Lisbeth ultimately remained in Lindas.
She waved her small fists, solemnly declaring that she would take advantage of her overflowing inspiration to create more timeless masterpieces for her weapon shop, ones that wouldn't lose out to daylight - weapon.
Kirito looked at her spirited demeanor, opened his mouth several times, then swallowed back the words, "The Labyrinth is very dangerous."
He understood that at this moment, Lisbeth didn't need his superfluous protection.
Thus, only three people ultimately headed for the 61st Floor.
Chen Mo, Argo, and Kirito.
A flash of light, and the three of them appeared in the teleportation plaza of the 61st Floor.
Unlike the bright lower levels, the main colors here were oppressive gray and black, and the architectural style was rough and stark, like a steel fortress buried deep underground.
In the air, there was a scorched smell of sulfur mixed with burning metal.
"The intelligence was right, the Assault Team really is crazy."
Argo stretched, arching her flexible waist, her cat-like pupils scanning the empty streets.
"From the plaza to the Labyrinth entrance, not even a slime is left; it's cleaner than scraping the ground three feet deep."
Kirito gripped the twin swords on his back, his expression turning serious.
He could imagine how the players of the Knights of the Blood Oath had tirelessly cleared this path with sword skills. That kind of desperate madness even made him feel a trace of pressure.
Chen Mo, however, was unenthusiastic about it.
He simply held Argo's hand, walking unhurriedly, as if he wasn't venturing into danger but strolling in his own backyard.
This kind of map-clearing advancement, in his opinion, was boring and inefficient.
On the walls of the Labyrinth, the torchlight elongated their shadows, and fresh sword marks crisscrossed the rock face, recording the fierce battles that had taken place not long ago.
The path was unobstructed.
Soon, a clamor of human voices came from ahead.
Turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up.
A gigantic bronze gate, engraved with ferocious beast reliefs, stood like a mountain at the end of the Labyrinth.
In front of the gate, nearly a hundred players were gathered, the vast majority wearing the Knights of the Blood Oath's iconic red and white uniforms.
The atmosphere, a mix of tension and excitement, made the air in this space thick.
At the very front of the crowd, a tall figure was particularly striking.
Heavy red and white knight armor, and behind him, that enormous cross-emblazoned shield.
He simply stood there, emanating a steady aura that commanded the entire scene.
The leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath, Heathcliff.
For this BOSS raid, he had actually led the team himself.
Asuna and Mito stood beside him; the former's delicate brows were furrowed, seemingly debating some tactical detail with the leader.
The appearance of Chen Mo and his two companions was like a block of ice dropped into boiling oil.
The atmosphere of the entire scene instantly ignited.
"It's… 'god of strategy' Chen Mo!"
"And 'Argo' and 'Black Swordsman'…"
"How did they get here?!"
All discussions ceased abruptly.
Dozens of gazes shot over in unison, mixed with wariness, apprehension, and even undisguised hostility.
Not long ago, on the 35th Floor, it was this man who, in front of everyone, used incomprehensible power to snatch the BOSS's first clear reward.
Today, did he intend to repeat the trick?
Several elite players from the Knights of the Blood Oath already had their hands on their sword hilts, muscles tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Asuna's expression became complex; she stepped forward, seemingly wanting to say something to ease the tension.
But Chen Mo's actions were faster than anyone else's.
He ignored the dagger-like stares, and he ignored Asuna, who was visibly conflicted.
He released Argo's hand and, alone, walked straight through the crowd.
People subconsciously parted to make way for him.
Under everyone's stunned gaze, he walked up to Heathcliff.
The two were no more than three steps apart.
One was the recognized strongest player.
The other was the leader of the strongest guild.
The entire space was so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the earth-shattering conflict to erupt.
However, Chen Mo did not draw his sword.
He simply gazed calmly at the man before him, this "god" of the SAO world.
"Leader Heathcliff."
His voice was soft, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"Let's make a deal."
