Chapter 91: The Giant
With an hour to spare before his meeting, Zhou Ning went downstairs, carrying a box of guns and Devil Fruits.
His luck last night had been terrible. His [Potion Mixing] alchemy skill had only yielded a useless low-level recipe. He'd also tried ten consecutive draws in the gacha system but got nothing of value. Aside from seventeen rifles and nineteen pistols, the rest of the items were junk. The only thing worth mentioning was a famous gun, "William II's Schwarzlözer M1909 Pistol," which brought his progress for the Famous Gun Collector achievement to 3/5.
I wonder if collecting famous guns from this world will count toward my progress?
Zhou Ning's mind wandered as he walked to the school cafeteria.
He was more financially comfortable these days and no longer had to limit his meals to under a rouble. He splurged on a beef bagel and a bowl of oxtail soup.
Alas... I still miss the food from home.
Zhou Ning ate slowly. Although he had been in this world for a while, he was still more accustomed to the food of his motherland.
By the time he finished, the clock was pointing to noon. Zhou Ning bought a copy of the Docklands Post at a newsstand. He casually unfolded the newspaper and saw that the front-page headline was, as expected, about Richard Pesa:
"Richard Pesa, the serial killer who murdered nine people, has been eliminated by the Sunwatchers. The people of Docklands can rest in peace!"
The Sunwatchers had taken the credit for killing Richard. While it wasn't something to celebrate, at least Zhou Ning didn't have to worry about facing Leonardo and his parents.
Beyond that, a quick scan of the paper revealed no news about Harrison Rivers being investigated, only a report on the Poor Relief Law, which was being implemented in an orderly fashion.
He exhaled, put down the newspaper, and walked toward the agreed location with the box.
Standing there was the familiar face beneath the familiar deerstalker hat.
"You again...?" Zhou Ning started to complain, but then cut himself off with a sigh. "Never mind. It's you." He handed the briefcase to Sherlock. "Seventeen rifles, nineteen pistols, and two Devil Fruits. I didn't have time to make any special bullets."
Having done this once before, the transaction went smoothly. After Sherlock counted the contents, he handed a thick stack of bills to Zhou Ning.
"I took on a suspected supernatural case nearby and came on my way here," Sherlock said. "Don't think I'm actually free."
Zhou Ning earned a total of 1,800 Victoires from this deal. After deducting the cost of the Devil Fruits and guns, his total cash on hand soared to 3,000 Victoires—a handsome profit.
"What happened? Need any help?" Zhou Ning asked with a smile after carefully stashing the money. Now that his favorability with the Guardian had reached 'Respect,' he could try to trigger quests proactively.
Sherlock thought for a moment. They had collaborated several times and had a foundation of trust, so there was no harm in discussing it. He glanced at Zhou Ning and said, "It's a complicated matter. Last night, someone saw a giant figure walking by the lake in Mumen Park. It was about forty-five feet tall, but it quickly disappeared. This morning, when the security team went to investigate, they found no signs of it."
"Could it be an illusion?" Zhou Ning raised his eyebrows.
Forty-five feet... that's fourteen meters tall. I don't remember any humanoid creatures that large in the game. Where did this thing come from?
"That seems unlikely," Sherlock sighed. "There were no fewer than fifteen witnesses, one of whom was the kingdom's former finance minister, Adam Aiden. It's impossible for him to lie. And the most ridiculous part is that, according to Mr. Aiden, this giant looked very much like the former king."
Zhou Ning fell silent.
It resembled Charles VI? His mind flashed back to the information he'd read last night. Adam Aiden's family was one of the nineteen noble houses of Bryston, and their family precept was honesty. Lying was a fundamental impossibility under its influence, which meant the giant was terrifyingly real.
Zhou Ning frowned slightly.
As an alchemist, it was easy for him to connect Sherlock's description with the Life Alchemy Society and the fact that Charles VI's soul had been taken by them.
He pondered for a moment before saying seriously, "Sherlock, this is definitely not a simple matter. As far as I know, the Life Alchemy Society has the ability to create gigantic creatures. Is it possible this is a life form they refined?"
Just as Zhou Ning had hoped, a prompt sounded in his mind.
[You have triggered the chain quest [Traces of the Giant]. Accept/Reject?]
Accept.
Zhou Ning took on the task without hesitation.
