The sun peeked out from the horizon as Adder stared at the massive stone wall.

The leader smiled at the group. "Guys, we are finally here."

The battered defenders just groaned, still scanning the surroundings like scared cats.

Adder just smiled as the group had shrunk to half its size. Even those who survived were in battered condition, many with damaged weapons and equipment.

A couple of those players stared at the main group, still not realizing that most of those guys were from the city to begin with.

Well, he did not blame them, as even he had fallen for the same trick during his first attempt.

It was one of the jobs a few players did to scam new players to earn big. You either paid them, or they would earn from the stuff you dropped at your death.

With how fast the leader knew about the type of creature that attacked their group, he shook his head.

Anyone with a bit of awareness could notice how they led the group to the dangerous path.

Well, it was not his problem. He just smiled at the leader as their group walked out of the forest.

The massive stone wall shone brightly in the morning sunlight as their group continued to move closer to the city.

Along the way, he saw multiple other groups walking to the city from different directions, likely from other villages.

Just a couple of hundred meters from the main gate, a massive line had formed before the city gate.

Adder stared at a group of armed players standing guard at the city gate. He just joined the queue while groaning, "Just a few more days."

A few who were new to the game asked, "What is going on here?"

"Why is there a line?"

The group leader smiled at them. "It’s for buying the entry permit."

"Permit?"

"Yup, all the top guilds charge a minuscule amount to maintain order within the city."

One of the noobs shouted back, "But why do we have to pay when we did not even enter the city?"

The leader just pointed to the front. "You can talk to them, kid."

The guy just stared at the armed group of 20 players and went quiet.

Adder just sighed. He knew this was just extortion that happened in every city in the game.

Either you became part of the top guilds or paid them the extortion fees.

For a moment, he thought of using his connection with the boss, then shook his head. ’It will soon change.’

He just stared up at the archers’ positions on the stone wall. The most urgent thing for him right now was to earn big money in the shortest time.

The problem, though, was that he did not have much time.

In just two days, he had to meet the boss’s daughter. After talking with the gang boss, he sensed a big opportunity.

The problem was that he was not sure if it was better to enter the guild the normal way or to use her.

It was not that he needed her, but more so for the information. The cafe was one thing, but getting information about the guild’s inner workings was something he lacked.

It would be much better if the boss were to recommend him to the guild. Adder stopped daydreaming as it was finally his turn.

He walked up to a pair of guards in green leather armor. The guard on the left said to him, "According to city rules, you need a permit to enter the city. The permit is a one-time ticket that is only valid for one entry."

The guard on the right added, "One permit for 5 copper, 10 for 40 copper, and 30 for 1 silver. How many do you want?"

Adder just handed him 5 copper coins. "Just one, please."

The guy stared at him and then pointed to the queue behind him. "Without a permit, you need to join the queue."

Adder just smiled. "No problem, sir."

The guy on the right just slammed the ticket on his chest. "Here."

[-1]

Adder took a step back and stared at the two. Not escalating, he just shook his head and walked through the massive metal door.

The moment he stepped into the city, a notification popped up before him. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Ding!

[Changes in the revival point detected.

New revival point: Dulkami City.]

This notification made him smile a bit, though the distant loud noise hit his ears.

He saw a side road almost 100 meters away from the city gate, full of people rushing around. Some were arguing over hunts, others lamenting their luck.

Not only players, but there were also multiple carriages full of resources that NPCs moved around.

It was as if he had entered another world itself. A world he was familiar with.

Though no one moved, they closed the city gate. He noticed multiple NPC guards patrolling around the city wall, which both players and NPCs avoided.

He walked to the very first road. It was full of stalls lined up on one side, selling cheap potions and items.

Some guys had scattered their goods on the roadside, trying to sell miscellaneous items.

"Cheap potions! Fresh batch!"

"Looking for a party? I need a healer with quick healing skills!"

"Selling wolf fangs! High quality!"

Adder slowly walked through the local market as it reminded him of the stall where he had purchased the rock runes.

He kept scanning the items. There were stalls where players were arguing with NPCs, both sides cursing each other’s tenth generation.

This was a place with no discrimination between players and NPCs. A place where both sides wanted to scam each other.

Compared to this mess, the village looked quite peaceful.

A few players in leather armor brushed past him, some with bloodstains still fresh on their gear.

Others stood in groups, arguing over prices or loot splits.

A loud shove came from his right. "Watch where you’re going!"

A bulky player bumped into a thinner guy, nearly knocking him to the ground. Before the guy could react, another hand slipped into his pocket.

Adder saw the guy pocketing a few shiny coins as he blended into the crowd.

Only after a few moments did the noob player shout, "Shit, who stole my coin?"

Adder sucked in a cold breath. That was a clear use of pickpocket skill.

He glanced at the pair as they had already moved to their next unsuspecting victim.

Adder looked ahead again, unfazed. ’Same as always.’

He moved along the edge of the street, avoiding the center crowd. His pace remained steady, but his attention sharpened.

Every few steps, someone tried.

A hand brushing too close.

A shoulder bumping harder than needed.

A voice calling out, "Hey, new player, need help?"

He ignored them all.

Just then, a man stepped into his path.

"Brother, you just came in, right?" the guy said with a wide smile. "I’ve got a starter package. Only 20 copper. Best deal you’ll—"

Adder didn’t even slow down.

"Move."

The man’s smile stiffened for a moment before he stepped aside.

"Your loss," he muttered.

Adder continued walking until he saw the big square as the market finally ended.

The main road stretched ahead, splitting the city into two dense streams.

One led deeper toward the inner districts, where taller stone buildings rose in layers.

The other curved toward what looked like a local slum, full of small wooden buildings and all sorts of poor, shady people.

Adder slowed down for a bit. There were different kinds of opportunities on both sides.

But to get that much in two days, he didn’t have the luxury to wander.

Money first.

Information second.

Everything else came after.

He glanced at the big market district full of large buildings. That was the place where those in the big guilds played.

Without hesitation, he turned left toward the slums.

Just a few hundred meters in, the atmosphere changed instantly.

The crowd thickened, and the big road split into small alleys. A thick, rotten smell came from unclean garbage.

It was different from the market. Here, it was full of local NPCs, most looking like bones with no mass.

They were running toward the inner city to get work, leaving only the sick and old, desperate ones on the streets.

Moving a few meters deeper, the environment shifted again, this time filled with a strong fragrance.

From time to time, he saw passed-out workers lost in alcohol. Just like gangs in the real world, he started to see similar kinds of NPCs here.

At times, he saw these people beating the alcoholics, demanding money and items.

All sorts of rundown bars appeared, running full of business with players and NPCs.

After checking a couple of such bars, he finally entered the most crowded one.

He didn’t even get to reach the counter where two people were already smashing bottles on each other’s faces, laughing as blood poured down.

At one corner, a group of guys was taking turns punching a man.

The fat bartender was cursing a player as two burly men dragged a half-stripped player toward the basement.

He just smiled as he had found the right kind of place.