Chang Long bought a total of 250 limestone pieces from that shop at just two coins each, even though their real value after extraction would be no less than ten to fifteen thousand coins per piece. The young shopkeeper, oblivious to the true worth of the stones, was overjoyed at finally sell what he believed to be junk items. In his joy, he even gave Chang Long a discount.

"So now you can let me eat lots of elemental gems, right?"

Hulu asked in a pleading tone, clinging to her arm. This display left the girls watching with their mouths agape, still not clear if the person called Master was a beautiful man or a handsome woman.

"Yeah, yeah, but from now on, you need to help make a living too, got it? Look at Kitsune as an example—diligent, cute, and obedient!"

Chang Long did not just speak but pulled Kitsune into a hug, stroking his head affectionately. Kitsune beamed with happiness.

"Heh heh, Master, there's no way I'd fall short of my elder brother's skills!"

Hulu boasted confidently, stepping forward to hug and nuzzle Chang Long as well. Suddenly, the system announced in Chang Long's head.

"Loyalty level of pet Hulu increased to 60."

Chang Long looked at Hulu in confusion but could not help but smile happily. Finally, her proud pet was becoming more accepting of her.

"Hey, I'm starting to feel tired. Let's find a nice place to stay in this city,"

Chang Long suggested cheerfully, leading her affectionate pets to look for a hotel to rest.

The next morning, Chang Long left the hotel with her entourage, both seen and unseen, intending to explore every nook and cranny of Troy. As she walked leisurely, enjoying the sights, a commotion erupted from behind her. Before she knew it, someone had bumped into her, sending her sprawling—much to the satisfaction of the envious girls from before.

"Thief, catch him. Catch him!"

The commotion grew louder behind her as Chang Long stood up, feeling a surge of anger. An icy aura radiated from her like a storm, causing the group of players running towards her, shouting, to freeze in their tracks. They were taken aback by the pretty man, perhaps a woman who was gritting their teeth angrily and staring at them menacingly. The players did not dare to act rashly, knowing that the level of the person before them was quite high..

"Who. Hit. Me!"

Chang Long demanded, her voice icy. The veins on her forehead throbbed, and a bruise the size of a lemon swelled on her forehead. The realistic pain only fueled her irritation further.

"N... Not us. We were just chasing that guy over there. There! The one who knocked you down ran off around that corner!"

One of the players, dressed as a Roman warrior, quickly answered.

"Why were you chasing him?" Chang Long asked, still fuming and frustrated at not being able to find the culprit.

"He stole our stuff!"

The player in the Roman warrior outfit replied angrily.

"Don't believe them. They're lying. They're the ones trying to rob us!"

Protested a player dressed in tight, agile-looking clothes, who had been caught by the Roman warrior-dressed players.

"Shut up! Someone gags him so this man doesn't misunderstand. You seem smart, sir. You can tell that this guy is dressed in the distinct outfit of a thief class, while we are noble warrior class players. Please, could you step aside so we can go after that thief's friend?"

The Roman warrior player barked harshly at the thief before turning to speak politely to Chang Long, as if he were a different person altogether.

"Go ahead..."

Chang Long replied in a grumpy tone, instructing her two pets, who were waiting for her command, to step aside. As the group of Roman warrior-dressed players passed by the still-irritated Chang Long, they felt a chill down their spines for reasons they could not understand. Despite her looking like an ordinary player without any flashy effects that came with profession skills used by some players, the atmosphere around her was eerie enough to make them want to flee.

"On E Eee Em Ey A Ai Ing(Don't believe them, they're lying)!"

The captured thief protested, trying to communicate despite the cloth stuffed in his mouth. But Chang Long paid him little attention, her annoyance still simmering from not being to find faults with anyone despite being ran into.

Once the Roman warrior group had passed, Chang Long led her pets and ghostly companions to a nearby restaurant for breakfast, hoping that a good meal would improve her mood. Kimhantt, who was busy recording information in his notebook for his grand future plans, saw Chang Long walking away and hurried to catch up.

Chang Long and her companions were enjoying their meal, starting to forget the morning's frustration from falling. But just as her irritation was beginning to fade, another commotion erupted nearby, close to the roadside restaurant where they were eating.

"Catch him! Don't let him get away again!"

The shouting players drew Chang Long's annoyed attention once more.

"Hey!"

Chang Long shouted as a hooded player was knocked towards their table. She quickly grabbed the two spirit tablets and stood up to avoid the collision. She did not bring Alice's spirit tablet out since Alice refused to consume anything but fresh blood, which Chang Long could not provide yet.

"Grab him, he's cornered now!"

The pursuing players closed in on the battered hooded man, not caring to offer any apology to Chang Long and the restaurant owner completely.

"This. Is. Too. Much!"

Chang Long's anger exploded, creating a chilling wind that enveloped the area. The players, who were about to seize the hooded man, froze in shock and dared not move closer to Chang Long.

"I forgave the first time, but the next time... you die!"

She roared furiously, launching an attack on the Roman warrior-dressed players with her bare hands, without bothering to ask any questions. The black aura emanating from her, combined with the chilling atmosphere, formed the shape of a cold, young man who followed her like a shadow.

