The few players who had calmed down gathered together to discuss the real challenge that lay before them.
"Those monsters are blocking our quests, what are we going to do?"
"We unite!"
"Attack from both sides!"
The players looked at each other, falling silent.
Stuffing both sides into their mouths would be more apt.
"Did anyone just now catch a glimpse of those monsters' attributes?"
A female player perked up, raising her hand, "I hit one with a shot, saw a bit."
"What about it, what about it?"
The female player looked at her own panel's combat history and recited from it.
[Green Wolf (Wild):Health Points 56/60; Defensive Power 10; Agility 97%; Trait: Tough Fur...]
[Tough Fur: Prior to receiving injury that exceeds its defensive power by a factor of two, it can significantly reduce the damage from piercing and slashing attacks.]
"I don't know more than that."
Another male player showed off his left arm, which had a chunk torn out, "As for their offensive attributes... I got scratched by one, so I do know some additional info."
[Green Wolf (Wild):Attack Strength (Type: Slashing) 5~7; Trait: Bacterial Claws...]
[Bacterial Claws: A beast's habit of carrying lethal bacteria and viruses on their claws to other creatures, the wounds inflicted by these claws "cannot heal naturally."]
"You'd be dead after a few scratches from them..."
"You'd need to hit them with a dozen or so shots from this crappy pistol to kill one..."
The players sighed in frustration.
At the end of the day, all fear always comes from inadequate firepower.
"It's just that the pistols we have are too weak. If I had a machine gun, I'd turn into Rambo right away!"
"Where would you get a machine gun during the newbie phase? It's more realistic to get more bullets and steal a little at a time."
"So, about the bullets?"
"How about we distribute our bullets, work on quests together, and focus fire on those wolf cubs when we encounter them!"
"Good idea, how many bullets do you have?"
"21..."
"You?"
"8..."
"What about you guys?"
"15."
"1."
"44."
"???"
All eyes turned towards the female player, their gazes filled with disbelief, "How do you have so many?"
The female player innocently countered, "What's the issue? Weren't the bullets 2 blackwater coins each? Didn't we start with 50?"
"Weren't they 3 blackwater coins each?"
"Weren't they 4 blackwater coins each?"
"Weren't they 5 blackwater coins each?"
Kuang Xin was stunned on the spot, "Weren't they 10 blackwater coins each?"
"..."
Feeling like the biggest grievance under everyone's scrutinizing eyes, Kuang Xin felt as though he were a beacon of resentment.
The game didn't have uniform pricing?
Recalling Hans's face, Kuang Xin had never found the missing-toothed smile so vile.
You old wall lamp! Wait till I get back and scatter your ashes!
Someone else spotted a loophole and pointed to the girl's gun, asking, "What about your gun?"
The girl naturally replied, "It came free with the bullets..."
"..."
His heart ached; Kuang Xin felt as though a knife was ruthlessly gouging his heart.
"Shall we redistribute the bullets, then?"
The player left with 8 bullets suggested eagerly with a hopeful expression.
The female player narrowed her eyes warily, clutching her bag and slowly stepping back, "I have something else to do..."
The player with 21 bullets simply stood up and made a dash for it, "I've got things to do, too. See you later."
"My mom's calling me to drink milk, logging off for now."
"Sure."
The negotiation fell apart.
In this game, where training could acquire various abilities, bullets were a resource that could be directly converted into one's combat prowess.
Who would share their own abilities with others?
Frustrated, Kuang Xin could only return to the settlement with his pistol that had only one bullet left, intending to make Hans repent with that single bullet.
After thinking about the quest he still had with him, and considering he was new and unclear about the NPCs' strength and the game world's rules, he suppressed this dangerous thought.
Calm once again, Kuang Xin decided to outwit Hans, engage in a battle of wits and bravery.
"I need bullets, or I can't catch those cunning little things."
Hans spread his hands, "Those are very precious materials... there must be a give and take, if you bring me enough meat, maybe I can find a way to get you some more bullets."
Kuang Xin stared into his eyes.
"But I need bullets now to complete... to bring you more meat."
"No, no, no!"
Hans waved his finger with an odd intonation, "If you don't bring me meat, I cannot give you bullets."
"If you don't give me bullets, I can't bring you meat!"
"..."
Hans remained silent, looking at Kuang Xin as if he were looking at an idiot.
Damn it!
Kuang Xin was furious, drawing his pistol with the last bullet.
"Old man, don't push it too far! You know how expensive you sold those bullets to me!"
Hearing Kuang Xin finally bring up the fact he had been cheated, Hans, who had been nervously guilty, finally felt relieved.
"Ah haha, cash on delivery, a transaction you agreed to, what's this about being fair or unfair?"
"..."
Damn it!
This NPC makes a good point.
Composing himself, Kuang Xin raised his makeshift gun, "I won't fuss over the past, just compensate me with some bullets, and I'll pretend this never happened."
Hans looked at Kuang Xin with a smile, and after a while, spit out two words, "Dream on."
"..."
Why can he be so shameless?!
Kuang Xin was going crazy inside, but he had no good solution for these NPCs.
I'll find a chance to get back at you later, but not now.
"Then you should compensate me with something."
"Compensation?"
Hans still had a smile, "You need bullets?"
"Yes!"
"Here!"
Hans nodded towards a certain direction, "Or you could try your luck over there."
Once bitten, twice shy, Kuang Xin kept his wits about him and asked cautiously.
"What place is that?"
"The military base... they often deal with some discarded materials, maybe you can find some of the things you want there... even better ones."
[Map Information Obtained (Unidentified): Military Base.]
[Intelligence Information Obtained (Unidentified): It's possible to acquire certain discarded materials near the military base, some of which may be useful to you...]
Kuang Xin was slightly pleased inside.
It looked like this was his opportunity!
Based on his many years of gaming experience, games tended to be about fairness.
They had bought bullets for two Blackwater coins; he had bought information for a hundred Blackwater coins.
Perfectly reasonable.
This was a case of 'spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones.'
Wisdom!
Keeping his face expressionless, Kuang Xin nodded coldly.
"I've noted that!"
Watching Kuang Xin's retreating figure, Hans lamented in his heart—
The naive out-of-towner who had gifted him meat was gone... sigh~
If only the Lord of the City could see this, he'd hope to see him shot! Steel door!
Turning around and lowering the hand cannon he had carried on his back, Hans looked at his hands and muttered to himself, "Strange, why do I feel like my strength increased a little just now?"