"Time's up." Kirby tapped her shabby little watch.

Zhai Ren took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "How long will you stay here?"

"I'll leave before the game starts," Kirby replied.

"Good!" Zhai Ren turned and walked away, like he'd made a firm decision.

When he stepped out of the shield and saw the scene outside, his expression showed a flicker of surprise.

Earlier the players had been noisy and clamoring, but now they were all quiet, parting automatically to leave a passageway.

All the players from Dorm 200 had gathered and were walking down the passage!

Zhai Ren swept his gaze over Xu Lang and his group, and there was no melodramatic "I'll avoid his path" moment; he simply retreated calmly to the side.

Inside the Mad King Dormitory Building, no one dared to underestimate Xu Lang.

That was the plain truth.

Ten-plus layers of Blood Grudge were simply terrifying!

"So imposing."

Xu Ruyan looked at Zhai Ren, a trace of astonishment flashing in her eyes.

At two meters tall with a burly frame and clad in heavy armor, Zhai Ren naturally exuded authority.

No one knew what his base attributes were, though.

Xu Lang's gaze swept over Zhai Ren, then settled on Kirby.

"Yordle?"

That was Xu Lang's first thought.

His second thought was...

Let me check your Comfort Level!

[Name: Kirby]

[Role: Merchant]

[Comfort Level: 70]

Ah... blame me, I'm not into plush or lolis... Seventy points of Comfort Level must be from cute-factor bonuses, there's no way Kirby is actually that adorable!

While Xu Lang was lost in thought, Kirby was staring at his group with a smile, "Heh heh, I smell money."

"Bring out all your good stuff!" Cao Yaxuan said, eyes sparkling.

They had heard Kirby's name mentioned many times by Rainy Night Blade and others; seeing her in person felt like encountering an old acquaintance.

"If you can afford any item on the ground, that's already impressive," Kirby scoffed.

Everyone's eyes fell on the blanket.

Everyone except Tong Qi.

"What are you staring at me for?" Kirby asked, puzzled, looking at Tong Qi whose eyes were shining.

Weren't these players supposed to be interested in goods?

So cute... Tong Qi thought silently, restraining herself from saying something rude, and instead asked, "Are you black market merchants a single clan?"

"Something like that," Kirby nodded proudly, "Only our clan can safely travel through the Blood Mist!"

"Can you take others with you?" Tong Qi asked.

"No!" Kirby replied decisively, "If you want to go into the Blood Mist, go by yourself, don't blame us. But I can help deliver messages to other dormitory buildings."

While saying this, she rubbed her fingers together, showing small fangs, looking like a little greed-monger.

"Have you been to many dormitory buildings?" Tong Qi propped her chin with her palm and asked again.

The more she looked at Kirby, the cuter Kirby seemed...

"I haven't been to that many. Do you want me to deliver a message?" Kirby twisted uncomfortably, as if unsure; this woman's eyes were like laser beams.

Kirby was so diligent, still hustling her business at a time like this...

Tong Qi touched her nose to make sure she wasn't bleeding, then said, "I'll give you one thousand Copper Coins, can I touch your face?"

In an instant, Kirby's slightly chubby cheeks flushed bright: "Y-you—you, what is a player like you talking about?"

"Didn't you say black market merchants will agree to anything if the price is high enough?" Tong Qi said with a smile.

Kirby instantly felt her business integrity under attack!

Yes, that's how it was said, but letting someone touch her face was still too embarrassing!

At that moment, Xu Lang pointed at a finished main gate and asked, "Can this be cheaper?"

It was a level seven finished gate—nothing flashy in effect, but at least the level was high.

"Four million Copper Coins, fair to all!" Kirby jumped back and slapped her chest.

Seeing Kirby jump back, Tong Qi's gaze cooled, and she scanned the ground goods for any shady items she might like.

"That's an unreasonable price," Xu Lang felt Kirby was just making up numbers.

"Then don't buy it!" Kirby huffed.

Kirby had all kinds of sundries, from level one up to level ten, arranged in order from low to high.

"Kirby, you're being rash again," Xu Lang spread his hands, "You sell low-end goods and high-end goods, you just want to make more money. I don't have that many Copper Coins. Think about what you lack, we'll trade goods for goods; maybe I can find what you need."

"What do I lack?" Kirby's eyes brightened, her little hand suddenly slipped behind her back. She cleared her throat, "Do you have any items with unknown levels? Show me. Or some seasonings. When I walk the wilds, I like to cook my own food."

Little Kirby, you're that exposed and still pretending with me!

Xu Lang's mouth tilted, and he suddenly leaned close to Kirby, "Kirby, other players told me you like chili peppers, right?"

Cut to the chase!

"How do you know?!" Kirby's face immediately showed panic, glancing left and right. Fortunately there was a shield, so others couldn't hear the conversation, or her secret silent chili scavenging would be exposed!

Hearing this, Cao Yaxuan and the others stopped looking at goods and circled closer.

Kirby felt like she was surrounded by seven big scary uncles, her face squeezed up.

"Don't ask how I know... Kirby, you don't want your love of spicy food to be exposed, right?" Xu Lang said with a faint smile.

"What do you want?" Kirby's brows knitted, as if on the verge of tears.

"Give me that level seven gate!" Xu Lang pointed at the level seven finished gate.

Kirby's dark little face went white with anger.

Asking for a level seven gate outright, how shameless are you?!

"No way! Just broadcast the info so they raise the price... then Kirby won't be able to buy chilies," Kirby said, suddenly teary-eyed.

The thought of others hiking the price of chilies and gouging her hurt worse than being killed.

Xu Lang looked at Kirby intently.

The Heavy Armor Maniac and the others were right; Kirby's obsession with chili peppers ran deep.

There was surely something hidden in it, but he had no desire to pry.

"I'm not taking it for free. I'll trade you a level six finished gate." Xu Lang produced a level six finished gate.

He was going to use it to fuse with the Golden Pillar Jade Toad Door.

"But that would violate the Dorm Survival Game rules..." Kirby looked conflicted.

"Then I'll add two hundred thousand Copper Coins." Xu Lang smiled.

Kirby's mouth twitched: "At least two million!"

"Two million it is!" Xu Lang agreed gladly.

Kirby suddenly felt shortchanged; in her flustered moment she had offered the lowest number.

Xu Lang had Sixth Sense; he could read Kirby's emotional shifts perfectly.

"Kirby, don't feel cheated..."

Isn't this being cheated? Not profiting is a loss, a huge one!

Kirby was about to retort when she saw Xu Lang pull out a shriveled red chili!

"I have your favorite big chili here!"