Infinite Range: The Sniper Mage

"You have successfully bribed the City Guard Commander." 

"The Commander has proposed a ransom of 300 gold to release you, but your crime value will not be reduced." 

The notification rang out, but Orson didn't flinch. He started haggling with his figurative dragon-slaying sword: 

"Make it 100 gold. Otherwise, I'd rather rot in jail." 

"The Commander has proposed 200 gold…" 

"Still too much. 100 gold, take it or leave it!" Orson slammed his hand on the table and reached for the shackles. 

"Wait, wait, wait!" Wesley panicked, raising a hand to stop him. "Fine! Look, I've got a family to feed, alright? 120 gold, and I'll have to pull strings to make it happen! That's the best I can do!" 

Seeing Wesley's theatrics, Orson had to admire the game developers' creativity. 

Even if Infinite Dimensions wasn't a reality-blended game, its immersive design made it feel just like the real world. 

"I also need a fake identity and a guarantee that no city guards will hunt me for the next week," Orson said coolly. 

Wesley frowned. "The fake identity I can do, but the city guard rotates shifts every three days. The best I can give you is two days." 

"Two days is plenty," Orson agreed. 

"You have obtained the Imperial Mage's Robes." 

"You have received a temporary fake ID valid for 48 hours." 

Orson's inventory now included a complete set of Level 15 green mage gear. However, its attributes were grayed out, meaning it only worked cosmetically, layered over his novice gear. 

"Please name your temporary ID." 

Grinning, Orson typed: "Boss Bai." 

The ID above his head shifted from purple to the distinct blue of an NPC, and he couldn't help but chuckle. 

It was no wonder the Thief class was among the hardest to play—it demanded as much cash as a mage to build, yet so many players flocked to it. Being a stealthy rogue could be incredibly satisfying! 

Through Wesley's connections, Orson arrived at the southeastern outskirts of Pondenorlin City, as marked by the Barrier Stone. 

This was the slums—narrow alleys filled with foul-smelling ditches and crumbling buildings from previous monster invasions. 

"Clear the way! Boss Bai's here to inspect!" Orson swaggered down the path, radiating the aloofness of someone who didn't recognize anyone's face. 

Few players were around, as the area's stench and lackluster quests made it unpopular. 

"Look! A mage, a real mage is here!" 

"Thank the heavens! Finally, we're saved. A mage will make these walls impenetrable!" 

The poorly equipped NPC guards erupted in cheers upon seeing Orson. 

In the Infinite Dimensions world, mages held high social status. Their destructive power and scarcity often determined a nation's strength. 

Being at the edge of the city, the outer walls were much lower than the inner ones, leaving these poverty-stricken areas vulnerable whenever the protective barrier failed. 

"Boss Bai! Recently, monsters have been frequently attacking my patrol area. They're gathering again—please join us in driving them out!" A soldier stepped forward, bowing respectfully. 

"No problem. How many monsters are we talking about?" Orson asked. 

"From what we can see, at least a hundred!" 

"Only a hundred?" 

Orson frowned. Such a small wave wouldn't be enough to grind his Soul Imprint level or cleanse his crime points. 

He had spent over 100 gold—tens of thousands in real money—to maintain his cover as a city guard. A hundred monsters felt like a joke. 

"Uh… sir?" 

The NPC soldiers looked confused. Was the mage from the inner city so weak that he was afraid to take on a mere hundred monsters? 

"This is ridiculous. I'm losing money on this deal! That blasted Barrier Stone cost me so many rewards!" Orson grumbled, annoyed at his own shortsightedness. 

In the early stages of the game, even with a barrier breach, monster swarms were rare. Expecting an easy grind was overly optimistic. 

"Boss Bai, the scout estimates that if the monsters aren't dealt with quickly, their numbers will multiply within a day. By then… we won't stand a chance!" 

Hearing this, Orson's mood shifted. Slapping his thigh, he exclaimed, "That's more like it!" 

The NPCs grew more panicked at his enthusiasm, imagining a monstrous horde descending upon them. 

"Ding-dong! You refused to lead an offensive, triggering a hidden quest!" 

Orson's eyes gleamed. Hidden quests were rare gems, and now he'd found one by accident! 

"Hidden Quest: Defend the Barrier Stone Breach." 

"Difficulty: Legendary. Recruit a raid team to defend against the horde." 

In Infinite Dimensions, quests were ranked by difficulty: Common, Elite, Legendary, Abyss, Hell, and Mythical. 

Normal quests allowed up to six players, while high-difficulty missions often required a raid group of up to 60 players. 

This Legendary hidden quest was leagues above the usual hidden tasks. 

"Quest Objective: Defend against a massive monster invasion. If monsters breach the inner city, the mission will fail." 

"Failure Penalty: Lose three levels, 20,000 reputation, and gain a 10-day EXP penalty (halved earnings)." 

"Note: Unless the Barrier Stone is returned, the monster invasion will continue for 24 hours." 

Reading the quest details, Orson couldn't hold back a grin. 

So that's why this mission exists. If I hadn't killed the NPC guards or kept the Barrier Stone, this chain wouldn't have triggered. 

With the stone in hand, he had a trump card. If the horde became unmanageable, he could always return the stone to end the quest without penalty. 

At the soldiers' urging, Boss Bai reluctantly climbed the tower to survey the situation. 

[Goblin Vanguard: Level 18] 

- HP: 4500/4500 

- Attack: 185 

- Skills: Swift Charge, Earthen Spikes 

[Elite Skeleton Knight: Level 22] 

- HP: 12,000/12,000 

- Attack: 270 

- Skills: Lance Charge, Soul Assault 

… 

Among the hundred-plus monsters were several elites, mostly around level 20. They were ideal for farming levels and skill proficiency. 

With two hours until the invasion began, Orson descended the tower. If he could stack monster-killing tasks on top of the quest, he'd maximize efficiency. 

"Too much crime value… What now?" Orson muttered, troubled. 

While his fake ID might fool players, experienced rogues would see through it. High-function NPCs would also detect his criminal status. 

Then inspiration struck. "Wait! There's one place that hands out massive monster-killing quests!"