Upon the uneven cobblestone pavement, Ryou, after he exited the inn, was walking on Galemaker’s Alley, heading for the bridge over the Blackwater that would take him into the west city gate. His gaze fixated on the path below as he wandered in deep contemplation over his next plan, unaware of the subtle approach of footsteps in the shadowed passageway.

When realization dawned upon him, he lifted his head in astonishment to find the alley's exit corked by a resolute figure of a girl in her late teen donned in intricately plated armor. Startled, he spun around to confront the unexpected blockade, only to be met by a man clad in a dark blue brigandine, his silhouette accentuated by the quiver and bow strapped to his back.

"This isn't your genuine appearance either, is it?" inquired the girl before him. Her tone implied she didn't seek an answer, as if she already possessed that knowledge. "I've been waiting to encounter you, Rem," she added.

"How can you be certain I'm Rem? I'm merely a level 1 player," Ryou replied with a wry smile.

"Unlike the players here from Blackwater, I know that Rem possessed an appearance and level transforming tool, also, I've seen Elsa Granloe's face in Blue Burn town. I travelled here with no real assurance of getting any clue, however, imagine my astonishment when I spotted her in the Keg and Meat tavern with you,"

She assessed him up and down before remarking, "there could be only one individual beside Elsa—the one who conquered the level 10 dungeon with her. You've altered your appearance once more since you left the inn, I've seen you do that as well since I followed you closely, and because of that sly ability to transform into someone, I am sure it is you, Rem," her eyes gleamed, as if she had acquired a new prey or perhaps a toy.

‘She really looks proud of her stalking ability’ Ryou thought.

"You really believe I didn't sense you tailing me since I left the tavern?" His eyes flashed, "It's not that you've been following me; I've permitted you to follow me, Koyoma-san." Ryou displayed his teeth in a smile, his chin up, shoulders broad in confidence, his gaze unblinkingly fixed on the girl before him.

Adorned in a brownish-metallic breastplate with a subtle silvery sheen, the dawn armor crafted by Ryou himself, the girl exuded an air of formidable elegance. Her arms were encased in dark-brown metal vambraces, while silver greaves safeguarded her legs. At her hip rested a longsword, accentuating the heroic aura that surrounded her. With raven-black hair cascading down to her waist and a sharp facial structure, she bore the unmistakable visage of a valiant warrior.

Ryou recognized her instantly when he saw her in the tavern earlier, she was Koyoma Namika, the proud and somewhat arrogant second-generation nouveau riche of the affluent Koyama Family, known for their vast business empire.

"Impressive. You not only sensed we were tailing you but permitted it willingly. Did you assume I'd say that?" Namika scoffed, "Though I have some leisure time, I don't have time to indulge in such nonsensical things. Rem, I have two preferential and amicable agreement for you.”

"I don't have time for nonsense either, so let me explain why I'd allowed you to follow me," Ryou preempted, aware of this forthcoming proposal. He intended to cut it off before she could elaborate.

However, Namika, in contrast to his internal dilemma, spoke first. "First, we would offer you 1 million yen in exchange for information on how to conquer the Black Mountain dungeon on Hell mode," she proposed.

“Wait! I also..”

Namika's voice erupted like a firecracker, growing louder as she declared, "If you want to reject that, then the second term: Join Requiem of the Light, and we'll provide you with a monthly salary of 1.5 million yen. However, it'll dwindle or rise based on your performance," she asserted.

Unable to halt her words midstream once again, Ryou let out an internal sigh.

He harbored a degree of familiarity with this girl, having embarked on quests together in his past life—she was an acquaintance, after all. Her most likable traits was her straightforward and honest nature, yet her flaws were also her pompous straightforward and injuriously honest nature. She was the type who always wants to get her willful motives fulfilled like a kid navigating the tempestuous waters of puberty, always yearning for her way.

"What if I decline both your proposals?" Ryou queried, his lips forming a lopsided grin.

"I'd persist to cajole you throughout the day," she responded with a smile, as if unfazed by the prospect of convincing him.

"Then, if your persuasive words fail to sway me, would your guild resort to sending a party to impede my progress?" Ryou maintained a calm tone.

"Rem-san, we don't operate like other prominent guilds, impeding someone's progress is narrow-minded and insignificant. Consider joining our guild temporarily and you would understand," the man behind Ryou interjected.

Turning to him with a brief glance, Ryou pondered, this man was smart as he had remembered him, he was smearing the other guilds while complementing his own.

Ryou then turned to gaze at Namika and remarked, "Your boyfriend here thinks I am gullible, don't he? I personally have experience on how guild treats lone players, so I'm curious, would you seek revenge if I don't gave any unsatisfactory answers to any of the requests you mentioned earlier?" Ryou fixed a penetrating stare on Namika's face, genuinely curious about the answer.

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Both Ryou and Namika disregarded the flustered voice from the archer behind them, insisting, "I am not her boyfriend.”

Namika's aloof expression shifted when she received Ryou derisive gaze, she pondered for a moment before stating, "We wouldn't stoop to such petty actions. Moreover, I can't fathom why you're so certain about not joining my guild. It is the strongest guild in Hokkaido, in case you weren't aware.”

Ryou breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed she is the same person he knew from his past life, she was the same proud girl.

"What if I told you I have a stronger backing too?" Ryou bluffed.

Namika scowled at his words, studying him for a moment before asking, "If you don't want to join our guild then, what about the initial offer? Will you accept it, or would you prefer to negotiate for a higher compensation?" Her tone mellow down a bit as if treating him like an equal.

