Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

With the enthusiastic players filling the gaps, a series of scenes unfolded at the Anhe City market entrance, making the local townsfolk question their own sanity.

An old woman carrying a vegetable basket stopped in front of a stall selling radishes.

The stall owner was a young man who looked quite energetic, [The Radish Wholesaler], currently staring straight ahead with lifeless eyes.

The old woman reflexively went into haggling mode, picking up a radish and weighing it in her hand. "Young man, how much for these radishes?"

The young man’s lips barely moved, his voice completely flat. "Fresh, big radishes. One cent for two. No haggling."

"Tsk, two?" The old woman frowned, pointing at the dirt on the radishes. "These radishes of yours look a bit muddy, and you’re not even weighing them. Can you throw in an extra one? Two cents for five, how about it?"

The young man didn’t even move his eyes, reciting in the same monotone voice, "Fresh, big radishes. One cent for two. No haggling."

The old woman was speechless.

’Hey, can’t you understand what I’m saying? Do you have radishes stuffed in your ears?’

Unwilling to give up, the old woman raised her voice, trying to overwhelm him with her presence. "Young man! You have to be flexible in business! It’s not like I’m not buying. I’m just asking you to throw in one more. It makes things easier for everyone!"

The young man: "Fresh, big radishes. One cent for two. No haggling."

The old woman’s blood pressure shot up.

’How can this person be so stubborn?! I’ve never seen anyone do business like this! Is that the only thing you know how to say?!’

Although she was seething inside, the old woman glanced down the street and realized this was indeed the lowest price. Some of the nearby stalls were even more expensive.

"Fine, fine! You win!" The old woman grumbled, pulling out her money while she couldn’t resist lecturing him. "Young man, you shouldn’t be so stubborn. With an attitude like this, how are you going to do business in the future..."

The moment the old woman handed over the copper coins, the young man spoke again. "Fresh, big radishes. One cent for two. No haggling."

The old woman nearly threw the copper coins in her hand right in his face!

’I’m about to pay you! And you’re still hitting me with that line?! Are you nuts?! If you’re sick, go get some help!’

Only when the transaction was complete and the system’s "DING" sounded did the young man finally change his line. "Thank you for your purchase. Please come again."

The old woman snatched her radishes and stormed off, cursing under her breath. "Come again my ass! So damn stubborn! I’ve never met anyone so stubborn in my life! This is unbelievable!"

...

At a watermelon stall not far away, the scene was even stranger.

A player named [Block Master], in order to stand out from the numerous other stalls, used his life skill "Block Stacking (Master)" to pull a wild stunt.

He had somehow stacked ten round, plump watermelons into a perfectly straight "watermelon pillar"!

One on top of the other, they stood as steady as a rock, completely defying the laws of physics!

He had planned to use this incredible feat to attract attention and then go AFK while his goods sold, but... the townsfolk who passed by saw this "sky-piercing watermelon pillar" and were so scared they gave it a wide berth.

"What the hell? How are those watermelons standing up?"

"Are those things haunted?"

"That doesn’t look right. Who stacks good watermelons like that? There must be something wrong with them. Don’t buy, don’t buy."

While the player [Block Master] was AFK, not a single person dared to approach and ask for the price. Everyone just marveled from a distance with an "Awesome!" before avoiding him like the plague.

A simple-looking watermelon farmer at a nearby stall couldn’t bear to watch any longer and kindly came over to offer some advice. "Uh... young man, why don’t you put the watermelons down? The way you have them displayed is kind of scary. I don’t think you’ll sell any..."

But [Block Master] was AFK and his auto-reply was triggered directly: "Guaranteed ripe watermelons, five cents each. Take your pick."

The old farmer was speechless.

’Wait, I’m trying to give you some friendly advice, and you’re trying to sell me a watermelon? Your watermelons already look suspicious! Forget it, forget it. Why am I even bothering?’

Seeing the young man’s eyes become vacant again, the old farmer shook his head and silently retreated.

...

This scene was also witnessed by Mrs. Wang, who was participating in the market strike.

