really so easily accessible to anyone like this. While he was thinking about what to do that person appeared completely and looked deeply towards Ibro.

He was another middle-aged man. This time Ibro felt that man was strangely stressful and serious. His thoughts weren't wrong as this man said in a strong tone:

"You know you have caused more damage to yourself in these few hours Mr. Rioneed?"

Ibro didn't respond to him but kept looking silently waiting for this man's warning or threat.