Chapter 6: For a +3 Necklace

"And this is...?" After shaking hands, Luo Yong turned his gaze to the woman in green standing nearby.

She looked like someone not to be trifled with.

“My name is Elia. Level 8, Curse Witch,” she replied.

Her smile was sweet, but to Luo Yong, it felt chilling—so cold it seeped into his bones.

She appeared to be just an ordinary girl, yet who would have thought she possessed such a dangerous profession!

She was the sort of person everyone avoided offending.

Good heavens, if he accidentally angered her one day and she started hurling curses—weakness, dizziness, virulent poison, sluggishness...

Heavens, who could endure that?

Moreover, she seemed to be both poor and obsessed with wealth...

Just looking at her, Luo Yong could already imagine what his future life would be like.

With such a dangerous companion, it was best to keep his distance!

He had already made up his mind: after this mission, he would no longer team up with them.

He would never do it again—not even if his life depended on it!

He must never give her a chance to make a move!

For now, he could only play along and think of other solutions later.

“When do we set out? If there’s time, I’d like to get prepared first,” Luo Yong said.

“Preparation is a good idea,” Wendy nodded, her smile gentle. “Let’s meet at the camp entrance in a while.”

“So soon?” Luo Yong hesitated, sighing lightly. “I’m a bit tired—couldn’t we rest a while first...?”

“You’re just a mascot. You won’t have to fight anything out there—just open a box!” Elia interjected.

Luo Yong was speechless.

So, they all knew about him picking up gems outside the camp!

Dangerous indeed.

“Fine, I’ll see you at the camp gate soon.” Luo Yong waved to the two women, then hesitated and added, “About that necklace...”

“You’ll only get it once we arrive,” Wendy replied, taking a dazzling, jewel-encrusted necklace from her ring. At that moment, it shone so brightly in Luo Yong’s eyes.

“So... this is my payment for this mission?”

“Do you really think that’s possible?” Elia rolled her eyes. “Where in the world does one get such luck?”

“Then what is my reward?” Luo Yong asked.

“As I said, the gems dropped by level 8 monsters,” Wendy told him.

“Oh.”

So he’d have to fight monsters himself after all!

With this unlucky bunch, how many monsters would they have to slay before a single gem dropped?

Catching Elia’s unfriendly gaze, Luo Yong wisely chose to keep quiet.

Back at camp, Luo Yong went straight to the magic store to procure some reliable gear.

“To think there’s a Curse Witch in the party—what an overpowered class!”

If she ever got angry and cursed someone...

Wouldn’t the victim be left bleeding away endlessly?

Too ruthless! Definitely not someone to provoke.

In the shop, Luo Yong muttered to himself as he browsed for suitable equipment.

First, a pair of Windwalker Boots, to greatly increase his running speed—so he wouldn’t get caught if outnumbered by higher-level opponents.

Like just now, when two level 8s cornered him and escape was impossible.

Next, one or two pieces of magic resistance gear, to minimize the effects of debuffs.

Perfect for countering the curses of that woman in green...

And lastly, a few spare magical purses.

Never put all your eggs in one basket.

Safety first.

The golden road of microtransactions brooked not the slightest loss!

Sigh!

Leaving the shop, Luo Yong let out a long sigh.

This time, to cooperate with the Blazing Sword Maiden’s party, he hadn’t even equipped himself with any of his signature gear...

There would be time for that in the future!

Sigh! Life in this other world wasn’t easy, either!

Counting the coins left in his purse, Luo Yong felt an urge to weep.

Equipping oneself was just too expensive!

After grabbing some food, Luo Yong strolled slowly to the camp gate.

Wendy, the Blazing Sword Maiden, and Elia, the Curse Witch, were already waiting.

And with them—

Two heavily armored knights, an Ice Archer, a Wild Hunter, a Storm Sorcerer, and a Barbarian Priest.

Looking at the lineup, Wang Ku thought to himself, “This party’s quite well-rounded, though not quite as I imagined.”

“Well, isn’t this the lucky magic swordsman!”

“What’s wrong, not farming skeletons for gems anymore?”

“How much gear have you hoarded? Show us!”

“Ah, haha, greetings, everyone!” Luo Yong knew none of these people thought much of him. What business did a level 5 hero have teaming up with a bunch of level 8s?

