Chapter 34: A New Blood-Colored Specialty

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After signing the contract, Bai Ming indeed obtained information about Mistveil Village.

And [A Newbie] had not lied.

Mistveil Village really could exchange skill cards and perks.

E-rank: 100–400 Underworld Bills.

D-rank: 401–2,000 Underworld Bills.

C-rank perks existed, but no player had yet obtained browsing privileges.

No wonder those players were unwilling to board the bus even after saving up 100 Underworld Bills.

Skills required skill points to learn and upgrade, so that could be set aside for now.

But aside from training on their own, players could obtain only one perk point every three levels.

Even acquiring a single additional perk was enough to leave the other players far behind.

[A Newbie] added, “Actually, all these skills and perks are products of the Underworld. They’re nowhere near as diverse as the ones in the system.”

“Some skills are harmless when used by ghosts, but when humans use them, they cause all sorts of side effects. In particular, there’s something called a ‘Blood Perk.’”

“Adding the prefix ‘Blood’ doubles a perk’s effects, but the side effects are practically beyond reason.”

“Losing temporary attributes after using it would be bad enough, but leveling up also drains your permanent attributes. Anyone who uses one is practically signing their own death warrant.”

“Still, we players can simply choose ordinary perks and avoid those dangerous ones.”

Having signed the contract, [A Newbie] naturally did his utmost to provide information, clearly explaining both the advantages and disadvantages.

When Bai Ming heard the words “Blood Perk,” his heart, which had stirred only faintly before, suddenly leaped.

Even so, he still needed to verify the information further before deciding whether to go there.

Bai Ming frowned slightly. “You earn only twenty Underworld Bills a day, and food, drink, and lodging consume ten of them. To exchange for a decent perk, you’d have to work for at least a month.”

“But none of that is the most important issue. The real concern is the Dusk Game.”

“You escaped the annihilation, which means you must have failed the mission.”

“So while you remain here, is the time before the next game begins calculated according to the real world or according to the Underworld?”

Time did not flow at the same rate in reality and inside instances. In some, it moved faster; in others, slower. The reason was unknown, and the difference was unrelated to an instance’s level.

For example, during the previous [Everyday School Life], Bai Ming had spent more than two days inside, while only two hours had passed in reality.

A thought flickered through Bai Ming’s eyes. “Or do you not need to participate in the Dusk Game at all?”

[A Newbie] shook his head. “As if there could be such a good thing. But I can tell you this: the start time of the Dusk Game is calculated according to the real world.”

“Precisely because of the difference in the flow of time, not a single player trapped in Mistveil Village has yet needed to participate in a new Dusk Game.”

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Bai Ming was puzzled. “Isn’t that rather unfair? Once you get off the bus, you can easily obtain skills and perks. You can even stay here instead of returning to reality, effectively extending your lifespan.”

[A Newbie] gave a derisive laugh. “Fair? Where in this world is there any fairness? Are all those players who receive S-rank evaluations geniuses?”

“Take one person born into wealth and luxury, enjoying an elite education, and another who cannot even scrape together tuition and must constantly worry about food and firewood.”

“If both were chosen for the Dusk Game, which would have an easier time earning a high evaluation?”

“Without a doubt, judging by the data, the former would have the advantage.”

“But would that be fair?”

“So why can’t there be places like Mistveil Village, offering a little preferential treatment to players who have fallen behind?”

“The only rule is that no information may be leaked after leaving an instance.”

“Otherwise, the moment someone truly made it out, all the major organizations would have seized control of this place.”

“The strong would only grow stronger, and ordinary people like us would never even have the chance to rise.”

At this point, [A Newbie] suddenly realized that Bai Ming was an elite player and hurriedly added, “[No Heaven], sir, I’m not speaking against you. I’m only expressing a point of view.”

“If you use the kind of ‘fairness’ you believe in to judge the Dusk Game, then you’re mistaken from the very beginning.”

“A player who arrived in Mistveil Village at the earliest once proposed a theory.”

“For an existence like the Dusk Game, something that transcends common sense, all of us players are equal at our core.”

“To be precise, in the eyes of an existence capable of manipulating time, our future potential is the same.”

“Whether you’re F-rank or S-rank, the possibility of reaching the same ultimate peak must exist for everyone.”

“Otherwise, why would the Dusk Game choose mostly ordinary people? Why not simply select the very best from the uppermost ranks of humanity?”

“Players cultivated that way would only become stronger.”

“That’s why I say that all of us who have been chosen are favored by fate!”

“Everyone has the chance to stand at the summit.”

“And Mistveil Village is proof that opportunities exist even for the weak among us.”

“Even an S-rank player like you, [No Heaven], can bring companions here.”

“Perhaps that, too, is part of the possibilities awaiting us in the future.”

Because they had signed the [Yellow Springs Contract], [A Newbie] naturally knew Bai Ming’s identification number and level.

And the fact that someone at level three possessed the strength of a mid-stage Wandering Ghost meant he was unquestionably an S-rank player.

As for himself, what was he? A-rank, B-rank, C-rank, D-rank, E-rank, or F-rank? He was nowhere near S-rank.

He was merely a lowly G-rank player.

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But was the Dusk Game truly “fair”?

With [Inability] in his possession, Bai Ming had long since surpassed ordinary players by an immeasurable distance.

That was not a gap that a mere S-rank evaluation could possibly make up.

Moreover, all these deductions were founded on the assumption that the Dusk Game was selecting and cultivating talent.

Could it be that the Dusk Game was exactly what its name suggested—a game?

Since it was a game, naturally everyone could participate.

Bai Ming had no intention of arguing with [A Newbie].

Without conclusive evidence to refute him, the argument would be meaningless.

Besides, Bai Ming himself could not be certain who was right and who was wrong.

Bai Ming said bluntly, “I’m not interested in your ideas about fairness, time, or future potential.”

“I care about only two things. Is this place dangerous? And can it make me stronger?”

[A Newbie] flashed a wide grin. “I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

“To be honest, if the rules didn’t forbid us from luring people off the bus, I’d shout at every stop and urge every player to get off.”

“This is an incredible opportunity.”

Bai Ming sneered. “You mean an incredible opportunity to earn a commission.”

[A Newbie] was unfazed. “You tell me—does this count as an opportunity or not?”

Bai Ming replied, “But you are making money from it.”

After continuing their conversation for a while, Bai Ming asked about various ways to make money. In particular, when he heard about the challenge that offered a thousand Underworld Bills, his last hesitation vanished.

Since Mistveil Village was not far away, he decided to go and assess the situation first. If anything seemed amiss, he could still return in time and board the bus.

As for Bai Xiaozhi, she naturally had no objections to going with him.

And so, two humans and one ghost set off toward Mistveil Village.

Curiously, although doing so had cost him another [Yellow Springs Contract], [A Newbie] was in no hurry to urge them to sign a new one.

He led the way with unruffled confidence, looking as though victory were already in his grasp.

In his view, to avoid annihilation, Bai Ming and Bai Xiaozhi would sooner or later fall under his control anyway.

Half an hour later, they arrived at Mistveil Village.

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