Mission Tip: A giant has reportedly appeared in Woodgate Park in the eastern part of Docklands. Find this giant and verify the rumor. This will be a difficult task, so do not let your eyes deceive you.
[Task Requirements: Find the giant's trail]
[Task Reward: 70,000 Experience Points, Unknown Reward]
It was a chain quest. The first part alone offered 70,000 experience points, putting it on par with a B-rank mission. He could only imagine that the final rank might reach A or even S.
Sherlock lowered his eyes, fiddling with a gun from the case as he fell into a long period of contemplation. After several minutes, he finally looked up. "What you said makes sense. However, there are still some doubts. For example, why haven't any traces been found by the lake in Mumen Park? Not even a single footprint."
That's what I want to know, too... Zhou Ning was just as confused.
The two chatted for a few more minutes before Sherlock closed the suitcase and departed.
After watching him leave, Zhou Ning returned to his dormitory for a short lunch break. During this time, John came back and excitedly told Zhou Ning that he had received an investment of 10,000 Vectra from his father. He planned to spend the next few days producing a finished prototype before applying for a patent at the Docklands Patent Office.
Zhou Ning was quite satisfied with the news. If everything went well, he might not have to worry about money again.
That afternoon, Zhou Ning went to the library as planned. After the hard work of several simulated worlds, his reading progress had risen to 4579/5000. If it weren't for the Crazy Clown's 'Dyslexia' gray talent, he would have completed it during his last return.
However, at his current pace, he should be able to finish it during the next simulation or backtracking session.
Zhou Ning read in the library until evening, his progress reaching 4590. Instead of returning to the dormitory, he took a public carriage to the underground market in the old city, intending to attend the extraordinary gathering held there on Saturday nights.
Before entering, Zhou Ning spent 1 Luoshen at a shop near the entrance to buy a white, hard-shell mask. He pulled his half-high silk hat low over his eyes and then descended.
According to Kino Macaulay, Zhou Ning needed to find Old Taylor, the manager of the underground market, and ask to be taken to the gathering.
After a quick walk around the market yielded nothing of interest, Zhou Ning gave up browsing and headed toward one of the two rooms at the far end.
Chapter 92: Public Beta Test Ahead of Schedule
Gino Macaulay had told him Old Taylor's office was the second-to-last room on the hall.
Zhou Ning, wearing a white hard-shell mask, knocked on the door. The reception area inside was set up much like a dentist's office, divided into an outer waiting room and an inner office. Including him, five people sat waiting in the outer room, each wearing a mask of a different design to hide their face.
Their caution was understandable. The vast majority of supernaturals preferred to keep their identities secret.
Zhou Ning calmly took a seat behind the others. He was starting to feel bored when several system prompts suddenly appeared before him.
[System Announcement: Due to overwhelming player enthusiasm, the public beta for Apocalypse will launch ahead of schedule. Gaming helmets and pods will be available for purchase in major cities. For links and details, please visit the Apocalypse forum homepage. New players will receive a 5% discount.]
What?
He hurriedly opened the forums. Less than a week had passed since the closed beta ended, but the forums were more popular than ever. The follower count on his own namesake sub-forum alone had reached five million.
Checking the stickied threads, he found a pinned post with the same announcement. The replies were increasing at a visible rate, with tens of thousands of comments flooding in within a short time.
Come to think of it, this might have something to do with me. He had a feeling the game company had been caught off guard by the rapidly changing situation in Dockland.
Their reasoning was easy enough to guess.
In his previous life, the pre-launch plot had been minimal. Everything had progressed smoothly until the second expansion, the Elemental Rebellion, and Charles VI was still alive and well. When the closed beta began, the Curse Cult was still attempting to capture people for sacrifices, but they never succeeded. The Life Alchemy Society hadn't officially made its debut yet, making Dockland a perfect starting zone for new players.
But this time around, the popularity of Apocalypse was far higher, and the plot had already spiraled out of his control. The faction leader, Charles VI, was dead before new players even had a chance to log in. The game company probably felt that if they delayed any longer, evil gods and the elemental kingdoms might suddenly invade before the players even arrived. It would be nearly impossible for new players to get through the starting experience smoothly.
Therefore, from a developer's perspective, skipping the quiet phase and launching the public beta early probably wasn't a bad idea.
What a mess, Zhou Ning couldn't help but sigh. This meant he had to speed up his own preparations.
