Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Mr. Zhao Will Pay Tonight! Zhao Liangchen,
Chapter 336: Mr. Zhao Will Pay Tonight! Zhao Liangchen,
Where’s the Dragon? (2)
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Most players blend into the crowd, and a significant portion of them have lost their territories for various reasons, only able to make a living in indigenous cities.
Players like I_Love_Black_Stockings belonged to the top tier.
After finding out that the Black Gold District’s Cat Tail Tavern had a generous sponsor who covered the entire tab, idle players from Maple Harbor flocked here upon hearing the news, pouring in from all corners of the city. The tavern quickly filled up, and the celebration began.
Players were always enthusiastic about a free ride.
Ji Chen didn’t pay much attention. It was just a tavern, just a few players—how much money could they possibly spend?
The gold coins in his backpack alone numbered in the millions; there was no need to worry.
This scene quickly caught the attention of the Cat Tail Tavern’s owner.
But what surprised Ji Chen was that the tavern, which held a prominent position in the Black Gold District, had a middle-aged owner.
He was dressed in a decent robe, had a rather refined appearance, neatly combed hair, and exuded an air of success.
Back on Earth, he might not have been a big shot, but he should be at least a CEO of a publicly traded company.
It seemed like he had hurried back from somewhere. As soon as he walked in, many players greeted him and made way.
Ji Chen nodded silently; it seemed that this middle-aged player had a high reputation among the players in Maple Harbor.
The middle-aged player responded kindly to other players and quickly approached.
He didn’t put on any airs and instead humbly extended his hand.
“Hello, Mr. Zhao. 1 am the owner of this Cat Tail Tavern. My real name is the same as my forum name, both are called Luo Yang.
Thank you for visiting our humble establishment; your presence truly honors us and brings glory to this small shop.”
Ji Chen nodded, his interest piqued. Although “Lord of Glory” allowed abled adults to play, most of the interested players were indeed young. Individuals like Luo Yang, who appeared to be in their forties, were rare.
Moreover, in a world where combat was the main theme and strength reigned supreme, young people often adapted more easily and survived longer.
So, the fact that Luo Yang could run such a sizable tavern was somewhat surprising.
When asked about this, Luo Yang’s face revealed a hint of bitterness. He didn’t answer immediately but instead said, “It’s a bit noisy down here. How about we go upstairs for a more detailed discussion?”
Ji Chen nodded slightly.
Leading the way, Luo Yang extended his hand towards the staircase and said, “Mr. Zhao, this way, please, and Madam, right this way.”
Ji Chen left the Naga Berserker to guard the staircase on the third floor and followed Luo Yang upstairs with Alice.
The second floor consisted of private rooms, while the third floor resembled an upscale club. The decorations were much more luxurious than on the lower floors. They arrived at an elegantly styled room.
They both sat on either side of the table, with Alice standing by Ji Chen’s side, expressionless, resembling an icy beauty bodyguard.
Luo Yang politely vacated the main seat, even leaving a secondary seat for Alice, and took the third seat.
“Mr. Zhao, to be honest, coming to this world was an accident for me,” Luo Yang began with a wry smile.
“An accident?”
“Yes, as you can see, I’m already at this age, and 1 didn’t enter this game because 1 wanted to become a lord, conquer monsters and enemies, and enjoy the life of a lord, like the younger players.
Back then, 1 heard that ‘Lord of Glory’ had an extremely high degree of virtual reality, with all the senses being no different from reality. Moreover, there were breathtaking sceneries and scenes beyond imagination that couldn’t be seen in the real world. So, I just wanted to come in and take a look, purely for sightseeing. But who would have thought that after entering the game, 1 suddenly couldn’t log out.”
At this point, the middle-aged man sighed, “So many terrifying monsters and enemies appeared around the territory, which made my life miserable. I, a middle-aged man with no experience in this, had no idea how to fight. So, after the newbie protection period ended, my territory was quickly breached. Fortunately, during my escape, I encountered the army of Maple City, barely saving my life. But 1 didn’t have much money left.
