Dark Mist Town

Many years later, some may reminisce about that distant afternoon in the streets of Dark Mist Town, where a young and naive scavenger arrived.

—He was but a teenager.

Covered in yellow sand, he appeared young—weak, modest, and anxious.

If it were any other time, someone would surely approach to question and claim the items in his possession.

But on this scorching afternoon, shortly after the sandstorm had died down, just before nightfall—

No one's thoughts lingered on the young scavenger.

After all,

Venturing into the realm of death, even scavenging for scraps, is risky work.

It's a stroke of luck for this boy to return unscathed.

Rewards?

Without strength, what gains could he possibly have found?

The boy's and his harvests may consist of nothing more than discarded trash.

No one paid attention to this inexperienced scavenger.

The scavenger looked around the town, looking at the buildings one by one.

It seemed as though this town had gone through a catastrophe. Many houses lay in ruins, yet people seemed indifferent, allowing them to remain in disrepair.

Throughout the entire town, only a handful of buildings had their doors open, with someone stationed at each, indicating some resemblance of normalcy.

Finally, the scavenger paused before the largest structure in town.

—It was a bar.

The young scavenger checked the time.

Exactly a quarter of an hour had passed.

["A Man Without A Role" has ended]

The boy pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Someone stood before him and inquired, "And you are?"

"Scavenger," the boy confirmed.

The man hesitated momentarily before stepping aside.

The boy entered the Building.

Many pairs of eyes lay on him.

"A noobie?."

"I smell death from him, likely just returned from the realm of the death."

"At such a young age, risking the realm of death... He doesn't seem inexperienced."

At this moment, people's perceptions shifted once again.

—This young man, despite his apparent lack of strength, dares to venture into the realm of death and return. Perhaps there is more to him than meets the eye.

So—

His harvest could be...

Behind the bar, a bartender called out to Liuping: "Scavenger?"

"Yes," Liu Ping acknowledged, making his way to the bar and stopping in front of it.

"Any luck lately?" the bartender inquired.

"It's been decent," Liuping replied.

"Are you interested in making an exchange?" the bartender suggested.

"I'm seeking a formal identity," Liuping declared.

"An identity!"

Several individuals who had been approaching to engage in conversation halted, pivoted, and retreated to their previous positions.

The bartender fixed his gaze on Liu Ping and slowly remarked, "That so? You are just a teenager. You see, the wilderness is filled with those seeking to test their luck in the Realm Of Death. Most of them end up as mere food for the monsters. And you believe you can obtain a formal identity?"

"Just as you mentioned, unlike other scavengers, I returned" Liu Ping retorted, meeting the bartender's gaze with unwavering resolve.

The bartender pursed his lips, suddenly feeling a tad uncertain about how to proceed.

This kid is too composed.

Such composure surpasses his apparent age, and it's utterly genuine.

The reason the bartender excelled in his profession was his knack for observing people and providing service, rarely making errors.

After a brief hesitation, the bartender reached for a card from the stack beneath the bar counter and glanced at it.

As the bartender laid eyes on the card, a gray mist adorned its surface, within which countless contorted faces emerged, encircling a shadowy figure.

Upon the bartender's gaze, the myriad faces on the card pivoted away, collectively fixing their stare on him.

—Unexpectedly, it was this card.

This card was the "Dark Lucky," signifying that the individual before you is highly valuable and worth his time.

The bartender grinned and remarked, "You wandered alone outside Dark Mist Town for a quarter of an hour without any trouble. And now, you've safely entered the bar and approached me with a request—Seems you're well-prepared."

"Please, continue," Liu Ping urged.

"This place is not suited for it. Follow me," the bartender gestured.

He led Liu Ping into the room behind the bar.

The door closed behind them.

The bartender settled himself at a large wooden table and began, "The machine indicated that you come from Orchid Valley. As far as I know, it's been entirely consumed. But such occurrences are commonplace in the wilderness. it's best to forget such things. Dwelling on them will only lead to your demise."

Liu Ping chuckled, "Do I appear sorrowful to you?"

The bartender smiled softly and murmured, "Your Orchid Valley was destroyed. And according to the data, no one was left alive. So, they all ventured into the realm of death, and you—"

"Not only did you survive, but you also thrived in the realm of death and found your way back. Now, you want an official identity from Dark Mist Town. Am I wrong?" the bartender interrupted.

"How do you know all this so accurately?" Liu Ping inquired.

The bartender replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "The eternal night ceaselessly consumes everything. It devours the land and the lives of the living. Our Dark Mist Town stands as the sole bastion of life within hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. With even a modicum of wit, one knows what to do."

"It seems you've encountered many like me," Liu Ping remarked.

"—But you're the youngest," the bartender noted, spreading a cloth over the table.

He gestured toward the cloth and said, "Alright, let's see what you have. Don't fret, everything abides by the rules here."

Liuping opened his storage bag and placed a portable miniature Submachine Gun and a Chijin spear on the table.

"These can only be exchanged for some money. It won't be enough for the official status you're looking for" the bartender shook his head.

Liuping then withdrew a Spirit Hound Talisman from his bag and set it beside the submachine gun.

