Leonel looked over at Snowflake Village while enjoying his foggy breath in front of his eyes. The village was quiet while basked in perpetual snow, and snowflakes rained down from the starry sky.

There were fewer NPCs and houses in the village, and only Black Lion crowded the place.

Snowflake Village was farthest north in the land of the Dwarves. After riding a thick hide Krovoid for hours, they reached Snowflake Village from the nearest newbie village.

Krovoid were giant buffalo whose eyes were hidden with their thick furs. Its body was clad with another layer of cloth and blankets to keep it warmer during their travels in the snowy part of the map.

There was a large tent over its back, enough to carry a hundred players in one ride.

Leonel felt excited at the number of players gathered in a single spot. The place was chaotic, with players walking everywhere.

“Is Ren not going to come?” Saya asked Leonel as she blew hot air on her hands. How amazing it was that she actually felt cold, even in a fantasy gaming world.

Leonel looked to the side and sighed. “Ren is busy at the moment.”

“Forget about him,” snapped Mike and sneered, “That guy didn’t know this is the future. Wait and see if Black Lion rose to the top and no longer accepts players. That guy will come to us begging to let him in. Now that the in-game currency is bound to happen.”

Mike then looked at the Black Shield Leonel was holding. “I can’t believe that you really managed to get firstblood a dungeon. How the hell did you even do it?”

Leonel shrugged. “It’s an easy dungeon, and Ren and I are strong.”

Mike just huffed a laugh. He didn’t believe what Leonel said. He bet that they partied with someone skilled. “How much for the Shield, Leo? I’ll buy it from you.”

Mike was a swordsman, and he could wield a shield in one hand. As of now, his equipment were crappy compared to the other regular members and this got him frustrated.

Though he didn’t expect it and was a little jealous that Ren and Leonel got firstblood in a dungeon, he reassured himself that they just got lucky and it was just a newbie cave. Nothing to be smug about.

In this Icy Cave, Mike’s name would be on the Stone of Fame and in the Leaderboards for sure, after they cleared it. This was Black Lion they were talking about.

Gargantuan Cave couldn’t be compared to something like a mid-level difficulty dungeon like Icy Cave.

Leonel pressed his lips and flung his attention to the side. “As I said before, it’s not for sale. I died getting this shield.”

Mike was about to open his mouth again when Leonel shifted his attention to the incoming dark-skinned boy.

“Roz!” Leonel waved his hand and approached Roz, who managed to spot them amidst the crowds.

“Glad you can make it.” Leonel grinned.

Roz was wearing a scarf that he bought at the nearby market for only ten gil. It kept the cold away, and he could somehow hide half his face with it.

“The chat said to meet here.”

“Glad you didn’t run away with my money,” said Mike.

Roz didn’t take offense and told Mike with a blank voice, “A contract is a contract. Don’t worry. I’ll try my best to get a rare class so you two can no longer be on probation.”

Mike nodded with a slight sneer. “Good. Our future rides on you. Remember that.”

Mike didn’t know Roz and vice versa. And the only thing that connected them was Leonel. However, Mike didn’t have any intention of befriending the kid. Roz was just an employee and nothing else.

Likewise, Roz was only in the game because of work and he had no reason to be friendly with the others.

“Alright. No need to be all serious,” Leonel went between Mike and Roz and tapped the kid over his shoulder.

“Don’t be nervous. Big brother here will help you.”

Roz just looked Leonel dead in the eyes, and Leonel suddenly had a déjà vu.

Why is this kid felt so much like Ren? Leonel mused to himself.

“Alright, everyone! Huddle up!”

At the sound of a strong domineering voice, every eye looked over at the one who spoke.

It was a bulky man with military-cut hair garbed in layers of metal.

“My name is Gerald, a swordsman, and this is Ed, a Hunter. We are in charge of this raid.”

Mike’s eyes shone in excitement. “Those two are vice commanders, and they’re pro players like Brother Scar.”

Saya just gave a timid smile. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

Roz was listening attentively.

