The Masquerade Ball

Back in Mingyang City, Wu Wang waited until the next afternoon to contact Xiezhi. He needed to create a time gap, making sure the man wouldn't suspect he was a local.

Speaking of which, his accent-free speech was a gift from his bored, college-aged self.

Though he hadn't majored in broadcasting, he'd passed the highest-level proficiency test. His only goal had been to sneak into the school's broadcast station.

An escapade that earned him an official warning from the school.

During the sports meet broadcast, he had "casually" let slip that the principal was having an affair.

Then, with "careless" precision, he mentioned the exact date the principal and his mistress had gotten a hotel room. He even "accidentally" pointed out the hotel's name and room number.

He'd also "mistakenly" brought up the excuse the principal gave his wife that day, a supposed academic exchange at another university. As it happened, the woman was a teacher at that very university.

To top it all off, in a final act of "carelessness," he projected their entire chat history and a video of their "close combat" onto the stadium's big screen.

The best part? The principal's wife was in the audience.

Heh. What a careless little fool I was, he mused. So very, very careless.

"Brother Yan? What are you spacing out for?"

Xiezhi's puzzled question snapped Wu Wang back to reality.

He shook his head.

"Nothing. Just remembered something happy. It was a truly unforgettable experience."

Seeing the fond, nostalgic look in Wu Wang's eyes, Xiezhi felt a wave of solemn respect.

This expert must be reminiscing about a past Instance, he thought. He must have met some great companions. It must have been another soul-stirring legend, just as epic as clearing a Nightmare-level Instance.

"I'll continue, then," Xiezhi said, getting back to business. "Tonight, at exactly midnight, you need to wear formal attire and a mask. Any style will do, as long as it covers at least the top half of your face. Then, go to the beach and step into the water."

He listed a series of conditions for entering the Instance.

Wu Wang listened, stunned.

Entering an Instance is this complicated?

"My subordinate will be wearing a wolf-face mask," Xiezhi continued. "I'll have to trouble you to look after him. This equipment and prop are from me personally. They should make it easier for you to operate, both in reality and inside the Instance."

As he spoke, he took out an inconspicuous brooch from his pocket.

【Heilan Home Brooch (Fine Quality) - Wearing this item allows the user to change their attire at will. No cost, no cooldown.】

【Equipment Condition - Conquer it with your Charisma.】

【Note - An item coveted by every fashionista. Owning it is like owning the world's entire wardrobe. Not 998, just one Conquest away!】

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow as he accepted the brooch. He had to admit, it was a thoughtful gift.

The prop was perfect for the masquerade-themed Instance, and it was also quite useful in the real world. For hiding his identity, of course. Not for becoming a walking "man's wardrobe."

Paired with his 【Fake Smile Mask】, it was the perfect disguise. His appearance, build, and clothes could all be changed at will. Wu Wang was now truly a master of disguise.

Best of all, it was a piece of equipment with no cost and no cooldown.

He could use items with costs freely because of his 【Undying】 trait. If his resources ran out, he could just die once to recover everything.

Other people couldn't do that.

A cost-free prop like this could probably be sold for an exorbitant price on the forums. Even though it offered no stat bonuses, for players who needed to hide their identity, it was no less valuable than an Epic-level piece of equipment.

"I figured you probably don't need combat equipment or props, so I've compensated you with special support-type items," Xiezhi explained.

After all, he had witnessed the man's combat power just the day before.

He then took out two yellow talismans. Both were 【Fine Quality】. They could block all perception, except for the user's, within a hundred-square-meter radius for a full half-hour.

It was clear that Xiezhi had spared no expense. This equipment and these props were absolutely top-tier among support items.

Wu Wang couldn't help but feel curious.

"Is he your illegitimate son? Or some prodigy with a special ability? Why are you so willing to give all this away for him?"

But Xiezhi just shook his head.

"He's just an ordinary subordinate, level fifteen. He has two elderly parents, a wife, and a daughter at home waiting for him to come back for breakfast tomorrow. I don't want him to die in the Instance."

He paused, his expression serious.

"This has nothing to do with ability. I'm his boss."

"Being the boss doesn't mean letting your subordinates take the fall while you reap the benefits. It means leading them to grow stronger. If the sky falls, I'll be there to hold it up."

Xiezhi's gaze was exceptionally firm as he spoke, his voice deadpan.

"If I hadn't met you, someone who has cleared a Nightmare-level Instance, I was planning to go in and save him myself."

His tone was calm. He spoke as casually as if he were discussing a midnight snack, treating his decision as the most natural thing in the world.

Even though he had no confidence in clearing a Nightmare-level Instance himself.

But Wu Wang could tell the man wasn't lying.

He couldn't help but smile.

"Your subordinate is lucky to have a boss like you. It almost makes me want to work for you."

Xiezhi shook his head.

"No, I'm grateful that they think highly of me. I'm the lucky one."

