[Name: Durin]
[Level 3]
[Basic Attributes: Vigor 4, Control 2, Endurance 4, Cunning 2, Social 2, Intellect 2]
[Allocated Skill Specialization Points: One-Handed Skill 4, Running Skill 3]
[One-Handed Proficiency 48 points, Running 36 points]
[Acquired Perks: Wrapped Grip, Strong Body]
Durin's golden finger was a character card, composed of six basic attributes: Vigor, Control, Endurance, Cunning, Social, and Intellect, with each attribute having three related skill systems.
Taking Vigor as an example, it encompasses concepts such as strength, explosiveness, and nerve reaction speed, with its subordinate skills being One-Handed Weapons, Two-Handed Weapons, and Polearms.
When he uses these three types of weapons in attacking actions, he will increase the proficiency of the corresponding skill, and the efficiency of skill proficiency improvement is directly linked to "Specialization Points" and "Attributes."
Among them, Specialization Points can only be used to improve the efficiency of a skill's proficiency gain, but they can significantly boost it. One Specialization Point is gained per level, and the maximum allocation for each subordinate skill is five points.
Attribute Points are more precious; they not only directly affect the efficiency of all subordinate skills in gaining proficiency but also influence the proficiency cap of all subordinate skills. However, compared to Specialization Points, Attribute Points provide a smaller increase in the efficiency of subordinate skill proficiency gain. Furthermore, one Attribute Point is gained only every four levels, and the maximum for each basic attribute is 10 points.
Aside from the Vigor attribute, the other five basic attributes are described as follows—
[Control: encompasses nerve reaction speed, strength, observation skills, etc. Subordinate skills are Bow, Crossbow, Throwing]
[Endurance: encompasses strength, resilience, immunity, etc. Subordinate skills are Riding, Running, Forging]
[Cunning: encompasses observation skills, nerve reaction speed, comprehension, etc. Subordinate skills are Scouting, Tactics, Roguery]
[Social: encompasses charisma, comprehension, mental capacity, etc. Subordinate skills are Charm, Leadership, Trade]
[Intellect: encompasses comprehension, mental capacity, spirit, etc. Subordinate skills are Management, Medical Skill, Engineering]
When Durin first transmigrated, his character level was 1, with 2 unallocated Attribute Points and 5 unallocated Specialization Points.
After studying the character card system, Durin decided to make good use of the Forging skill to become a blacksmith and achieve financial freedom in this world as soon as possible.
Because in Zaun, blacksmiths are particularly respected.
There's a saying in Zaun: "In Zaun, you should never provoke three types of people—blacksmiths, doctors, or Alchemist Barons."
A seasoned old blacksmith is often a person whom even gangs treat with respect. Forging a qualified longsword, even if sold in the poorest part of the Lower District, can fetch 160 copper circle coins, comparable to a month's rent for a house in the Lower District.
Unfortunately, the idea was good, but reality hit him hard again.
The blacksmith, whose arm was thicker than his head, kept swinging his hammer to drive Durin away when he learned of Durin's purpose, warning him not to step inside.
Because in Zaun, any profession that earns a lot of money and is respected is typically passed down from father to son; ordinary outsiders without proper identification are not allowed to learn them. Only locals born and raised in Zaun are barely qualified to access them.
Of course, the blacksmith also told Durin that unless he was willing to pay a Discipleship fee of approximately 18 silver ring coin, the other party might consider taking him on as a Disciple.
Not only that, he also believed that Durin's physique was too weak, fearing that he couldn't even forge a complete longsword.
After his initial disappointment, Durin did not give up. He kept the blacksmith's words in mind, found a job as a slaughterer first, then allocated his two blank Attribute Points to Vigor and Endurance, and his five blank Specialization Points to One-Handed and Running skills, which might be related to the blacksmith profession.
Then, over eight months, Durin primarily increased the proficiency of his One-Handed and Running skills significantly through his work as a slaughterer killing poultry, raising them from 0 to 48 points and 36 points respectively. His character level also rose from 1 to 3, earning him an additional 2 blank Specialization Points, which he also allocated to the One-Handed and Running skills.
After his One-Handed proficiency reached 48 points and Running proficiency reached 36 points, Durin's physique and strength greatly improved. Not only were his muscles more defined, but he even grew a bit taller, reaching a height of 1.8 meters.
