Boa Village's Lawless Welcome

"Yes. It's a recommendation letter directly from the training instructor."

"Hiik……. I've never seen a recommendation letter before? W-Wait a moment, please."

"It's fine. I have plenty of time."

Was this also part of my dopamine addiction? It was a rewarding time in its own way.

"The genuine recommendation letter has been verified. Thank you for waiting. Do you plan to use the teleport immediately?"

"Yes."

"Teleport can only move to pre-registered locations. Where would you like to go?"

"Boa Village."

The beginner village routes were already organized. Boa Village was a village at the northwestern tip of the neighboring continent, reachable by carriage from Liam in ten days or by ship in four days. Originally, it was the farthest village that would take over two months to reach from Liam. In reverse, it meant I'd planned a route back to Liam without using teleport.

"Boa Village on the Chahim Continent?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"That place is famous for having quite poor public order. Are you sure you're okay?"

A genuinely worried expression. Boa Village had that kind of reputation. Probably true in reality too. The community was full of negative reviews about Boa Village.

"The beginner villages on the Rahim Continent are really different from Liam here. All sorts of crimes are happening even now. It's hard to even call it a beginner village. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Of course, there'd be worries. In reality, it would be a country I'd never go to. But this isn't reality; it's a game. The status window doesn't lie.

"It'll probably be fine, right?"

It would be different from Liam here. A metropolis-level beginner village and a crime city-level one were clearly different. According to capitalist logic, the proportion of high-level players wouldn't be that high.

"I'm stronger anyway."

So for me, Boa Village was just a difficulty level worth shrugging off.

"Ah. Right. The golden fox……."

"Shh."

"……Yes! Boa Village confirmed! Is that all the luggage you've brought?"

"Yes."

The backpack was emptied as much as possible except for essentials for survival. There would be more things to fill it with from now on. The advantage was that since animal-type monsters inhabited around the beginner village, food could be self-supplied.

"I'll guide you to the teleport gate."

Following the official's guidance, I arrived at the teleport gate. I'd heard many mages stayed here, but upon arrival, there were only two young mages who looked like newcomers.

"Ah, because Russell Trading Company is auctioning the golden fox heart for the first time in the world. Regardless of the truth, many mages showed interest."

Was it because they witnessed the evidence of the golden fox subjugation? The official's eyes were full of reverence. It felt a bit ticklish, but the desire for recognition was definitely rising. Shoulders that had sunk from office life felt like they were lifting. At least here, I was overwhelmingly strong at the same level.

"I see. There won't be any safety issues, right?"

"Of course. The mages at the city hall are all recognized by the royal family."

After the official's guidance ended, one of the young mages spoke to me.

"Please step onto the magic circle. Outsider."

A completely different, business-like tone from the official. Rather, his expression seemed full of dissatisfaction. Probably because he couldn't even participate in the golden fox heart auction.

"Yes."

"Is the destination Boa Village on the Rahim Continent?"

"That's correct."

"A warning. Criminals cannot use teleport."

It seemed many people associated with Boa Village became potential criminals. Indeed, the Chinese players staying in Liam had a strong shady vibe. Locals would naturally be an upgraded version.

"I'll keep that in mind. I have no intention of getting involved in crime. So, Boa Village, please."

"……It was just out of concern. You look like you have money, so there's no reason for an outsider to be tricked into going there."

Thanks to the armor Bella matched for me, I wasn't someone to be ignored anywhere. On the contrary, most people treated me as a rich person wherever I went. The official's reverent gaze now was probably because of this appearance. This was probably a fragment of honor flowing from wealth.

"You might feel dizzy for a moment."

Ziiing.

Light flowed from the magic circle, and everything around began to turn white. Magic, especially teleport, was a function that didn't exist in the previous work, so it felt quite fresh.

"Urgh."

But that was only for a moment. As the mage said, dizziness began to rush in. It was incomparable to ordinary motion sickness.

"Since it won't be a pleasant trip, I'll just wish you luck."

Ziiiiiing!

* * *

The light disappeared, and surrounding objects began to reveal themselves one by one.

"Phew."

