"Well, that's it. Minister Frost, please take stock."
Lucas had already prepared for this moment. He understood the strict rules of the guild and didn't dare to break them. Without hesitation, he pulled out the equipment he had borrowed the last time from his space backpack and carefully placed everything before Emily Frost, the head of logistics.
Emily, her usual calm and meticulous self, quickly scanned the equipment and the item list. After confirming one by one, she finally looked up. Everything matched: the Level 20 equipment he had signed for last time was all present, a complete set.
This meant one thing—Lucas could be cleared of any suspicion that he had abused his position as Vice President of the guild to resell or steal property for himself.
Emily gave a small nod, her expression as calm and cold as ever, though her eyes softened slightly. She was relieved that the process was clean.
"Then, Vice President Lucas, please come with me and choose the Level 30 equipment you want."
She packed the gear into the warehouse, recorded it in the guild's register, and motioned for him to follow.
Lucas smiled politely, replying in an equally upright manner, "Okay, thank you, Minister Frost."
Both of them played their roles seriously. Lucas appeared the picture of fairness and selflessness, while Emily's businesslike attitude made the whole exchange appear as strict and official as possible.
Soon, with Emily's assistance, Lucas obtained a full set of Level 30 purple rare-quality equipment to replace his previous Level 20 set. The upgrade was substantial; his attributes were once again improved, and his overall strength leaped forward.
But Lucas didn't stop there—he also requested an additional weapon and pendant.
When he examined the weapon, however, disappointment flashed across his face. The Level 30 purple dagger's attack power was still far inferior to his trusted Pale Blade. Without a second thought, Lucas tossed it into his space backpack, where it would sit collecting dust.
The pendant was better in raw attributes, far superior even to his Ogre's Bloodthirsty Pendant. But it lacked one crucial effect: blood-sucking. To Lucas, who valued sustainability in battle above everything else, the pendant was practically useless. That too went into storage.
What mattered to Lucas wasn't merely damage—it was survival. Lifesteal gave him the endurance to last through nightmare-level dungeons.
The real reason he applied for these items was strategic. He couldn't let others suspect that the weapons he already had were extraordinary. To keep his true strength hidden, Lucas maintained appearances by accepting official guild gear, even if he never intended to use it.
Previously, when he had his Level 20 rare-quality items, he could claim that those were simply guild-issued. Now, at Level 30, it would raise too much suspicion if he refused all new gear. So, he applied, inspected, and stored them away.
Besides, last time Jade Walker had been present when he exchanged equipment, and Lucas hadn't thought much of it. This time, it was only Emily Frost. He couldn't afford to drop his guard.
That was the assassin's way: always cautious, never showing weakness.
After Lucas left, Emily watched his back and sighed softly. Something about him puzzled her.
She remembered clearly how, during their first encounter, Lucas had been polite and even friendly. But ever since he officially joined the guild, he had kept his distance. His attitude toward her was never hostile or cold—just strangely detached, as if he intentionally kept a wall between them.
Emily couldn't know that it was her own Guild President who had thrown her under the bus, pushing Lucas further away.
Poor Emily Frost, loyal and hardworking, yet misunderstood.
---
Once Lucas finished at the guild, he straddled his heavy motorcycle, the engine roaring beneath him, and set off straight toward his next destination. His goal was clear.
"Now that I've solved the equipment issue, it's time to challenge the Level 30 dungeon."
His lips curled slightly as the thought filled him with anticipation. "And while I'm at it, I can grind higher-level monsters. That'll keep my upgrade efficiency at peak speed."
Yes, Lucas had a plan. The higher one leveled, the more experience was required to progress. Most players slowed down here, but Lucas was determined to maintain his momentum. By clearing Level 30 dungeons, he could offset the increased XP demand and keep leveling at a blistering pace.
His destination: the Level 30 dungeon, known as Goblin Forest.
Of course, the name was misleading. No goblins actually wandered the forest itself—they were inside the dungeon. The title came from the swirling entrance vortex that stood hidden within the trees.
On the way, Lucas reflected on his recent profits. He no longer needed dungeons just for equipment—his old set of Level 20 blue gear, including the famous Tiger Fang Ring, had already been sold off.
Piece by piece, the armor fetched between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan. The Tiger Fang Ring, rare and highly sought-after, brought in a whopping 60,000 yuan.
In total, Lucas earned 180,000 yuan.
Combined with his previous savings, his wallet now swelled with over 300,000 yuan.
For a career changer, this was no small fortune.
It was a reminder of how advantageous guild membership could be. When the guild provided free equipment, every sale became pure profit. Lucas could gear up at no personal expense, then liquidate old items for cash. It was a money-making cycle that practically sustained itself.
But Lucas wasn't content to stop there. He made a habit of clearing all the Level 20 dungeons each day before grinding monsters for experience.
The reason was simple: dungeons offered not just XP, but also random loot drops that could be sold.
And Lucas's luck had always been remarkable. In just the past half-month, he had earned an extra 80,000 yuan worth of rare materials and gear from these runs. Many players didn't even make that much in a month, and whatever they did earn had to be split among a full party.
That was the reality for ordinary low-level career changers: meager income, high risk, and a constant struggle.
Without a resurrection badge, one mistake could mean permanent death, wiping out months of effort. Yet resurrection badges were expensive, so most were trapped in a brutal cycle—spend money to stay alive, earn too little to advance.
Lucas, on the other hand, thrived. His combination of luck, skill, and the guild's resources set him apart entirely.
---
By the time Lucas reached Goblin Forest, the area was bustling. The forest itself looked ordinary at first, surrounded by common grassland, but the sudden cluster of towering trees created a striking contrast. Many speculated the unusual terrain was caused by energy seeping from the dungeon entrance, but no one knew for sure.
As Lucas approached, he found the familiar sight of stalls and adventurers crowded around the shimmering vortex of starlight that marked the dungeon entrance. It reminded him of the Level 20 dungeon hub, but the players here looked distinctly stronger. Their equipment gleamed with higher stats and rarer qualities.
That was natural—anyone clearing Level 30 dungeons had already proven themselves, building both wealth and strength.
Still, most of them chose to tackle the dungeon only on normal difficulty. It was safer, less risky, and still profitable. For the average player, risking one's life on higher difficulty modes wasn't worth the extra loot.
Those who braved hard difficulty were fewer, and solo adventurers who dared nightmare difficulty were almost unheard of.
As Lucas approached the vortex, several adventurers glanced at his gear. His equipment stood out immediately, a rare full set of purple quality. To them, he looked like a seasoned powerhouse.
"Hey, want to team up? We're looking for one more to clear this run!" someone called out, hopeful. Others followed suit, eager to recruit him.
But Lucas ignored them all.
Without hesitation, he selected nightmare difficulty and entered the vortex—alone.
The moment he stepped forward, the vortex blazed with a sudden eruption of red light, a telltale mark of nightmare mode activation.
The nearby adventurers froze, their jaws dropping.
"No way…" one whispered.
"Did he just—alone?!" another gasped.
In seconds, the crowd understood why Lucas had refused their invitations. He wasn't some average player looking for a safe run.
He was a monster, a lone wolf capable of soloing nightmare difficulty.
The realization left them stunned, silent, and more than a little afraid.
Lucas had just reminded everyone why assassins were feared.
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