C13 He Could Not Afford to Lose!

"Heh, you're quite the clever one. It's clear you've done your homework before opening your stall. The second option is much like the first, except it doesn't involve the path of a gunman. There's a variety of foundational skills I can offer you: basic blade, polearms, and special weapons. I have all these skills that can lay the groundwork for you. Additionally, I have warrior-compatible skills like [Blade Slash], [Shadow Blade], and [Sliding Blade Combo]. As for warrior equipment, I have very little—just two pieces. If we were to trade, I could only offer you a pair of shoes."

Lee Kai's eyes sparkled with excitement upon hearing this. He had some inkling about the second option and was drawn to close combat—not out of preference, but familiarity.

Yes, familiarity. The once frightened child, who had been spared the orphanage and instead taken in by the studio, remembered the words of his benefactor: "I know you're scared, but a man, whether a boy or an adult, should face fear head-on. A man's allure is in his courage to confront any fear, any challenge." After those words, the benefactor left, leaving no particular impression. So he added, "Since you're staying, I'll assign you a mission: become a warrior, one who dares to engage in brutal, bloody combat with his adversaries." And with that, Lee Kai was thrust into the game, where he rose to become the preeminent warrior.

Holding that weapon with its icy touch always helps me keep my cool," Lee Kai mused, nodding in approval. It's no wonder he's part of a team—he has such an extensive array of items.

"What's the difference between these basic skills?" Lee Kai inquired.

"Ah? There's not much difference, really. Aside from blades and swords, the only other categories of cold weapons are polearms, short weapons, and special weapons. Beyond the basics are the advanced skills. That's when you'll need to make a careful choice, as you won't be able to change it later. It's like when I advanced from basic sword to mastering the two-handed greatsword," the vendor explained.

"How should I choose? What's included in special weapons? For instance, are daggers considered special weapons or part of the blade category?" Lee Kai inquired, getting straight to the point. He needed to understand the distinctions before he could decide which skill to select.

"Daggers fall under the blade category. Special weapons include things like hidden weapons, bows, crossbows, shields, and the like. It's as if blades and swords have been singled out and are no longer classified as cold weapons. As for skill advancement, you'll grasp it all in due time. There's no need for me to elaborate; you'll naturally come to understand," Wei Yu explained.

After listening, Lee Kai bowed his head, pondering for a moment before requesting, "I'd like to review the equipment."

"Sure," Wei Yu responded, recognizing that Lee Kai had reached a decision and didn't dawdle.

Blood-Stained Military Boots

Category: Armor

Rarity: Rare

Durability: 35/35

Gear Requirements: Dexterity 5

GearScore: 50 (Achieving full mark grants a special attribute)

Rapid Movement: Increases movement speed by 5%

Equipment Evaluation: Just your average military boots. Apart from the slight speed advantage, they don't offer much else. Their usefulness is solely due to the blood enhancement; otherwise, they'd be nothing but a worthless pair.

Value: 1,500 War Coins

Upon examining the equipment, Lee Kai paused briefly, then looked up and stated, "I'll take all the basic skills you mentioned, including Basic Firearms. The rest of the skills are unnecessary. Let's also include that necklace. How does that sound?" Wei Yu was momentarily taken aback but then nodded in agreement, pleased.

"However, I have one more condition," Lee Kai added.

"Oh? I was under the impression that our deal was already finalized," Wei Yu said, her eyes narrowing slightly upon hearing Lee Kai's additional term.

"Don't get me wrong. A fair deal benefits both parties. You've mentioned that my items are valued at around 50,000, yet what I'm offering in exchange hasn't reached that figure, has it? I'm aware that a basic skill goes for around 3,000 War Coins, even though they're not commonly found. But my items are even more scarce, aren't they?" Wei Yu smiled in response, "You're absolutely right. So, how do you propose we settle this?"

"I'm in need of supplies, rejuvenation potions, and other consumables. Such items are quite scarce on the platform. I've looked around before, and they're not only rare but also exorbitantly priced. As part of a team, you might not have an abundance of these, but you certainly have some, right?" Lee Kai's eyes shone with anticipation as he fixed his gaze on Wei Yu.

