Fortune favors the bold
Mike paused in front of a large screen. He rubbed his eyes; the number of tasks for tier-one Battle Soldiers was overwhelming, and Mike was almost dizzy from the choices.
Eventually, he had to narrow down the scope of the tasks.
"Tier-one Battle Soldiers, Florida, today!"
After setting the filters, dozens of tasks appeared before Mike.
"Assist the city defense department in routine patrols, half a day, reward $3,000!"
"Assist the city defense department's emergency support team, one day, reward $5,000, additional payment for emergency tasks depending on difficulty!"
"Accompany Mrs. Linda, who lost her husband, male required, physically strong, one hour, reward $6,000, $2,500 per additional 20 minutes!"
"....."
Mike eliminated the tasks that took too long; after all, with his capabilities, if he went to Mrs. Linda's bed, he wouldn't 'go soft' for less than six hours!
In the end, only three tasks remained for Mike to choose from:
1. Cooperate with the city defense department to encircle the fourth demon cult followers, who have three tier-one Battle Soldiers, duration uncertain, reward $15,000, an additional $50,000 for each Battle Soldier killed!
2. Investigate the disappearance of the fourth demon cult followers [Arthas Bloodscribe], reward $20,000 for clues, $50,000 for a corpse, $100,000 for capture alive!
3. Cooperate with the city defense department to chase the fourth demon cult followers, responsible for defending a certain area, duration undecided, reward $30,000, $200,000 reward for killing the opponent.
These three tasks all offered combat opportunities and were perfect for testing Mike's recent progress.
After some thought, Mike immediately ruled out the first task. Their operations were likely during the day, and Mike would still be in school. Also, working with the city defense department meant Mike had to reveal his identity, which wasn't good news!
Mike's gaze landed on the name [Arthas Bloodscribe], and the Eye of Truth quickly provided a hint.
[This is a big fish, he's not hiding anymore, he's revealed himself, he's the son of the fourth demon cult Leader!]
"The Leader's son? Too hot to handle, I'm out!" Mike was ready to skip this choice.
[He once received the baptism of the demon god, now severely injured, suffering from magic backlash, paralyzed from the waist down, only has the strength of a tier-two Battle Soldier, no guards around]
Mike's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. As a tier-two Battle Soldier, Mike indeed had a fighting chance, and the opponent was the Leader's son, which made his identity very special!
The fourth demon cult's Leader, severely injured, was now fleeing everywhere. The fourth demon cult had suffered heavy losses, even the Leader's son had no strong guards around.
While Mike was still hesitating, a new hint popped up.
[Arthas Bloodscribe has clues about the Leader]
Fourth demon cult Leader!
Mike's eyes lit up; he had seen the wanted poster before, just providing clues could earn a minimum reward of $100,000!
Fortune favors the bold. Moreover, with the enemy in the open and Mike in the dark, he could always choose to run if things went south!
Absolutely low risk, high reward.
Mike walked straight to the bar counter, looking at the masked female bartender. "Hello, I'd like to take on the task ASXDASFWAFZ12312312."
"Okay, please wait, scanning your Lone Wolf badge."
"Task successfully taken, complete within 7 days to receive the corresponding reward, failure to complete on time will be recorded in your file."
The female bartender's voice was sweet as she bowed slightly to Mike. "Wishing you a triumphant return from your mission."
After taking the task, Mike lingered in Wolf's Den until today's Tower of Truth closed before deciding to log out.
Back at his own home, Mike looked at the slightly brightening sky outside the window, starting to calculate his gains from this trip.
"The original targets were achieved, and the tier-one Battle Soldiers test was also passed."
In Mike's palm, the Lone Wolf badge lay quietly, like a beast lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce.
"The biggest gain, however, is the [Inhibition Orb], it's just a pity the lineage restrictions are too harsh."
Thinking of this, Mike took out the Trade Secret Realm pass and actively contacted Foreskin.
The response was almost instantaneous, "Yasuo, you want to remove the lineage restrictions on special items, this is a bit tricky, usually, we recommend handing them over to [Defense Headquarters] in exchange for corresponding rewards."
