The group chat was silent for a moment, then it erupted.
Anyone who frequented the UmbraNet chat groups knew of Wylie.
Her Star Level was zero, her bio read "Captain of The Pay-to-Win Squad," and her listed specialties and abilities were: "Has money."
Wylie's privacy measures were so good that no one had ever seen her real face.
Rumor had it she was just a girl, only eighteen years old, with a security deposit on UmbraNet of a hundred billion!
A hundred-billion-dollar little heiress. People couldn't help but be impressed...
A young woman with a hundred billion in assets... a man could skip forty years of struggle, at a minimum, if he managed to win her over—it didn't even matter if she was ugly.
Plenty of men in the group fantasized about her, hoping the little heiress Wylie would give them a chance.
But others were dismissive, seeing Wylie as some naïve, sheltered girl from a wealthy family just trying to get attention and dragging down the prestige of UmbraNet.
After all, most of the high-Star-Level big shots came from The Noble Clans and weren't short on cash themselves.
They scoffed at her habit of paying-to-win, flaunting her wealth, and throwing money around for no reason!
Then there were the onlookers, just there for the drama, dropping a few provocative lines in the chat, hoping the little heiress Wylie might spare them a glance.
The crowd of onlookers chattered away, their flirty comments coming in all shapes and flamboyant colors.
[MadBee]: "Need someone to do some work, little sis? This big bro will get all cleaned up and deliver himself to your door."
[ThousandMileStud]: "Only twenty grand a month? Who are you looking down on? I'll pay *you* thirty grand a month to come 'farm' my land, little sis. I've got a huge plot, and it's all yours for the 'planting'."
[GetRich&Strategist]: "No one here is short on cash. What we're missing is the experience. Join my squad, little sis, and let us big bros carry you to new heights."
[KnockOutTheFamily]; "Farming is so boring. How about a few rounds of 'deep communication' with big bro instead? I'll help you score big and open up a whole new world."
"..."
[Lochlan]: "@Wylie Whose kid are you? Someone better come get their child. You're a disgrace. I won't be showing you any courtesy—I guarantee I'll cuss you out every single time I see you!"
DING—
WHOOSH! A dazzling display of fireworks erupted across the screen.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]: Master Dalton has arrived in the mission community! Master Dalton has arrived in the mission community! Master Dalton has arrived in the mission community!
[Master Dalton]: "What did the kid do wrong? @Administrator Three @Administrator Four, take care of this fucking trash ASAP."
"..."
Everyone froze, stunned by Master Dalton's sudden appearance.
The chat fell deathly silent.
Just then, a red pop-up window appeared from Administrator Three: [@Lochlan has posted malicious comments in this group. In accordance with the Star List rules, 100 member points will be deducted, and his Star Level will be reduced to one star. This is a warning!]
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
It was terrifying.
Immediately after, another red pop-up appeared from Administrator Four: [@MadBee@ThousandMileStud@GetRich&Strategist@KnockOutTheFamily@... You have been muted for three months. This is a warning!]
Everyone: "..."
*
「In the next room.」
Tristan Sherwood was in a foul mood. He'd pulled out his phone, logged into the UmbraNet mission group, and saw the little heiress Wylie posting a mission. Finding it an eyesore, he had casually shot back a snarky comment.
He never expected Master Dalton to suddenly appear. The shock made him sit bolt upright, his fingers trembling slightly.
Every member of UmbraNet knew that Master Dalton was a legendary master who had ascended to LuminNet after reaching the maximum nine stars.
A master of his caliber was a living legend, an existence far beyond the reach of ordinary members.
But Tristan Sherwood had learned through other channels that Master Dalton wasn't just a nine-star master. He was one of the three founders of the entire Lumin-Umbra Darknet!
A true titan!
Ten years ago, Master Dalton, The Fiend Sovereign, and Lord Knight had joined forces to establish a darknet that represented the power of the top Noble Clans.
Lumin-Umbra Net had appeared out of nowhere, becoming a legend worshipped by a generation.
