Duke asked, "Are you people under Robert?"

Charlie and Cohen exchanged a glance, then said, "Yes."

"Go tell Robert I've returned and I'm waiting for him here."

The voice was soft yet clearly entered the ears of the two players, as if it had directly resonated in their minds.

Charlie and Cohen weren't fools; they realized at this moment that the Duke before them was that mysterious NPC.

"Lord Duke, please wait a moment, we'll go notify Boss Robert right away." Charlie and Cohen didn't delay and hurriedly left to find Robert.

Ten minutes later, Robert rushed over and appeared at the door of the Star Embers shop.

Upon seeing Duke, he was even a bit incredulous.

There hadn't been any news about Duke for a year, not even on player forums. There were no traces or clues about this mysterious NPC.

Robert originally thought that even if Duke, this mysterious NPC, had left Azure Vault City, he would still appear elsewhere and be seen by other players.

He originally planned to gather some information about Duke through player forums, but to his surprise, he never saw any related news on the forums.

Nearly a year had passed, and Robert's focus had long been on improving his own strength and the development and management of the guild.

Unexpectedly, today, before going online, Charlie called him to inform him, and Robert logged in hurriedly to rush over.

"Robert, long time no see. Why hasn't your strength improved much?" Duke said.

Robert was currently at the Great Knight Realm, at level twenty-five, still some distance away from level thirty.

Over the past year, players had roughly figured out that level thirty equaled the strength of a First-level Knight or First-level Mage.

Since this game couldn't rely on killing monsters to gain experience points, players had to level up through cultivation, leading to extremely slow leveling for most players.

For Robert to go from level ten to twenty-five in a year was already incredibly fast.

Besides purchasing various resources within the game with his funds, he also had the support of the Light Sect.

Under the leadership of the Holy Daughter Dali, the Light Sect assisted the Star Embers Guild greatly, at least providing much ease in accessing Extraordinary Pathways.

The people under Robert generally had access to the Light Sect to learn the Breathing Technique or Curse Magic.

Other players found it difficult to enter the Four Gods Sect or the Light Sect, with stringent requirements and guarded transmission of the Breathing Technique or Curse Magic, not fully trusting players.

The Light Sect was different, they trusted Duke immensely, seeing him as someone chosen by the will of the God of Light, fully supporting Star Embers as well.

Upon seeing Duke, Robert respectfully and somewhat excitedly said, "Lord Duke, long time no see!"

Duke glanced at Charlie and Cohen behind Robert, and Robert immediately understood, turning around to say, "You two leave first, I have some private matters to discuss with Lord Duke."

After Charlie and Cohen left, Duke began, "Tell me about recent happenings."

Robert nodded and began detailing events from when Duke left to the present.

After Duke left, Robert relied on his financial power and connections in the real world, coupled with support from the Light Sect in the game, quickly developing the Star Embers Guild.

Today, Star Embers had become the largest player guild in the Azure Vault City region, with over three hundred core members and over a thousand peripheral members.

The core members were professional players who had signed labor contracts with Robert in reality, their daily task being to play the game, each with their separate roles.

The peripheral members were akin to part-timers, they helped out when needed but hadn't signed contracts with Robert, resulting in higher turnover.

Initially, Robert and his team faced problems not from the game itself but from other players.

Many players wanted to establish guilds, but with limited players in Azure Vault City and scarce resources, conflicts inevitably arose.

Robert's team relied on the Light Sect's support, frequently clashing with other guilds.

In the Oracle Plane, player resurrection required money, and the higher the level, the more money needed for revival.

Robert, having plenty of money, reimbursed all resurrection costs for guild players and even provided subsidies.

They were willing to revive at all costs, and most were contracted professional players for whom playing the game was a job, undeterred by being killed and camping resurrection points.

The Star Embers Guild relied on such individuals to forcefully disperse several player guilds, absorbing many into their fold.

With the rise and growth of the Star Embers Guild, they, in turn, helped the Light Sect with their tasks.

As players were not afraid of death, many things within the Light Sect were handed to these players, gradually boosting the sect's strength and increasing their followers.

Duke sensed this from within the Light God Court, the rapidly growing Power of Faith, evidence of the Light Sect's thriving development.

Robert, upon reaching level 25, still couldn't see Duke's level.

He could now see up to the thirtieth level, but Duke's level was evidently beyond that.

Duke listened throughout, observing that not much disturbance seemed to have arisen here.

The Oracle Plane continued to see a steady influx of new players, and players' strengths were continuously growing, with even First-level Knights and Mages emerging.

However, there weren't any such players in Azure Vault City at the moment, with Robert, at level twenty-five, progressing the fastest.

Duke pondered that having ten thousand undying Level 1 Lives would form a truly terrifying force, enough to make ordinary Level 2 Life hesitate to challenge.

The existence of the Undying Body endowed these players with infinite possibility and growth potential.

Duke contemplated for a moment and then spoke to Robert, "Robert, do you wish to embark on a true Extraordinary Path?"

"Of course, Lord Duke," Robert immediately responded.

"Very well, but it requires a price to be paid," Duke said solemnly.

"What is the price?"

Duke pulled out a Master-Servant Contract and said, "This is a Master-Servant Contract. Upon signing it, you'll fully obey me and follow my orders."

With this, he said no more, summarizing the sacrifice in one sentence.

Robert, being a smart man, naturally understood what this implied.

"Seems like I've truly triggered an important storyline; the Master-Servant Contract, likely signifying joining Duke's faction entirely," Robert thought, carefully weighing his options.

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