In addition to the public beta announcement, Zhou Ning also saw posts from a production company in the forums: a television series starring him as the protagonist was about to air, and the role was being played by a popular young actor with the surname Cai.
The actor had even posted a comment below the announcement, promising he would take the role very seriously.
Zhou Ning was stunned, then furious. Are you kidding me?
After waiting for twenty minutes, it was finally his turn.
Zhou Ning pushed open the middle door and walked into a room lit by a single gas lamp hanging from the ceiling.
After closing the door, he sat down in the chair opposite the old man. "I'd like to attend the supernatural gathering. Gino Macaulay sent me."
Hearing this, Old Taylor looked him up and down for a long moment before saying in a deep voice, "Come with me."
He was probably in his sixties, with thinning hair, a large nose, and a pirate hat. He looked a bit like Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Zhou Ning followed him through a side door and into another room. Old Taylor walked to a corner where a coin-operated gas lamp hung on the wall. He took a 5-roshen coin from his pocket and inserted it into the slot. As the lamp flared to life, it illuminated the faint outline of a secret door on the wall.
"Go in, and be careful to protect your identity. No one here is a good person," Old Taylor said coldly.
Inside was a dark antechamber. After Zhou Ning followed Old Taylor through it, he emerged into a dimly lit lounge area with sofas arranged in a circle. About twenty people were already seated, all masked and cloaked similarly to Zhou Ning.
He found a seat in a corner and quickly scanned the room. Of the twenty or so people present, every single one was at least level 20, and he could sense a few high-level professionals who were over level 40.
If I had to guess, besides independent professionals, there are most likely Sun Guardians, members of the Earth Ring, and maybe even a few church agents mixed in here.
On the central table rested a strange, scale-like object. When Zhou Ning looked at it, he immediately received a system notification.
Unknown Artifact [Balance of Doom]: This item can fairly measure the value of two items, but it can also bring non-fatal misfortune to its owner—a form of justice, perhaps. An unknown alchemist created and used it but was murdered shortly thereafter.
Effect 1: Provides a mostly fair measurement of the value of items on both sides, including objects, currency, and even information.
Effect 2: ???
Zhou Ning understood immediately. This artifact, the Balance of Doom, must be the foundation that maintained order at this gathering. It could accurately verify an item's authenticity and roughly judge its value.
Of course, everyone had their own needs, and their personal valuation might differ from the Balance's.
After everyone was seated, a middle-aged man in a silver mask stepped into the center of the circle. "Today's gathering has begun. As is tradition, the guest at the twelve o'clock position will speak first, and we will proceed clockwise. Any objections?"
The man glanced around, nodded, and returned to his seat. Zhou Ning was at the nine o'clock position. Four places to his right, a hooded figure in a black robe stood up, walked to the scales, and pulled a recipe from his robe. "This is an enchantment recipe called Frost Bite. It inflicts a large amount of frost damage on a weapon, with a chance to freeze the opponent. I'll exchange it for an equivalent alchemical formula or sell it for Victa."
"Frost Bite?"
Zhou Ning's eyes lit up. The effect was similar to his own Flame Oil. If it wasn't too expensive, he would definitely try to get it. Picking up Enchanter as a secondary profession wouldn't be a bad idea.
"180 Victa!" someone nearby called out, starting the bidding high.
"190 Victa!"
"A blueprint for a small guardian golem!" a hooded man next to Zhou Ning offered.
The seller was clearly intrigued by the blueprint. He ignored the other bidders and looked at the hooded man. "Deal!"
To complete the trade, they placed their respective items on opposite ends of the Balance of Doom.
Zhou Ning saw clearly that the Frost Bite recipe was valued higher by the scales than the golem schematics. However, the seller was obviously more interested in the trade, and the deal was quickly made.
After the first transaction, the trading became much more active.
Some of the subsequent trades were successful, while others fell through. What surprised Zhou Ning most was that the Balance of Doom could even measure the value of information. He watched one transaction where someone paid 200 Victa for a mid-level ice spell, which was then copied on the spot.
A short while later, an item offered by a man in a blue mask to his left caught Zhou Ning's attention.
"I have a flintlock rifle for sale."
A flintlock? Zhou Ning immediately focused.
His current sidearm was starting to feel a bit underpowered. Although the firearms in this world weren't highly advanced, a supernatural one might be a different story.
