Chapter 3 Ezio
As Eric made his way towards the Town Hall, the streets were teeming with players.
The narrow lanes resembled a bustling marketplace, with players engaging in dialogue with NPCs to solicit quests. However, acquiring quests in Divine Realms: Legends was no easy feat. The high intelligence of the NPCs required players to converse courteously and directly. Coupled with the vast throngs of players clamoring for missions, securing a simple task amidst the chaos proved exceedingly challenging for regular players.
In the brief span of fifteen minutes, not a single player in Willowbrook Town had received a common task.
In contrast, Eric, as a reincarnated player, held a significant advantage. Having obtained the sole mission available, the rewards for this unique quest, despite its difficulty, were exceedingly bountiful. Even top-tier players a month into the game, would covet the rewards offered by this quest.
As a former leader at ShadowForge Studios, where he had established ten prominent realms, Eric possessed an abundance of knowledge about Divine Realms: Legends, far surpassing that of ordinary players. His expertise in leveling strategies and wealth accumulation was essential for empowering a studio of thousands.
In this new life, Eric delved back into the game, intending to leverage his considerable advantages to lay a solid foundation for future growth. Unwilling to squander hours vying for mundane tasks on the streets like regular players, Eric also had no intention of recklessly venturing into the Wilderness to battle monsters, especially since it was likely swarming with competitors.
Rather than engage with the throngs of players, Eric opted for the significantly more arduous path of the singular quest. However, undertaking this task required a certain sum of money, which Eric currently lacked.
In the initial stages, each player received ten copper coins. This amount was insufficient for purchasing gear or weaponry but was useful for basic sustenance to address health and mana deficiencies.
Approaching the two-story Town Hall, Eric found himself amidst a lengthy queue of players numbering in the hundreds.
In any game, be it a village chief or town mayor, such figures invariably symbolize quest-givers, a proposition no player would willingly overlook.
"If you wish to avoid public indignation, I suggest you wait in line," a sturdy male warrior midway in the queue advised Eric, gesturing towards the several individuals behind him.
"I'm not here for a quest," Eric remarked casually, observing the lengthy line leading into the Town Hall.
Compared to other quest-issuing locations, this setting maintained a commendable order, albeit slightly slower in granting quests. Nevertheless, it was preferable to the chaos of a questless environment.
The male warrior eyed Eric warily; everyone was eager for quests, and encountering someone disinterested in them seemed incredulous.
"I genuinely have no interest in quests," Eric reiterated, noting the warrior's hostility. Smiling faintly, he gently suggested, "But I advise you to seek quests elsewhere. Waiting here serves little purpose."
"How can it be of little use when several have already accepted tasks and emerged?" the warrior, recognizing Eric's lack of pushiness, relaxed his guard. Having waited over ten minutes, he was disinclined to jump in line. Intrigued by Eric's unyielding stance, he was curious about the reason for his advice.
Eric chuckled, shifting the conversation away without explanation. "You seem like a decent individual. Let me guide you to a better path. Venture into the Wilderness to battle monsters; it holds more promise for your future than waiting in this line."
"I won't go. The Wilderness is overrun with monsters, and I wouldn't stand a chance against the competition. I'd rather wait here in line," the warrior shook his head. He might not be the sharpest, but he understood that the wilds were likely swamped with players. Counting on his skills, he realized he'd struggle to secure even a single kill amidst the congestion.
"You're going to the wrong place. Head to areas with fewer monsters, where you won't contend with others. The leveling efficiency there is exceptional, with slow monster respawns making for easy encounters," Eric remarked with a smile.
"Is there truly such a place?" The warrior's excitement was palpable. The prospect of an uninterrupted hour of monster slaying, yielding more experience and scantily found coin from missions, enticed him greatly.
"Absolutely. If you're interested in such a haven, I'll give you a discount of 20 copper. Spend a day there, and you won't just earn experience but also gather materials, easily reaping over 40 copper. If luck favors you, you might even snag valuable equipment, turning a substantial profit," Eric whispered to the warrior.
"You wouldn't deceive me, would you?" The warrior looked at Eric with a hint of hesitation. The promise of a prime monster-hunting spot was enticing, allowing him to surpass other players; however, 20 copper was not a trivial sum in Divine Realms: Legends, where currency and equipment drops from monsters were exceedingly rare and valuable.
"If you don't believe me, you can give me 10 copper first, try it out when you get there, and you'll see. If it's true, then you can give me the remaining 10 copper. I think you're a decent person, that's why I shared this with you. If you don't trust me, that's fine," Eric said before turning to leave.
