“I don’t know when you’ll open a shop in Hildirock, but I hope we’ll be friends rather than enemies then.”
Love Wound secretly memorized the name Nieyan, planning to ask his friend currently in Carol City to investigate which faction Nieyan belonged to. If Nieyan belonged to an opposing faction, he would not be polite—he would ensure Nieyan could not establish himself in Hildirock. Nieyan selling the land was understandable, but if he wanted to open a shop, Love Wound would guarantee it would have no business. Even if Nieyan were a mighty dragon, Love Wound would not fear him, for a local snake could outmatch even an outsider dragon.
Nieyan understood that every city had its local overlord. Without sufficient strength, he wouldn’t stand a chance in the city. If Love Wound regarded him as an enemy, doing business there would be difficult. However, since he had only bought land, even if he couldn’t open a shop, he could still sell it later for profit when its value increased.
“I feel the same way; I hope we won’t be enemies.” Nieyan smiled faintly. There was no conflict of interest between him and Love Wound, so they probably wouldn’t become enemies, though who could predict the future.
“I still need to lead my team into a dungeon. If we meet again next time, we can chat more. I hope our next conversation will be as peaceful as this one.” Love Wound was unwilling to deepen their relationship. If they became friends and later turned enemies, it would be awkward to face each other.
“Alright, goodbye.”
Watching Love Wound leave, Nieyan considered visiting the equipment master Ke Xi next to check for good equipment before heading off to level up. He had spent two days in Hem’s, while elite players quickly leveled up by going to the Saos Valley.
Nieyan reflected that someone already had Metal Storm equipped, meaning he himself was still too slow. In fact, Metal Storm wasn’t a single piece of equipment but a term referring to a series of warrior sets: Metal Storm (Iron), Metal Storm (Black Iron), Metal Storm (Gold), Metal Storm (Black Gold), Metal Storm (Radiant), and Metal Storm (Black Radiant), six levels in total. Wearing these required significant strength. The set Love Wound wore was probably Metal Storm (Iron), likely obtained from a mine outside Hildirock. Wearing Metal Storm (Iron) required at least 120 strength.
The Berserker’s talent provided strength bonuses, granting an additional 2 strength points every five levels. The Muscle Enhancement specialty further significantly boosted strength, making Berserkers far stronger than other classes. With skill bonuses, reaching 80 strength was already impressive, but 120 strength was downright terrifying. Equipping a full set of Metal Storm (Iron) would push the stats to an alarmingly high level.
Nieyan had 130 strength because he had learned five strength-boosting skills, had the bonus from the Chapter of Freedom, and used a Strength Gem.
Love Wound had achieved 120 strength without any equipment, and after wearing Metal Storm (Iron), the set bonus provided an additional 30% strength, making it quite formidable.
This guy was the best-equipped person Nieyan had encountered so far. How many such freaks were there on the professional player rankings?
Nieyan realized he needed to accelerate his equipment gathering and leveling. He no longer wasted time, bidding farewell to Regent Karon and heading north in Hildirock. Returning to Carol City would cost one gold coin for teleportation, so since he was here, he might as well visit the equipment master Ke Xi. Today was Wednesday!
All the buildings here were magnificent and spectacular. Walking along the streets paved with emerald stones, Nieyan looked around. Emerald City had not changed at all, matching his memories from his past life. Streams of magical elements flowed across the sky, adding a touch of fantasy to Hildirock, the Emerald City.
After wandering around Hildirock for nearly ten minutes and reaching a crossroads, Nieyan checked the coordinates provided by Regent Karon and turned left. Winding through narrow alleys, the path grew narrower, and he almost thought he had entered a dead end.
He wasn’t sure where he was now, but he had reached the northern edge of Hildirock. Without the coordinates from Regent Karon, he wouldn’t have found his way here.
Passing through the narrow alley between towering mage towers, barely wide enough for one person, he walked forward for about two or three minutes. Emerging from the alley, the view suddenly opened up. Ahead was an exquisite garden, where various unknown small wildflowers bloomed. Surrounded by buildings, sunlight filtered through the gaps between structures, adding a mysterious charm rather than detracting from the beauty.
A narrow winding path led to a low but charming cottage in the distance.
This must be the correct location. The place was well-hidden, Nieyan thought as he followed the winding path inward.