A deal?
Everyone was taken aback.
Including Asuna and Mito behind Heathcliff.
Kirito and Argo exchanged glances; the former wore a helpless "I knew it" expression, while the latter crossed her arms with interest, ready to watch a good show.
Heathcliff's expression was hidden beneath his helmet; he remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"The BOSS of this floor is yours."
Chen Mo extended a single finger, his tone as calm as if stating a foregone conclusion.
"I won't interfere. The first kill reward, all dropped items, everything goes to the Knights of the Blood Oath."
These words were like a boulder thrown into a stagnant pond, stirring up a thousand colossal waves.
What?
He was going to give up the BOSS?
Was this still the ruthless Chen Mo who regarded the weak as dust?
Countless players' faces were filled with disbelief, some even finding it a disguised insult.
Asuna was also completely stunned; she couldn't understand Chen Mo's actions at all.
Only Mito, gazing at Chen Mo's back, her eyes growing brighter.
She vaguely guessed that behind this generous gift, there must be an even more irresistible demand.
The next second, Chen Mo's actions confirmed her suspicion.
He slowly raised a second, then a third finger.
"In exchange," his voice remained calm, "from the 62nd Floor onwards, all BOSSes for the next three consecutive floors belong to me."
"Last Attack Bonus, all dropped items, I want them all."
"You, the Knights of the Blood Oath, are not to interfere."
As his words fell.
The entire venue fell silent.
If the previous sentence was a boulder, this one was a cataclysm capable of overturning the world view.
Arrogant.
Boundlessly arrogant.
This wasn't a discussion; it was a notification.
He bought out the clear rights for the next three floors with the BOSS of one floor.
This wasn't a trade; it was a blatant declaration.
A declaration of his absolute control over the game's progress.
"You… what kind of joke is this?!"
An officer of the Knights of the Blood Oath finally couldn't hold back, shouting in anger.
"Who do you think you are? Why do you…"
He couldn't finish his sentence.
Heathcliff raised his hand, stopping him.
The leader of the strongest guild had maintained a terrifying silence throughout.
His deep eyes, hidden beneath his helmet, had been scrutinizing Chen Mo, as if trying to pierce through the data to see the essence of his soul.
Time, it flowed by second by second.
So long that everyone thought he would flatly refuse this absurd proposal, when Heathcliff finally spoke.
"Alright."
Just two simple words, yet they carried immense weight.
He agreed.
He actually agreed!
"Leader!"
"How can this be?!"
The officers behind him erupted in an uproar, and Asuna also looked at Heathcliff's tall back with incomprehension.
She didn't understand why the leader, who had always taken the progress of all players as his responsibility, would agree to such an overbearing and unreasonable condition.
Heathcliff offered no explanation.
He simply gave Chen Mo a slight nod, completing this verbal contract.
Chen Mo also nodded, then turned around, walking back to Argo's side with practiced ease and taking her hand again.
It was as if the person who had just stirred up a storm and decided the game's direction for the next few tens of days wasn't him at all.
He led Argo and Kirito to a corner, leaning against the wall at his leisure, adopting the posture of an onlooker.
The members of the Knights of the Blood Oath left behind looked at each other, their minds blank.
Finally, Heathcliff's steady voice broke the stalemate.
"All units prepare, execute Operation Plan A, clear the BOSS!"
The order was given, and despite their hearts being filled with doubt and reluctance, the discipline ingrained in their bones made the Knights of the Blood Oath members move swiftly.
Asuna cast a deep glance at Chen Mo in the corner, then finally withdrew her gaze and drew her Flash of Light.
Just a moment before the bronze gate slowly began to open.
Heathcliff suddenly turned his head, and from a distance of several tens of meters, looked at Chen Mo again.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a peculiar penetrating quality, clearly reaching him.
"I'm very much looking forward to it."
"What this world will ultimately become in your hands, Mr. Chen Mo."