---Third POV---
Child's gaze stuck directly to the courtyard.
Lush landscaping, a uniquely shaped white fountain, neatly laid stone paths. Completely different from the cramped slums outside where even the streets felt suffocating.
He was dazzled by the view.
"There's not even a single gardener or servant inside?"
Gaeman covered his face with his hand, pretending not to know the uncultured person next to him. Why had he thought this guy seemed rational and unflappable when they first met?
Hedgehog turned back and made a shushing gesture. "Shh, quiet down, don't actually call the servants out!"
Child looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
They'd already gotten through the door. Wasn't this the house of the person they were looking for?
He followed the others toward the grand, three-story mansion. He clicked his tongue in admiration at the exterior walls.
"Pretty nice. That huge stained-glass window looks amazing."
Rich people really knew how to enjoy life. Even the steps by the back door had carved patterns on them. Resting his chin on his hand, he mused aloud, "Wonder if selling glass here would be a good business?"
Garble turned to glance at him. "Then you can give up now. Someone's already taken the glasswork orders."
"Already taken?" Child was surprised. "By who?"
From the tone, it wasn't someone from their own team who got the job early.
Garble replied, "The person we're about to meet."
The group stopped at the back door of the mansion. NeverShowOff knocked directly on the smaller door.
"A shirt costs nine pounds fifteen pence."
After a moment, the door opened. But no one was there.
"What are you looking up for? Down here!" came an annoyed voice.
Child looked down and finally saw a small figure, who was half a head shorter than Gaeman. He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh, sorry, didn't notice you."
He studied the brown-haired, blue-eyed player with some hesitation.
"Are you…"
Could the game even generate child characters?
Garble suddenly said, "That's LootGoblin."
Child's eyes widened.
"LootGoblin?!"
He looked more closely, finally noticing a patch of skin behind the person's ear that didn't quite match. His tone grew even more shocked.
"Whoa, he's wearing a skin suit!"
NeverShowOff cleared his throat. "This isn't the place to chat. Let's talk inside."
LootGoblin stared at the group for a long moment.
Honestly, he didn't want to let them in. But unable to withstand their shameless persistence, he could only step aside and let them through.
"Sigh, fine, come in."
Bang!
The door shut behind them.
He jumped onto a single sofa in the living room, looking completely fed up.
"Find your own seat."
Hedgehog picked up the freshly washed fruit on the coffee table and began eating without hesitation. Juice dripped from his mouth after one bite.
"Pineapple-flavored apple. Incredible!"
He looked around the room.
"Sofa, fruit, even a cooling fireplace, you really know how to live!"
LootGoblin let out a dry chuckle.
"If you guys hadn't shown up, I'd be enjoying it even more."
Child found a two-seater couch and sat down, full of confusion.
"What's going on?"
"The situation where I'm being extorted by this bunch," LootGoblin cut in. He let out a long sigh, looking in despair at the group treating his place like their own home.
"All I did was miss the player meeting yesterday! I'm just a solo player. I don't have much intel anyway, so it doesn't really matter whether I go or not. As compensation, I already helped you get into the Mage Guild this morning. What more do you want?"
Child looked at NeverShowOff in shock.
"You can do that? Weren't the meetings supposed to be optional?"
Was it really forced participation? If he hadn't shown up last night, would he have ended up in the same situation?
Hedgehog's face darkened. "You believe everything he says?"
Just as he was about to say more, Garble, who couldn't stand the inefficiency of player conversations, cut in.
"Enough talk. We want to enter the Mage Guild again and need your help."
LootGoblin's expression turned serious.
"Again? Is there progress on Edgar's case?"
Hedgehog said, "Obviously we need to investigate first to get any results."
NeverShowOff sighed, "We plan to stay longer this time. If we can clear the place, even better."
"Or maybe just get us a Mage's Badge," Hedgehog suggested.
One sentence after another, until LootGoblin's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"What do you think I am, a wishing machine?"
Clear out the Mage Guild? Why not just ask him to kick out Abel and make himself mayor of Nary Town?
Garble chimed in smoothly:
"Not you, whoever's backing you. Just tell us whether it can be done."
"Of course not—"
"500 magicoins, plus two Coconut Melon No. 3 Bombs, three Mercury Flowers, and two Windy Orchids!" NeverShowOff interrupted quickly.
