The girl with the bob cut, Sword Song Ice Condensation, stepped forward. Her bright eyes landed on Don.
"Big brother," she said, her voice clear as silver bells, "are you selling this sword?"
Don met her gaze calmly. "Yes."
She nodded slightly, already prepared. "If you trust us, take these twenty gold coins first." She paused briefly before adding, "And give me your bank account number. Two thousand will be transferred to you this afternoon."
Don's eyes flickered. Despite her youthful appearance, her tone carried authority, confidence and control. Combined with her level and the Sword Song prefix, it was obvious she wasn't just a member. She was one of the head and managers.
He didn't hesitate. He already knew who they were. Even after three years away from virtual gaming, the name Sword Song still carried weight. Alongside War Fire and Flying Heaven, they were known as the three major guild forces in the American region, each with their own style, their own philosophy, their own battlefield, they've dominated multiple games before Realms Online that's why they were so popular l.
Flying Heaven was neutral, corporate, and efficient, led by a man who valued structure over freedom. War Fire was aggressive and dominating, built on overwhelming force and iron discipline. Where they went, others either submitted or disappeared.
And then there was Sword Song, a guild that had risen almost unnaturally fast, born from the fusion of two forces. One focused on progression, the other on combat. PK specialists. War veterans. Players who thrived in chaos. Unlike the others, they had a reputation, they didn't crush the weak, didn't monopolize everything. They fought, but they also protected. That alone earned them loyalty.
Which was why Don made his decision instantly. No hesitation. He handed over the sword.
Ice Condensation accepted it with a smile, then placed twenty gold coins into his hand. Clean, direct, no bargaining, no tricks.
But then her gaze shifted to his hand, and she blinked. "…Big brother. You have a simian crease."
Don raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean something?"
She smiled slightly. "Can I see your other hand?"
He didn't refuse. He raised his left hand, and without hesitation she took it, examining it carefully.
Then her expression changed. "Both hands… simian creases."
For the first time, the mature woman behind her, Solely Loving Autumn Rain, showed a faint reaction. Subtle, but noticeable.
Ice Condensation flipped Don's hand over. Her eyes widened slightly. "There's even a mole, at the base of your middle finger."
Don chuckled faintly. "How's my fortune?"
She nodded seriously. "You have great ambition. If you're willing to take risks, you can go far in this game."
She tapped lightly at the base of his finger. "This position means you'll always have powerful support. Someone influential will help you."
Don shook his head lightly. "I hope you're right."
At that moment, system notifications rang out in rapid succession. A friend request from Sword Song Ice Condensation. Then Sword Song Cloud Wind. Then Solely Loving Autumn Rain. Don paused.
Three requests, all from high-level players, especially the last one. He accepted them one by one, and his previously empty friend list was instantly filled.
[Sword Song Ice Condensation, Level 10, Apprentice Battle Witch.]
[Sword Song Cloud Wind, Level 10, Apprentice Mage.]
[Solely Loving Autumn Rain, Level 14, Apprentice Swordsman.]
Don's gaze lingered for a moment. Level 14. So far ahead.
Then Autumn Rain spoke. Her voice was calm and clear, carrying a subtle, cool charm. "Extraordinary… can I call you Don Jones?"
Don nodded. "Sure. You're probably older than me."
"I'm twenty-seven."
As expected.
"Don Jones," she continued, "send me your bank account number. Check your balance before two PM."
He nodded again. "Alright." He quickly copied his account details from his virtual system and sent them over. Autumn Rain gave a faint smile. "Let's level together when you're free."
"Okay."
That was all. No unnecessary words, no over-explanation. The three of them exchanged a glance, then turned and walked toward the Teleporter. Moments later, three beams of silver light rose into the air, and just like that, they were gone.
The crowd had long since dispersed. The noise faded, and the village returned to its usual rhythm.
Don stood alone by the fountain, the gold coins still warm in his hand, his friend list no longer empty. A faint smile formed on his lips.
Looks like things were starting to get interesting.
The surrounding players stared at Don with undisguised envy, some almost jealous, their eyes lingering on the gold coins, on the equipment, on the fact that he had just dealt with Sword Song directly.
Don didn't like the attention. Being watched like an exhibit wasn't his style.
Without lingering, he turned and walked toward the Teleporter. Another fifty silver coins, another flash of light.
This time he chose a quieter location, a village named Vilali, far from the crowded regions, far from the chaos. A place where he could level in peace. When the light faded, he was already standing in a much calmer village. Fewer players, less noise, more space. Perfect.
Don didn't waste time. He headed straight to the general store. This time he wasn't poor anymore. He had money, and that meant more preparation.
The moment he opened the shop interface, he began buying, efficient, decisive, no hesitation. Low-grade Red Potions that restored twenty-five HP per second for ten seconds, and Low-grade Blue Potions for mana recovery. Expensive at two silver coins each, but he didn't care. He spent ten gold coins in a single go, four hundred Red Potions and one hundred Blue.
Next came arrows. Iron Arrows with a ten-point physical attack bonus, three copper coins each. He bought two thousand.
Then ten Town Portal Scrolls for safety, mobility, and insurance. And finally, the important part, Unsealing Stones. He clenched his jaw slightly. Expensive. Painfully expensive. But necessary. He bought ten.
After repairs and all purchases, his gold dropped sharply. From wealth to just eleven gold coins remaining.
Don exhaled slowly. Worth it. Everything he had bought would convert into efficiency, and efficiency was everything.
He moved through the village next, speaking to NPCs, searching, testing, looking for quests. There weren't many, Vilali Village was small, fewer than ten NPCs in total. But after checking each one, he finally found something. An old man named Ilgno, and a quest.
[Quest: Warm Woolen Leggings]
[Collect 35 Flame Goat skins]
[Location: Flame Valley, 2 km west.]
[Difficulty: D9]
Don's eyes sharpened slightly. The difficulty had increased significantly, that was the effect of class advancement. But he accepted immediately, confirmed the location on his map, and moved out of the village toward the west.
Along the way, he passed players grinding on the hills. Level 3, Level 4, struggling, slow. Don opened the regional rankings and checked.
The top ten of the American region read like a who's who of the major guilds.
War Fire Heroic Soul sat at the top at Level 16, followed by Extraordinary at Level 15. War Fire Debt Man and Sea Sky Horizon shared Level 14 alongside Solely Loving Autumn Rain. Below them, Dust Along the Way and Falling Mist held Level 13, while Madly Loving the Ninth Heaven, Blizzard Raging Heaven, and Cappuccino rounded out the list at Level 12.
Don's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. War Fire, Flying Heaven, Sword Song, all represented, all climbing fast. His own ranking sat far below at three hundred and forty-fifth, and already hundreds of players had reached Level 11. Too slow. If he wanted to stand out, he had to accelerate now.
And the key was right in his inventory. The Queen Bee equipment.
As he ran, he spotted a large tree with no players nearby. He stopped, moved under the shade, and checked his surroundings one last time. Then he took out the two pieces of equipment and held an Unsealing Stone in each hand.
The moment the stones touched the equipment, light erupted, a dazzling, seven-colored radiance, brilliant and eye-catching.
Don's eyes flickered. 'Good thing I didn't do this in the village.'
That kind of light would have drawn everyone, and trouble would have followed.
Soon the light faded. The equipment stabilized. And the hidden attributes revealed themselves.
Don looked down, and for the first time, his expression truly changed. His heart skipped slightly.
The investment was worth it. More than worth it.