According to Durin's own experience, 48 points in one-handed weapon proficiency was actually not low.
He could even wield a small knife with flashy moves; not to mention butchers, even most gang members couldn't handle a knife as well as him.
With 36 points in Running proficiency, Durin was a bit faster than most ordinary people when lightly equipped, and his carrying capacity was also slightly better than average, able to carry heavy objects weighing over 60 kilograms.
However, as his proficiency increased, Durin also discovered that the proficiency gained from one-handed weapons and Running seemed to be related to the object of attack.
It took Durin at least a hundred repetitive actions to gain one point of proficiency from butchering poultry, and sometimes he wouldn't even get any, but every time he had a necessary violent conflict with someone, he would not only definitely gain proficiency, but the proficiency gained was much higher than from butchering poultry.
It's just that in Zaun, violent conflicts with people could be life-threatening.
Killing poultry, however, was not only safe but also earned him money.
Durin, who cherished his life, didn't want to die inexplicably one day, so he rarely engaged in unnecessary showboating or fights with others.
But overall, Durin found that proficiency became harder to increase the further he went.
The same applied to character levels.
Additionally, for every 25 points accumulated in a single skill's proficiency, he would gain a specialty related to that skill.
For example, Durin's current one-handed weapon proficiency is 48 points.
The first time he could choose a specialty appeared when his proficiency reached 25 points, offering [Wrapped Grip] and [Shield Bash], with their specific effects being—
[Wrapped Grip: Personal one-handed weapon maneuverability +20%. As a captain, your teammates' combat skills receive a small increase.]
[Shield Bash: Shield bash causes longer stun duration and +50% damage. As a captain, damage taken by teammates in shield wall formation -4%.]
Durin immediately chose the first passive specialty without hesitation, and it was precisely because of this passive specialty that Durin was able to fully handle his current job of butchering poultry.
The first choice for a Running specialty also appeared when proficiency reached 25 points, offering [Daily Morning Exercise] and [Strong and Healthy], with their specific effects being—
[Daily Morning Exercise: Your personal movement speed +3%. As a captain, your teammates' movement speed +5%.]
[Strong and Healthy: Your personal maximum health +5. As a captain, your teammates' health +5.]
Durin knew his physique was too frail, and the latter passive specialty was clearly meant to strengthen his constitution.
So, he unhesitatingly chose the [Strong and Healthy] passive specialty.
Overall, Durin's character card system, in the concept of a wuxia game, would be: basic attributes are the character's strength, intelligence, and agility; subordinate skills are martial arts moves; and specialties are various buffs the character receives.
However, the character card system could only give Durin infinite potential for the future, but it couldn't make him ascend to heaven in one step, and it had no relation to magic at all.
So, after more than half a year since transmigrating, Durin had suffered a lot.
Now he had only one thought: he wanted to move out of the Lower District and hoped to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the Mid-level Plaza, because Durin no longer wanted to feel anxious after work every day, and also wanted to breathe cleaner air and not let his life continue to be so oppressive.
The Mid-level Plaza is located below the vaguely defined border between Piltover and Zaun, and this boundary has actually been constantly shifting.
Exchanges, shopping malls, dining clubs, lecture halls, and red-light districts are everywhere, making the Mid-level Plaza one of the most densely populated areas.
People living and working here are also accustomed to considering the Mid-level Plaza as the true location of Zaun.
Naturally, this also attracts residents of Piltover to come here to spend money.
Therefore, the Mid-level Plaza is also where the Alchemist Barons collectively agreed to dispatch their gang members to form a 24-hour, three-shift, 8-person team, consisting of 36 small teams, to ensure the safety of every part of the Mid-level Plaza.
But relying on his current job as a butcher would certainly not be enough, not in a lifetime.
So Durin yearned to quickly gather 18 silver ring coin to become a blacksmith's apprentice, improve his forging ability, and thus become an excellent blacksmith to accumulate a large amount of capital.
By then, whether it was renting a big house in Zaun's most prestigious Promenade Level or heading to Piltover to become a longed-for Piltoverians, both would be good choices.
The lowest level of Zaun is never short of people, so any house that can be converted into a factory, any place that brings income to people, will be occupied by gangs.
