Kapitel 5: Rare Rank Quest
Derek was still in disbelief that BlackMerchant was now on his friend list and claimed to be struggling financially. He had always envied BlackMerchant's fame and the invitations from top guilds. As the topic of guilds came to mind, he asked, "First of all, why are you levelling with us, who are considered nobody? Do you even realize how many top guilds have sent invitations? Why didn't you join one of them?"
Rian was again caught off guard by Derek's sudden questions. Confused, he replied, "What are you talking about? Joining a guild and invitations? Why would I join some guild that has even put a bounty on my head?"
Derek noticed Rian's confusion from his speaking language and said, "I think you might have misunderstood the bounty. How can you not have seen what's trending on the forums and social media?"
Rian said, "I don't have a smartphone to check social media or forums." Derek was taken aback and thought Rian was joking. "In this age, you don't have a smartphone? Are you serious, or are you just messing with me?"
"Okay, just wait a moment while I clear my mind," Derek said, stepping away to gather his thoughts.
As Derek took a moment to think, the rest of the party observed from a distance, wondering if Rian might refuse to pay.
When Derek returned, he said, "Alright, let me give you all the information you need. First, the bounty placed on your head was meant to find you, not to hunt you. Second, nearly all the top guilds have extended invitations for you to join them, offering substantial benefits. Lastly, due to your seemingly unlimited stock of potions, they've proposed some serious contracts to you."
Rian's mind nearly went blank as he absorbed Derek's explanation. He had no idea about the bounty's true nature or the top guilds' interest in him because he didn't have a smartphone or access to social media. His initial fear was that the top guilds might gather too much information about him, but he felt a bit relieved, realizing that the likelihood of them tracking down his real-world location was low. He doubted anyone with a similar name would be able to locate his family to coerce him into joining their guilds, which eased his immediate concerns.
Rian resolved to stay neutral and focus solely on earning money. His primary intention was to use the game's opportunities to improve his family's financial situation and help them out of poverty, rather than getting caught up in guild politics or other distractions.
As they were conversing, Mira, the priest, approached with an anxious expression. Her eyes were filling with tears as she said, "Are you going to leave without paying anything?"
Rian, flustered, replied quickly, "No, no, I'm not leaving without paying. Well, technically, I am, but I'll give you your money first, and then Derek can explain my plan." He handed over 50 gold coins and the 5 mana potions he had with him before hurrying back toward the village.
Derek was about to shout after him but held back, noticing the dumbfounded look on his party members' faces. Instead, he said, "We'll level up first and then boost him quickly. Our reasons are valid, and we'll make up for it." With that, he and the rest of the party set off to continue their levelling.
After walking for about five minutes, Rian reached the village gate. As he entered, the system notification sounded: [You have entered the safe zone]. He made his way to the village centre, searching for information on how to set up a shop or stall to sell potions and items.
As Rian walked through the village, his masked appearance drew significant attention from players. One player, named IHaveMoney, approached him and asked, "I want to buy that mask or should I say an item that hides your information. How much for it?"
"It's not for sale," Rian said, "but if you can tell me how to set up a stall or shop, I might consider selling it to you."
Upon hearing this, IHaveMoney snapped his fingers, and another player, named Bootlicker.69, approached. Bootlicker.69 explained, "If you want to build a stall or open a shop, you first need permission from the village chief. After that, you need at least 10 potions of 2 different types, and that's it."
IHaveMoney then asked, "What about the mask?"
Rian replied, "I'll sell it to you, but only after I've set up my stall later."
IHaveMoney scoffed and said, "Don't kid me. You said you'd sell the mask, but now you're not. You must be cheating. If you're like this, your stall will probably have cheap items too." He began to slander Rian for not selling.
Rian calmly responded, "Thank you for promoting my business," and headed towards the village chief's house to inquire about setting up a stall. As he walked towards the village's edge, he noticed a crowd gathered before the village chief, who seemed to be handing out rewards. Passing players mentioned that the village chief was offering rare rank quests, which could potentially provide skills and more gold as rewards.
As Rian tried to cut through the line, several players stopped him. "Hey, bro, why are you cutting the line? You need to get in line and wait your turn," one of them said, pointing towards the back of the line.
Rian, trying to avoid the hassle of waiting in line, responded, "No, no, I just want permission to open a stall at the centre of the village. I don't intend to take a quest from the chief."
One of the players standing third in line, a girl dressed in leather armour, casually watching the situation unfold, spoke up, "I can exchange my position with you, but... can I get a discount at your stall?" Her voice was playful as she eyed Rian.
Rian, along with several others, turned to see the girl. Her attire was made of common-ranked leather armour, covering her from top to bottom. Many players began to murmur among themselves, "Look, she's from Butterfly Guild," "Why is someone of her level and beauty here, and not with her guild members?"
