Two days later, Vex sent a new message.
Vex: "New job. Collect tax from players farming in Deadwood Swamp. 50 silver per player, minimum 10 players. You keep 20% of what you collect."
Jin: "That's robbery"
Vex: "It's business. Shadow Merchants control that territory. Players farm there, they pay tax. Yes or no?"
Jin-woo looked at the numbers. 50 silver per player. Minimum 10 players. That was 500 silver total. He would keep 20%, which was 100 silver or $100. If he collected from 20 players, he would make $200.
But this was different from delivery jobs. This meant threatening other players. Taking their money by force. If they refused, he would have to attack them.
Jin-woo thought about his bank account. He thought about his debt. He thought about the $3,000 he had earned this week just by doing what Vex told him to do.
Jin: "Yes"
Vex: "Good. Deadwood Swamp is east of Havencrest. Level 20-25 zone. Most farmers there are low level and alone. They'll pay or they'll die. Simple."
Jin-woo logged out and checked his bank balance. He had $387 after paying rent and debt. It was more money than he had seen in months, but it was not enough to stop working.
He logged back in and traveled to Deadwood Swamp. The swamp was a dark zone with murky water and twisted trees. Green fog hung in the air. Mosquito sounds played constantly in the background.
Jin-woo saw several players spread throughout the zone. Most were alone. They were fighting swamp creatures - giant frogs, corrupted wolves, and swamp zombies.
Jin-woo approached the first player. The player was a level 19 mage named "FireBolt." The mage was casting spells at a swamp zombie.
Jin-woo walked up to FireBolt and stood three meters away. He waited for the mage to finish killing the zombie.
The zombie died. FireBolt turned and saw Jin-woo.
"This area requires tax," Jin-woo said. "50 silver."
"What?" FireBolt said. "Who are you?"
"Shadow Merchants," Jin-woo said. "Pay or leave."
"Screw you," FireBolt said. "I'm not paying anything."
FireBolt started casting a spell. His hands glowed with orange fire. The spell was Fireball. It would take three seconds to cast.
Jin-woo activated Whirlwind Strike before the spell finished. He spun and his sword swept through the air. The blade hit FireBolt for 218 damage.
FireBolt's spell interrupted. His health dropped to 82 out of 300. His health bar was red, indicating critical health.
FireBolt tried to back away. Jin-woo used Power Strike. He charged the attack for two seconds. The sword glowed red. He released the strike.
The blade hit FireBolt's chest. 156 damage. FireBolt's health dropped to zero.
FireBolt's body disappeared. He respawned at the nearest village, somewhere else in the game. A message appeared in the zone chat.
FireBolt: "Griefer in Deadwood! Player Jin Park! He's killing people for money!"
Jin-woo ignored the message. He moved to the next player.
The second player was a level 21 warrior named "IronWill." The warrior was fighting two swamp frogs at once. Jin-woo waited for the fight to end.
When both frogs died, Jin-woo approached.
"This area requires tax," Jin-woo said. "50 silver."
IronWill looked at Jin-woo. He looked at Jin-woo's equipment and level.
"You're the guy FireBolt was talking about," IronWill said.
"Yes," Jin-woo said.
"Fine. Here." IronWill opened a trade window and put 50 silver in it.
Jin-woo accepted the trade. IronWill walked away toward a different section of the swamp.
The third player was a level 18 priest named "HealingHands." The priest was alone, healing herself after a fight with a swamp zombie.
"This area requires tax," Jin-woo said. "50 silver."
"I don't have 50 silver," HealingHands said. "I only have 23 silver."
"Then give me 23 silver and leave the zone," Jin-woo said.
HealingHands opened the trade window and put 23 silver in it. Jin-woo accepted. The priest logged out immediately after the trade completed.
Jin-woo continued through the swamp. He approached every player he saw. His message was always the same. "This area requires tax. 50 silver."
Some players paid immediately and continued farming. Some paid and left the zone. Some refused and tried to fight.
The fourth player who refused was a level 22 rogue named "ShadowStep." The rogue attacked Jin-woo first, using a stealth ability to appear behind him.
The rogue's dagger stabbed Jin-woo's back. 43 damage. Jin-woo's health dropped to 287.
Jin-woo spun around and used Whirlwind Strike. The blade hit the rogue for 215 damage. The rogue's health dropped to 135 out of 350.
The rogue tried to use another stealth ability to escape. Jin-woo used Power Strike before the rogue disappeared. 151 damage. The rogue's health dropped to zero. The rogue died and respawned elsewhere.
The fifth fighter was a level 23 warrior named "BladeMaster." This warrior had better equipment than the others. His sword glowed with an enchantment.
"You picked the wrong person to rob," BladeMaster said.
BladeMaster charged at Jin-woo. He used a skill called "Charge" which increased his movement speed. He closed the distance in one second.
BladeMaster swung his sword. The blade hit Jin-woo's chest for 67 damage. Jin-woo's health dropped to 263.
Jin-woo backed up and used Whirlwind Strike. BladeMaster took 221 damage. His health dropped to 379 out of 600.
BladeMaster used a skill called "Flurry." His sword attacked three times in rapid succession. The first hit dealt 58 damage. The second hit dealt 61 damage. The third hit dealt 59 damage.
Jin-woo's health dropped to 85. He was in critical health range.
Jin-woo drank a health potion while backing away. His health restored to 235.
BladeMaster charged forward again. Jin-woo used Power Strike. He charged the attack while BladeMaster ran at him. At the last second, he released the strike.
The sword hit BladeMaster's chest for 158 damage. BladeMaster's health dropped to 221.
BladeMaster tried to use Flurry again but the cooldown had not finished. He used a normal attack instead. 54 damage to Jin-woo.
Jin-woo's health was at 181. He struck BladeMaster with normal attacks. 51 damage. 49 damage. 52 damage.
BladeMaster's health dropped to 69. BladeMaster tried to run. Jin-woo used Whirlwind Strike. The spinning attack hit BladeMaster for 219 damage.
BladeMaster died. His body disappeared. Jin-woo looted 15 silver that dropped from the death penalty.
Jin-woo drank another health potion. His health restored to full.
Over the next three hours, Jin-woo approached 17 players total in Deadwood Swamp.
12 players paid the tax. That was 600 silver collected from those who paid the full amount, minus the 23 silver from the priest who paid partial.
3 players fought and died. Jin-woo looted small amounts from their death penalties, totaling 31 silver.
2 players logged out immediately when they saw Jin-woo approaching, after seeing the zone chat warnings.
Jin-woo's total collection was 631 silver. He kept 20%, which was 126 silver. The remaining 505 silver went to Vex.
Jin-woo traveled back to Havencrest City. He met Vex in a back alley near the warehouse district.
Jin-woo opened a trade window and transferred 505 silver to Vex.
"Good work," Vex said. "You collected from 12 players. That's above minimum. And you handled the fighters."
"Some fought back," Jin-woo said. "I had to kill them."
"That's expected," Vex said. "Most players pay. Some fight. You won the fights. That's what matters."
"Will there be more jobs?" Jin-woo asked.
"Yes," Vex said. "More jobs coming. Different types. Higher pay. You've proven you can fight and you can follow orders. That makes you useful."
Vex's character walked away and disappeared into the shadows.
Jin-woo stood alone in the alley. He had 126 silver in his inventory. That was $126 USD. He had earned it by threatening other players and killing those who refused to pay.
Jin-woo converted the silver to real money. His bank account increased to $513.