Fearing misunderstanding, Foreskin quickly explained, "Like you said, this situation is very common with war spoils from the Abyssal Plane!The Abyssal Plane demons aren't stupid; they add a lineage restriction to the special items used in battle, so even if we capture these items, they are still heavily restricted when in our possession."
Listening to Foreskin's explanation, Mike nodded in agreement. Indeed, the Inhibition Orb was exactly such a case.
Foreskin continued, "Of course, after battling them for three hundred years, we've developed ways to break these restrictions. We can have high-tier fighters intervene to break the item restrictions, and I'll send you the corresponding price list."
Soon, Mike received a price list.
"Below grade A, a single unlocking costs 100,000 gold coins?!"
"SS-grade special items, a single unlocking requires 1.2 million gold coins?!"
The prices were so high, it seemed more lucrative than robbing a bank!
1.2 million gold coins completely discouraged Mike from removing the restrictions. Even if he sold his current self, he couldn't gather 1.2 million!
"The price is a bit exaggerated, but it's already an internal discount." Foreskin anticipated Mike's reaction and continued, "If you have acquaintances in Lone Wolf, you could post a task in Wolf's Den, where the prices might be a bit lower."
Wolf's Den, huh? Mike calculated; the Mystic Market needed 1.2 million gold coins, and he only had 50,000 on hand, the gap was just too large.
Even if members of Wolf's Den were willing to offer a discount, it wouldn't be less than 1 million gold coins! Where could Mike possibly get 1 million at this stage? Was he really supposed to hand over the Inhibition Orb to Defense Headquarters?
Mike knew well that Defense Headquarters was always fair in its dealings; the reward for handing over the Inhibition Orb wouldn't be less than 1 million gold coins!
However, the effects of the Inhibition Orb were worth far more than that! If there was any feasible way, Mike would not choose to hand it over.
Foreskin sent another message, "There's another method, but it comes with some risks and side effects. You could use a special potion to temporarily transform and possess a demonic lineage, which would allow you to use the special items.
However, these potions are regulated, their use is strictly controlled, and even the Mystic Market requires real-name registration to purchase! Moreover, you must undergo lineage cleansing as soon as possible after use to prevent your human lineage from being contaminated, ultimately leading to full demonization."
Mike frowned; the side effects were too severe. To use the Inhibition Orb, forcibly transform into a minotaur?
Mike was a handsome man; he didn't want to become a minotaur at all!
Mike decisively refused this last option. Moreover, real-name purchase was something he absolutely wouldn't do.
"What a pity, good things I can see but can't use...."
No choice, Mike had to pack up and head to school. The Inhibition Orb issue was always on his mind.
1 million gold coins... that was a very large sum. Could [Arthas Bloodscribe], the son of the fourth Leader, bring him 1 million?
Thinking this, Mike wrote down [Arthas Bloodscribe]'s name on paper. When he looked at the paper, perhaps he could glean some information about the opponent through the name.
[The target is still in Florida, and he still has no guards around him.]
Mike planned to sneak near [Arthas Bloodscribe]'s hiding place after school in the afternoon to observe up close. If there was a chance, Mike would not hesitate to act.
If the target was tough, after collecting enough information, Mike would make an anonymous report, letting higher-level fighters handle this matter.
"This operation is still a bit risky; I need to prepare more thoroughly." Mike was clear-headed; planning thoroughly before acting was the only way to ensure a smooth plan and as much personal safety as possible.
Thinking this, Mike sent a list through the Trade Secret Realm pass to Foreskin. "Healing potions, healing scrolls, several combat potions, defense scrolls...."
The list of items, all for preserving life, were not very expensive due to Mike's low level, only 10th level, and all together cost just 300 gold coins.
"Such a bargain." While feeling relieved, Mike sent 300 gold coins through the Trade Secret Realm pass to Foreskin. Soon, Foreskin had everything ready and mailed them back to Mike.
With this, Mike felt more confident about this afternoon's operation.
However, the restriction on the Inhibition Orb still had no effective solution.
Arthas Bloodscribe, as the son of the demon cult Leader, even without guards, surely had plenty of special items and scrolls at hand!
If a battle occurred, having the Inhibition Orb for protection would greatly increase Mike's safety factor! Remember, this is the real world, not the Tower of Truth! If you die here, you're truly dead, with no possibility of resurrection!
Mike couldn't afford any mistakes.