“An innocent man gets into trouble simply for possessing a treasure!” William Smith indulged in a moment of self-admiration with a satisfied tone, and without looking closely, stuffed the green ore into his bag. All he wanted now was to return to the village immediately, hide in a dark corner, savor today’s haul, and then log off...

When William Smith had packed everything up and, feeling content, patted the ore in his bag, ready to head back to the city, a crisp voice rang out behind him.

“Stop! Kid.” The clear, lively voice echoed in the slightly chilly morning, striking William Smith’s eardrums and stirring up a restlessness.

This voice was like eating ice cream on a summer day—the refreshing coolness melting in the mouth, sliding down the throat, and sending waves of pleasure through the heart.

William Smith turned his head and looked around. He finally confirmed that the speaker was addressing him—or rather, that the entire group in front of him was now focused on him. After all, on this rocky platform, he seemed to be the only male present.

“Kid, stop looking around. I’m talking to you!” A woman stood before William Smith, facing the rising sun, her almond-shaped eyes glaring at him.

The sunlight, slowly rising, playfully brushed the bangs that nearly covered her eyes, revealing a beautiful face that was both charming and slightly annoyed. But what was even more visually striking was that this woman, with her innocent face, had a figure that would make most women blush with shame. She wore a dark red and purple leather armor, and damn it, the armor had a low-cut neckline, her ample chest exposed to the air, enough to make any male’s eyes pop out.

She was the kind of woman who, walking down a crowded street, could turn heads at a rate of 150%—a true femme fatale. And that impressive chest was a weapon that could take down both young men and old bulls alike. William Smith had no doubt that if he were still a naive twenty-year-old, just one look from this woman would be enough to make him surrender. The problem was, inside this young and energetic body was the soul of a world-weary man in his forties, not only weathered by life but also with a slightly mischievous heart.

So, William Smith chose to ignore her—the best way to deal with women who are overly confident in their looks. His gaze swept past the girl in the purple leather armor, who led the group of four stunning women, and without pausing for even a second, landed on her companions behind her.

A mage in a blue robe, an archer with a green bow, and a knight in heavy armor—their gear was clearly several levels above the average players still struggling to level up, and all four of them were beauties.

William Smith’s gaze settled on the mage behind the girl in red leather armor. With wavy hair cascading over her shoulders and a striking, capable aura, the blue-robed mage clearly held the leadership position among the four women.

Looking at the blue-robed mage, William Smith asked calmly, “May I help you? I don’t believe I’ve had the honor of meeting such beautiful ladies.”

A trace of annoyance flashed across the pure face of the woman in red leather armor. It was obvious that William Smith’s direct disregard had hurt her pride. She was about to step forward and lash out, but the blue-robed mage behind her stepped up and stopped her.

“Hello, I am Sophie Carter of Hongyan. We’re very interested in that associated ore from the rich copper vein just now. As a life player, I assume you intend to sell it. Name your price.” The blue-robed mage looked at William Smith with a smile, her tone leaving no room for refusal.

Sophie Carter of Hongyan? William Smith’s heart skipped a beat. In his previous life, this name was second only to the top powerhouses, even more intimidating than the Seven Generals under Lone Walker or the Eight Divisions under Frost Proud Snow.

In his past life, Hongyan dominated Magellan City, practically ruling this ancient city and enjoying great fame in the Eastern Alliance of the Eastern Kingdom.

The Pink Legion—Sophie Carter of Hongyan! She was the most promising candidate to complete the fourth class advancement quest as the Grand Master of Ice.

“What an honor! I wonder what price Hongyan is willing to offer.” William Smith looked at the dazzling Sophie Carter, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

“Seems like there’s room for negotiation...”

An exciting idea was gradually forming in his mind—an offer William Smith could not refuse...

Chapter 8: The Value of Associated Ore

William Smith stood leisurely before the four beautiful women, his mind racing as he quietly opened his bag. Inside, the stone emitting a bright green glow lay quietly.

“Moonlight Stone, an associated ore that can be obtained with a certain probability when mining rare ores, possesses mysterious powers.”

Moonlight Stone! William Smith already understood in his heart—this was an indispensable ingredient for a potion in the early alchemy profession, and the name of this potion was highly coveted by all the major factions in the early days of the game.