Klein quickly got ready and left the inn, making his way to the Village Hall.
It could be seen as he was on his way to the Village Hall, he could overhear a group of NPCs haggling with a player over the price of some goods in some stores.
The NPCs seemed to understand the player's arguments and countered with their own, negotiating back and forth until they reached a compromise.
The NPCs felt like real people, with their own personalities and quirks.
In his previous life, Klein was in awe as he explored the vast world of the game Martial Evolution. The graphics were stunning, and the gameplay was immersive, but what really impressed him was the level of intelligence the non-playable characters possessed.
However, he knew that there were limitations to what they could say and do. There were certain things that the NPCs just couldn't understand, such as referred to the game as a "simulated reality," or something similar, the NPCs would be in confusion and went back at what they were doing.
Since then, players have come to understand that there were still some limitations to how far the game's realism could go.
When Klein arrived at the Village Hall, he noticed a middle-aged man with a stern expression sitting behind a desk at the back of the room. Klein approached him and introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Klein. I'm here to take on a guerilla mission," Klein said.
The Village Chief, Kano raised an eyebrow. "Are you new to this village?"
Klein nodded. "Yes, I am. But I have experience hunting beasts."
Kano looked him over before nodding. "Alright, we have quite a few options available. Which beast do you plan on hunting?" Kano asked.
Klein glanced at the list of options on the desk and decided on the Ironhoof Bull and the Dreadstag Deer.
Kano raised an eyebrow at Klein's choice.
"Those are both formidable beasts. Are you sure?" Kano asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
Klein nodded in understanding, and Kano directed him to the location of the beasts.
"The Ironhoof Bull and the Dreadstag Deer can be found in the open fields to the east. You have until sundown to hunt as many Ironhoof Bulls and Dreadstag Deers as you can. The more you kill, the greater the reward. Good luck, and be careful out there," Kano said, as Klein left the Village Hall
[Mission Received: Guerilla Mission]
Ironhoof Bull kill count: 0
Dreadstag Deer kill count: 0
Time Limit: 4 Hours
Mission reward: None
....
As Klein made his way through the bustling streets of the village, he headed towards a specific branch of a well-known antique store he knew in his previous life.
He remembered from his previous life that the store could lend up to 10 gold coins to players.
In Martial Evolution the currencies are Bronze Coins, Silver Coins and Gold Coins. 1 Silver Coin equals 100 Bronze Coins, and 1 Gold Coin equals 100 Silver Coins.
As Klein entered the store, he approached the counter, and greeted by an elderly man with a friendly smile.
"Greetings, young man. How may I be of service to you today?" the man asked.
Klein replied, "I would like to borrow 5 gold coins for a month, if possible."
The man's smile faded slightly as he replied, "I'm afraid we do not simply hand out loans to anyone who asks. May I ask what you need the coins for?"
Klein explained his plan to go on a guerilla mission to hunt beasts by the order of the Village Chief and the man's eyes widened in surprise.
"Well, I must say, that is a risky endeavor. However, we do offer loans for such purposes. But please note, the interest rate is 20% per month, and failure to repay will result in consequences," the man warned.
Klein nodded in understanding and signed the necessary paperwork before receiving the 5 gold coins. Then, he quickly made his way to a blacksmith in the village.
*Clank Clank*
As he entered the blacksmith's shop, he was greeted by the sound of clanging metal and the heat of the forge. A burly man with a thick beard approached him.
"What can I do for you?" the blacksmith asked.
Klein replied, "I would like to buy an ordinary bow and a hundred arrows, please."
The blacksmith scratched his beard and said, "That'll be 6 gold coins, lad."
Klein raised an eyebrow. "That seems a bit steep."
The blacksmith chuckled. "You're not the first to haggle with me, boy. But I'm afraid I can't lower the price."
"That's quite expensive," Klein countered. "The materials for making the bow and arrows don't even add up to one gold coin. And I know that the forging service doesn't cost more than two gold coins."
The blacksmith frowned. "I can't lower the price any further. I have to make a profit too, you know."
"I understand that," Klein said, nodding. "But three gold coins is a fair price. It's enough to cover the cost of materials and the forging service, and still give you a decent profit."
The blacksmith hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Three gold coins it is."
Klein handed over the coins and took the bow and arrows. He checked the weight of the bow and the straightness of the arrows, making sure that they were in good condition.
"I also want to buy a knife and a bunch of long ropes…" said Klein innocently.
"…"
As he left the blacksmith's shop, Klein felt satisfied with his negotiation skills. Now, he was ready to face the Ironhoof Bull and the Dreadstag Deer with his new equipment.
…
Emerald Field, a vast open field located to the east of the Icemoor Village.
The field is so named because the area isn't really compacted by snow but rather the lush greenery that covers it, making it look like a sea of emeralds even though it was located in the northern region of the world.
The emerald field is a popular hunting ground for players due to the abundance of wild beasts that roam the area.
However…
*Rumble Rumble*
Two massive herds of beasts clashed against each other in a frenzy. The ground shook with the force of their hooves, and the air was thick with the sound of bellowing and snorting.
[Ironhoof Bull]
Level: 4
HP: 108/112
[Ironhoof Bull]
Level: 5
HP: 97/152
…
[Dreadstag Deer]
Level: 5
HP: 80/142
[Dreadstag Deer]
Level: 6
HP: 70/162
…
It was a herd of Ironhoof Bulls and a herd of Dreadstag Deer!
Klein watched from a safe distance as the two herds clashed.
He had carefully approached the herds and shot a few arrows, luring their attention to one another.
The Dreadstag Deer and Ironhoof Bull, both territorial beasts, quickly became aggressive towards each other and engaged in a stampede.
Normally, to hunt a herd of beasts, several teams of at least 5 members per team are required. However, Klein knew from his previous life that some players used this tactic to level up quickly, so he decided to try it out for himself.
The clash was violent, with the sound of hooves and antlers clashing echoing across the field. Some players who had been watching from a distance thought they could take advantage of the situation, but they quickly realized their mistake as they were trampled underfoot or gored by the enraged beasts the moment they were spotted. They were instantly transported back to their spawn point in the village.
Klein watched the chaos with a satisfied grin. He had planned this stampede carefully, knowing that the two herds would clash and create the perfect opportunity for him to hunt down the beast with the lowest HP so he could shoot it down.
With his bow and arrow ready, Klein carefully selected his targets, taking down the Ironhoof Bulls and the Dreadstag Deers with his bow one by one.
[Killed a Level 2 Ironhoof Bull, Exp +15(+15)]
[Killed a level 1 Dreadstag Deer, Exp +8(+8)]
[Killed a Level 3 Dreadstag Deer, Exp +22(+22)]
…
*Ding*
[Level up]
*Ding*
[Level Up]
....