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The four of them hurriedly walked along the path of flames.

Mantou had a fawning smile on his face; he wanted to use his own abilities to recover the favorability that Singo had lost.

“Sir, is there anything you need us for by inviting us here? Just say the word, and I am absolutely willing to go through fire and water without hesitation!”

[Favorability -5.]

[【Mysterious Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer - Cassius】’s favorability towards you is -10 (Mild Dislike).]

Mantou’s smile froze on his face.

“Why is it decreasing instead of increasing!”

“Damn, what’s with this damn mysterious NPC and all his problems?” he cursed inwardly.

Cassius’s face showed a hint of imperceptible mockery; he thought to himself, “You think I don’t know what you’re like? You’re definitely cursing me in your hearts right now.”

But he calmly said aloud, “Fallen stars from unknown lands, I did not invite you here to listen to your nonsense.”

[You have issued a quest to players 【I Go Eat Mantou】【Singo】【Summer Night Autumn Rain】【Born Battle Maniac】.]

Singo said succinctly, “Please, go ahead.”

The half-dragon Sorcerer looked down at everyone, exuding a powerful aura, his golden pupils flashing:

“Since you were born in Baator City, it is naturally the arrangement of the god of fate. Go and learn about the brief history here, or the longer stories about the Tieflings and the Ember Nest; you will make new discoveries.”

Everyone’s panels refreshed with a quest.

【Investigate the Story of the Tieflings】

Quest Description: This group of Tieflings, known as the “Devil’s Offspring,” did not originally belong here. They were once driven out and slaughtered, but relying on astonishing willpower, they migrated here and, in just five years, established their own city in this monster-infested Storm Highlands. What exactly did they encounter five years ago? And what caused them to migrate here and join the Ember Nest?

Quest Reward: +500 【Ember Nest】 Faction Contribution

“So the reward is faction contribution.”

Singo’s voice was somewhat disappointed. Considering the other party was an important NPC, he forcefully swallowed the phrase “not even a dog would want it.”

Even Born Battle Maniac and Summer Night Autumn Rain were a bit disappointed. They had read Singo’s guide; faction contribution currently had no use, and although it might be significant in the future, at this early stage it’s just an empty promise.

“Wait... look at this!”

“Quick, check the shop interface!”

Mantou’s voice trembled with excitement.

“Damn, what’s gotten into you?”

Singo was startled by Mantou’s sudden exclamation, cursed, but still instinctively opened the interface.

[【Mysterious Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer - Cassius】 has opened his personal shop to you.]

Unlike the usual merchant NPC’s trading panel, this high-class 【Mysterious Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer - Cassius】’s trading panel is divided into three modules: 【Adamantine Shop】, 【Mithril Shop】, and 【Ordinary Shop】.

The 【Ordinary Shop】 sold items no different from those of regular merchants—various iron swords, leather armor, potions, raw materials, food. Although numerous, nothing seemed special.

“What’s this? I can get more than that.”

But as he looked further, Singo was also stunned, and after a long while, only uttered two words—

“Damn.”

Starting from the Mithril Shop, the item interface underwent a tremendous change—there appeared 【Rare】 quality equipment that had never been seen since the beta began, such as 【Whisper Greatsword】, 【Emerald Dragon Scale Sword】, 【Inlaid Wooden Staff】, 【Hunter’s Longbow】.

Moreover, these equipments were dazzling, totaling over a hundred pieces! The interweaving magical glows made everyone dazzled.

Singo browsed through the equipment descriptions, extremely excited, muttering: “Whisper Greatsword, with Whisper Tree roots extending from the hilt, silences the target upon hit—an extremely versatile early-game artifact. Dragon Scale Shield, comes with anti-dragon aura—a core equipment specifically against dragon-type bosses. Hunter’s Longbow, can attach a Hunter’s Mark to the opponent with one aim—my Bow Warrior’s early graduation equipment.”

But after looking at the prices below, his heart sank.

These equipments were mostly priced at dozens of gold coins, and even those few 【Rare】 quality early-game divine equipments were priced at over a hundred gold coins. Even a professional top player like him would find it hard to accumulate so much; perhaps only those wealthy large guilds could afford one or two pieces.

Actually, these overpriced equipments weren’t prepared for solo players like Singo, but were specially released by Cassius to reap from the guilds.

But Singo also noticed the shop’s description.

[【Mithril Shop】: Requires 【Ember Nest】 faction contribution of 3000 to unlock.]

Singo gasped: “Looks like I was wrong; faction contribution is so crucial!”

Cassius’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, sneering inwardly: “Let you kid belittle my faction contribution, causing no one to take on the labor tasks, even needing to allocate funds to spend money; now you know how important it is!”

Cassius’s status had risen from the hard-working laborer of his previous life to the faction leader now, and naturally, his mentality changed with his status.

Now, as the boss, the only thing he wanted to do was to ruthlessly exploit the players: first squeeze a wave of gold coins with the invitation, then squeeze a wave of labor with the faction contribution restrictions.

As for buying equipment?

Players might say they could still grind out a few more gold coins; everyone could pool together, and the money could always be saved up.

What? You say you can’t save enough?

At worst, you can pay in installments—just a little interest; as long as you persist in repaying every day. After all, he, Cassius, is not a devil, just an ordinary red dragon, still willing to fulfill every player’s dream of acquiring divine equipment.

“Singo, take a look at the Adamantine Shop.”

Mantou reminded him; his tone was already a bit numb.

Singo didn’t bother with Mantou’s way of addressing him and pulled up the panel.

[【Adamantine Shop】: Requires 【Ember Nest】 faction contribution of 10000 to unlock.]

Still the familiar faction contribution requirements.

But in the 【Adamantine Shop】, there weren’t many items, only a few displayed on the interface, and they were all priced in faction contribution!

Singo stared intently at the descriptions of those few items.

“Dragon Blood Elixir, unlocks the Sorcerer subclass 【Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer】 quest, price: 4500 faction contribution.”

“This is... Crimson Scale, unlocks the Warrior advanced class 【Crimson Scaled Conqueror】 quest, price: 9800 faction contribution.”

【Crimson Scaled Conqueror】

Requirements: Large Draconic Bloodline Creature Mount, Dragon Bloodline, Warrior base level 3, +4 proficiency in Riding

Class Description: When the dragon’s roar comes from afar, the Crimson Scaled Conquerors will ride massive and ferocious Draconic Bloodline creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and utter death to their enemies.

Mantou gritted his teeth, secretly making up his mind, his eyes showing unprecedented determination: “No one stop me; I want to become a Dragon Knight!”

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