"This is Pirate General Victor's flintlock pistol. After its original owner was hanged, it became cursed. Hitting a target has a chance to inflict a curse, but it might also curse the wielder. The pistol's advantage is that as long as it's cursed, its ammunition is unlimited, turning any shootout into a test of luck. It can be yours for just sixty Victa."
The gun's effect was so risky that no one else was interested. In the end, Zhou Ning picked it up for the minimum bid. As expected, a notification popped up: his 'Famous Gun Collector' progress had reached 4/5.
Chapter 93: A Fruit, a Cube, and a New Experiment
After the gun purchase, the next few items were all magic-related, holding little interest for Zhou Ning. The only exception was a Spear of the Earth spellbook, which eventually sold for 400 Vekta to a large man in the corner.
Spear of the Earth? he recalled. That magic is exclusive to the Earth Temple, used only by their Transcendental Team—the Earth Ring—or found within the temple itself. If I'm right, the seller must be from the Earth Temple.
Zhou Ning watched the proceedings with a cool detachment. Spellcasters were clearly the primary buyers here; any decent extraordinary item cost at least 200 Vekta.
His attention was particularly drawn to a pair of gold-rimmed glasses being sold by a blonde woman at his five o'clock. They were an unknown artifact capable of identifying hostile targets—a truly remarkable ability. But the price was even more astounding. The bidding started at 800 Vekta and, after just a few rounds, soared to a staggering 3,200. He had no choice but to drop out.
Still poor, Zhou Ning sighed, a pang of envy hitting him.
In the end, the glasses sold for the sky-high price of 4,700 Vekta.
Once that deal concluded, a young man in a gray-white mask walked to the center of the room from the seven o'clock position. He placed a black wooden box on the table. "I have a small wooden cube from the Gudala Weather Tide," he announced. "If you can open it, there might be something good inside."
He continued, "I want to trade it for something that can permanently increase physical fitness, or something that will allow a person to enter the extraordinary realm. An item or a formula would be fine."
He's a mundane who wants to become a Transcendent, Zhou Ning surmised.
Zhou Ning noticed the cube's surface was composed of many smaller grids, like a scrambled, high-level Rubik's Cube, but covered in complex patterns and symbols.
"Hey, that looks like a Modoric Cube," Jasmine's cool voice commented in his mind.
"You recognize it?" Zhou Ning asked curiously.
"You should know, I've told you before, haven't I? Besides being a priest, enchanter, meteorologist, and alchemist, I'm also an amateur folklorist," Jasmine said.
Amazing, Zhou Ning thought, giving her a mental thumbs-up. As long as I have a rough idea of the completed pattern, solving it should just be a matter of time. This box is worth a gamble.
Zhou Ning's mind raced. "Will you accept Vekta for the box?" he called out.
The young man shook his head without hesitation. "Sorry, I'm not short on money."
There was nothing to be done. Zhou Ning could only give up, shaking his head with a small, regretful chuckle as he sat back down.
Seeing the room remain silent with no other offers, the young man had no choice but to return to his seat in disappointment.
A short while later, a batch of ancient jade materials sold for 70 Vekta, but an extraordinary item called the Yongming Lantern, priced at a steep 1,200 Vekta, failed to attract any buyers.
More than ten minutes later, it was finally Zhou Ning's turn. He stepped up to the front, took out the Devil Fruit, and said in a deep voice, "This is a rare item called a Devil Fruit. Upon consumption, it grants the eater a powerful, unique ability."
He paused for effect. "More importantly, it won't conflict with any existing class or power. And the success rate of this 'strengthening' is one hundred percent. I'd like to trade it for a rare alchemy formula, or sell it for Vekta."
"What?"
As soon as he finished, the room erupted.
By Zhou Ning's description, the fruit's value was far greater than any enhancement potion. Even some of the established spellcasters seemed tempted.
"Can people who already have powers use it? Are there any side effects?" questions flew from the crowd.
"Yes, those with existing powers can use it," Zhou Ning answered patiently over the noise. "The only side effect is that the user can never swim again. Also... does tasting terrible count?"
"I'm interested in this Devil Fruit, but I require the Scales of Doom to verify it," said the hooded man who had bought the gold-rimmed glasses, standing up.
"Fine," Zhou Ning nodded. He was also curious about the fruit's appraised value.
Zhou Ning placed the Devil Fruit on the left pan of the scale, and the hooded man placed a stack of banknotes on the right. The pan holding the fruit immediately slammed down.
