Rong City is a big city, and anyone who's lived in one knows how traffic can be. After work, Yu Yu hopped on her little electric scooter, heading straight to check out a rental property.
No fog right now.
The fog typically rolled in at night, dissipating by noon, making afternoons and pre-midnight hours prime time for activity. She'd even heard some propose shifting work hours to start in the afternoon, with daytime for sleeping.
From what Yu Yu gathered, some companies had actually done it, and it seemed to work decently. But schools, hospitals, and public services stuck to old schedules, unchanged for now.
"What? The bridge collapsed? Didn't they just renovate it a few years ago? How could it break?"
"No idea. Heard it happened last night, and they still haven't figured out why."
Yu Yu, waiting at a red light, couldn't help but glance over.
In Rong City, "the bridge" usually meant one thing: Chongjiang Bridge.
The city was split by a river, east and west staring across. Without the bridge… who knew if the under-river tunnel was still intact?
With the fog's impact, ferries were likely grounded too. Thinking about it, the fog's damage was far worse than they'd realized. Was domestic logistics holding up? Could crops still grow? Would vegetables spike in price?
Yu Yu sank into thought, deciding she'd stockpile supplies after renting a place. Who knew when this fog would end?
A week in, no sign of stopping.
Come to think of it, the fog started the same day as Eternal Darkness's open beta…
Green light. Yu Yu shook off her thoughts and zoomed forward. The rental was a bit far, and she'd forgotten to charge her scooter yesterday—battery low. She stopped, opened her map, and searched for a nearby fast-charging station.
While browsing, her ears twitched. Did she just hear some cartoonishly villainous dialogue?
"Scream all you want—no one's coming to save you."
A young man's voice. Yu Yu, curious, peeked around the corner and saw a deep alley.
"Chang Yuchi, aren't you usually so high and mighty?"
Yu Yu found the nearest charging spot, thinking, Who still uses such cheesy lines? Embarrassing.
Shouldn't it be red-eyed, hoarse-voiced, pinning someone against a wall by the waist, saying, "I'd give my life for you"? Or maybe, "Little goblin, you've caught my eye"?
Yu Yu hopped on her scooter and zipped into the alley. Just to look. She wouldn't get involved. It sounded close, but riding in, she realized the alley was deep, with multiple forks. If not for Cheesy Line Guy's nonstop yapping, she might've gotten lost. Her scooter rammed a trash can with unstoppable force. Yu Yu spat and reversed. The toppled can doused the man in garbage. The stench was unreal.
"You… you bleep! You trying to die?!"
Yu Yu let go of the handle, and the scooter lurched. He yelped, jumping aside, revealing the person he'd cornered. Quite pretty, delicate and pitiable.
But…
Yu Yu: "You're in deep trouble."
The man, green-faced, stared at his reeking clothes, unable to stand it.
Yu Yu: "She's dying."
"Die, you bleep! Who do you think you are?"
Yu Yu's tone stayed flat. "I was just checking my map. There's a police station less than 200 meters away. Oh, and I made a call."
The man's face changed. "I was just joking with a friend—not what you think."
Yu Yu eyed the red-faced, gasping beauty. "She's dying."
Only then did he look, panicking.
Yu Yu, pitying, said, "The intersection out there has cameras. Those alleys you passed? Dead ends." She paused, then revved her scooter. "They're here. Bye."
She had a house to see—time to scoot. She passed the police, someone glanced her way, but no one stopped her. The beauty might have asthma, allergies, or a heart issue, but she'd likely get to a hospital. At the next red light, Yu Yu checked her recording, dissatisfied. She'd heard the voices from far off, but her phone only caught the man's voice after the trash can crash.
Must be her junky phone. She reviewed her photo, confirming it. Despite no light, Yu Yu could see the anger in the beauty's eyes, but the photo was pitch-black, barely discernible. Sighing, she uploaded the recording and photo, password-protected, and backed them up to her computer and a burner account. Unless the beauty didn't make it, the chance of blowback was slim. She pocketed her phone as the green light flicked on.
