081: This Isn't Dog Training, It's Love (Monotone)

"Cow, go buy me a Benben Monkey."

"Okay, bro."

"Hey, book me a hotel."

"It's already booked!"

"Ox--"

"Yes!"

Caramel Snail, exhausted and panting after walking through the shopping streets, called out to Li Aoz in response to his call, then put down his luggage and shopping bags and stood up straight.

"Hmm..." Li Aoz stroked his chin, "I haven't decided yet, you can continue with your luggage."

"...(a very polite remark)."

It wasn't that Li Aoz just having a whim or a perverse hobby to mess with the Caramel Snail; he was just looking for an excuse to keep feeding it experience points so that it would level up quickly and he wouldn't get blown up by the aftershocks when a fight broke out.

To be honest, Sky Ring is one of the Four Nations, and the commercial streets and shopping centers are full of all kinds of products. When Li Aoz came to Sky Ring, he no longer hid his Red Arrow nationality and spent the strong Red Arrow currency, Galen, mainly to buy daily chemical products, biological raw materials, candy and snacks.

He wasn't particularly fond of luxury goods. He used to occasionally smoke to relieve stress, but after noticing that Alexia would frown slightly when she smelled tobacco, he simply quit smoking as well.

To emphasize his identity Red Arrow People, he changed out of his well-known 'junk collector' trench coat and into a snow-white shirt, a dark blue men's blouse with cross-shaped cuff studs, and a long, stand-up collar leather trench coat with a dark iris pattern that was faintly visible.

Li Aoz tied the hair hanging down his right sideburn into a braid and secured it with a golden-brown rope, making him look like a proper Red Arrow elite.

Compared to the lazy and loose robes of the Heavenly Ring People, which no one else cares about, the Red Arrow Empire's attire always revolves around white and black, understated yet exquisite. People exude an innate arrogance and nobility, as if, as imperial citizens, they are born superior to others.

In fact, the "Past Years" outfit that Li Aoz bought from the mall is the Red Arrow Empire's "graduation outfit"—you can unlock the purchase qualification after completing the main storyline in this country and reaching the version Level Cap.

[Fashion Name]: RAE - Past Years (Men's)

[Quality]: Formal wear [Description]: "Instead of chasing trends, become a classic."

Among the Imperial Impressions series, the most classic piece is undoubtedly the ' Past Years ' coat, which represents the era of the empire's most prosperous period. The national flower of the empire, the ' Dark Azure Arrowheart Iris ', is depicted in a pattern that covers the entire coat. The stand-up collar and padded shoulders effectively flatter the slender but not very muscular physique of the Red Arrow men, creating a proud and elegant image reminiscent of the 'Vampire Duke'.

RAE – In the Past Years, the focus was on cultivating a man's physique, strength, and alpha charisma. While classic corsets were torture for women, corsets and waist trainers made of elastic polymer fiber materials can perfectly lift a man's muscle contours. A broad back, a wasp waist, and well-developed pectoral muscles are the epitome of masculine charm. You don't have to worry about an "Olympia belly" caused by excessive use of performance-enhancing drugs ruining your beautiful look.

To showcase the perfect physique of the Imperial man, the trousers fit your muscular thighs perfectly, creating a beautiful and healthy silhouette. The matching boots feature three leather straps, mimicking the style of military boots to create a tough and masculine look. We promise you: Imperial Impression will never be like the Frostplate Citizen's clothing, which exposes the chest and buttocks, because the men of the Empire only need charisma to conquer women—and vice versa. The women's designs emphasize the organic combination of military style and aristocratic extravagance.

[Fashion Effect]: (Red Arrow Empire nationality only) When wearing this outfit, [Charm] can also create a 'deterrence' and 'intimidation' effect, leaving others with an impression of 'arrogance'.

[Price]: 150 Diamonds ——————————

Compared to the junk collector's set, which emphasizes practicality and convenience, this ' Past Years ' set is full of a strong personal style, making it immediately clear that Li Aoz comes from the Red Arrow Empire. Even though he has the skin color of Outland People and the facial features of Frostplate Citizen, which are quite different from the majority of the Red Arrow People with blond hair and blue eyes, once you see his proud gray eyes like an eagle, you will immediately forget these unworthy problems.

Li Aoz dressed as Hua Galen and Red Arrow, deliberately making a high-profile entrance through the city. On the one hand, he wanted to replenish the raw materials for his Biochemical Pool, and on the other hand, he wanted to spread the news that he had come to Nura City in Heavenly Ring Nation.

The relationship between Sky Ring and Red Arrow is not good. The recent Huameida Island Chain incident, coupled with the stagflation caused by the Red Reserve's Sky Ring rate hikes (stagnant economic development on one hand and inflation on the other), has temporarily put aside the dispute between the two countries' already cold diplomatic relations due to the issue of Frostplate, but it is far from being a reconciliation.

Moreover, Li Aoz was already a globally known (and wanted) figure, and the news quickly spread like wildfire throughout the city.

Although the Sky Ring government has always emphasized a top-down management model, they were completely baffled by Li Aoz's entry into the country. What's even more absurd is that when they were about to take action to hold him accountable, they discovered a problem: Li Aoz was a criminal Frostplate by the GTB, but everyone knew behind his back that what Li Aoz did in Grand was done on the orders of a big shot above.

Furthermore, after Grand Duke Li Aoz and Frostplate suffered a major defeat in the aerial battle, everyone recognized Li Aoz's Combat Power as a ' Near Gamma Rank ' powerhouse. After weighing their own strength, the officials of Nura City felt that, apart from their faster dive speed, the Sky Ring Air Force was indeed slightly inferior to the Frostplate Citizen's vulture fighters in other aspects.

