Spring City, the sewer system.
*Thud thud thud!*
A series of rapid, rhythmic sounds intermingle with Dean McKenzie's heavy panting, persisting for several minutes.
For a moment.
A high-pitched sound rang out, followed by information appearing before Dean, making him shudder; subsequently, he collapsed, and the stone smeared with fresh blood in his hand also fell.
At the same time, the sewer rat in front of him burst into two white lights with a "pop".
At this moment, Dean's eyes were fixed on the information before him.
[You successfully killed [Tough Fur Rat], since you have not transferred jobs yet, you have not gained any experience points!]
Dean McKenzie smirked, his eyes turning to the rat, or to be precise, the two lights emanating from the rat's explosion.
He knew from various sources that monsters would drop loot, but he had never seen it or made it happen himself yet.
"Indeed, books didn't deceive me, the first kill indeed has a high probability of dropping loot— in this case, two items!
I wonder what they could be; it would have been great if there was a Promotion Book!"
Obviously, Dean was somewhat wishful here.
What is a Promotion Book?
It is a job transfer item with a success rate of over fifty percent, and it has a directional function for the job after transfer. For ordinary people, it is rare to even see this thing, let alone use it.
Even regular professionals have a hard time getting hold of it.
Many strong individuals couldn't get it even after repeatedly defeating boss-level entities, let alone Dean McKenzie.
But Dean, with an excited heart, opened the blinking lights, and a pile of coins appeared before him.
[You open two light points and obtain one Silver Coin and fifty Copper Coins!]
Well, there was no Promotion Book, and even no equipment or tools, only a few coins. Dean was somewhat disappointed.
"Indeed, it is impossible to reach the sky in one step.
Fortunately, I did gain something this time.
That silver coin should be the reward for the first kill, and the fifty copper coins should be the normal loot expected from the kill.
That's a total of 1050, equivalent to my monthly salary. Also, this Tough Fur Rat, I remember its meat can be eaten, right?
I should not waste it; I will bring it back for food.
I should also report the situation when I get back, this should count as a work injury, right?
Maybe I can get a little medical compensation and bonus."
As Dean mumbled to himself, he picked up the coins from the ground.
After taking care of the coins, he turned to pick up the body of the rat to take home.
"Eh, there seems to be something in its belly!"
When he picked up the rat, Dean found what looked like a sewing mark at its belly wound, and the inside was hard, as if something was stuffed inside.
DID he find a treasure?
Delighted, Dean instinctively tore the wound of the rat open, and a bloody book appeared before him.
At the same time, the attributes of this book also appeared in front of Dean.
…
Name: Book of Dark Promotion
Remaining usage: 1/10
Description: This is a promotion book imbued with the Power of Darkness. After using it, you have a high probability of acquiring a profession infused with the Power of Darkness.
PS: When you stare into the darkness, the darkness stares back at you.
If you want to gain a powerful strength from the darkness, you need to be prepared to lay down your life.
…
As Dean saw these attributes, his eyes became bright.
They were shining brightly, like a traveler at the edge of death in the desert who has just found an oasis.
But at this moment, breath of relief could be heard.
"Thankfully, I made it on time!
Kid over there, put that thing down, it's very dangerous, better hand it over to me!"
This sudden voice gave Dean a shudder.
His face turned pale in an instant, like a desert traveler who found out that the oasis was just a mirage.
Hope turned into despair!
At the same time, in front of Dean, a middle-aged man in his thirties, dressed in silver armor and carrying a long sword, walked up.
Seeing the man, Dean's eyebrows raised.
A smile bloomed on his face of despair.
"It's you!"
"You know me?"
"Yes, I've seen you before!"
The middle-aged man was taken aback, just as he was wondering who the boy was. Suddenly his face changed: "Stop it!"
It was seen that Dean McKenzie, who had just stopped, once again slapped his hand heavily on the Book of Dark Promotion.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man was about to swing his sword instinctively.
But he drew it back in the end. He was absolutely confident that his sword could stop Dean, but Dean would surely die in the process.
And his hesitation gave Dean an opportunity.
[You have used the [Book of Dark Promotion], you have initiated the Dark Promotion!]
Accompanying the refresh of the Golden Finger prompt, the Book of Dark Promotion turned into a wave of black energy that surged into Dean's body.
The next second.
Dean experienced what it was like to have his whole body torn apart and shredded.
At the same time, the system prompt in front of his eyes refreshed again.
[Job transfer has begun, please at least endure for 10 minutes time!]
Seeing this prompt, Dean's eyes widened.
At the same time, the middle-aged man approached Dean with a stern face.
"Mr. … sir, I… I … am sorry!"
Looking at the middle-aged man in front of him, Dean managed a difficult apology.
"I know … I know it was wrong of me to do this, but I had no other option!
I have been in these sewers for over half a year already, and I will have to stay here for several more years. I was waiting for an opportunity. Now that such an opportunity appeared before me, I did not want to give it up.
If I manage to transfer jobs successfully, I will find a way to repay you.
If I do not make it and die, I have saved about six or seven silver coins. I know it's not much, but it is all I have."
Looking at Dean, who was claiming all these things while struggling to survive.
The middle-aged man's stern face relaxed a bit, but still remained very somber.
"Let me ask you one thing, when I started to approach, you were clearly about to put down the item. Why did you use it after seeing me?"
On this issue, Dean McKenzie grit his teeth and enunciated each word clearly, "At first, I didn't dare to use it because I was afraid of getting directly killed. But after recognizing you, I used it. I remember you were who brought me back to Spring City about half a year ago, you're a good person!"
Upon finishing, an exhausted Dean fell into unconsciousness.
Hearing his words and looking at Dean, unconscious due to the onslaught of the Power of Darkness, the face of the middle-aged man turned as black as coal.
"Good person? Good people should be taken advantage of? That's some fucking wretched logic!"
Still cursing and complaining, he looked at Dean McKenzie, who was in the throes of agony, surrounded by the dark energy, and approaching death.
The middle-aged man clenched his teeth and slapped himself in the end, finally revealing a scroll..