~
"How much?"
"Two thousand."
Yu Yu turned to leave.
The agent yanked her back. "This is a standalone two-story! That price is a steal!"
Yu Yu: "Someone died here."
"Exactly! That's why it's your chance!"
Yu Yu, expressionless: "It's by the river—damp, barely any amenities."
"Isn't that perfect for river views? It's all lit up—how's that no amenities?"
"It's all fog. Can't see squat," Yu Yu said. "No food shops."
The agent choked. "Look, the owners aren't hurting for cash. They don't care about rent…"
Yu Yu cut in, "This complex seems empty?"
Cough cough cough. The agent nearly choked. "Empty? Nah, people just… aren't home right now…"
Yu Yu: "I biked every street on the way here, checked every house. No signs of anyone living."
Agent: "…"
What kind of sneaky move was that?
Yu Yu cracked a faint smile. "You're not saying it's full of ghosts, are you?"
"Pfft, pfft, pfft! Don't jinx it!" The agent, spooked, spat thrice.
It was past 8 p.m. Downtown would be bustling, but here in the river suburbs, it was dead silent. Especially this complex. Yu Yu might not know, but the agent sure did. Not a soul lived here. Where'd everyone go? He was just an agent—how would he know?
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
Damn it, if not for this fog, he wouldn't be closing deals at night.
Yu Yu pressed, "So, where's the owner? No owner, no tenants? Spill, or I'm out, and you're here for nothing."
Agent: "…"
"Don't go, don't go!" he said, defeated. "I don't know where they went. But don't worry—they didn't leave because of the fog. They were gone long before. Don't ask why—I'm just an agent, not privy to rich folks' drama."
"Maybe they thought the feng shui sucked?"
"How'd the person die?"
The agent's face shifted again.
Yu Yu: "Can't say? If you don't, why would I dare live here?"
Agent: "I'm done with you. It's late, and you're asking this? Aren't you scared?"
"What, did you kill them?"
The agent nearly coughed blood but relaxed slightly. "…No, they say it was some disease. Late stages got creepy, so…"
"It's quiet here, so the family sent them, and then…"
Yu Yu nodded. "Body's gone?"
The agent, used to her boldness, said numbly, "Gone. They hired a high-end cleaning crew to scrub it spotless…"
Yu Yu: "Five hundred?"
Agent, voice cracking: "Are you robbing me?!"
"Someone behind you?"
Agent: "Don't try to scare me! Five hundred? Dream on!"
Yu Yu sighed regretfully. Wasn't he all timid before? Money sure brought out his guts. After fierce haggling, rent settled at 1048.8. Oddly specific, but whatever. Probably the agent's stinginess.
"Pay for a year. Isn't this place great? We'll renew annually," the agent coaxed, waving a contract.
Yu Yu, deadpan: "What if I die and lose the money?"
The agent's face froze. Goddamn, couldn't she talk about dying somewhere else?
Yu Yu: "Month-to-month?"
The agent's courage surged. After heated debate, Yu Yu agreed to pay quarterly, with a one-month deposit. They entered the house, exchanged keys, and signed the contract. Yu Yu said she'd pay in a few days. He balked, but under her "friendly" persuasion, he caved.
The rental was settled. Yu Yu biked home happily. On the way, she got a call about registering her police report. She set a time for tomorrow. Notably, her refunded deposit and last 1800 bucks were about to vanish. Back to instant noodles.
Rong city's rent was steep. Her old cramped place was 960; this spacious one was just 1048.8. No-brainer.
Plus, she didn't have time to fuss over housing. Career first, career first.
Yup, she meant her job.
Home, Yu Yu eagerly grabbed her headset. She was late logging in. Food could wait till morning, but her loot couldn't.
"You awake?"
Yu Yu stirred, feeling oddly refreshed.
