While Silver Bde and Cye talked to Zeygnar, Liam circled the house. Standing before the fence he listened closely.

  The air was clear!

  Liam jumped, climbing over the fence.

  He stopped for a moment.

  No footsteps!

  Letting out a relieved smile, Liam approached the box and began searg.

  It took him three attempts, but he finally retrieved the st message in a bottle!

  A feeling of satisfa crept into his mind as he mao achieve his goal despite the ges pared to his past life.

  Subsequently Liam left, meeting up with Silver Bde and Cye.

  At this moment a person suddenly revealed themselves from the shadow of a nearby building.

  Tiny eyes stared at Liam’s ba surprise.

  Why didn’t I think of this?

  The pyer who had observed Liam’s as was another rehief in ames, Bck Rat.

  However, Bck Rat didn’t get his reputation through fighting but by being able to steal from anyone. Although this was naturally boasting, he was indeed quite famous for his skills.

  So far Bck Rat had already started robbing a few on NP Fate of aboul.

  But watg Liam, he suddenly felt as if a new world opened up before his eyes.

  Right, I don’t o steal out of NPC’s pockets. This game clearly offers so much freedom. I steal from everywhere!

  The famous thief was excited. Entering his stealth, he sneaked up to Zeygnar’s house and jumped over the fence.

  Looking around iement, Bck Rat didn’t find anything worthy of this reputation. Thus, he opehe back door and sneaked into the house.

  At this moment, footsteps echoed on the wooden floor.

  Bck Rat hid below a table, remaining perfectly still. Quickly, the dark-skinned Zeygered his vision.

  The mert murmured something as he walked towards the backyard with a frown on his face.

  Suddenly Zeygnar stopped in pce.

  Bck Rat felt a hint of doubt.

  He couldn’t have seen me, right?

  If this was really the house of a on NPC, Bck Rat might be able to stay hidden. But Zeygnar, albeit not powerful in the text of this world, was still a few levels above the pyer.

  Thus, with a quice he spotted the thief hiding below his table.

  “You dare, little thief?! What do you take me for, entering my house as you please?!”

  Bck Rat felt his throat drying up as heavy footsteps approached him.

  Meanwhile Liam had already gathered with his friends. He looked at the street in surprise as two heavily armuards entered Zeygnar’s house.

  Silver Bde was fused as well:

  “This doesn’t have anything to do with us, right?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Hopefully they don’t arrest the mert.”, worried Cye. “Where should we go for Silver Bde’s new quest if that guy goes to jail?”

  “You received another quest?”

  Liam looked at Silver Bde in disbelief, still surprised by her charisma stat.

  “Yes. But I don’t know if I aplish it yet.”

  “Why? What are you supposed to do?”

  “Apparently Zeygnar was attacked while crossing the o, leading to some of his wares falling into the water.

  Now we have to get them from a pce called Red’or isnd.”

  “Ahh, this will take some time.”

  Red’or isnd was one of the myriad isnds located withing the vast Deavin O. The inal nephilim lived mostly on the several bigger isnds, like the volid Ventarra, which Liam was ht now.

  Many quests would eventually guide the pyers to explore the isnds, but this was only possible at higher levels.

  The friends versed a bit longer.

  Eventually Liam asked a question in his head.

  C? you tell me what time it is?

  [It is 17:26, pyer.]

  Oh, I thought more time had passed.

  [The time flow between the virtual world and the real world is 3:1.]

  Are there any limitations on game time?

  [Right now, the virtual world is accessible from 9:00 to 19:00.]

  Liam nodded his head. In his past life the virtual world followed a simir pattern, ging its schedule after a while.

  But it’s already getting te. I should go home to Serena.

  Thus, Liam addressed his friends.

  “Suys but I have to end here for today.”

  “What? You’re leaving, expert?”

  “Yeah. I have some responsibilities at home.”

  “Ahh, a pity.”

  Silver Bde and Cye accepted relutly.

  “Are you baorrow?”

  “Of course.”

  “Great, then we solve some more quests!”, chuckled Cye.