"It must be real, and it's worth far more than 500 Vekta!" The middle-aged man presiding over the auction stared at Zhou Ning, a startled and inscrutable expression on his face.
The Scales of Doom could distinguish truth from falsehood. If an item's description was inaccurate, it would be judged worthless, which was clearly not the case here.
After a brief silence, the hooded man made the first offer. "Devil Fruit, 700 Vekta."
"750," someone immediately countered.
"800," the hooded man replied instantly.
"900 Vekta." The young man who had tried to sell the wooden cube now joined the bidding.
"950."
Contrary to Zhou Ning's expectations, the price shot up to 1,020 Vekta before stalling.
Hearing the latest offer, the young man was silent for a few seconds before looking at Zhou Ning. "I have a new proposal. I'll trade you this wooden cube..."
Zhou Ning shook his head, interrupting him. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe that box is worth 1,000 Vekta."
"The box is worth at least 400 Vekta," the young man said loudly. "I can add another 600 Vekta on top of that for the fruit."
"Alright, deal," Zhou Ning said after a moment's thought, nodding.
He shot the hooded man an apologetic glance before he and the young man stepped up to the scales to finalize the trade.
This time, the pan with the box and cash dipped slightly lower than the one with the fruit, but not by much.
Neither of them paid the detail any mind. As the young man happily took the Devil Fruit, Zhou Ning returned to his seat and began to carefully examine the wooden box.
It was indeed similar to a modern Rubik's Cube, but far more difficult. A normal cube had reference colors for each side; this one was composed of symbols with completely unknown meanings, making it nearly impossible to know where to begin.
Looking at the more than two hundred densely packed blocks that made up the cube, Zhou Ning felt his scalp tingle.
After Zhou Ning's transaction, the rest of the auction was uneventful. He did make one more purchase, spending 70 Vekta on an expert-level alchemy blueprint.
It was a recipe for a [Flying Potion]. After drinking it, a person would become as light as a feather, allowing them to glide safely when jumping from a great height.
The effect was quite useful. In the game, it had been one of the top-five best-selling potions among players.
Once all the items had been presented, the owner of the Scales of Doom announced the end of the gathering.
Just as they arrived, the attendees left one by one through a separate secret passage.
Zhou Ning was the third to leave. After exiting the passage, he carefully scanned his surroundings. Certain that no one was following, he removed his mask and headed toward his alchemy laboratory.
…
Inside the lab, he eagerly locked the door behind him. He pulled out his mini-robot warrior card and activated it. A puff of mist erupted in the room, and when it cleared, a robot warrior half the size of a man stood before him. Zhou Ning took the M1 Garand rifle from its hands and replaced it with Pirate General Victor's flintlock pistol.
With a soft click, the mini mechanical warrior's metal fingers tightened their grip on the pistol.
Chapter 94: The Medium Mechanical Construct
Of course, Zhou Ning hadn't bought the gun just to advance a mission. While the cursed supernatural weapon was incredibly effective, its utility depended entirely on the target. Using it on a human would likely curse them, but using it on a mechanical creature could make it a devastatingly lethal weapon.
But its specific effects remained to be tested.
After sealing the mini mechanical warrior back into its card, Zhou Ning took out [Damian's Ordinary Mirror] and chose to enter.
What appeared before him were ruins rendered in an ancient elven style.
After walking along a long corridor for about twenty minutes, Zhou Ning arrived before a vast ruin. A tall magic tower stood in the center of the crumbling structures, and countless black mirror ghosts wandered among the broken brick walls.
Zhou Ning unsealed the mini mechanical warrior. After a moment's thought, he raised his revolver and pulled the trigger on the nearest mirror ghost.
He was still rather puzzled by the bullet's trajectory. He had originally assumed this world would alter a bullet's path, just as it had the first time he'd entered, but subsequent tests had proven that false. He could only guess that Elvis must have mastered a deeper application of the mirror's power.
A bullet trailing brilliant light and fire shot toward the mirror ghost's head. The shocking number '-345' appeared above the creature's head, and in the next instant, its figure blurred and reappeared directly in front of Zhou Ning.
Zhou Ning immediately began evasive maneuvers, his own figure leaving a faint afterimage as he rapidly retreated. At the same time, under his control, the mini mechanical warrior surged forward and opened fire on the mirror ghost.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
After only three shots, the curse effect triggered. A sizzling sound erupted from the mirror ghost's body as black smoke poured from it, as if its flesh and blood were melting. In the blink of an eye, it was reduced to a white skeleton with a debuff icon hanging over its head.