Blinking, she sat up. Didn't players' bodies vanish when they logged off?
Why was this animation different?
"I heard you outsiders vanish into thin air, but it doesn't seem that way," a cool rogue lady said, lounging nearby, biting into a black bread. "Got 3 Constitution?"
Yu Yu checked her stats. "…Yeah."
"Really?"
Yu Yu: "…" I can hear the sarcasm.
"You outsiders have terrible stats," she said. "Strength, Dexterity, Constitution—barely anyone breaks 6. Most fail every category. Pathetic. I have never seen such weaklings."
Yu Yu: "…What is the profession of a Guardian?"
Rarely hearing NPCs talk stats, she seized the chance.
"Guardian?" The rogue smirked. "Of course it's a very important profession, a little more important than you spellcasters…"
Yu Yu: "…What do they do?"
The rogue, bored, said, "Healing, protection, there are too many to list, but they are very important anyway."
"What stats do they need?"
"Will. Higher than yours—7 to class up," she said. "Forget it. Willpower is the only attribute that cannot be changed. It will remain the same at the beginning when you reach Legendary."
Yu Yu: "Can I multiclass?"
The rogue's face froze.
"You've got 7 Will? No way, you… your Intelligence is high, isn't it?"
Yu Yu, puzzled: "Can't high Intelligence and Will coexist?"
The rogue's expression unraveled.
After a long pause, she recovered. "You're really something… No wonder the Academy pays so much attention to you…"
Yu Yu: "???"
When did the academy start paying attention to her?
They just let her borrow a few cantrips. That's "paying attention"?
Just planner tricks to bait her into spending.
The rogue steadied herself. "Do you want to see your loot?"
"Of course." Yu Yu beamed.
The rogue led her to a storeroom, guards flashing big grins. Yu Yu returned their smiles, buzzing with excitement.
The rogue smirked faintly. "Here it is."
Her loot filled half a small storeroom, neatly separated. Yu Yu forgot the NPC, grabbing a scroll to read.
[Scroll: Summon Wolf Pack]
[Scroll: Spell Eavesdropping]
[Scroll: Lesser Illusion]
[Scroll: Wind Wall]
Yu Yu's grin widened. These weren't in the 1st-level spell list, meaning…
The rogue leaned against the wall, idle.
Yu Yu snatched up bottles: [Holy Healing Potion (Small)] *3, [Slow Recovery Potion (Small)] *5, [Potion: Barkskin] *1.
Nine potions, four scrolls.
[Sleeping Bag]: Boosts stamina and mental recovery speed by 25%.
Even the chest was brought back. Yu Yu flung it open.
[Woodheart Camp Iron Boots] *1
[Woodheart Camp Leather Boots] *2
[Woodheart Camp Leather Bracers] *1
[Exquisite Nanmu Longbow] *1
[Woodheart Camp Short Dagger] *1
[Woodheart Camp Long Dagger] *1…
The chest was packed tight. The monsters had really gone all out. Two pairs of leather boots, one iron, one bracer, a longbow, a long dagger, a short dagger. They looked brand-new. Yu Yu liked them, guessing they were meant for a player squad, but she only had to split with Shu Tu.
Oh, Shu Tu…
She'd logged off briefly to leave a message, and Shu Tu replied fast.
"My ranger friend's coming. Can she enter?"
The rogue perked up. "We already gave her rewards."
Yu Yu: "But she gets a share."
NPCs wouldn't get player loot splits.
The rogue studied her. "Your stuff, your call."
Yu Yu eyed a box on the table. "This a reward too? Didn't see it at the camp."
Rogue: "Yup, Captain begged Archon Kaan for it."
"Like it?"
Opening the box, Yu Yu's eyes locked on shiny cuties.
Gold coins!
Two of them!
She smelled wealth. Time to raid the Academy's spell list.
And a ring.
