As soon as they exited the dungeon, a notification popped up before them.
Congratulations to the party of Smight for being the first to clear the Pink Blossom Dark Forest – Level 3 Dungeon! Each member has received 25 Pink Blossom Town Reputation Points and 1 Bronze Chest as a reward!
While Nitish and his team weren't particularly surprised by the rewards, what did catch them off guard—and deeply unsettled them—was the fact that this announcement wasn't limited to just their party. The system had broadcast it across the entire Pink Blossom Town.
Now, every resident of the town knew that Nitish's party had successfully cleared a dungeon.
Within moments, every single person present in the dungeon halls was staring at them. The floor might as well have slipped out from under their feet.
"How the hell did that happen? That guy was just Level 1!"
"Dude, he's not Level 1 anymore! Look again—he's Level 3 now! And check out his teammates, they're all Level 3 too! That cursemancer's already hit Level 4! I haven't seen anyone that high-leveled yet!"
People were left stunned. How could such a seemingly weak party manage to clear Hell Mode—and that too, so quickly? Especially when even the top guilds had yet to complete Easy Mode?
Trying to avoid the growing attention, Nitish subtly signaled to his team to keep walking, though the stares from the crowd followed them relentlessly.
Before anyone could speak further about Nitish's team, a sudden shift in the atmosphere turned every head. Eyes widened.
Killshot was walking toward them.
The moment Nitish's teammates spotted him, panic set in. Even though they were now equipped with several bronze-tier items, they knew they still couldn't match a pro player like Killshot.
"Hello. My name is Killshot, guild leader of Assassin's Creed. Congratulations, Smight. Your team really pulled off something extraordinary," Killshot said, extending his hand toward Nitish in a polite gesture.
"Thank you, thank you. It's really not that big of a deal," Nitish replied with a smile as he shook his hand.
"Smight, I'll be direct," Killshot said candidly. "I want to ask you something—and I'm prepared to pay whatever you ask."
But before Killshot could even ask his question, Nitish cut in with a grin.
"A basic map will cost you 1 million rupees. A detailed one? 5 million," Nitish stated casually.
For a moment, Killshot looked genuinely surprised—but then he smiled. His companions, however, didn't take it so lightly. To them, this boy named Nitish was acting way too smug. Trying to scam them for a bit of dungeon info, was he?
"Five million? Are you selling us a map, or personally escorting us through the dungeon?" one of Killshot's companions scoffed. But before he could say anything more, Killshot raised a hand, silently signaling him to stop.
"Alright then," Killshot said with a grin. "I'll take the detailed plan. I'll pay you a total of 20 million rupees—5 million for the map, and 15 million... for your friendship."
"What?! 15 million just... for friendship?"
"Wait—Killshot wants to be friends with this guy? What's so special about him?"
No one could understand why Killshot was speaking to Smight like that—or what exactly was going through his head.
"Haha! Why not? Deal accepted," Nitish replied with a cheerful grin. After all, only a fool would turn away money that practically walked into their hands—right?
After some more light conversation and laughter, both parties went their separate ways. Nitish handed Killshot a meticulously drawn, detailed dungeon map, and in return, Killshot transferred a whopping 20 million rupees through a secure, private transaction.
As Killshot and his companions walked away, one of them couldn't hold back their curiosity.
"Killshot, why did you give that guy so much money? And why do you even want to be friends with him?" he asked, clearly baffled.
Killshot laughed.
"Hahaha—what do you expect me to do? Pick a fight with him instead?"
"No, no, Boss, it's not like that… but you paid an absurd amount for just a regular map."
"Regular map?" Killshot repeated with a chuckle. "You're only saying that because you haven't actually looked at it yet."
With that, Killshot pulled out the map and showed it to his teammates.
The moment their eyes landed on it, their jaws practically dropped.
This wasn't just a basic dungeon sketch. It was insanely detailed—down to the layout of each corridor, the behaviors and spawn patterns of every boss, hidden traps, shortcuts, and more. The quality of this map was something even the top guilds would pay handsomely for.
It was impossible to believe that someone could produce something like this after a first-time run through the dungeon. It felt more like Smight had spent weeks studying every inch of it—or that he had already known everything beforehand.
"Boss… how is this even possible? This map is on another level. Who is this guy?"
Killshot's teammates were visibly shaken.
"Now think about it," Killshot said with a faint smile. "If someone knows this much... just imagine what kind of level they're operating on. And if I don't befriend someone like that... then I'd be the biggest fool alive."
With that, Killshot led his team toward the dungeon entrance.
Nitish and his teammates had barely walked a little further when something else happened—something that stunned everyone even more.
Red Snow—one of the most well-known players in Pink Blossom Town—was walking toward Nitish's team. Her expression was serious, her eyes locked straight onto Nitish.
"Hello. I'm Red Snow. Are you free to talk for a few minutes?" she asked the moment she approached him.
At this point, everyone watching was burning with jealousy—especially the guys. Even Aaryan and some of Nitish's own teammates couldn't help but feel envious of their leader.
But Nitish didn't flinch. He replied clearly and confidently.
"No. My team and I have things to take care of. We won't be staying here any longer."
The moment those words left Nitish's mouth, the crowd collectively held its breath.
"Is this guy insane? He just rejected Red Snow!"
"Damn... the attitude on this guy now!"
The reactions from the people nearby were nothing short of stunned. No one had expected that.
"Hey! First of all, Snow invited you, and then you go and turn her down like that? Do you even have a brain?" Blazy snapped, clearly unimpressed by Nitish's dismissive tone.
"Oh, you're busy? No problem," Snow said, cutting off Blazy calmly. "Actually, my team and I plan to clear another dungeon. Would you be willing to help us?"
