The three individuals present in the room impatiently awaited my answer.

  I let my gaze drift across their tense faces. Even Austin looked anxious—at least, it looked that way.

  I exhaled slowly, then straightened up, chest raised like I was about to accept some grand award.

  “I refuse!”

  I told the knight firmly, leaving her in complete disbelief.

  Jaw sck. Eyes flickering.

  She hurriedly got up, pearls of cold sweat running down her digital forehead.

  “W-why would you refuse...” She paused, taking a shaky breath. “Such an honor?”

  I only shrugged, then pointed at the grumpy dwarf.

  “I have other businesses to attend to!”

  I told her, already turning to engage Borealis—

  —but before I did, I gnced over my shoulder.

  The female knight was putting her helmet back on with shaky hands.

  “Tell the princess I am gd she is alright and thankful but it was merely a coincidence that I met her everyone else strong enough would have done the same!”

  I finished, then turned fully back to the staggered wandsmith.

  Pulling at Austin’s shirt, I dragged him closer and nudged him forward.

  “So Borealis my Friend is like to introduce to you one of my most trusted friends.”

  I said with a wide grin, tapping Austin on his bushy, hairy head.

  “He just began his career as an adventurer and I thought Id introduce you to him. I ensure you he will be able to get the job done!”

  Borealis’ bald head shimmered faintly under the shop’s light as he stroked his beard, examining the dwarf like he was inspecting a tool before buying it.

  “So you are a Friend of BakingTray...”

  He muttered, leaning down far enough for them to come face to face.

  “I indeed am Sir my Name is QSyerDW but you can also just call me Austin...”

  Austin answered, reaching out his hand to greet him properly—offering a faint smile beneath his red beard.

  Borealis hesitated for a moment. Then he straightened his hunched back and grasped Austin’s hand firmly.

  “A Friend of BakingTray is also a Friend of mine, Please just call me Borealis!”

  He said, then turned to me.

  “But it's good you are here I just got in a new giant order and need some materials du you think you would be able to help me with that?”

  I gave him a simple nod and walked to the counter, taking a seat on the crude wooden chair.

  “Tell me the details!”

  At the same time, the knight took her leave, offering a small goodbye before the bell announced her departure.

  Borealis, meanwhile, slipped behind the counter and pulled out an old piece of paper—covered in a list of materials.

  Without a word, I took it, letting out a low hum as my eyes scanned the lines.

  "25 Ghostwood twigs, six elemental mythril, four Adamantium Cores and The Heart of a lesser lich!"

  My mouth went dry halfway through reading it out loud.

  I frowned.

  That wasn’t a request. That was a commission. A fat one.

  I looked up at Austin, then over to the bald man.

  "Who gave such an order?"

  I asked—but then quickly raised my hand, cutting him off and shaking my head.

  "Never mind I don't need to know. He is insanely rich it appears. The ghostwood twigs wont be a problem and mythril is retively common in rger magic caves. But the Adamantium cores and a lich heart?"

  My fingers tightened around the paper without me noticing.

  Four Adamantium cores meant Kinged monsters. Not a Kinged monster—plural.

  And the lich heart…

  My stomach twisted like I’d swallowed something sharp.

  I gnced at Austin. He just shrugged—of course he had no clue what any of that meant yet.

  Liches weren’t something you “farm.”

  Just a week ago, a group of sixteen had almost been fully annihited by a level three lich.

  "Are you going to do it?"

  Borealis asked, hands grounded on the table like he was trying to keep himself from shaking.

  "What is the reward and how long do we have?"

  "The reward will be 250,000 dimes per person as for a time limit there isn't one set but I'd like to have the things in two weeks time."

  His usual salesman face came back—cold and practiced—like he hadn’t just dropped a death sentence on the table.

  I leaned back and put on the toughest expression I could.

  "500.000 dimes per person."

  He blinked—actually blinked—then shrugged like he wasn’t about to have a heart attack.

  "300,000 dimes is all I can still do..."

  Sweat rushed down his forehead. He avoided eye contact.

  I didn’t move.

  "350,000 and we get equipment covered for the mission and indefinite time!"

  He slumped back in defeat, letting out a low sigh, then frowned deeply.

  "Fine we have it your way!"

  My lips curled into a smirk before I could stop it.

  I stood up and cpped my hands once, already turning toward the wall lined with wands and staffs.

  "Good, I and pup don't need equipment but my friend here does."

  I grabbed a rge staff—no wood, just stone and metal—heavy enough to make the air feel denser around it.

  My hand slid over the rocky surface for a brief moment.

  Then I twirled around and tossed it toward the grumpy dwarf.

  "Catch!"

  The staff cut through the air.

  For a second, time did that weird thing where everything felt slow—like the game wanted to make sure I really understood what I’d just done.

  Austin panicked instantly, scrambling to catch it. Borealis grabbed his bald head in shock like I’d just thrown a baby instead of a weapon.

  "Jesus!!!"

  Austin shouted—

  —and caught it perfectly with both hands.

  Borealis slumped back down, clutching his chest and letting out a long breath.

  "You are seriously going to give me a heart attack brat. If you weren't a trusted strong partner I would have kicked you out ages ago!"

  "Yeah I can rete to that, this airhead can really get on your nerves!"

  Austin added with a smirk under his long beard.

  "Hey you bastard I get you equipment and that's how you repay me?"

  I asked, indignant—like I was genuinely wounded.

  Borealis just ughed. Deep. Loud. Like it came from the bottom of his digital soul.

  Even the neighboring shops probably heard it.

  "Hmpf whatever!"

  I waved it off and headed for the exit.

  My hand was already on the doorknob when I turned around one st time.

  "I will get you stuff as quickly as possible Borealis you have my word!"

  I promised, then looked at Austin—still standing there, rock staff in hand, like he didn’t know whether to be impressed or terrified.

  "Are you coming bro?"

  I asked.

  He snapped out of it and hurried after me.

  "Oh yeah of course... Where are we going?"

  I pushed the door open, stepping back into the crowded city.

  "Leveling dude what else..."

  I answered, already setting my marker on the Purpur Woods.