Starting from Zero

Book 2, Chapter 16

Selling Charcoal to Get Rich!

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We left the Wizard's Guild and logged off. It's near noon now, we've been playing since last night!

We rested until 8 pm. The alarm clock woke us right on schedule. We ate something and started the game again.

Soon as we appeared in the city we noticed something different: there are so many people! We remembered that account registration has become completely free for everyone in this morning. After a day most people should have reached level 20. I must say, the populated streets looks fun!

When we're trying to get familiar with the new environment, we heard a sweet, almost annoying, female voice: "Hey handsome, your gear looks really cool! Is that your girlfriend? Hey you almost got a full set! Can you carry me for a bit? Pretty please?"

"No problem!" Wayne just agreed before I even tried to correct the "girlfriend" part. The player looks like a standard beauty. I think Wayne is about to drool.

"You just reached 20 right? Don't worry, I got you. We won't need much time to level up!"

"Thank you very much!" The girl wears a seductive smile. "Then you won't mind bringing an extra player right? Come here darling!"

A big, muscular man appeared in front of us. "Oh! You guys can help us grind? My thanks!"

I never felt attracted to women, because...well, I'm always staring at myself in the mirror in the morning so, you know.

"Not 'you guys'! Only him! I have something to do I'll leave here." I didn't wait for any objections, activated my ring and disappeared which caused people to shout in awe.

That girl asked Wayne, eyes wide open: "Is is is that your friend? He can teleport?!"

A crowd of new players came to Wayne, demanding answers.

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This time I directly went back to Lost City. After stepping out of the teleport station I headed towards Clark's weapon shop. Clark is enthusiastic as ever: "Oi mate! Where have you been? I was looking for you!"

"You look for me?" Wasn't expecting that. What would an NPC want me with? "I came at the right time then. I happen to have something to tell you too!"

"Let's chat at the quest room!" We went upstairs. "I'm hoping to talk business with you!"

"Business? But I'm no merchant! I do have a Blacksmith job but never actually used it."

"That's not what I mean. I want your help to bring some materials and transport them!" Clark explained, a little bit excitedly.

"Materials? What materials?"

"The stuff used to craft equipment. Their origin is a bit complicated, my own gathering team can't get them! You're pretty high leveled now it should be easy for you though."

"Just tell me, I'll help if I can. So what are you looking for?"

"Here's the list!" He passed me a paper. "If you help with this I'll give you an Artifact. Plus you will not need to pay the money you owe me."

"Well we can get past the money alright, but I'll not take the Artifact. I'm in too much debt to you!"

"Ha ha! I'm the one feeling indebted here." He scratched his head, "This is the Artifact!"

Clark gave me a bracelet. Space Bracelet, a inventory without space and weight limit. Able to fetch items within a range of 20 meters. Not upgradeable.

"I give you this thing to help me carry stuff. Or it will be too much materials for you to hold!"

"Oh, ha! I'll take it then!"

"By the way, you wanted to tell me something right?"

"Oh! Almost forgot!" I took out the Darksteel Wood I got earlier. "Can you tell me what this thing is?"

Clark carefully picked it up, then his eyes went wide. "Where did you get this thing?"

"Those Killer Trees dropped them! Is it valuable?" I knew this thing would have some value but didn't expect such a big reaction from Clark.

"Valuable? Beyond valuable!!"

"Really?" I took another one out and checked over it, hoping to understand what's so good about it.

"Ya got another one?" Clark saw the second piece and jumped.

"Yeah. What's wrong? I have like 50 more pieces here."

"WHAT?!"

Bang. Clark dropped on the floor.

I pulled him up. "Well you don't have to be THAT surprised! Just tell me, what is it? What's the use of this black 'n' dark stuff?"

"Don't underestimate this black 'n' dark stuff! It's super grade fuel!"

"Fuel? That's why it looks like charcoal?" I didn't expect it to be something used for burning.

"If you burn this wood you get Hellfire, equipments forged with Hellfire will all carry its effect, and weapons will have a 50% life steal attribute! Besides your craft success rate +20% when using Hellfire!"

"That's awesome!" Didn't know this thing worth so much. Looks like those rotten branches got some uses. Maybe I should go there more often!

"Will it use up fast? How many pieces do you need to forge one equipment?"

"Well, the consumption is quite fast. If you only use Darksteel Wood, your will need 10 pieces to complete one equip. But usually we only use one piece, mixed with common wood. The outcome would be less effective but it still got higher success rate than normal forge fire, and a bit of a chance to add some additional attribute too. Of course not as good as using full Hellfire though."

"Are you buying it? Should I go and get some more?" I would make a fortune if I sell this thing!

"Buy? Of course I'll buy it! The market price is usually 2k gold per piece but no one's ever selling it!"

"Seriously? That's overpriced! I have 53 on me, you can buy them all!"

"Wait wait wait! I don't have enough funds for that!" Clark looks really troubled.

"Duh, we're friends, of course I won't ask for the market price." I do want the money but surely I can't take it from Clark! "How about this, I'll give them to you for 1k gold per piece only. How many can you take at the moment?"

"You meant it??" I see Clark's eyes glowing! "I'll buy 40!"

I considered. "Listen: I give you all 53, you pay me 40k gold and help me improve my equipment. How about it?"

"Not a problem! Here's the money! From now on all my merchandise are half price, only for you!"

Clark is the straightforward type, he immediately called helpers to carry the wood into his storage. "Come, buddy. Lemme see what I can do with that outfit. What's your level?"

"Just reached 100!"

"That was fast! But not surprising. Your dragon friend is quite the damager. You wait here, I'll go pick something for you."

It didn't take long before he rushed back with a pile of equipment in his arms. "Try these. They are the best level 100 gear I got in my shop!"

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Happy new year's eve! And Chinese Spring Festival is coming soon, too. I don't think I will be updating during those periods cause I gonna go out and enjoy myself!