read my new story
Game of Thrones: House of Black Dragon
Game of Thrones: BLOODTHIRSTY BASTARD
Support me by leaving a comment, review and vote
visit my Pat**on at CaveLeather
[System Notification: You have slain the Usurper's Hand of the King, Eddard Stark of the North. You have acquired the Valyrian Bloodline, 2,000 Kingdom Coins, one Golden Treasure Chest, four Silver Treasure Chests, and Bronze...]
[Do you wish to broadcast a server-wide announcement?]
In a hidden location.
Moon-Fang, having successfully made his escape, began to inspect the rewards for killing Eddard.
"Oho? Since the update, we can actually choose whether to announce it or not?"
Thinking of the murderous glares from the players they had framed—looks that practically screamed they wanted to eat him alive—Moon-Fang couldn't help but shudder. Broadcasting this would be no different than painting a giant target on his back.
Moon-Fang shook his head like a rattle and immediately selected "No."
"Well? Did we score big?"
Having pulled off the heist and feeling the weight lift from his shoulders, a smile finally appeared on Iron-Pumping Superman's face.
"Score big? We hit the motherlode! There's actually a Golden Treasure Chest!"
Hearing about the rewards, Moon-Fang's face lit up with joy as he launched into an endless description of their loot.
"Alright, as agreed. Any unique rewards go to the person who landed the killing blow. The rest, we split fifty-fifty."
It was time to divide the spoils. Since they had established the rules of distribution beforehand, Moon-Fang and Iron-Pumping Superman didn't waste words, happily taking their respective shares.
Inside the player shop run by the little fire creature, Moon-Fang, trembling with excitement, asked the creature to bring out his chests one by one.
"I'm feeling flush today like a lord! Sell all that bronze and black iron trash. Open the Silver Treasure Chests for me right now!"
With money in his pocket, Moon-Fang's entire demeanor changed, sounding every bit like a nouveau riche upstart.
Rubbing his hands together, the little fire creature opened two Silver Treasure Chests for Moon-Fang. Inside were a Valyrian Steel Sword and a Griffin Egg.
[Griffin Egg: The owner may place this in a warm environment to incubate. System Item. Hatches in three months. No external conditions required. Once hatched, it will unconditionally imprint on the owner.]
"Holy shit, a Griffin!" Moon-Fang exclaimed involuntarily.
One had to remember that Storm-Overlord's Unicorn had already made countless players green with envy. Many wealthy players had even offered real-world cash to buy it, but given Storm-Overlord's family background, he had naturally refused every offer.
But now, Moon-Fang had obtained a flashy pet egg of his own. A Griffin! And this came from a Silver Chest. Wouldn't the Golden Chest contain a Dragon Egg?
Moon-Fang swallowed hard, his gaze slowly locking onto the Golden Treasure Chest on the counter. The little fire creature's hand was just reaching for the lock.
"Wait!"
Startled, the little fire creature instinctively pulled his hand back.
"I'll open this one myself!"
Moon-Fang stepped forward cautiously. Standing before the counter, he opened the Golden Treasure Chest with the utmost care.
[You have obtained the Soul-Returning Pearl. System Item. Non-native item. Extremely Rare.]
[When you encounter life-threatening danger in the real world, the Soul-Returning Pearl will generate an energy field to protect your safety, ensuring you a life of peace.]
[Upon your death, the Soul-Returning Pearl will transport your soul into the game world, where you will live a second life. At that time, the System will also gift you a wealthy family, allowing you to enjoy a lifetime of luxury.]
Gulp.
What was he looking at?
A Guardian Angel? No, wait... isn't this a virtual item in a game? It can actually affect the real world? Fake. This has to be fake.
Moon-Fang stared at the item in the chest with a face full of shock and terror.
If the description of this item was true, if it could really affect reality, or even allow someone to... then was this still just a game?
After an unknown amount of time, Moon-Fang reached out with a trembling hand and picked up the "glass bead" with the yin-yang interior, placing it into his personal inventory.
Is this... really a game?
Or rather... are we... really just players?
If someone in the real world told him there was a bead that could bring the dead back to life, he would definitely tell them they were full of shit.
But the sense of realism this game had always provided... honestly, sometimes he subconsciously felt the game world was real.
A real world.
It even affected his real life. Sometimes, while walking down the street, if he sensed someone behind him, he would instinctively reach for his waist.
In that moment, he was actually trying to draw a sword!
Phew.
As more and more players joined the game, and when the day of the open beta finally arrived, people who obtained beads like this—maybe a second one, a third one—would eventually appear. He couldn't imagine the impact it would have on the game then.
Moon-Fang didn't know how many people would go crazy for it, or how many would scoff at it.
But for now, this was the only one. He would keep it hidden on his person.
What if? What if it's real? Reincarnation... who wouldn't want that?
"What took you so long?"
Blinking his eyes, Moon-Fang found himself back in the alley. Iron-Pumping Superman's question snapped him back to reality.
"So, what was in the Golden Chest?" Iron-Pumping Superman asked impatiently.
He was incredibly curious about what kind of goodies a Gold-tier chest could yield.
"Eh, nothing special. Just a pity prize, a Griffin Egg. Sigh, total loss," Moon-Fang said with a look of feigned disappointment, channeling his inner Versailles humble-brag.
"Oh, listen to you! 'Pity prize Griffin Egg.' I really want to punch you to death. Do you know if you put that thing on the offline forums, your inbox would explode by midnight? There are plenty of big shots willing to pay. I think you're going to be rich this time!"
Iron-Pumping Superman laughed and scolded him, lightly punching him on the shoulder.
Moon-Fang just smiled and didn't say anything more.
Having split the loot, the two quickly vanished into the alley.
Meanwhile, Hand Eddard's body had been collected. King Robert was apoplectic. He ordered Stannis's fleet to be ready within five days; he would lead men to exterminate the Targaryen remnants across the Narrow Sea and avenge his brother.
Robert was convinced the killers were Targaryen scum.
At the same time, Robert issued a warrant for Jaime Lannister. He believed the assassins only succeeded because Jaime had led men into a conflict with the Hand, leaving the dignified Hand of the King without a single guard by his side.
The furious King even slapped Queen Cersei across the face, blaming her "good brother" for this mess.
The King was enraged. He failed to realize that while the Iron Bank had provided a large loan, the support of Duke Tywin Lannister in the West was equally important. And now, he had ordered a warrant for Jaime.
What would Duke Tywin do? Would he obediently hand over his only recognized heir, then empty his own coffers to fund the King's fleet for an overseas war, all to avenge a Northern savage who had arrested a Lannister?
Heh. When Duke Tywin received the letter, he couldn't help but chuckle in anger.
You slapped my daughter in open court, issued a warrant for my chosen heir, and that Northern savage is still holding a Lannister prisoner.
And you're still holding my money! Do you think you have dragons?
"Ignore it!"
Duke Tywin threw the letter into the fireplace and clasped his hands behind his back.