Chapter 25: The Abalone Vendor on the Dock

"Abalone for sale, abalone for sale, fresh black abalones for sale!"

After five days of transitioning, from a gaming novice to a proficient fish vendor, Cao Renqi was now enthusiastically hawking his wares on the dock, inconspicuously blending in with a group of fishermen.

On the other side of the dock, Adrian, who had just disembarked, abruptly halted his steps. It wasn't because he had a particular fondness for abalones, nor was it due to any unexpected situation. It was because, among a group of fishermen, he spotted a conspicuously white ID: Cao Renqi.

What a great name!

Adrian couldn't help but admire it unconsciously.

What in the world!

The next moment, he snapped back to reality. As a beta tester, instead of diligently completing quests to earn experience, this guy chose to come to the dock to sell abalones? Is he out of his mind?

Something doesn't add up!

The key point is how can I see the player's ID? And can I see it directly through their nicknames?

"Could it be because I also have a system panel like them?" Adrian wondered slightly in his mind. "But the people I've encountered before couldn't see the names of strangers without being informed..."

Anyway, this is good news. In the future, it will be easy to distinguish between players and NPCs. Even in the vast sea of people, I can easily tell who is a player and who is an NPC.

Adrian did not check the data panel of the brother with the excellent nickname "Cao Renqi." He had already learned a lot of relevant information about him on the forum.

For some reason, all the players in the incoming closed beta test were without exception 'completely digitized'!

That's right!

From top to bottom, including their health and stamina values!

From the explosive posts on the forum, the health values of all players are equal to stamina values, all converted from endurance, at a ratio of 1:100.

'Having a fully digitized body has its pros and cons, but having all attributes at just 1 point is too unfriendly!' Adrian complained in his mind.

All closed beta players, regardless of how they descended or whether they arrived in the Four Blues or the Grand Line, had identical personal attributes.

All of them were: Strength 1, Agility 1, Endurance 1, Intelligence 1, Charm 1, Luck 1, Health 100, Stamina 100. It was as standardized as it could get, like clones produced in the same factory.

The problem, however, was that, except for Luck, the standard attributes for adult males in the world of One Piece were all 5 points!

This included Charm!

Poor players started with attributes worse than ordinary children, and one can only imagine how many would develop psychological shadows because of this..."

In the eyes of the strong in the world of One Piece, players are probably a group of short, ugly weaklings...

Thinking of this, Adrian almost couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Cao Renqi, who was still selling abalones, had just completed a transaction with a middle-aged woman buying vegetables. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, just as he was about to start selling again, he suddenly noticed a young man in a well-tailored suit, extremely well-dressed, staring at him without blinking. The corner of his mouth was slightly raised, and his gaze was deep (actually lost in thought).

Instinctively, Cao Renqi, whose heart skipped a beat, cast a detection spell.

[Based on your level and attributes, you receive the following information.

? - Young Man in Suit (Yellow Name)

Level: ?

Attributes: ?

??

Danger Level: Extremely Lethal!]

"Extremely lethal?!"

Cao Renqi subconsciously swallowed, during the five days he had been mingling at the dock, he had encountered NPCs of high-risk levels, but this "extremely lethal" type, where everything was marked with question marks and no information was discernible, was a unique case!

What level of character could this possibly be?

Just then, the young and handsome Adrian suddenly took large strides towards him.

"It's you – Cao Dahua?!"

Adrian, with an imposing manner, was almost choked by the appearance of "Cao Renqi."

Well, this is something! This directly qualifies as something!

With the arrogant title of Cao Cao hanging over his head, but in reality, having the sly, fat face of a member of the Crime Squad. Who gave you the courage?

"Cao Dahua?" Cao Renqi couldn't help but shake, "Young man, have you mistaken me for someone else? My nickname – my name is Cao Renqi!"

With your charming figure that's full of flesh, you dare to say you're not Cao Dahua?

"Cough, cough! None of that matters!" Adrian coughed heavily twice and said in a deep voice, "Were you secretly observing me just now?"

Cao Renqi trembled again.

What's going on? Is today not a good day to sell abalone?

No one has ever detected my surveillance before. Could it be that I've encountered an exceptionally powerful opponent? And at such a young age?

Adrian couldn't help but inwardly laugh when he saw Cao Renqi's nervous appearance.

Now, his intelligence attribute reached an astonishing 256 points, and the boost to the hidden attribute [Perception] was simply unimaginable!

For Adrian, Cao Renqi's detection was as obvious as a light in the darkness.

Cao Renqi had nothing to say and could only awkwardly smile, saying, "What are you talking about? I can't understand. Young man, do you still want abalone? The black abalone in my house is the freshest in this area."

"Abalone? I don't need it." Adrian casually smiled, no longer teasing the player. He returned to the main topic and said, "My name is Adrian. I'm a traveler who just arrived in the Kano Country. I need some other assistance now. Do you have time?"

Cao Renqi was shocked, then shocked again, before instantly being engulfed in a wave of excitement.

Could even a fishmonger have his own spring?!

After selling abalones for five days, unexpectedly triggering a high-level NPC full of question marks, could it be that...

Abalones are my lucky stars?

Excitedly, Cao Renqi replied, "I'm willing to help!"

Adrian pondered for a moment and said, "I need a bottle of freshwater. Can you find it for me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a notification sounded from the panel.

[Do you want to assign a task to the player 'Cao Renqi'?]

The corresponding NPC template should be this one!

(Task assigned to the player) Task assignment system!

"Yes!"

[Please specify the task requirements and rewards, with an experience value limit. The total experience value depends on your level, strength, influence, and legendary status.

[You have the right to use a certain item of yours as an additional reward, including but not limited to Beli, items, experience, skills...

Two pages of light blue virtual frames suddenly appeared before Adrian, divided into left and right sections. On the left, he could choose the type of task, while the right displayed his current total experience value.

After a quick glance at the daily total, Adrian casually set a regular task and posted it.

At the same time, Cao Renqi also received a panel notification.

What the hell!

I thought you were an advanced NPC, and you're offering me 10 Beli for a bottle of water that has an average price of 100 Beli? And I have to cover the remaining cost?!

Are players not considered human? Does running errands not cost money?

"Wait a minute!"

Cao Renqi suddenly seemed to realize something. Although his formal gaming experience was not extensive, based on his colorful gaming experiences with various games before, such an obviously strange task should only be a preliminary test.

Only after satisfying the other party could he continue to trigger subsequent tasks. If he failed, it would almost mean the failure of this storyline.

"What do you think will happen if I succeed?"

"Hehehe, things like increasing favorability, you know!"

Excitedly, Cao Renqi immediately took out two bottles of water from his bag and handed them to Adrian.

"I only have this much water on me, all for you."

Adrian, confused, settled the task.

What's going on? Why is there a player actively offering himself to be slaughtered?

Could it be that this "Abalone Guy" really has a problem with his head?

Well, normal players wouldn't come to the pier to sell abalones during the beta testing phase!