Finally, I returned to the Village of Desolation. The scene before me startled me.
The village had grown several times larger than when I left, and the new buildings were all magnificent residences. The number of people coming and going in the village was also greater than before. Not only were there players, but there were several more NPCs as well. In short, I simply couldn't recognize this village anymore.
The Senorita was in a hurry to return to Sunset City to complete her mission. I asked her to bring it to play with me, and then I would help her write several sheet music scores. She happily agreed. In fact, up to now, the little girl still didn't know that I was a player. Being able to be the village chief and the village leader, being able to issue tasks, and looking like having many skills - what kind of NPC is this? Perhaps she hasn't even thought about my identity.
I found the village administrator and asked him. He told me that after I left, more and more new players came, and the houses were no longer enough. At this time, two new residents proposed to the village administrator to build new houses for sale. The village administrator, following the old rules of the game, set a 10% sales tax for each house and a 10 silver coin land fee. They were allowed to build houses. These two players were both master builders, and they built very quickly. Now there were already over seventy houses in the village.
The current population of the village is 82, so the two players are still building new houses. I won't compete with them for this business. The things they built are really beautiful. I even wish I could dismantle my previous works to avoid being embarrassed.
Due to the large number of players coming, the income from the teleportation array reached thirty-four gold coins, the tax was fifteen gold coins, and adding the seven gold coins that were offset before, the village now has a debt of fourteen gold coins.
I quickly ran to the communication platform and issued a notice to the entire city: "I am selling a silver-level gun, three silver-level knives, five silver-level suits, three pairs of silver-level shoes, and so on. The price is to be negotiated."
"The Village of Desolation has a large number of fine horses for sale. One gold coin per horse. The buyer will be free to learn 'horse-riding skills'."
At the same time, I sent messages to the Tiger King and others. They haven't logged in yet. It seems they will sleep for more than ten hours.
Before other villages' people came to buy my equipment, dozens of players in this village quickly gathered at the communication platform to see my goods.
In less than an hour, except for the remaining one of each of the wands, swords, knives, shoes, and so on, I sold all the silver-level equipment. Now, with the increase in the player level of the blacksmith, silver-level equipment has started to increase, and my equipment has been stored for too long, so its durability is not high. Therefore, out of forty-four pieces of silver-level equipment, only 28 gold coins were sold. But I was satisfied. The village's debt has finally been cleared.
More than forty horses have been sold. There are still players coming from all over to buy horses. Counting the gold coins in hand, I was so happy. Just then, the village administrator's excited shout came: "Village Chief, the king's messenger has arrived!"
This NPC was dressed in magnificent clothes, riding a tall horse. I couldn't tell the level of the clothes, but following the herders for so long, I could tell the horse. It was a kind of pretty but useless rouge horse.
The messenger was a bit chubby. His face was shiny and clean, with a typical image of a corrupt official. It made me feel very uncomfortable. Unconsciously, I thought of the scene in the Three Kingdoms where Liu Bei, as the first magistrate of Pingyuan, came to demand money from the county magistrate. I don't think I'm so unlucky.
I respectfully bowed to the messenger: "Messenger, thank you for your hard work."
The players watching all burst into laughter. Probably they had never seen a player so humbly showing respect to an NPC.
Well, there's nothing we can do. Maybe the game is too realistic. Maybe I have witnessed too many intelligent and emotional NPCs, and have subconsciously regarded all NPCs as real people in reality.
It turns out that my humble attitude was correct. The messenger nodded happily: "Contesting against the heavens, you are very well-mannered. Do you know my mission today?"
I nodded: "Probably to read my appointment letter for the king?"
The messenger coughed: "Well..." When I arrived, the king said something like this. But when I came here, I found that the situation in the Lost Village was different from what the king knew.
I was startled: "How is it different?"
The messenger looked at my eyes: "According to my observation, your contribution seems to account for less than two-thirds of this village... "
I broke out in a cold sweat: "No, at the beginning, my contribution did reach the required level, but something changed within these three days..."
I saw the messenger's expression and suddenly understood. I quickly took a step forward and grabbed the messenger's hand, quietly slipping a gold coin into his sleeve.
The messenger frowned: "Perhaps my calculation was a bit off, but your contribution is still insufficient..."
I was stunned. This was clearly a demand for bribery. I gritted my teeth and gave him ten more gold coins.
The messenger closed his eyes, seemed to count the number of gold coins, and a smile appeared on his face: "It seems to be about right. It was I who made a mistake. Alright."
He looked at me for a moment and suddenly exclaimed: "Your identity is a commoner?"
I was stunned for a moment: "Probably sort of, oh, no, I'm the village chief."
The messenger sighed: "It seems that the king's information is incorrect. How can a commoner have the right to obtain a territory? I have to return to report to my superiors."
I was extremely anxious. I moved closer to him and whispered: "Sir Messenger, what should I do to get this territory? Please guide me, sir."
The messenger's face suddenly became serious: "This is not something I'm trying to trouble you with. The country has regulations. Those without a title cannot obtain a territory. You should still train to level 60 and complete a few king tasks to obtain merit points."
I gritted my teeth and took out ten more gold coins and gave them to the messenger.
The messenger accepted the gold coins and smiled at me: "Considering your loyalty to the king, I'll tell you a method. Players below level 60 can also obtain merit points, but you need to find certain specific people."
I looked at his bad look and suppressed my anger, giving him ten more gold coins. The messenger finally said: "Originally, our country had many hidden tasks about merit points, but considering your level, there is only one suitable for you. Go to Feiyong Town and ask the town mayor for the task. Just ask him 'Bad Eagle' and you'll get the task."
I secretly cursed this guy who swallowed my thirty-one gold coins. I turned around and was about to leave. The messenger called out to me: "I can't stay here for too long. I'll stay for only one day. You can't complete the task within one day, so I'll leave. By the way, where do I stay?"
I hurriedly took him to my "Village Chief's Mansion" and followed a group of onlookers and cheerleaders.
The messenger saw my home and his face immediately darkened: "Village Chief, your life is very simple."
I sighed inwardly and agreed. I found a building player who spent two gold coins to buy a large house and invited the messenger to stay.
Finally, I got rid of this fat guy. I turned around and saw my fellow herdsmen with sad expressions. In their eyes, there seemed to be a little bit of disappointment in my role as the chief. It seemed that they couldn't imagine the usually bold and confident chief being so humble in front of outsiders.
Ah, how could I tell them? Tell them that the world outside is so realistic? Or tell them that great achievers don't care about small details?
Perhaps, it's not my fault. My desires made me unable to give up the temptation of having my own territory. I'm a professional player after all, and pursuing the greatest benefits in the game is my nature. Actually, I'm not a professional player anymore, but even if I enjoy the game, I still hope to have more good things. People have pursuits, after all.
So, was I wrong? To temporarily give up one's dignity for an ideal is right or wrong? In the past, because I couldn't stand the boss's attitude, I resigned decisively. At that time, I was more noble than now, or was I not mature at that time?
Let's not think about all those messy things. Just do what I want to do well. Arrange for the village guards to take care of those herders who were helping me, and have the herders stay at my house. Continue selling horses and teaching riding skills.
Leave notes for the Tiger King and his companions on the wall, informing them of my whereabouts. I'm heading towards the teleportation array.
Although I'm the village chief, I still have to pay the toll. Selecting the destination "Flying Eagle Town", I pay 150 silver coins. A flash of white light appears, and I set off.