Green Necklace

[Congratulations, you have completed the rare dungeon Green Scrap Yard (Elite ★★), receiving rewards: Character Experience +180,000, as well as an additional reward: Green Necklace (Quality: Green)!]

A ding-dong sounded beside my ear as the dungeon's final reward officially arrived!

At my feet, the Goblin Scavenger's corpse slowly turned into rising, dissipating white light. At the same time, with a "clatter," a necklace dropped into my Dimensional Storage Space.

In Star Abyss, player equipment was divided into eleven categories: weapons, off-hand weapons, helmets, chest armor, bracers (gloves), leg armor, shoes, cloaks, necklaces, and rings. Two rings could be worn, and in Star Abyss, rings and necklaces were the only two types of equipment that could potentially have critical-hit attributes!

Furthermore, rings, necklaces, and weapons were the only three types of equipment that could potentially grant life-steal effects. In short, critical hits and life steal were two top-tier attributes that were extremely difficult to come by.

Especially in the early stages of the game, having a life-steal attribute could greatly improve a player's leveling efficiency. After all, most players still had yet to see any item capable of restoring health, which was particularly restrictive for melee players.

Thinking of this, I carefully took the Green Necklace out of my Dimensional Storage Space. The necklace was made from a rather rough thin cord, while its pendant resembled an emerald-green circular jade ornament. It looked exquisitely crafted and gave off a faint glow.

After my gaze lingered on it for a moment, the necklace's attributes drifted into view—

[Green Necklace] (Quality: Green)

Tier: 1

Spirit: +10

Blessing: Critical Hit +1%

Requires spirit: 35

"..."

Looking at the Green Necklace's attributes, I was instantly speechless. It was actually a Spirit-boosting necklace, clearly equipment for a Spirit Speaker. Still, the 1% critical hit chance was somewhat useful to me as well.

If an ordinary Super Weapon Master obtained this necklace, they could only trade it away, since they simply would not be able to equip it.

But I was different. The SS-rank Essence Furnace granted far too many attributes, and after Basic Programming reached Lv. 10, it added another 6 points of Spirit. In fact, equipping this Green Necklace was more than easy for me!

No need to hesitate. Spirit meant magic resistance, so I equipped it. Besides, I did not currently have a necklace that suited me!

With a rustle, the Green Necklace hung around my chest, giving me somewhat of an ancient martial warrior's air. Then I poured the experience earned from this dungeon run into my level, soaring all the way from Level 16 to Level 18. The Essence Furnace had also reached Level 15. I assigned all my free attribute points to Strength, and my character panel underwent another huge change!

[Shadow Chaser] (Starry Sky Super Weapon · Sword Specialization · Tier 1)

Level: 18

Attack: 90–200

Defense: 78

Health: 6800

Critical Hit: 1%

Charm: 0

Essence: 100/100

Overall Combat Level: 380

Potential Point Allocation: Strength 168 / Agility 85.5 / Spirit 59.5 / Vitality 45

Achievements: 3

After one dungeon run, my Overall Combat Level had instantly soared to 380 points. At this stage, I was most likely already ranked first in Creek City. Unfortunately, the regional rankings were based on level, and with my current level, I could not reach the top.

That was fine. Keeping a low profile was not a bad thing!

Afterward, I counted my remaining ammunition.

"Phew..."

I sighed, wishing I could pull out that pack of Liqun from my pocket and smoke one. The Green Scrap Yard dungeon had cost me heavily. The Roarer only had a few hundred bullets left, and I had not gotten any equipment worth selling this time. The ammunition costs for my next leveling trip were becoming another headache.

I left the dungeon.

"Whoosh~~~"

My body sank slightly as I silently jumped down from the canal railing. Night had already fallen over Creek City, so no one saw me appear out of thin air. Just then, my stomach rumbled, and a ravenous hunger quickly filled my heart.

Fine, I'd go eat at the internet cafe.

That night, I swaggered into the internet cafe.

"Ding Han."

Sakura looked up at me. "You look like you've been through the wringer. Where have you been fooling around?"

"I wasn't fooling around. I'm just a pitiful man running around to make a living."

"Sigh, me too."

She revealed an expression of shared misery.

I immediately went behind the bar counter, grabbed a cup of instant noodles, then secretly added two sausages before pouring in boiling water.

"The boss is right there, and you're still so bold..."

Sakura paused her Audition dance steps on the keyboard and glanced at me. "If you're adding sausages, do it quietly. Don't you know our boss is especially stingy?"

"I know. Just don't make a fuss."

With my arms folded, I sat and waited for the noodles to be ready.

"Ding Han."

At that moment, Lu Xiaobei appeared outside the counter. She stretched her neck to look at the instant noodles on the table and smiled. "You're eating this?"

"What else would I eat?"

I said helplessly, "That unscrupulous capitalist hasn't paid me a single cent in wages so far. If I don't eat this, what am I supposed to eat?"

"How pitiful."

Lu Xiaobei clicked her tongue, but showed no intention of paying me. "Oh, right, I have something to announce."

