The door-in-the-face effect.
This refers to a strategy where one first proposes a large, difficult goal. After it is rejected, a smaller, more reasonable goal is proposed for the other person to choose.
Caught between a large request and a small one, many people will subconsciously choose the smaller goal, thereby allowing the person making the request to achieve their true objective.
Just now, Chu Yuan had used this exact method—'selling supplies first, then selling information'—to set them all up.
“Damn it! I’m definitely going to kick him the next time I see him.”
“We can’t just let him off that easily. At the very least, we should strip him down and parade him through the streets.”
“Right! Make him lose all face.”
“Forget it, forget it. Compared to us, he’s a politician; he definitely needs some capital and strength. As long as the information arrives, those five bottles can be considered a gift to him.”
Nemo, sensing that the conversation was taking an increasingly odd turn, stepped forward to comfort the group.
“I’m just joking.”
“The Hierophant always likes to take things so seriously.”
“True.”
“Well, enough of that. We’re out of here too. Time to go back and work on those evolution items.”
After a few more jokes, the remaining few said their goodbyes to their host, Jiang Lan, and departed one after another.
“Hmm?”
Once everyone had left, leaving only Jiang Lan and Frenna, Frenna suddenly tilted her head in confusion toward Jiang Lan.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s just... I feel like I’ve forgotten something.”
“Forgotten what... Ah! Dinner!”
Jiang Lan suddenly remembered.
“That’s right! Dinner isn’t ready yet! Find the Empress, quickly!”
Reminded by Jiang Lan, Frenna immediately realized what she had forgotten. She quickly pulled out her Lovers card, preparing to send a message to Gu Xiaobei.
“Never mind. Seeing how dejected she looked when she left, she probably won’t have time for the next few days.”
Jiang Lan shook her head.
Gu Xiaobei had tens of thousands of cocktails to shake now. Never mind cooking; whether she’d even have time to eat was going to be a problem.
...
“Sir, you’ve returned.”
“Yes.”
On Chu Yuan’s side, after leaving Jiang Lan’s shelter, he had teleported directly back to his office.
“I’m going to be conducting research for a while. Postpone all meetings for the next few days.”
Upon returning to his office, Chu Yuan gave instructions to his secretary and then ducked into a small laboratory adjacent to his office.
This lab was where he experimented with creating evolution items.
Once inside, Chu Yuan brought out the seven portions of blood he had obtained and began his research.
To be honest, he was genuinely intrigued by Shang Chuan’s earlier proposal.
If he could get his hands on an entire Jormungandr cub, his strength would undoubtedly skyrocket.
While he might have to share the benefits with the people in the villa, that was still better than sharing with his enemies, wasn’t it?
So, in the intervals of his research, he stepped out to make the necessary arrangements for that matter.
Meanwhile, Lan Qingyou had also returned and immediately ducked into her small alchemy workshop, taking out the blood she had acquired.
From Huang Xingming, she had obtained one bottle totaling 500 milliliters of Jormungandr's Blood.
She had then traded 500 milliliters of Star Dragon King Essence Blood with the High Priestess for 1,000 milliliters of Platinum Dragon King's Blood.
Later, during the distribution, she had taken five more portions, totaling 2,500 milliliters of Jormungandr's Blood.
Adding in the remaining Star Dragon King Essence Blood she had on hand, Lan Qingyou could now produce roughly 110,000 to 120,000 Witch potions.
While it seemed like a lot, in reality, it was still far from enough.
Furthermore, there were hardly any houses in the habitat yet. She still needed Shang Chuan’s side to handle the planning and construction.
Otherwise, she couldn't possibly manage a city intended for a population of one to two hundred thousand people, including others who would join.
While Lan Qingyou and the others were heading back to start their hard work on the evolution items, a massive discussion was brewing on the world channel, which had been ignored by the group.
Of course.
This major discussion was primarily centered around a small incident that had occurred that day.
“Seriously, a meteorite fell from the sky in our district and kicked up a small mushroom cloud.”
“The brother above is right. I was far away and didn’t see it clearly, but after the world felt like it was spinning, a massive impact sound echoed out, followed by a mushroom cloud.”
“Yes, yes, yes, I saw it too.”
“What happened to your district? Is it being struck by divine retribution?”
“That’s not right. This is a meteorite! Could it be some kind of top-tier material?”
“Exactly. Don’t those novels always talk about meteorites from beyond the heavens? I think you guys should go pick it up and sell it to that alchemist, the Witch of the Tower. You might get a great price for it.”
“Wait, could he be a genius? Why didn't I think of such a brilliant idea? It’s almost dark now; I’ll go pick it up first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Um... brother, aren't you afraid of the time curse?”
“Time curse? What’s that?”
“Uh... are you not from the Cursed Corridor district?”
“No, I’m in the Golden Plains.”
“Well then. We’ve been chatting for so long and it turns out we aren't even in the same region.”
“I’m impressed you guys could even keep the conversation going.”
“That meteorite of yours is nothing. Let me tell you, I saw a monster movie today that was as good as any blockbuster.”
“Oh? A movie? Tell us more.”
“This afternoon, I was planning to head home early to handle some business. On my way, I encountered a steel beast that was at least a hundred meters tall.”
“A steel beast?”
“Yes, just like those monsters in the monster movies they used to show in cinemas.”
“Interesting. And then?”
“And then that steel beast started attacking a shelter. That shelter was the base of a small local organization. I don’t know why they were attacked, but under the assault of a hundred-meter-tall steel beast, their magic shield didn't last long.”
“If even a magic shield couldn't hold, they’re probably gone.”
“Yeah, but the people in that small organization didn't just sit there and wait to die. They organized a resistance while the steel beast was attacking. Unfortunately, even though they managed to topple the steel beast using some ability I don’t recognize, a giant appeared.”
“A giant?”
“Yes. Or rather, that giant was the operator of the previous steel beast. After the steel beast was toppled, he directly grew into a giant and began attacking. He slaughtered everyone, men, women, young and old.”
“That’s brutal. It sounds like there was some deep-seated hatred between him and that organization.”
“Who knows? But the combination of a steel beast and a giant reminds me of Olf from our district. He’s a giant and a very excellent mechanic.”
“Do you think it’s possible that giant was Olf?”
“Who knows.”
“Heavens, with giants and steel beasts, isn't this level of attack power a bit excessive?”
“It really is. If even a shelter’s magic shield can’t protect us, who’s going to guarantee our safety if the giants go on a rampage?”
Rate on N.U.
