The Second Day of Dealing with Players

When Hill woke up the next day, he carefully savored the previous night's sleep. He had not felt this utterly exhausted in years. That deep sleep left him radiating comfort when he rose, and the Nature Spirits around him were happy for Hill.

Hill liked this feeling of still being human.

He pushed open the window and glanced outside, and his mood immediately plummeted.

There was a line.

The long queue stretched all the way to the end of the street.

Hill was helpless. They knew the things here were good, so why couldn't they keep it secret?

He felt the same confusion he had experienced while playing games back then. Why were there so many people who harmed others without benefiting themselves? Showing off on the forums for a moment of glory and attracting crowds to fight over things—every world had people like that.

To players who did not know, it might actually count as being kind?

Hill went downstairs listlessly and hurriedly summoned the Shop Core, resetting its rules. Once thirty people entered, the doors would immediately close. One batch would leave before another entered, and no one could stay indoors for more than thirty minutes. Hill also opened the spare door beside it.

Hill did not dare sit by the window for breakfast today. He wolfed down two sandwiches, picked up a pot of tea, and sat at the workbench. Today, he would only buy goods. No appraisals.

He put up a sign buying ores, herbs, and all kinds of materials. On this alchemy sign, he could list clear purchase prices for every material Hill knew.

Fortunately, he had bound the Shop Core. Hill decided that when he left, he would take this one with him and give Falan a new one.

Taking a deep breath, Hill gave the order. "Open the doors."

The shop doors opened automatically, and the players at the front surged inside.

Hill saw that they had practically been shoved in, and they were all cursing.

But they were familiar faces: Perfect Baldhead's group.

Perfect Baldhead cursed loudly, "Which short-lived idiot posted it on the damn forums?"

Xiao Liuliu told him, "Shut up. Are you happy getting warned every day?"

A Deer said, "Master's wife, don't mind Master. Ban him a few more times and he'll learn."

Demon Sword added, "Queuing up in the middle of the night? That's insane. Hurry up and buy your stuff, I want to sleep!"

Hill also saw Old Auntie and Jijiyaya, whom he had not seen yesterday.

They looked like they had all been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night, utterly drained.

When Perfect Baldhead saw Hill sitting there with a smile, he hurried over.

Jijiyaya stood in line behind him.

So they knew Hill's identity now.

Perfect Baldhead put on an adorable smile and said gently, "Mr. Bolanio, I only found out after going back that you knew Jijiyaya before and even taught him. We really are fated!"

Hill took a deep breath and said coldly, "I remember him. Mr. Perfect Baldhead, please use your real voice from yesterday. I do not discriminate against other people's preferences."

The shop suddenly erupted in laughter.

They all seemed to be members of his guild.

Perfect Baldhead himself started grinning foolishly as well.

Hill helplessly reminded them, "Everyone may only remain in the shop for thirty minutes. Please make the most of your time."

Perfect Baldhead immediately began yelling and pulled out a pile of items.

Hill helplessly pointed at the sign beside the table. "Go look at that. Only ask me about the items listed there. It'll save us both money and trouble."

Perfect Baldhead squatted to one side and started taking pictures of the sign. Sure enough, he only cared about the prices.

Hill noticed Xiao Liuliu taking pictures while sending messages. It seemed they still had people waiting outside.

Jijiyaya came over. "Mr. Hill, long time no see."

Hill looked at this player who had already become a Magus and did not particularly want to speak. Even though he understood that players were different from himself, he still could not suppress his jealousy at that moment.

He silently sighed. Fine, just remember that they were tools.

He smiled and said, "The Undead really are enviable. You advanced so quickly. But I remember you like herbs. Do you want to learn alchemy?"

Jijiyaya hurriedly said, "Yes! We only have the most basic potion recipes ourselves, and we often fail when brewing them. I really want to learn the orthodox alchemical methods here."

Hill said, "You're already a Magus. Ordinary Alchemists would not dare accept you as an apprentice. If you truly want to learn, find my territory! I'll introduce you to an elder who can teach you. He is a powerful Alchemist."

Perfect Baldhead cut in, "Mr. Bolanio, we turned in the ore yesterday, and William even came out himself! He said that after verifying it, he would give us a contribution reward, enough for us to establish a large territory.

Where is your Mage Tower located? Can we build our territory near yours?"

Hill looked at this fake little girl with shrewdness glittering in his eyes and could not help laughing. "My territory is beyond the Western Frontier. It's rather peaceful there, not suitable for you."

"You mean the Northern Frontier is better?"

Jijiyaya pulled him aside and whispered, "The beginner village isn't suitable for us."

Hill said, "Rose's people are still guarding the Hephasaldo border! There is plenty of fighting left to do. Don't you plan to participate?"

Perfect Baldhead tugged at his ponytail and asked in confusion, "Rose?"

Hill fell silent. What did they usually call the God of Nobility and Sovereignty? Did they say it directly?

Xiao Liuliu, who had finished buying her things, walked over and slapped Perfect Baldhead across the back. "The God of Nobility and Sovereignty! NPCs won't directly call a god by name, so they use Rose and Sword instead!"

"Those idiots from the Noble Temple!"

Hill stared at the players in astonishment. What was the God of Space-Time trying to do? No wonder the Noble Temple had been guarding the border, waiting to call in more people for war. There were a hundred thousand people like this with no restraint whatsoever! The God of Nobles' ears were probably being cursed numb by now.