  “Yeah, let’s work together again.”, added Silver Bde.

  “You guys do some quests on your own as well. Here iown are a lot of easy quests.”

  “Hmm, we will see.”, answered Cye nonittal.

  “Well, py at your own pace. I’m off now. Bye!”

  “Bye.”

  “Bye, bye expert.”

  Silver Bde and Cye waved at Liam as he suddenly disappeared.

  A few seds ter the young man woke up withiraining room. He moved carefully, his body sore from all the sitting.

  I wonder if they will provide VR capsules iure…

  Liam carefully stood up, moving his body. But suddenly he froze in pce.

  What’s going on?

  Liam did a few exercises, finding them a lot easier all of a sudden. His thoughts spun as he stared at the sole around his upper body.

  Are those rumors true? Our strength in the virtual world be brought to the real world?!

  Liam was frozen in disbelief. He trated on his body, feeling a faint trace of warmth spreading form the sole through his body.

  With trembling hands he grabbed the sole, carefully lifting it up. Suddenly a feeling of weakness assaulted him. His mi dizzy as an invisible e was interrupted.

  How this be…

  At this moment a otion reached Liam’s room from outside. The young man shelved his doubts. Putting the sole ba he left the room.

  he entrance Liam spotted Master Baker. A fist like a proud dragon smashed into a young man’s stomach, lifting him up and throwing him outside.

  “Hmpf. Good-for-nothings! Found a tiny bit of strength and think you’re some kings?

  Relying oernal strength. What a disgrace. This is exactly the reason why I didn’t take you in back then!”

  A few youngsters sat outside the dojo, obviously having received a fierce beating. One of them dragged his injured body up.

  “You will pay for this, old man!”

  Leaving behind these words he helped up his friends a.

  Liam approached the master from behind, bowing lightly.

  “Master, what was that about?”

  “Just some arrogant guys I refused in the past. Now they got their hands on a VR sole. With their little bit of strength, they already think about taking revenge.

  Don’t learn from them, boy. I have some hope for you but if you only rely oernal forces, you will lose yourself!”

  Master Baker eyed Liam with a sharp gaze, obviously able to tell somethie Liam’s shirt hiding the sole.

  Liam took a sharp breath as he bowed deeply.

  “I will remember your words, master.”

  “Mhm.”

  “Are there more people causing chaos?”

  “Sure. Today will be quite chaotic, with the army distracted by the virtual world and too many people suddenly growing stronger. Many egoing through the roofs.”

  Eyes shooting wide open, a shiver ran down Liam’s spine.

  Oh no, Serena!

  “Sorry, master, I have to leave.”

  Liam didn’t expin more as he dashed out of the dojo. He made his way through the lower city. Ironically it was retively peaceful as no one in the lower city could afford a sole.

  The middle-css citizens were hit the hardest, with many stores looted and fights happening on the open street.

  But as the army was slow to quell the chaos, it slowly began to engulf the city, with many troublemakers feeling that their ce had e.

  Meanwhile Doctor Hearley had closed her ic as soon as the first wounded arrived.

  Although as a doctor she felt guilty, but the people ing didn’t stop their fight even within the ic, making it impossible for the doctor to tinue doing her job.

  Thus, she gathered all her employees, naturally including Serena, and hid in her apartment.

  For a while nothing happened but eventually a otion could be heard throughout the entire building. When a banging came from the solid door, poor Serena hugged her stuffed animal and pressed her body against the wall.

  Kathrin calmly caressed her head.

  “Don’t worry, Serena. Nothing will happen. The army will arrive soon.”

  Serena’s body trembled. Kathrin naturally didn’t know that the pirl was reminded of the time when people tried to get her and Liam out of their old home.

  Brother, where are you? Are you safe?

  A door opened, letting everyone flinch. But it was only Merida who came out of the bathroom. Small pouches were in her hand.

  “Guys.”

  Six pairs of eyes turowards the doctor.

  “Don’t be afraid. Those are just some people making use of the chaos. They aren’t strong!

  Here, take these and throw them if the door should open!”