She was already furious that these people not only refused to join their strike but were also out here stealing business. ’Taking this opportunity to compete so fiercely, are they?’ And when she saw that bizarre "watermelon pillar," her mind, already simmering with malicious thoughts, instantly felt she had found her leverage.

’There’s definitely something wrong with those watermelons! How can normal watermelons be stacked like that?!’

Mrs. Wang’s eyes darted about. She immediately found a city guard on patrol nearby, pointed at the watermelon stall, and shouted, "Officer! I want to file a report! That watermelon seller is selling defective melons! Look how they’re stacked, like there’s a wooden stick running through them. There must be something wrong! He’s cheating the good people of this city!"

"Maybe he’s just good at stacking watermelons. Are you sure there’s a problem?"

"I’m sure! He’s selling fake watermelons! I bought one and took it home, and when I split it open, there was nothing inside! It was a fake!"

She even deliberately walked up to the stall and taunted the young, "AFK player" sarcastically, "Well now, with the great, incorruptible officer here, you’re still brazenly selling fake goods! You just wait, you’re done for!"

’That’s what you get for not joining our strike! If you want to make a living in Anhe City, you’d better learn the rules! Let’s see how you get out of this one!’

"Guaranteed ripe watermelons, five cents each. Take your pick."

Mrs. Wang was speechless.

’Hey, are you deaf? Or blind? What kind of nonsense answer is that?’

As soon as the city guard heard the report, he perked up. He strode forward, wasted no words, and tossed down some copper coins to buy a watermelon. "Alright, let’s inspect the goods."

After being publicly checked on a fair scale and found not to be underweight, it was time to determine if it was a fake. And so...

CRACK!

The watermelon was sliced open in front of everyone.

Red flesh, black seeds, overflowing with juice, and a fragrant aroma that filled the air.

The city guard not only took a bite himself, but he also cast a [Jianghu Identification Skill].

[Item: A Normal, Sweet Watermelon]

[Status: Non-toxic and harmless, just flamboyantly displayed.]

"This..." Mrs. Wang was dumbfounded. "This is impossible! How can there be nothing wrong with this watermelon? Then how is it standing up like that?!"

Refusing to believe it, she snatched a slice and took a couple of bites herself, only to discover... it really was quite sweet, and not poisonous at all.

The city guard, [The Catcher], swallowed the piece of watermelon in his mouth, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.

He turned to look at Mrs. Wang, his eyes like those of a predator spotting a fat sheep.

"Is this the watermelon you were talking about? It seems, ma’am, that you’ll need to take a trip with us."

"The crime of false accusation, plus wasting public resources... that’s a much more serious charge than short-weighting customers! I reckon you’ll not only face a fine, but you’ll also have to spend a few days in jail to cool off."

[System Notification: Successfully solved one "malicious false accusation case" and made a public arrest. Received a performance bonus of 500 copper coins!]

Seeing the copper coins deposited into his account, the city guard was blooming with joy. ’Thanks for the performance bonus, Ma’am! When you get out, feel free to come back and make another false accusation! We welcome your cooperation anytime!’

The moment Mrs. Wang heard she was going to jail, she panicked and began to throw a tantrum. "You... you people are colluding with these merchants! I won’t accept this! There’s definitely something wrong with the watermelons! I want to see the City Lord! This is collusion!"

The city guard’s smile grew even wider. "Oh! An unexpected bonus? Causing a public disturbance and slandering a law enforcement officer!"

[System Notification: Successfully solved one "public disturbance case" and made a public arrest. Received a performance bonus of 300 copper coins!]

WHACK! A karate chop to the back of Mrs. Wang’s neck, and the world fell silent.

"Take her away! Double the performance bonus, double the fun!"

...

Farcical scenes like this played out continuously in the streets and alleys of Anhe City.

In the face of the pervasive players, the profiteering merchants’ "market strike" had become a complete joke.

They thought that if the city’s common folk couldn’t get vegetables or rice, they would be forced to compromise?

What a joke.

After all, if you won’t do the job, there are plenty of others who will!