Roth stared at the consumable he’d received from the dwarves as a reward for completing the legendary quest.
Dwarf Makeover Ticket (Consumable)
Description: It is a great offense to a dwarf if one of their nobility is wearing equipment and armor beneath their station.
Effects:
Give this ticket to one of the Dwarf Lords to receive a complete makeover of your equipment;
You can choose to receive a makeover for jewelry, your armor, or your weapons;
This ticket elevates the grade of your equipment by one rarity grade and suits it to your level;
It only works on legendary items.
Roth blinked a few times. What a broken item! It elevated the grade of his equipment by one whole grade! He stared at his current set of equipment.
EQUIPMENT
Shoes: [Lacertian Boots] | +20% movement speed; +3% dexterity; +3% resilience; +10% damage reduction
Bottom: [Lacertian Bottom] | +10% to your highest stat; +5% to your second-highest stat; +20% damage reduction; +300 hp; [Chip Slot]; [Chip Slot]
Top: [Lacertian Chest Piece] |+5% cooldown reduction; +10 to your highest stat; +10 to your weakest stat; +10% damage reduction; +500 hp; [Chip Slot]
Gloves: [Lacertian Greaves] | +2% cooldown reduction; +10% damage; +15% crit. chance; +10% damage reduction
Head: [Lacertian Helmet] | +3% to your highest stat; +2% to your second-highest stat; +1% to your third-highest stat; +5% status resistance; +100 hp
Cape: [Forest Lambswool Cape] | +1% cooldown reduction; +10 intelligence; +5 charisma; +3% running speed
The Lacertia set was a complete set of epic equipment that had cost him most of his reputation coins. It was a level 50 set that could be worn at level 40. It was among the best in the game. However, a rare set of level 60 equipment could match a godly level 50 set. Now that Roth had reached level 60 after this quest, he did need a complete equipment makeover. This ticket solved the problem for him!
He drooled as he tried to imagine what the legendary version of the Lacertia set, tailored to his level, would look like.
Of course, there were other options on the table, too. He could also revamp his jewelry.
ACCESSORIES
[Crown of the Molian King] | +20 to all stats; +100 earth affinity
[Enigma Earring] | +10 wisdom; +10 charisma; +5% cooldown reduction; +50 darkness and light affinities
[Enigma Earring] | +10 wisdom; +10 charisma; +5% cooldown reduction; +50 darkness and light affinities
[Witness Protection Mask]
[Time Berlock Necklace] | +1 to all stats; +5% cooldown reduction; +5% status resistance; +50 hp
[Iron Wood Belt] | +4 intelligence; +4 wisdom; +4% damage reduction; +2% cooldown reduction
[Blue Caterpillar Ring] | +8 subterfuge; +5 intelligence
[Iron Wood Globe Ring] | +8 intelligence; +2% cooldown reduction
Much of his current jewelry was rare, and Nakia crafted it when he was level 30. He had doubled in level since then. The enigma earrings were the only pieces of jewelry suited for someone his level. He would gain a lot from upgrading all his accessories.
His two flags were powerful and of the epic grade but weren’t at his current level. If he could get the dwarves to remake his equipment completely... maybe, just maybe…
Roth opened the reputation store, which, thanks to having [Beloved] status with the dwarves, showed all the items he could purchase from them. Countless treasures fought for his attention, but he only cared about [Dwarf Makeover Tickets]. He finally spotted them at the very bottom of the story. His face drained of all color. Each ticket cost 100,000 reputation coins!
“100k?!” he stammered. It was crazy. He would have to max out the reputations with 14 new factions to earn that much! That could take him weeks! He was running relatively low on reputation coins, even after this quest. He only had about 10,000. He could not buy enough tickets for a total makeover.
Roth considered his next move. Even winning eight levels had only brought him back to 14th place. Players in the top 15 were grinding for levels and high-end equipment in the Core. If he waited too long, surpassing them would become complicated. What should he do?