An old desk, old chairs. Spiderwebs filling the corners. It was quite shabby to be called a city hall. Even so, the magic circle under my feet was shining clearly, but no one was coming to greet the new guest.

"……So this is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a underdeveloped beginner village."

Unless I revealed my presence, they wouldn't notice from outside. Thanks to the Ashen Step effect of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Master's Gray Hide Walker, my footsteps made no sound.

However, I had no business here. My task was at the fountain.

Creak.

When I opened the decrepit door and stepped out, people finally began to appear. Players gathered in groups playing mahjong, along with officials joining them in a gambling frenzy.

"Kahaha! Flush! Flush!"

"Damn it! My luck is absolute trash today!"

"Kahaha! Today's my day to be the protagonist!"

Shouts of "pung," "kang," and "flush" echoed from all directions. The atmosphere was more like a gambling den than a city hall—loud and chaotic. It seemed no one actually worked here.

"……This bad, huh?"

"Hm?"

Perhaps because of my unfamiliar voice, everyone's gazes turned toward me. But no one spoke. Instead, they all fell silent and began glancing around nervously.

At that moment, an NPC in official attire who had been gambling stepped forward.

"K-Khm! Did you perhaps use the teleport, dear customer?"

"Yes."

"Haha. How may I assist you? Just leave everything to me."

His eyes were filled with greed. He looked ready to do anything as long as there was a reward. This was the first time I'd seen such a corrupt NPC.

"Hmm. I don't know much about that side yet, so later. If I need something, I'll come find you then."

Whether the other party was corrupt or not, I decided to leave the possibility open. After finishing my business here and moving to the next village, I might need the city hall's help. Besides, as an NPC, he would be relatively free from China's unique guanxi.

"Yes! My name is Parek! It would be great if you remembered it! Haha!"

"Parek, got it."

After Official Parek stepped back, a player with a rather fierce appearance approached this time.

"Black attire with gold decorations. A guest from the Black Dragon Pavilion, I see. Welcome to Boa Village."

"……."

Though he maintained polite speech on the surface, he had already armed himself and approached, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠making it easy to tell his level wasn't low.

"If you're from the Black Dragon Pavilion……."

I didn't like the feeling. From the man's expression, this was a look of suspicion. He guessed I was from the Black Dragon Pavilion based on my outfit, but since I teleported here without any prior contact, he was probably just testing the waters.

"That's enough."

I cut him off for now. If I were truly from the Black Dragon Pavilion, this was probably how it would go.

"Khm. My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself first. I am……."

The Black Society was closely tied to the infamous international criminal organization, the Triads, even in reality. As a guild of the underworld itself, nothing they did ever came to light. In other words, getting deeply involved with this type of person would bring no good. The conclusion was that probing for personal details was pointless.

Thud!

"Kuhk!"

Using the pants-exclusive skill, Gale Rush, I created a gust of wind and instantly arrived right in front of the man.

"Questions are mine to ask. Are you someone who can mention the Black Dragon Pavilion?"

"S-Sorry! Please spare me!"

This place was different from Liam. In China's beginner village, the law of the jungle and the logic of power applied thoroughly.

"I'd heard about it, but seeing it directly, I didn't expect it to be this bad. The city hall is a complete mess. Are you in charge?"

"……That's……."

He wasn't exactly in charge, but he had some level of authority. More like a mid-level manager.

"I see. There's nothing good for you in knowing my identity."

"Thank you!"

Even looking at myself, I wasn't the type to hold back. However, I also wasn't the type to stir up unnecessary trouble. To uproot all the corruption rooted in the beginner village, I needed to become even stronger. Now wasn't the time.

"But I'd like the city hall functions restored. There aren't any mages at the teleport gate, are there?"

"I'll handle it immediately! Hey! Everyone, disperse!"

The training instructor's tone was useful in many ways. It always carried an air of dignity.

"Good."

"Haha. Thank you for looking favorably upon us."

"As I said earlier, I have no business here right now. Then."

"Please go safely!"

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠left the pseudo city hall as is and headed toward the fountain. To increase my Eternal stat.