He looked at LootGoblin with complete confidence.
"Yesterday, when Hedgehog went back to Honeyvale Town, he saw some players selling those two alchemy ingredients, so he bought them all."
LootGoblin swallowed. "I can't promise a full sweep, and you can't stay longer than an hour."
"Deal!" NeverShowOff agreed immediately.
"We'll go tomorrow morning…"
Garble added, "Make it 8 AM, just when the church has its prayer service."
LootGoblin also responded quickly. "Fine. Tomorrow morning, meet me at the Mage Guild's back entrance."
---
After they finished talking, the group was kicked out without mercy by LootGoblin.
Bang!
The three-meter-high iron gate slammed shut.
"Don't come back again! My patience has limits!" he declared.
Then he turned and walked off without looking back.
Child touched his nearly-squashed nose in amazement.
"Weird… he really can clear out the Mage Guild? Are we even playing the same game?"
It wasn't just LootGoblin, even the Lucky Stars Team who could boss LootGoblin around… they weren't playing the same game either!
After hesitating for less than a second, he decisively called out before parting ways with the others.
"Wait!"
He dropped to his knees and slid across the ground, hugging the most approachable of the group.
"I grew up watching your videos! Please let me join you!"
NeverShowOff struggled to shake his leg free. "Get up! What do you think you're doing?!"
"No! If you don't let me join, I'm not getting up!"
Child clung on even tighter.
Hedgehog was laughing hard. "Damn, talk about flexibility! Where was this attitude a few days ago?"
Both Child and Lux had agreed to team up with them. But after a few days, they suddenly decided to go solo, and now he wanted to come back?
Gaeman quietly took a step back.
Not my friend. I do not know this man…
NeverShowOff was at his wit's end. When pulling his leg didn't work, he gave up and stopped trying.
"Fine. You just want to know how LootGoblin got so far ahead, right? I can tell you. But seriously, do you really want to join us?"
"Of course!" Child held up four fingers. "I swear it!"
"Swearing's useless, we want real benefits," Hedgehog chimed in, fanning the flames.
Child got up and thought for a moment. Suddenly, inspiration struck. He grabbed Gaeman, who was trying to slip away. "What if I bring him with me?"
The group exchanged glances.
Having a siren with a keen sense of smell would certainly make things much easier.
NeverShowOff turned around to lead the way.
"Come with us."
This time, Child was taken all the way to a hotel in a wealthy district.
After the door opened, NeverShowOff was the first to enter the room and introduced the two of them.
"Make yourselves at home."
Child looked around at the interior. Plentiful furniture, bright and spacious windows, exquisite wall paintings.
He couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Damn… you guys really don't suffer at all, huh!"
This place was way more comfortable than the shacks in the civilian area.
Hedgehog lay back on the wooden sofa, humming contentedly.
"Anyway, the inns in this game are all shady as hell. If you've got an ID to stay in the highest-class places, it saves a lot of trouble."
Like avoiding the risk of being randomly barged in on at night like it's a public restroom.
He casually pointed behind him.
"The room at the very back is empty, fully furnished. You're welcome to move in anytime. But pay for your own stay, got it!"
Child kept looking around, touching and checking things as if overwhelmed by the luxury. "Aren't you afraid I'll back out?"
Hedgehog chuckled coldly. "We're not after you. Back out if you want."
Plenty of players knew they were staying here, Child wasn't anything special. He glanced at Gaeman, who stood beside him with a stern expression.
He scratched his nose awkwardly. Then, picking up his moral baseline from the floor, he patted his chest with righteous pride.
"What are you saying? Of course, I came with sincerity. You know I've always been a loyal fan of Show. As for Lux, I wish her luck with her preaching."
Hedgehog looked at him in disgust. "Yeah, I think you and LootGoblin will have a lot to talk about."
Their moral lines were both… impressively flexible. Even after being beaten up for a whole week in Nary Town, LootGoblin still acted more normal than this guy.
Hearing that, Child perked up. He slid over next to Hedgehog and eagerly asked,
"What do you mean, a lot to talk about? Did you get some dirt on him? Is that how he's able to live in a manor?"
Judging by how obedient he was, it had to be something major.
Hedgehog squinted and leaned back with a snort. "Knew you were after the gossip. If it could be said so easily, would it still be considered dirt?"