With most of his quests completed, he didn’t have a foreseeable power boost. His best hope right now was the effects of [Sanctuary] to pile on. But how long could that take?
Kraken had already responded to Mel, telling her he’d agree to leave the rankings for one day of Roth’s choosing. Ogre had agreed to do the same. But even if they did that, there were still two spots left to climb. Only two. Roth bit his lip. It was time to give it his all; it was all or nothing. His face tensed, and he felt his mouth go dry.
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He took a step forward, addressing his guildsmen. "Jack, Godsfried."
Roth’s severe tone made them immediately look up at him. "Everything okay, Roth?" they asked, on high alert.
"Sort of. I’m about to ask you something that is unfair to you both. But... after doing this quest together and everything we’ve been through, I see you not only as fellow players or guild members but as my friends. I’ve received one makeover ticket. Did you two get the same?"
Instead of answering, Jack just took it from his inventory.
Godsfried nodded. "Yes, we did. One each. Why?"
"Are you aware of my particular situation?"
Jack nodded. "I’ve seen your capsule, Roth. I also live in the compound, you know?"
Godsfried nodded. "I’ve heard the rumors."
Roth continued, "Have I told you that if I reach the top 10 in the game, the boobytrap arming the pod will be released, and I can leave?"
They exchanged looks. This was new information to them.
"I was 15th in the rankings, and after getting eight levels off this quest, I climbed to number 14. I’m so, so close. I’m about to use my makeover ticket. Hopefully, getting my equipment off to the next level will be enough. Can I ask you not to spend your tickets right away? If I can’t reach my goal using mine, would you be willing to lend me yours? I have a way to buy new ones using reputation coins. It will just take me a while to return it to you. I promise I’ll give it back to you. It will just take me a while. But it can probably help me get out of the game," Roth said, his voice shaking.
Jack was the first to step forward. “I’ll lend you mine.”
“A-are you sure?"
"Yes. I believe you’ll pay me back. Although, if you don’t mind, let’s make a contract," Jack said, laughing. "Bad things happen when you don’t leave things in writing with friends."
Hearing that Jack saw him as a friend, Roth smiled.
"What about you, Godsfried?"
Godsfried’s face was tense, his greed wrestling with his desire to help. After a few moments, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and nodded.
"Sure, let’s make a contract too."
Roth stepped forward and hugged both dwarves. "Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. I’ll first use mine on the armor, which has the highest chance of getting me through the rankings. If it doesn’t work, I will use yours for my jewelry and flags."
"Flags?" Jack asked.
"Not important. I’ll tell you later."
Roth first opened the reputation store and looked for a better cape. There had to be something better than the [Forest Lambswool Cape] he’d gotten from Nakia. Sure enough, the dwarves had one for sale.
Cloud Cape (Epic)
Description: A beautiful cape woven by dwarf artisans. The thread count is off the charts, but the fabric is light. It will protect you from attacks and bad weather.
Effects:
+20% running speed;
+5% cooldown reduction;
+16 resilience;
+32 dexterity.
Restrictions: Lvl. 40.
Roth splurged his reputation coins into the cape, and now sure that he had the best equipment possible, he took a deep breath and tore the ticket in two. The sound characteristic of reality being torn flooded the floor. For a moment, Roth was confused about whether he’d done it when he tore the ticket. However, he was proven wrong when the three dwarf lords that had left just a few minutes ago stepped out of a portal.
Roth bowed respectfully. “Magistrates.”
"Martyr, you're certainly determined. You didn’t hesitate to use this gift,” Grimnir commented.
“Which would you like to use it on? Armor, jewelry, or weapons?" Rubbik asked.
"Armor," Roth replied.
The dwarf lords stepped forward and started walking around Roth in circles. They only gave a cursory glance at the cape. They were familiar with the design since it was made of dwarven craftsmanship. Their eyes lingered on the [Lacertia Set].
"Lizardman workmanship," one of them commented, admiring the craftsmanship. "Their leathercraft is admirable.”