There was a curious gleam in her voice as she looked directly at Nitish.
Instead of answering her question, Nitish asked one of his own."Oh? Which dungeon?"
"The Purple Mountain Dungeon," she replied, her expression turning serious.
Hearing that name made Nitish pause. The Purple Mountain Dungeon was far more dangerous and significantly higher level than the Dark Forest Dungeon they'd just cleared. In Nitish's estimation, it would take considerable preparation to complete it successfully. While Snow seemed unaware of the dungeon's complexities, Nitish—thanks to his guide—knew everything about it in precise detail.
"We'll need to prepare thoroughly before stepping into that dungeon," he said, explaining to her. "So let's meet again... three days from now."
"Alright," Snow nodded. "I'm sending you a friend request. I'll contact you when we're ready."
Snow sent the request, and Nitish accepted it. Now, both Killshot and Red Snow appeared on his friend list.
The conversation didn't continue any further. Without exchanging another word, the two went their separate ways.
Unlike Killshot, Snow hadn't asked for any dungeon maps or detailed plans—making it crystal clear that for someone of her level, a lower-tier dungeon like the Dark Forest wasn't worth a second thought.
"Snow, darling… why did you invite that overconfident and rude guy?" Blazy complained to her friend. "You even added him to your friend list! I remember—you've never added even top guild leaders that quickly."
"I don't know either," Snow replied thoughtfully. "There's something… different about him. And you saw it yourself—how he cleared Hell Mode so fast. Meanwhile, we've already died twice on Easy Mode."
Snow's tone was calm but resolute. With that, she led her team back toward the dungeon, ready to attempt it once again.
Meanwhile, Nitish and his team had returned to Pink Blossom Town. As they walked through the familiar streets, Nitish turned to face his teammates.
"I want to ask all of you something," he said seriously. "Are you willing to follow Aaryan and me from this point onward? If yes—then you'll need to sign a contract with me."
He expected them to take a moment to consider their decision.
But to his surprise, Iron Bear immediately stepped forward, took the contract from Nitish, and signed it without hesitation.
Seeing Iron Bear's action, the rest of the team followed suit—each one signing the contract swiftly and without question.
Nitish couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. Their trust and respect for him meant more than words could express.
"Alright then. From this moment on, you're officially my teammates—and my friends. That means I'll be the one managing your schedules now," Nitish said, laying it out clearly. "Listen carefully—since I've got something important to handle, I won't be joining you today. You'll go with Aaryan to the Red Mist Forest. Hunt goblins in the outer areas and gain experience."
Both Bear and Aaryan, however, looked uneasy.
They didn't like the idea of leaving Nitish alone—not after what he'd just accomplished. After clearing a Hell Mode dungeon, Nitish had undoubtedly caught the attention of powerful enemies. People would definitely want to kill him and steal his loot.
Seeing the worry on their faces, Nitish reassured them with a confident smile.
"Don't worry. I'll be completely fine. And besides—no one's taking me down that easily."
After sending his teammates off, Nitish remained behind in Pink Blossom Town.
Without wasting time, he made his way toward the forging room. Yes, every town in Celestial Domain had one. These rooms could be rented for a fee and came equipped with all the essential tools and stations for weapon crafting.
A basic room cost 10 copper coins per day, while an intermediate room cost 1 silver coin per day.Each room was designed for individual use—no sharing allowed.
As Nitish arrived at the facility, he noticed a group of forgers already gathered near the reception. Most of them were lower-level, around Level 2, and from their attire and insignias, it was obvious they belonged to a guild.
"Jackhammer, hurry up and book the room already," said a girl, roughly Nitish's age, wrapping her arms around an older boy. "The guild leader asked you to forge a new sword today—and then we're going on that date, remember, babe?"
The guy—clearly Jackhammer—oozed arrogance and pride, smirking like he owned the place.
Nitish ignored them and continued walking calmly toward the reception. He knew how common it was for forgers to show off in front of others. After all, forging was a vital part of any guild's strength. A skilled forger could supply the entire team with custom gear. In Celestial Domain, no one liked to mess with a master forger—who knew what dangerous monster of a player owed them a favor?
"Hello, sir! Would you like to book a room?" the woman at the counter asked with a pleasant smile as she noticed him approach.
Before Nitish could respond, Jackhammer chuckled lightly and chimed in.
"Hey buddy, you're not even in a guild. Do you really have the money to book a room?"
Though Jackhammer's tone was soft, the mockery in his voice was obvious. He was clearly trying to humiliate Nitish in front of the crowd.
But Nitish didn't even flinch.
"Oh, I do. Want some advice? Mind your own business, clown."
He didn't even wait a second before shutting Jackhammer down.
Jackhammer and his girlfriend fell silent, stunned. Before they could recover or respond, Nitish turned politely to the receptionist and said:
"Yes, I'd like to book an intermediate room. I hope you still have one available?"
"Of course, sir. We have plenty of intermediate rooms free right now," the woman replied cheerfully. "The price is 1 silver coin."
"No problem," Nitish said, handing over the payment without hesitation.
Moments later, he was on his way to the room assigned to him.
While the moment felt completely casual to Nitish, it was nothing short of shocking for Jackhammer and his girlfriend.
After all, booking an intermediate room cost 1 silver coin—and that amount was just slightly less than the entire daily income of Jackhammer's guild.
Yet here was a guildless player, casually paying that fee without a second thought.
Nitish made his way to the assigned room without delay and began preparing for the forging session. He had already purchased the necessary materials from the market earlier. His plan was clear:
Craft five breastplates and ten throwing knives.
With his supplies ready and the tools at hand, Nitish rolled up his sleeves and got to work.