Child shot back, "Aren't we all on the same side?"
"Nope."
Child: "…"
Damn it, gave away my bargaining chip too early, and I don't even get any juicy gossip? Then what's the point of joining them?
Just then, Hedgehog's eyes went blank for five seconds, then he jumped off the chair.
"Crap, my mom just walked in! I'm logging off first, message me on Whatsapp if there's a strategy meeting tonight!"
With that, he rushed into the room, leaving only Child and Gaeman in the living room.
No matter what, they were definitely participating in tomorrow's operation. They had to split up for now, first get themselves an ID for the rich district and settle in here.
---
As for Lux, who had just lost a major member of her team, she remained completely unaware and was still busy working in the basement of the Ship-Carriage Guild. Outside the secret room stood David, his face filled with despair.
"My branch office…"
Running a one-man shop wasn't the lowest point. Becoming a hideout for wanted criminals, and being unable to say no, that was true hopelessness...
Inside, Lux stared at the report in her hands, unable to believe her eyes.
"We lost money? You were selling mashed potatoes at a food stall, how did you lose money? Don't they like mashed potatoes?"
One of the players scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… it's not that. The NPCs who tried it really liked it, they were full of praise."
"Then how did you lose money?"
Another player explained, "A Level 13 mage wanted a free feast. He tossed a herb at us and expected to eat all the snacks. We politely declined, but he wouldn't listen. A fight broke out, and we kinda… damaged the surroundings a bit."
Just mentioning it made them angry again.
The first player looked displeased.
"That herb was just the kind we use to dye clothes, it's all over the place outside the beginner village. He's clearly taking advantage of the townsfolk not knowing its value!"
Could players really put up with that?
With no town guards nearby, they beat up the arrogant low-level mage in no time. They even went for the face, he couldn't chant spells or even curse them back.
Another player chimed in, "It was justified. You have no idea how rude that guy was."
Someone else nodded. "We didn't even lose SAN points for beating him!"
The rest all agreed.
Lux recalled the carriage that had splashed her with mud the other day and felt a sense of shared frustration.
"Alright, stuff like this is unavoidable."
If someone needs a beating, give it to them. Otherwise, today he trades a worthless herb for food, next time, he'll just rob them outright.
She continued reviewing the other stall reports, her brows furrowing.
"But other than the coarse cloth I negotiated with the clothing shop, no one else made a profit? Aren't our goods in high demand?"
She clearly remembered that freelance players had been doing well just a few days ago.
The others were equally confused.
"Yeah, it doesn't make sense!"
"Did the devs patch the money-making bug?"
As Lux skimmed through the earnings, she noticed one exception. The player selling sweetfruit shaved ice had made a full 100 Sols, topping today's sales chart.
Her eyes lit up, but the more she looked, the more puzzled she became.
For this kind of snack, making 100 Sols in one day was already wild. But earning exactly 100? That was a bit too convenient.
Suspicious, she approached the shaved ice vendor.
"How much did you charge for your shaved ice?"
"50 Sols per cup," the player said, forming a circle with his hands. "About this much."
"Fifty?!"
Lux's voice rose sharply, barely believing her ears.
"Did you make that shaved ice out of gold? Or silver?!"
When 5 Sols could buy an entire outfit made from durable grass-fiber fabric, he was selling shaved ice for 50? And two people actually bought it?
She looked at the player as if meeting him for the first time.
"Don't tell me you really added ice to your shaved ice?"
The player scratched his head, puzzled. "Is that expensive? I read in a novel that in ancient times, beef soup could be sold for 50 coins. I just converted the price from that."
The other players nodded in realization.
"Oh, that makes sense!"
"What a clever pricing model. We should use it too!"
Lux's eyes widened even further, temporarily at a loss for words.
Beef soup for 50 taels?! What, did that novel think ancient people were idiots?
Shaved ice for 50 Sols was even more outrageous.
At least the soup had meat, this was literally just water! And the others actually approved?
They'd said NPCs were robbing them, but this was the real robbery!
She held her head in her hands and sat down, exhausted.
"Alright, I think I've figured out why you all lost money."
She'd thought the hardest part of running a secondhand merchant business would be the cunning and scheming of rivals. Turns out... it was her own clueless teammates dragging her down.