[Curse of Pirate General Victor: Transforms the target into a walking skeleton. Defense is reduced to zero. Target becomes afraid of sunlight and loses all sense of fear and pain. Duration: 30 seconds.]
The effect is excellent! Zhou Ning thought, delighted. The curse paired perfectly with his Ripple Shot to create a powerful combo.
Now, even if he ran into Harrison Rivers again, with a bit of luck, he could inflict serious damage in an instant.
With the test complete, Zhou Ning no longer hesitated. He aimed his revolver at the skeletal mirror ghost and fired. With a flash of flame, the creature shattered.
[Your Ripple Shot dealt 779 damage to the Mirror Ghost (+50% damage amplification). You have killed the Mirror Ghost (LV 25 Spirit). You have gained 7200 Experience.]
Zhou Ning breathed a sigh of relief and checked the damage on the mini mechanical warrior. It had only been hit twice by the mirror ghost, but smoke was already rising from its chassis. This basic machine was clearly too fragile for this level of combat.
After sealing the mini warrior back into its card, Zhou Ning returned to the real world. The test had proven the power of the Pirate General Victor's flintlock pistol. If he could just upgrade the combat effectiveness of his mechanical constructs, they could definitely serve as his main fighting force.
With that in mind, Zhou Ning opened his control panel. He still had over 70,000 experience points, so he spent 60,000 to raise his Wandering Gunner class by two levels.
[Roaming Gunslinger has advanced to Level 3! Agility +3 (+0.5 from Superior Physique), Vitality +1, Spirit +1. You have gained 2 free attribute points.]
[Roaming Gunslinger has advanced to Level 4! Agility +3 (+0.5 from Superior Physique), Vitality +1, Spirit +1. You have gained 2 free attribute points.]
He had over 10,000 experience points left, and he didn't hold back. He opened the Life Skills menu, selected Puppet Alchemy, and chose the Recipe Deduction option. As he recalled, Recipe Deduction allowed him to combine Puppet Alchemy with his other life skills to derive new recipes by spending experience. Unlike other crafting systems, it didn't reset his skill level to zero, but it did consume a massive amount of experience.
Without hesitation, Zhou Ning chose to merge [Puppet Alchemy] and [Precision Machinery Manufacturing].
[Success! You have obtained the blueprint: [Medium Mechanical Construct].]
[Medium Mechanical Construct: Click to use. Summons a medium-sized mechanical construct specialized in combat. Duration: 40 minutes. Cooldown: 40 minutes.]
Judging by the parameters, it was stronger than the mini mechanical warrior and far more suited for combat, but the materials were also much more expensive. Zhou Ning calculated that a single one would cost no less than 60 Vekta—three times the cost of the mini-warrior.
It was expensive, but in order to improve his combat effectiveness as soon as possible, this was an expense he couldn't afford to skip. He even planned to use this opportunity to advance his Puppet Alchemy to the intermediate level.
Crafting the mini mechanical warriors had granted him 7% proficiency each. Generally, the proficiency gained was proportional to the cost of the materials. I figure crafting fewer than ten of these medium mechanical constructs should be enough to reach the intermediate level, he mused. The extra construct-cards won't go to waste; I can always sell them to other players or the Sun Guardians.
Having made up his mind, Zhou Ning washed up and lay down on his small bed. He took out the cube he had bought earlier and began to fiddle with it.
"I heard that you know how to use this thing?" Zhou Ning asked in his mind.
"I did, but I've forgotten," Zhou Ning could hear a hint of laughter in Jasmine's voice. "I only remember that it's called a Modoric Cube. The ancient Modoric people used it as a container for storing documents."
"Also," she added, "I don't know much of the Mordoric language. You could ask a language expert. You might get an answer."
"That's not very helpful," Zhou Ning grumbled to himself, though Jasmine's suggestion was a valid one. Wick University should have no shortage of experts on ancient languages.
…
The next day was Sunday. Zhou Ning had to attend Alan's coming-of-age ceremony in the evening, so his free time was limited. He planned to buy the materials for the medium mechanical construct in the morning and attempt to build one. In the afternoon, he would buy a formal suit for the dinner. His schedule was packed.
