Stacking My Abilities

Mid-Autumn. 

The sky looked more blue and more distant than usual. 

The air was crisp and cool. 

Up in the cloudless skies, an eagle lazily glided forward. 

"Cheers!"

Pling~

Sitting on the back of that eagle, four drunk pixies clinked their cups together. 

At the clink of their cups, some liquid spilled out into the air. Blown away by the wind, the glinting fruit wine droplets sprinkled down towards the ground. 

Looking down, it's a magnificent riverside city below. 

White brick walls. Red roof tiles. The renaissance-styled buildings spanned towards the horizons. 

Clean stone-paved roads. Patches of greeneries and small ponds. At the center of the city, a neoclassic mansion sat on a hill. 

(Neoclassic: Basically Greek temple like architecture)

This was Bourland city. The capital of Bourland county. A vast city. The home of five million residents. 

It's morning right now. But the streets were already bustling with activity. 

Humans. Elves. Beast folks. Dwarves. Halflings. Fairies. Pixies... 

Wearing medieval-styled robes, cloaks, tunics...

Here, it's a mixing pot of all intellectual species. 

The streets smelled of delicious street foods already. Musicians played cheerful and lively music by the sidewalks. Bards told their epics at the restaurant patios. 

At the outskirt of this city, by the South gates, the plaza here was becoming crowded as well. 

Rows of stands, tables, and mats on the side. 

Selling various street foods, clothing, potions, weaponry, books, tomes, fruits, toys, accessory, musical instruments.

These colorful and unorganized merchandises were dazzling to the eyes. 

In between the vendors, folks of all species roamed to-and-fro, making these narrow passageways rather congested. 

Bargaining sounds, advertising shouts, and children's adamant purchase pleas intermixed with each other.

Moving through the crowds, Jeff Norman fixed his mage's robe a little. 

Looking ahead beyond this flee market, a large Greek-temple like building could be seen. 

Adventurer's Hall!

The headquarter of all the adventurers in this city. The location for posting or accepting quests. The place Jeff had dreamed about for three years. The starting point of a wealthy life!

Fixating his gaze at this location, taking in a deep breath, Jeff put on an energetic smile. A little excited. A little anxious. 

'Feels like it's the first day of high school again.'

'A new life. A new start! Here I come!'

"Hooold on. Not so fast." An old man in a worn out cloak stopped in Jeff's way. "What's the hurry?"

Being in a good mood, Jeff nodded with a polite smile. "Sorry. But I'm not interested in buying anything."

The old man sighed. "I used to be a good-looking young man like you."

Jeff's smile froze. 

"Then I took an arrow to the knee." The old man slowly shook his head in dismay. 

(^ Skyrim... erhm...)

"Do you want to buy some knee armor from me young man..."

Jeff: "I..."

For some strange reason, Jeff suddenly felt an ominous aura surrounding him.

"How much." Jeff asked. 

A transparent screen popped up in Jeff's view. It looked like a typical MMORPG transaction screen. 

[ Trade Offer ]

[ You Receive: 2 * Knee Armor (Common Tier) ]

[ Vendor Receives: 20 Blings ]

[ Confirm ] / [ Cancel ]

"I..." Looking at the picture of the two pieces of metal, Jeff hesitated. 

'Common tier items are basically useless to me now...'

'But it's not like I can afford supernatural tier items either.'

'If I had 1% of what I own in the mist world...'

'What's this...? I'm envious... of myself?' Jeff sighed in his mind.

'I guess I'll just buy them as superstitious good luck articles?'

'Confirm.'

[ You've gained 'Knee Armor (common tier) * 2' ]

[ Would you like to equip them? ]

[ Yes / No ]

'Yes.'

Instantly, Jeff felt something strapped to his knees. Looking down, there were two little bulges on his robe at his knees now. 

"Good choice lad." The old man smiled and nodded. 

"No arrow to the knee will get you now." The old fella patted Jeff on the shoulders.

"Thanks?" Jeff blinked a few times. 

"Good. Looks like you are fully equipped. You are all set for adventure now." The old man walked away and disappeared into the crowd. 

Jeff raised a brow at the old man's claims. 

All geared up? Far from it actually. 

Shaking his head a little, leaving a bitter chuckle, Jeff headed towards the Adventurer's Hall. 

'I may have no fitting equipment now...'

'But after today... I will start my journey of gearing up!'

'Today is a changing point in my life!'

'Today, I will earn my first bucket of gold!' Jeff's gaze became determined. 

Standing a little taller, Jeff headed towards the giant Adventurer's Hall. 

Then Jeff felt a soft pull on his sleeve. 

Taking a look, it's a little girl carrying a straw basket. 

"Mister adventurer sir. I have a question for you." The little girl put on a cute smile. 

"Yes?" Jeff asked. 

"Is it alright to try to pick up girls in dungeons?"

Jeff: ???

"Of course it is!" The girl's eyes brightened up. "I've got a speciality bun just for young adventurers like you! It will greatly increase your odds of picking up cute girls out there!"

"A bun for gift?" Jeff raised his brows. 

"What else would you gift them? A pair of knee armor?" The girl smirked. 

"Why would I do that?" Jeff squinted. "Why would anyone do that?" 

"More people than you think, mister adventurer." Girl sighed. "More people than you think."

"Let me tell you this." The girl's expression turned serious. "The results for those fellas were... not ideal."

Jeff: "... Let's see your offer."

"As you wish." The little girl cutely smiled. 

[ Trade Offer ]

[ You Receive: 1 * Specialty Bun (Common Tier) ]

[ Vendor Receives: 50 Blings ]

[ Confirm ] / [ Cancel ]

Jeff took a look at the pink heart-shaped bun. Then Jeff turned his gaze towards the girl.

"50 Blings for a bun." Jeff raised his brows at the girl. "You are serious."

"Of course. As an adventurer, 50 Blings is nothing to you right?" The little girl tilted her head. 

Jeff: "... But I can buy 10 buns for 1 Bling."

The little girl's smile instantly fell into a sneer. The trade screen closed off. 

"You don't even have 50 Blings?" The little girl stared at Jeff with a pitiful gaze.