“No need. It would be perfect if I could exchange them for some silver and copper coins instead.”
“It would be my pleasure to assist you.”
Swiftly, Alys exchanged Yue Wu’s gold. He received ten thousand silver coins and one million copper coins, each equivalent in value to one hundred gold coins.
“As you requested, the exchange is complete. But how do you intend to transport them?”
What was initially a single, slightly larger pouch of gold coins now amounted to a dozen or twenty bags. Yet, Yue Wu felt no apprehension about carrying them, for he possessed the boundless spatial rift known as the Gate of Babylon.
“Many thanks.”
With a snap of Yue Wu’s fingers, all the bags on the table vanished into thin air.
“Please accept this emblem, esteemed guest. We have branches of Fairy Home all across the O Continent. Should you wish to purchase or sell any gems, you may go there. With this emblem, you will receive preferential treatment.”
Alys was utterly stunned by Yue Wu’s display, but she managed to feign composure as she spoke with him.
“Oh, thank you very much. I will certainly make use of it if the need arises.”
“Let’s go. First, we eat.”
Yue Wu and Jeanne D’Arc departed from the Fairy Home, intent on finding a place for a grand feast before heading to the mercenary guild to register their own.
****
‘I must report this to the master. Legendary spatial magic!’
After Yue Wu and Jeanne D’Arc had left, Alys immediately went to the back office to report what she had witnessed to the young man there.
“Waiter, bring me your finest dishes! One of each!”
In a tavern, Yue Wu slapped the table with a flourish and called out loudly. Across from him, Jeanne D’Arc, experiencing such a place for the first time, felt a slight unease.
“Are you looking down on us because you think we have no money?”
Having spoken, Yue Wu conjured over a dozen gold coins from thin air, placing them on the table with the air of a wealthy lord. Instantly, a server scampered over, eagerly awaiting his order.
“Brother, can we really eat all that? You ordered so much.”
Jeanne D’Arc whispered to Yue Wu after the server had left.
“Just eat to your heart’s content. If you can’t finish it, I will. I can eat a lot, you know.”
Yue Wu patted his chest and chuckled. Unbeknownst to him, a group of people in the tavern were secretly plotting something malicious.
“Guests, your dinner is ready.”
Platter after platter of luxurious dishes were laid upon the table. Yue Wu, without ceremony, began to devour his meal ravenously, while Jeanne D’Arc ate with more refined manners.
After about ten minutes, all the plates on the table lay empty, not a scrap remaining. The tavern patrons stared at Yue Wu, who was sprawled in his chair, as if he were some kind of monster.
“Excuse me, lad—er, no, server.”
After the meal, Yue Wu let out a satisfied burp and called out to a server who happened to be passing by.
“Do you need anything, esteemed guest?”
“Do you have rooms available here?”
“Our establishment provides accommodation. What kind of room would you require, sir?”
“What types do you have?”
“We have standard, medium, superior, and deluxe.”
“Then two superior rooms, please.”
“Very well. Please wait a moment while I check for availability.”
“Go on, and return quickly.”
Shortly after, the server approached Yue Wu with a hint of apology in their demeanor.
“I apologize, esteemed guest! The superior rooms are all taken.”
“Then medium.”
“I’m afraid those are also unavailable, as are the standard rooms.”
“Then what’s left? A deluxe room?”
“Indeed, there is one deluxe room remaining, suitable for two people.”
“The deluxe room will do then. Here is payment for the meal and the accommodation.”
Yue Wu left ten gold coins on the table and led Jeanne D’Arc back to their room. Before departing, he added a remark to the server.
“Do you sell testing crystals here? If so, please buy one for me. Thanks.”
The server enthusiastically agreed and quickly procured a testing crystal. Yue Wu, in turn, gave them three gold coins, which delighted the server immensely.
“Jeanne D’Arc, are you finished washing up?”
Inside the room, Yue Wu sat in a chair, idly examining the testing crystal in his hand. It looked like nothing more than an ordinary crystal ball, leaving him somewhat puzzled.
“I’m done.”
Jeanne D’Arc, having finished her bath, approached Yue Wu in her own sleepwear.
“Then let’s begin.”
Yue Wu first had Jeanne D’Arc sit before him. He held the testing crystal in one hand, slowly infusing it with magic until it glowed brightly before returning to its normal state. Only then did he instruct Jeanne D’Arc to place her hand upon the crystal ball.
Mere seconds after Jeanne D’Arc touched the testing crystal, it illuminated. First came the dazzling white light of the light attribute, followed by the scorching red glow of the fire attribute, and finally, a faint, murky trace of the dark attribute. But it did not end there. After the testing crystal finished assessing Jeanne D’Arc’s attributes, a string of information appeared before Yue Wu—a display from his own inherent viewing system.
