Death Game: Starting as a Trickster, Pretending to Be a God

”Lost Treasure and Mermaid Tears?”

The old Sea Demon appraiser at the appraisal office had weathered many storms in his time, but when he heard the two things Lin Yu mentioned, he was still somewhat shocked.

”As expected of a distinguished guest from the Central Sea. Not only are the items you’re selling precious, but what you wish to purchase is no simple matter either.”

The appraiser murmured to himself, and Lin Yu looked at him with keen interest.

”Since you work at the appraisal office, you must have plenty of connections in this field. Most of the people looking to sell things at this Tide Summoning Festival should have come here to get their items appraised. So... do you have any leads?”

After all, the Tide Summoning Festival venue was enormous. Even if it was just the stalls selling high-end goods, the number was as numerous as stars in the sky. Going through them one by one would be far too troublesome.

The old Sea Demon appraiser heard Lin Yu’s words and smiled. ”It’s true that they all come to us for appraisal. However... while I can tell you that there will indeed be people selling ’Lost Treasure’ and ’Mermaid’s Tear’ at this Tide Summoning Festival, I honestly don’t know who exactly will be selling them or where their stalls are.”

”After all, many who come for appraisals send their household servants as proxies. They don’t leave contact information either.”

The old Sea Demon appraiser explained, and Lin Yu didn’t press him further.

”That’s fine. Protecting client privacy is only proper. But could you speculate, would the selling format be through auction or direct sale?”

Lin Yu asked, and the appraiser answered without hesitation. ”For precious items like these, it will almost certainly be through auction to maximize profits. So yes, you should keep a close eye on what happens at the auction venue.”

The appraiser spoke, and Lin Yu nodded.

”Good. Thank you for your advice.”

The appraiser quickly waved his hand. ”No thanks necessary. This isn’t exactly secret information.”

”But I genuinely didn’t know before,” Lin Yu said, then stood up. ”In any case, I should first sell what I have on hand and exchange it for Outer Sea currency to prepare for buying what I want. Speaking of which, do you think if I successfully sell these two items, it’ll be enough to buy what I’m after?”

”Of course it will. That delicacy in your possession is absolutely worth no small amount. As long as you’re not looking to buy Mermaid Tears in bulk or purchase several top-quality Lost Treasures all at once, you’ll likely have quite a bit of money left over.”

The Sea Demon appraiser said sincerely.

”Then I have nothing to worry about. April, let’s go.” Lin Yu signaled April to stand, and took his two items along with the two freshly issued appraisal reports. ”Thank you again for your advice. Oh, and one more thing...”

At the doorway, Lin Yu paused and asked in a seemingly casual manner.

”Do you know of the Sea Eye Sovereign?”

Lin Yu spoke, and the appraiser nodded. ”Of course. The Sea Eye Sovereign is the most renowned Collector in our Sea Demon Kingdom. He’ll also be attending this Tide Summoning Festival, and he’s built his own dedicated venue to sell various and sundry collectibles...”

The Sea Demon appraiser spoke, then asked curiously, ”Are you two interested?”

”Of course.”

Lin Yu nodded.

”Then perhaps I can introduce you,” the Sea Demon appraiser said, producing a card from his pocket. ”The Sea Eye Sovereign is a regular at our appraisal office, so he has some personal ties with us Senior Appraisers... You can take my card and visit him directly at his collection hall.”

Lin Yu accepted the card and gave a slight nod.

April thanked him. ”You’ve been a tremendous help. Thank you so much!”

The two of them put their masks back on, left the distinguished guest room, and swam outward.

After swimming some distance, April finally spoke with feeling.

”You were right, Yayu. Status and privilege really are convenient. If you hadn’t first stepped on the Mermaid Royal and made a name for yourself, we never would have gotten to see that Senior Appraiser... Even if we had, he never would have just handed us a card that could help us meet the Sea Eye Sovereign.”

”Being high-profile does have its advantages. Of course, it’s mainly because that steak of yours is just too incredible. You’ve actually been to the Central Sea, you actually have such a powerful [item]. Seems like you did pretty well for yourself in the Central Sea.”

Lin Yu shook his head. ”No, I’m actually not very familiar with the Central Sea.”

April was astonished. ”You’ve got to be kidding. Then your steak, or rather the [item] that produced that steak, is...”

”I’ve already joined the Marauders. Did you think it came from some legitimate source? Of course I stole it.”

Lin Yu said matter-of-factly.

April was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up. ”Impressive.”

Lin Yu flicked her thumb. ”Let’s go. We’ve got some loot to move.”

...

Meanwhile, in the Sea Demon capital, inside a club.

A gold-tailed merfolk noble chewed on dizzying underwater tobacco, looking at the pitch-black, slender-tailed figure before him, and spoke to a tall, obese Sea Demon half-reclining nearby.

”Truly impressive, Ancient Fang Sovereign. As expected of the Sea Demon Regent, to actually cultivate a Naga as your deathsworn, and one tempered with secret arts no less.”

The Sea Demon called Ancient Fang Sovereign leaned back on a lounge chair in the club upholstered with large sea creature hides, and grinned widely. ”Prince Kede, I told you, coming to me is absolutely worth every penny.”

”For just two Blood Coral Crystals, even if the two humans you want dead hail from the Central Sea, and even if one of them has the strength to easily repel ’Sword Swimmer’ Sword, I will absolutely make them vanish from these waters forever.”

Prince Kede heard Ancient Fang Sovereign’s confident words and was infected by them too. ”Heh heh, I knew it. You Sea Demons are at least professionals when it comes to hunting humans.”

”Just two Blood Coral Crystals. That’s nothing to a prince like me. As long as I can kill those two humans who dared to defy me and provoke me, it’s all worth it,” Prince Kede said through gritted teeth. ”I have only one demand, Ancient Fang Sovereign. Do it quickly!”

”Of course. I want to get paid even earlier than you do... Even without payment, killing humans is a pleasure to me, especially when you’re paying such a hefty price.”

Ancient Fang Sovereign laughed heartily.

”Good. Then I’ll head back first. Many from the Mermaid Royal have come this time. If I stay away from the ’consulate’ too long, it’ll raise suspicion. I look forward to your good news.”

Prince Kede said, preparing to leave.

But Ancient Fang Sovereign watched the departing Prince Kede and suddenly spoke.

”Wait.”

Prince Kede looked at Ancient Fang Sovereign, who was sizing him up with an odd expression, and asked, ”Is there something else?”

”You want me to kill two powerful humans from the Central Sea who humiliated you,” Ancient Fang Sovereign said, choosing his words carefully. ”But you have to at least give me the names and appearances of those two people, no?”

”What kind of hit job is it where you place an order to have someone killed but don’t tell the killer what the targets look like?”