[Beginner's Ring]
Quality: Fine
Weight: 0.1
Durability: 200/200
Stats: Dexterity +1, Constitution +1
*Trait: [Featherfall]
Description: A mother's gift for her darling, hoping she stays true
Blue gear…
Yu Yu saw the ring glow deep blue, thrilled.
"How's it?" the rogue teased. "Captain said Archon Kaan chased her miles for this, muttering half the day. Tied to some big shot…"
Blue gear shouldn't be pricey, but…
Reading the description, Yu Yu felt it was precious.
"I love it."
"Glad you do."
Yu Yu didn't slot it into her gear tab but slipped it on her finger. Silver, shaped like a graceful bird, with tiny, illegible text up close.
Equipped, she felt lighter, her health hitting double digits: 10.
Updated stats:
Intelligence: 12
Will: 7
Perception: 5
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 6
Constitution: 5
EXP: Level 4 (6471/10,000)—missed a few mobs; NPCs don't wait.
[Featherfall]
Type: Enchantment
Level: 2nd
Range: Self
Cost: 15
Cooldown: 6h
Yu Yu knew Featherfall from books. It let you fall like a feather, no splat. A 2nd-level spell with no chant and only 15 cost? Must be the gear. Six-hour cooldown, as expected. Hidden quest rewards were insane. As she pocketed the coins, Shu Tu hurried in.
Seeing the storeroom, she smiled. "Thought you forgot."
Yu Yu split the loot, ignoring the NPC.
The rogue watched.
"Seven-three split?"
Shu Tu nodded. "Fine."
Yu Yu: "?"
Not even haggling?
Speechless, Yu Yu continued, "I want all four scrolls. You cool?"
Shu Tu: "No issue."
Yu Yu: "Why not take nothing?"
Shu Tu glanced at her. "No way."
Yu Yu relaxed. "Pick what you want. We'll convert the rest to coins."
She rattled off the items like a menu.
Shu Tu: "I need the longbow, short dagger, long dagger, bracers, and one pair of leather boots. Don't need the rest."
Yu Yu calculated quickly. "Checked the forum—lots of players got gear this time. Not as valuable, harder to sell…"
"Take some potions. Sleeping bag's yours too."
Shu Tu: "You don't want the bag?"
Yu Yu smiled. "I'm not sleeping outside." Only rangers played wilderness hermit.
Shu Tu nodded, not arguing. "Deal."
"Take the Barkskin potion. If I'm down to Barkskin, I'm probably toast."
"Two slow-regen, two holy potions. Enough?"
Shu Tu: "Plenty."
"Happy teamwork."
"Happy teamwork."
Yu Yu sorted her haul: four scrolls, one holy potion, three slow-regen, one leather boot pair, one iron boot pair, [Stealth], [Shadow Leap], [Scroll: Fade into Shadows], plus the dead rogue's gear—mask, hood, leather armor, boots, pants.
She equipped the new leather boots, gaining sleek ones that added a smidge of speed, 1 armor, and 1.5kg weight.
Only perk: no more foot pain on gravel, thanks to soles.
Yu Yu didn't want to sell gear herself—too time-consuming. "Want these?"
"Five silver each, all yours. I'm too lazy to sell."
"Rogue skills—name a price, I'll sell."
These weren't junk—standard gear. Players had cash now, and Yu Yu kept up.
Shu Tu: "Pass."
Yu Yu was stunned.
Shu Tu, a pro, Hall of Fame high-ranker, backed by [Azure Waves] guild, their poster child. Yu Yu figured she'd snap up gear to bolster the guild's combat team.
Shu Tu: "I'm a solo player now. Why need all that? I can't use it."
Seeing Yu Yu's shock, she added, "I cut ties with the guild. I'm casual now."
Yu Yu blinked. "Oh."
Shu Tu said goodbye and left. Yu Yu bid the rogue farewell, leaving the barracks distracted. Shu Tu quit her contract? Why?
Why?
Yu Yu couldn't figure it out.
She slapped her cheeks and headed to the Academy.
Time to learn spells~