novelraw Chapter 146-2: The Association’s Scam, First Encounter with Rona (2)
Chapter 146-2: The Association’s Scam, First Encounter with Rona (2)
[It takes out a list and hands it to you…]
[Scholar Badge (Item): A book-shaped badge made of Refined Copper, inscribed with numerous white-glowing characters. Carrying this item provides a minor boost to your knowledge-type skills. Spirit Essence Value: 0]
[Elite Scholar Badge (Item): A book-shaped badge made of Refined Copper, inscribed with numerous white-glowing characters. Carrying this item provides a small boost to your knowledge-type skills. Spirit Essence Value: 10000]
[Grand Scholar Badge (Item): … Carrying this item provides a significant boost to your knowledge-type skills. Spirit Essence Value: 100000]
[Association Scholar Robe (Fine grade equipment): A finely tailored robe made from special silk, bearing the unique many-eyed symbol of the Multivision School on the chest. Wearing this equipment grants minor resistance to knowledge-type skills. Spirit Essence Value: 0]
[Association Elite Scholar Robe (Fine grade equipment): … Wearing this equipment grants small resistance to knowledge-type skills. Spirit Essence Value: 5000]
[Association Grand Scholar Robe (Fine grade equipment): … Wearing this equipment grants significant resistance to knowledge-type skills. Spirit Essence Value: 50000]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Registrar tells you that during the promotion ceremony for ordinary scholars, the association will issue certificates, badges, and robes free of charge, but all of them are the lowest-grade trash.]
[If you wish to obtain higher-grade badges and robes, you can, but you must spend Spirit Essence to purchase them.]
[However, as an Elite Scholar, you receive a special benefit: all the items listed on the inventory can be purchased at half price.][If your funds are limited, you may choose the free trash items. But if you have the means, it still recommends you spend Spirit Essence to purchase the superior badge and robe.]
[After all, missing such a rare opportunity may become a lifelong regret.]
[Do you wish to trade with the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Registrar?]
Lin Xun widened his eyes.
Good grief, why did this feel just like those lucky draw booths at cheap jewelry counters?
As long as you participate, you either draw the grand prize or the first prize, and the reward is the right to purchase some jewelry or jade at an extremely ’discounted’ price.
The customer thinks they’ve profited and eagerly spend the money, not realizing they’ve fallen right into the merchant’s scam, where only the seller ever wins big…
His so-called Elite Scholar title was basically the grand prize, wasn’t it?
Once again, Lin Xun found himself blacklined at the shady tricks of this hellish game.
After pondering for a while…
Actually, it seemed that… after the discount, the price compared to the utility of these items was still somewhat acceptable.
Lin Xun shook his head and quickly banished that terrifying thought.
What a joke! As the king of zero-cost acquisitions, the ambassador of freeloading, and a living money-hoarding mythical beast, could he possibly let this shady game scam him?
He narrowed his eyes, decisively chose to trade with the registrar, and selected the two free items.
Without hesitation, he pressed the free option, completing the operation smoothly and effortlessly.
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Registrar stood frozen, seemingly not expecting your decision to be so firm.]
[It stared at you for a while before helplessly shaking its head.]
Lin Xun sneered. If he wanted the Grand Scholar’s robe and badge, it was simple. Why spend money?
All he needed to do was find a Grand Scholar, kill it, and possess it to freeload successfully.
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Registrar kept a straight face and led you onto the stage. Under the witness of the many scholars below…]
[It awarded you the Multivision School Association scholar certificate, badge, and robe.]
[You have obtained Multivision School Association Scholar Certificate (Junk)]
[You have obtained Scholar Badge (Item)]
[You have obtained Association Scholar Robe (Fine-grade equipment)]
[Thunderous applause erupted from below, but when the observing scholars saw that you had chosen the lowest-grade trash, the applause quickly faded.]
[Scattered boos and curses rose from the audience…]
Good grief, so the audience was full of planted shills, huh?
Lin Xun barely resisted the urge to fire a laser cannon at them.
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Registrar kept a straight face and informed you that you are now a certified scholar recognized by the association. The facilities on the second floor of the association building will now be open to scholars.]
[If you’re not in a hurry to leave, it suggests you explore the second floor of the association building, perhaps you’ll make astonishing discoveries.]
Astonishing discoveries? More like astonishing scams.
Opening the inventory, the scholar certificate was merely proof of official membership, essentially a useless junk item.
The robe was Fine-grade equipment and rather trashy, not as good as the bishop’s robe.
The badge provided a minor power boost to knowledge-type skills simply by being in the inventory.
Lin Xun curled his lip and exited the Grand Scholar Auditorium.
[You exit the Grand Scholar Auditorium. Beside the corridor is the elevator leading to the upper floors of the association building.]
[Do you wish to take the elevator or return to the reception hall?]
[You and the Battle Angel – Valkyrie enter the elevator. Inside the elevator car is a lever mechanism…]
[You pull the lever, and as the gears interlock and hinges turn, the elevator slowly ascends…]
[You arrive at the second floor of the Multivision School Association Building.]
[Stepping out of the elevator, according to the Directory Map of the Multivision School Association Building, at the end of the corridor ahead lies the association’s Ancient Book Archive.]
[The left corridor of the central hall on the second floor leads to the Knowledge Illusion Hall.]
[The right corridor leads to the Eyeball Laboratory.]
[Where do you wish to go?]
Lin Xun’s eyes lit up.
The Ancient Book Archive sounded like a place filled with treasures.
[You walk to the end of the corridor and push open the closed door…]
[What greets you are rows upon rows of tall, orderly bookshelves, with a strong scent of ink rushing into your nostrils.]
[At the entrance of the archive, an elderly scholar in association uniform is sleeping soundly on the counter.]
[Do you wish to wake the scholar, or sneak into the archive while they sleep?]
Lin Xun narrowed his eyes.
Given the Multivision School Association’s knack for scamming, even reading books here probably required payment.
With the librarian asleep, he decided to sneak around first.
Just as he was about to select the latter option, a thought struck him.
[You possess the shell of Corrupted Theater Dancer!]
[You activate Bloodshadow Step, taking graceful dance-like steps as your figure gradually fades and vanishes.]
[With silent steps, you stealthily slip into the rows of bookshelves…]
[Searching…]
[You discover a faintly glowing book on the shelf.]
[You have obtained Book Containing Trace Knowledge *1]
[Searching…]
[You find a slightly glowing bookmark wedged between shelves.]
[You have obtained Guardian Bookmark *1]
[Searching…]
[You discover a rather ancient scroll at the bottom layer of the bookshelf. Judging by its appearance, this scroll is quite valuable…]
[Just as you are about to pocket the scroll, a slender, fair hand suddenly presses down on your wrist…]
[Looking up, you see a graceful woman standing beside you, wearing an oversized academic cap and a form-fitting scholar’s robe.]
[Judging by the gold trim on her robe, it is several tiers higher than the Association Scholar Robe you saw earlier.]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision School Grand Scholar – Rona stares at you coldly, seemingly about to call the librarian to apprehend the thief!]
[You behold the appearance of the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision School Grand Scholar for the first time. The icy gaze gives you a chilling feeling. You feel dizzy, and a surge of disordered knowledge floods into your soul.]
[You have acquired knowledge. Your Knowledge stat increases by 800! Current Knowledge: 2520/2700]
[Guilty Apostle, what will you do?]
Lin Xun frowned.
Grand Scholar Rona? Why did that name sound familiar…