Chris Brooks raised an eyebrow. “Killing the God of War? You’re going after an artifact?”

“Yeah, the all-server PK is about to start. I’ll give it another shot—if I manage to get an artifact, the championship is basically in the bag.” Brian Carter sighed. “Plus, I’m still missing a ton of forging materials. There are three teams from our server competing this year, and everyone wants to upgrade their gear. We have to fight for materials… It’s so tough for me.”

After listening, Chris Brooks nodded thoughtfully. “Alright, no worries. I bought a dishwasher.”

After seeing the two off, Chris Brooks returned to the computer and saw the friend icon flashing nonstop.

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Little Chris, what are you up to?

After their chat that day, Chris Brooks had planned to delete this friend, but Little Mosquito said he had an alt in the Idle Pavilion and could help gather intel anytime. Chris Brooks thought it over and decided to keep him.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Just finished eating. Got a question for you.

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: What’s up?

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Who usually represents our server in the annual server war? Hopeful Heart?

Server war, in short, is an all-server PK event, a yearly PK extravaganza. The champion gets a trophy, an in-game title, and cash rewards.

Each server can only send one team. If multiple teams sign up from the same server, they have to fight it out internally first, and the winner represents the server.

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Huh? No. Hopeful Heart doesn’t do server wars.

Chris Brooks was stunned.

With that top-tier gear and those elite summoned beasts, he doesn’t join the server war?

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Hopeful Heart did it once a few years ago and won the championship. After that, he never signed up again. For the past few years, it’s been Love Unheeded’s team representing our server.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: I see, that’s a shame. I think if he joined our server’s team, we’d definitely win.

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Not necessarily. It doesn’t matter if he’s strong alone—PK is a five-person job. He doesn’t even have a guild. I’ve checked out the teammates he usually grinds with; they’re all quest alts. If he wants to compete, he’d have to join Leisure Hall.

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Hey! You know, the last time he made a move, was it because he wanted to join Leisure Hall? If that’s the case, you’re doomed. Have you heard his nickname?

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: …What nickname?

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Fox Spirit Slayer! He once went to the all-server arena for a 1v1 and matched against the top Fox Fairy Den in the server. Wow… that Fox Fairy didn’t stand a chance, couldn’t even put up a fight.

Chris Brooks snorted. That’s just because that Fox Fairy Den was terrible.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: That’s amazing 0.0! No wonder he’s a legend!

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: Hehe, of course.

[Friend] Energetic Little Mosquito: By the way, sis, have you thought it over these days? Are we going to make money together or not?

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: No way, that little bit of money isn’t worth my time. [turns away]

Closing the chat window, Chris Brooks was about to go do dailies.

[Broadcast] Hopeful Heart: Buying golden finch feathers for 100 gold each. Moonlit City city lord, direct trade. Large quantities get a bonus. PM me.

As soon as the broadcast went out, the world chat exploded.

[World] Destined Grace and Pearl: Damn! Hopeful Heart showed up!

[World] Fairy Grace: Heh :)

[World] Dizzy Flowers: Wait, aren’t golden finch feathers used to forge artifacts? God Clark already has an artifact, why is he still buying them?

[World] Is Brother Big: God Clark my ass, he’s just a scumbag.

…………

But Chris Brooks’s eyes were fixed on the last two words of the broadcast.

Private message.

Private messaging is open—does that mean Hopeful Heart has enabled friend chat?!

He tried it right away, and sure enough, the friend request went through.

Even though it was a one-sided friend, as long as the other person was on his friend list, he could send messages.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Bro! [excited]

Three minutes passed, no reply.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Bro, talk to me! Aren’t you buying golden finch feathers? [pouting]

[Friend] Hopeful Heart: City lord, direct trade.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Bro, I don’t have golden finch feathers, but I have a way for you to make over a thousand gold a day! >.< Feathers are so expensive, this could help you recoup some gold!

On the other end of the computer, Henry Clark frowned slightly after reading this line.

This tone—how is it any different from those QQ scammers from a few years ago?

Heh, looks like a seasoned con artist.

He’d almost finished buying feathers and was about to turn off the friend function when another message came in.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Right now Leisure Hall has a bounty on me—100 gold per kill. I’ll strip down and let you kill me, bro~ [blows kiss]

[Friend] Hopeful Heart: …

[Friend] Hopeful Heart: No.

[Friend] Little Sweet Chris: Why not? I’m easy to kill! I won’t fight back!

[Friend] Hopeful Heart: Don’t need the money.

Henry Clark hesitated for a moment, then started typing.