"Oh? What is it?" Sakura immediately looked up.

"Tomorrow evening at six, Feiyang Internet Cafe is holding its annual team-building dinner at a Hot Pot Restaurant. All of you have to come. I hired a network administrator from another internet cafe to fill in temporarily, so the four of us can go out for team building."

"Sounds great!"

Sakura looked excited. "I've never attended an annual meeting in my life. I'll finally get to broaden my horizons this time."

I curled my lip. What kind of horizons could a tiny internet cafe's annual team-building event possibly broaden?

Still, getting a chance to eat something good was certainly a good thing.

So I spent the entire day looking forward to it.

The next day, as night fell, Lu Xiaobei came hurrying back from outside and smiled. "Employees, time to eat! Spicy hot pot!"

"Let's go!"

After temporarily handing the internet cafe over to a bespectacled young man who looked honest enough, the four of us headed out.

Not long after, we arrived at a Hot Pot Restaurant not far from the internet cafe. The four of us sat down, with Zhao Yihang and me on one side, and Lu Xiaobei and Sakura on the other. The hot pot was already bubbling away, and a spicy aroma rushed at us. Lu Xiaobei ordered a case of beer and opened half of it, placing several bottles in front of each person.

"Come."

As the boss, Lu Xiaobei raised her glass first and gave her year-end summary. "Over the past year, with the internet cafe industry still on the rise, Feiyang Internet Cafe's business has steadily improved. This is the achievement of all of us. It is the result of us standing together through thick and thin, sharing honor and disgrace."

I had to admit, she really did seem like a qualified capitalist. At the very least, her words were quite inspiring.

"I'm a lightweight. I can't drink much," I coughed and reminded her.

"Then drink less." Lu Xiaobei shot me a glance.

"Fine."

I only poured half a glass.

"Cheers!"

We lightly clinked our glasses, then drained them in one go before starting to devour the meat.

When we were half full, Lu Xiaobei smiled again. "Next, I hereby announce this year's outstanding employee list. Listen carefully, everyone."

At once, three pairs of ears perked up!

"This year's outstanding employee of Feiyang Internet Cafe is..."

Lu Xiaobei deliberately dragged out her words, then pointed one finger at me. "Ding Han!"

Sakura and Zhao Yihang immediately deflated.

"Recently, Ding Han has not only assembled quite a few new computers for the internet cafe, but also redid the system and pioneered our membership program. He has given me plenty of advice. Feiyang Internet Cafe's recent high online rate is inseparable from Ding Han's contributions."

Sakura smiled and raised her glass. "Ding Han, I knew the annual outstanding employee would definitely be you, our little strategist. Come on, this drink is to celebrate you!"

"Right, together, together!"

Zhao Yihang egged me on with a laugh. "You definitely have to down this glass in one gulp!"

So another glass of beer went down, and I felt my face starting to go numb again.

Being unable to handle alcohol was truly a sin!

"Boss, does the annual outstanding employee get any reward?" Zhao Yihang asked.

"No."

Lu Xiaobei said, "It's just an honorary title to encourage employees to keep up the good work."

"Aiya..."

Sakura and Zhao Yihang both clutched their chests. "That feels great!"

"Damn it..."

I was speechless. "How about... reconsidering my employee dorm situation? Sleeping in an internet cafe chair all the time isn't sustainable. My body is about to give out."

"Let me think it over..."

Lu Xiaobei fell into deep thought. She thought about it all night, and there was still no result.

Late at night, everyone returned to the internet cafe. Sakura was picked up by her boyfriend, Zhao Yihang returned to school, and only I had to stay behind for the night shift.

This night shift was especially difficult. Half-drunk, I somehow could not fall asleep at all. I was ridiculously energized, and by four in the morning, my eyes were glowing as I devoured two cups of instant noodles.

By morning, I was so sleepy that I actually fell asleep leaning against the wall.

"Ding Han, Ding Han?"

Not long afterward, someone shook my shoulder.

It was Old K.

"Lu Xiaobei, that unscrupulous capitalist, still hasn't solved your sleeping problem?"

"Not yet."

I said helplessly, "It's rough..."

"Right? I've experienced that feeling too. A single penny can stump a hero."

Old K looked sympathetic. "How about... you squeeze in at my place? The bed in my room is 1.8 meters wide. We can each have our own blanket, so there's enough room. Just make do for one night. At least you can get a good night's sleep. If you keep enduring this, you'll really wear your body down."

"Alright, then..."

I nodded.

Not long afterward, Sakura arrived looking radiant and quickly completed the shift handover.

Then I followed Old K to his place.

Old K lived in an old residential neighborhood, where shabby four- and five-story apartment blocks stood connected together. The room was fairly spacious, but the smell of instant noodles was a little unbearable.

"My place isn't big, so just make do," he said with a faint smile.

"I've already fallen this far. What standards could I possibly have?"

"That's good."

He sat down and began taking off his shoes. The moment Old K removed them, my expression suddenly changed drastically.

Fuck!

I instantly felt like I was suffocating. Old K's feet were fucking unbelievable—comparable to the national football team!