BXBX NOVEL Chapter 55: Baby Steps (1)
After that thought, Jake returned to his old self.
He didn't particularly feel terrible because his weapon shattering into pieces actually meant that he had just miscalculated his new strength. Jake didn't think he'd also be that strong, so he was content with the development.
It was better to lose a weapon in a safe training ground environment than outside the capital in a monster's lair.
Moreover, if the group of archers was actually talented or proficient in archery, they would have noticed that Jake used too much strength for his weapon and that his bow wasn't broken in the slightest, meaning he took good care of it, and its durability points were all at its fullest.
If they were that bad, then perhaps he would learn nothing from them, and it would be him giving them too many valuable pointers instead.
That would be the worst move he could make.
Jake heard many stories of promising players in different games before the immersive virtual reality game who had lost their sharpness because they played too many casual games with their friends on a low level.
Coming from the jungle where Jake and his pets could freely fight and develop themselves without anyone cutting in, Jake had to remind himself that he couldn't become too close with players and NPCs whose goals didn't line up with his.
He would always aim for the top and to become the pioneer of archery!
Jake, however, wanted to believe in those guys.
Since he had already set his eyes on making a name for himself on the training grounds and honing himself there on much more advanced effigies, he might as well fix his reputation in the archers' circle and check their talents.
With his prior thoughts of being careful, Jake would often remind himself not to be too friendly until someone showed him something valuable.
'Alright, let's head to the auction house!' Jake's mood returned to his merry one before the training grounds' fiasco, his steps light and casual as he breezed through the bustling crowds of Last Night.
A few minutes later, he faced a four-floor auction house. It matched the city's theme as it was also built from red bricks. The unique touch was that many NPCs with tablet-like boards cradled in their hands stood before the front gates, advertising their stuff.
On those tablets, players could see the newest valuable items of epic and even legendary grades being sold! They were also exclusive to Last Night's Auction House!
After ten months of the game being online and being conquered daily by players, the legendary items finally appeared in the auction houses, meaning players started seeing a lot of fantasy and novel-like stuff in the game.
Last Night was also the capital of the prominent empire, so everyone could find a place for themselves there regardless of their levels.
Jake's presence here wasn't an oddity because of that.
'Those tablets and the NPCs' suits seem influenced by our culture,' Jake thought as he went past one of the NPCs whose job was to showcase the new items. It was a man with a handsome face, his towering frame encased in a tight black tuxedo.
With just a glance, Jake could tell that this man was a professional, as he knew how to gather the attention. Even Jake was subject to the man's taunting(in a good way) smile, his attention drawn for a few seconds.
At last, Jake was inside the auction house.
The cavernous hall, decorated in gold and red accents, conjured a comfortable environment for everyone coming in and out of the building, as no one bumped into themselves and could freely look around. Countless thick pillars, which were golden yet not jarring to the eye, held the vast ceiling on either side like Sisyphus.
A broad red carpet unrolled to the auction's first floor's grand double doors. Behind those was the theater that took the meaning of the auction house to the next level.
The auction house held a monthly event where people bid in person for excellent quality items. The grand doors, therefore, were closed, and the red curtain over there patiently waited for its moment to bask in magical lights.
The mentioned carpet parted like an intersection toward the upper floors on which players would be able to sell or buy items. Jake headed here after a brief guidance from a kind NPC.
On the second floor, Jake momentarily thought he had ended up in a maze as he could only proceed forward through a narrow corridor that allowed only two people to walk side by side.
The corridors had many curtains draping the booths, where ATM-like statues allowed players to connect their game systems to the auction house and see what items were on sale.
Jake found an empty booth and stepped in. That said, he had to move quite deep into the maze to find a free booth!
[Welcome to The Last Night's Auction House!]
[Is it your first time in our humble abode?]
[Yes.]
[Please type your name and confirm it with your game system.]
[A player, Archer, has been registered To The Last Night's Auction House!]
[Would you like to see our exclusive catalog of items or our worldwide catalog created under the partnership with other friendly auction houses?]
That quite intrigued Jake.
His curiosity put its crown on his head and compelled him to see the vast catalog of items! The screen on the ATM-like statue expanded, taking over the booth.
A list of items unfolded before Jake's eyes.
He chose the weapon he wanted to see on sale and waited for it to load…
'Let's see what kind of bows are on sale!'