Walking along the narrow path, a delightful fragrance wafted toward him, and a figure approached from the opposite direction.
Nieyan glanced and saw a female NPC. She was elegantly dressed, her hair neatly styled in a bun on top of her head, walking with grace and nobility, exuding an air of aristocracy. This NPC must be a noble.
Was this the equipment master Ke Xi? She didn’t seem to fit the description.
Regent Karon had not mentioned whether the equipment master Ke Xi was male or female. Nieyan checked the information of the female NPC approaching.
Tilina: Countess of Hildirock.
A female countess of Hildirock, Nieyan quickly stepped aside. Nobles held high privileges in a city, and offending a noble would make it impossible for him to survive in the city.
This was a strict hierarchical system. Unless players earned significant city honor and respect, meeting the requirements to be promoted to nobility and enjoy noble privileges, offending nobles in the city was tantamount to suicide, as guards would not hesitate to use their blades.
The female countess passed by Nieyan, glanced at him, and continued on her way.
After a while, two more nobles from Hildirock emerged from that direction and brushed past Nieyan.
It seemed quite lively here. Nieyan stepped into the cottage. It was a small house with a round table in the middle, displaying dozens of identical pieces of equipment.
Inside the cottage were more than a dozen nobles, young and old, all dressed very meticulously. An old man wearing a gray robe stood in front of the table. He was tall and thin, with long white beard, bearing a resemblance to an old mage, though the occasional lewdness in his expression sparked rich imagination—could this guy be a charlatan?
Nieyan became alert. Not all NPCs were trustworthy, and not every quest rewarded players. Some quests, if players didn’t think carefully or failed to grasp the main thread, could lead them into traps set by the system, leaving them with nothing but regret, losing both their investment and getting themselves stuck.
“Respected gentlemen and ladies, as usual, the first batch of items for sale here consists of a total of 20 pieces, all unappraised equipment. Each is sold at the price of 60 silver coins, but only one is genuine, while the others are counterfeits I made. If the genuine item in the first batch is bought, we will replace it with another batch. There are a total of twenty batches, and now only three remain. The best equipment is about to emerge, including fragments of legendary items. Each person is limited to three pieces. Are you gentlemen and ladies ready?” After speaking, the old man named Ke Xi narrowed his triangular eyes and tapped the table with his fingers.
The nobles became excited, each appearing eager.
Ke Xi exchanged glances with three middle-aged men among the nobles and then said, “It begins. Among you gentlemen and ladies, is there anyone who will be blessed by Lady Luck?”
Nieyan’s lips curled into a cold smile. Such a low-level scam was being widely practiced here. He glanced around at these nobles, each of them fat and complacent. This might be a hidden quest set by the mainframe. If any player foolishly spent 60 silver coins to participate in this gamble, they would be extremely stupid, and they would certainly lose everything.
A noble took out a gray cloth bag from his pocket, filled with a whole pack of silver coins, and handed it to the equipment master Ke Xi, saying, “I want this one, that one, and that one!” His expression was frenzied, with a bit of sweat on his forehead.
The nobles generously opened their purses, taking out bags of silver coins to buy the equipment.
The nobles began appraising their equipment in hand. Nieyan focused on the three middle-aged men among the crowd. Under the cover of two of them, one middle-aged man slipped a piece of equipment into his pocket and then took out another piece of equipment with the same appearance. He looked around suspiciously with his shifty eyes, and no one noticed him. Nieyan smiled slightly. This guy was probably a plant.
“Oh, it’s fake.”
“This one is also fake.”
The nobles sighed one after another.
After a while, the middle-aged man who had swapped the equipment let out a surprised exclamation, “My God, Lady Luck has favored me. I actually got it. Karl’s Golden Necklace, the world is so wonderful.”
The nobles showed envious expressions, rubbing their hands in anticipation, preparing for the next round of purchases.
“Alright, gentlemen and ladies, the remaining two batches will feature the most precious item: Arcas’s Shining Gem. Are you ready?”
Knowing it was a fraud, Nieyan pondered his next move—should he quietly leave or expose the fraud?
This was a choice. With so many nobles here, if his exposure failed and backfired, he would offend everyone.
If he successfully exposed the fraud of the so-called equipment master Ke Xi, who knew what consequences would follow. What would be the reward for this hidden quest?
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage