Lord Of The Lost

The "Gambler" was clearly from Australia, a region with a vast population. Naturally, with so many people, the odds of a Australian native becoming a player in 'Game' were quite high. However, despite the skyrocketing prices in the real world, the price he was asking for a single copper coin 1,000 dollars: was shockingly steep.

William wasn't the only one taken aback by the price tag. The forum erupted with incredulity as players questioned whether this was some sort of scam.

"Is this copper coin even real?" one player asked.

"I might understand 1000 dollars for a silver coin, but you're charging 100 times that for copper?!" another player fumed.

Unfazed, the Gambler replied coolly, "If you can't afford it, I'm not interested in trading with you."

The arrogance in his tone sparked frustration among the players. Some were genuinely in need of cash, hoping this thread might provide a way out of their financial troubles. Unlike William, who had the luxury of living off his savings, many players were struggling to make ends meet. As a result, the price of copper coins began to plummet, rapidly dropping below 100 dollars, sinking into the hundreds.

William couldn't help but shake his head. 'This is chaos,' he thought. 'How many people are just here for the spectacle, without any intention of actually buying?'

Amid the uproar, the Forum Master made his presence known. "How much magic currency do you all have?"

It was a simple question, but it silenced the forum. Clearly, the Forum Master was taking this seriously. William suspected the Forum Master was quite wealthy. After all, it took significant resources to set up a player forum as sophisticated as this one. The forum was reportedly impenetrable to ordinary hackers, and that kind of security didn't come cheap.

'He's preparing to purchase magic currency,' William realized. No matter how much wealth you had in the real world, it couldn't buy you the extraordinary items found within the game. For the Forum Master, this was a crucial opportunity.

The game's communication board was notoriously expensive, with a starting price of fifty silver coins; a sum even William found hard to scrape together. At this stage, most players were broke. The economic state of Border Town, the primary in-game location, didn't help either. It was a remote area with almost no job opportunities, and definitely not enough to support the influx of players.

William had managed to sell some game to the local tavern owner in the beginning, but after just two sales, the owner refused to buy anymore, claiming there was no market for it. Compared to the rest of the players, William considered himself lucky. Others were so desperate they were contemplating switching jobs to thieves, ready to start robbing fellow players for scraps.

Most players had only managed to gather a few dozen copper coins. Those less fortunate were down to their last few, on the brink of being penniless with no way to earn more.

The Gambler wasn't fazed. "How much do you want?" he asked confidently.

The Forum Master replied without hesitation, "How many do you have?"

It was a bold response, and it became clear to everyone watching: this was not just a casual inquiry. The Forum Master was ready to deal in large quantities, and the stakes were getting higher. William sat back, intrigued by what might unfold next.

The Gambler's response was bold and almost too casual: "I have as much as you want."

After a long pause, the Forum Master simply replied with a single question mark, leaving the foreign players scratching their heads in confusion. But the Forum Master, also from Australia, wasn't easily fooled by such a brazen offer.

"Brother Gambler, your price is far too high," he finally replied.

Though the Forum Master was clearly wealthy, even he balked at the Gambler's outrageous pricing. One silver coin was priced at 1 million dollars, and in the game, that barely bought two rolls of bandages.

Still unfazed, the Gambler shot back, "Since you're the forum administrator, I'm showing you mercy by not charging more. But if you want a large quantity, I can offer you a discount."

With that, he added, "I'll give you a 10% discount 1 silver coin for 90,000."

The Forum Master wasn't about to be swindled. "50,000!" he countered.

"80,000!" Gambler retorted.

The two went back and forth, playing the classic game of haggling; ask for a high price, settle for something lower. In a matter of minutes, the onlookers witnessed a multi-million-dollar transaction unfold right before their eyes. The Forum Master ultimately spent 10 million dollars, purchasing 15 silver coins at an average price of 66,000 each.

The forum went silent. The players, in shock, felt a mix of disbelief and awe. For many of them, this level of wealth was unimaginable.

William, quietly observing the entire exchange, had his own thoughts. 'There are still far too many wealthy people in this country…'

But he corrected himself, 'No, the real issue is that there are very few players who could even gather 15 silver coins at this stage.'

He admired the Gambler's boldness; someone willing to take such a risk and demand such high prices. Not many would have the nerve to ask for millions like that. Meanwhile, the players who had been selling copper coins at a fraction of the price seemed foolish by comparison. 'They're completely outclassed,' William thought. 'No ability to make real money, and no strategy.'

The Forum Master, however, had earned William's respect. If this deal was legitimate, then the Forum Master was not only trustworthy but also a man of long-term vision. The details of how the two would finalize the trade and ensure their safety weren't William's concern. He had other things to focus on.

Without wasting time, William posted a message on the forum:

'"There's a magical house between the abandoned mine and the misty forest. It sells magical materials at a fair price, but the journey is dangerous. Players below level 7 are not advised to go alone."'

The news spread like wildfire, igniting excitement among the players who saw the post.

"Really? Finally! I've been hoarding magic materials for ages, and there's been nowhere to sell them! The locals in the magic world wouldn't even take them from me. They threw me out!"

"The pharmacy only sells basic magical herbs. I didn't even know they were magical until the game gave me a hint. I can't recognize them without it."

"Not recommended for players below level 7? Why do those words feel like a challenge to me?"

"Wait—'A breeze blowing across the hills'? Isn't that the guy claiming to be level 8?"

"There are actually level 8 players already…?"

The forum exploded with chatter, players buzzing about the new information. William's post had caused a ripple effect, stirring curiosity, excitement, and a dash of envy among the game's community.

As players flooded the forum with questions about the location of the abandoned mines and the misty forest, William noticed a pattern. The residents of Border Town were notoriously tight-lipped about the magic house, evading inquiries with practiced ease. Only the straw people from Moonlight Village seemed unrestrained enough to speak openly about it.

William, however, was convinced he wasn't the only player aware of this hidden gem. Since no one else had mentioned it, he decided it was time to take the initiative.

The forum was buzzing, with about fifty to sixty players online at any given moment. The chat was alive, refreshing at a dizzying rate of 99+ messages a minute. New players continued to join in, eager to learn and engage, like newbies searching for a guiding hand in the chaos.

William took a deep breath and created a new thread. "Heads up, everyone! Werewolves have been spotted in Border Town. They travel in packs. Players below level 10 should steer clear if they value their lives. If anyone hears anything about werewolves, please post here."

The reaction was instantaneous and electric.

"Are werewolves really that vicious?" one player asked, wide-eyed.

"Are these the kind that transform during a full moon?" another chimed in.

"What's their level?" a third questioned, clearly anxious.

Amid the flurry of inquiries, Metatron stood out with a more thoughtful question. "Why would werewolves come to Border Town? Aren't they typically kept at bay by the fortress in the snowstorm?"

William knew the importance of this post. Since he hadn't been included in the Hunter Operation, he needed to rely on the players in Border Town as his eyes and ears. He meticulously detailed his response.

"Each werewolf is at least level 10, with powerful racial talents. They're also a potential job transfer option, but the conditions are incredibly harsh. Right now, you can't hope to fight them, so don't even think about it."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Their presence might be linked to our main quest."

As soon as he hit send, the forum erupted.

Forum Master replied almost immediately, "Main quest? What do you mean?"

It felt like a sword of Damocles hanging over them all, a matter of life and death for every player involved. Most were still in the exploration phase, barely having left Novice Village. Had someone already encountered the main quest?

In a luxurious villa in Australia, a handsome young man stared at his screen in a daze, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

"Can you elaborate?" Forum Master pressed.

"The breeze blows across the hills" added, "If your level is too low, knowing this won't help you; it'll just bring more trouble."

William knew he had opened a Pandora's box, and he braced himself for the storm of reactions that would follow. The stakes were rising, and the players would have to decide how to respond to this new threat.