Single Stat System

"But who are you, why would I work with you?" Robert asked the beautiful lady before him as his grin vanished.

"You will know it soon... whether my name or the reason you're asking for." The beautiful lady answered leisurely.

"Acting mysterious huh..." Robert sneered but it seemed that he didn't care that much about it. "Fine then, let's work together... ...but what will I receive in return?"

Robert was completely broke right now, so he didn't hesitate to agree with the other party. Besides, he might get something in return if he worked with her.

"I will help you to become his follower..." The beautiful lady replied with a smile.

"Oh?" Robert smiled as well. He liked this offer. So without any doubts, he replied in pleasure, "Fine then."

They were both a High Ranker here. Their words were more precious than anything else since their reputation would be greatly affected by that. So trusting the other party once didn't hurt a bit.

On the other hand, the clueless Stella was just staring blankly at them. Just what exactly was the Vessel they were talking about? And why would they ask her to cooperate with them? She was just a Middle Ranker. Compared to the both of them, she was nothing. So what help could she possibly give?

Seeing her made the beautiful lady smile at her once again as she explained, "Since you've learned about the Vessel's arrival you surely are a great help for us. Besides, we're not the only ones who were looking for the Vessel right now..."

Hearing it made Robert nod in agreement. Indeed, there was a high chance that other High Rankers had already learned about it and were now making a move to find the Vessel for their own reasons. The matter about this Stella knowing about the Vessel was certainly a mere coincidence, she was probably the only Middle Ranker who knew about it.

If she continued looking for the Vessel alone, she would surely end up dead from the dangers waiting ahead.

Stella had somewhat get the point of the other party so she slowly nodded her head as she responded, "Fine, please take care of me and my partner then."

According to what she saw, this Vessel, the falling star in the day she saw in her dreams was something or someone worthy of spending time with. Even the Greed Spirit was mocking her for knowing nothing about it. If she went with these people, she might find some fortuitous encounter and have a better life somehow.

Seeing all of them agreed to it, the beautiful lady then said as a scroll appeared on her hand, "Now then, let's form a party using this item."

"Oh? A [Blood And Soul Contract] item... You sure are wealthy." Seeing it made Robert smile widely as he continued, "It's no problem for me. It's much better this way. But I am afraid that this young lady didn't kn..."

Robert was still barely finishing his words when Stella interrupted him saying, "Don't make me laugh, I know about this as well."

From someone who belonged to a wealthy family, this item wasn't something that could make her oblivious to it. It was just that, this item was simply too valuable that there were only a few of it in their family storehouse. Most of this kind of items were probably kept away by the elders.

So just how wealthy was this young lady before her to use this item just to form a party? Why was it that she didn't know about her?

"Oh is that so? Then it makes things easier." Robert chuckled.

Stella didn't say anything and only stared at the scroll that was now rolled open by the beautiful lady. If she signed this contract by dripping out a drop of her blood, she knew that her soul would be bound on the agreement and those who break the agreement would surely suffer the consequences.

The first one who dropped her blood was of course the beautiful lady. After which, she threw the scroll to Robert as the other party caught it before he unhesitatingly bit his finger and dropped his blood as well. The agreement was automatically written on the scroll according to what they have decided so there was no need to check onto it.

After his blood was dropped on the scroll, it was immediately got absorbed by the scroll as Robert felt something binding his soul. But since he knew that this was something that wasn't harmful to oneself except if he broke the contract, he felt at ease.

So after he was done, he then threw the scroll to Stella as the other party caught it with her hand. She then rolled open the scroll and sure enough, the agreement was written in there very clearly.

Without too much thinking, she bit her index finger as she dropped her blood on the scroll, making her blood to get immediately absorb.

Same as Robert, she felt as well that her soul was bound by some kind of restriction making her feel a bit uncomfortable. This was her first time using this item so it was only natural for her to feel that way.

Nevertheless, she knew as well that this wasn't harmful to her so she tried her best to put herself at ease. After she was done, she returned the scroll to the beautiful lady as the other party received the scroll with a smile. She then put it back to her inventory as she said, "Now then since the Vessel is not here yet, should we entertain ourselves first?"

"What do you mean?" Stella was confused.

"I like the idea." On the other hand, Robert agreed with a grin. It seemed that he knew what did the other party was talking about.

Stella was bewildered though. She felt completely helpless and worth a little in front of these High Rankers. She really felt out of place.

Seeing her saddened expressions, the beautiful lady chuckled softly as she said, "It seems like your family put a great value on you..."

"What do you mean..." Stella became even more bewildered. But not long after her bewilderment, she saw a white light falling from above at a great speed. She didn't need to think deeply to know what was that thing. It was an [Angel's Wing]! Someone was using this item to travel here in the Beginner's Village.

At that moment, Stella already realized as well what was going on. Dan, the one in command of the dogs of her family, sent someone to chase after her. Or probably, Dan himself came after her.

Stella shifted her gaze to the duo before her as she asked, "What should we do now?"

The other party was staring as well to the descending white light as a grin was first to be noticed on Robert's face. Robert felt excited as he replied to Stella, "What else could we do, we will play with them."

"B-but..." Stella wanted to say that the ones coming right now were surely on the other level. But seeing these two before her who were also on a completely different level, there were no more words wanting to come out from her lips.

She stared at the beautiful lady only to find her smiling as well. On the other hand, the book floating near the beautiful lady, slowly formed itself into an old man as he said with pleasure, "Let me enjoy the show as well. I can at least play with these weaklings to kill my boredom."

"Oh..." Seeing that the Greed Spirit wanting to make a move as well made Robert feel somewhat strange. If the Greed Spirit made a move then what would be left for him?

He knew full well that this Greed Spirit suited his name for he was greedy and wanting to take over everything he put a sight on. If this Greed Spirit really took all the enemy by himself, then he would feel somewhat unhappy for he as well wanted to beat up someone already.

Just as a train of thoughts was continuously coming into Robert's mind, the white light finally descended on the ground not too far away from them. People inside the Beginner's Village had of course didn't notice their arrival for their level didn't allow them to feel their presence. The item [Angel's Wing] only teleport the users outside the village so those inside the village were completely oblivious to the arrival of these high-level Players.

Only these trio, added by the Wind and Greed Spirit who were outside the village, had seen their arrival. Upon landing on the ground, five figures were immediately revealed. In the middle of them was Dan, the one in command.

When they arrived, they immediately caught sight of their young lady and the kidnappers, making them felt enraged.

But of course, Dan and his companions didn't act rashly. They all gazed towards the other party in a great wariness as Dan threatened coldly, "Return our young lady or die right here, right now!"