Players' NPC Big Daddy

The so-called perk for topping up one hundred thousand Gold Coins was the ability to purchase on credit, pay in installments, and enjoy the goods in advance.

Greenland contentedly opened the box containing the map of the Land of Eternal Slumber for Flying Dragon Species. Inside rested a red crystal.

”This thing is worth 250,000 Gold Coins.”

Blaze stood behind Greenland, studying the crystal. A reward of one hundred thousand Gold Coins was enough for Greenland to splurge freely, but this crystal had instantly plunged her into massive debt.

In reality, however, Greenland was the one taking advantage of the deal.

The magnificent Dragon Species possessed a physiological structure completely different from other creatures. They could be killed, but they would never die of old age; they would only continuously age until they eventually entered a death-like slumber. In this state, the Dragon Species possessed immense Power but absolutely no ability to resist. Anyone could kill them and steal their Power.

Therefore, the Land of Eternal Sleep of the Dragon Species was naturally their greatest secret. Even the medium for the map was an incredibly rare Memory Crystal, which only dropped after a dragon’s death.

”You’re bleeding money on this. Are you sure you’re okay?” Blaze looked at Herbie. He remembered her mentioning earlier that because the theater she invested in was disrupted and seized by Foreigners, her position in Hermes’ Travel Hat was currently unstable. Yet, here she was, bringing out such a precious item.

”The Memory Crystal for the Dragon Species’ Land of Eternal Sleep is a priceless treasure, but it’s also something that simply doesn’t sell,” Herbie said, not seeming to mind as she briskly packed away her wares.

”Once this Memory Crystal is used, the user will draw the hostility of all Dragon Species and be hunted down by them. Aside from Vice Aliens, no one dares to use it.

”Furthermore, even if someone wanted to harvest the Dragon Species in the Land of Eternal Sleep, they would need to equip immensely powerful Dragon Slaying Armor just to shatter their scales.

”Only a Profession like the Death Druid, which can forcibly form contracts with half-dead, Undying creatures, can reap the greatest benefits in the Dragon Species’ Land of Eternal Sleep.”

Herbie’s principle was to sell every product for its maximum value while securing the customer’s long-term loyalty. Looking at Greenland, who was smiling like a fool, it was clear she was already thoroughly leashed by Herbie.

”This is for you.” Herbie struggled to carry out a large box and pushed it toward Blaze. ”Remember what you said before about the Profession you wanted to unlock? Inside this is—”

”Wait.” Blaze stopped her. Herbie was acting much more like a proper Merchant than usual, earnestly introducing her goods and carefully analyzing the pros and cons. This was entirely unlike Herbie Hermes’s usual style. At a time like this, she should be glib-tongued and pushing her luck.

”Tell me the truth.”

Herbie pursed her lips. She glanced at Audrey, who was trying to mount a Fast-Walking Ostrich, and Greenland, who was still giggling to herself while fantasizing about the future.

”The losses from the Epidaurus Theater are much larger than I imagined,” Herbie whispered. ”And since I was the one who single-handedly managed this project, I have to take responsibility for the deficit. The best-case scenario is that I lose my position as a partner. The worst-case scenario is that I’m saddled with massive debt and fired.”

”So you’re taking advantage of the fact that you still have your position to scheme for us—”

THWACK!

Herbie viciously rapped Blaze on the head. Tears immediately welled up in her own eyes from the pain, but she remained stubborn.

”Do I look like such a kind-hearted person? I’m preparing a way out for myself.” Leaning against the table, Herbie whispered fiercely into Blaze’s ear. ”I’m a Merchant, but before that, I was a liar and a thief. If I’m going to be fired by Hermes’ Travel Hat, then I’ll swindle a massive sum from them to invest in you and the future Vice Aliens. I’ll use you all to stage my comeback.

”Don’t use that simple brain of yours to mistake something so straightforward for self-sacrifice.”

”Is that so?” Blaze smiled helplessly, but instead of accepting the box, he pushed it back.

”I told you this is an early investment! Why are you rejecting it?” Herbie grew anxious.

”Isn’t our commission to escort Audrey to Lai Kaion City and then help her inherit the title of Lord? Paying the reward in advance doesn’t seem like something a Merchant should do.” Blaze raised a hand and placed it on Herbie’s head, ruffling her hair. As he rubbed her head, he sighed inwardly. He wondered how such a small head could hold so many scheming thoughts.

”Seriously, I hate people like you who make me feel like I still have a conscience,” Herbie muttered with a pout, crossing her arms over her chest. ”Well, I’m going to squeeze every last drop of profit out of you, so you’d better watch out.”

”All right, all right.”

Audrey, who was saddling the Fast-Walking Ostrich, curled the corners of her lips into a smile. It seemed she didn’t need to worry about Herbie anymore.

Outside Wolf Head Grass Village, Audrey was giving Romeo her final instructions. They were primarily concerning the safety of the Arcadians.

Tonight, they would carry out the Assassination of the Deputy Lord, ending the Witch Hunting as quickly as possible.

However, Greenland had mentioned that not all Foreigners would obediently give up. Some would take advantage of the chaos, directly slaughtering Arcadians just to climb the leaderboards. That segment of players didn’t care about the consequences of such actions, nor did they care about whether they could obtain the Knight Profession. The only thing they wanted was to trample on others in the rankings to show off their prowess.

This was the inevitable side effect of publicly revealing information.

Lai Kaion City was a focal point for many players, so those unscrupulous individuals would set their sights on other small villages. Now, Hermes’ Travel Hat had already transported the Arcadians from the other villages to the Sacrificial Stone Forest. Until Audrey inherited the title and declared the Witch Hunting over and the rankings Invalid, the Arcadians could only hide there.

Naturally, Romeo and the other Silver Believers who possessed combat capabilities would be responsible for acting as Guards.

”This is arguably the most crude and hasty succession ceremony in the history of the Arcadia Clan. Even after falling to the rank of Count, we have never cut corners on a succession ceremony. It has always been witnessed by all the people across our territory,” the eighty-six-year-old Village Chief couldn’t help but sigh, feeling a sense of injustice for Audrey.

Audrey, however, didn’t feel that way at all. She proudly raised her chin.

”I am inheriting this title at the exact moment the Arcadians march toward a brand new future. The grandeur of this succession ceremony is second only to that of the founding Silver King Lycan.

”Even if you are far away in the Sacrificial Stone Forest, you will know of this moment the instant the Sun rises!”

”Ah, the youth,” the Village Chief said, shaking his head with a smile as he hobbled onto the final carriage. ”The future is your era now.”

”Then...” Audrey mounted the Fast-Walking Ostrich, her gaze firmly fixed on the distant Silver castle.

It was the place where the tragedy began, and it would also be the place where the tragedy ended.

”Move out! Destination: Lai Kaion City!”