The bartender examined it closely and remarked, "The Talisman is indeed unique to the world of death, but it's stained with blood, which compromises its quality..."

He took the talisman, hesitated for a moment, then extracted a metal card from his pocket and laid it on the table.

Liuping inspected the card and noticed a weathered miner's emblem engraved upon it.

The bartender elucidated, "The Talisman holds immense significance. Each one acquired from the world of death helps us unravel its mysteries. Depending on the value of your Talisman, you can secure residency in Dark Mist Town and work as a miner."

Liuping felt a pang of surprise.

At that moment, many things became clear to him.

Hong Tao and Zhao Chanyi must possess a profound understanding of the world of the living.

They had led him to scavenge for scraps and had even cautioned him about revealing his identity, yet they hadn't divulged much about the items needed to secure official status.

So...

'Showing that item should be safe' Liuping thought.

"Actually, I still have something" Liuping announced, returning the golden spear and submachine gun to his bag. Instead, he took out a statue of a unicorn and placed it on the table.

The moment the statue touched the table, a faint noise emanated from the wall behind the bartender.

A mechanized voice resounded from behind the wall

[According to the standards of magical civilization, this item has reached an excellent level and is being recorded.]

[The data has been uploaded.]

[The comparison is consistent, and the verification confirms that this is a worthwhile acquisition,] the mechanized voice intoned.

[Receptionist No. 03687, please reward contributors according to the rules.] the voice continued.

The bartender's expression turned startled as he straightened up, then he explained to Liuping, "This is a magic mount... A rare find from another collapsed world of death, possessing significant research value."

"Since you've managed to discover such a rare artifact, your identity should be more than that of a mere miner," the bartender concluded.

He retrieved three metal cards from his pocket and laid them out in front of Liu Ping.

The first card depicted a weathered brown whip and a pair of worn leather gloves.

On the second card were depicted a torch, a pair of daggers, and a crossbow.

The third card bore a relatively simple design—a set of basic armor and a spear.

"As a mine overseer, a night watchman, or a town guard, you may choose one of these three official professions to exchange for," the bartender explained.

He elaborated further, "Each profession comes with its training, teaching you the relevant fundamental skills, providing corresponding authority and salary, and offering protection within the confines of Dark Mist Town."

"Of course, if you manage to meet certain standards, there's potential for ranking up" he added.

Liuping then placed the golden spear on the table before him and stated, "This is for you."

The bartender quickly shook his head, "You Don't need to bribe me. I can only act according to the rules. It's impossible to grant you a formal profession outside of the established regulations."

Undeterred, Liuping gently pushed the golden spear toward the bartender and insisted, "Don't worry, I have no ulterior motives. However, choosing a profession is a significant life decision for a newcomer like me, so I'd appreciate a more detailed introduction."

Under the subdued lighting, glimmers of light emanated from the golden spear, casting a gentle glow onto the bartender's face, and softening his expression.

The bartender chuckled and remarked, "Providing detailed explanations to newcomers joining Dark Mist Town is both my duty and responsibility."

"In that case, let me elaborate—"

He proceeded to tap on each of the three cards in succession and explained, "The mine overseer oversees the mining operations, supervising the miners as they excavate and inspect minerals daily. It's demanding work, but the overseer holds authority over all the miners;"

"The night watchman's role is the most perilous among the three occupations, but it offers the highest profit margins and requires a certain level of strength to excel;"

"If you want a permanent residence in Dark Mist Town, then go for the town guard. Maintaining security and order within Dark Mist Town is under the purview of the town guard. While there may be times of conflict, the villages are dwindling while strongholds are on the rise. In recent months, newcomers to our Dark Mist Town have nearly vanished."

"You're still young," the bartender continued, "I suggest you consider becoming a guard of Dark Mist Town. This way, you'll only need to patrol during the daytime, ensuring a safe and secure environment."

Liuping hesitated, unsure about the night watchman's role, but decided to let the bartender explain further, reasoning that he had already made the payment.

The bartender patiently clarified, "When night descends and the realm of death intersects with ours, it's the night watchman's duty to defend Dark Mist Town. They must engage in battle against the creatures of the night, even contending with threats from hidden dimensions until dawn."

"Does that mean the entire town needs protection?" Liuping inquired.

"At the very least, we must safeguard the bar," the bartender emphasized. "The bar serves as a hub for disseminating news, conducting transactions, and providing respite and provisions. If this establishment were to fall, the town would lose its significance."

Liuping contemplated this.

'In the world of death, there is only night, daylight never falls from the sky.'

Hidden dimensions and temporal anomalies...

Liuping shook his head lightly.

'—But, those belong to the realm of spirituality!'

'That is our world.'

Why would it intertwine with the world of death?'

'If I chose the overseer or the town guard, I will never have the chance to explore the hidden dimensions and temporal anomalies within the world of death.'

 Liuping concluded.

He reached out, selecting one of the three metal cards, and laid it out on his palm.

As he did so, the magic mount statue that had been on the table vanished—as if whisked away by an unseen force.

The bartender observed this with a solemn expression.

"In a formal manner," he intoned, "Welcome to Dark Mist Town."