She believed it. Ryou hadn't expected her to buy into such an obvious lie. He thought, perhaps, from the start, she had been consoling herself with the idea that he hailed from a higher power that could clear a level 10 dungeon with two people only. Reflecting on it, he remembered she was still a young girl in her late teens and understood she was not as studious as he remembered.

"I have another proposition," Ryou began. "If you're unwilling to listen, that's fine. I'll take the money for the information, but my terms could be more advantageous for you." He crossed his arms, projecting confidence.

A line appeared between Namika's brows, and she said with a single word, "Continue.”

"How about you form a temporary party with me and complete my quest together in exchange for the information on the Black Mountain Dungeon," Ryou proposed.

It was not Namika but the archer behind him who spoke first, "That's absurd! We don't have time for that. Our guild needs the Vice Leader to attend meetings, manage players, and allocate different parties for various quotas to be met, and she is also needed to—"

"Stop it, Hirosaki-kun," Namika interjected, and Hirosaki halted his words. "I would like to hear more to what you have to say, Rem-san.”

‘She is adding honorific words now,’ Ryou incredulously thought.

"To embark on my quest, a minimum level of 10 is needed," Ryou declared.

"So, let me get this straight. Until we hit level 10, you won't disclose the strategy for the Black Mountain Dungeon,? Rem-san, that's really disadvantageous for us," Hirosaki's words, swift as a wind, interjected Ryou's words.

Namika too, while silent, wore a scowl that vividly communicated her discontent.

In the current time, most players have achieved levels 4-5, Namika, an adept gamer with the prestigious Requiem of Light's help, likely stands at level 6 or at the cusp of level 6.

The arduous journey to gain each subsequent level was intensifying by the day, so the daunting prospect of gaining four levels from level 6 was estimated to be in a week or more through conventional means. However, Ryou possessed knowledge on expediting leveling strategies, beyond the ordinary means.

"One day," Ryou emphasized, pointing his index finger, "if I claim to have the ability to catapult you to level 10 in a single day, would you consider forming a temporary party?"

"Vice leader," Hirosaki questioned exasperated, "how can he possibly accelerate our leveling up so quickly?"

With a grin, Ryou responded, "Well, it's true, I can't elevate both of you to level 10 in a day," before Hirosaki could interject, Ryou raised his voice just like Namika's earlier crackling, "I can, however, expedite her journey to level 10 within a day," pointing directly at Namika.

“What!…”

"Before your companion implies any unnecessary comments, let me clarify—I'm a beta tester with knowledge of a prime leveling spot. That's how I conquered the Black Mountain Dungeon," Ryou explained with a mixture of lies and truth to Namika.

Namika glared intensely at his face, her brows furrowed. After a moment of continued silence, she finally spoke, "What if you fail to deliver on your promise to get me to level 10? What compensation are you willing to provide?"

"How about two pieces of the armor you're currently adorned in," Ryou suggested succinctly.

Namika raised an eyebrow, and Hirosaki behind her let out a gasp in response.

Namika nodded, seemingly recalling something. "So, you are really the person who appeared at that auction with the Crazed Slaughterer and her sister," she said before raising both her palm and spreading her fingers. "Make it 10 pieces, and I'll give you a million yen without any needed additional information for the Black Mountain Dungeon. If you provide me with 20 pieces, I would..."

"Koyoma-san," Ryou interrupted loudly, "my maximum offer for recompense is five pieces of Dawn armor should I fail to help you reach level 10 in a day," he emphasized his words deliberately, steering the conversation back to the main topic.

Namika, recalling their terms, responded, "Agreed, 5 pieces it is then."

A grating voice came from behind, "We should document it, so there's no room for backtracking. Better yet, let's draft the World contract," Hirosaki suggested.

The contract Hirosaki proposed was the New World contract, a binding pact governed by the World Law. In this contract, disobedience carried consequences ranging from the loss of levels to the forfeiture of gaming accounts, or any penalty outlined within the contractual stipulations.

"No need for that, Hirosaki-kun. I trust that Rem-san will keep his promise," Namika stated with confidence that Ryou didn't know where it came from.

Hirosaki walked hurriedly and passed Ryou, positioning himself beside Namika, where he engaged in hushed whispers to shield his words from Ryou's ears.

Observing this without a word, Ryou speculated on the nature of their conversation. He pondered whether Hirosaki sought to persuade Namika into forming a contract, preventing him from a potential betrayal, or if he was coaxing her to not go with Ryou altogether.

In Ryou's recollections from his past life, Hirosaki was Namika's boyfriend. He was a handsome and smart man with a sociable demeanor, yet he would always become as meek as a lamb in Namika's presence. Ryou had an encounter with them in the year 2106, and he remembered they introduced themselves as boyfriend-girlfriend. However, now it was still 2100, so it was plausible that they were not in a relationship at this moment.

Namika, with a determined frown, persisted in asserting her authority during the whispered exchange with Hirosaki, who, although not yielding, displayed a softening demeanor and was losing momentum by the moment. Eventually, it became evident that Namika emerged victorious in their debate.

With a smile, she turned towards Ryou, stating, "Your one day starts ticking from now, Rem-san. I genuinely hope this venture won't prove to be a nonsensical waste of my time.”

Ryou smiled as he approach to shake her hand, he stated, "As I said earlier, I don't like to waste time either,"