Akki began his secondary career in the city of Syncope by wielding [Intermediate Cooking] as his primary weapon. He rented a small workspace inside the Craftsmen Guild, deliberately minimizing costs, and focused on producing goods with consistent, high quality.
He started selling "Energy Meat Soup (Excellent Quality)" and "Restorative Herbal Sandwich (High Quality)" at prices 20% higher than standard NPC shops.
Casual players:
"Why is this guy's food so expensive? Damn cheapskate!"
Serious players:
"Because the quality is insane! The Endurance buff lasts twice as long. Paying more saves farming time and stamina—totally worth it!"
Akki's reputation spread rapidly among serious players willing to pay premium prices for maximum efficiency, perfectly aligning with his cost-effective philosophy.
[Proficiency in Cooking has advanced from Basic to Intermediate!]
[Your Reputation in Syncope has increased: Skilled Chef]
In addition, Akki began accepting repair jobs, utilizing [Skill: Honing Specialist] together with [Intermediate Precision]. He could restore damaged weapons and armor to a state better than before—an effect known as Over-Repair, which was in extremely high demand.
A warrior:
"This guy's stitching is finer than the Guild's own craftsmen! He even boosted fire resistance a little!"
Working quietly and relentlessly, Akki was soon earning up to 50 Gold per day from high-quality food production and repair work alone.
With his in-game capital growing rapidly, Akki decided to perform a second currency exchange, converting only a small portion of his Gold to settle his remaining real-world financial burdens.
[
40 \text{ Gold} \times 15 \text{ USD/Gold} = 600 \text{ USD}
]
$600 USD was transferred into his bank account immediately. Akki paid off all outstanding expenses, and the heavy pressure in his chest eased significantly—though his resolve to build savings for the future only strengthened.
Akki thought to himself:
"I did it… It took me three months of exhausting work in the real world to earn $600. In this game, I earned it in just a few days. If the exchange rate holds, I can stand on my own within a year. This is the only path that will give Araya a better life."
Akki's growing reputation as a craftsman with abnormally high life-skill proficiency soon caught the attention of powerful players beyond his circle.
One afternoon, a representative from one of the server's top guilds—Doomsday Dragon—approached him.
Golden-armored swordsman:
"You are the craftsman known as 'The Man of Precision,' correct? My name is Feilong, commander of Doomsday Dragon."
Akki:
"Yes. Do you need repairs or food?"
Feilong:
"We wish to hire you… but not for cooking or repairs."
Feilong unfolded a large map. The marked location was Black Lightning Canyon, a highly dangerous zone infested with Lightning Stone Beasts.
Feilong:
"We want you to act as our scout and guide during a hunting operation."
Akki (raising an eyebrow):
"Why me? I'm just a craftsman."
Feilong (smiling slyly):
"Our intelligence confirms you are a bare-handed lightning warrior from a starter village. We don't care about your level. The monsters we're facing absorb lightning, and we've heard you can generate lightning from within your body. We want you to serve as bait—and to accurately evaluate their lightning resistance."
The mission was extremely dangerous, but the reward Feilong offered was staggering:
500 Gold for guidance and survival.
[You have received a Secret Quest: Guide to Black Lightning Canyon]
[Reward: 500 Gold]
[Condition: Survive and accurately assess the monsters' lightning resistance]
Akki understood that this opportunity could grant him access to high-tier hunting zones and allow him to earn a massive sum overnight. 500 Gold far exceeded what he had once earned in an entire week.
Before accepting the quest, Akki returned to intense training within the Craftsmen Guild's facilities. He needed to strengthen his [Lightning Heart System].
He trained [Thunder Knuckle] and [Bolt Impact] obsessively, focusing on precise energy control to prevent overload—even as his heart hammered violently.
[Proficiency in Lightning Heart System – Spark Pulse increased by 1.0%]
He also integrated [Thunder Armor] with [Thunder Step], creating a seamless balance of defense and mobility—perfect for emergency evasion.
Akki thought to himself:
"I'm not just a craftsman. I'm someone who must survive—for money. If I complete this mission, I'll have enough capital to buy my sister a proper home."
Driven by his determination to escape poverty, Akki prepared himself to face unpredictable dangers in the journey ahead—alongside the cunning Feilong.