All the way, I laughed bitterly...

I tried attacking one monster after another, transitioning from dealing forced -1 damage to a somewhat comforting -5 damage. By then, I could already see scattered groups of players teaming up to level up. Judging from the skills they used, there were both advanced and ultimate skills, suggesting that this area was a gathering place for mid to high-level players, around level 40.

According to general leveling-up patterns, even if I could deal damage to the monsters that these level 40 players were fighting, my current level meant the experience points might start to diminish. Even joining a party wouldn't give me as much experience as players who had fully learned their skills at the same level...

Sigh! I kept reassuring myself that this was just a case of "you win some, you lose some." Skill proficiency for the first job transition wasn't too hard to level up, so I'd just have to wait and see. Besides, who knows what amazing skills this staff might have? Though I was a bit anxious about the requirements being too high, another part of me hoped they were, because the higher the requirements, the better the equipment. It's truly a case of being torn between hope and fear.

"Hey, buddy, want to join our party?"

A warlock greeted me warmly. Beside him were two warriors and a mage, with two obvious newbies in whiteboard gear tagging along behind them.

"Oh? No, thanks. I need to return to the city. Do you have any spare return scrolls?" My main hope now was to return, get my items appraised, then level up and make my job transition. According to international practice, there should be some reward for the first player to make a job transition, right?

"Return to the city? Which one? If you head east, past a system village, you'll reach Taycy City. Didn't you know?" The warlock looked at me strangely. My mage robe, which I put on at level ten, was now tattered, and my once-pointy hat was nearly flat. Only the staff in my hand still looked decent, but to these high-level players, it seemed quite ordinary. They were all decked out in blue and green gear, and the mage's hat was even glowing a dazzling green...

"Oh? Haha, thanks. I had a bit of an accident and got lost." I smiled gratefully at the warlock, abandoning any thoughts of testing monsters. With my current gear, I could probably only handle level 30 monsters at most.

It took me almost half a day to circle around the system village. When I finally saw the spire of Taycy City's clock tower, it was already near dusk. Strangely, I still hadn't received a system-enforced log-off message. Could the system pity me so much that it didn't want to send me back to that dark space?

Taycy City truly lived up to its reputation as the largest city in Destiny. Even close to nightfall, it was still bustling with people. There were players selling equipment, looking for parties, and strolling around in groups.

I spent half the night weaving through the crowd but still couldn't find the appraisal office. Taycy was just too big. As night fell, the streetlights ignited with magical flames, illuminating the entire city. Perhaps this is why it's called the city that never sleeps.

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Growing increasingly frustrated, I pulled over a passing rogue and blushed as I asked for directions to the appraisal office. Seeing my red face, the rogue seemed to understand. "No worries, everyone gets lost their first time in Taycy. I've been here almost a week and I've only familiarized myself with a quarter of the map. But it's okay, you can buy a map from a player just outside the appraisal office."

Thanking the rogue profusely, I headed straight for the appraisal office along the main street. At the same time, I inwardly scolded myself for my "fear of asking for directions" — it seemed I was born with this phobia.

The appraisal office was packed. Even at night, long lines snaked from each window, and order was exceptionally good. Out of curiosity, I saw two guards at the entrance, brandishing large swords and glaring at the players. So that's why.

Amid the mix of joy and sorrow from the players ahead of me, blue and green lights kept flashing. Seeing this, I shivered. Could my staff really be an X-grade item? After all, wouldn't something dropped by a red dragon boss be extraordinary? With this thought, I ripped off a piece of my tattered mage robe to cover my face.

Now, even if it turned out to be a divine weapon, no one would recognize me. Besides, with those two guards standing there, who would dare make a move under their watchful eyes?

Finally, it was my turn. I adjusted the cloth over my face, confirming it was secure before taking out my gear. Despite knowing no one could snatch it, my hands still trembled.

Seeing the professional smile on the old appraiser's face suddenly freeze, my heart tightened!

"Appraisal fee: a total of twenty-seven thousand three hundred gold coins."

What? My mind went blank with a loud crash! Robbery! Since green items had an appraisal fee of ten gold coins, I assumed my two thousand or so gold coins would be enough to appraise everything. Did the cost increase tenfold with each grade?

Rubbing my eyes, I saw I hadn't misread. Judging by this calculation, at least two of my items must be X-grade for the fee to be so astronomical.

"Um, can it be cheaper?" I stammered, knowing it was impossible. "I don't have enough money..."

Please, in a game with a drop rate and monetary system based on the smallest unit being copper coins, two thousand-plus gold coins was a substantial amount. I could say that without the option to exchange currency, I was definitely rich — a rich man in rags who couldn't even afford an appraisal fee.

"Then don't appraise them. Everyone knows you can't haggle." An impatient player behind me said.

I have no money? If I converted my gold to copper coins, I could drown you in them! I glared at him fiercely, then continued to look pitifully at the appraiser.

The appraiser's eyes flashed with regret as he shook his head, this time without raising the sign.

"Then I won't appraise them!" Weakly, I retrieved all my gear and turned, dejected, toward the door.

Seriously, you get what you pay for. Even in a virtual world, the game company still valued divine items at a minimum of ten thousand — once currency exchange was open, ten thousand RMB would convert to ten thousand gold coins. What should I do? If I had to earn enough in-game to appraise this equipment, who knows how long it would take. As for exchanging real money? Forget it! I couldn't even remember my own name, so where would I find RMB?

Sigh! Brother Sonia, wasn't it said that your noble dragon kind always loved to sleep on piles of gold? How come you left me with so little? Did you only rest your chin on the gold?

With immense regret and frustration, I left the appraisal office. Now what? The richest poor man — that must be me.

"Hey there, friend, did you find something good?" A friendly voice called out beside me.