Chapter 247: Admission Ticket to the Special Area

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Admission Ticket to the Special Area

"Help!! How is this fair? The monsters’ strength jumped up a huge notch for no reason!"

"Yeah, seriously! Why did this happen? Couldn’t they have given us a heads-up? These monsters are so strong! How are we supposed to fight them?"

"Are you two living under a rock? Didn’t the system say we entered a new area? What, were you asleep during the announcement?"

"The announcement didn’t say anything about this!"

That remark was even more laughable, and three or four mocking comments instantly popped up:

"You want it spoon-fed to you?"

"Want some Black Fog Coins with that?"

"I’ve got a couple of compressed biscuits here, why don’t you take them, too?"

These were purely sarcastic comments, but they were met with a shameless reply: "Yep, I want ’em. I want it all. Send it all my way."

Even Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t help but crack a wry smile at the exchange.

Besides the mockery, there was also a serious explanation: "The announcement was clear enough. We’re in a new area, so the monster difficulty has increased. We should have been prepared to face stronger monsters. Or to put it another way, this difficulty spike is meant to weed out people like you."

That last part was harsh, but it was undeniably the truth.

A flood of supportive comments followed, leaving the targets of the mockery no room to respond. They could only grit their teeth and take it.

Seraphina Sinclair had no opinion on their squabbling. For her, this news only meant one thing: her Immunity Crystals would now sell for a much better price.

She composed a message and posted it in the regional channel.

[Blacktiger Ford]: Selling one Immunity Crystal. PM me with offers.

"Wow... While we’re all here complaining about how tough the monsters are, Master Blacktiger is already selling an Immunity Crystal!"

"They’re for sale? I want one! What’s the going rate for these things? Just so I have an idea."

"No, you can’t buy it! Master Blacktiger just got mad at me and posted it by accident. It’s actually a gift for me, so the rest of you, back off!"

"...I’ve got nothing more to add. My piss is a healthy yellow, let me go wake him up with a good splash."

While the crowd was bickering, Seraphina Sinclair was watching the bids pour in. Suddenly, a new message popped up and cut through the noise.

[Rex Shaw]: I’ll take it. Master Blacktiger, name your price.

The regional channel fell silent for a moment before erupting into a frenzy once more.

"Rex?! You need to buy one of these?"

"Something’s not right! With Master Rex’s strength, shouldn’t fighting monsters in this area be a piece of cake?"

"(In a hushed voice) I told you guys, Master Rex’s attitude toward Master Blacktiger is... special. Is he not even trying to hide it anymore?"

"Wait! Rex is a guy, so does that mean Master Blacktiger is...?"

"Holy fuck! I know what this is! They’re gay! Master, you’re gay!"

In any case, the regional channel was buzzing with activity.

Seraphina Sinclair frowned slightly as she watched the thread in the channel go completely off the rails, while more curious and probing messages flooded her private chat.

Ignoring the commotion in the channel, she opened her private chat window with [Rex Shaw].

[Blacktiger Ford]: You really want it?

[Rex Shaw]: Of course I do. The market price for this thing was around 50 Black Fog Coins before. Now that the difficulty has increased, I’ll double it and add a bit more. One Immunity Crystal, I’ll offer 120 Black Fog Coins. How’s that?

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t immediately accept or decline. Instead, she checked the other offers again.

The other bidders were either trying to lowball her, offering last week’s price for an Immunity Crystal, or proposing trades for mostly useless materials.

Comparatively, Rex Shaw’s offer was indeed the best option.

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t care about his motives. It was an excellent deal, and she gladly accepted.

They completed the transaction a moment later.

Rex Shaw breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling confident enough to reveal his true intentions.

[Rex Shaw]: Master Blacktiger, actually, besides buying the Immunity Crystal, there’s something else I wanted to discuss with you.

Seraphina Sinclair looked at the message and didn’t reply immediately.

’This guy’s intentions couldn’t be more obvious.’

’The regional channel wasn’t wrong. Rex Shaw was definitely trying to suck up to me, but his goal... it’s definitely not what they’re all gossiping about.’

’The whole world hustles and bustles for personal gain.’

’Rex Shaw is no fool. Sending supplies, jumping in to support me... doing all that, just to get with a stranger who constantly one-ups him?’

’It’s a miracle he doesn’t hate me, let alone *like* me. Does this guy enjoy being put down?’

Seraphina Sinclair figured Rex Shaw either needed her for a specific task or was after something in her possession.

These days, she wouldn’t hesitate to assume the worst of others, and her suspicions usually weren’t far from the truth.

Rex Shaw sent another message:

[Rex Shaw]: You know about the Invitation Letters for The Coliseum, right?

’Who doesn’t know about those?’

[Rex Shaw]: I have a rather obscure piece of information. Consider it a little bonus for our potential partnership, free of charge.

[Rex Shaw]: The fragments from Supply Boxes... the Invitation Letters you can craft from them aren’t just for the Black Mist Coliseum. There’s another kind!

Seraphina Sinclair felt a flicker of anticipation, but when she realized he was telling her something she already knew—and trying to be dramatic about it—she instantly lost interest.

[Blacktiger Ford]: I know everything you’ve said. Just be direct.

Those eight short words made Rex Shaw’s heart skip a beat.

He had originally intended to use this to demonstrate his value, but he never expected her to already possess such Insight.

’As expected of the number one ranker. Truly, as expected.’

He didn’t dare try to build any more suspense and quickly replied.

[Rex Shaw]: You’re as well-informed as they say, Master. Then I’ll get straight to the point. I’d like to invite you to team up with me to explore a special location. I have an entry ticket to a special area, and it allows for two people to enter. And the Description also makes it clear that the rewards are fixed, and the monsters are all E-level, maybe even D-level. I’m not confident I can handle it alone, which is why I wanted to invite you.

’So that’s what this is about.’

’An Invitation Letter to a special area?’

’Sounds like something good.’

Seraphina Sinclair rested her chin on her hand, a troubled look on her face.

’Why don’t I ever get lucky with good things like this?’

’This guy crafts an Invitation Letter to a special area, but all I’ve ever made are for the Black Mist Coliseum, aside from that one for The Golden Auction House.’

’But I’ve already cleared the Black Mist Coliseum...’

Seraphina Sinclair had tried to use an F-level Invitation Letter again but was directly rejected.

The reason was:

[You have already obtained all the rewards from the F-level Coliseum. Please challenge the higher-level E-level Coliseum!]

’There’s no way I can challenge the E-level Coliseum right now.’

So she had put the matter aside.

Seraphina Sinclair had figured she wouldn’t have a chance to use an Invitation Letter for a while. Who would’ve thought Rex Shaw would show up today and hand one right to her.

’As for teaming up...’

’I don’t want to team up.’

’If the rewards are fixed, wouldn’t an extra person just mean a smaller share for me?’