"You know about I?"
The words slipped out as Qin Ran looked at the tavern's proprietress.
"Of course!"
"You don't think you're the only one among all these players who can reach I, do you?"
"Or..."
"Do you think what you've seen is all there is?"
Although the system concealed her face, Qin Ran could clearly sense the smile she wore as she spoke.
It wasn't malicious ridicule or mockery.
But it was full of teasing.
Qin Ran paid it no mind, however.
"Above veteran players?"
He stared at her as he asked.
"Yes."
"You could put it that way. We meet on a fixed schedule. I'll take you to meet them at the next gathering-not everyone, just a few people I'm on good terms with."
The proprietress nodded, casually picked up a wineglass, and began polishing it carefully.
"Then... what about Lawless?"
Qin Ran asked somewhat hesitantly.
"He should have joined this circle long ago, but his personality flaws leave him completely unqualified!"
"And the longer he delays, the further he gets from this circle!"
Qin Ran could clearly hear the proprietress sigh.
She was clearly lamenting Lawless's situation.
A sense of urgency stirred in Qin Ran's heart as well.
He didn't want to lose a good friend because of a gap in strength.
He recalled what Rachel had said earlier.
The slight complacency Qin Ran had felt after his Spirit reached I vanished instantly, and the urgent desire to grow stronger rose in him once again.
It wasn't just to treat Lawless, but also because of the circle she had mentioned.
A circle composed entirely of Entry Rank players.
Suddenly, something occurred to Qin Ran.
"What about the Witch?"
"Was the Witch part of this circle too?"
Qin Ran asked.
The instant the words left his mouth, he