'Hmm?' Jesse opened a message and read it out loud. "I am willing to purchase the information. I am willing to pay 100 crowns if you personally take me there."
'I see.' Jesse rubbed his chin. 'This guy is smart. It is his way of ensuring that he won't get scammed. If If he starts suspecting that I am scamming him, he can kill my player avatar. He would then also remember my face.'
Jesse lowered the phone for a moment and frowned thoughtfully. 'I would only accept it if he paid me first. There is also the danger that this guy might try to rob me. However, should I really be scared? I am level 3 and have a steel shortsword. I should be stronger than the average player.
'However, there is a danger that he will have friends nearby, ready to help him. No matter how I think about this, I am at a disadvantage.'
Jesse left the chat and checked other messages. None of the people who messaged him were ready to pay up front.
'I guess there is no other choice.' Jesse returned to the previous chat and pondered for a little longer. 'The question remains. Is 100 crowns worth more than my stuff in the game? Any other person would say yes; 100 crowns are worth more.
'However, to me, it really isn't.'
Jesse hesitated before typing a message.
[Ambrose: I accept, on one condition. You must be alone]
'If I see anyone following, I will just run into the forest and escape.' This was Jesse's way of ensuring a higher chance of success. If the guy didn't accept the condition, he would have to wait for a better offer.
There was still a danger of more people finding the Crow Cave and also selling the information.
'That guy must also be aware of more people finding it. Time is of the essence, especially when I noted that only 10 people might get rewards from the trial.'
He waited in silence, and after five minutes, he was ready to close the phone and enter Martial Online.
Buzz... The phone vibrated as a result of receiving a message.
Jesse quickly opened the forum and the message.
[Prince: Deal. See you in Amaterasu's Green Light Tea Shop]
Jesse relaxed and took a deep breath. He then checked his bank account. He added to the post his bank details, where people could send money to. The account could only be used by Jesse himself.
And soon, 100 crowns appeared in his account.
He pocketed the phone and laid down on the bed. He took the VR headset and put it over his head. After the golden visor covered his vision, he pressed the button and entered the world of endless white.
...
"Haaah..." Ambrose took a deep breath after inhaling the fresh air. He opened his eyes with a smile and saw NPCs and players walking in harmony in the street. The blue sky stretched to the ends of the world, with strange-shaped clouds drifting aimlessly.
The yellowish wheel of fire sent rays of heat across the land, but the pleasant wind kept everyone cool.
It looked like a perfect day for panic. However, no one had any intention of relaxing, as it was also a perfect day for grinding levels!
'Green Light Tea Shop—I've never heard of that place before.' Ambrose thought to himself, and before going out of his way to find the place, he wanted to purchase something first.
After spending 210 silvers on two steel shortswords, he had 9 silvers left. He didn't plan on saving them, as there was something important he had to buy.
Steaming buns!
They cost 1 silver individually. He could purchase nine of them, and each gave 10 HP if consumed fully. It was incredibly helpful, especially since Ambrose had only 6 HP currently.
The HP would return to full if the player was killed, but not if the player logged out. Therefore, he had to eat four steaming buns alone to get back to full HP. Then he would have five buns left for the journey to Crow Cave.
Ambrose looked around the street in search of street vendors who sold steaming buns. At the same time, he noticed that he was getting attention from fellow players. They were looking at his black cloak, as many players were still stuck in basic clothing.
'Maybe I look like an experienced player. It could keep players with nefarious intent away...'
After a while of searching, he found a street vendor who sold hot food. He bought nine steaming buns, totaling nine silvers. He was back to zero silvers.
Ambrose looked at his interface with a pained gaze but felt better after seeing the steaming buns inside the plastic bag he was carrying. He found a bench to sit on and then consumed four steaming buns.
It was like his stomach was a limitless pit.
After consuming them, his health returned to full.
[HP: 40/40]
'Anyway, time to go find the tea shop.' Ambrose added the rest of the steaming buns to his inventory and then went to look for the tea shop.
He asked for directions from NPCs, and they surprisingly answered with very detailed directions. A few of them even offered to show the way.
Ambrose simply smiled and thanked them for the directions. He didn't need anyone to show him the way since he already had a hunch about where the tea shop was.
He soon came across a street where the sweet scent of food lingered in the air. It was a street with a lot of restaurants, food stores, and cafes. At the end of the street, there was a three-story building with pleasant decorations and beautiful flowers on its windowsills.
There were four steps that led to the front door, which had a sign on the window.
[Green Light Tea Shop]
'Found it.' Ambrose picked up his pace and arrived on the front steps. He looked around but only saw beautiful and handsome NPCs walking side-by-side, some entering nice restaurants while others ate food outside on terraces because of the good weather.
The door of the tea shop swung open, and a young man dressed in a white linen shirt and brown trousers left the store. He was very handsome, with bright blue eyes, a dainty nose, and a wide forehead.
He was clean-shaven and looked to be in his early twenties, with an athletic body as if he were a real athlete and curly blond hair, which added more charm to his appearance. He was clearly the center of attention wherever he went.
The young man lowered his gaze and saw a hooded figure with sickly, pale skin. He then looked at the black cloak thoughtfully.
"Ambrose, I suppose."
"Ah, yes." Ambrose nodded and hesitantly said. "You are... Prince?"
"Yeah." Prince stepped down the steps and walked over to Ambrose. He put his hand out for a handshake. "Let's have good cooperation."
"Sure." Ambrose shook the hand and then asked. "When do you want to leave?"
"Right away would be best." Prince said, and then he muttered softly. "Inventory."
He reached his hand into the empty air and pulled out a woolen brown cloak, then wrapped it around his body.
'He also has a cloak, but this one is different.' Ambrose looked at the handsome young man differently than before. He clearly wasn't a nobody with a big wallet. He was clearly an experienced player.
"Let's join the party." Prince said and sent a party invitation.
'I guess there is a reason to join the party, but I don't know what.' Ambrose accepted the invitation, as he didn't expect it to be harmful to him.
"Let's go." Prince turned around and began walking down the street. He clearly took the leading position in the party, as if he had been used to doing that.
Ambrose followed after him. He noticed that almost all players and NPCs took notice of Prince. He was like a famous celebrity, and they were his fans.
'Hmm, even NPCs are attracted to him. Is this because of his charm stat? I wonder just how high that is, or is there something to it…'