Chapter 74: The Advancing Player
Suddenly, Kai Xiusu spoke, shattering Stuffed Bun’s fantasy of riding a Two-Headed Dragon in a thunderous dive.
“It’s getting late. Gentlemen, it’s time to return. I hope the next time we meet, you’ll be fully prepared.”
With a gentle flick of his wrist, a portal crackled into existence before them, blazing with roaring flames. Before the four could react, a powerful magical force seized them without resistance, dragging them bodily through the rift.
A flash of white light—then they were back in the small cottage.
The invitation letter on the table had gone dark, its glowing characters extinguished. Clearly, it couldn’t be used twice.
Xia Ye Qiu Yu stared at the empty space where the portal had been, still breathless. “That shop was awesome… no, wait—I mean, that Non-Player Character was incredibly important.”
Singo sighed, regret heavy in his voice. “I never thought Faction Contribution would have this kind of impact. I really shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions so quickly.”
“That Warrior’s advanced class—Crimson Scale Conqueror—is absolutely the strongest early-game class. No contest.”
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang rubbed his bald head thoughtfully. “I’d love to try a Dragon Bloodline. The sheer power looks insane.”
Singo nodded. “Exactly. Just the natural armor alone sets you leagues ahead of regular Players. Not to mention the stat boosts and spell capabilities.”
Stuffed Bun murmured, voice tinged with worry, “So… should we keep this to ourselves? Keep it a secret?”
Xia Ye Qiu Yu and Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang both nodded in agreement.
From a Player’s perspective, controlling information was the first rule of survival—stay ahead, stay hidden.
But Singo shook his head. “No. We have to make this public.”
Stuffed Bun blinked. “What if someone else grabs the Crimson Scale first?”
He was already consumed by the dream of becoming a Two-Headed Dragon rider. The image of soaring through the skies, armored in fire, was all he could think about—true knightly romance.
Singo shot him a disdainful glance. “Of course not immediately. We wait. We watch.”
“For what?”
“When the big Guilds start chasing Faction Contribution quests.”
Xia Ye Qiu Yu’s eyes widened. “Right! In the early game, gold coins are tight. Big Guilds will focus on gear and loot, not spend money on quest items. But once they grow stronger… they’ll start buying things like Mysterious Invitation Letters.”
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang added, “And once they realize the power of Faction Contribution, they’ll hoard the info, then go after every single low-tier quest they once ignored. That’s when we drop the bomb—expose everything, rally every Solo Player we can, and flood the market with competition. Drag down their progress.”
Stuffed Bun finally understood. “So… this is the real game. You’re not just playing—you’re manipulating the system.”
Singo smirked. “Not manipulation. Game sense. If you’re weak, train harder. When you’re ready, I’ll write the guide, you’ll film the videos—we’ll dominate the stream.”
“Deal,” Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang said.
He stared at the plain-looking invitation letter on the table—identical to any ordinary sheet of paper. “We should get another one, though. That thing isn’t infinite. Wouldn’t want the Guilds—especially Royal Power—snatching it up.”
Stuffed Bun raised an eyebrow. “You got a grudge against them?”
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang grinned sheepishly, rubbing his bald head. “Not a big one. In Starbound Realm, I used my Cutting Blade to slice their flagship in half. I’m just… worried they’ll come after me now that they’re leveling up.”
Stuffed Bun felt a chill crawl down his spine. This guy’s a monster.
Xia Ye Qiu Yu frowned. “But where are we going to get all that gold? Ten gold coins this time was everything we had—sold our last gear, even.”
Singo chuckled, confident. “You didn’t know? Barto City Exchange just launched a new service—Gold Coin Loans. Just put up something worth 10% of the loan as collateral.”
Stuffed Bun froze. Singo was staring at him—specifically at his gear.
His face paled. “That gear? I earned it. Don’t even think about it.”
Singo leaned in, a soft, unnerving smile on his lips. “Stuffed Bun… don’t you want to be a dashing Dragon Knight?”
His voice was a whisper—like the devil’s breath.
“Ah—!”
“Don’t rip my gear off—!”
“At least leave me one pair of pants! I’m a Hardcore Player, not a skeleton!”
Xia Ye Qiu Yu turned crimson, covering her eyes, but peeking through her fingers. Her face flushed deeper with every second.
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang scratched his head awkwardly. “Singo’s just… like this. You’ll get used to it.”
As Singo turned away, Stuffed Bun slumped to the floor—back to his original, pure, innocent state. A simple linen tunic, barefoot, the look of a brand-new player. Utterly adorable.
Singo, meanwhile, had already stripped off every piece of gear. His entire inventory lay scattered on the table.
He smiled serenely. “Alright, gentlemen. No need for persuasion. We’re all in.”
Xia Ye Qiu Yu, still peeking through her fingers, flinched as she saw Stuffed Bun’s ruined dignity. She instinctively hugged herself, cheeks burning.
“Don’t come near me—I’ll do it myself!” she stammered, terrified Singo might turn into some kind of tentacled monster.
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang simply shrugged, then pulled off his Leather Tunic with a practiced motion. Barbarians didn’t need fancy gear—just frenzy and rage.
“Snap!” Singo clapped his hands. “Unanimous agreement. Let’s get to work. The gap between us and the rest of the Players starts now!”
“I’ll take these gears to the Exchange and secure the loan. Once I’ve got the gold, I’ll go straight for the Mysterious Invitation Letter. Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang, Xia Ye Qiu Yu, and Stuffed Bun—you three head to the plaza and take on every quest. Maximize Faction Contribution. And keep an eye out for Tiefling-related missions—everything’s on the same track.”
Stuffed Bun, still in his simple tunic, collapsed on the floor, eyes hollow.
“This… is the world of pro Players?”
“I have a complaint,” he muttered.
Singo didn’t even look back. He grabbed the pile of gear—everything Stuffed Bun had spent ten days grinding for—and vanished out the door.
Tian Sheng Zhan Kuang placed a heavy hand on Stuffed Bun’s shoulder. “Don’t take it personally. Singo’s like this. We all go through it. You get used to it.”
Xia Ye Qiu Yu stood beside him, sympathy in her eyes. “It’s hard… but you’ll get through it.”
Stuffed Bun’s voice cracked. “This isn’t about being a Hardcore Player… it’s about losing everything I built in ten days…”
---
Ten days later, the city whispered of the legend: The Black Slave Four.
Four legendary, top-tier Players—yet each wore nothing but the plainest beginner’s cloth.
Players speculated wildly—had they been robbed? Were they in debt?
They took any job. Grinding. Cleaning. Repairing walls. Delivering letters. Mining.
Even the dreaded Pure Faction Contribution Quests—the kind normal Players avoided like plague—were met with eager enthusiasm.
In just days, their Faction Contribution had soared to nearly 5,000.
The forums erupted. The nickname stuck: The Black Slave Four.
---
“Ah-choo!”
Stuffed Bun wiped sweat from his brow in the pitch-black mine, sneezing for no reason.
Black Slave Four…?
“I’m not a slave. I’m destined to become a Dragon Knight.”
His eyes, though dimmed by shadow, glinted with quiet determination.
Behind him, the Great Goblin Overseer bellowed, and the whip cracked through the air.
“What’re you doing? Daydreaming? Get back to work!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Stuffed Bun lifted his pickaxe once more, movements now smooth, precise—refined by relentless labor.
---
(End of Chapter)
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