Therefore, Zhou Ning rose early. After washing up, he was about to grab an umbrella when Jasmine's cool voice echoed in his mind:
"There will be no rain this morning."
Zhou Ning was speechless.
He silently put the umbrella back into the stand.
Ever since his relationship with Jasmine had started to improve, Zhou Ning had finally discovered a new function for his personal, all-knowing grandmother: an incredibly accurate weather forecast.
Zhou Ning took a carriage to the trade district, deliberately avoiding the Golden Oak Herb Shop. He visited various herbalists, alchemy suppliers, and engineering shops. To create the medium mechanical constructs, he needed spiritual silver pieces and citrine, some of which he had fortunately picked up at the underground market. He also needed silver ingots, mithril rods, silver bolts, and various alchemical materials for inscribing arrays. The total cost was far higher than he had estimated. A single mithril rod cost nearly 40 Vekta.
Finally, after running all over the trade district, Zhou Ning had spent 580 Vekta on six sets of materials, feeling the sting in his wallet.
It was nearly noon by the time he returned to the alchemy laboratory, laden with bags of all sizes.
Chapter 95: Legendary Status
After closing the door to the alchemy room, Zhou Ning cleared his workbench, laid out the materials he'd purchased, and prepared to construct a medium-sized mechanical golem.
But before he could begin, Zhou Ning paused, a flicker of surprise on his face. He quickly pulled up his control panel.
A moment ago, he had inexplicably gained a point of Legendary—without any warning.
[Notification: Your fame in the Kingdom of Braxton has reached a new threshold. 1 Legendary Point has been converted. You have 3 Legendary Points awaiting conversion.]
[Legendary Title (Braxton Kingdom): The Incredibly Handsome Wandering Gunslinger / The Mysterious Arms Dealer, Wayne Stewell]
[Legendary Level: 1]
[Description: "They say he is an exceptionally handsome wandering gunslinger who assisted the Sun Watchers in resolving the alchemical bomb crisis and single-handedly slew the Fire Mage Elvis. His marksmanship is as elegant as it is unique, and his origins are shrouded in mystery. Rumor has it that he is also an arms dealer, backed by a secret organization that provides him with a steady supply of advanced and expensive firearms."]
Zhou Ning: ???
What's going on?
It didn't take long for him to piece it together. He remembered earning four Legendary Points in the simulator.
The first was for winning his third Nobel Prize as a vampire. The second, also as a vampire, was for leading the Howling Commandos to an Allied victory in World War II and subsequently founding S.H.I.E.L.D. The third was for overthrowing the Celestial Dragons and the World Government to establish a new regime as the Pirate King. And the fourth was for nearly wiping out the Avengers with a bomb and stealing the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D. as a crazed clown.
The requirements for earning Legendary Points were incredibly strict, but until now, they'd had no effect in the game world. He had assumed they were a unique attribute of the simulator, never expecting that fame was the catalyst needed to convert them into actual Legendary status in-game.
This is interesting...
Legendary was, without a doubt, the most difficult attribute to acquire in the game. It usually required world-saving deeds or reaching the absolute pinnacle of an achievement. Possessing a Legendary title not only provided an advantage in negotiations with NPCs and other factions but also boosted experience gain, with each point providing a 5% bonus.
Of course, it also came with risks. He would likely become a target for cultists, and powerful factions like the Temple of Earth and the Ascetic Church might start paying attention to him.
This isn't necessarily a good thing. A small smile played on Zhou Ning's lips. He dismissed the thought and turned his full attention to constructing the medium-sized mechanical golem.
According to the schematic, the project required sixty-two silver ingots, a large number of silver bolts, a mithril rod, citrine, and silver sheets, among other components. As for its armament... Zhou Ning mercilessly stripped his mini mechanical warrior of its firearm.
Unlike crafting the mini-warriors, building a medium-sized construct was a major undertaking. The finished product would be a robot nearly as tall as a person, containing several complex alchemical arrays. Even with his Tony Stark talent bonus and Expert-level Precision Mechanical Manufacturing, Zhou Ning found the project immensely challenging.
He worked for nearly six hours, from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, before the construct was finally complete.
It stood nearly 1.7 meters tall, its body encased in silver-white armor. A pair of powerful mechanical arms flanked its torso, and in its hands, it held the flintlock rifle taken from the mini-warrior. Bearing a striking resemblance to Ultra Magnus from Transformers, it looked immensely powerful.
