Chapter 148: Forum War

The forum was ablaze with discussion. Someone had actually used the Shadow Clone Technique to sweep up all the communication products across an entire merchant planet, with the vast majority of them belonging to the Omnicom Corporation.

The Omnicom Corporation was one of the top ten corporations in the universe. It had been a long time since anyone dared to confront them head-on; this was the first time in recent years.

A user posted in skepticism: "Is this fake? Who in their reality would dare anger the Omnicom Corporation? Have they got a death wish?"

Another chimed in immediately: "Exactly. No matter how powerful someone's backing is, could it possibly be stronger than the top-tier Omnicom Corporation? It has to be fake."

"No doubt about it."

"..."

These individuals unanimously agreed that the news was false because the Omnicom Corporation was simply too powerful—a force second only to the ten major races. Anyone with normal intelligence wouldn't provoke them lightly.

Yet now, someone was openly committing daylight robbery, and the footage had been uploaded to the communication network with the suspect's face in crystal clear detail.

Wasn't this just asking for trouble?

They reasoned that while cursing the Omnicom Corporation in secret was understandable, openly antagonizing them defied all logic. Therefore, they concluded the report must be fabricated.

Kudo Daioh quickly skimmed through several threads. Most people disbelieved the claims and questioned the validity of the news.

After a moment of thought, he replied under a few posts: "It's true! I'm actually an affiliate of the Omnicom Corporation. The communication gas clouds in my building and all similar products have been looted!"

His reply was well-intentioned and stated the actual facts, but someone immediately retorted: "Here's another one claiming to have insider info. An 'affiliate'? Not to brag, but would a big boss of that level—someone who can become an affiliate of the Omnicom Corporation—even pay attention to these gossip threads? Let alone reply to them."

Though meant as a retort, the comment somewhat elevated affiliates. Kudo Daioh's anger and amusement canceled each other out, and he even found the mood to reply: "I am a genuine, flesh-and-blood affiliate. Everything I'm saying is true."

Immediately, several replies popped up underneath.

"Still claiming it's true? Have some shame!"

"Some people are just addicted to pretending to be bosses. Every single person on this forum is a billionaire, *shrug*."

Even a more rational user replied: "If you really were an affiliate, you'd be up to your neck in panic right now. How would you have the time to shitpost with us?"

This reply received many likes. Clearly, no one believed Kudo Daioh, assuming he was an impostor.

There were always people like that on the communication network—unemployed bums in reality, yet masquerading as wealthy or high-status individuals within the virtual environment of the network.

It was a common sight.

And Kudo Daioh was treated as just such a person.

Faced with a chorus of doubt, just as he was about to type out another response, a familiar ID caught his eye. It was his friend and fellow affiliate, Fujiwara Kusunoki.

Fujiwara Kusunoki wrote: "Why are you still wasting time on this forum? Get over here quickly. Any later and your building's going to be completely cleaned out."

Kudo Daioh's attention was hooked, and he ignored everyone else. Fujiwara Kusunoki was just like him, owning a building on that merchant planet and operating as an affiliate of the Omnicom Corporation, which was how the two had become friends.

Without a doubt, Fujiwara Kusunoki's building must have been among those targeted.

Though anxious, Kudo Daioh didn't rush off to the merchant planet immediately. Instead, he replied: "There's no need to rush. Since he used shadow clones to rob the entire planet right out in the open, his strength definitely isn't low. Wouldn't I just be walking to my death if I went? I'm just a merchant. We should leave it to the Omnicom Corporation's headquarters to handle."

Soon, Fujiwara Kusunoki replied: "What you say makes sense. I'm actually heading there right now. Should I still go?"

Kudo Daioh replied: "I wouldn't advise you to go immediately, just to prevent any accidents."

The two of them were discussing serious business, but the onlookers wouldn't have it, convinced they were still putting on an act.

Someone replied: "Who's this newcomer? Such rigid, methodical replies—are you guys putting on a double act? Almost looks convincing."

"People with two communication gas clouds sure are willful!"

"Look at his username, Fujiwara Kusunoki. I went and checked, and he actually is an affiliate. Haha, they're really committing to the bit!"

"..."

These people clearly did not believe them, assuming Kudo Daioh was staging a skit with a friend or simply trying to claim he owned two communication gas clouds.

Under normal circumstances, Kudo Daioh would have ignored these troublemakers. Engaging with them was beneath him, hard to explain, and a waste of effort that would only make him angry.

The highest level of contempt is to ignore someone entirely and pay them no mind.

But now that his friend was involved, and his friend's reputation had also taken a hit, this matter couldn't simply end here. They needed to save face.

At the very bottom of the thread, he replied: "A bunch of ignoramuses. Just wait. The moment the Omnicom Corporation releases their latest response, I'll be the first to post it here and slap you all across the face!"

Someone immediately followed up: "Give you an inch and you take a mile, huh? We'll just wait right here and see if you can break any inside news!"