The sound of Chang Long's angry punches echoed continuously. Not only did her punches dislocate jaws, but the players she attacked also received long scars from the Reaper's scythe, which struck in unison with her. Hulu could not help but join in, having not exerted himself much recently. Meanwhile, Chang Long telepathically ordered Kitsune to restrain the mysterious cloaked man who had dared to knock over their food. She planned to interrogate him after dealing with the group of players.

Thud!

The last Roman warrior-dressed player fell to the ground from Chang Long's punches, unconscious like his comrades. Chang Long then approached the restrained cloaked man, whom Kitsune was holding. She stared at him coldly, stepping closer with a menacing gait. Seeing this, the man quickly blurted out in a loud voice,

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

His demeanor was one of sheer panic, not expecting the seemingly gentle-looking Chang Long to become so ferocious.

After dragging the mysterious man out of the main thoroughfare, Chang Long calmly asked him about the necessity of bumping into her twice. The man trembled, visibly frightened. Initially, he did not want to say much, fearing that Chang Long might be like the other players. But with Chang Long and her formidable entourage, who had proved themself to be incredibly strong surrounding him, he had no choice but to tell the truth.

"My name is Phiros. I'm a swordsman. My friend and I were hunting monsters by the beach when a mysterious box dropped. The Caesar Guild members passed by and saw it so they tried to extort it from us. When we refused, a fight broke out. This city is their turf, so my friend and I ended up being chased, as you saw."

The swordsman explained. Chang Long listened with a discerning eye.

"A single mysterious box wouldn't warrant such relentless pursuit,"

Chang Long observed, suspecting that Phiros had not told her everything.

"We opened the box and found this giant sword. It's a high-level weapon with an attack power in the early thousands. That's why they're after us,"

Phiros explained, exhaling through his nose in frustration. He revealed the giant sword, wrapped in old cloth and slung across his body for ease of movement while fleeing.

"So, what are you planning to do now?"

Chang Long asked, somewhat disinterestedly. Initially, she just wanted to beat him up to vent her anger for making her fall and bruise her head in the morning and for knocking over her unfinished breakfast. But now, she realized she might end up exacerbating the plight of someone already in trouble, making her equally exasperated.

"They threatened to kill my friend and then camp at the online tower to repeatedly kill us until our levels drop to 1. But if I exchange the sword, they'll only kill us once and then let us go,"

Phiros explained with a troubled tone. His level was only forty-two, and his friend was not very skilled in combat, so they stood no chance against the dominant guild in Troy.

"Uh-huh, good luck then,"

Chang Long responded absentmindedly, turning to walk away.

"Right!"

Phiros suddenly exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Chang Long with sparkling eyes.

"W... what is it now!"

Chang Long asked warily, stepping back from him quickly.

"I saw your fighting skills and those of your friends. Could you please help me and my friend? Please!"

Phiros pleaded, disregarding his pride as his friend's life was at stake.

"Huh?"

Chang Long looked at the swordsman incredulously. They had been talking for less than ten minutes, and he was already asking for her help. And if she remembered correctly, this was the same guy who had made her fall and bruise her head and ruined her breakfast table.

"Please! I'm begging you, just help get my friend out of that guild. I know it's a lot to ask, especially since it means going up against a major guild in Troy over something that has nothing to do with you, but I'll pay you. I'll give you this greatsword, and if that's not enough, I'll give you all my valuables. Please!"

Phiros tried to persuade Chang Long by offering valuable items as a reward, hoping it would motivate her to help.

"No!"

Chang Long replied bluntly. Phiros stared at her in shock, then his expression turned to one of disappointment. He had oversimplified the situation. Who would help someone who had caused them trouble twice, especially when doing so meant making enemies with a powerful guild in Troy? It did not take much thinking to know no one would agree to that.

"If you want my help, you and your friend will have to be my servants for one day. This is to make up for causing me injury, ruining my mood, interrupting my meal, and wasting my energy,"

Chang Long said with a serious expression, her demeanor unmistakably revealing her spoiled, entitled rich kid attitude.

Finally, Chang Long had found a way to exact revenge on this guy without feeling like she was kicking someone who was already down. It was a fair trade—if Phiros agreed to be her servant, she would help him. Besides, if she did not help Phiros against the Caesar Guild, they would likely come after her anyway for knocking their members unconscious.

"Huh? What did you say!"

Phiros stared at Chang Long, utterly shocked.

"So! What's it going to be? If you agree, we'll go and take down that guild together. If not... then it's each to their own,"

Chang Long said, pushing for an answer with a carefree smile. She had plans to explore Troy and did not want to waste too much time negotiating.

"Take... down the guild!?"

Phiros repeated, clearly taken aback.

"Uh-huh. It depends on how polite they are. So, what's your answer?"

Chang Long answered, unfazed, looking expectantly at the young man.

"Alright, I accept your offer!"

Phiros agreed immediately. Being a servant for one day was far better than losing all his valuables.

With the agreement reached, Chang Long, Phiros, and her entourage marched out of their hiding spot confidently. They soon encountered a group of players from the Caesar Guild searching for them. A negotiation to exchange the hostage ensued. The negotiation (with some persuasive violence) went smoothly, and the Caesar Guild players reluctantly led them to where Phiros' friend was being held.

The Caesar Guild was a mid-sized guild compared to others but wielded the most power in the Troy region. Troy was known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere. The beaches outside the city had mid-level to low-hundred-level monsters to hunt, which sometimes dropped rare and valuable items. This attracted many players to seek their fortunes in the city.

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