Rian glanced at her and said, "I can give you some unique potions in exchange."
The girl, whose name was Lysandra, smiled playfully. "Oh? Which unique potion are we talking about? If it's worth the exchange, I might just let you take my spot."
Rian nodded and accessed his shop list:
- Healing Potions
- Mana Potions
- Poison Resistance Potion
- Heat Resistance Potion
- Water Resistance Potion
- Strength Enhancement Potion
- Agility Enhancement Potion
- Invisibility Potion
- Poisons
- Berserk Potion
- Night Vision Potion
- And many more...
He scrolled through the options, noticing that all the potions were low-level but still useful. Without hesitating, he purchased 5 Night Vision Potions and 5 Berserk Potions. Opening his inventory, he took out one of each and showed them to Lysandra.
As Lysandra glanced at the potions, her breath hitched. The stats displayed before her were impressive, especially for the first day of the game. It was clear that these were rare potions that most players would have no access to at this stage. Her curiosity was piqued, not just by the potions, but by the man in front of her wearing the mask that concealed his identity.
Without a second thought, she blurted out, "Sure, let's exchange spots!"
Her eagerness caught Rian off guard. He had expected her to haggle or ask for more, which is why he had only pulled out one of each potion. Yet, she agreed almost too quickly, and he couldn't help but wonder just how valuable these potions were to her.
"Alright," Rian said, handing over the two potions as they swapped places in line.
After they swapped places, Lysandra smiled and said, "Can we add each other as friends? That way, in the future, my guild can come and visit your stall or shop when it's ready."
Rian hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can't accept your friend request. Things might get complicated later on." He tried to remain polite, but his tone was firm.
Lysandra raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Complicated, huh? Well, I won't press, but I'll keep an eye on your stall when you open it."
Rian nodded, appreciating her understanding. He was determined to keep his identity and connections discreet, at least for now.
As Lysandra finished speaking, she glanced at the player standing behind Rian and asked, "Can I take your spot? I'll pay you for it."
The player, eager for profit, smirked and replied, "500 gold coins."
Without hesitation, Lysandra pulled out a bag of coins, handed it to him, and said, "Now leave."
The player, grinning, accepted the gold and walked off, leaving Lysandra with his spot.
When Rian's turn finally came, he stepped forward to stand before the village chief. The NPC's name was Rufus Greystone, and the title "Village Chief" floated above his head.
Rufus looked at Rian with a wise but stern expression, waiting to hear his request.
Rian respectfully asked, "Village Chief, may I open my store in the centre of the village?"
Hearing his polite tone, the Village Chief, Rufus Greystone, smiled warmly. In the next moment, Rian received a system notification:
[System Message: You spoke with respect to an elder and gained his favorability.]
Rian couldn't help but smile. His decision to be courteous had paid off, and he was relieved to know that showing manners in the game could yield such results.
Rufus Greystone said, "Child, I can grant you permission, but do you have the items necessary to open and run a shop?"
Rian confidently replied, "Yes, sir. I have everything I need to open a shop and sell my items."
Rufus nodded, satisfied with Rian's confidence. "Very well, you may open your shop in the village, and rest assured, no one will cause trouble for you. However, before you go, I have a request. If you can fulfil it, you will have my utmost respect."
Rian listened closely as Rufus continued, "My grandson was bitten by a Venomtail Viper, the most venomous snake in the region. I need an antidote to save him. If by any chance you come across the antidote, please sell it to me. If you can't, then perhaps you could find the snake so that I can handle it myself."
Rian felt the weight of the request but knew it might lead to greater opportunities. "I'll keep an eye out, Village Chief. I'll do my best."
As soon as Rian agreed, a system notification appeared:
[You have started a rare-rank quest - Plea of the Grandfather]
[Reward - Max favorability from village chief and rare rank item]
The sudden message made Rian realize the significance of Rufus Greystone's request. This wasn't just a simple favour; it was an opportunity that could boost his standing and influence in the game.
As Rian made his way toward the village centre, his thoughts lingered on pricing. With 1,740 gold coins in hand, he needed to carefully balance profit and reputation. He didn't want to be seen as a greedy merchant, but also couldn't afford to sell too cheaply.
How much should I charge for potions? He wondered. He considered the competitive nature of the market and the rarity of certain potions, especially ones like Night Vision or Berserk. If he overpriced them, his reputation could take a hit, but selling them too low would undermine his business potential.
Maybe I should offer discounts to regular customers or bulk buyers… he mused, trying to find a strategy that would both boost his sales and build a loyal customer base.
As Rian arrived at the bustling village centre, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer number of players gathered there. The teleportation gate buzzed with activity as players continuously flowed in and out, coming from distant regions and leaving to explore new areas. The centre was filled with chatter, players purchasing items and potions from Npcs stalls.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein