Chapter 97

As Qin Ran's eyes focused on the [Special Instance: Spirit Medium Partner] section, the system immediately provided a detailed explanation—

[Player's final evaluation: SSS, obtained a special instance!]

[Special Instance: Spirit Medium Partner]

[Spirit Medium Partner: Your performance in the Alcatraz Island Prison has been heard by a spirit medium from the West Coast, who has invited you to serve as their assistant to solve a difficult case together...]

[Main Quest: Activates upon entering the instance]

(Note 1: Spirit Medium Partner and Alcatraz Island Prison are assumed to be in the same world)

(Note 2: The number of special instances will not count towards the player's total instance count)

(Note 3: The difficulty of the special instance will be based on the number of times the player has cleared instances when they obtain the special instance)

(Note 4: The special instance requires the player to clear one instance, either solo or in a group, for a cooldown period. After the cooldown, it will automatically activate during the player's next instance)

(Note 5: The special instance can be chosen as either solo or group. In group mode, teammates will have the same permissions, the same faction, and different main quests based on the number of times they have cleared instances)

(Note 6: Failure of the main quest in the special instance will result in a penalty equivalent to the number of times the player has cleared instances)

...

Rows of text appeared on Qin Ran's retina.

Seeing these words, Qin Ran's eyebrows raised.

The appearance of the [Special Instance] was completely unexpected by Qin Ran.

However, Qin Ran was well aware of the value of the [Special Instance].

Without mentioning other aspects, just the second note 'the number of special instances will not count towards the player's total instance count' was enough to make Qin Ran excited.

Even if he couldn't gain the subsequent benefits—

The difficulty of the [Special Instance] is based on the number of times the player has cleared instances when they obtain it.

In simple terms: if the [Special Instance] is obtained after the fourth official instance, after completing one instance for the cooldown, the player will use the strength of having cleared the fifth instance to tackle the fourth instance difficulty of the [Special Instance]. This is undoubtedly good news for any player.

Except for Qin Ran.

He himself was participating in a group instance with an average difficulty of the fourth instance, but with the difficulty of the second instance.

Even after clearing one more instance, either solo or in a group, and then activating the [Special Instance], his own instance count would still be equivalent to the [Special Instance] count.

However, this wouldn't make Qin Ran feel discouraged.

Because Qin Ran was very clear that, based on previous examples, after clearing one instance, either solo or in a group, and then activating the [Special Instance], and successfully completing the [Special Instance], the player's actual evaluation would be as if they had cleared six instances and were about to start the seventh. But due to the characteristic of the [Special Instance] 'the number of cleared instances will not count towards the player's total instance count,' the player would still be starting the sixth instance when they open a regular instance.

Clearly, as long as they seize the opportunity, players who clear the [Special Instance] will face their next instance with a strength far exceeding their actual instance count.

This could even serve as a catalyst for a positive development.

But... would it really go so smoothly?

Calmly reading everything about the [Special Instance] after his initial surprise, Qin Ran's gaze finally fell on the first note 'Spirit Medium Partner and Alcatraz Island Prison are assumed to be in the same world.'

The description 'same world' was enough to make Qin Ran have many speculations.

Almost instinctively, Qin Ran thought of the two light machine guns he had taken out of the instance.

His re-entry would inevitably cause some unnecessary incidents.

However, the situation wouldn't be too serious, and Qin Ran was confident he could handle it.

But this was enough to remind Qin Ran. This time it was just two light machine guns, which he could deal with in multiple ways. What if it was a more valuable item?

Or what if it was the remaining enemies?

This would inevitably cause unpredictable changes upon entering the [Special Instance], making it extremely difficult to complete the main quest.

"Is this one of the difficulties of the [Special Instance]?"

Qin Ran muttered to himself.

In his mind, the image of the bronze coffin involuntarily appeared.

"Originally... there's still a chance!"

Qin Ran's lips curled slightly, and his mood instantly improved.

If there was anything that made Qin Ran regret in the previous instance, it was definitely the bronze coffin whose true nature he hadn't figured out.

Now, with another chance, how could Qin Ran not be happy?

However, Qin Ran was also very clear that to figure out the bronze coffin, he needed sufficient strength. With his current strength, even if he entered again, it would be useless.

He needed to increase his strength!

In the underground game, the fastest way to increase strength was naturally through points and skill points.

Qin Ran looked at the character points and skill points section.

[Points: 18700; Skill Points: 11; Gold Skill Points: 1; Gold Attribute Points: 1]

The SSS-level evaluation from the second official instance made Qin Ran's points and skill points look impressive again.

But for Qin Ran, it was far from enough.

To upgrade the Expert-level [Hand-to-Hand Combat] to Master-level required 8000 points and 4 skill points.

Not to mention upgrading the Expert-level [Tracking] to Master-level, which required 12000 points and 8 skill points.

And the special skill [Mystic Knowledge]!

Qin Ran had just checked, and upgrading [Mystic Knowledge] from Basic to Novice required 1000 points!

At the same level, it was higher than the special skill [Tracking], let alone other ordinary skills.

Qin Ran could easily imagine the cost required to upgrade [Mystic Knowledge] to a comparable level.

There were other skills that needed to be upgraded, and the current points and skill points were far from enough.

Even with the 'final payment' from Stanbeck, it was the same.

Instinctively, Qin Ran's gaze fell on the two light machine guns at his feet.

Then, he touched the four Fragment-level [Soul Crystals] in his pocket.

"I hope they can fetch a good price!"

Qin Ran thought to himself.

Then, he opened the private messages that had been ringing non-stop.

The private messages showed that only two people had left messages: Stanbeck and Lawless.

Stanbeck expressed his gratitude in text and explained that he hoped to cooperate with Qin Ran again in three months. He then transferred the remaining 10000 points for the employment fee and an additional 5000 points for the protection fee, totaling 15000 points, as the final payment to Qin Ran.

Qin Ran smiled and accepted it.

In fact, apart from being a bit cowardly, the other person was quite nice.

But he was absolutely unsuitable as a teammate.

A shy tagalong was definitely not worth having.

Subsequently, Stanbeck left the team, and the original six-person temporary team was left with only Lawless, who was still sending private messages.

There was no doubt that he was the one causing Qin Ran's private messages to ring non-stop.

Qin Ran opened the private message box, and immediately, the other person's text messages started to flood in—

Lawless: Damn! I fell for a trap!

Lawless: That guy trapped me in a dungeon!

Lawless: How did you deal with that guy?

Lawless: That guy reincarnated as a half-dead person and had some issues with his brain, but he's much stronger!

Lawless: It's really hard to deal with!

Lawless: I promised to let you win easily, but I couldn't this time!

Lawless: Next time! Follow me, and I'll let you win easily!

...

From the initial inquiries to the subsequent monologues, Lawless showed his 'chatterbox' nature.

Fortunately, Qin Ran already knew how to handle it.

2567: Can you help me check the value?

He then sent screenshots of the two [WK-22] light machine guns and the four Fragment-level [Soul Crystals].

Lawless: !!!

Lawless: I've been eyeing those two [WK-22]s for a long time, originally planning to take them after completing the main quest!

Lawless: That damn guy!

Lawless: I hate 'half-dead people'!

Lawless: [Soul Crystals]? Good stuff!

Lawless: Many senior players who need enchantments don't mind spending extra points and skill points.

...

Faced with another flood of text messages, Qin Ran interrupted the other person again.

2567: How much are they worth?

Lawless: The 'Black Market' is about to open, don't you want to wait?

2567: Steam City and Steel War Wagon?

Lawless: Don't worry, those two guilds can't hold out. Do they really think the system won't charge for battles in the game? They need to pay a lot of points every hour! Although those two are rich, they're not fools. They've been fighting for a day, and they've already lost face. They've achieved their goals, so it's time to end it.

...

Seeing Lawless's text messages, Qin Ran immediately knew what to do.

A single person's offer and a group's offer, everyone knows which is more beneficial to the seller!

"The Black Market, huh?"

Qin Ran said to himself, slightly expectant and curious.