In the end, I followed the army to Maple City and, relying on my limited experience from Earth, slowly earned some gold coins. That’s how I started this Cat’s Tail Tavern.”
Luo Yang explained with some sentiments.
Although the last part of his speech seemed light, Ji Chen could faintly sense the hardships hidden within it.
First, his territory was breached, and although he was saved, he was left almost penniless. Yet, not only did he survive in the vast Maple City, but he also opened this relatively large tavern.
As a Lord, Ji Chen naturally empathized with this.
For the native inhabitants, the sudden emergence of a billion players was met with more caution and vigilance. Amid this vigilance and competition, Luo Yang’s ability to thrive in Maple Harbor was quite commendable, making him seem like a talent.
Wait a minute, this was beginning to sound like an inspirational story.
A tale about a middle-aged man who had lost his territory and, through relentless effort, had changed his destiny in a foreign world?
Ji Chen felt a sense of admiration welling up in his heart.
Unconsciously, he dropped the playful expression that had been on his face and teased, “Your experiences are quite remarkable. I believe your journey over these few months could be turned into a bestselling book.”
Luo Yang modestly waved his hand, “My experiences aren’t really worth writing about.
Mr. Zhao, may 1 ask if you have any specific reason for coming to Maple City this time? Although 1 haven’t been in Maple City for long, I’ve been involved in business and have gathered quite a bit of information. I’ve also made acquaintances with many players, and 1 might have some information that could be of assistance to you.”
Luo Yang was a clever individual. Faced with someone significantly more powerful than himself, he understood that cultivating goodwill and friendship could lead to benefits, whether in the short or long term. Regardless of whether this Mr. Zhao was a second-generation wealthy individual or something else entirely, he saw the potential for mutual gain.
“Information?” Ji Chen’s interest was piqued. “So, besides running a tavern, you’re also involved in the information business?”
Luo Yang felt somewhat embarrassed but nodded. “Among the players in Maple City, I have earned some reputation, and many trust me enough to sell me the information they gather outside. So, I decided to make some money out of it.”
Although players’ current strength was not that high, their adventurous spirits led them to explore and gather various miscellaneous information.
From dangerous ruins to gossip about native noble tribes, they knew a bit of everything.
Ji Chen contemplated for a moment. He had already interacted with the Elf race, and his goods had been sold. There didn’t seem to be anything specific he needed to do at the moment… wait, there was one thing.
The Dragon Blood Murlocs, in their quest for further advancement and progression, require more Dragon Blood Crystals. This journey to the Northern Continent serves as a perfect opportunity to seek and acquire them.
With his mind made up, he said, “There is indeed something I’d like to ask you.”
Hearing this, Luo Yang became alert and replied promptly, “Please, Mr. Zhao, go ahead.”
“Do you know where I can find creatures like dragons, perhaps wyverns or earth dragons?”
“Dragons?” Luo Yang’s eyes widened. In this world, dragons and dragon-like creatures were exceptionally powerful beings. Even the lowest-tier earth dragons had a starting tier of four stars, while the higher-tier wyverns were solidly fifth-tier creatures. As for dragons, they were among the top-tier creatures.
“Mr. Zhao, what do you need dragon-like creatures for?”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that. Just tell me if you know.”
“Well…” Luo Yang thought for a moment. “I recall that when some players sold me information last time, they mentioned encountering certain dragons while adventuring outside.”
“If you urgently need this information, I can contact them right away and inquire for more details.”
“That would be ideal.”
With Luo Yang’s quick coordination, half an hour later, two players in disheveled attire arrived, escorted by the tavern’s guards.
As they walked in, they were still chattering.
“Uncle Luo, why did you summon us so late? We were having fun with two ladies from Sixth Street, and you called us before we could finish…!”
The two players had just entered and saw Luo Yang sitting with a distinguished gentleman. There was also an incredibly beautiful woman standing beside him, making them abruptly fall silent.
They were stunned for a moment before hurriedly adjusting their clothes.
Even if they were a bit slow on the uptake, they understood what was going on..