"I mean, is it really possible?"
Although Li Ke wasn't particularly interested in the backstory of DNF, he did know one thing: anyone who could change jobs was already a professional-level player. And those who could be called "Awakened" were all people who had surpassed the limits of ordinary people, people who had a profound understanding of their own nature; they were not weaklings.
Aside from some special jobs, like Brawler, Rampager (male Brawler), there were basically no jobs that were too short of money.
After all, male Brawlers fared much worse than female Brawlers.
"Well, she told me herself a few months ago that she was short of money, apparently due to a health problem, so she must be really short of money!"
The female Brawler nodded seriously, agreeing with his assessment, and then, seeing Li Ke's doubtful face, slapped him hard on the shoulder.
"Just trust me!"
"I don't even know your name, how can I trust you..."
Li Ke covered his face. He felt that his carefully laid-back attempt to repay a debt of gratitude had turned into this mess, and this female Brawler was definitely the culprit.
He was supposed to be a hardcore, deep-thinking person, so why did he always encounter such unreliable people?
Li Ke really wanted to ask why.
"As for my name, I'm Galina! I'm destined to become the new 'Poison Queen'!"
The female Brawler revealed a rather fierce smile, and then jabbed her chest hard with her thumb, revealing a rather tempting crater to Li Ke.
"My name is Li Ke... That's all."
Li Ke completely lost the desire to complain. He didn't even have any erotic expectations of the friend Galina mentioned; instead, he became interested in Grappler.
He loved playing Grappler in Dungeon Fighter Online, but unfortunately, Grappler had been abandoned by the times. Although it was later modified, Grappler had already declined, resulting in almost no one playing it anymore.
Then, just as he predicted—
It ruined.
"Ah, this…"
A short-haired, voluptuous girl sitting on a container, wearing a wrestling bodysuit, looking somewhat shy, stared in astonishment at Li Ke and the female Brawler standing in front of her. She couldn't help but scratch her cheek with her index finger, then spoke somewhat speechlessly.
"While I did tell you I was short of money, it's not actually that bad... It's really about the muscle-building supplements. I've reached my limit, so I want to try and eliminate the effects of the supplements I used to take to become a Grappler. I was a bit too eager for quick results before. Now, because I want to reach a higher level, I want to try to live without the aid of drugs, so I need to save some money. But it's not something you can earn by selling your body, and I don't want to get married and have children so early."
She glanced at Li Ke, giving him an awkward but polite smile.
"So, you can just pretend you didn't hear that."
While it's true that many Grappler stars or apprentices, lacking money during training, have used their exceptional Grappler skills and physiques to hook up with wealthy businessmen early on—after all, waist and leg techniques are extremely important in Grappler, almost specialized—
In many situations, it has a magical effect in certain strange places. For example, the "Hell's Cradle" move, used on an enemy, is a deadly strike, but used on a husband or lover, it's a continuous barrage of female-on-top physical assault.
Legend has it that very few can endure it.
Many people admire the Grappler practitioner's python-like coiling movements, and while she doesn't like it, she's aware of it.
After all, not everyone is like her, aspiring to reach the pinnacle of martial arts, the limits of Grappler.
Most people learn Grappler simply to master a technique and martial art, to participate in competitions or earn money through adventure. Since it involves selling one's body anyway, why not choose a more enjoyable method that also solves the problem of retirement?
However, the money she needs isn't so easily obtained.
Leaving aside the price of an antidote that removes the effects of the drug without any side effects, the rehabilitation costs during her weakened state, the expenses incurred due to her inability to fight while resuming training, and the cost of re-injecting stronger muscle and spine enhancers if she fails to break through—all these expenses add up.
She could afford any one of these expenses individually, but all at once, it wouldn't be enough money she'd earned since her debut. That's why she mentioned being short of money when she went on a mission with Galina.
However, she had no intention of selling her body, and Li Ke didn't seem particularly wealthy, so she decisively refused.
"Huh? So how much money do you actually need?"
The female Brawler's lips twitched. She thought the Grappler family was starving. As someone involved in the street fighting world, she didn't care much about the Grappler world.
To be precise, both sides disliked each other.
Well, more precisely.
Brawlers disliked everyone, and the different styles disliked each other, but the one they disliked the most was Brawler itself.
"Twenty or thirty thousand gold coins," the female Grappler, nicknamed "Eye of the Storm," said. Li Ke clearly felt that the moment that number appeared, the female Brawler beside him began to breathe rapidly.
"Twenty…thirty thousand?"
She asked incredulously, her mouth agape.
"That's right. I even got this through connections, and Norton owes me a favor."
'Eye of the Storm' nodded matter-of-factly, looking at the Brawler who seemed to be recovering from a serious illness, and asked with concern.
"Are you alright? You were practically coughing up blood when we teamed up last time."
"I'm fine, but since you don't seem to be planning on doing this, just pretend I didn't say anything... I'm leaving now."
"Eh? Not staying a little longer?"
"The others don't welcome me."
"This..."
The female Brawler fell silent. The thought of going to an underground boxing match for a ten-gold-coin potion made her feel incredibly stupid.
However, she knew that even if time could turn back, she wouldn't borrow money from this person in front of her.
A Brawler relies on themselves!
What kind of skill is it to rely on others!
"Come on, I'll take you to ask someone else!"
Feeling embarrassed, the female Brawler quickly grabbed Li Ke's hand and led him out of the Grappler dojo. Li Ke didn't say anything and followed.
He was now curious about what kind of trouble the female Brawler could get him into.
However…
"I don't have time to mess around anymore, I have to get down to business."
Looking at the pink-signed tavern in the distance, Li Ke spoke seriously to Galina.
He really didn't have time to fool around anymore.