Had Eric not been in need of money, he wouldn't have resorted to such tactics; there were other ways to earn coin.
Just as Eric took a few steps away, the male warrior grabbed him.
"Wait a moment. It's just a 10-copper deposit. I trust you won't deceive me," the good-natured warrior said with a smile, promptly trading the ten coppers with Eric.
"I see you've been doing well. Let me guide you to a decent spot, slightly off the beaten path but occupied by a level 0 green-skin goblin. They have weak defenses, respawn quickly, and have a higher likelihood of dropping coins. It's an ideal hunting ground for a berserker," Eric happily received the ten coppers and directed the warrior to a lucrative monster-spawning spot.
Observing Eric's familiarity with wilderness creatures, including their tendency to drop coin purses, eased the warrior's mind significantly. He never expected such good fortune to encounter a Divine Realms: Legends expert, possibly even a beta tester. The warrior grew more enthusiastic at this realization.
"Eric, do you happen to know where I can acquire skill books for berserker abilities? I only have one skill initially, which makes monster hunting a challenge," the warrior, feeling closer to Eric, had taken to viewing him as an elder brother.
"If you wish to know, the price is set at two silver coins," Eric smiled. Just a few words for such invaluable information? It was inconceivable without payment.
Upon hearing the requirement of 2 silver coins, the warrior's expression turned pale. Two silver coins amounted to 200 coppers, a sum which a regular guild might not even possess.
"Eric, let's add each other as friends. My name is Ezio. Once I gather the remaining ten coppers, it will be easy to send it over to you," Ezio bid farewell to Eric, swiftly heading towards the monster-hunting grounds.
With money in hand, Eric made his way to the fruit stand beside the Town Hall.
"How much for this tomato?" Eric inquired, lifting a ripe, red tomato. Fruits and vegetables could help players replenish health and mana despite their lackluster restorative effects. Most players refrained from purchasing such items, particularly in the early stages of destitution, deeming it a wasteful expenditure.
"2 coppers each."
"I'll take 10."
Eric paid 20 copper coins and, after receiving ten tomatoes, entered the Town Hall.
"Newcomers should wait in line. Haven't you noticed the multitude of people queuing up?"
"What are you up to? Do you realize how many are queuing behind?"
The players waiting in line were inflamed by Eric's proximity to Mayor Cross. Were it not for the fact that attacking players within the town would warrant arrest by the guards, they might have turned on Eric themselves.
"Apologies, I'm not here for a quest. Just taking a look around," Eric smiled at the players and then directed his gaze towards the portly Mayor Cross.
Cross, friendly, a level 15 elite with 2400/2400 health and 1500/1500 mana; at present, no player could best him, not even with an entire raid party.
Eric then nonchalantly began eating the fresh tomatoes he had acquired.
"What is he doing?"
"My word, how extravagant! He's actually eating tomatoes at two coppers each."
The players couldn't fathom Eric's intentions—eating tomatoes in the Town Hall; was he trying to flaunt his wealth?
Midway through his meal, Eric hurled a tomato at Mayor Cross's face.
The tomato struck Cross's face unerringly, with the crimson liquid trickling down as if in slow motion.
System: [Mayor Cross's favorability towards you decreases by 100 points.]
Not content with this, Eric retrieved more tomatoes from his bag and continued his assault on Mayor Cross.
"You scoundrel! You're unworthy of being a mayor!" As Eric hurled more tomatoes and spewed insults, Cross's favorability continued to plummet, his entire body now covered in red, tomato juice flowing, coupled with an expression of rage bordering on the comical.
Yet, despite the surreal scene playing out, the Town Hall fell deathly silent. Every player was stunned by Eric's actions.
Just twenty minutes into the launch of Divine Realms: Legends, a player dared to attack an NPC, especially the leader of the beginner area!
This was madness. Wasn't Eric afraid of being arrested?
Wasn't he interested in remaining in Willowbrook Town?
Surely, such behavior was unacceptable!
As the players anticipated guards apprehending Eric or Mayor Cross retaliating in anger, nothing of the sort unfolded.
Unbeknownst to many, insulting NPCs didn't equate to physical aggression, preventing guards and Cross from attacking Eric. However, such behavior would certainly sour relations with the NPCs, rendering future quest acceptance impossible.
After hurling the final tomato at Cross, his favorability towards Eric turned hostile, his level display transforming into a question mark, and his yellow marker instantly turning a crimson red.
"You cursed pest! I will send you to hell!"
In a fit of rage, the crimson Mayor Cross bellowed and charged at Eric.