Chapter 78: The Emblem Beyond Worth

When Malik arrived at the Lord's Manor, his brows furrowed as he saw the massive black mansion ahead. A sea of players had gathered, and a long line stretched all the way to the street, buzzing with murmurs and complaints.

"There's a lot of people here, Brother. We should follow the queue," Goliath suggested, his voice low and cautious.

A frown formed on Malik's face. Follow the queue? With the precious little time he had left and the countless tasks still ahead of him, wasting it in a sluggish line wasn't an option. Goliath noticed the shift in his expression and immediately panicked, thinking he'd said something wrong. But then—like a sudden change in weather—Malik's cold frown melted into a calm, almost mischievous smile.

"Come with me," Malik said, his tone decisive.

Goliath stared at him, stunned, but he had no choice but to follow. He trailed behind Malik like a chick behind a mother hen, anxiety knotting in his chest.

'What's he doing? He's heading straight to the guards? Is he out of his mind? Don't he see they're chasing people away left and right?'

Goliath's thoughts ran wild, not unlike a trapped mouse. And he wasn't the only one—other players nearby saw the scene unfolding and began to whisper.

"Who are those two?"

"Don't they have eyes?"

"Can't they see the guards aren't letting anyone in?"

"Frogs in the well. Watch, they'll be kicked out just like the rest."

Just then, one of the guards—a stern-looking Level 70 NPC dressed in obsidian armor—stepped forward and raised a hand.

"Stop there. What qualifications do you have for entering here?" the guard barked, his tone rigid.

Malik arched a brow slightly, amusement flashing in his eyes. "Are you talking to me?" he asked, voice calm like still water before a storm.

The crowd leaned in, expecting the guard to draw his weapon. Even Goliath subtly shifted a foot back, ready to bolt if things went south.

But then, to everyone's shock, the guard's expression changed. His proud chin dipped low, his tone melting into reverence.

"I'm sorry, Esteemed Sir… I didn't recognize your esteemed self earlier."

"I want to enter the Lord's Manor with my friend. Can you let us in?"

"This manor was built to welcome individuals like yourself, Esteemed Sir. And a friend of yours must surely be an esteemed individual as well. You're both free to enter."

Malik nodded, and with a flick of his fingers, gestured for Goliath to follow. The towering man obeyed, still trying to process what just happened.

Outside, the commotion exploded like firecrackers.

"Who was that guy?"

"He just walked in freely!"

"Did you see the way the guard bowed? Is he the son of the City Lord or what?"

"Or maybe he bribed the guards…"

Curiosity turned into chaos as several players tried their luck, imitating Malik's path. One after another, they were promptly kicked away like flies bothering a lion.

Inside the mansion, Malik moved through the corridors with calm steps. Goliath trailed behind, his wide eyes scanning the luxurious decor, but Malik's focus was elsewhere. He strolled toward the collection stand, browsing through the displayed items with a frown. Most of the treasures here were disappointing—mundane trinkets with minor stat boosts. The most valuable item was a plain silver ring worth just 800 contribution points.

"Esteemed Sir," the receptionist began, noting his lack of enthusiasm, "it seems none of the items here have piqued your interest."

"Yeah, they're too ordinary. Isn't there another place I can browse?"

"This… there's actually another exchange point upstairs…"

"Then take me there," Malik interrupted, his tone firm but not impolite.

The receptionist hesitated, her eyes lowering to the floor as if something invisible weighed down her shoulders.

"You need permission to access that floor… Only those with an emblem bearing the Blackroot City symbol are allowed up there. I'm sorry, I can't take you."

She gave a light bow and turned to leave. But Malik's eyes gleamed with understanding. So it's like that… The emblem with the Blackroot symbol, huh?

"Wait," he called out, pulling an item from his storage ring. He held it up.

"Is this what you're talking about?"

The receptionist's eyes widened in disbelief. A tremble shot through her body like she'd been struck by lightning. Even Goliath gawked, stunned speechless.

This individual… Not only is he a noble, but he also carries the Blackroot City's emblem? I nearly walked away from him…

Without hesitation, the receptionist bowed deeply, placing her right hand across her chest in respect.

"I'm sorry, Esteemed Sir. I was ignorant. I deserve to be punished for my oversight."

"You don't need all that," Malik said with a light sigh. "Just lead me upstairs."

"Truly, you are kind, Sir. In that case… please follow me."

Malik nodded, falling in behind her. Goliath didn't move. He knew his place. That upper floor wasn't meant for the likes of him, and trying to follow would be akin to touching the sun.

"This is as far as I can go," the receptionist said with a gentle bow as they reached the staircase.

Malik thanked her softly before ascending. The stairs spiraled like a path toward divinity. At the top, he was greeted by a wide hall filled with treasures that seemed to glow with their own will.

His eyes lit up as he stepped forward, breath catching in his throat—only to freeze. A shadow shifted behind him. Instinct took over. He spun and grabbed the hand that reached for his cloak.

"Yvonne?" he called, surprised.

The young woman blinked in shock, then her face broke into a radiant smile. "Benefactor… You're still alive."

They both took a step back, tension easing slightly.

"What are you doing here?" they asked in unison, eyes locked in mutual disbelief.

"I came to exchange my contribution points for treasures," Malik answered, still half-cautious.

Yvonne's eyes sparkled. "Contribution points, huh? Then why not exchange downstairs?"

"Nah, those items are too inferior. They aren't even worth a thousand points."

He turned to examine a treasure mounted on the wall—its golden frame surrounding a shining blue longsword. Just one glance made Malik's heart beat faster.

"That's… that's an Epic weapon."

He reached toward it, trembling slightly with excitement. But when he checked the cost, the thrill drained from his face.

900,000 contribution points… Even in three years, I couldn't gather that much…

His expression darkened. Nearly every item in the hall was priced far beyond his reach. The cheapest among them was still 10,000 CP—more than double what he had.

"How did you even get in here?" Yvonne asked, placing a hand on her forehead like she was nursing a headache.

Malik turned to her, frustration creeping into his tone. "The emblem you gave me… Who really are you? And what are you doing here?"

"That doesn't matter," Yvonne replied calmly. "But as my benefactor, there's something I must tell you."

She looked at him, her expression serious.

"There's more to that emblem than you think."