After calming down, Su Xuan shouldered his backpack and headed to school.
With the college entrance exams approaching, there were fewer classes, so most of the time was for self-study.
Sitting in the classroom, Su Xuan's mind kept replaying scenes from the game last night. Ivsha's character quest required about 50 Silver Coins. However, judging from the hidden quest, her task wasn't that simple.
Although he had the huge sum of 80 Silver Coins, it was only temporary. Once the other Player finished their quest and returned the Flame Gemstone, he would have to give back 70 of those Silver Coins.
Of course, 50 Silver Coins was only worth a few hundred bucks. If he were willing to pay to win, Ivsha's character quest wouldn't be that difficult.
But...
Su Xuan didn't believe the church's problem was as simple as just a lack of funds.
Based on Ivsha's description, the entire church was operating at a deficit.
Merely covering the financial deficit probably wouldn't be enough to bring the church back from the brink.
"Haaah~"
Su Xuan sighed. 'I can't believe I'm already so completely hooked on this game!'
BZZT~
Suddenly, the phone in his pocket vibrated.
Su Xuan picked up his phone and glanced at it. It was a message from the proprietress of the place he used to work part-time, asking if he was free on Saturday and Sunday to come work for her.
He thought for a moment. He was tight on cash and really did need a part-time job to make ends meet.
While the mysterious game had the potential to change his Destiny, that would only happen after he'd grown stronger. For now, Su Xuan had to deal with immediate concerns, like putting food on the table.
"I'll be there."
Su Xuan immediately sent a message back.
He quickly received a reply.
Sister Ling: "Same as usual, three hundred yuan a day, and meals are included!"
"Okay."
He stuffed the phone into his backpack, thinking about how well Sister Ling always treated him. 'Three hundred a day for a temp job is pretty generous.'
In the blink of an eye, it was half past five in the afternoon.
Su Xuan slung his backpack on and dashed out of the classroom the moment the final bell rang.
He couldn't wait to get home, start the game, and work on developing his Guild.
After arriving home, Su Xuan first ate a simple meal for dinner.
Then he put on his VR headset and entered the game world.
When he reappeared in the Guild, he was surprised to find Ivsha had been waiting for a long time.
"You're finally here!"
When Ivsha saw Su Xuan appear, a joyful smile spread across her stunning face, making her look like a young wife eagerly waiting for her husband to return home.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Su Xuan said, glancing at the time.
The in-game time was ten in the morning. It seemed the game world's time was about eight hours off from the real world.
"Are there any new commissions today?"
Ivsha asked expectantly.
"Mhm."
Su Xuan nodded and handed the last remaining quest to Ivsha.
Kill the Desert Puppet!
While browsing the world channel, he had heard that this particular beginner quest was quite tricky.
Many normal-quality Adventurers had a hard time dealing effective damage to the Desert Puppet, and most ended up winning through a battle of attrition.
After all, the Desert Puppet was all alone and had low intelligence, so defeating it was just a matter of time.
However, Su Xuan didn't think he would need to struggle like everyone else. He was confident that Ivsha could defeat the Desert Puppet with ease.
"Let's set off."
"Okay!"
With a flash of white light, Su Xuan and Ivsha were teleported to the Desert Puppet's area.
But when Su Xuan arrived at the quest location, his expression immediately tensed.
He looked around and saw an endless desert stretching in all directions. There didn't seem to be any living creatures within a ten-kilometer radius.
Only in the distance stood a three-meter-tall Desert Puppet, awaiting its destiny to be destroyed.
'There probably isn't a hidden component to this quest, right?'
Su Xuan frowned. The surrounding sandy terrain was nearly identical everywhere, and the area was vast and boundless.
'Searching for a hidden quest in the desert... would be a complete waste of time!'
'I'd probably even forget the way back by the end of it!'
So, Su Xuan dismissed the idea of looking for a hidden quest and fixed his gaze on the Desert Puppet.
[Desert Puppet (Normal)]
Level: 5 (400/500)
Race: Elemental Creatures
Power: 80 / Agility: 20 / Magic Power: 0 / Physique: 100
Growth: 5 (Gains 5 points in All Attributes per Level up)
Skills: (Expand)
"No wonder it's so hard to deal with. It's a Level 5 Demon."
After seeing the Desert Puppet's Attribute panel, Su Xuan understood why the other Players were wailing endlessly.
"Ivsha, can you handle it?"
Su Xuan turned to look at Ivsha.
"It might have some damage reduction against Magic, but with the amplification Mr. Su Xuan has granted me, I can crush it with ease."
Ivsha said with a confident smile.
'Amplification?'
Su Xuan understood. It must be the effect of the [Unwavering Loyalty] trait.
'A one-hundred-percent combat power boost is pretty sweet!'
While he was lost in thought, Ivsha was already walking toward the Desert Puppet.
She put her hands together and softly chanted a Spell. As she chanted, a Golden Magic Array materialized in the sky above the Desert Puppet. At the center of the Array, a gleaming Golden Holy Sword appeared.
Divine Magic!
'A Succubus who can use Divine Magic... She's probably one of a kind, isn't she?'
By the time Ivsha finished chanting her Magic, the Desert Puppet had only just realized an enemy was approaching.
It slowly rose to its feet, preparing to fight back.
But the Golden Holy Sword above its head was already poised to strike!
"Perish~"
Ivsha's light voice rang out, and in an instant, the Golden Holy Sword above plunged down like a bolt of lightning!
With a thunderous BOOM, the Desert Puppet was instantly reduced to a pile of sand under the Holy Sword's fierce attack, scattering in the wind and vanishing without a trace.
Su Xuan was overjoyed.
Just as he had guessed, Ivsha could defeat the Desert Puppet with ease.
"Well done, Ivsha!"
"This is all thanks to the Power you granted me, Mr. Su Xuan~"
After dealing with the Desert Puppet, the two immediately returned to the Guild and turned in the quest.
[Copper Coins +100, EXP +150!]
[You have received one free chance to refresh a trait.]
[Congratulations on completing the current three commissions!]
[Special Quest Acquired: The Soul of the Dead!]
[Quest Description: A truth has been hidden in the Ghost Ship for a hundred years. Retrieve the letter hidden in the captain's treasure chest and deliver it to Roxia, the Law Enforcement Knight of Sunset City!]
[Quest Objective: A Letter Home]
[Recommended Level: 4]
[Quest Reward: 5 Silver Coins, 500 EXP]
[Upon completing this special quest, your Player evaluation will be raised to F+, and you will receive one Adventurer Recruitment Scroll (White).]
"Five Silver Coins, plus 500 EXP, and an Adventurer Recruitment Scroll?"
Seeing the rewards for the special quest, Su Xuan felt a stir of excitement and anticipation!
'Then again, this is a game, after all. You have to give Players enough benefits to keep the retention rate up.'
"Ivsha."
"Yes, Mr. Su Xuan."
"There's a new quest. Let's go."
"As you command~"