He himself wasn’t keen on teaming up; with so many of them around, the monsters would go berserk, making it much harder for him to farm gems efficiently.

“This necklace can be kept with you for now,” Wendy said, producing a resplendent necklace and handing it to Luo Yong.

“Wait!” Before Luo Yong could step forward, Elia stopped him. “This necklace is only a temporary loan, and you can’t have it for nothing. You must provide something of equal value in exchange!”

“What?” Luo Yong was displeased.

Since when did they add last-minute conditions?

But surrounded by a bunch of level 8 big shots, there was little he could say.

Right now, getting the necklace quickly, boosting himself to level 8 temporarily, and combined with the Windwalker Boots—if something happened, they might not even be able to catch him!

He looked over himself. There wasn’t much he could offer.

His signature gear was out of the question.

As for the rest...

There was only one pair of gloves with outstanding stats—he could spare those without regret.

Though they matched a set, they were only a stopgap—he’d replace them eventually.

“These... gloves, perhaps?” he offered.

“One shabby pair of gloves, and you want to exchange them for something that boosts your level by three—” Elia snatched the gloves mid-sentence and put them on. Suddenly she stopped, stunned.

A wolfish gleam flashed in her eyes.

“These gloves... where did you get them?”

She had intended to seize the opportunity and scam him out of something, even a mere pair of gloves.

But this pair had truly shocked her.

As a Curse Witch—even at only level 8—she already possessed a green-quality set item: the Dagger of Curses.

Upon donning the gloves, her set gained additional properties.

The gloves instantly transformed into—

The Cursed Gloves!

Enhancing her virulent poison skills!

Of course, they could also be called the Virulent Poison Gloves.

“From a city entry quest, then enchanted at the blacksmith’s,” Luo Yong replied innocently.

“What’s wrong, Elia?” Wendy asked, puzzled by her companion’s reaction.

“It’s nothing.” Elia stared blankly at Luo Yong, who feigned ignorance, thinking, “I really lucked out this time!”

This guy’s luck was unbelievable!

“It’s just a random enchanted glove!” the Wild Hunter scoffed. “Stuff like that isn’t even worth picking up off the ground!”

The others remained silent but nodded in agreement; such trash wasn’t remotely equivalent to a +3 level necklace.

Clearly, they all envied the necklace.

But—

First, Wendy was a fair leader, never giving anyone cause for complaint.

Second, with everyone at the same level, no one could force her hand.

Third, with a Curse Witch by her side, no one dared cause trouble.

But why should some newcomer get the necklace?

“Wendy, give him the necklace,” Elia said, unable to take off the seemingly ordinary gloves.

She even considered offering something in exchange.

But—

As Luo Yong had guessed, she was flat broke.

Aside from a few coins in her purse, the only thing of value was her green-quality Dagger of Curses.

“That’s not right!” protested the Ice Archer. “The value between the two isn’t even close!”

“Exactly!” the Storm Sorcerer agreed. “He’s just here to open a chest—no need to boost his level.”

Luo Yong kept his head down, silent.

This was a gathering of elites—he couldn’t afford to cross them, and arguing was pointless.

“In my opinion...” the Barbarian Priest began, “let’s do as before and let me hold onto the necklace to restore everyone’s status...”

At this, even the other silent heroes showed interest, all subtly angling for the +3 level necklace.

“Wendy, I...” Elia’s expression was strange as she tugged on Wendy’s sleeve and said, “I really like these gloves. Maybe... maybe just give him the necklace!”

“What?” Wendy looked at Elia in surprise, then at the gloves she refused to remove, suspicion in her eyes.

She knew her comrade well—Elia was notoriously stingy; anyone else would have stopped teaming up with her by now.

Yet here she was, actually offering to give Luo Yong the +3 level necklace.

Yes, she’d said 'give', not 'lend', nor just 'hold onto.'

Wendy glanced at Luo Yong, silent and unmoved, then back at Elia, who was acting out of character. Without hesitation, she snatched the ordinary-looking gloves and put them on herself.

“Ah!”

She cried out in disbelief.

The gloves instantly matched her set!

Wendy wielded a green-quality Flame Greatsword, and with the gloves, it triggered a set bonus—her power increased noticeably!

“These gloves...” Wendy examined their properties, secretly amazed at how overpowered they were.

She looked again at Luo Yong, puzzled. He had handed over such an extraordinary item without so much as a frown?