Online Game: My 10,000x Intelligence Buff Awakens

Elise knew her item shop sold very expensive goods, so few players bought anything, and there wasn't much she could do.

Safe Zone 9527 is pretty far from the Ice City settlement, and many materials have to be sourced there at high prices.

As for [Windchaser] saying she could make a big profit, Elise didn't believe it at all.

Just then, Ethan added, "Relax, I won't lie to you. I'll invest about 5 million Dawn Coins. How much you earn depends on how much savings you have."

Elise's eyes went wide. She stared at Ethan in disbelief. Her rosy lips opened and closed, like she couldn't decide what to say.

After a moment, she asked, "Five million Dawn Coins? Not fifty thousand, not five hundred thousand?"

Ethan nodded. He had almost 10 million in savings now. At a 1.3:1 exchange rate, he could spend 6.5 million cash to get 5 million Dawn Coins.

Why exchange for Dawn Coins? Of course, to make money.

According to Ethan's plan, once the [Ice Calamity] wakes up, players will be forced into battle. Then all healing and recovery items will skyrocket in price.

He could use this chance: have Elise buy up items and potions cheaply now, and when large-scale fights break out, sell them at high prices.

Why not have Lucas, Sylvan, and Lucian do it?

Because Ethan knew the number of weapons and gear is much lower than the number of players. Only an NPC like Elise has the channels to buy large quantities of items and potions.

For now, Ethan still couldn't tell Elise what was going to happen. He needed to use the [Ice Calamity] Intel to get more benefits for himself.

Elise stood up so fast her full chest almost pressed against Ethan.

Staring at him in disbelief, she said, "[Windchaser], with 5 million Dawn Coins, if you're lucky and hit one of those rare big auctions, you could at least buy two pieces of Purple-quality equipment."

"I've worked for so long, hunted tons of monsters, and even run an item shop. All my savings still add up to only one million Dawn Coins."

"How are you so rich?!"

Ethan gently moved Elise's head aside. What he wanted most now was to learn how to recreate the [Blue Ice Potion] in the real world.

He wasn't interested in the little temptations Elise showed. Power mattered more to him than beauty.

Elise didn't mind his gesture. She was busy deciding whether to trust Ethan.

So she asked: "If I put in one million Dawn Coins, how much could I make? One and a half million?"

Ethan thought for a moment. He couldn't be sure—it depended on how much players were willing to pay for items that were already pricey.

But he did have ways to push demand. The simplest was to create a "lucky winner," a "successful gold prospector" that everyone thought they could be.

He said to Elise, "At least one and a half million. If it's less, I'll cover the difference. If you keep hesitating, I'll hand this chance to someone else."

Elise nodded at once, afraid he really would give the deal to another person.

She quickly answered his earlier question:

"For making the [Blue Ice Potion], only one material is truly key: the blood from monsters in Frostspire Tower. It holds an Ice Virus in a special state."

"You players might not know this, but the virus has a kind of living will. It only becomes fully active in low temperatures."

"The more active and stronger the Ice Virus, the better the [Blue Ice Potion] turns out."

Ethan's eyes lit up. He instantly thought of the boss named Jake he killed on B3 of Frostspire Tower, and asked:

"I killed a monster there with a face on its chest. If we use the Ice Virus in its blood, how about that?"

Elise frowned a little and said, unsure, "I don't know how strong that monster you mentioned is, but the stronger the monster, the more active and powerful the Ice Virus in its body."

Ethan said slowly, "Strong enough to serve as a carrier for the [Calamity]?"

Right away, a few strands of Elise's blue hair turned red.

She looked at Ethan in shock, then remembered that the admin Tina had mentioned the [Calamity] in front of him before.

But that was just a brief mention—nothing about carriers.

Elise took a deep breath, her tone stern and warning.

"[Windchaser], remember this: stay away from the [Calamity]. Don't get involved in anything related to it!"

Ethan's expression shifted. So Elise also knew that powerful monsters could become carriers for the [Calamity].

For some reason, though, she didn't want to say more.

"I'll try," Ethan said. "But you still haven't answered my question."

Elise's hair turned blue again. She took out a notebook from under the counter and started scribbling. After a full hour, she closed it and said to Ethan:

"If you really can find Ice Virus at that level, we can make a higher-quality [Blue Ice Potion] with a bigger boost."

"The other materials are just there to make the Ice Virus harmless. Those can be replaced in other ways."

Ethan let out a small breath and thought of Jake in the real world.

Jake had already been used as a carrier by the [Ice Calamity], so the Ice Virus in his blood was likely even stronger.

Ethan tested the waters with another question, but Elise shook her head and said:

"I need time to make an estimate. I've never seen Ice Virus at the level you're talking about."

"But if it works, it should be enough to push your strength from Stage 2 to close to Stage 3."

"Stage 2?"

Ethan thought for a moment and realized this was how Elise referred to player strength, since his [Berserk Blood War God] was showing Stage 2.

In the real world, his physical ability—without triggering [Pain Resistance]—was at the limit of a normal human.

That was about the same as a level 10 player in Dawnfall Online, just without a class change.

By Elise's naming, you only reach Stage 1 after you complete your class change.

In the real world, if he triggered his [Pain Resistance] talent, he could roughly reach Stage 1.

If he could use a [Blue Ice Potion] made from the Ice Virus in Jake's blood in the real world, how much stronger would he get?

Ethan felt he could at least reach his current in-game power—around mid Stage 2.

Of course, that doesn't include his gear or skills.

After all, in the real world he didn't even have a decent weapon.

Ethan kept talking with Elise, trying to get more useful Intel, but her focus stayed on how to make money and on his five million Dawn Coin investment.

He could only tell her to wait. Following the [Saint Healer's Secret Formula], he bought some materials from her.

She had most of them in her shop. For anything missing, she promised to source it quickly.

Only one Blue-quality material, called [Stone-in-Flower], she couldn't get. But she knew it could be found at a place called the Stone Mountain settlement.

Elise said she didn't have time to go there lately, so Ethan would have to handle it himself.

Ethan handed the task to Lucas and Sylvan. He knew that if you travel to another city in the real world, you can log into Dawnfall Online from that city.

Then you'll appear at a different settlement or Safe Zone in-game.

Players on the game forums have tested this countless times already.

Right then, Ethan's watch buzzed. He checked it—it was a message from [No Sneak Attacks], aka Leo.

[No Sneak Attacks]: [I've got what we need for later. Hurry up and deal with that corpse in your bathroom.]

[No Sneak Attacks]: [I'm doing the dirty work, so you owe me lunch.]

[Windchaser]: [No problem. Top-grade Kobe beef.]

[No Sneak Attacks]: [You're doing that on purpose. How am I supposed to eat after handling a corpse?]

[Windchaser]: [Then I'll buy you a burger.]

[No Sneak Attacks]: [Forget it, Kobe beef it is. I'll eat with my eyes closed!]

Seeing Leo's reply, Ethan smiled, checked the time, and logged out of Dawnfall Online.

Dr. Axel hadn't left the hospital yesterday. Top doctors like him have their own rest areas.

Ethan planned to get a check-up later and have Dr. Axel estimate how long he might have left. He also wanted to ask what exactly was in that glass vial.

Lying in the hospital bed, Ethan had just opened his eyes when he heard a cat's meow.

Flora was curled up on his chest, facing the door. She meowed twice, warning Ethan that someone was about to come in.