After seeing Evelyn off, Ryan nudged Molly gently, encouraging her to enjoy the dishes on the table. Meanwhile, he mentally rehearsed the words he was about to say.
Truthfully, Ryan didn't harbor much personal resentment toward the company that had swallowed up his family's business. In the financial world, it was just a matter of big fish eating smaller ones. It just so happened that this time, his own family had been devoured.
Besides, Evelyn had nothing to do with the acquisition itself—she was merely the daughter of one of their major clients.
In fact, when the company realized the hardship the family was going through, they ended up waiving a significant portion of the debt. Of course, that gesture had mostly come about thanks to Evelyn, who had pleaded with her father on their behalf.
Even so, it was still that very company that had destroyed their livelihood and left their family in ruins. Mia knew that Evelyn wasn't to blame, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it. In this regard, Mia was even more stubborn than her younger sister, Molly.
Ryan suspected it was Victor Hanley's influence that fueled Mia's lingering resentment. But whatever the reason, he had no way of easing the turmoil in her heart. All he could do was work harder, earn more, and try to improve their lives one step at a time.
Mia hadn't been able to sleep at all after everything that happened. Clinging to Ryan's arm, she pestered him to help her level up in the game.
Ryan chuckled, lightly tapping her on the nose. "Alright, alright. I'll help you grind," he said.
He was almost at Level 10 himself, and once he reached it, he'd unlock a flood of new abilities. Power-leveling a little mage like Mia would be a breeze after that.
Level 10 was a turning point. Players could learn a wide range of new skills from their class trainers. For Paladins especially, this was when the class started to split into three specialized paths. Even without completing the class specialization quest, the base abilities unlocked at Level 10 were substantial.
After logging in, Ryan immediately sent Mia off to continue the main questline in Goldmine Town. He took the chance to finish grinding the last bit of experience he needed to level up.
By the time the main questline looped back to Goldmine Town, Ryan's experience bar was almost full—just under 2,000 points shy of Level 10. The final quest in the chain, Seek Reinforcements, awarded 2,500 experience. It would push him right over the edge.
More and more players had started leaving the beginner village. Some of the larger guilds had already cleared the initial dungeons and begun uploading their run videos to the forums. This sparked a huge wave of players rushing toward Blood Hollow, eager to challenge the content themselves.
The success rate was low, but with hundreds of thousands attempting it, even a 5% clear rate meant tens of thousands had made it through and arrived in Goldmine Town.
Mia logged in right in the middle of this player migration. She was startled the moment she appeared in town, surprised by the sheer number of people swarming around her. She had expected Goldmine Town to be quiet, even deserted—definitely not this packed.
Following her brother's instructions, she began progressing through the main quest. Just as she was about to accept the next quest, a private message popped up. It was from Evelyn.
Evelyn had logged into the game from her car, right after leaving Ryan's house.
Mia's heart twisted with a mix of frustration and hurt. Without replying, she immediately rejected the friend request. But unlike her usual self, she didn't go straight to her friend list to delete Evelyn. Instead, she hesitated for a second... then closed the window entirely.
Evelyn, who had been nervously waiting after sending the request, saw the rejection pop up. She stared at it for a moment, her face falling. But when she realized her name hadn't been removed from Mia's list, her spirits lifted. Smiling to herself, she called up a few friends to finally start the game together.
Back in Goldmine Town, Ryan turned in the quest Seek Reinforcements to the Warden, expecting a follow-up. But nothing appeared.
Confused, he quickly realized the issue—his level was still too low to unlock the next part of the chain.
Without a second thought, Ryan clicked the level-up button.
A burst of golden light exploded around him, catching the attention of several nearby players. It wasn't every day someone leveled up right in the middle of town.
—
You have leveled up!
You have reached Level 10!
Health increased by 44. Mana increased by 33.
Strength +2. Spirit +1.
You have become stronger!
New Quest Received: "Specialization!" — Your trainer awaits you in the Grand Cathedral.
—
As the light faded, Ryan noticed the Warden in front of him now offered a new quest. He accepted it with a faint smile.
—
Quest Accepted: "Slay Goldtooth!"
The abandoned mine is crawling with those filthy Kobolds. These damned creatures have cost us dearly.
Featherlight, venture into the mine's depths, defeat their champion, and bring me Goldtooth's head!
Objective: Goldtooth's Head
Reward: Goldmine Town's Gratitude
—
Ryan clicked his tongue. "Tsk." He knew exactly what 'Goldmine Town's Gratitude' meant—a Level 10 Uncommon (Green) bracer tailored to his class. The exact stats would depend on luck, of course.
Leaving the Warden behind, Ryan made his way toward the Grand Cathedral to begin his specialization quest.
The streets were bustling. Players shouted back and forth as they tried to form parties or sell items. Most were limited to close-range chat, shouting like it was a marketplace. Unlike Ryan, they didn't have access to regional broadcast channels yet.
Passing the Inn, he took a quick detour to the mailbox outside. His trading dummy had returned some profits. Opening the mailbox, Ryan retrieved the twenty stacks of Crude Stone he'd earned from his listing—his 1 Gold Coin investment had been completely drained to fill the orders.
He glanced at the dummy's remaining uses. Four left. Not bad. Most of the stones were sent straight back into the mailbox—he didn't have the inventory space to carry them all right now.
Arriving at the Grand Cathedral, Ryan approached the Paladin trainer. A set of glowing quests appeared in front of him.
He now had to choose his specialization—one of the three paths available to Paladins at Level 10.
—
The Path of Radiance:
Slay the Undead Captain in the upper levels of the abandoned mine. Purify it and return to me. You will gain the strength to wield even greater Radiant Light!
The Path of Protection:
Deep in the abandoned mine grows a Blood Blossom, said to greatly enhance one's physical endurance. Retrieve it, and I may be able to reinforce your body's defenses.
The Path of Retribution:
Strike down the undead with righteous fury. For each you purify, you will grow stronger. Slay 100 undead in the abandoned mine and return to me.
—
Ryan stared at the quests in silence.
This decision wasn't new to him—he'd faced it once before in his previous life. Back then, he had chosen Radiance, and he'd mastered it. But now... now he hesitated.
Should he follow the same path, one he already knew? Or venture into the less familiar territory of Protection or Retribution?
He stood there for a long time, head bowed in deep thought. He didn't notice the other players entering the cathedral, some casting curious glances his way as they passed. They likely assumed he was reading flavor text or comparing stats. He didn't care.
He just stood still... thinking.
Then finally, he looked up, his decision was made.