Pay to win I

"The guild has different uses. Not only selling or exchanging, Banks".

Agatha seemed to be somewhat aware of Carter's intentions, just like the majority of players who logged in for the first time, they also intended to know if Evanecesce was really a game where real-world cash could be attained even after undergoing virtual blood and sweat.

She led him to one of the tables across the hall, there were many with different parties sitting all over and chatting amidst whispers.

"This is the nanoport, a magic array gadget that you can use to communicate with the guild efficiently" Agatha explained, she took what Banks immediately identified in his colloquial knowledge as a 'sorcery ball' one of those things fake wizards use to 'see your future'.

He quickly noticed that the majority of people were using this nanoport instead of talking to an NPC as he himself was doing.

"Is there no personal here?"

"There is, but only for the higher-ranked Adventurers which is not our case~".

"Tell me the truth, you're some powerful magician in secret, aren't you?"

"Fufu~ maybe?"

It was at this stage that he was still wondering if this woman was actually a player instead of an NPC.

'Let me see what this nanoport can do'.

[Exchange].

[Quests].

[Settings].

[Alchemy].

[Events].

'So this is like an information port where we can come and see what's going on in the game, huh?'

[Events].

House of Lamentations, Harpies Hunt

RL, New York - Evanocon

...

There were several 'events' players could partake in, each of them with their own dates and locations.

'House of Lamentations? it must be some location on this map, and there is also a real-life event, 'Evanocon' a public convention to promote the game in New York, a month and a half from now, 15th of June'.

"Agatha, where is the House of Lamentations?"

"Hmn, that's a cursed Household located around ten minutes away to the north of Bellemere, it is quite a dangerous spot which I wouldn't recommend you to go right away. There are powerful monsters concealed there and it is even said it holds the secret location of a dungeon" the lady answered while tapping on her red lips, an action that didn't go unnoticed.

'I guess I'll be going there, but not now...'

"Could you tell me more about this world?" He asked while scrolling on the 'exchange' tab, effectively multitasking.

"This world, eh? Evanescence is massive, we have two major continents and dozens of islands. We're currently in the Continent of Capricorn and this small city is a part of the light church-oriented Weremore Empire" Agatha's hands waved a show of bright lights exuded from her being, forming in front of them a map that left him awed. The map showed them as a pair of dots in the immensity of a map that didn't lose in size to that of the states, although they diverted in shape.

'So complex… and yet interesting. Seas, canyons, relief... I want to see just how massive this world is'.

"In any case, our objective is to protect this world against the influence of the fallen Demon Queen Leticia" She pointed to a certain spot on the map, to the farthest northeastern region. There, the land seemed to turn black and scorched as if one was entering the remains of a wildfire.

"This is the capital of the demonic world, Fallen Grace".

"Why is the Queen labelled as 'fallen'? is she dead already?"

"Yes, she perished long ago but her influence remains today. This world is riddled with war and such was her will from the beginning. For her, life was not important as long as she could make this world succumb to dissension and struggle. All of that... just so Evanescence couldn't find peace".

Agatha showed and aggrieved expression before Banks even realised he was already sitting beside her, placing his arm around her shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't worry, we will definitely end it" he smiled kindly with his thumbs up, having absolutely no idea of how that could even be achieved, nevertheless it worked and Agatha returned that smile with a charming one of her own.

"Thanks, Banks~ I know we will. Ultimately her desire was for us to be even less than mirage memories that yet exist but as a remembrance".

"How can I fight her?"

"Before thinking of defeating the Queen, you should defeat a slime first" The blushing Agatha looked away and placed some distance between them, roughly the distance of two fingers, but a barrier nonetheless. Banks merely smirked at such.

"Is there anything you'd like to do here at the guild?"

"I want to sell all of my equipment and take on a quest" Banks stated before taking on the nanoport again.

"…" The lady merely lifted up an eyebrow in confusion.

"Any problem?"

"If you sell all your equipment, how are you going to fight?"

"Little details my lady. You shouldn't be concerned about that, I'll manage".

'He's an odd one'.

**

**

'I can't believe it'.

A grey-haired character, wearing nothing more than white trunks, sat at one of the tables. Now Agatha was a few spaces away and understandably so. Whether she felt flustered or ashamed, only she knew.

'All I got were three dollars? Is that how much that basic set is worth?' He thought in disbelief, 'But it makes sense. if it was any more expensive people could just get this game, sell their equipment and recover some money. Now that I think about it, it shouldn't even be worth anything'.

"Agatha, how do you-"

He turned around to see an empty space, leaving nothing but the brief laughter from the players in the guild whose gazes seemed to say 'Another one bites the dust'. Clearly, he wasn't the first one that sold all of his equipment in one go.

'She dropped me just like that, how rude… anyway, I intended to get that starter pack anyway, as long as I could sell it if I didn't want it'.

Pressing a few buttons, Banks successfully became a 'pay-to-win' player, paying the whooping amount of 300 dollars for a set.

[Tundra Wolfpack Cloak +2]

[Tundra Wolfpack Plates +2]

[Tundra Wolfpack Gloves +2]

[Tundra Wolfpack Boots +2]

[Nightshade Knife +2]

[10x Healing Potion]

[Lightless Cloaking Bead]

[User Guide Chronicle]

[50 Eva-coins].

All of the equipment became available right away and didn't even need to equip it. It equipped itself on his body like the second coming of an unborn that finally regarded the light.

The laughter ceased and morphed into a gasp for breath.

"No way, he bought it!"

"The game is already expensive enough and you want to go and get a three hundred dollars set!"

"Hey bro, you alright? you're new here, aren't you? I can help-"

Banks didn't even spare the Paladin a glance and started walking away, it wasn't as if he didn't expect this. In his gaze, there was a determination that had never been there before.

'I'll mercilessly slaughter the first slime I see. Look at me, Agatha'.

He then checked up his set, it was a nimble black suit with a cloak made out of greyish wolf fur, a dark knife the size of a kukri and several silver armour plates on his torso, shoulders and knees.

[Name: Banks +2 (B)]

[Race: Human (Assassin)]

[Level: 1 (2/100)]

[10 Copper coins].

[50 Eva-coins].

[Stats:]

[Attack]

100 (B)

[Defense]

50 (B)

[Strength]

(10) C

[Dexterity]

50 (B)

[Intelligence].

10 (C)

[Endurance]

50 (B)

'It looks sick, I'm not gonna lie, but I have yet to see if this is worth three hundred dollars. Time to do some hunting and if I'm lucky enough, I won't meet that demoness from before'.

With sorted equipment and an objective in his head, Banks headed out of the city.

**

**

"We see each other again, Human~"

"F*** ME!"