As Zhou Ning tightened the last screw, a notification popped up on his panel:
[You have completed a perfect mechanical creation (Quality: 107) and gained 9,500 experience. Due to your Supernatural Charm, the creation's attributes have been increased by 15%. Your creation's quality has been upgraded!]
[Medium Mechanical Construct]
[Type: Mechanical Creation]
[Quality: Rare]
[Basic Attributes: Attack 57-82, Defense 9-15, HP: 690/690 (Bonus)]
[Weapon: Pirate General Victor's Cursed Pistol]
[Note: Combat-type mechanical puppet. Can be equipped with any small or medium firearm for combat and defense.]
"Perfect!" Zhou Ning was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected to get a critical success on the craft—a rare achievement. Combined with his charisma bonus, the finished product was so exceptional that he wouldn't need to upgrade it for a long time.
With the most difficult step complete, all that remained was to inscribe a large alchemical array to seal the construct into a card. Having done this before, Zhou Ning was well-practiced and finished the inscription in under twenty minutes.
[You created the card [Medium Mechanical Construct]. You gained 7,500 experience!]
[Card [Medium Mechanical Construct]: Use to summon a medium-sized combat construct. Duration: 40 minutes. Cooldown: 40 minutes.]
Mission accomplished.
Zhou Ning happily picked up the new card from the table. The project had been incredibly rewarding, granting 17,000 experience points in total and raising his skill proficiency by 19%. He felt a surge of motivation, tempted to keep crafting until dawn.
But reason prevailed. He had somewhere to be.
As a newly minted legend, it's embarrassing not to even own a proper suit.
Remembering the "weather forecast" that predicted rain for the evening, Zhou Ning grabbed an umbrella, left his laboratory, and took a public carriage to a nearby clothier.
A sophisticated black tuxedo, white shirt, black vest, bow tie, and leather shoes cost him a total of 30 Victoria—equivalent to six months of his allowance as an assistant teacher. It was a steep price.
But the effect was undeniable. Gazing at his reflection, Zhou Ning felt he looked like a character straight out of a comic book; the suit elevated his appearance to another level.
A glance at the time—4:40 p.m.!
Zhou Ning snapped his pocket watch shut and took a horse-drawn carriage to Levia Street in the west-central part of Dockland. The street, not far from Dockland Fortress, was primarily inhabited by the nobility.
The Duke of Weston's Palace was located at 15 Levia Street. It was a magnificent mansion, boasting a garden the size of two football fields and a ten-meter-high monument commemorating the family's founder, Duke John Weston.
After Zhou Ning presented his invitation, the guard, with a look of awe, immediately and politely welcomed him inside. A moment later, the host of the evening, Alan West, rushed out with a joyful expression and pulled Zhou Ning into a hug that nearly knocked him over. "Wayne, my friend! I'm so glad you could make it!"
Standing next to Alan was a portly, middle-aged man who bore a slight resemblance to him. After the two separated, the man stepped forward. "I'm Alan's father, Vernon West. Thank you for saving my son. The rumors don't do you justice."
Vernon West… patriarch of the West family and the current Prime Minister. Though he looks a bit plump, his strength is likely on par with Qi'en West's. Zhou Ning removed his hat, held it to his chest, and bowed slightly. "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. West. You're younger than I imagined."
After the greetings, Alan led Zhou Ning into the mansion and pushed open a side door. Inside, a dozen young noble men and women in fine attire were gathered. They were likely the children of the Kingdom of Braxton's highest officials.
"Everyone, allow me to introduce my savior, Wayne Stewell," Alan announced with a proud smile.
"So you're the legendary wandering gunslinger, Wayne Stewell? You're far more handsome than I imagined!" a sweet-looking noblewoman exclaimed. The others murmured in agreement, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.
This must be the effect of that point in Legendary status... Zhou Ning was in a good mood as he greeted everyone. They showed none of the typical noble arrogance, and the conversation flowed easily.
Dinner wasn't scheduled until seven, so Zhou Ning was invited to a game of Weather Cards. The small blind was 1 Roshen, and the big blind was 2 Roshens.
Zhou Ning's gambling skill was at an intermediate level, and the game didn't last long. After he won a hand with a straight flush—Light Rain, Moderate Rain, Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm, and Torrential Rain—several of the young nobles decided to fold for good. Alan, who had to periodically leave to greet other guests, lost a fair amount in the few hands he managed to play.
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