The roads leading out from the slaughterhouse to the outside world were generally simply repaired by gangs, barely resembling a path.
The streetlights were crooked lanterns, and there were various thick and asymmetrical pipes.
Some of these pipes connected into houses, some were simply part of the wall, and the surrounding signs were also haphazard, like the Kowloon Walled City in movies, with many stacked signs glowing with light, looking very similar to the style of 1980s tenement buildings as a whole.
However…
The air here is toxic.
Durin carefully avoided a glass tank truck that drove past them, and what was contained in that huge glass tank was a viscous purple liquid.
The glass tank had three green vertical stripes on it, and Durin recognized the symbol of that pattern.
—Silco Family.
The most powerful godfather in the Lower District of Zaun.
Durin's residence is located in Zaun's most chaotic Slums, also the Ninth Avenue of the Lower District.
Various dim lights emanated from the crowded and chaotic low-rise houses, which encroached freely, built against cliffs dozens of meters high.
All kinds of domestic waste rotted between the dwellings, unattended and reeking.
The entire Slums was like a huge abandoned maze; outsiders who entered could not find their way out at all.
Durin walked through the narrow alleys of the Slums, stepping on the industrial sewage on the ground whose color was no longer discernible, heading towards his residence.
The streetlights, spaced far apart on both sides, had become very dim due to disrepair, and some were already broken, with clearly no one to repair or replace them.
Various lights came from all around; the slightly brighter ones were kerosene lamps, while the dimmer ones were candles or the light from burning fish oil.
In this Slums area, although electrical equipment existed, it was not something ordinary people could afford.
After walking for some time, Durin arrived at a jagged alley entrance.
He was fortunate to have lived here for more than half a year, otherwise, he would definitely get lost.
Across the alley corner, there was a small grocery store.
The store had only one floor, with two human-height stone lions placed in front of the door, and the main entrance was a sliding iron gate.
Orange-yellow light glowed inside the door, and one could see two old display counters on the left and right, stocked with various daily necessities, low-quality tobacco, low-quality alcohol, and sea monster meat.
Next to the store entrance, there was a 1.6-meter-high wooden column, on which some pictures and papers were displayed.
In Durin's opinion, this column was a task board, where daily-paid jobs or wanted posters were often posted.
"There are still two black loaves at home, so buying some vegetables will be enough." Durin muttered before stepping into the grocery store, then smiled and greeted the bald strong man inside the store.
"Durin, you're here!"
The bald owner also smiled and greeted him.
He was wearing a black Chinese jacket and a string of beads on his wrist.
He wore a gas mask to help filter toxic gases in the air.
Over the past six months, Durin had visited the store quite frequently, always looking for daily-paid jobs to earn extra money.
Being able to meet such a positive person in Zaun left a relatively deep impression on the owner.
Durin smiled, pulled out a copper circle coin from his pocket, handed it to the bald owner, and said, "One fresh carrot."
However, the bald owner didn't take it, but shook his head and said, "Durin, I'm sorry... um, a fresh carrot now costs 2 copper circle coins."
Durin immediately frowned, "Boss, what do you mean? Why did the price suddenly go up?"
Was he trying to rip off a regular customer?
That shouldn't be the case. This bald boss has left a good impression on Durin over the past six months. Although he isn't a good person, at least he doesn't sell things indiscriminately.
Could it be that something major has happened in Zaun recently?
Indeed, facing Durin's inquiry, the bald boss first looked around, and only after confirming there was no one else did he explain in a low voice, "I can't help it, Durin! Everything has gone up in price since yesterday. I went to the harbor to get supplies this morning, and a single carrot costs 1 copper circle coin. Damn it, those bloodsucking Piltoverianss have raised the prices of everything again. So, all supplies in Zaun have become tight. Yesterday, I even saw two Enforcers come down on the elevator. I guess Zaun is going to be restless again."
Durin couldn't help but frown. Why are these Piltoverianss so troublesome? Now that supplies throughout Zaun have become tight, doesn't that mean the herbs he needs to buy will also increase in price? What about the rent?
It wouldn't go up too, would it!
Thinking of this, Durin's heart immediately sank. He felt he couldn't stay here anymore.