Xiao Han grasped the mechanics of the affinity system. Pondering his ability to sell items to players, he emitted a sinister chuckle.
'Lads, you're quite something. I've got high hopes for you. I only sell to those destined to receive my goods.'
Mad Blade Raging Sword was already beside himself. Hearing this, they froze in utter bewilderment, eyes wide with disbelief.
Wtf, my affinity dropped yet he says he believes in me? Is this game's affinity system backwards? Why is this NPC laughing so creepily? Terrifying! Feels like a chill's running down my spine!
Bloody hell, this is twisted!
[Do you wish to open a personal shop for [Mad Blade Raging Sword]?]
Xiao Han raised an eyebrow. 'Yes.'
A virtual interface resembling a quest window appeared before him, divided into two sections. The left side displayed 'Item Shop,' prompting him to list his possessions—even items not currently equipped would appear in the catalogue. The right side showed 'Skill Shop,' where he could list his mastered abilities. Xiao Han tried adding a few.
[Please set prices for items. Note: Payment may be currency, experience points, or barter.]
[You may also configure purchase conditions, including but not limited to affinity, level, skills, profession...]
The cosmos is vast, with myriad currencies. The Blue Planet Coin is merely the currency of Blue Planet. The universe's sole universal currency is the Inar. Currency types can be freely configured, provided one has encountered them.
'This functionality is remarkably robust!'
Xiao Han marvelled repeatedly, suddenly realising that if he set affinity purchase restrictions for items, wouldn't that instantly transform the previously useless affinity system into a compelling lure?
Amazing! Wasn't this precisely the developer's tactic to retain players? Enticing... ...compelling players to grind NPC affinity, artificially inflating playtime. Back in the day, he'd slogged through dozens of high-difficulty missions just to raise his reputation with the Glorious Federation to "Respected" and purchase that Honour-grade flagship.
Was this his own version of the serf singing his freedom song? Transforming from a noble proletarian freedom fighter into a thoroughly corrupt capitalist?
Bloody brilliant, this interface!
Xiao Han finalised the item listings and confirmed publication.
A shop interface materialised before Mad Blade Raging Sword. A single glance sufficed to fix his gaze, his jaw dropping in astonishment as his face flushed crimson. Stammering, he managed:
'Divine artefacts!'
'Folding Combat Knife, High-Velocity Ammunition, Type 73 Hornet Pistol, Jason Submachine Gun, Military Saber Rifle...'
Mad Blade Raging Sword's eyes glowed crimson at the gear's stats. To him, every single item was a divine artefact! Possessing any of these would put him light-years ahead of every other player!
Then he glanced at the prices. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him, chilling him to the bone. His heart sank.
The cheapest item, the high-velocity bullets, cost a hundred each. What, you're robbing people?
And that Light Power Arm? It demanded over 10 Affinity Points. Given how this NPC's quests drained his goodwill, was this gear forever out of reach?
No wonder the danger rating was "Extremely Lethal"—this NPC was clearly beyond his level!
The Item Shop left Mad Blade furious enough to seize, but his spirits soared instantly upon glancing at the Skill Shop.
Basic Combat, Basic Shooting, Grappling... Just these universal skills alone had him drooling. But glancing further down, he was utterly stunned.
Mechanical-type profession knowledge for class advancement!
And a whole host of miscellaneous mechanical skills. What shook him most profoundly, however, was the [Qi Refinement Technique]!
'A god-tier skill!' the Mad Blade roared inwardly.
Xiao Han suddenly shook his head. 'Pity you're not a Mechanic. You can't learn my skills.'
Mad Blade Raging Sword froze, caught in an internal struggle. He had already cast Xiao Han as a 'mysterious mentor' or 'hidden NPC'—an absolutely rare opportunity. If he could learn from him, his growth rate would crush all other players. Yet he favoured the martial arts path more, as evident from his ID.