After much deliberation, the Nura City government decided to simply give up and stop caring about Li Aoz, a Near Gamma Rank powerhouse from a country with unfriendly relations, causing trouble on their territory, and they didn't even bother to follow him.

Putting aside whether a powerhouse of this level could even track him down—if something were to happen to him, it would be the result of several Gamma Rank ganging up on him.

Judging from his and Grand Duke Gurant's destructive power, they probably won't be able to save their own city either.

What a load of crap! You're making less than half of someone else's daily expenses in a month. What are you risking your life for?

In contrast to the Nura City's "temporary arrangement," the people of Nura City were in an uproar.

"Wow, that's incredible! Isn't that Li Aoz...?"

Caramel Snail clearly noticed that the surrounding crowd made way for Li Aoz and whispered among themselves, discussing the two of them.

"She's a beauty that comes along only once in a millennium. Gender is a joke in the face of such charm."

"I never believed Frostplate's wanted notice in the first place, and now that I've seen Li Aoz in person, I'm even less convinced."

"To be honest, even if he did commit a crime, he should be forgiven."

"Who is that ugly guy next to him? He's uncultured and unattractive. I'm much more suited to be a servant than him."

Caramel Snail was speechless. As a socially awkward person, he was actually afraid of being the center of attention. But when he realized that people were focusing their attention on Li Aoz and arguing about who was more suitable to be Li Aoz's follower, Caramel Snail felt a little strange.

He was reluctant to share Li Aoz with others, and even quietly deleted the posts he had written but not yet sent on the forum.

Caramel Snail's little scheme couldn't be hidden from Li Aoz. This nice guy was the type whose emotions were written all over his face; you could never lose a poker game with him.

[Good, they've already developed a basic sense of dependence, and their identity has been largely formed. Now it's time to use psychological manipulation (PUA).]

After spending half an afternoon exploring with the little snail, Li Aoz kept an eye on the forum information and soon other players in the same city learned that he had arrived in Sky Ring.

Li Aoz achieved his initial goal: he found a Martial Arts School, stuffed Caramel Snail, whose body was piled high with various shopping bags and packages, into the instructor's hands, and then tossed him several hundred Galen as tuition and a tip.

Li Aoz had only one requirement for training his instructors. "Once you awaken your strength, fight like there's no tomorrow."

"Don't worry!" the instructor assured, patting his muscular chest. "I'll make sure he won't be able to get out of bed by tomorrow morning!"

"I don't want that kind of thing!"

Caramel Snail spent the afternoon shopping with Li Aoz, and was almost in despair.

Li Aoz shopped like a woman, picking and choosing, trying things on, and then not buying anything. He stopped and walked from one store to another until his legs ached. It was supposed to be a game, but he felt helplessly exhausted.

Now that Li Aoz had shoved him into the arms of a muscular man and uttered such lewd words, Caramel Snail was terrified. He immediately grabbed Li Aoz's leg and cried out, "Aoz, you can't be so heartless! I've been your bag carrier all afternoon. You can't treat me like this, or I'll die!"

"So you're saying I haven't done enough for you?"

"At least don't treat me like a dog!"

Li Aoz's lips curled down, a hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes, and he subconsciously uttered a phrase identical to Nethermark Professor's:

"Carrying your bag, shopping, training—you're mistaken. I'm only paying attention to you so much so that you can become a better person."

Caramel Snail paused, while Li Aoz, exuding an arrogant yet powerful charm, crossed her arms and looked away with a world-weary expression.

"You're stupid, you have no talent, you're not qualified, and you come from a humble background—everyone hates you—but I won't."

Li Aoz's words were full of self-deprecation. "I thought that by showing you the bustling market you'd never set foot in before, letting you witness the decadence of capitalism, and having you follow me, a Red Arrow People, I wanted you to experience what it's like to be high and mighty in front of others—a feeling that Street Punk like sewer rats would never have the right to experience. I thought that once you'd seen all of this, you would understand my good intentions and ignite your ambition."

... Huh?

The Caramel Snail knelt there blankly.

Because the game was so realistic, he forgot that he was a player who had descended into the body of ' Saga Akira '.

Is this how Li Aoz has always viewed ' Saga Akira '?

He felt he had talent, and because he pitied him, he felt sorry for him, encouraged him, and took him by his side.

Caramel Snail suddenly realized that it hadn't put itself in the role of ' Saga Akira ', so it didn't understand the other party's intentions at all.

No wonder the developers installed a "Disguise Mode"—only in this way can players truly take over the body of the person who descends and truly 'live'.

What is Saga Akira thinking? He certainly doesn't want to give up this opportunity.

"Now it seems I was too naive."

Li Aoz shook his head, Caramel Snail could clearly see disappointment and regret in his eyes.

He faintly heard a sigh: 'I thought that even the rats in the sewers, if they just looked up, would dream of climbing to the moon.'

Li Aoz casually said to the Martial Arts School instructor, "It seems this kid doesn't want to fight. So, I'll trouble you to teach him some fancy moves."

"No problem."

He glanced at the Caramel Snail and said casually:

"That's all for now. Hope we meet again someday."

After Li Aoz finished speaking, he raised his hand, and gravity lifted all the bags and packages up. He then turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait!"

The Caramel Snail called out.

It wasn't just Saga Akira... This was a rare opportunity for him to compete on the same stage as those high-ranking, unattainable professional gamers.

He really didn't want to give up all of this.

He clenched his fists and looked at the instructor with a determined gaze. "Torture me however you like, come on."

Li Aoz glanced at her at the opportune moment and quietly offered a little encouragement.

[Li Aoz's favorability +10]

Mold— Du Zexin grows fast. (Perfunctory)