***

Everything happening on the forum had nothing to do with Orochimaru. Using the Shadow Clone Technique, he had gathered all the communication gas clouds. Then, the shadow clones dispersed, returning everything they had collected to his main body.

Communication gas clouds were a special kind of matter, unlike ordinary substances, and within a certain range, they could be returned to the primary body via shadow clones.

Within his mind, he modified the communication gas clouds, discarding vast quantities and stripping away impurities to reconnect them. In this manner, a small-scale "server" was formed.

"This is still far from enough."

A small-scale illusion network base formed from the communication products of a single planet was obviously inadequate. A base truly capable of rivaling the forum should be the product of several star systems combined.

The collection had to continue.

By now, all communication-related products on this planet had vanished. Orochimaru opened his eyes, his expression calm. He looked around; apart from the injured Torei Mayumi, everyone else—including the previous salesperson—had no idea where they had gone to hide.

A few curious onlookers were peeking from a short distance away.

Seeing Orochimaru open his eyes, Torei Mayumi said with pleasant surprise, "Lord Orochimaru, you're finished?"

He was genuinely astonished. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to be so unexpectedly powerful—making such a massive commotion just to buy a communication gas cloud was simply incredible.

The stronger Orochimaru was, the more he, as a follower, stood to gain. He gripped this opportunity even tighter.

"Mm."

Orochimaru nodded and withdrew his gaze from the surroundings. He understood that his methods had been a bit too drastic, frightening these people.

Yet he truly harbored no ill intentions, having not even destroyed a single object.

Time to settle the bill.

Dividing his focus, he used the small illusion network base to query the accounts of every building on the planet, transferring funds to each building's account according to market value, rounded up generously.

The currency on the illusion network was merely digits; he could conjure as much as he wanted.

With this task done, his purchases were officially complete. Orochimaru said, "Let's go. We're heading to the next merchant planet."

The process would continue.

***

Orochimaru and Torei Mayumi left in a swaggering manner, yet the Omnicom Corporation had yet to devise any countermeasure.

Upon receiving this news, Kudo Daioh immediately contacted the Omnicom Corporation's headquarters.

After all, he was still waiting to break the news and slap the faces of the people on the forum.

"My products were looted? Do you have any countermeasures? I haven't received any notification... What? No countermeasures? It wasn't robbed? He paid for them?"

Kudo Daioh found it hard to believe. Even with his modest wealth, he couldn't afford one percent of the communication products on an entire planet.

The other party had actually paid for everything in full?

"Alright, alright. I'll check right now."

Kudo Daioh hurriedly contacted the employees at his building to ask about the payment. How could the employees know? They hadn't been staring at the account information every second, as they were still in a state of shock.

Prompted by their boss, they rushed to check, only to see that a massive sum of money had indeed appeared in the account.

"It's true! He actually paid!"

In a daze, Kudo Daioh opened the forum, only to find the netizens mocking him relentlessly. Right now, he truly had no insider news to reply with.

"Where did he go? It's been a while now. Someone posted that the ruthless badass has already left. Where's that affiliate who claimed to have inside info? What's the Omnicom Corporation's response?"

"Talk about slapping yourself right across the face with a loud smack!"

"First time I've ever seen someone willingly humiliate themselves like this!"

"..."

The netizens were exceptionally aggressive. Fujiwara Kusunoki, having evidently also received the news that payment had been made, stepped in to reply on Kudo Daioh's behalf: "Shut up, everyone. The man wasn't robbing the place; he paid for the goods!"

This truly was inside information, but obviously not the kind the netizens were hoping for, prompting a fresh wave of sarcastic comments.

"Go tell that fairy tale to someone else!"

"Nice try coming up with excuses!"

"Tricks of a donkey at its wit's end!"

"..."

Kudo Daioh replied in earnest sincerity: "What my friend said is completely true. I've received the confirmation as well."

It would have been better if he hadn't replied. This response only invited an avalanche of contempt, enough to drive someone mad with fury.

Violence was never in short supply on the illusion network.

As he fumed with bitter frustration, a thought suddenly struck him: Why bother arguing with these people on the network?

He had started arguing in the first place because his friend was involved, but now there was something far more important than his friend's presence!

"That ruthless badass collected a massive quantity of communication gas clouds and similar products—he must have huge plans for them. And I have the channels, plus that specific item... I can totally use this as a bridge to latch onto his coattails!"

A merchant's olfactory sense is exceptionally sharp. Clinging to the coattails of a wealthy and formidable powerhouse would undoubtedly bring immense benefits for the future.

Originally, he hadn't been in a hurry to rush to that merchant planet, but now he was desperate. He hurriedly packed his belongings and set off.

Meanwhile, the subsequent developments on the forum took a terrifying turn. Because Kudo Daioh had left, the people on the illusion network had no outlet for their mockery, so they began to dox him.

Kudo Daioh's real identity slowly leaked across the illusion network...