Counting his funds and experience points, he realised it barely sufficed for a basic mechanics course. Finally, Mad Blade Raging Sword resolved himself.
Such a chance—akin to winning the lottery—was one he'd regret missing for the rest of his life.
'I'll take the gamble. This time, I won't lose out!'
'Confirming transition to Mechanics?'
'Confirm!'
...
[Your [Basic Weapons Studies] has been learned. You gain 500 EXP and 100 Blue Planet Coins]
All costs incurred by Mad Blade Raging Sword in learning skills were remitted to Xiao Han, effectively serving as tuition fees.
Imparting skills equated to teaching; his own abilities remained unchanged.
Xiao Han had carefully curated the skills he displayed. Advanced knowledge and blueprints were never for sale, nor did he showcase proactive combat skills like Slide Shot. Most of what he offered were skills players could easily acquire... though most players were unaware of this fact.
Take [Qi Refining Technique], for instance. Players inevitably awaken it upon their first advancement at level 20. Yet Mad Blade Raging Sword's breathless excitement clearly revealed their ignorance of this.
Selling skills players would inevitably learn later was tantamount to pulling a fast one!
Yet Xiao Han understood the logic of scarcity marketing. He priced the [Qi Refining Technique] at 10,000 experience points and 3,000 BPcoins—a fortune for newcomers—and restricted purchase to those with over 10 points of goodwill... Upon realising this, Xiao Han hastily reset Mad Blade Raging Sword's affinity to zero—one must always give customers hope and something to look forward to.
Mad Blade Raging Sword instantly misunderstood, assuming Xiao Han was particularly fond of transactions and that only purchases could boost affinity. He secretly resolved to patronise Xiao Han's business more often henceforth.
Having preliminarily tested the basic NPC functions, Xiao Han accomplished his objective and strode off.
Blimey, don't go! I want to tag along with you, big shot! Mad Blade Raging Sword panicked, urgently asking, 'Where can I find you in future?'
Xiao Han paused, scribbled the repair shop's address on a scrap of paper, handed it to Mad Blade Raging Sword, then strolled away, leaving behind an enigmatic silhouette.
Mad Blade Raging Sword treasured the note like a precious gem, carefully tucking it away. His heart raced with excitement. 'This is my chance!'
Those formidable mechanical gear and skills would put him leagues ahead of all other players. With such an advantage, he could absolutely make a name for himself.
But... only if he kept this opportunity entirely to himself!
Mad Blade Raging Sword vowed silently: 'No one must discover this hidden NPC!'...
A handful of beta testers were but insignificant droplets in the vast ocean of Western Capital, unremarkable and penniless. Xiao Han held no interest in them for now. His visit served solely to test the NPC functionality, and the results proved highly satisfactory. His mind already spun with schemes to exploit players.
Xiao Han narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts drifting far away. Scenes from memory surfaced, tinged with a hazy colour, like illusions reflected in water.
In his previous life, Mad Blade Raging Sword had been among the earliest professional players to conquer Sterllaris Legend. A formidable martial arts specialist, he had made a spectacular debut in the first season, securing one of the twenty-four spots for the Chinese region. This honour had propelled him to fame and cemented his status as he stepped onto the international stage to battle foreign opponents.
But now? A future god-tier martial arts player, tricked into choosing the mechanical path. What lay ahead was uncertain, but at least the first and second seasons offered no chance to shine. He missed out on the achievements that should have been his, embarking instead upon a different road.
Xiao Han dared to choose the Mechanical because he knew its late-game dominance would crush most players. But current players clearly didn't realise this. The Mechanical shone dimly in its early stages, appearing weak. Countless players, many of them professionals, had once felt its prospects were bleak and switched characters to start afresh.
'I can't shake the feeling I've let him down...'
Xiao Han shook his head. What was he talking about? Strictly speaking, this was Mad Blade Raging Sword's own choice. If he could persevere, a few versions down the line, he'd surely thank me. Well... perhaps.