One man with a mohawk and another who was completely bald—both burly and imposing—browsed the shelves. To a casual observer, they looked like ordinary customers, though clearly first-timers.
Other races? Kael couldn't tell just by looking at them. Aside from being exceptionally well-built, they appeared human enough.
[System: Congratulations, Host, on completing the Hidden Fame Mission: "My Shop Serves More Than Just One Race!"]
Kael kept his eyes on the two men while replying in his mind: "System, you already said that."
If not for the System's poorly timed notification, Kael wouldn't have spaced out during the battle and gotten swatted away by that Spearman. In the Trial Space, a split-second distraction usually meant an immediate respawn.
"By the way, there should be a reward for a hidden mission, right?" Kael added. No matter who came into the shop, they couldn't cause trouble, but rewards were a different story. If Kael didn't bring it up, the System would likely keep it for itself with a clear conscience.
After a moment of silence, the System replied:
[System: There is indeed a reward, but it will only be issued once they have purchased at least one item from the shop.]
"Fine. Leave it to me," Kael thought. A "Hidden Mission" sounded prestigious, so the rewards shouldn't be too shabby.
Kael motioned for Shier to keep an eye on the shop while he personally walked toward the two newcomers.
Nage and Nagu were meticulously examining the goods.
The Elders of their tribe had mentioned that the forging techniques of these weapons were so exquisite that their own master smiths couldn't even begin to decipher them. One of their goals was to buy as much gear as possible to bring back for study. The second goal was to gather intelligence on the shop—provided they didn't offend the Hero Rank powerhouse residing in Cloud Mist City.
"Gentlemen, can I help you find something?"
The sudden voice made Nage and Nagu jump. They spun around to find a somewhat slender, clean-cut young man standing behind them with an expressionless face.
"Was that you talking?" Nagu growled. He felt a surge of irritation at being startled by such a "little guy."
"It was. Is there something specific you’re looking for?" Kael repeated. It seemed like a standard question, but he noticed the aggressive look on the mohawked man’s face.
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"Never mind what we need. You startled us, and we need to settle that first," Nagu muttered, clenching his fists as if to teach the young man a lesson.
A hand shot out and stopped him.
"Nagu, I told you not to cause trouble," Nage said, his voice laced with disappointment. He truly wondered why the Elder had paired him with this hothead.
"Our apologies, my friend is a bit impulsive," Nage said politely to Kael. "We need armor and weapons—preferably a variety of different types."
"Almost every type is on the shelves. Take what you need to the counter to pay," Kael replied. Now that he knew they intended to buy, he wasn't in a hurry. Proactive selling wasn't really his style anyway.
With that, Kael simply turned and walked away.
"That guy... he just left? Did he come over just to jump-scare me?" Nagu stared at Kael’s back, gritting his teeth. He was equally annoyed that Nage had held him back.
"Enough. Buy the gear first, then we’ll ask about the rest," Nage said, frowning.
Kael’s mood improved instantly knowing the hidden mission was as good as done. Who wouldn't be happy about an unexpected reward?
Returning to the seating area, he was greeted by a chorus of wails.
"Boss! You're finally back!"
"Boss, I beg you, get in the room and carry us!"
It was Blood Wolf and Tiger Hunt. They were on the verge of despair dealing with Gu Pingchuan. The Principal didn't listen to commands, and he certainly didn't know how to lead.
In team combat, if a player’s individual skill was high enough to win a 1v2 or 1v3, lack of coordination wasn't an issue. But in the Combat Strength Enhancement Arena, such a gap didn't exist—at least not yet.
"Manager... perhaps you should join us," Gu Pingchuan said, rubbing his temples as if he had a massive headache.
Kael stared at him. Who wouldn't have a headache from losing constantly? he thought. Gu Pingchuan’s actual power level was so high that it scaled their opponents to an insane degree, which was why Kael usually avoided "carrying" him.
But today, Kael was in a good mood. He was ready for a challenge.
"Fine, Principal. But you must follow my lead," Kael said sternly.
"I’ll... do my best," Gu Pingchuan laughed sheepishly.
In the Arena, everyone was equal. The Principal was beginning to realize that his previous understanding of combat was embarrassingly shallow.
"Please calculate the total for these items," Nage said, stacking weapons and armor on the counter. His heart ached at the prices, but his mind was filled with wonder at the craftsmanship.
Fortunately, the tribe had provided a generous budget for this mission. Even with the high prices, Nage felt they were a bargain. These were items their master smiths couldn't replicate—weapons with devastating power and armor with miraculous defensive properties.
As Shier (whom he assumed was of the Moon-Spirit Cat race) introduced the gear, Nage grew even more convinced. This shop had to be backed by a Hero Rank powerhouse who was also a legendary Grandmaster Blacksmith.
"Excuse me," Nagu asked, his tone much more respectful than before as he gestured toward the seating area. "What are those booths for?"
The tribe’s Elder had warned them repeatedly: This is a place you cannot afford to offend.
"That is the Combat Strength Enhancement training area. By entering the Arena, you can..." Shier began her explanation.
Nage followed her gaze toward the booths. He happened to see Kael shouting angrily at the "old man" sitting next to him, who was nodding and smiling apologetically while taking the scolding.
Nage’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. His voice began to tremble violently.
"That... that is... the Dharma God of the Huangyuan Empire!"
