Chang Long stood frozen in shock, no less surprised than the other players in the vicinity. Despite the late hour, the city was bustling, and everyone's gaze was fixed on Chang Long and Kitsune. 

    "Damn it! Why did she have to transport me right into the crowd like this?"

    Chang Long grumbled to herself, scanning the area for an escape route. She spotted the player service building not too far away and dashed towards it with her level 7 swift movement and evasion skills, making her movement unnoticed by the other players. 

    "Hello, how can I help you?"

    a polite NPC greeted Chang Long as she rushed into the building. 

    "Yes, I'm a new player. Can you give me some guidance?"

    Chang Long asked. She was catching her breath and looking around to see if anyone had followed her, knowing someone might be curious about the Sacred Flame Fox in her arms.

    "You're a new player? Please, come this way,"

    the NPC responded with a smile, gesturing for Chang Long to follow him.

    The building was decorated in a grand, medieval European style. The NPC led Chang Long into a small room with a table, two chairs, and a storage cabinet against the wall.

    "Please, have a seat,"

    he said, indicating a chair before fetching various items from the cabinet to place on the table. Chang Long sat quietly, watching his actions.

    "These are items new players receive upon entering the game: a backpack with a 500-slot capacity, a Level 1 knife, one jar each of red Blood Crystals and blue Mana Crystals with 20 crystals in each jar, a set of beginner adventurer's outfit, a small storage box, a rice box (with 10 pieces of rice balls), 1,000 coins, and a map of the starting island." 

    Chang Long nodded. It was the first time the NPC got a good look at Chang Long, who was in a hurry when he first saw and followed her from the front of the building. He noticed that Chang Long was not wearing a standard beginner's outfit but a full set of snake leather outfit which can only be obtained from level 30 anaconda beasts in the Thousand Serpents Fields to the west of the starting town. Such a complete set was rare.

    "Um...are you sure you're a new player?"

    the NPC could not help but ask. 

    "Of course! What part of me doesn't look like a newbie?"

    Chang Long countered, her gaze still on the items she had received from the system.

    "Everything about you doesn't seem like a newbie,"

    the NPC replied immediately. It was unusual for a new player to wear a full set of Level 5 outfit from an anaconda beast, carry a 5,000-slot snake-patterned backpack, and hold a mythical creature he had never seen before.

    "Uh...well,"

    Chang Long looked over herself, understanding why the NPC questioned her appearance.

    " A lot happened when I first entered the game. But if you don't believe me, you can check the record.,"  

    "May I? Could you tell me your name?"

    the NPC asked, fetching what seemed to be the only laptop in the room before sitting back down across from Chang Long. 

    "Chang Long." 

    "Just a moment, please."

    The NPC flipped open the laptop, typed in Chang Long's name. After a while, Chang Long's game data appeared on his screen. 

    "Player Chang Long, a beginner, level 10, total game time 2 and a half days (in-game time)..."

    the NPC looked up at Chang Long in amazement. 

    "How did you fight those creatures? New players don't have the necessary equipment to survive in the game. They are supposed to come here first to receive the equipment I just gave you." 

    "Forget about that. Can you tell me if there's a place where I can hide from other players outside this building?"

    Chang Long quickly changed the subject, not wanting to explain.

    "There's a hotel available, Ms. Chang Long. You can request a private room there. I assure you that no other players will disturb you. The game highly values customer privacy. All NPCs are strictly prohibited from sharing any of Ms. Chang Long's personal information with other players without her permission. So, it would be best if you informed the hotel staff about your need for privacy when making a reservation."

    "Got it, thank you,"

    Chang Long replied. She quickly packed the newly acquired items into her snake-skin backpack and left the player service building immediately.

    Chang Long located the hotel on the map she had received; it was situated at a discreet corner away from the player service building. After estimating the distance, she made her way straight to the targeted hotel. Upon arrival, Chang Long promptly requested a room and made sure to instruct the hotel staff to deny any inquiries about someone fitting her description.

    "I've got a lot to face tomorrow. Might as well get some rest... Come sleep on the bed with me, Kitsune,"

    Chang Long relaxed on the soft bed in her room, rolling around in satisfaction, after spending two nights sleeping on the hard ground. The hotel bed felt as soft as a cloud.

    Kitsune approached Chang Long obediently. She hugged it and stroked its head before they both drifted off to sleep, exhausted from last night's thrilling events.

    The next morning, Chang Long wandered through the city, entering and exiting shops without paying mind to the stares from the people around. Eventually, she realized that this was just a game, and she should just enjoy it. It did not matter what others thought; she was not doing anything wrong by dressing distinctively and having a pet that nobody had seen before.

    Chang Long visited a general store that sold various luxury in-game equipment,  such as tents, pillows, blankets, plates, bowls, spoons, pots, pans, etc. She bought a medium dining set (including 5 sets of plates, bowls, spoons, and glasses), a portable water bottle and a tent, spending nearly 3,000 coins and received a purple magic scroll as a freebie without paying attention to what it was. Next, she visited a pet supply store. There were many pet-related goods in the store, such as pet accessories, diverse types of pet food and pet costumes. Chang Long ended up buying a silver pet keeping ring and fifteen cans of minced meat for Kitsune. Then, she headed to a potion shop to buy two jars of medium-grade blood crystals.

