Chapter 106: Unrated

Fang Nian stood on the stage. Though his attire was not extravagant, he looked spirited and dignified.

"Good evening, everyone. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Please rest assured regarding the Xia family’s integrity; we always keep our word. Since we promised to present something of the highest value, we will certainly deliver."

As he spoke, Fang Nian pointed to the holographic display of the hunting ground program.

"This hunting ground is the latest creation independently researched and designed by the Xia family, titled 'Mysterious Escape Camp.' As the summary suggests, it is a song of ice and fire, a labyrinth of form and illusion, carrying both life and dignity. Trapping the escapees within the grounds is your only goal, while for the hunters, puzzle-solving and courage are the only laws of survival."

"This hunting ground expands upon the foundation of room escape, with a narrative that unfolds along the escape route. Throughout the story, you will encounter five chambers: the Church of Fire, the Ice Labyrinth, the Psychedelic Paradise, the Upside-Down World, and the Race Against Time. Nearly every chamber has been meticulously designed and choreographed; it is absolutely a feast for escape enthusiasts."

As Fang Nian spoke, he displayed some of the non-core content to everyone present. Seeing what he revealed, the crowd was stunned. It had to be said that in terms of sheer gimmickry, this hunting ground was incredibly eye-catching, with unique designs in almost every room.

Jin Jindao looked at this imaginative hunting ground and clenched his fists. He truly had not expected Fang Nian to have such high talent for construction. He had once conceived of a similar design but struggled to resolve the internal logic, ultimately failing to build it. He knew that the Xia family’s staff lacked the capability to design something like this. This must be Fang Nian’s own handiwork—he had actually succeeded in creating such a distinctive hunting ground.

Although Jin Jinhui did not like her brother’s style, their relationship remained good. She patted his shoulder to comfort him. "Brother, don't get worked up. You can't compare yourself to a genius. This guy isn't even human. Just looking at his performance tonight, I suspect he’s a robot. How does he know how to do everything? And he does every single thing so well. We just can't compare to a genius like him."

Her attempt at comfort backfired. Hearing her words, Jin Jindao’s anger only intensified. Looking at his blunt sister, he wished he could marry her off immediately. Realizing her slip of the tongue, Jin Jinhui covered her mouth and fell silent.

Xu Fan could no longer sit still. He had not expected Fang Nian to present something so excellent. Without even looking at the internal mechanics, the content alone was worth an 80-point rating, and the机关 (mechanisms) appeared ingenious enough to allow for plenty of room to maneuver.

However, unwilling to admit defeat, Xu Fan stood up and addressed Fang Nian. "Manager Fang, this design is indeed complete and innovative. But you haven't announced its grade yet, have you? If this hunting ground is rated E-, it might be worth a little, but if it's only an F-grade, it won't be worth much even if it sells. How can you fulfill your promise this way? Manager Xiao's component set sold for a full 15 million, after all."

Xu Fan's words immediately struck a chord. Indeed, grade was king; otherwise, a beautiful shell lacked persuasive power.

Xiao Xuefeng, naturally, would not miss such an opportunity to step on Fang Nian. He stood up to echo the sentiment. "Manager Fang, Manager Xu is right. It’s getting late and everyone is tired. Why don't you give us a reassurance—tell us exactly what grade this so-called 'Mysterious Escape Camp' is, so we can see for ourselves."

His sycophants followed suit. "That’s right, tell us the grade! Stop being so mysterious."

"Exactly, stop stalling. We only care about the grade!"

Facing the barrage of skepticism, Fang Nian’s expression did not change. He simply shrugged with a helpless smile. "To be honest, I only just finished constructing this, and it hasn't been graded yet."

A hush fell over the room as soon as he spoke, followed by a burst of raucous laughter. Xiao Xuefeng laughed so hard he swayed, clearly thrilled. "What? No grade? Are you joking? If it’s not graded, it’s just an empty shell. You’re trying to auction an empty shell? This is hilarious."

A smirk played on the corner of Xu Fan’s mouth. "Manager Fang, if you lack the ability, don't embarrass yourself. No one would blame you, so why humiliate yourself like this?"

Some of the tycoons who had initially sensed a business opportunity were disappointed. A seemingly luxurious hunting ground with no grade was just an empty shell and worth very little.

"Listen, kid," one man shouted, "even if it's not graded, the concept is good. I'll give you a flat offer of 1 million Hope Coins. Sell it to me—consider it payment for that... relic. Didn't your friend say you didn't even have 10,000? It's not a good look to have your girlfriend pay your way."

The crowd erupted in laughter, viewing Fang Nian as nothing more than a clown.

Despite the mockery, Duan Rui, Guo Ji, and Xiao Xueluan did not share the consensus.

"Brother Guo, look at the design of Old Fang's hunting ground. Could it really just be an empty shell? I don't think so. The logic is very clear. If he adds the right hardware, it would definitely be top-tier."

Guo Ji nodded and walked over to Duan Rui. "Rui'er, I think Fang Nian’s design is excellent. Why don't we help him out and bid on it? That way, he won't be mocked, and if we add a few elements after buying it, the grade might not be low at all."

Guo Ji expected Duan Rui to be pleased by his willingness to help, but she only frowned slightly. "Are you so sure his hunting ground is just an empty shell?"

Guo Ji paused, then understood her meaning. "Wait, you mean it's already a complete hunting ground and just hasn't been graded yet? That can't be. The Xia family could make a complete one, sure, but even with added elements, the grade wouldn't be high—after all, the Xiao family controls the mechanical technology."

Duan Rui shook her head helplessly and returned to her seat. "And what makes you so sure that Fang Nian’s mechanical construction skills are inferior to the Xiao family's?"