Ever since he was in college, Tristan Sherwood had regarded the three as his lifelong idols. He dreamed of getting to know them.
Unfortunately, the trio's identities were a complete mystery. It was hard enough to catch a glimpse of them online, let alone find any trace of them in the real world. That would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
"A most humble welcome, Master Dalton. This lowly one is from the Sherwood Family in Stellan. If you ever have the time to visit Stellan, I would be honored to serve you in any way I can!"
Tristan Sherwood excitedly sent a private message to Master Dalton, his tone exceptionally reverent.
He had been the young master of a noble clan for over twenty years and was used to speaking with arrogance. He had never been this subservient in his life.
After sending the message, he clutched his phone, waiting with a knot in his stomach for Master Dalton's reply.
Suddenly, a system message popped up, marked with a red exclamation point.
[@Lochlan has posted malicious comments in this group. In accordance with the Star List rules, 100 member points will be deducted, and his Star Level will be reduced to one star. This is a warning!]
Tristan Sherwood: "..."
*
「In the princess room next door.」
Iris Dalton was sprawled on her plush, comfortable bed, propping her chin on one hand and kicking her feet as she opened a private chat with Master Dalton.
[Master Dalton]: "If you needed Mercenary Groups, why didn't you just tell me directly?"
[Wylie]: "Aren't you busy? It was just a small thing. I didn't want to bother you."
[Master Dalton]: "I'm your brother. Are your wings even fledged yet? And you're already trying to fly solo?"
[Wylie]: "[Cute-girl-sticking-her-tongue-out.jpg]"
[Wylie]: "Alright, fine. Send a hundred people to Stellan. They all need to be at least two-star level in strength. I'll pay their wages."
[Master Dalton]: "You think I, your brother, am short on cash?"
[Wylie]: "Okay, okay. I'll save the money and treat you all to a feast instead."
Just then, Iris heard a loud BANG from the room next door, as if something had been thrown against the wall.
[Wylie]: "Sigh, the guy next door is having another fit. He's not all there in the head."
[Master Dalton]: "I'm your brother. What kind of garbage gets to be called 'brother' by you?"
[Wylie]: "Bro, you've been a little testy lately! Once I'm done growing the herbs, I'll send some to you."
The air went still.
The man was silent for a moment. His slender fingers tapped the phone screen, typing out three words.
[Master Dalton]: "I don't need it!"
[Wylie]: "..."
'So testy.'
*
Next door, Tristan Sherwood had thrown his phone.
He couldn't believe that in the blink of an eye, he had dropped from two stars to one!
Seeing the phone on the floor, its screen cracked, his chest tightened and his expression turned grim.
The assessment for candidates to become the family's Young Master required at least a five-star rating on UmbraNet just to qualify.
He had spent five years struggling just to reach two stars, and now, because of a single sentence, an administrator had demoted him to one?
'Just what is that kid's background?'
Master Dalton was so protective of her that he'd even had "Administrator Three," the one in charge of the Star List, enact revenge on her behalf.
The moment Tristan Sherwood thought of that little heiress, Wylie, he was filled with uncontrollable rage, his eyes flashing with frenzied disgust.
'If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be in this miserable state.'
'He hadn't just lost points and a star—he'd also offended Master Dalton and an administrator!'
RING RING RING! His phone suddenly rang. Tristan Sherwood frowned, bent down to pick it up, and answered the video call.
"Hubby." A young woman's face appeared on the screen, a soft smile on her lips.
The phone's screen was fractured with several cracks, distorting the image. Vivian Morton's smiling face now looked like a lumpy winter melon.
"Hubby, you look awful. Are you okay?" On the cracked screen, Vivian Morton's eyes were stretched into a slant, her chin was elongated, and her smile revealed a set of huge, white buck teeth.
It was a comical, yet bizarre, sight.
Staring at the distorted face, Tristan Sherwood felt his stomach turn. "Aren't you at the hospital with your father? Why are you calling me now? What's happened this time?"