Refusal, the Past, and Predicament

"Brother Qiang, I'm just a Lv1 newbie. Going to fight Gray Domain Monsters would be practically delivering myself to them on a platter. I think I'll pass."

After hearing Brother Qiang out, Wang Zhifan did not hesitate much before politely declining his invitation.

It was obvious. He was currently only a Lv1 player, as green as they came. Having just cleared one Dungeon, going straight to challenge Gray Domain Monsters that had invaded reality would be no different from asking for death.

Although Wang Zhifan had not been a player for long, before finding Brother Qiang's channel to purchase a player Class Card, he had already spent time on player forums gathering all kinds of information. He knew very well that the Gray Domain threats that had emerged in recent years, which only players could handle, were not easy to deal with.

It was not because those Gray Domain Monsters were especially powerful, but because they had invaded the real world. When players and monsters fought in reality, there was no free healing like when leaving a Dungeon. Minor injuries were not much of a problem, but severe injuries or permanent disability would be a real disaster.

"Mm... I understand your situation, Brother Wang. Suggesting that you go over there now might indeed be somewhat risky."

To Wang Zhifan's surprise, Brother Qiang did not keep pestering him after hearing his polite refusal. Instead, he agreed with him. But then the man changed the subject, revealing his merchant's nature again.

"Brother, you really do need to improve your strength as soon as possible. As it happens, I have a batch of Fine Grade equipment on hand, including a Fine Grade great machete. It's perfect for your class. Do you want to upgrade your equipment? You just cleared a Dungeon, so I'm guessing you haven't gotten a weapon that suits you yet, right?"

"Uh... Brother Qiang, how much is that Fine Grade great machete?"

Wang Zhifan was a little speechless at the sudden sales pitch, but he showed no abnormality whatsoever. He immediately asked in a tone of eager desire tempered by an empty wallet.

"Hehe, Brother Wang, we're old acquaintances. You can rest assured about the price. It's absolutely a bargain, less than half the price of the Class Card you bought before. One price only: eighty thousand National Currency!"

Seeing that Wang Zhifan seemed very tempted, Brother Qiang quickly named what he considered a very reasonable price for the weapon.

"Eighty thousand?! Brother Qiang, I can't afford that right now. Let's talk after I've saved up enough money! I've got something to do, so I'm hanging up! Beep beep beep~"

A mere Fine Grade weapon cost eighty thousand National Currency. Speechless, Wang Zhifan hurriedly hung up on the guy. At the same time, he opened his mobile banking app to check the original owner's current savings. He vaguely remembered that the original owner had nearly spent all his savings buying that player Class Card, meaning he might now be in a serious financial crisis.

Sure enough, after Wang Zhifan racked his brain to recall the original owner's banking app password and logged in, he quickly discovered that he was flat broke. The combined balances of several bank cards came to barely over a thousand!

"Good lord, this guy really went all in to become a player. Not only had he not worked for the past few years, he'd even spent every last bit of money his parents had given him..."

The situation gave Wang Zhifan quite a headache, but having completely merged with the original owner's memories, he had no trouble understanding why the original owner had done it.

The original Wang Zhifan had merely been an ordinary young man from a small town in the Xia Kingdom. His parents had been healthy, his family harmonious, and life had been decent enough.

But after graduating and going to work in a big city, he suddenly received the terrible news that his parents had died unexpectedly back home. The person who first contacted him told him that his parents had been murdered by a group of criminals. Yet after returning home, he discovered that was not the truth. In the end, he learned from official authorities that his parents had actually encountered a Gray Domain invasion while out one day and had ultimately died at the hands of Gray Domain Monsters!

From then on, the original Wang Zhifan gradually learned about the player community and developed a powerful desire to become a player and avenge his parents. Otherwise, he would never have spent so much money and effort finding a way to purchase a player Class Card.

"Original owner, since I've inherited everything you had, I'll take on your hatred for the Gray Domain Monsters as well. But I'm still far too weak right now. Exterminating Gray Domain Monsters will have to wait until later."

Wang Zhifan felt considerable sympathy for the original owner who shared his name. In order to take revenge, the man had not hesitated to become a player by taking the relatively weak Blade Warrior class, only to fall in his first Dungeon. Though the outcome had been tragic, his unwavering determination was worthy of praise.

"But I have to solve this financial problem as soon as possible. Otherwise, forget next month's rent—I might not even have enough money for this month's meals..."

Troubled, Wang Zhifan closed the banking app and began ordering food through a delivery app. Since he had little money left, he could only order some cheap, filling fast food, not daring to touch the more tempting and nutritious-looking meals.

As for cooking for himself, that was not very realistic at the moment. His Rental House had no kitchen and no usable cooking utensils.

"The original owner seemed to work in IT before, but he hasn't worked in over a year. I wonder whether I can still use his past experience to find a suitable job."

To solve his current financial problems, Wang Zhifan began considering the possibility of becoming a wage slave again, even though he seemed somewhat resistant to the idea deep down.

Thus, while waiting for his fast food to arrive, Wang Zhifan quickly sat down in front of his laptop and began writing a résumé to send out.

This ordinary day soon passed by. The city night was lively and prosperous, but it had nothing to do with Wang Zhifan. After eating fast food to fill his stomach, he spent all the way until midnight pondering feasible ways to escape his financial crisis.

The next morning, Wang Zhifan washed up, went outside to eat a few steamed buns, then opened his laptop to check the results of the résumés he had sent out the previous night. But clearly, none of them had received any response.

"It's already eleven. I sent out dozens of résumés yesterday, yet I haven't gotten a single interview invitation... Looks like I can only try the second plan."

His plan of earning money through work was not progressing smoothly, and Wang Zhifan immediately thought of another way to make money. This path carried a certain amount of danger for him at present, and success was not guaranteed.

"Hopefully, the previous reward selection wasn't a coincidence... Dungeon, activate!"

Having made up his mind and completed his preparations, Wang Zhifan instantly vanished from his Rental House and entered the incomparably mysterious world of the Dungeon.