Brunna approached and lifted Roth’s arm, stuffing one of her hands through the gaps in the leather armor. “Incredibly so, although the quality of the inward lining is a little lacking compared with the leather outside."
"True," said Grimnir. "Additionally, look at the rivets they used in the leather. This is ordinary steel.”
"Right. Perhaps we could even replace the rivets and add metal in the armor lining," suggested Rubbik.
"He's a man of the cloth," Grimnir warned. "He can only use equipment meant for medics. We have to go easy on the metal.”
Brunna kept feeling the armor and finally reached Roth’s hands. She moved one of his fingers at a time with a focused look. She then smelled his hands. “Money. Leather. Light. No blood. No metal. These are not the hands of a warrior. These are the hands of a diplomat, of a craftsman."
After looking at him, they started sniffing him like a dog in the airport, looking for explosives. "I also smell animal scents on him. Not just the cat.”
“Nyah! Lin meowed as if in protest that his human had any pets other than him.
“There’s the smell of insects. The same who have shielded the garden. And what is this? It’s a mix of dirt and a night breeze. The moonlight herd.”
“I’m friends with the princess, Roth,” commented.
“I see.”
These dwarves were incredibly perceptive. They reminded him of when he’d given Red some of Oli’s trash back in the Green Woods. Back then, Red had been able to tell what metals were inside each machine. These dwarf lords’ senses were even keener. Their attention to detail was astonishing.
At some point, Brunna brought in a stool and stood on it, using a measuring tape to take Roth's measurements.
Godsfried and Jack watched the scene with respect.
“What is it, guys? Aren’t you used to seeing this by now?”
"Roth, we enlisted the help of ordinary dwarves, but these are level 99 NPCs," Jack explained. "Whatever they make will be incredible."
"Is that why you're watching? Because you want to learn from their craftsmanship?" Roth asked.
"Absolutely. I'm also curious about what will happen when I use my ticket. If you use all three, we can choose which is best for us when the time comes," Godsfried replied.
Roth chuckled. "You're using me as a guinea pig."
"Silence. I'm measuring the helmet. Keep your head still," Brunna snapped.
Just as Roth thought they were done, Ruddik approached and stretched his hands. Roth blinked a few times, confused. “What is it?”
“Your inventory bag. Let me see it.”
Do you permit the Dwarf Lords to inspect your bag? [Y/N]
“Uh… Sure.”
A bag appeared in Ruddik’s hands, and he poked his head in it. “Uuuh! Lords. Check this out!” He said, taking the crown of the Molian King off his bag.
“Careful! Careful!” Roth couldn’t help but say.
“Calm down, lad.” The dwarf lords approached, staring at the work adoringly. “Such fine work.”
“Remarkable. I wonder who made it. Maybe someone from the Northern Clans.”
Brunna took the bag off Ruddik’s hands and rummaged through it. Their brazen nosiness took Roth aback. Could it be that when the game said dwarves’ noses had mutated, it meant they had also become noisier? “Oh, my goodness. This human has such great stuff in here. Check this out!”
She pulled the [Affinity Orb]. “The rumored affinity orb. This is incredible. We must use it.”
“B-but it isn’t e-e-ven a crafting material.”
Roth was stunned as these level 99 magistrates started taking treasure after treasure from his bag. Grimnik was off to the side, leafing through all of Roth’s books! He leafed through Roth’s Ecotailor Manual, Myrmecologist’s Handbook, the Way of Peace, Broker Ledger, and Bergelmir’s Notes. “W-wait. Those are…”
But it was useless. The magistrates were doing as they pleased. “So that’s how light traps work. Interesting. Ratans, foxes, boars, badgers, crows, snakes, treeants, moles, lizardmen, dwarves, merchants, soldiers. So many friends and customers. Good for you, Martyr.”
These dwarf magistrates were exposing his every secret!
He glanced over at Jack and Godsfried, whose eyes were popping out of their sockets, and their jaws practically touched the floor. Roth palmed his face. He just hoped this was worth it.