Interview, Forum

Wang Zhifan carefully examined the Rare Grade Brass Crest Pendant in his hand and found that it truly seemed somewhat extraordinary, carrying an indescribable sinister aura.

The entire pendant could be divided into two parts: a slender copper chain and an aged brass crest linked to the chain.

The brass crest was roughly the size of an adult thumbnail, a fairly regular circular brass piece overall.

Embedded on one side of the brass disk was an engraved inverted pentagram. At the center of the inverted pentagram was a ring of tiny, unknown writing that no one could understand, exuding an ancient, evil, and mysterious air.

The other side of the brass disk bore two rows of raised, vicious fangs. The design was neither complicated nor ornate, yet a single glance made it clear that they were not modeled after the teeth of any known creature, inexplicably evoking a sense of strangeness and horror.

"Although this pendant looks a little weird, its effect seems pretty good according to the description. It gives a stable 7% damage increase, so I can wear it directly."

Most of Wang Zhifan's equipment, such as the Wolf Slayer Blade and Wolf Pelt Armor, was only taken out of his Personal Space when needed. He almost never brought them out normally, because he needed to keep a low profile and avoid letting anyone with ulterior motives discover that he possessed too many good items.

But this Rare Grade Chapter of Gloom pendant was different. It was very small, and as long as he wore it around his neck beneath his clothes, it would be difficult for others to notice it. Even if they did, they would most likely think it was some tacky accessory like a cheap fake gold chain. Therefore, Wang Zhifan planned to wear it constantly as an everyday personal accessory.

After considering his new Rare Grade acquisition, it was time to test his luck. Wang Zhifan wasted no time picking up the pale yellow scroll and tearing it apart. As the Fine Grade Warrior Class Skill Upgrade Scroll rapidly crumbled into dust, a line of panel information flashed before his eyes: You have used the Warrior Class Skill Upgrade Scroll (Fine). Your class skill Basic Saber Art Lv3 failed to upgrade.

"Failed, just as expected. I can't say I'm surprised at all."

With only a 10% chance of successfully upgrading a skill, Wang Zhifan had never expected to succeed on his first try. He even felt that he might fail ten times in a row. But he was still willing to keep trying, because after personally experiencing the enormous gap between Lv1 saber art and Lv3 saber art, he was extremely curious about what lay ahead. He knew that once he succeeded, the gains would definitely be tremendous.

After dealing with those two unexpected gains, Wang Zhifan checked his current personal panel.

Name: Wang Zhifan.

Status: Normal.

Level: Lv1.

Experience: 98/100.

Class: Blade Warrior.

Constitution: 18.

Strength: 19.

Agility: 17.

Spirit: 16.

Skill: Basic Saber Art Lv3.

Equipped: Chapter of Gloom (Rare).

Personal Space: Wolf Slayer Blade (Rare), Wolf Pelt Armor (Fine).

"My experience bar is almost full already. I'll probably reach Lv2 after clearing the Dungeon tomorrow. I wonder what kind of improvements the Blade Warrior class gets after leveling up."

Having inherited all of the original owner's memories, Wang Zhifan already knew from information the original owner had gathered while lurking on the Player Forum years ago that every player received improvements after leveling up. However, the specific improvements were not uniform. Supposedly, they depended on the player's class and exact level.

For example, regarding the highly sought-after Gunner Class, Wang Zhifan knew that they gained 1 point of Agility when advancing from Lv1 to Lv2, and unlocked a class skill called "Bullet Time" when advancing from Lv9 to Lv10. Mage classes, meanwhile, generally gained Spirit Attribute when leveling up, and at Lv3, they could independently choose a new spell.

As for the Blade Warrior class Wang Zhifan had taken, hardly anyone discussed it on the forum, so he did not know much about it. Still, it was probably improvements like increased attributes and unlocked new skills.

Levels were quite important to players. Although they could not fully represent a player's strength, they at least reflected a player's experience and seniority. Broadly speaking, high-level players were usually stronger than low-level players, though not absolutely.

Feeling somewhat bored and expecting no important matters today, Wang Zhifan turned on his personal laptop in the Rental House and prepared to surf the internet.

He had originally planned to browse the Player Forum as soon as he opened his browser, but unexpectedly noticed an unread notification icon. When he clicked it, he found that someone had replied to the résumé he had sent out yesterday, inviting him to an interview.

"Dear applicant, I am an HR representative from Tianyu Hegemony Game Company. I have reviewed the personal résumé you submitted to us and would like to invite you to a job interview at eleven o'clock tomorrow morning..."

"A company actually invited me for an interview? Judging from its company profile, it's a newly established little outfit, and the pay is a bit low..."

Wang Zhifan was somewhat surprised that the résumé he had submitted yesterday had actually received a response. However, he had already temporarily solved his financial problems and was no longer so desperate to work for money.

But after giving it some thought, he still decided to make time to take a look tomorrow. If it suited him, he would do the job. Having another source of income was better than being unemployed, and it would also help him maintain a low profile.

Wang Zhifan then replied to the game company's HR email, saying that he would arrive on time tomorrow. After that, he officially opened a dark web that was difficult for most Xia Kingdom citizens to access: the Player Forum. He began browsing its latest posts.

"The Special Administration Bureau is recruiting elite players above Lv50 on a long-term basis. Successful applicants will receive special official allowances..."

"A Lv48 veteran explains how everyone can clear every Dungeon smoothly."

"A guide to class recommendations for newcomers."

"As more and more non-players have begun flooding the forum, I'd like to mention a few things non-players need to be aware of."

"As of dawn today, 2,139 players have been confirmed dead in Dungeons this month, including a Lv43 veteran..."

"Big Shots, I really want to become one of the players you talk about. Where can I buy a Gunner Class card?"

"I almost died in a Dungeon today, and the rewards I got were miserably poor. I regret becoming a player. I've already started missing the peaceful life I had before becoming one."

"A personal speculation on the increasingly frequent Gray Domain invasion incidents lately."

"Let's talk about several domestic player Big Shots I know."

"A mysterious massacre has occurred again in Asang State, USA! Suspected to be the work of a high-level player!"

"It is reported that India has added another twelve permanent Gray Domain zones this month, but the country's officials have denied it."

"Korea's cult activity has been rampant lately, and it is believed to be heavily connected to player groups in multiple countries."