### Chapter 280: Time to Get Serious
Players have been streaming into the Golden City like it’s the hottest club in town.
Every fresh face is warned by the “veterans” who arrived the day before.
Golden City has rules that make the main city look like a playground. No causing trouble, and absolutely no dragging others into your mess.
If you do get someone else involved, you better sort it out quietly, because once the NPCs show up, they will not hesitate to… let’s just say, you won’t be playing anymore.
Some brave soul asked, “Is it really that serious?”
I mean, sure, these NPCs might be ghosts, but they all look like supermodels—good luck getting that kind of eye candy anywhere else!
It’s almost like being a ghost is a badge of honor. Some players actually like this “ghost experience.” Getting close to them? Well, there’s a unique thrill to that.
Most players do agree, but here’s the catch: you better have some tough skin because a gentle elbow from one of them could leave you with more broken ribs than a bad action movie.
The veterans started to introduce the newbies to the NPCs.
That one, standing lazily at the plaza entrance, level 45.
That one, smiling at the guild entrance, level 48.
And that one who just glared at us? Estimated at least level 55.
Oh, and that maid who just passed by? She’s probably the secretary to the guild leader, looking suspiciously close to level 60.
“…”
Don’t let those smiles fool you; they are professionals, and you can’t take them lightly.
If you naively wander up to them, you might find your face plastered on the wall like a trophy, and good luck getting it off!
“Are all NPCs around here this ruthless? Is there anyone with a lower level?”
“There is!”
“Who?”
“Our guild leader. Not sure what level, but doesn’t seem very strong.”
“So who’s the guild leader?”
“Picture.jpg.”
“Whoa! Where are they?!”
“At the guild.”
“Charge!”
Moments later… WHAM! Out flew the brave hero, sporting a handprint on his face as a stylish accessory.
“Guild premises, unauthorized people not allowed!” The smiling NPC at the guild entrance warned, but let’s just say that smile didn’t look quite so friendly now.
So what’s the guild even for if they won’t let adventurers in? Just for decoration?
Many players had this burning question but no one was audacious enough to ask.
Welcome to Golden City’s rules.
Now, back to Yuliya.
She’s at the Adventurer’s Guild, peeking out the window at the Blessing Ceremony taking place in the plaza.
The monster registry and blessings aren’t expensive, but the prices add up!
The registry costs twenty silver coins—one-time money—while blessings are needed daily, just one silver coin each.
Even with the current exchange rate, it’s a steal, and with all these players, they will surely rake in some cash over time.
Andrew, looking like a grandpa in his fifties, held holy water in one hand while magically pulling out a book full of unintelligible text that players can’t read—talk about giving off some serious magical priest vibes!
With his amiable face and calm demeanor, he radiated tolerance and understanding.
The players watched, a little misty-eyed, as he offered blessings and occasionally engaged in small talk.
Ah yes, even in Golden City, there are kind NPCs!
Blessings are crucial for us, boosting our monster grinding efficiency. The price is low, and the priest is so sweet.
Some foreign players even shouted, “Father!”
Andrew quickly became one of the most popular NPCs in Golden City… among a select crowd.
After all, some players were still dreaming about that ghost XP, while others held a tiny figure in their hearts forever.
You’ve got to be steadfast about these matters!
Andrew’s actions were actually heavily requested by Yuliya.
She followed one simple principle.
Collect cash and provide top-notch service. The customer is always right, and she truly meant it.
Unless that customer gets a little too rowdy; in which case, she’d knock ‘em out!
And Andrew was more than happy to oblige.
These are the good folks tirelessly working to fix up our Golden City!
“Don’t worry, children! We will always be right behind you!”
With the services from Golden City, players found their exploration much more efficient.
In the desert, their only trouble? Finding monsters!
I mean, during the day, the desert looks like… well, nothing at all.
They could try at night, but the danger level jumps to the extreme—one step can mean a monster encounter.
Finding monsters is a real dilemma that players must figure out for themselves.
I can’t be just giving you armor blessings while also handing over my eyes, right?
Maybe I should ask Andrew if the Golden Kingdom has some black tech to help with this?
Nah, that’s wishful thinking.
Anyway, after this guild rescue, monster grinding got easier, and life regained its spark.
And as for Golden City? Not only did they get progress, but they also made a profit.
That’s a triple win!
And so, a little time passed.
The situation in Golden City stabilized completely, and it was finally time for Yuliya to kick off her plan.
Even though slacking around felt amazing—doing nothing but watching streams, munching on seeds, and gossiping about pasta and concrete—she knew it was time for action.
Though whether the mix of Mixue Ice City and Albeik aligns with the Fibonacci sequence or Lagrange distribution? Now, that’s a question for another day.
But before Yuliya dive into her plans, she needed to investigate those questions—perhaps a trip to the other allied nations was in order.
Last I heard from Little Moon, some high-ups in Huaxia Kingdom had organized archaeologists to delve into the game world to investigate the history of the Golden Kingdom.
They’ve done some serious homework on this in-game nation.
Now, this pack of archaeologists seems to be leveling up through grinding, probably hoping to check out Golden City.
The specifics are on a tight confidentiality agreement, and while Dongda has a professor involved, they can’t spill too much.
Yuliya noted that carefully.
This indicated the attitude of Huaxia Kingdom’s upper echelon.
Yuliya gathered Andrew, Maria, and Kane, the three who handled the day-to-day affairs of Golden City.
She explained her intentions.
“So, here’s the deal. This princess plans to go on a diplomatic mission to another country. But wait—what happens to the blessings for adventurers while I’m gone?”
“How long does your highness plan to be away?”
“At least ten days to half a month, maybe longer.”
“That long? Someone will need to fill in for you.”
Maria stepped forward, but Andrew halted her with a hand motion. “Actually, I can take care of that.”
“Andrew has the power of the Golden Rule too?”
“A tiny bit. But there’s a bit of your Highness’s energy left in Golden City; we can use a touch of that.”
“My old powers?”
“Precisely.”
“Alright then, do what you see fit. Just keep my departure under wraps.”
“Got it.”
“Understood.”
