“Lord Qiyu!”

He had only been out of the mages association for about two minutes when several figures hurried to meet him.

Qiyu took one look and recognized them as familiar faces.

It was none other than Sean, the head of the Borg Chamber of Commerce. He was accompanied by his son, Leslie, and behind them were several martial artists who appeared to be bodyguards.

Chairman Sean spotted Qiyu’s new insignia at a glance and exclaimed: “The last time I saw you, you were still a three-star mage. In just a short month, have you already been promoted to a four-star mage?”

Jin Qian instinctively straightened his back—he’d just been briefed by the boss—and now quietly sized up the group.

Sure enough, they were all wearing similar badges—different from the Game Boss’s emblem, but likely carrying a similar meaning.

So, this was also a group of professionals?

However, he was also paying attention to something else: the way Chairman Sean addressed the Game Boss.

“Qiyu”? Or a character with a similar pronunciation?

Was this the name the Game Boss used in the indigenous world?

Jin Qian thought it over and found it quite understandable: after all, you can’t very well say, “I am I Love Survival Game,” when someone is introducing themselves.

Qiyu was a bit surprised: “Chairman Sean, what are you doing here?”

“I came here specifically for you, Lord Qiyu,” Chairman Sean laughed heartily. Fearing Qiyu might misunderstand, he hurried to explain, “You left in such a hurry last time that I wasn’t able to show you the hospitality a host should.”

“Since I couldn’t find you, I had someone wait at the mages association. As soon as they spotted you, they reported it to me.”

He laughed heartily: “You’ve been a huge help to me. This time, please let me treat you to a simple meal.”

He then looked at Qiyu standing beside Qiyu: “And who is this?”

Qiyu: “A friend of mine. His name is I Need—”

Jin Qian had originally planned to keep a low profile on this trip, content to simply tag along as the boss’s sidekick. As the game boss chatted with this local who seemed to know him well, he hadn’t intended to interrupt.

But that was the plan.

Seeing that his “Thunder” ID was about to be called out by the boss, he didn’t bother with politeness anymore and hurriedly interrupted: “Jin Qian! Just call me Jin Qian.”

Qiyu: “Right, Jin Qian is an alchemist.”

Chairman Sean’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed admiringly, “As expected of Qiyu’s friend—this Mr. Jin Qian is truly a prodigy.”

Qiyu introduced Jin Qian: “This is Chairman Sean of the Borg Chamber of Commerce, and this is his son, Leslie.”

He paused, glancing at the group of people behind Chairman Sean, and said, “I don’t know the others.”

A guild master!

Jin Qian looked at the middle-aged man standing beside the boss—who was both friendly and respectful—and marveled.

Game boss, even if you told me right now that you’re not actually from Earth at all, but an undercover local native in this survival game, I’d still believe you.

Seriously, Gold Hole City looks more like your hometown than Star Forest!

Region 01 Channel:

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: I’ve really learned something today!】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: The Game Boss is awesome!】

Exploration beyond the game world is pretty much the topic players care about most these days.

Up until today, the only players everyone knew for sure had ventured out were the game’s top players and me.

Of these two, one has been out for a while, and the other is suspected of being imprisoned immediately after leaving.

This has left players with absolutely no clue about what happens during external exploration.

Finally, today, thanks to this maverick known as “Need A Little Money to Save Me,” he actually started livestreaming the entire journey on the regional channel.

The indigenous city features architecture, clothing, and scenery that are vastly different from those on Earth.

In the photos he posted, there’s none of the caution, wariness, or suspicion toward the indigenous people that everyone had anticipated.

He was just like a travel blogger who had arrived in a completely unfamiliar city, using his survival kit to document everything he saw.

Those with a simpler mindset simply enjoyed the experience, using the photos to observe the world beyond the survival game.

Most of the top-ranked players, in the midst of “leeway,” come to realize one thing.

Their top-ranked player might be far more formidable than they ever imagined. At the very least, when it comes to exploring the outside world, he has already gone much further than anyone else.

【Liver Emperor: What’s going on? What’s going on?】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: I was following the game’s top player around outside when we ran into a merchant guild leader. Turns out he actually knows the top player too—he insisted on treating us to a meal!】

【Need A Little Money: I’m really curious about what the Big Boss actually does. It feels like so many people in this city know him, and they’re all super nice to us.】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: Folks, this is what it feels like to ride someone’s coattails. I’ll post some pics for you guys later, hehe. 】

Compared to last time, President Sean’s attitude toward Qiyu was much more enthusiastic.

He didn’t beat around the bush—he said outright that the auction he held for the goods he’d bought from Qiyu last time was a huge success.

He even managed to connect with a few people he’d never have been able to reach before.

What Chairman Sean mentioned most was: originally, the story would have ended there—it would have been just another ordinary tale of a merchant striking it rich overnight.

The bigwigs he’d connected with weren’t particularly warm toward him; they merely said that if there were any more goods from Star Forest in the future, he should send them to them first.

But a few days ago, the attitudes of all these people changed in unison.

The imperial nobles who had previously treated him with arrogance suddenly became warm and welcoming; several of them invited him to balls or banquets.

Chairman Sean wasn’t a fool; he knew that these influential figures’ sudden change in attitude certainly wasn’t due to his personal charm.