Leonel wasn’t interested in the speech.

“Players who have above 40 GS come forward.”

“GS?” Roz murmured, lost at the slang. This was his first raid, and he wasn’t familiar with all the game mechanics and jargon.

“It means Gear Score. The total numbers of your equipment,” explained Leonel, chest proud, feeling like he was smart at knowing all that. Though he just picked it up from Ren.

“Mine didn’t reach 40,” said Roz after he counted the numbers of his equipment.

“Obviously.” Mike was the same since he and Saya just started yesterday night, the same with Roz. Though they had already grinded and finished some quests, their equipment still didn’t reach 30 GS.

Leonel jabbed a thumb over his chest. “Ehehehe. Mine is already over 40.”

“All thanks to that shield, I bet,” said Mike with a tinge of bitterness and envy.

“Don’t worry. If we clear this cave, then all of us will get equipment,” Leonel chimed in.

As soon as Leonel spoke those words, Gerald continued, “Regarding the division of loots, all items belonged to Black Lion. Core members have priority over the loot while the manager and vice commanders will hand items over to regular members depending on their performance.”

“What about the new members?” a player asked.

“New members?” Ed questioned. Then he flicked his shoulder-length red hair to the side. “Ah . . . you mean the probation members? Based on your performance, you can become a regular member. However, until then, no loots for you.” He chuckled.

The probation members included Leonel and the others. All of them expected it except for Leonel, whose eyes were about to burst in surprise.

“What do they mean that we don’t get any equipment? Then does that mean we’re free laborers? Until when?” Leonel couldn’t help but exclaimed, and at that exact moment, everyone went quiet, and his voice pierced the stillness.

Leonel immediately clamped his mouth shut and shrunk from where he stood when all eyes went in his direction.

“Idiot,” Mike muttered to the side and took a step away from Leonel, and Saya did the same.

However, the vice commanders ignored Leonel and pressed on. They divided the members of Black Lion according to GS, rank and proceeded to instruct the others on what to do.

When Leonel entered the group who’s GS were above 40, Gerald noticed his shield, and his eyes shone with greed.

“Hey, you.”

Leonel looked left and right until he pointed at himself.

“Yes, you. Come here.”

Leonel trotted to Gerald’s side while Mike’s gaze turned sharp.

Mike didn’t know what Gerald wanted with Leonel, but he didn’t like that Leonel got Gerald’s attention. Was it because of his shield?

It was precisely because of Leonel’s shield that Gerald took Leonel away from the prying ears of the others.

“Are you among the player who got firstblood in Gargantuan Cave?” Gerald asked though his eyes remained on the [Black Carapace Shield].

Black Lion already raid that cave in [Hard Difficulty] and succeeded. However, the [Nightmare] and [Sadistic] modes were entirely different.

However, there was no [Black Carapace Shield] among the drops, and Gerald felt lucky that he ran among those players who acquired the item.

It was a good shield at this time in the game, and Gerald wanted to have it at all costs.

“Yes,” Leonel’s smile stretched to the limits. Was he popular now? “My name is Leonel, and I’m a Dwarf Defender.”

“Yes. I can see that.” Gerald wasn’t interested in Leonel and only the shield he had in his hands. “How much are you planning to sell that shield?”

Leonel smiled, froze, and he said, unsure. “Uhm . . . its not for sale.”

It was only then that Gerald looked Leonel in the eyes. “Then do you want to enter Black Lion? I will give you a spot in the guild. No need for you to undergo the initiation. Regular members would receive a thousand dollar monthly allowance, and if ever your performance excels more than the others, then you’ll become a core member, and the monthly payment for that is around ten to a hundred per month.”

Leonel’s mouth dropped, and he did math calculations in his head.

However, Leonel wasn’t interested in money at this point, and even though the money would greatly help him, he was a simple guy with simple thoughts. At this point in time, he wanted the shield, and he didn’t want to depart from it.

“Sorry but . . . I want to keep this shield. I will enter the guild with my skills.”

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