"Alright, the emails have been sent to Rumia and Elizabeth's groups, as well as to Samantha and Han Jiho's group. Rember, the rewards that are stated in your email mainly ca from as your professor, the only thing that the Obelisk Academy Managent itself said to be given as a reward was the Data Copy of the Dungeon Map you were randomly thrown into, as well as the weapons..."
Professor Murak's voice sounded in everyone's ears just a few minutes after Samantha Hall's and Han Jiho's group ca out of the Virtual Capsules.
He indirectly told the students that complaining was absolutely not an option.
'How rich is he..?'
Freya thought, recalling the content of the email she received.
She then looked at the group of people approaching the Virtual Capsules. It was the last two groups led by Alie Rose rveil and Bailey Clarkson.
Before Alie left her seat, Freya heard her mutter sothing, 'how boring...', indicating that she wanted to finish this quickly.
Freya knew about the existence of the Chaos Training Grounds from her older brother's words, maybe she wanted to train there more and not waste ti on an activity like this.
'Oppa said I should just wait...'
It's been weeks since Freya dread about sothing strange where she was floating in endless pure darkness then she was transferred into the front of races kneeling, waiting for their execution. She remained patient because of his older brother's words and her trust in him, if she didn't know the situation, she would feel haunted by so unknown.
Freya reined in her thoughts as she looked at the holographic screen in front of every student where the last two groups were shown appearing in the virtual world.
...
[You have arrived at the 'Forest of the Dark Mist]
[Warning: Pain Reduction is NOT available]
[There will be NO Pain Tolerance]
[Every stat, rank, and skill was retained in the Virtual World as per the Virtual Capsules settings]
Alie Rose's mouth curled up upon reading the Virtual System ssages. It was specifically because of the Pain Reduction that doesn't exist in the virtual world.
'A bonus... but it's a pity.'
She lampooned inwardly as she considered it a bonus that the virtual battleground randomly assigned to them felt harmonious with her profession and skills, but she soon discovered that her skills were sothing she couldn't use even against monsters because the Virtual System didn't have the records of the corresponding skill rank. Although there were dark elent users among players, especially so that were caught due to committing cris, the dark attribute of Alie's skills felt sowhat different.
'I guess it can't be helped... I need to end this quickly... This is just a virtual world, so punishing those bullies...'
She thought that it was the wrong place for light punishnt as she clearly rembered that Bailey Clarkson indirectly called Freya and Ary prostitutes.
She glanced at her side where Ary Blight was looking at her without a hint of showing what she was thinking.
'Hey, I didn't want to be a leader, you know.'
Alie randomly thought as she felt like Ary couldn't believe that she was the leader of this group.
After so ti of organizing themselves, Alie, Ary, and company began their exploration of the virtual world.
...
After at least an hour in the real world which was equivalent to twenty-four hours in the virtual world, the lids of the ten Virtual Capsules, five on the right, and the remaining on the left opened at the sa ti.
Alie Rose, Ary, and company stood up almost at the sa ti.
Then after a few seconds, she took a glance on the other side where Bailey Clarkson ca out. At that mont, Bailey instinctively looked at Alie's side, veins almost popped out of his forehead with anger as his anger was soaring up, reaching the limit of his tolerance.
'She cheated...!!!'
Bailey convinced himself of that fact, rembering what happened in the virtual world.
For a mont, he saw Alie's mouth curled up, turning into a sinister and sarcastic smile as she looked at him as if he was a doll to be played with.
Bailey forgot to rein in his thoughts as his body moved on its own, lunging forward towards Alie with his right fist clenched.
His group mbers, the other students, as well as Professor Murak saw the situation.
Professor Murak, who knew in his heart the Unwritten Obelisk Academy Mantra, let the situation at that mont unfold.
He could stop Bailey's attack instantly but chose not to for various reasons.
First, although it was illegal for a fight to break out inside the Academy, it was only if one get caught. He would bestow punishnt on the act, especially after it unfolded in his eyes.
Second, the Unwritten Obelisk Academy Mantra stated that the one who felt fear in minor situations will not be able to handle the reality of the 'Player Career' after they graduated from the academy. As an experienced professor and player, he knew that the future of Bailey Clarkson was a bleak one considering his temperant.
Third, he wanted to confirm the strength of the woman with pink hair and red eyes who 'played' with the opposing group during the virtual war to see if he could sense sothing because no matter what skills a person used in the virtual world, the aura pressure emitted by it cannot be felt in the real world.
At that mont, Alie cocked her head to the right as she dodge Bailey's fist, then in that split second, her right fist was about to reach Bailey's abdon when everyone heard an authoritative voice.
"Stop!"
