"Hey, where have you been hiding? Are you still in the game? That boss you killed the other day has been looking for you at the rest stop every day, shouting that he'll kill you if you dare to show up in those shabby clothes..."

"Sigh! Looks like you really aren't around. Poor me, getting dragged into this mess because of you. I've been followed for the past few days."

Two consecutive messages reminded me of the rogue and seemingly powerful enemy waiting for me at the rest stop. Worse still, I had inadvertently dragged an innocent girl into this mess.

What should I do? Bring her here? Clearly, our relationship hadn't reached that level yet. Ignore it? Although it seemed inhumane and ungentlemanly, it was the best solution for now. Everything would have to wait until I reached level 50. After all, while my weapon was good, I couldn't just flaunt it. And my skills... my dark magic proficiency was nearing advanced, but my magic shield's proficiency was still as stagnant as a winter thermometer, showing no sign of improvement—though the magic shield’s duration had increased significantly with my higher spirit.

Gritting my teeth, I mentally apologized to the girl. With her beauty, wisdom, and profession, finding a team shouldn't be hard for her. No need for me to worry.

"Sigh! If you're really not around, I'll log off. These past few days, I've been unable to level up because of you. You have no idea how powerful that guy's influence is. Whatever, I'll log off and hide for a few days."

With a seemingly sigh-laden message appearing before my eyes, I stopped in my tracks and smiled bitterly. Could it be that this girl had a thing for me? Without me, she really couldn't level up?

"Idiot! Haven't you tried finding other teams to level up? Can that rogue's influence really deter all other players?" I replied, extremely annoyed. If she was in such dire straits because of me, how could I not step up and still call myself a man?

"Alright, damn it! You’re actually hiding online. Be honest, how are you going to make it up to me?" Her hurried yet slightly happy voice came through in the private chat.

"...Are you really so dumb? You don't know to run farther and find others to team up with? With your angelic combination of beauty and brains, isn't there a guy willing to oppose a rogue's tyranny for a beautiful girl?"

"Get lost! You have no idea how influential that guy is. All the high-level players in Lion’s Valley are on friendly terms with him. How can I find anyone? Besides, I’m not so lowly as to beg for a team." She actually swore? Considering her behavior the other day, it would indeed be difficult for her to actively seek a team.

Friendly terms? Hmph!

"Well..." According to typical plot development, I should now heroically say, "Come to me, buddy. I've got your back!" I should then pound my chest to show my sincerity.

But my current equipment couldn't be revealed, at least not until I had absolute power before my job change. The mere sight of a green staff had caused such a fuss, and now with an X-grade item, I had to be even more careful to keep my wealth hidden.

"Don't worry, we're buddies, right? We've been through life and death together. Where are you? I won't betray you. By the way, what's your level now?" She seemed to sense my hesitation, speaking grandly, but I wasn’t sure if she was thumping her chest.

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Since the beauty said so, why should I hesitate? After all, I'm a level 49 mage already halfway into the specialized job hall. Even if I get betrayed, I can still run away if I can't win.

"Then go to Edia Port and take the teleport to Tysee. Keep my presence a secret and message me when you get there." Ending the conversation, I shook my head. This girl really could cling!

She would need about two hours to travel from the rest stop to Edia Port. In the dark, that would keep her busy. Shaking off my troubles, I vented my frustrations on the skeletons before me.

Leaving the private chat open was a mistake. This girl was obviously quite frustrated and chattered non-stop in the private chat, making me multitask between fighting undead creatures and chatting with her! Damn, if her prattle gets me killed, I’ll really make her pay!

Thinking vicious thoughts, I noted she had arrived at Tysee. Multitasking wasn’t so bad after all. I messaged the fatty, asking him to pick her up and check for any tails.

"Damn! You want me to pick up a girl while you're hitting on her? That's not cool," the fatty complained. "You know my time is worth hundreds of gold coins a minute."

"More like copper coins, right? Stop whining. I'm asking you for a favor because I respect you. She's at the fifth teleport point by the general store. Go quickly and bring something for identification."

"Fine, fine, I'm going. I'll take a Playboy magazine. Tell her!" The fatty said maliciously.

"Whatever! Just get her to your private room." I ended the call and contacted the girl.

"Wait there. My friend will pick you up. He's a fat guy in beginner’s gear, possibly holding a book."

"What book?" she asked curiously.

The fatty, with his sharp instincts, confirmed no one was tailing her. After circling a few blocks, he brought her to his private room. Meanwhile, I changed gear and returned to the city, rushing to the hotel where the fatty was staying.

"Wow, didn't expect you to upgrade your gear?" Despite her pretty face, she lacked the demeanor of a proper lady.

"Let's go level up!" I had no time for banter. Leveling up was a priority, especially since I had to return for the funds soon.

"Alright, let's go. This fatty looks..." She glanced at the smiling fatty, then quickly hid behind me, whispering, "Creepy. If you didn't come back, I would've run away."

I was taken aback, and the fatty’s smile froze, turning into a wry grin. Who said fat people have no dignity? Dignity has nothing to do with weight!

"Do I really look that bad?" The fatty pulled a face, seeking confirmation from me.

"Well... sort of." I scrutinized the fatty, indeed finding a trace of creepiness in his features. "You’re the quiet, perverted type!"

Both Ziyi and I burst out laughing, while the fatty roared angrily, pretending to pounce.

Just then, the pleasant system prompt sounded: "Due to a player successfully completing a specialized job change task, the open beta will end early. The system will shut down in one hour and reopen in twelve hours. The upcoming adjustments are..."

Stunned, completely stunned! The fatty and I exchanged glances, bewildered by the sudden news. I had thought I was the highest-level player—after all, I hadn’t logged off since the game started! Not to mention the incredible leap to level 31. How could someone have surpassed me?

The fatty was even more shocked. First, he confirmed I hadn’t changed jobs yet. Considering the staff’s requirements, his first thought was my terrifying attributes. Second, who could be this fast?

"Old Liu, gather a few guys to monitor the specialized job halls in each city. See if anyone else changes jobs and find out the player’s name if possible." The fatty quickly sent several messages, instructing his team to gather equipment.

I watched the fatty busily issue orders, feeling utterly defeated. Once someone reached the job change requirements, it was certain that within an hour, many more would follow. In a game with millions of players, experience and levels were tightly contested, unless someone else had an encounter as extraordinary as mine!

Seeing the fatty still issuing stockpile orders, my mind exploded.

"Fatty! Do we have enough money?"

Global Access suddenly realized, freezing on the spot, cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Sell! Sell everything! Meet me at the Tysee city hall in half an hour!" The fatty's roar made my ears ring.