Rita wandered through the undead capital again. She accepted quests as they came, stealing from every NPC she passed. Even patrolling guards weren't safe. Her maximum theft range was one meter, and if she could get close, she would steal—she even sent her character to pilfer from beggars in alleyways.
What if one turned out to be a hidden master?
From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., she worked tirelessly. With a little over two hours before server shutdown, she finally paused. Aside from gaining 1 Constitution, she had also obtained a level 40 purple bow—stolen from the innkeeper.
Without hesitation, she walked to the weapon shop and sold it.
The shopkeeper clearly recognized the bow, warning her repeatedly in pop-ups about the risk he'd assume. Rita held firm. For a level 20 purple weapon, the price was 500 gold. This was a level 40 purple item she'd never even seen before.
She haggled from 3000 down to 1000 gold. No matter how many pop-ups appeared, she typed 1000 gold every time—her bottom line. Rare items like this were risky to own; anyone who bought it was lucky.
Five minutes later, just as she considered backing down, the transaction succeeded.
Rita immediately returned to the alchemy master, spending 100 gold to level Alchemy to Intermediate. She then learned all available recipes for over 200 gold more.
Next, she ran across half the city to the goblin district, finding a goblin engineer only knee-high to her. She learned Engineering.
Rita had thought this through. Jewelry, leatherworking, and sewing could all craft equipment if she had materials, but early-stage creations were weak. She wouldn't need them before the invasion, and after the invasion, they'd quickly be obsolete.
Engineering, however, was invaluable. Even beginner Engineering allowed crafting of firearms, bullets, and explosives. More importantly, she knew where to get the "Repair Robot" blueprint—but it required Advanced Engineering first.
She quickly leveled Engineering, learned all recipes, and bought materials for 10 firearms, 500 bullets, and 100 packs of low-grade explosives. Using the goblin workbenches, she produced 10 guns, 5,000 bullets, and 100 packs of explosives, leveling Engineering to Intermediate. She learned all available blueprints again.
With just over 300 gold left, she returned to the herb shop and converted all remaining coins into herbs, filling every slot in her bag.
It was now 8:45.
Not far away, Rick still slept, and Samuel and Scarlett could be heard talking outside. Rita went to the bathroom in Rick's room, running the tap to simulate him showering, then returned to the bed.
She sent her character to the center of the undead city, to the city lord's location.
Unlike peaceful times, the alien races had long warred and plundered, respecting only strength. Rita didn't know exactly how many cities or how their hierarchies worked, but she knew any city lord had earned it through strength—no incompetent aristocrats rising by luck.
Even in her world, post-invasion, power was redistributed, but all city lords were top-tier players. Nobles could invest resources, but in the end, strength decided who ruled. The city lord listened to others, but ultimate power rested with the strongest.
8:52 a.m.
Her character was blocked outside the grand palace by low-level undead soldiers.
Rita typed into the dialogue box: "The anchor point has a problem."
When selling the purple weapon, she had noticed the game automatically translated her language for other undead.
The soldiers persisted, but the commotion soon drew higher-ranking guards. When she repeated the phrase, she was finally escorted inside.
The undead city lord, clad in black armor, sat atop the throne.
Dialogue box: "You say the anchor point has a problem?"
9:13
Rita typed: "Yes. I stake my life that my information is accurate, but I need a reward."
"Impertinent!"
She said nothing, quietly waiting. Perhaps to the one above, she was already a dead woman—dead people often received leniency. Soon, the chief soldier approached and handed her an item.
Opening it: 100 gold coins.
Tsk. She had wanted equipment, but this was just a quick windfall. She didn't complain.
9:17
She typed: "This is confidential. I will tell only the city lord."
She maneuvered her character close. To the level 99 city lord, her level 1 self was an ant—no one stopped her.
9:20
Her character stood beside the undead city lord.
9:21
She activated [The Thief God's Theft, Which Can Also Be Robbery].
[In the name of Thief God, you attempt to steal the flesh talent of Ghost·Sang Cup City Lord Orlov·d]
[Steal failed—target's Divine Gift level too high—attempt interrupted!]
[You are dead]
Immediately, her phone froze as if the battery died. She glanced at the wall clock: 9:22, just past the second 12. Seven hours had passed.
Her phone made a cracking sound—screen, internal components, then it ignited. She threw it to the floor; in seconds, it became black smoke, vanishing as if it had never existed.
On the ground appeared a backpack, a shabby cloth bag, and a coin-marked pouch.
Her mind immediately accessed the familiar character panel:
[Character] Idontcare (Level 0, 0.001%)
[Divine Gift] Thief God (S-tier)
[Divine Gift] Immortal (SS-tier, incomplete)
[Race] Human (?)
[Racial Talent] Undead Will | Feast
[HP] 100/100
[MP] 100/100
[Strength] 5
[Constitution] 7
[Intelligence] 10
[Agility] 12
[Luck] 8
[Charisma] 9
[Available Attribute Points] 0
The piercing SS-tier brilliance made her eyes water. Even incomplete, three of the five skills glowed, two remained dark gray.
SS-tier Divine Gift. Even if she'd only stolen 1-Bamboo, it was already worth it. Compared to S-tier Thief God, lacking 1-Bamboo was useless.
She looked at Rick sleeping nearby and wanted to laugh out loud.
She stuffed both bags into her clothing, the coin pouch occupying one slot. When focused, she could sense the exact amount of gold inside.
She took Rick's phone, unlocked it with his fingerprint, verified the game wasn't on it, and placed him back in bed, tucking the covers around him like she used to, before leaving the room.
Downstairs, Samuel and Scarlett were making breakfast. Rita listened quietly from the stairs. Scarlett scolded Samuel for allowing Rick to buy a villa in Rita's name, followed by Samuel's soft analysis.
It gave her foresight. One villa cost only 30 million. Over the years, she had easily recovered over 70 million for herself.
She waited until the conversation changed, then returned to her room expressionless.
She opened her new Divine Gift, [Immortal].
But something felt off.
Skill 2 under [Thief God]—The Thief God's Theft, Which Can Also Be Robbery—was still lit.
Last life, any skill or item on cooldown appeared gray. One-time-use items became light gray, effectively trash.
Why was this skill still active?
"One-time use only"?
Did her character's death count as a lifetime?
So… she could use this insanely overpowered, immoral talent again?
Rita closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She had never been so grateful for her past decisions.
No wonder it was S-tier Thief God.
She grabbed a bottle of ice water from the bedside fridge, drank it in one gulp, and finally calmed herself before opening the new Divine Gift, [Immortal].