The God of Nobility and Sovereignty had never been particularly broad-minded. Back then, someone had pointed at Rose and Sword and cursed loudly, provoking Him into issuing a divine oracle. The Noble Temple had directly dispatched a Legendary to kill that person.

This time, it would probably be a fight to the death.

Were they planning to use the God of Nobles as a sacrificial chicken to scare the monkeys?

Hill felt that if fighting broke out, it might involve more than just the people of Hephasaldo. The Noble Temple would probably start recruiting people the moment they left the Divine Mountain.

Hill suddenly asked Perfect Baldhead, "How many more people are you planning to send in for William's coronation this time?"

Perfect Baldhead answered without hesitation, "Over a million have already registered. We estimate we'll only let in five hundred thousand at a time."

Hill could only fall silent. No wonder William did not want to deal with anything. A million people were definitely going to enter together.

He told Perfect Baldhead, "The Western Frontier is only suitable for small families. Hephasaldo is in the south. If you want to fight, go there."

Perfect Baldhead took out a tablet, carefully examined the border, then asked Hill, "Which city is closest to your place?"

Hill smiled. "You'll have to find that out yourselves. I can't say more."

Perfect Baldhead nodded regretfully. "All right. We're not in a hurry anyway. I hope we can see your Mage Tower someday soon."

Jijiyaya tugged him away. "Mr. Hill, what is this herb used for? I only know it's called Saintess's Tears."

Hill abruptly looked up. "How do you have that?"

"Is it very valuable? I found it when I passed by a cabin in the forest. After I appraised it, there was only its name and a bunch of question marks."

Hill sighed. Was this the advantage of having so many people?

"This is a precious plant that only grows near ascetics of the holy faith. That cabin you passed by was probably a place where some ascetic believer had lived and cultivated for a long time.

It's worth a fortune and can be sold at auction. It can save a life and bring someone back from the brink of death. It isn't particularly useful to you Undead, though."

Jijiyaya was ecstatic.

Hill glared at him irritably. "That will be ten gold. Pay up."

Jijiyaya hurriedly took out the money. "Mr. Hill, have mercy and give me an estimate!"

Hill said, "This can only be sold for Elemental Crystals. The price fluctuates greatly. If the old king hadn't died, it could have sold for tens of millions. If no one urgently needs it now, it could sell for five million."

Perfect Baldhead practically shouted himself hoarse. "What? At the exchange rate, that's five hundred thousand!"

Jijiyaya clutched the herb tightly, almost unable to breathe.

The members of their guild practically flooded over, forming a circle to examine the herb closely.

Hill saw Xiao Liuliu scrolling through her tablet and thought he had encountered someone who understood.

Sure enough, Xiao Liuliu shouted, "Stop getting excited! You won't get five hundred thousand. Do you think the officials are stupid?"

Almost everyone began looking at their tablets.

Several voices cursed at once.

Hill heard Jijiyaya let out a relieved breath. "Even one-tenth of that is fine."

"I thought there was some kind of bug," Perfect Baldhead said bitterly. "What a ridiculous tax."

Xiao Liuliu looked at the crowd of onlookers and said irritably, "I'll take clear pictures and post them in the group! Why aren't you paying? The half hour is almost up!"

The group screamed and scattered to pay.

Jijiyaya suddenly asked Hill, "Will you buy it for five million?"

Hill was somewhat puzzled. "It might sell for more at auction."

Jijiyaya gave a bitter smile. "Our taxes are high. If I put it up for auction, people will definitely spread rumors that I got five million for it. It'd be annoying as hell."

Hill thought for a moment. "If you won't change your mind, I can call an elder over. You could also keep it and sell it later! If William defeats Hephasaldo, there will be more rich people there than in Salar."

Jijiyaya insisted, "Can it go over ten million?"

Hill shook his head. "No. Ten million is the absolute ceiling. Every major temple has this kind of herb."

"Then why didn't anyone give it to the old king?"

"No temple would give a sacred medicine to a king who indulged in debauchery, was shameless and licentious, and did not believe in the gods."

Hill heard someone say, "I'd die happy after hearing that!"

Was that Romantic Drunk on the Red Dust? Hill thought. Did names reveal character?

Jijiyaya insisted on selling it, so Hill had him sit on the sofa by the window to wait, then casually ushered Perfect Baldhead's group out the door.

Hill summoned his Nature Companion: a white peregrine falcon exceptionally skilled at flying.

Before leaving this time, Hill had finally resolved to use Summon Nature Companion. He had truly been afraid that he would summon a bear.

When he saw Cohen answering his call, he had nearly burst into tears with gratitude. Hill's immense excitement and enthusiasm made Cohen agree without hesitation to sign a companion contract with him.

Hill had Cohen deliver a message to Adrian.

Adrian had been sent to Falan's side at great expense by his father, leaving him owing his family an enormous debt of gratitude. By convention, he had to watch over the family for a thousand years.

Hill did not want Adrian to be dragged down by his family when he advanced to Legendary.

If there were enemies, that would be the best time to plot against Adrian.

No noble family would refuse to accept this item. In the future, Adrian would only need to lend the family a hand when it encountered trouble.

If Adrian advanced to Legendary, that would be several hundred years from now. His brother's sons might not even exist by then. Who would care about the fate of descendants? It wasn't as if anyone would die anyway.

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