Chapter 228: What Kind of System Gifts a Counterfeit Money Machine? Does It Want Me to Sing the Prison Blues?

Beiyuan Cang’s face turned cold. "So what are you trying to say?"

The representative from the International Treasure Appraisal Association, siding with Japan, offered a very "kind" explanation: "Here’s the situation: we can now confirm that your side made a mistake."

"Once we update our database and our staff carefully verifies the items, we’ll know for sure. However, there’s a 90% chance it’s correct as it stands."

Sure enough, just as they finished their explanation...

...the Treasure Appraiser on Huaxia’s side announced, "Correct. The item from Huaxia is authentic."

With only two artifacts left, Beiyuan Cang grew anxious. If the final two were also problem-free, Japan was going to lose!

The stakes of the bet he’d just made were so high... The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it.

Gu Shengsheng watched the Appraiser, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The Appraiser found no fault with the second-to-last item. "Authentic," he declared.

Frankly, everyone watching the appraisal up to this point found it unbelievable. ’Five hundred items, and not a single fake among them? Could that be real?’

It was a truly incredible feat. Just how capable was this Gu Shengsheng?

The more they thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

Yet even the representatives from the International Treasure Appraisal Association looked at Gu Shengsheng with respect.

A person who could accomplish such a feat certainly wasn’t relying on luck alone.

It was just that no one else knew her methods.

At this thought, even the typically stoic Appraiser’s gaze held a newfound respect for Gu Shengsheng.

’The last one!’

Gu Shengsheng took the initiative and asked Beiyuan Cang, "Mr. Beiyuan Cang, do you want to take a break? Care to admit defeat?"

"..." Beiyuan Cang broke out in a cold sweat.

Honestly, if Gu Shengsheng hadn’t called him out, he would have been trying to find a way to slip away or at least pretend none of this mattered.

And just brush the whole thing off.

But now... things had clearly gotten complicated. It was as if he was being pushed forward with no way out.

Beiyuan Cang’s voice was low. "Hold on."

"The last one... let’s just wait a moment."

"After all, the viewers online need a little suspense, don’t they?"

The Huaxia viewers were dying of laughter: "We don’t need any suspense, just finish him off! Even if Sister Gu loses on this last one, it’s no disgrace."

"Exactly! Appraising all but one artifact as genuine is enough for her to brag about for a lifetime. Just let those guys keep losing their minds! None of them are any good."

"The Japanese viewers are cursing up a storm, hahaha, they’re totally triggered. I’m gonna go grab some screenshots from the international forums."

"Hurry up! I want to see, too! I need my popcorn for this drama..."

"..."

Meanwhile, Beiyuan Cang conferred with several museum directors from Japan.

In the end, they all agreed to see it through. After all, they’d come this far.

Their main reasoning was that this had to be Gu Shengsheng’s strategy! ’The last one must be fake,’ they thought. ’She’s just trying to make us lose our composure and concede, which would make it easier for her to mock us.’

They had to save face now!

Therefore, they unanimously decided to proceed with the appraisal of the final artifact.

Gu Shengsheng nodded. "Fine, fine, fine. Then I’ll have to trouble the Appraiser."

The final artifact was nothing out of the ordinary—just a simple jade carving. Judging by the style, it appeared to be from the Late Qing period.

The craftsmanship was exquisite.

The Appraiser made his final announcement: "The last artifact, a Late Qing jade carving, is authenticated as genuine. It was once displayed in the palace of Empress Dowager Cixi as a decorative piece."

Once the verdict was announced, viewers worldwide erupted!

"Streamer, you’re so fucking incredible!"

"When I get reincarnated, my first choice is to be you. My second is to be He Chaosheng, the Gambling King’s long-lost daughter. And my third is to be Li Xiang’s second child. /rose"

"I’m seriously in awe. How can something this amazing happen? The more I think about it, the more hyped I get."

"..."

Gu Shengsheng could clearly feel her fans’ enthusiasm.

The numbers on her System interface were skyrocketing.

Seeing the numbers leap upwards, Gu Shengsheng was so excited she almost jumped to her feet.

The System had been quiet for a long time, almost as if it were dead. This was mainly because her audience had grown so large that it was becoming difficult to make the Emotion Value rise.

But in a single day, the numbers had shot up by several thousand!

[System] BEEP BEEP. Emotion Value collected: 114,000... 116,000... 120,000!

[System] Congratulations, Host. You have jumped 9 levels, rising from 111,000 to 120,000.

Then, the System’s interface split into two options.

[System] Please choose, Host: One, receive 9 new appraisal skills. Two, receive two surprise gift packages. No tricks, no scams!

’The two surprise gift packages seem like a scam, but I can probably get the nine appraisal skills next time. Besides, I’m more curious about what’s in the surprise packages.’

"I choose two," she said.

As she finished speaking, the System responded: [System]: Loading... Distributing gift package.

Congratulations, Host. You have received: Counterfeit Money Production Attribute Panel x1; Firearms Appraisal Attribute Panel x1.

Gu Shengsheng: "..."

’Oh, my god!’ She was practically dumbstruck after reading those words.

’A c-c-counterfeit money... production... panel?’

’And the other thing... for appraising firearms and ammunition?’

’Holy crap...’ Gu Shengsheng was truly at a loss for words. ’Aren’t these two things just going to get me into trouble?’

’This isn’t some primitive society anymore.’

’Making counterfeit money gets you thrown in jail! And as for that firearms appraisal thing, when would I ever have the chance to use it?’

’By the time someone’s actually pointing a gun at me, I’ll probably be long dead. What good would studying the gun do then!’

Just as Gu Shengsheng was grumbling to herself, she suddenly went quiet.

Because she remembered the System had a pattern: it always gave her things she would need in the near future.

’So does this mean... with these two items, I’m not going to get rich anytime soon, but I am going to end up in jail, singing the Jailhouse Blues?’

The thought made Gu Shengsheng shudder.

The rewards suddenly felt like hot potatoes, and she had no idea what to do with them.

’Seriously! I’m never picking the gift package again. You never know what you’re going to get with these mystery boxes.’

Just then, Zhao Dehai slapped her on the arm. "Hey! Why are you zoning out at a time like this! This is a golden opportunity!!"

"Heavens, nearly five hundred artifacts, and you authenticated every single one. Gu Shengsheng, how can you be so incredible!"

"I was worried you were just bluffing, that you were in over your head."

"Turns out it was just this old man overthinking things. I was just so worried about you!" As he spoke, Zhao Dehai started to feel aggrieved.

"All that worry for nothing! I went through a whole panic for you!"

"Now that I think about it, it’s so frustrating. I’m jealous of you! So jealous I could go crazy!"

Gu Shengsheng laughed. "Stop your bantering. It’s time to put on your ’Mr. Zhao’ persona."

"Right now, it’s time to settle the score."

Gu Shengsheng gave him a meaningful look.

Zhao Dehai was always reliable when it counted.

He straightened his clothes and fixed his gaze on Beiyuan Cang.

"Mr. Beiyuan Cang," he began, "this matter is now concluded. What about your end of the bargain?"

Beiyuan Cang clenched his fists, his brow furrowed. His face was a mask of disbelief and defiance. "How could this be! You must have pulled some kind of trick!"