He spent a fortune and finally managed to uncover a bit of information—it was still because of Lord Qiyu.

Lord Qiyu seemed to be undertaking a major task in the distant Kaila Empire.

However, no matter how many gold coins he spent, he couldn’t find out exactly what that major undertaking was.

But that didn’t stop him from fully and thoroughly realizing: Lord Qiyu was his benefactor!

He immediately set out from the Royal City of Ora back to Gold Hole City. Since he couldn’t find any news about Qiyu at the mages association, he resorted to the most primitive method—arranging for people to stake out the area.

In short, he had to hold on tightly to this connection with Qiyu.

He had a vague premonition: the Borg Chamber of Commerce’s opportunity lay with Qiyu.

Qiyu listened to his long-winded expressions of gratitude and felt somewhat puzzled.

He said, “I didn’t go out of my way to help you last time; we made a fair deal—I simply sold you a few goods.”

Chairman Sean replied gratefully, “That may be true, but you’ve genuinely brought enormous benefits to the Borg Chamber of Commerce.”

Qiyu: “That’s just your own good luck.”

He added, “I’ve also used the gold coins I earned from you to acquire many things.”

Even this time, even if President Sean hadn’t come looking for him, he had planned to take his money to the Borg Chamber of Commerce to sell goods.

President Sean laughed heartily and nudged his son.

He was a shrewd man; although he’d only had a few brief interactions with this Mr. Qiyu, he already had some understanding of his character.

Dealing with someone who didn’t beat around the bush like this might just help his silly son achieve unexpected results.

He made an excuse that he had business to attend to and left the young men to talk among themselves.

As soon as his father left, Leslie blurted out, “Lord Qiyu, you truly are my savior!”

He said cheerfully, “My parents used to always scold me for being a good-for-nothing, but ever since I met you last time, my dad hasn’t scolded me even once.”

He asked curiously, “Lord Qiyu, how long will you be staying in Gold Hole City this time?”

Qiyu: “It depends. Maybe I’ll leave before dark, or maybe tomorrow morning.”

Jin Qian’s eyes lit up instantly.

Heaven only knows—ever since entering the survival game, he’d never seen a normal world after dark.

Hearing the boss say that, did it mean that in the natives’ world, nighttime was normal?

He was incredibly tempted, but he held back and didn’t say a word.

An accessory must know its place—I’ll do whatever the boss says.

Leslie’s eyes lit up: “Then why not stay in Gold Hole City for the night, Your Excellency? The City of the Spring God Festival is currently hosting the Spring God Festival, and it’s lively every night.”

“The Spring God Festival?”

Leslie was full of enthusiasm: “It’s a tradition in our Gold Hole City. Every year, during the second month of spring, the entire month is essentially one big celebration. At night, there are float parades, and the City Lord’s Mansion, the nobility, major merchant guilds, associations, and wealthy merchants all hand out free flowers, drinks, and food—and there are even fireworks.”

Remembering that this person was a mage, he quickly added, “The mages association also sends members to cast blessing spells on the residents.”

It sounds like a lot of fun.

Qiyu was a bit tempted.

After thinking it over, he said, “If there’s nothing going on at home, I’ll go check it out.”

After all, his exploration was different from using an Exploration Scroll—whenever he wanted to go home, he could simply select “Return Home” from the Survival Menu and summon a wilderness carriage.

Leslie immediately promised, “I’ll take you guys out tonight!”

As he spoke, he remembered something else: “I mentioned this to you last month—since you come to Gold Hole City so often, your current living situation isn’t very convenient. I’ll give you a house!”

Jin Qian: ??

Wait, how did we suddenly get onto the topic of houses?

Are you saying that even before I’ve managed to buy my own house on Earth, my boss is already going to own property in the Indigenous World?

Is that right?

Qiyu: “No, thanks.”

He and Chairman Sean and his son weren’t even close enough for him to accept such a lavish gift.

Having been turned down again, Leslie didn’t press the issue.

He backed off and offered a compromise: “Then I’ll arrange a place for you to stay tonight.”

He also told Qiyu something else: “If you’re interested in living in Gold Hole City long-term, you can apply for a member’s residence at the mages association.”

Qiyu made a mental note of it.

He said to Leslie, “We came to Gold Hole City today for two reasons: first, to sell our goods, and second, to stock up. If we have any time left over, we’ll take a stroll around Gold Hole City.”

Jin Qian nodded eagerly—after all, he’d heard from Boss Yu that he’d packed a whole backpack full of goods!

To his surprise, Leslie seemed even more excited than he was: “Selling goods? Are they items from the Star Forest?”

He eagerly reached out to shake Qiyu’s hand, but seeing the latter’s cool, aloof demeanor, he hesitated slightly and instead grabbed Yu Jin Qian’s hand.

“Please, both of you, be sure to sell all your goods to us at the Borg Chamber of Commerce!”

Jin Qian:!

So not all natives were shy after all—he really liked this enthusiastic friend!

He immediately clasped his hand in return: “Of course! You’re the Boss’s friend, so that makes you my friend! As long as the price is right, everything’s negotiable.”

“The price must be right.” Leslie felt that he and this new friend were truly kindred spirits: “I guarantee that whether we’re selling goods or making purchases, the Borg Chamber of Commerce will always offer the best price.”