The Great Thief

”Everything I know in my life is wrong…” Marin Noggenfogger murmured.

If he hadn’t researched the wrong thing, he could have at least made a little money with his intelligence and ability. That way, he wouldn’t be too poor to confess to his Goddess.

”Mr Marin, Mr Marin…”

Lu Li’s voice sounded like it came from afar and awakened the Goblin.

Lu Li wanted to beat this guy up, just in case his asking price was too high, but if he accidently killed this dumb child, who else would he ask for the formula?

”Sir, you haven’t left yet. Please don’t bother me anymore; let me die in peace,” Noggenfogger pleaded desperately.

”Marin, I think you’re on the cutting edge here,” Lu Li said solemnly. ”You’re young and you can start your research again. Your current research isn’t without value either. Do you believe that?”

”What does it matter if I believe it? I’m about to die from my sickness. I can’t start over.”

Marin Noggenfogger felt like his life was fading.

”You can find a good doctor to heal you. Then, you can continue your research or maybe start something new, but you need to make some money before finding Sprinkle so she will marry you. After that, she’ll give you a son. How about that?” Lu Li was the devil who had climbed out of hell, and was showing him an ideal future.

Marin Noggenfogger had been moved.

He was unwilling to let his work be wasted and he didn’t want to give up on Sprinkles. Marin Noggenfogger loved her so much that he was happy just to see her from afar.

”Please adventurer, help me!” When he thought about how he would never see her again, Marin Noggenfogger struggled to get up.

”I’m actually a research fanatic with a particular interest in Alchemy. If you want my help, you need to exchange your knowledge for it…” Lu Li said as he touched his stubble, appearing quite sophisticated.

What he was implying was that he wanted the formula!

”Knowledge…” Marin Noggenfogger looked awkwardly before shaking his head and saying, ”I have tried to write out my formula before, but I always failed, and it was never recognized by alchemists.”

Not all words written on a piece of paper could be called a formula – they had to be System approved.

Some formulas were unobtainable by players. Those kinds couldn’t be written down.

Lu Li tried to calmly hide his disappointment. Fortunately, it was late and Marin Noggenfogger couldn’t see him very well. Otherwise, he would have re-evaluated the value of his research.

In the end, there was no formula to be had – it was just this guy and his research.

Of course, there was no way to directly prove this, but it seemed to be the case. Lu Li racked his brains as the Goblin waited in anticipation.

He wanted to take advantage of this Goblin’s rise to power, but it was looking quite difficult now.

”As long as you help me, I swear I will repay you a thousand times over. I swear on Sprinkles’ name,” Marin Noggenfogger promised through clenched teeth. Lu Li could wait, but he couldn’t. He was most afraid of this live-saving rope deciding that he wasn’t worth it and leaving.

”Let’s go to the tavern. I think you need to have some food,” Lu Li suggested, then picked up the weak goblin.

”Ah, no matter what, I give you many thanks,” Marin Noggenfogger said gratefully. He was a little confused by Lu Li’s weird and volatile attitude. He couldn’t work it out, even with his high IQ.

All the taverns were bustling with players, NPCs and adventurers. Although Lu Li blended in quite well, Marin Noggenfogger stood out.

”It’s another fool. Hopefully, he doesn’t think that a quest will be triggered,” said a player who recognized Marin Noggenfogger.

There were many Gadgetzan Goblin NPCs, and while Marin Noggenfogger was one of the less eye-catching ones, there were many players that had approached him to try their luck. One by one, everyone slowly realized that this Goblin was so poor that he was just waiting for death to come.

”Marin Noggenfogger has fallen to this point, and yet he is still clinging onto that ridiculous and unrealistic research?” This was the attitude of an NPC, and it couldn’t be described as friendly.

Lu Li indifferently place Marin onto a faraway table.

They were in a remote place, but the service was still good.

All kinds of fine drinks and even lamb chops were quickly served by the waiters. The other players shook their heads at Lu Li, thinking about how expensive this supposedly hidden quest was.

Marin Noggenfogger was completely sluggish, but he suddenly felt his illness disappear as he grew an impulse to eat some beef.

Lu Li quietly watched him eat while he slowly sipped a glass of ale.

There was a large temperature difference in the desert environment. The ground was so hot in the day that you could cook eggs on it, but it was dead cold at night.

The tavern was filled with food and wine, and the fireplace was lit with the finest charcoal. At this time, Marin Noggenfogger was lost in a moment of happiness.

”You are so generous sir. I will definitely repay you in future,” Marin Noggenfogger said as he wiped his mouth. The pale white goblin had finally regained some color on his face.

”In the future? What will you be in future, Mr Marin? Are you going to go back and sleep on the dirty alley?” Lu Li asked as he kindly smiled.

Marin Noggenfogger’s heart fluttered; he hated the few days that he had spent living in that alley. He

”I have a contract here.” Lu Li felt like this was the moment.

If he had taken this out while Marin Noggenfogger was still in the alley, he would have been able to think about it properly. However, while he was in this cosy environment where everything felt easy, he would never want to go back to that cold alley again.

”Sir, you are a devil in a Night Elf’s body,” he said as he signed his name without even reading it and pricked his thumb to drip some blood over the runes on the contract.

”I have given you the power of choice, Mr Marin. Our cooperation should be enjoyable.”

Lu Li suppressed his racing heart and took back the contract. The dagger he was holding was shaking, as if it was being blown by the wind.

He impatiently cut his finger with the dagger and dripped his blood onto the runes.

Now that the contract had been executed, it burned up and disappeared. Not even the little ashes were left behind.