"How dare you curse me!" Knowing the other party was a player, Forgotten Mist Island lost the good temper he'd had a moment ago. Having been called a dog the whole way here, he burst out at this moment: "Do you know what happens to those who offend the Eight-Armed Ape Guild in Scorched Earth City?"
The Three-Eyed Crow perched on Forgotten Mist Island's shoulder spread its wings and bared its fangs, as if it might Attack at any moment.
At this moment, behind Forgotten Mist Island, five bats flew over and transformed into five Vampire Guards. Five longswords were drawn, their tips aimed at Forgotten Mist Island's back.
The Eight-Armed Ape Guild members had no idea what was happening. Seeing Forgotten Mist Island surrounded, they all rushed over and aimed their various weapons at the Vampire Guards.
The onlooking Players were instantly intrigued and waited for a good show.
Facing the hostile Forgotten Mist Island, Hailuot said, "I don't know! But I do know... what will happen to you if you dare to lay a hand on me."
"You think I'll be scared of you?"
"You can try!"
The two faced off, a battle on the verge of breaking out.
But at that moment, someone pressed a sword against Forgotten Mist Island's neck.
Forgotten Mist Island had removed his Helmet to curry favor with the Beautiful Vampire. Now, with his vital point exposed, the blade covered his weak spot.
The voice of the beautiful vampire rang out from behind him: "Pay the price for your insolence!"
The edge of the sword flashed with a bright light.
The fatal blow struck his vital point, emptying Forgotten Mist Island's Health. His body dissolved into a beam of white light and vanished.
When he reappeared, it was at the resurrection point in Scorched Earth City.
Forgotten Mist Island could hardly believe what had happened. The Vampire had still been sitting in the carriage, so how had she appeared behind him?
Thinking of the Guild members still at the scene, he contacted them to find out what had happened.
Before he could send the message, people began respawning beside him one after another. Every one of them was a Player from the Eight-Armed Ape Guild.
"You were killed too?"
"Brother Mist Island, that female vampire is far too strong, and she uses hidden weapons too. We wanted to avenge you, but we all got killed by her instead."
Forgotten Mist Island's expression turned ugly. Today, he and the Eight-Armed Ape Guild had lost all face. He was a Player on the Level Rankings, yet a sneak attack had killed him in one blow!
He'd dropped a level and was directly kicked off the leaderboard.
If this grudge went unavenged, how could he still hold his head up in Scorched Earth City!
"Does anyone recognize that guy in the costume?"
Everyone shook their heads; none of them recognized this unfamiliar Player.
Forgotten Mist Island thought it over for a moment and said, "Within Scorched Earth City, there's no way anyone could suddenly gain Dorothea's favor without us knowing about it. That person must have temporarily obtained a high position in Scorched Earth City through a Story Quest.
Gather people to block him and sabotage his quest."
"Yes, Boss Mist Island." Everyone began calling in reinforcements.
Target: 63 Tibia Street, Scorched Earth City.
Outside the door of 63 Tibia Street, Hailuot stepped out of the carriage.
Many onlooking Players stood nearby, but no one spoke. Bulaishini's ruthless killing display had left them shaken.
Then they all noticed something else... the important figure who had stepped down from the carriage was, of all things, a player.
Who was he? Why did he enjoy such a high level of treatment?
Whoever he was, he had killed Forgotten Mist Island and so many Eight-Armed Ape Guild members the moment he appeared. Scorched Earth City would have plenty of excitement to come.
Bulaishini sheathed her sword and bowed to Hailuot. "Master, I have slain everyone who dared to offend you."
"Well done!" Hailuot praised Bulaishini, then walked into the library ahead of him.
63 Tibia Street was a library.
Beyond the entrance lay a spacious reading hall. People sat reading in rows of bone chairs, and their clothing revealed that many were Players.
Farther inside stood several rows of Bookshelves, each several meters tall and packed with books. Floating Ghosts drifted among them, sorting returned books onto the shelves and fetching requested books when instructed.
The entire Library was filled with a strong atmosphere of reading. Even when they had to speak, readers kept their voices low to preserve the quiet.
As Hailuot walked through the door, a ghost with only a half-formed, blurry-faced body floated over.
It looked at Hailuot and the Vampires following him, bowed, and said, "Seeker of knowledge, is there anything I can do for you?"
Hailuot showed the ghost the manuscript he was holding: "I want to make a spellbook."
The Ghost smiled. "Making your own Spellbook isn't as easy as you might think. First, you need enough knowledge to write a manuscript imbued with Mana. I suggest starting with the basics of Magic Theory. Many Adventurers here are studying Magic diligently so they can make their own Spellbooks."
"If you need a Spellbook, we also sell them here. They may help you on your adventures."
Hailuot could hear the disdain in the ghost's words toward adventurers... that is, toward players.
The brief battle had shown Hailuot that, before a truly powerful being, a Player was nothing more than an embroidered pillow—all show and no substance.
Browsing the messages in the Area Channel, Hailuot discovered that Forgotten Mist Island was in fact a player on the leaderboard, level 66, ranked 9156th. Though still far behind the number one spot held by the Soul Eater, to the vast majority of players, he was already an unattainable existence.
Yet Bulaishini, who was only level 45, had killed this high-level Player in one blow. That showed how much of his strength was mere bluff.
Of course, there had been an element of a sneak attack in that battle, but a sneak attack was also a form of combat.
Hailuot found himself understanding more deeply the words his father had once told him.
Reeling in his somewhat wandering thoughts, Hailuot said to the ghost, "The manuscript in my hand wasn't written by me — it comes from a true master. Take a look at its contents, and I think you'll change your mind."
Hailuot held out Master Laem's manuscript.
The Ghost took it and was captivated by the contents at a glance. When it looked again, its body flickered as if struck by lightning.
Steadying itself once more, the ghost asked in an urgent tone, "Where did you get this manuscript from?"
Hailuot answered with a smile, "You don't need to know where the manuscript came from. Tell me whether it can make a Spellbook."
The Ghost did not know who the young man was, but the Vampire attendants beside him clearly belonged to the Vampire Guard directly under Dorothea's command.
To be safe, the ghost made a gesture of invitation: "The rarity of this manuscript is seldom seen in this world. If it's to be made into a spellbook, we'll need our finest craftsmen here. Please, follow me..."