"It's true that Spades is expensive to maintain," Charles said, oblivious to Bai Liu's subtle reaction. "But he's a first-class fighter, and his weapons are worth every point. If it were me, I'd gladly spend that many points for him."
Bai Liu glanced at him and replied nonchalantly, "Oh, is that so?"
Charles didn't find Bai Liu's tone cold and continued. "Bai Liu, I can modify your skills and weapons—only minor changes are needed. But your whip and your team's other weapons—"
He gestured around the whips, guns, monkey claws, and daggers. "—These heavy weapon types require a professional reformer. You'll need a face-to-face meeting with the reformer to discuss your habitual attacks and styles, and they'll redesign the weapons according to your narrative."
Liu Jiayi raised an eyebrow. "Weapon modifiers are rare, and the best ones are kept by the big guilds. How did you find modifiers to work with us one-on-one?"
Charles leaned back, smiling. "It's well-known that the best weapon modifiers and appraisers are in the King's Guild. But little witch, we both know this is just a gimmick created by Hearts. The King's Guild appraisers are good, yes, but their weapon modifiers aren't the best."
Liu Jiayi remained silent.
Charles smiled mysteriously. "You're right, the top modifiers are usually held by the big guilds. In fact, the best ones are in the Deer Hunters' Guild."
Liu Jiayi looked up. "Guild members aren't allowed to modify weapons for outsiders."
Charles shrugged, absently twisting a ring. "There's always a way to get someone to bend the rules. As long as they come into the game out of desire, they'll yield for the right incentive—and I'm very good at finding out what they want."
"But I suggest you all get a good night's rest before meeting the weapon modifier," Charles added, glancing at his watch. "Without a clear mind, it will be difficult to have the weapon tailored perfectly. Opportunities like this are rare, so cherish them."
"So for today, rest up. Come see me tomorrow before training, and I'll introduce you to the weapon modifier."
He waved in farewell.
Bai Liu bowed slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Charles, for taking the trouble to help us."
After leaving Charles' office, Bai Liu looked down at a tense Liu Jiayi. "What's wrong with the weapon modifier he found for us?"
Liu Jiayi shook her head. "Nothing is wrong. What he said is true—the top modifiers aren't in the King's Guild. For new players like us, it's good to secure a modifier before the tournament. It's just that…"
"Just what?" Bai Liu asked calmly.
"I don't know how he did it," she admitted, biting her lower lip. "Every guild keeps tight control over their modifiers—they know all the skills of their battle team members. The Deer Hunters are a large guild, and usually only the president can authorize moving a modifier. The fact that Charles got one out means…"
Bai Liu finished her thought. "…the president of the Deer Hunters volunteered to lend his modifier to Charles for us."
Liu Jiayi nodded heavily. "But there's no reason for that. Lending a weapon modifier is risky. I don't know what Charles did to impress him… but he always seems to have ways to get what he wants. I don't even know when he ever worked with Hearts…"
Bai Liu considered this. "So the modification benefits us, but it comes with potential risks. Can we avoid those risks?"
"The better the appraiser, the more they can detect issues after modification," Liu Jiayi explained.
"I remember Charles said the best appraisers are from the King's Guild," Bai Liu recalled.
"Yes," Liu Jiayi sighed, raking her hair. "When I was in the King's Guild, I could call on them anytime—but not now."
Mu Ke interjected. "There's a difference between remodelers and appraisers, right? Appraisers only identify issues; they don't understand the weapon's internal structure. Guilds are less strict with them, and they can take outside orders?"
Liu Jiayi pulled back her hair, exasperated.
Bai Liu added knowingly, "—but only if Hearts allows the appraiser to accept outside orders, even though we've removed her right-hand woman."
Liu Jiayi peeled her hand from her face and sighed quietly.
After logging out of the game, Bai Liu told the others to go home and rest, refreshed for tomorrow's weapon modifications—a risky step, but with more benefits than drawbacks.
Charles had also suggested bespoke items based on Bai Liu's badge logo: hair accessories, head badges, brooches—something bright to attract attention and make the team memorable.
Bai Liu knew gold hairpieces, diamond brooches, or openwork pendants in precious metals would be far too expensive, so he leaned back on the bed and skillfully browsed Taobao on his phone, filtering by low-to-high price.
Thirteen minutes later, Tang Erda, Mu Sicheng, and Mu Ke were drawn into a group chat by Bai Liu.
[music (Mu Sicheng)]: ???
[music changed the group name to: Stupid Bai Liu, what's going on again?]
[Mu Ke changed the name to: Wandering Circus WithoutMonkeys]
[music]: Shit???? Mu Ke, you can't be serious!
[Tang Erda]: Don't swear in the group.
[Mu Ke]: @Bai Liu, what do you need?
[Bai Liu]: [Shared Taobao link – cheap stainless steel dog tag, free engraving – help me get one!]
[music]: Bai Liu, dog tags? Are you buying a dog?
[Bai Liu]: No, it's for you to wear.
[Tang Erda]: ???
[Mu Ke]: ????
[music]: ????????? You're mocking us again!
[Bai Liu]: This one can be laser-painted; I'll wear it too.
[Tang Erda]: …Not quite right.
[Mu Ke]: Could be improved…
[music]: Bai Liu, treat yourself and us like humans! Who wears dog tags? At least pick something upscale!
[Bai Liu]: [Shared link – high-grade aluminum alloy dog tag – 2.1/pc]
[Bai Liu]: Thoughts?
[music]: Still a dog tag!!!
[Bai Liu]: 70 cents more expensive, looks much classier.
[music]: Charles gave you a $10M badge! That's what you're wearing for us!
[Bai Liu]: [Shared link – high-grade custom metal dog tag with GPS, 56.3/pc]
[Bai Liu]: Most expensive on Taobao. Thoughts?
[music]: …I'll kill you!!!
[Mu Ke]: Not ideal, but you could order similar decorations in gold or precious metals, even with diamonds.
[music]: Still a dog tag! Don't sacrifice your dignity for Bai Liu's taste, Mu Ke!
[Tang Erda]: League isn't a game—keep decorations minimal.
[music]: Finally, someone normal!
[Tang Erda]: Bai Liu, if you insist, I can get some discarded dog tags from the Heretic's Authority warehouse. They're safe and tested.
[music]: …Why do you guys accept this so easily?!
[Bai Liu]: Free?
[Tang Erda]: Yes, for a limited time. I can engrave it tonight and mail it.
[Bai Liu]: Thanks, Captain Tang. Let's do it.
[music]: You guys are spoiling Bai Liu! I'm not wearing dog tags anyway!
-----------------
The next day, once logged into the game…
Mu Sicheng, wearing his dog tags properly, looked across the line with a blank expression. "…Why am I the only one wearing dog tags?"
Bai Liu blinked innocently and spread his hands. "I was just joking last night to lift your spirits… and you actually took it seriously?"
Mu Sicheng shot a glare at Mu Ke, while Tang Erda turned his head away, stifling a laugh.
Tang Erda pretended to look elsewhere, clenched his fist, and choked out a cough in tacit agreement with Bai Liu's explanation. But with his other hand, he mentally gripped the dog tag in his pocket. So it was a joke? He had really thought he was supposed to use it…
Still, he felt it was too much to wear in-game, so he had planned to put it on with everyone else later, never expecting to accidentally escape by wearing it immediately.
In the end, Mu Sicheng was the only one who showed up wearing it—and promptly collapsed in shame.
He ripped open his dog tags and let out a terrifying roar. "You beastly dogs!!!"