Luo Jie paused thoughtfully, setting down the leather-bound Sports & Fitness Collector's Edition. He turned to the man called Chieftain, his tone sincere. "This item's value is hard to pin down. To the right buyer, it might fetch thousands of points. But right now, high-tier players are scarce, and most are tight on points. A purely cosmetic item like this—one that offers zero combat advantage—would be tough to move, even for a professional merchant."
The trio exchanged glances, disappointment flickering in their eyes. Yet Luo Jie's explanation was logical, backed by the information they'd gathered trying to sell it themselves. He clearly wasn't lying.
"Tch," Chieftain sighed, the sound thick with bitterness. "Seeing its rank, I really thought it'd be valuable. I had my eye on an F-grade Blue Knight's Shield. The seller wanted 3,000 points. Guess that's out of reach now."
"You're aiming for main tank?" Luo Jie asked, genuinely surprised. Few players committed to a role this early.
Perhaps trusting the stall owner's apparent integrity, Chieftain answered frankly. "Truth is, the three of us were friends before all this. We're building a fixed team. I'm… not much of a fighter. But I've got the build for it. Figured I'd be the shield."
Luo Jie nodded slowly. "A main tank is the anchor of any team. It takes someone steady, willing to sacrifice. A thankless job, often. You've got the right spirit."
Praise from this "senior player" made Chieftain scratch his head sheepishly, a bashful grin spreading across his face.
"Alright," Luo Jie said decisively. "That item of yours is niche, but it's not without merit. And it happens to be useful to me. How about a trade?"
He pulled a long, oval-shaped wooden shield from his storage space. Painted across its surface were vibrant, intricate patterns in an unmistakable Indigenous American style – stylized beasts and tribal motifs.
[Native Warrior's Bulwark] Type: Shield Grade: F (Blue) Level: LV1 Durability: 100 Skill 1: Unbroken Spirit (Passive) – Durability increases by 50% when blocking firearm projectiles. Description: The shield of an Indigenous warrior who fell resisting colonizers. His spirit still guards the ancestral lands.
This F-grade Blue shield was a relic from his looting spree in the "Dead Rising" instance. Its unique anti-ballistic property had made him keep it specifically for bullet defense. But after unexpectedly acquiring the [USS Powered Assault Armor Prototype-1] with its own bullet-resistant traits, the shield had become redundant. Trading it now was a calculated kindness. Besides, cosmetic items were subjective; in certain scenarios, they could yield surprising dividends. Swapping it for an F-grade Blue piece wasn't a loss.
"Th-this… Thank you! Truly!" Chieftain stammered, his eyes wide. He wasn't a complete novice; he understood this shield's worth. On the open market, that unique anti-firearm effect alone would spark a bidding war among first-tier players.
The player market catered to its distant visitors, prioritizing both convenience and secrecy. Beyond the trading halls and mission centers stood dedicated inns and eateries.
Shedding the stifling anonymity robe for his usual gear, Luo Jie headed to the exchange counter. He converted 500 points into crisp market scrip – the only currency accepted here. Cash was worthless.
Ten points gained him entry into the largest buffet hall. He filled his plate with selections from the sprawling array of dishes and found a quiet corner table near the wall to begin his meal.
He'd barely taken a few bites when a group of seven or eight settled noisily at the adjacent table. A habitual glance revealed familiar faces: Jia Shuai and his classmates, survivors from the "Dead Rising" instance. The sunglasses-wearing man was conspicuously absent – likely parted ways immediately after escaping the instance.
Jia Shuai's group noticed the lone diner beside them. Their gazes slid over him dismissively before moving on. No flicker of recognition. That wasn't surprising. In the "Dead Rising" chaos, Luo Jie had deliberately blended into the background, never drawing attention before eventually breaking away. Being remembered after such calculated obscurity would have been the real shock.
Beer flowed freely at Jia Shuai's table, loosening tongues and raising spirits.
"This place is unreal," one guy marveled, wiping foam from his lip. "Three years in Fengtian, and I never knew this existed. Not until becoming an instance player."
"So much cool gear," another sighed, slumping slightly. "Just… never enough points."
"Yeah," a third chimed in, frustration edging his voice. "Thought we were rolling in it after grabbing a few thousand points with the Prez in that hellhole. Turns out we're practically beggars here..."
Hearing the grumbling, Wang Ke, the sole female in the group, jumped in, her voice bright with forced optimism. "Okay, okay! Our gear might not match the veterans yet. But remember, we're fresh out of our first instance! As long as we stick together, stay united, there's nothing we can't overcome! Right?"
Jia Shuai knew his cue. He raised his mug. "Wang Ke's spot on! We are new. But we've got an edge others don't – we're a team. A real one. One head's good, two are better! If we keep pulling together, channeling our strength towards the same goals? One day, we'll be the ones on top! The ones everyone else looks up to!"
"Hell yeah, Prez!" The speech, fueled by cheap beer, ignited a spark of fervor in the young men. Mugs clashed as they surged to their feet.
"To the team!"
"To the future!"
Their boisterous energy drew glances from across the dining hall – some amused, some encouraging, others laced with open disdain.
Luo Jie didn't look up. He kept eating methodically, the faintest ghost of a smile touching the corner of his mouth as the cheers echoed.
In his past life, he hadn't paid Jia Shuai much mind. But he did recall Jia Shuai eventually joining a major guild… alone. The fate of these early comrades? That remained an intriguing question mark.