Jeanne D’Arc
Race: Human
Age: 14
Occupation: None
Affiliation: None
Attributes: Light, Fire, Dark
Strength: F
Constitution: F
Endurance: F
Magic Power: E
Spirit: E
Agility: F
‘Though I knew Jeanne D’Arc’s approximate attributes in the game, her current state differs vastly from that. If she can reach the game’s level within five years, Jeanne D’Arc would undoubtedly be a genius—a genius in both magic and martial arts!’
Yue Wu was so engrossed in the virtual panel before him that he didn’t even notice when Jeanne D’Arc removed her hand. She called out to him from where she sat, but he remained unresponsive.
“Brother!”
Only when Jeanne D’Arc came to his side and shouted loudly did he snap back to reality.
“Ah, I apologize. I was lost in thought just now.”
“That’s enough for tonight. Go to sleep. I’ll sleep on the sofa here. Tomorrow, I’ll get you some personal items.”
Yue Wu affectionately stroked Jeanne D’Arc’s head. In his heart, he had come to regard her as a younger sister, an act that also served to atone for some past regrets.
Once, Yue Wu had a happy and complete family. Then, twelve years ago, an explosion at his parents’ workplace claimed their lives, leaving behind him and his younger sister, who was three years his junior. At the time, Yue Wu was studying abroad. Not long after their parents’ passing, his sister, unable to endure the bullying, tragically took her own life in despair, leaving him utterly alone. It wasn’t until three months after the incident that someone claiming to be a friend of his parents found him and revealed the full truth of what had happened.
That year, Yue Wu dropped out of college and returned home, drifting aimlessly for twelve years. Throughout that time, he never left the house, spending all his days playing games—specifically, the recently launched game, *The Extradimensional World*, or TEW for short. Within the game, he met many people, made several friends, and even formed a guild called the Ten Ringbearers. It was during that period that Yue Wu found a renewed motivation to live, constantly striving to change himself over those twelve years, yet he still harbored deep self-blame for the deaths of his parents and sister.
“Good night, Brother.”
Jeanne D’Arc clearly relished Yue Wu’s tender gesture. After bidding him good night, she went to sleep.
“Well, it’s getting late. I should probably swat these mosquitoes and get some sleep myself.”
Yue Wu stood up and stretched, feeling a sudden wave of drowsiness. However, a few mosquitoes were hovering outside, making it impossible to sleep soundly, so Yue Wu decided to go out and dispatch them.
****
“Hurry up, everyone!”
A group of figures had gathered outside the door of the tavern’s luxurious private room. Each clutched a weapon, clad in black, resembling a band of brigands intent on a home invasion.
“You all know the plan, right? We’ll act according to it in a moment.”
A lean-faced man leaned against the wall, turning his head to address those behind him.
“Yes, Boss!”
The group was well aware of the plan: to wait until the occupants were asleep, steal their money and valuables, and then kidnap them to demand a hefty ransom from their families. What they didn’t know, however, was that a guest had infiltrated their ranks and was now enthusiastically joining in their antics.
“So, what exactly is the plan?”
Yue Wu, standing at the very back, asked with the curiosity of a child.
“Are you daft? The plan is, of course…”
The man in front of Yue Wu was a slightly corpulent, living barrel of a man. He proceeded to explain the details of the plan to Yue Wu.
“Oh~! I see.”
Yue Wu feigned a sudden realization and patted the stout man’s shoulder.
“Good that you understand.”
The stout man, pleased with himself for educating a new subordinate, felt a surge of importance. But Yue Wu’s next words left him utterly dumbfounded.
“So, you’re planning to kidnap me, then?”
Yue Wu asked, a playful grin on his face, as he continued to pat the stout man’s shoulder.
“Boss, the fat sheep is right here! And he knows our plan!”
After a moment, the stout man finally registered Yue Wu’s words and loudly called out to the group, who had already pried open the door and entered the room.
“Shh, keep your voice down. People are resting downstairs. It wouldn’t be good to disturb them.”
Yue Wu kindly reminded the stout man.
“Oh, you’re right! No, no, no! Just wait until I catch you!”
The stout man spun around, intending to seize Yue Wu, but his embrace met only empty air.
“I say, Fatty, I’m right here.”
Without anyone noticing, Yue Wu had appeared behind the stout man. He playfully patted his shoulder, reminding him, and had even prepared something beforehand.
“You dare to toy with Master Baolun? Take this!”
Infuriated by Yue Wu’s teasing, the stout man turned and threw a punch.
“Pwah!”
Unfortunately, the stout man failed to realize that his punch had landed squarely on a confederate’s face, sending them flying a considerable distance.
“Oh, crumbs! Too much force! The boss is going to scold me. What do I do?”
Yue Wu stood beside the stout man, impishly pretending to survey the scene ahead.
“Hey! How are you over there?”
Upon hearing Yue Wu’s voice, the stout man turned his head, spotted him, and wore an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
“Just wait, you’re about to see a good show.”
Seeing the stout man about to move again, Yue Wu quickly stopped him.
“A good show? What kind of good show?”
The stout man actually paused, curiously questioning Yue Wu.