"Rejuvenation potions? Those are tough to come by. There are hardly any that the platform recognizes in the worlds we operate in, so our team doesn't have many. Even if we did have extras, it wouldn't be possible to give them to you. So, you might as well forget about it—it's not happening," Wei Yu said with a chuckle, observing Lee Kai's look of disappointment. She suspected his crestfallen look was just for show. How could someone as shrewd as him let such an emotion slip unless he was scheming something?

"Then just give me 5,000 War Coins instead."

Hmm? He's giving up just like that? No hidden agenda? Why? Wei Yu was puzzled by Lee Kai's actions but didn't press further. She completed the trade, handed over the items, and left with the enhancer, eager to get it to the shield warrior in her team. After all, the sooner it was used, the sooner they could assess its effects.

Tang Yuqi had been watching the transaction unfold. She hadn't interfered, not because she didn't want to, but because someone had appeared behind her and held her back. That person silently observed Lee Kai pack up his stall and watched as he disappeared into the crowd. Before Tang Yuqi could speak up, she was whisked away from the scene.

...

Clutching roughly 10,000 War Coins, Lee Kai knew he had to spend them. As a newcomer, hoarding wealth was akin to signing his own death warrant. He moved swiftly from stall to stall, not looking for equipment but rejuvenation potions. To his dismay, the consumables he had spotted earlier were now nowhere to be found.

"Are they really that in demand?" Lee Kai hadn't anticipated this. Unable to find any potions, he decided to invest in defensive gear instead. He didn't bother haggling over prices; it wasn't worth his time. There were more important tasks at hand.

Instead of getting caught up in tedious bargaining, he preferred to wrap up his purchases quickly and head to training. Skills needed practice to master, and only with his body accustomed to them could he maximize his combat abilities.

After perusing the selection, Lee Kai hadn't found any gear worth spending his War Coins on. He resolved to browse for another hour, and if nothing caught his eye, he'd head to the Basic Training Hall to work on his basic skills.

As Lee Kai mulled over his options, he strolled past a vendor's stall. "Huh?" He paused, then doubled back to take a closer look at a skill card on display.

"Something catch your eye? Interested in this skill card?" The vendor asked, grinning at Lee Kai, who was now crouched in front of the stall. With a deft flick, the vendor popped the cap off a bottle of wine, sending it flying neatly to land before Lee Kai.

"Well, I was initially checking out that piece of equipment, but then I spotted this skill card. Summoning skill cards are pretty rare, aren't they?" Lee Kai remarked with a nod and a smile, picking up the card for a closer examination.

"Listen, buddy, a word of advice. You look like you're new to the platform, with not a single piece of gear on you. If you've got War Coins, you're better off buying a gun or something more reliable," the vendor suggested, tossing another skill card towards Lee Kai.

Lee Kai caught the card and chuckled, "What's the issue? Summoning isn't powerful?"

"You've got it all wrong. It's not that summoning isn't powerful. I've seen someone summon a massive dragon that wiped out the fodder with a flick of its tail and obliterated the final boss with a single spit. You can't imagine how awesome that was; words can't even describe it," the vendor boasted with a chuckle.

Lee Kai, amused, played along. "Sounds impressive. If I could summon a dragon like that, I'd breeze through missions in every world."

The vendor took a swig of his beer, finishing it in one gulp, and casually wiped his mouth. "Pfft, what do you know? Sure, that guy took down the final boss, but he got sniped by a girl who could turn invisible. I still remember how that dragon went berserk, spewing saliva everywhere. It was a gruesome sight. If I hadn't been at a distance, I'd have been a goner too. So, I'm telling you, don't go for summoning. It's weak in the early stages and just ends up being a liability later on." Having said his piece, he cracked open another beer and started drinking deeply.

"I've never seen a shop owner push a product away like this before. So, how much for the skill card? I still think the dragon is just too cool," Lee Kai said, grinning.

"You know the saying, 'Ignore the wisdom of the elders and you'll learn the hard way.' You'll realize I was right when it's too late. I'm not selling it separately, but if you take the hand-to-hand combat (Basic) skill card, I can offer you a discount."

"Let's hear it then. If it's a good deal, I'll take it," Lee Kai said, giving him a sideways glance.

"Exactly, my friend. I'm telling you, you can't go wrong buying from me. No chance of being duped here. Two skill cards for just 7,000 points is a steal... Hey? Buddy, where are you going? Don't leave. Let's talk some more..."