Wu Wang finally understood why Baili Dao's personality was so different from that of an ordinary player.

This superior is too damn upright! In ancient times, he would have been revered by the people as a benevolent official.

"By the way," Xiezhi added, "after clearing a Nightmare-level Team Instance, there is a chance for an Audience. I've heard that those who receive one see their strength skyrocket. If you get an Audience, would you be able to provide some related information?"

"Audience? Can you be more specific?"

The word was new to him. An Audience with whom? Why would that make you stronger?

"I don't know." Xiezhi shook his head. "So far, the number of players in the entire world who have received an Audience can be counted on one hand. Without exception, they are all pillar-level figures in their respective organizations, and they refuse to disclose any information."

It was rumored that the Director of the Abnormal Affairs Bureau, Qing Long, had also received an Audience, but for some reason, he too chose to remain silent. Even the Bureau's own archives had no detailed information about it.

So, he was just mentioning it.

Just making it out of a Nightmare-level Team Instance alive was hard enough. Hoping to get an Audience and a massive power boost was practically a pipe dream.

Even though this man had cleared a Nightmare-level Solo Instance, Xiezhi still felt that succeeding here would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

The difficulty of a Team Instance was always higher than a Solo Instance, let alone a Nightmare-level one.

To be honest, it wasn't just about the Audience. Xiezhi felt the hope of Yan Shuangying successfully rescuing his subordinate was slim. The crises in a Nightmare-level Team Instance would leave most players struggling just to save themselves. Who would have the spare energy to save others?

He only provided the information because Yan Shuangying's chances of success were slightly higher than his own, and because it was part of their deal.

Even if it was just a sliver of hope. It might be enough.

What if…

"I'll give you the walkthrough for Chronicle of the Desolate Village at noon tomorrow. You should have the payment ready. We can talk about the Audience then. Let's meet here again."

With that, Wu Wang got up and walked out of the coffee shop.

Xiezhi sighed, picked up his coffee, and took a gentle sip.

The man's words were a veiled promise. Trading tomorrow meant that Yan Shuangying was certain he would clear the Nightmare-level Team Instance tonight. He was brimming with confidence.

I hope I haven't misjudged him.

If Yan Shuangying's character was acceptable, then after this Instance, he could be invited to join that plan of the Abnormal Affairs Bureau. They were missing exactly this kind of person.

His ability was beyond question. He had genuinely cleared an Abyss-corrupted Nightmare-level Solo Instance. He should be able to make it out of a Team Instance alive, even if he didn't get many rewards.

His logic wasn't simple, either. Yan Shuangying had been the one to choose this coffee shop, located in the most bustling area of the city center.

If any trouble arose during their transaction, as a member of the Abnormal Affairs Bureau, Xiezhi wouldn't dare act rashly in such a public place. It would threaten the social order of Mingyang City. The man had considered everything.

He was smart, cautious, and principled. The complete package.

"Hello sir, your bill is 358, thank you."

Just as Xiezhi was about to leave, a waitress walked over with a smile.

Seeing his confused expression, the waitress explained.

"Your friend said you would be covering the bill. Here is the receipt for you to look over."

Looking at the bill, Xiezhi saw that besides the two coffees on the table, there were charges for two more coffees and a pile of desserts.

He was stunned.

"We didn't order these."

"Your friend had them packed to-go in advance," the waitress said, her professional smile never wavering. "They were kept at the front counter, and he picked them up when he left."

Xiezhi couldn't smile anymore. He had just discovered Brother Yan's one flaw.

His line of thinking was a bit too unconventional. Being friends with him probably required a ready supply of heart medication for the inevitable blood pressure spikes.

What kind of person secretly stuck his friend with the bill at a meeting place he himself had chosen? Xiezhi didn't believe the man was that poor.

It had to be a mischievous prank.

Little did he know, Wu Wang was indeed surprisingly poor. The money he'd earned had been spent on materials to practice hand-crafting his AK-47 and building homemade landmines.

After leaving the coffee shop, Wu Wang took the packed coffee and desserts home, putting them in the fridge for his Second Sister to eat when she got home from work.

Then, after packing the necessary items, he pinned on the brooch and headed for the beach.

He waited until midnight.

In the dead of night, the salty, damp sea breeze was chilling to the bone. The beach was long deserted. Only then did Wu Wang stroll toward the water.

His clothes transformed into a magnificent formal suit. A half-mask edged with gold filigree appeared on his face, covering everything above the bridge of his nose and leaving only his sparkling, spirited eyes visible.

He watched the waves wash over the sand, the water shifting in color as it ebbed and flowed. He smiled and walked forward.

The moment the seawater surged onto the beach and touched his feet, before he could even feel the chill, a notification echoed in his ears.

【Nightmare-level Team Instance has been matched】

【Welcome to the Mary Cruise Ship】

【Instance Name - Masquerade Ball】