n

n

n

"I want a share,

" Angelica couldn't hold herself back anymore,

"I'm the one doing all this. So I shall get some.

"

n

"I'll give you enough,

" I closed this topic for now before adding,

"you must do this alone. Don't trust anyone. When you come back, distribute things to everyone and make sure to save extra for ourselves.

"

n

"Why do you sound like you won't be here when we come back?

" Sara seemed to notice the hidden intentions of me from my words.

n

"Well, I'll have to leave to do something,

" I shrugged,

"or else why will I take the trouble in telling you all that?

"

nThey now realized why I gathered them.

"Now it's time for the most important thing. I dunno when I will come back, but if the quest finished before I came, then you should do this…

"

nI started to explain things related to how to acquire strong and tailored skills for each stat from the market.

nIt wasn't hard, but it was costly. They had to buy the advanced pack from the market. There they'd get one chance to select one skill per week to purchase according to their desire.

nSkills offered would be inside a list. I knew all of the skills would be basic, but there would be a myriad of skills for each stat.

nHigher skills would come when they got a class. For Angelica it might be easy to do. But for others, it would require more effort.

n

"Two hundred thousand coins for one pack?!! Who the hell is behind this market?!!

" It was John's turn to show his true color as he freaked out when he got to hear this crazy number.

n

"It might look a lot for you,

" I slowly said while trying not to punch this stingy young man in the face,

"but if you made everyone gather the monster materials from all around, you can get even extra coins from it.

"

nMy words left them hesitant. C'mon, I knew you got a good harvest from the traitors you killed and looted before. Stop this act, I wouldn't be fooled by it.

n

"I wish we had an army of dead traitors now,

" even Isabella felt bitter and shook her head.

n

"Yeah, at least this won't require me to act like a slave merchant for all of you,

" Angelica added, but I only kept my smile on my face.

n

"Anyway you'll know how valuable this is after purchasing the pack,

" I said before adding,

"it doesn't only contain skills, it also has the ability to enhance stats using coins.

"

n

"C'mon, not coins again!

" John blurted out in objection.

n

"I can't believe it! What do they think we are? Their slave workers or something?

" Angelica also complained. What if they knew that advanced pack gave one stat point per five hundred coins?

nMy pack cost two thousand coins per single point! C'mon guys, you looked pathetic while you didn't suffer like me here.

n

"It's something you should consider,

" I said in a serious tone,

"or else next quests will be far more difficult than this one to survive in. losing a few coins isn't a big deal here. Your lives are.

"

nMy words left them all silent.

"As for how to get coins, you now know. These monster materials aren't anything good, not even for forging or alchemy, not even in the next quest. You should dump all the materials once this quest is over, got it?

"

nThey didn't know this, but the prices of the monster drops of low tiers would decrease with each passing quest. If they didn't sell them now, they would suffer a big loss later on.

n

"Then we need to do all this? This will take an astronomical amount of coins!

" John was still reluctant and slightly against the idea.

n

"Then stay back and don't enjoy our food and drinks. Also when time comes, don't try to shout for help; no one will come to help you walk like you.

"

n

"...

"

nHis eyes went wide and I could even see the veins on his neck popping up. He was enraged by my direct words. However it was much better than wasting our breaths on insignificant things like this.

n

"Last thing,

" I paused before adding in serious manner,

"when the first quest finish, don't accept any blessing from anyone.

"

n

"Blessing?!

"

n

"Do you know about that as well?

"

n

"Why?

nMany comments came while I knew I couldn't just tell them the reason for now. I only wanted them to have better chances in the future. The main advantage of having a blessing would be related to the stats. And that problem was now solved.

nAs for the class issue, this would be a needed sacrifice for now to secure better chances in survival later on.

n

"No explanation for now,

" I said before adding in a tone that ended the discussion despite their objections,

"now you know what to do. Arrange things like this: a group stays behind to rule the others while you go to get water back. As for chefs, they can start working on monster flesh right away. Part of you will lead the people here to harvest materials and when you get water, you can get extra from them if they get any.

"

nI tried to sound reasonable, but that seemed not to help at all.

"Anyway, I'll just wait for the meat to be cooked. It would take roughly half an hour for that. If you manage to get back sooner, I might get water from you guys as well. If not, then…

"

nI looked at Angelica who helplessly nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll get your things now.

"

n

"And three hundred thousand coins as well,

" I said and Angelica got an instant scare to even jump in fright.

n

"What the hell is that for?

" she acted ignorant but I totally knew how much she gained from the items I gave to her.

nI gave her enough to be sold for over two million coins. Cutting all her expenses and giving her one hundred thousand coins as fees for her trouble, then I got three hundred thousand coins extra.

n

"Do you want me to list things for you?

" I calmly asked and she kept her startled expression for an entire minute before finally giving up the act.

n

"C'mon, don't be stingy with me like this,

" she pouted and I grinned.

n

"If you want, I can tell everyone how much you gained from this trade as well,

" I mischievously said while she could only look at me in amazement and wary before shaking her head.

n

"No need,

" she knew how much she gained and it was enough to make her silent about this matter.

"Extend me your hand.

"

nWe exchanged the coins before everyone moved their way. She took out the liquor and the tinki horns. As I was ready, I only waited for an hour before the meat was grilled and one of the teams returned with water.

n

"You didn't leave,

" Angelica led that team. They went all the way to the reservoir at the north. It wasn't a half an hour walk to and from but she seemed to get delayed on purpose.

nYet I could spare extra half an hour to get my share of the water.

n

"Give me two,

" I plainly said and I could see her jaw twitching underneath her helmet. Yet she couldn't argue and gave me two liquors filled with water.

nEach liquor was like a small bottle, yet they felt heavy when filled with water. In addition to water, there were other uses for this little thing here.

nOr else why would it be sold at such a high price?

n

"I'll get going then,

" I said before suddenly remembering something,

"how is your friend doing? Is she ok?

"

n

"She went to the hospital you mentioned,

" she said with a tone filled with little hostility. Even bringing the topic of her friend didn't lighten up her mood.

n

"Alright, tell her about what I told you already. Make her ready to face the upcoming upheavals.

"

n

"Won't you go and rescue her yourself?

" she shouted from behind and I only said one word:

"Later.

"

nFor now I had to go there and get that item for myself. At last I got a chance to fulfill my long life dream, to achieve what I came here for, to get a class of my own.

nAnd it wasn't just a normal class that I sat my eyes upon.

n