Chapter 504 A Passionate Fan
Villain Ch 504. A Passionate Fan
Allen, having just wrapped up his daily quest of taking down ten players within the game, found himself with an abundance of spare time. With a grin spreading across his face, he contemplated how to fill the remaining game hours. After a moment's thought, he made up his mind, deciding to put his Disguise skill to use for a stroll in Gorroc City. To explore the market and scope out the items up for grabs at the auction.
Allen's eyes darted around, searching for potential finds. His primary targets were Upgrade Stones and Enhancement Stones—essential items needed to power up and boost the efficiency of his equipment within the game. His excitement grew at the prospect of stumbling upon a rare and valuable discovery that could level up his gear.
In the heart of the vast, desert-bound Gorroc City, the market thrived amidst a unique blend of bustling activity and a distinctively laid-back ambiance. Unlike the vibrant and crowded markets of the city of Ront, this place possessed an air of its own—quieter, yet pulsating with an entirely different energy.
The marketplace's offerings were a unique tapestry, brimming with goods sourced from the nearby pyramid. The merchandise varied, offering an array of items—artifacts, relics, and goods, hinting at their origins from the ancient edifice.
The players who frequented this market were predominantly of the middle level, traversing in groups and engrossed in a different rhythm of play. Their discussions echoed through the lanes, lighthearted and filled with laughter. It was a stark contrast to the more somber and intense dialogues often found in the cities dominated by high-level players. Here, the atmosphere was lively, the vibe laid-back, and the exchanges lighter, reflecting the players' levels and their particular focuses within the game.
Allen, having taken a stroll through the stalls and secured ten Enhancement Stones from a player shop, made his way toward the Auction NPC. He wanted to see if anyone was interested in his request at the NPC.
Player Name: Al
Request: Enhancement Stones
Grade: A
Amounts: 10
Price: 19,000 coins
Offers: 0
A wry smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Yep, no one wants to sell below market price," he mused to himself. His attempt to find a bargain wasn't yielding results, but he didn't hold high expectations. The allure of Enhancement Stones had surged recently, making them a coveted commodity among players, so he understood the reluctance to sell below the standard price. It was evident in the lack of offers.
With a shrug and a knowing nod, Allen accepted the outcome. The competitive demand for these stones was fierce, and the current market dynamics had set a tone for prices that left little room for discounts. Yet, that didn't deter his curiosity; it only added to his interest in understanding the current rates.
"I want to check the seller list," Allen directed his attention toward the Auction NPC, deciding to delve into the specifics of the market prices. While the player market was a go-to reference for pricing, the auctions often dictated the extremities of high and low prices, setting a new standard for the value of items.
"Okay. Here's the list," the NPC responded, presenting a digital interface displaying the current listings. The list spanned across the vibrant screen, showcasing the names of sellers, their offerings, and the prices at which they were willing to trade.
Allen stood with an air of concentration, facing the holographic display screen before him. His brows furrowed slightly as his gaze fixed intently on the flickering images projected in front of him. His index finger rhythmically tapped his chin, a habit of his whenever deep in thought.
With a contemplative hum, he started to scrutinize the data on the screen, his eyes scanning the listings meticulously from top to bottom. As he perused the details, his focus shifted, and his second finger deftly slid across the holographic surface, sliding the screen sideways to reveal more listings and prices.
The luminous projections of item names, costs, and seller details danced across the vibrant display, and Allen's eyes moved swiftly, darting from one listing to another, assimilating the information with a methodical approach. His concentration was evident as he absorbed the details, evaluating the various prices and items available for trade.
"All these players hoarding their Upgrade Stones and Enhancement Stones, the price is bound to go up again," Allen commented, reflecting on the scarcity of these sought-after items. The demand for such pivotal components had risen dramatically, prompting every player to keep a watchful eye on their availability and pricing.
He shut down the holographic screen, a glint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. "I wonder if the farmers are already eyeing this game as a cash cow," he mused to himself, contemplating the potential influx of money-driven players.
In the world of gaming, "farmers" referred to those players who focused solely on accumulating valuable in-game items to sell them to others for real-life money. Instead of striving for in-game power, these individuals concentrated on grinding for valuable assets to turn a profit outside the game's ecosystem.
He recognized the larger economic principles at play within the gaming world. The economy within the game was a reflection of real-life market dynamics, where prices were determined by the interplay of supply and demand. The dealings between players, the fluctuating prices, and the unregulated nature of these transactions mirrored the complex structure of the global economy.
Allen was about to pivot on his heel when a voice disrupted his step. A woman's voice—melodic, yet unexpectedly sharp—called out the old in-game nickname he almost never heard anymore.
"Godlike?" the voice called, tinged with a hint of playful nostalgia. The name carried a resonance from a different era of his gaming life, one that was all but dormant. Were it not for the accompanying pat on his shoulder, Allen might have overlooked it as an echo from the past.
His steps ground to a halt, and he swiveled to locate the source of the voice. And there she stood, the speaker—a female dual dagger user.
The female dual dagger user with lustrous blonde hair stood before Allen, exuding an aura of innocent vivacity. Her bright, sun-kissed locks cascaded down in loose waves, framing a face adorned with a youthful exuberance that mirrored her energetic spirit.
Her eyes, a captivating shade of azure, sparkled with an infectious enthusiasm as she gazed at Allen. A warm, genuine smile played across her lips, radiating a sense of approachability and cheerfulness. Her countenance was illuminated by a genuine innocence that seemed to accompany her every gesture. She looked at him and smiled.
Shanty <Level 40>
Allen's brows knitted together in a subtle frown as the unfamiliar yet enthusiastic voice cut through his concentration. "Yes?" he responded, his tone tinged with perplexity. Engaging in conversations while incognito wasn't his norm, so the sudden recognition threw him off a bit.
Shanty, on the other hand, beamed with palpable joy. "Oh my God, it really is you!" Her voice bubbled with excitement as she continued, "I'm your fan, Godlike. I watched the tournament two years ago. You were so awesome. I immediately fell in love with your gameplay," she gushed, her enthusiasm palpable.
A smile tugged at Allen's lips as he processed the unexpected praise. "Oh, thank you," he responded with a hint of bashfulness. Being recognized after such a prolonged time had a touch of awkwardness to it, an unanticipated encounter.
Shanty's eyes twinkled with excitement as she leaned in a bit, her words filled with a sense of fervor. "I can't believe I'm actually talking to you!" Her voice was laden with admiration and joy, her enthusiasm uncontainable. "You're like a legend in this game. I've been a huge fan for ages," she gushed, her expression radiating an earnest delight.
"I remember that tournament vividly," she continued, her words tumbling out with an undeniable fondness. "You were incredible! The way you played was just mind-blowing. I came there to support my older brother; he was actually going against you," she explained, a mixture of nostalgia and excitement coloring her expression.
"When you won, I... I didn't know what to feel. My brother's amazing too, you know, but you were just... you were something else!" Shanty's voice quivered with a mix of conflicting emotions, reflecting back on the memory of that tournament. Her gaze held a blend of admiration for Allen's skill and a touch of uncertainty, unsure of how to react in that moment of victory for him, given her allegiance to her brother.
"I mean, it's like... I couldn't decide whether to be happy for you winning or sad because my brother lost, you know?" she admitted with a shy chuckle, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her in-game cloak. Her earnestness was palpable, revealing the complex emotions she'd grappled with at that moment.
The memory of that tournament, that peculiar blend of pride for Allen's achievement and a hint of disappointment for her brother's loss, lingered as a vivid recollection.
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