"Ding!"
Quest: Destroy the Dima Loan Sharks' base and eliminate all members.
Reward: 50,000 System Coins.
Sogen stared at the floating text for a long moment before turning toward Airo.
"Tell me more about them—everything you know."
Airo hesitated, clutching the hem of her worn dress. Then she began to speak in a low voice.
"Brother… the Dima Loan Sharks are a small group, but they are terrifying. Their leader, Glenn, is a Sixth Stage Bottom Level cultivator of the Earth Realm. They prey on desperate people. No one else is allowed to lend money in this town. If they discover someone has helped another with a loan, their members threaten both parties until the borrower is forced back into their hands."
Her fingers trembled.
"They lend money at insane interest—almost double every month. I borrowed forty silver coins a year ago… and now the debt has become five gold coins."
Sogen frowned. That was not lending—it was slow murder.
"Their base is near Rumber Alley," Airo continued. "Except for Glenn, the rest are at the Third Stage of the Earth Realm, but they fight together with terrifying coordination. People say they possess a White Grade Technique."
She lowered her voice.
"Once, some local cultivators formed a group to oppose them. They were more numerous than the Loan Sharks, but after entering the base… none returned.
Everyone says it was because of that technique."
Sogen nodded slowly. In this world, techniques determined life and death.
Techniques Grade (High → Low)
Purple Grade
Red Grade
Blue Grade
Green Grade
Yellow Grade
White Grade
"Let's put that aside for now," Sogen said.
"Tell me something else—how many cocoa trees do you have?"
"Ten," Airo replied. "But nine of them bear rotten fruit."
"Rotten?" Sogen's eyes brightened. "Take me to your home."
Airo stiffened.
Sogen noticed her expression and smiled gently. "Don't worry. I only want to see the trees."
After a moment, she nodded and began to walk.
Only then did Sogen notice something that made his chest tighten.
She was limping.
"Airo… what happened to your leg?"
Her steps slowed. Tears welled in her eyes again.
"Brother… we used to be a happy family. My mother died when we were small, but Father took care of us. He never let us feel her absence."
Her voice trembled.
"But one and a half years ago… Vilkan and his men came."
Sogen froze at the name.
"They started collecting 'protection fees.' At first people paid quietly. Later they began demanding different amounts from each family—leaving only enough for us to barely survive."
Her fists clenched.
"My father couldn't bear it. He went to the magistrate to report them… but the magistrate was involved too."
Her tears finally broke free.
"The next day Vilkan came to our house. He broke all of my father's limbs. Then… in front of him… he broke my leg and my brother's as well."
She covered her face, sobbing.
"After that… no one dared to help us.
Everyone was afraid."
Sogen felt something heavy settle inside his chest.
This world is far crueler than I imagined.
He quietly reached into his satchel—actually drawing from the system inventory—and took out a pill.
"Airo, eat this."
It was a Grade 1 Healing Pill.
Too exhausted to question anything, she swallowed it.
A warm glow spread through her body. The pain in her leg vanished. She took a step—then another.
"I… I can walk?"
She jumped once in disbelief, then suddenly hugged Sogen, crying again—this time with joy.
Sogen patted her head awkwardly.
He didn't know why he helped her so much.
Perhaps she reminded him of his little sister, Lianer. Or perhaps he simply couldn't ignore such injustice.
Around them, the market remained indifferent. Scenes like this were common when the Loan Sharks appeared; people had learned to look away.
"Let's go to your house," Sogen said softly. "I'll heal your father and brother as well."
Airo looked at him with trembling eyes.
"Brother… why are you helping me so much?"
Sogen smiled.
"Maybe I see my sister in you. Or maybe I'm just softer than I pretend. Either way—let's go home."
After some time, they arrived.
The house was simple, but the land was wide. Ten tall cocoa trees stood in the yard—most bearing dark, diseased fruit.
On a wooden bunk lay a thin man. Beside him, a boy of about ten was feeding him porridge.
Both looked like shadows of people.
When the boy saw Airo, he rushed over and hugged her—then noticed Sogen and hid behind his sister, trembling.
The man turned his head with difficulty.
"Sir… please… I will repay everything. Don't throw us out. Where would we go?" he begged, trying to crawl forward.
Sogen felt a sting in his heart.
"I'm not here to collect anything," he said gently.
He took out two more Grade 1 Healing Pills.
"Airo, give these to them."
She obeyed without hesitation.
Moments later—
Their twisted limbs straightened. Color returned to their faces. The man stood up in disbelief.
"I… I can feel my legs!"
He embraced his children, sobbing.
Then he fell at Sogen's feet.
"Benefactor… thank you… thank you!"
Ding!
Hidden Quest Completed: Help Airo and her family.
Rewards: Grade 1 Ancient Healing Pill Recipe + 10,000 System Coins.
Sogen blinked.
"System, you're getting generous. An ancient recipe?"
"Host, perhaps you should start calling me Godfather."
"Don't push your luck."
He looked at the family before him—the father crying, the children clinging to him.
For the first time since coming to this world, Sogen felt something warm beside his own family.
Maybe… power isn't only for survival.