Chapter 26: Taking Stock
Chapter 26: Taking Stock
September 25, 2017
The scene of Wang Ke's demise was incredibly bloody and violent, leaving Zhang Feng and Li Yi in awe.
As they looked at Lu Hai Kong, their eyes were filled with fear, behaving like obedient grandchildren. They obediently handed over all their valuables and whatever remained on Wang Ke's body after his death to Lu Hai Kong.
Lu Hai Kong spared their lives, knowing that killing them would only create more trouble, as they were just two extra mouths to feed.
Lu Hai Kong had just learned from them that when players die, it's almost like deleting their accounts and starting over. They retain some skills and a small amount of property, but their spawn point and identity are changed.
This meant that Lu Hai Kong couldn't possibly know what identity Wang Ke would assume upon revival, especially since it was unlikely he'd respawn near Shanwu County, which was a relief for Lu Hai Kong.
At least for the time being, he didn't have to worry about his identity as an Outsider Bandit being exposed.
After sorting out this mess, Lu Hai Kong sent Wang Chao to retrieve the twenty bandits left at the trap, instructing them to carry as many steamed buns as possible. Then, they headed back to the bandit camp.
Upon their return, Lu Hai Kong's first task wasn't to report to the Assembly Hall but to visit Wang Lao Tou and purchase two 'Bandit Employment Certificates,' which he then gave to Zhang Feng and Li Yi.
These two guys were now civilians, the same rank as bandits, and with the certificates, they could become bandits without any attribute adjustments, just a change in identity.
Zhang Feng and Li Yi were displeased, but they dared not utter a word of protest in front of Lu Hai Kong. They obediently became bandits.
Becoming a bandit was straightforward, with no difficulty, but shedding that identity wasn't easy, especially for an Outsider Bandit. Under the Eastern Han Dynasty's laws, they were considered traitors, with no chance of redemption. If caught, they'd be executed without hesitation.
With this new identity, Lu Hai Kong didn't need to be overly cautious about Zhang Feng and Li Yi. He had no intention of keeping them as pets, especially now that they shared his circumstances. Using them as labor was a good idea.
After securing them, Zhao Lun began to tally his gains from this trip.
The most significant and tangible gain was financial: 17 gold and 700 copper coins from the Refugee Camp, plus 10 gold from Zhang Feng's group, and some from Lu Hai Kong's reserves. Lu Hai Kong now had around 28 gold, significantly easing his previous financial crisis.
However, this amount was just a temporary relief, not a substantial sum. Even if Lu Hai Kong didn't spend a penny, the food expenses for his subordinates would deplete it within two months. Moreover, he had to consider training, troop expansion, and equipment upgrades.
But these were future concerns. For now, Lu Hai Kong was content, as he was currently taking stock of his gains and wasn't one to worry incessantly about the future.
Aside from the money, Lu Hai Kong's most significant gain was the 'Village Establishment Document' he had extorted from Zhang Wen and the mysterious tattered sheepskin.
Village Establishment Document
Territory Item
Function: Can be used to build the smallest type of village.
Usage Conditions: Politics: 20, Gold: 100, Eastern Han Dynasty Reputation: 100 points
This item was similar to the 'Gathering Order,' intended for ordinary players. As an Outsider Bandit, Lu Hai Kong couldn't possess any Eastern Han Dynasty reputation, so he didn't meet the qualifications to use it. However, it was valuable and could be sold for a high price. Even the stingy Wang Lao Tou offered Lu Hai Kong 50 gold for it, indicating its actual value was at least ten times that.
As a leader, Lu Hai Kong understood the value of money, so he carefully stored the document, knowing he'd never sell it to a greedy merchant like Wang Lao Tou.
If the 'Village Establishment Document' surprised Lu Hai Kong, the tattered sheepskin filled him with a sense of mystery and anticipation. The system's only description of it was:
"Mysterious Sheepskin: Records a mysterious, incomplete martial skill. Requires Level 10 Basic Axe Technique to comprehend.
Remaining comprehension attempts: 3."
These two sentences piqued Lu Hai Kong's curiosity, but his Basic Axe Technique was only at Level 7, and it would take a few days to reach Level 10. Lu Hai Kong was destined to endure this curiosity for a while.
His intuition told him that this sheepskin might be his most significant gain from this trip.
Chapter end
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