Even Samantha who was watching from afar had her hair stood on end due to the miniscule amount of pressure let out by Professor Murak.
'What was that just now??'
In that split second, he seed confused as though he hallucinated and saw a dark blue aura emitted on Alie's right fist, then it vanished instantly as if it doesn't exist in this world.
"Everyone go back to your seats! This will end the activity today, please prepare for the upcoming event this Wednesday. That's all, dismiss!
And you, Bailey Clarkson, co with to Disciplinary Office, right now!"
As if the soul of everyone distorted by Professor Murak's voice, everyone reined in their thoughts and quickly left the room for A-1 students in the Obelisk of Virtual Technology Building.
But before everyone left, a man with black hair and black eyes looked at Alie with scrutinizing gaze, then he tapped on his smartwatch as he began typing, texting a ssage to soone.
"I've confird her strength. Should I send an invitation letter?"
...
"You're cruel."
It was Ary's voice, she recalled what happened earlier.
Alie just smiled as she walked beside Freya.
After so ti, Freya spoke with a curious tone.
"That's a weird Main Quest you received."
"Yeah, I didn't expect it to be like that. Haha"
The content of their Main Quest in the Forest of the Dark Mist is summarized into two words:
Psychological Death.
The fog with black color was so thick that everyone's visibility at that ti was less than two ters, and the clear conditions of the Main Quest to either kill the Boss Monster lurking in the dark mist or made way for the monsters to hunt the opposing party.
For so reason, Alie's vision was crystal clear in that environnt, she led the monsters of the dark mist towards Bailey's group using sounds as her group maintained their distance. It was a flawless act as they evaded every monster.
The monsters have skills related to psychological corruption that let Bailey and his group mbers killed each other, and during their last monts, they saw Alie and her group walked towards them before they turned into pixels, ending the virtual war.
...
Afternoon, a few hours after the end of the Virtual War Activity of Freya and company.
They sat on the couch and brought out from the Dinsional Inventory the food they bought in the Obelisk Cafeteria One.
"By the way, you know there are two ways to access the Black Market, right?"
Alie still asked even though she knew that Russell knew it from the start.
"Yes, but it's troubleso to make an account, and it's better if I use your account... You know... to fish them out."
Russell said, hinting at sothing that Alie would understand.
"You an..."
Her expression turned solemn combined with resolve.
Russell nodded at her words.
Freya, who was sitting on the far end of the couch beside Alie didn't understand a single thing about what they were talking about, then she curiously asked.
"Oppa, what will you use the Black Market for?"
"To make money."
Russell said as his lips curled up.
Freya knew that Black Market wasn't entirely illegal as it has tacit cooperation with official authorities as long as the conflict didn't erge due to intersecting interests. At least that was what her older brother said.
After a few seconds, he said as he looked at Alie...
"I just need your account, I won't go there personally."
"Alright..."
Alie said as she tapped on her smartwatch, texting the details of her Black Market account to Russell.
Russell then read it as soon as he received the ssage.
"Black Market: Thorn of Rose"
Account Na: Alie Rose rveil
Account Password: ********
Thorn of Rose Access Code:
Accessing the Thorny Path
Red Rose blooms
Pink Rose's Thorns
Black Rose's Blood
White Rose is Death
Transparent Rose is Salvation
...
After confirming the account na and password of Alie's Black Market nad Thorn of Rose account, he asked Alie who just munched her seemingly favorite bacon sandwich.
"Do you have a laptop? Ah... by the way, the money, too."
Laptops, PCs, and cellphones still exist in this world despite the existence of smartwatches because of their different usage and convenience.
'I guess I'm still used to using a keyboard than tapping in the air.' Russell thought inwardly.
Alie took out a laptop as if she had expected this because even though the smartwatch had multiple uses, sotis it was not convenient enough. It just beca the best because one could bring it anywhere they go without exerting extra effort except inside the dungeon where the signal was cut off.
As he opened the laptop and checked his Personal Obelisk Account, he saw the money sent to him by Alie and Freya. He said earlier that he needed them for the Black Market.
'Oppa is so poor, what is he gonna do?'
Freya trusts her older brother, but she couldn't help but lampoon him inwardly, especially when it cos to money.
...
"Welco to Thorn of Rose"
Access Code: Accessing the Thorny Path...
Account Na: Alie...
Account Password: ********
After logging in the Thorn of Rose, Russell, Freya, and the familiar Alie saw the contents of the front page as they read it inwardly starting from the headline.
[Trusted, Verified, and instant delivery upon paynt!
What do our esteed custors need?]
1. Information
2. Auction
3. Artifacts
4. Treasure Herbs
5. Skillbooks
6. Potions
After a minute or two of browsing the page, he finally saw what he was looking for.
33. Stocks
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