The next morning, Orson called the number on the card Blank had left him.
Radiant Shuttle's efficiency was impressive—less than an hour later, an SUV with government plates pulled up to pick him up. The driver, who introduced himself as K.D., claimed to be from the provincial military district but didn't disclose his exact position.
Orson didn't press for details; it wasn't like he'd get any answers. As long as Radiant Shuttle provided protection, he was satisfied.
The SUV drove into the posh Ring City Lake villa district. K.D. handed Orson a key card for one of the villas before quickly driving off, adding that specialists were already stationed at the hospital to ensure his sister's safety.
Though a little stunned, Orson took in the luxurious standalone villa. It was tastefully furnished and, as requested, came equipped with six top-of-the-line gaming pods. He didn't bother asking further questions—K.D.'s frosty demeanor made it clear there was no room for idle chatter.
After checking the equipment, Orson logged back into Infinite Dimensions.
As time and space blurred, the game world came into focus.
Orson reappeared in the game. The 24-hour grind from the previous day had wiped out his Notoriety Value, allowing him to walk freely through the streets again.
He opened his equipment panel, showing off the coveted Fox Clan Mage Set, with all twelve pieces now collected. While it was a dream set for most lightning mages, Orson was already plotting upgrades.
His plan was to eventually replace the Fox Clan Staff, Fox Clan Boots, and Fox Clan Shoulder Guards—three pieces of the set—with higher-tier alternatives. While full sets granted powerful awakening skills, the Thunderstrike effect in the Fox Clan set was underwhelming, merely reducing its cooldown by three minutes.
The real meta was the 3x3 combo strategy: keeping three pieces of one set for the awakening skill while swapping in another three-piece set for a second awakening skill. This configuration optimized flexibility and power.
With the Sacred Relic: Elven Diamond in hand, it would be a waste not to craft legendary-tier equipment.
Orson headed straight to the crafting district.
"Come in, adventurer! Take a look! If you see something you like, just let me know!"
A burly NPC stood at the door, enthusiastically beckoning customers. The moment Orson approached, the man practically blocked his path.
"Top-tier, custom-crafted gear! Grand opening discount: 99% off!"
Orson's eyebrow twitched at the blatant marketing gimmick. Ninety-nine percent off was basically no discount at all.
Ignoring the salesman, Orson strolled down the street. The Infinite Dimensions crafting district housed multiple blacksmith shops—eight, to be exact. Each NPC craftsman had wildly varying skills and outcomes.
On forums, countless players had complained about losing fortunes due to shady blacksmiths who churned out low-quality gear or outright failed their crafting attempts. Choosing the right smith was a gamble, to say the least.
Across the street, a lavishly decorated shop was surrounded by a large crowd. A banner proudly proclaimed:
"Crafted by Korul, Master of the Legendary Bow!"
Dozens of players were queued up to craft equipment. The legendary bow wielded by Usher, the current top-tier archer, had been made here.
"That place is a money pit. Crafting costs there are five times higher than anywhere else," Orson muttered as he glanced at the shop. It catered exclusively to the wealthy, boasting high-quality results at exorbitant fees.
Finally, Orson reached a shabby little stall at the end of the alley.
"Fifty gold coins and top-tier materials, and all I get is a pile of junk?!"
"Refund! You scammer! Refund me right now!"
A disgruntled group of players surrounded a short, red-bearded dwarf who looked utterly indifferent. Hugging a keg of ale, the dwarf waved them off.
"Shoo! You lot brought garbage materials, so you get garbage gear. That's how it works!"
As if to emphasize his indifference, he flipped a Closed for Today sign onto his counter.
"Boss, I'm here for custom orders."
Orson stepped inside, ignoring the warnings and jeers from the players outside.
"Are you crazy? This dwarf's equipment explodes two out of three times! The remaining third turns into junk. You're throwing money down the drain!"
Despite the vocal protests, Orson calmly approached the dwarf.
The blacksmith, Veijander, looked up with bloodshot eyes. "For hero-tier gear, there's a 30% success rate. For superior gear, 20%. Take your chances."
"What about legendary gear?" Orson asked, a teasing smirk playing on his lips.
Veijander froze mid-swig, lowering his ale slowly. "Legendary, you say? You're ambitious, aren't you, kid?"
"Not really. I need three legendary pieces—weapon, robe, and shoulder guards. Can you handle it?"
The onlookers gasped audibly. Three legendary items? Even the top-tier player Usher had only managed to craft a single weapon and a single piece of armor.
"Sure thing, but you'll need a Sacred Relic to guarantee success," Veijander replied smugly.
Orson reached into his inventory and casually placed the Elven Diamond on the counter.
Clang!
Veijander's tools clattered to the floor. His bloodshot eyes bulged as he snatched up the diamond, inspecting it under the light with trembling hands.
"It's… it's real?! A Sacred Relic!" Veijander was nearly hyperventilating.
Moments later, his shop door slammed shut, leaving the astonished crowd outside.
"Veijander's attitude has shifted."
The dwarf sprang into action, donning a pair of goggles and examining the diamond with reverence.
"Can you do it or not?" Orson asked. "If you can't, don't waste my time."
Veijander clutched the diamond protectively. "Of course I can! With this material, I can craft masterpieces!"
"Good. Do you have the schematics, or should I look for them myself?" Orson continued.
"Schematics? Ha! I've got you covered. Let me show you what I've got!" Veijander said, pulling out a selection of blueprints.
Two legendary sets were offered:
1. Eternal Wrath Set
- Characteristics: High mana pool, spell penetration, and cooldown reduction.
2. Sanctuary of Dominion Set
- Characteristics: True damage, high attack power, and attack speed boost.
"Each item will cost you 1,000 gold in crafting fees," Veijander added.
Orson grinned. This was why he had chosen Veijander. The grumpy dwarf was a hidden gem: his fees were a fraction of what Korul charged, and he had access to exclusive schematics.
"Let's go with the Sanctuary of Dominion set," Orson decided. Its stats were perfectly aligned with his needs.
The system displayed the crafting requirements:
- Sacred Relic: Elven Diamond (1/1)
- Refined Steel (200 units)
- Beast Hide (100 units)
- Troll Bones (30 units)
- Sky Feather Crystals (5 units)
- Hearts of War (3 units)
The first three materials were within reach—Orson had enough green gear to dismantle for refined steel and had gathered plenty of hides and bones during the monster siege.
But the Sky Feather Crystals and Hearts of War were rare, second only to Sacred Relics. Finding them would be a challenge.
"Hmm… looks like this'll have to wait," Orson said, sighing.
Veijander panicked. "Wait! Don't go! Give me five hours, and I'll finish the job!"
Orson smirked. "I'd love to, but I'm short on materials."
After explaining his predicament, Veijander's eyes lit up. "Don't worry! I have just the solution for a capable adventurer like you!"
A quest notification appeared:
[Hidden Quest: The Secret of Ascension]
- Objective: Travel to the Frozen Valley and locate the entrance to the Ascension Kingdom ruins.
"Looks like I've got my next destination," Orson muttered, a glint of excitement in his eyes.