    "Do we need anything else?" Chang Long asked Kitsune, intending to buy only necessities. With the Horn of Abundance for food, she did not need to waste money on meals. Hoping there was nothing more to buy, as her wallet was already weeping.

    "Why not visit the bank, master? I overheard a player saying that they just got a credit card there. It's more convenient than carrying cash, which can be stolen easily," Kitsune suggested telepathically.

    "And what if the card gets stolen?"

    "The card is a personal item that cannot be lost, master."

    "Hmm... interesting. But I don't have much money left. I wonder if it's enough to get a card?"

    Chang Long sighed, shaking her now-lighter coin pouch.

    "You won't know unless you try, master."

    "Alright, then. Honestly, I don't plan on coming back to the town anytime soon. To be frank, I'm getting tired of being stared at."

    Chang Long communicated with Kitsune telepathically as they made their way to the starting town's bank.

    Chang Long and Kitsune remained the center of attention along the way. Even the bank's staff was so stunned by their appearance that they forgot to greet Chang Long.

    "Hello~"

    Seeing no one coming to greet her, Chang Long took the initiative.

    "Oh! Hello, dear customer. How can I assist you today?"

    A bank employee quickly recovered and asked politely.

    "I'd like to open an account and get a credit card..."

    "Opening an account? Right this way, please."

    Another employee immediately came over, leading Chang Long to a desk labeled 'Open New Account.' The employee quickly arranged for Chang Long to sit on the customer's side of the desk while she took the official's seat.

    "Would you be interested in a VIP card? There's a special promotion of paying only 10,000 coins from the full price of 50,000 coins,"

    The NPC woman explained fluently while Chang Long was shocked by the card's price. It was exorbitantly expensive for a newcomer, and her wallet was already crying out in agony. She definitely could not afford a VIP card.

    "I'll pass for now,"

    Chang Long declined calmly, standing up with dignity, not showing her inner turmoil over the VIP card's price.

    "Wait a minute! Though it's shockingly expensive, the benefits of the VIP card are worth it. It allows automatic transfers of money obtained from beasts directly into your account, saving you the hassle of depositing money at the bank. Furthermore, transactions made with the VIP card incur no fees, unlike the standard card, which requires physical deposits at the bank and charges a transaction fee of 3-5%, depending on the branch. However, it will never exceed the amount I mentioned,"

    the NPC tried to persuade Chang Long without giving her a chance to interrupt until a notification from the computer caught her attention. She then turned to Chang Long with sparkling eyes.

    "Dear customer, you're incredibly lucky. You're the one-millionth customer to apply for a VIP card at this starting town branch..."

    "I said I'll consider it next time..."

    "Please listen! Being the one-millionth customer to apply for a VIP card here means the fee for the card will be waived. In other words, the card is free. Plus, you'll receive a bonus of one million coins for free. ...So, are you interested now?"

    "Yes!"

    Chang Long answered without hesitation.

    Chang Long left the bank with a big smile, heading towards the south gate of the town, with Kitsune comfortably resting on her shoulder. Despite the heavy stares, she did not care. She was SO happy, having just opened an account and received a million coins for free, plus a VIP card without any fees.

    "Today is my lucky day. Actually, ever since Kitsune hatched, everything seems to go well for me,"

    Chang Long spoke to her pet, which lay around her neck like a scarf.

    "N..no way master. Your luck is all because of you, not me. I didn't do anything,"

    Kitsune replied telepathically, slightly embarrassed.

    "Embarrassed, aren't you? You're really adorable,"

    Chang Long laughed softly and stroked Kitsune's head, then continued towards the southern gate.

    In the south of the starting town, many new players were fighting beasts not exceeding level three. The area was populated with low-level beasts like level 1 brown rabbit, level 1 chick, level 2 hen, and level 3 rooster. Chang Long decided it was not appropriate to attack these monsters in her high-level gear, despite her 3 days in-game time. Besides, she was already at level 10 and should not grind the low-level beasts for it would take a lifetime for her level to go up. She decided to head towards the Pine Forest about three kilometers away from the southern plains for better hunting grounds.

    "Let's go deeper,"

    Chang Long suggested as they entered the Pine Forest, where many new players were also hunting. The beasts near the forest edge were level 1 to 5, but deeper inside, they ranged from level 6 to 20. Luckily, the beasts here were peaceful and would not attack unless provoked. Chang Long found a secluded spot and began her level grinding kill marathon with Kitsune herding beasts towards her.

    The leveling marathon continued successfully with Chang Long standing on her ground, not needing to tire herself out by searching for beasts since Kitsune was herding them to her. Despite being low level, Kitsune's agility was impressive, managing to evade attacks from beasts above level 10. The most encountered monsters were level 10 stingy squirrel beasts, followed by level 13 drunk honey bear beasts, level 14 fluffy spider beasts, and occasionally, level 20 grumpy beaver beasts.

    "It's lunch time. Let's take a break, Kitsune,"

    Chang Long called Kitsune, who was eagerly preparing to herd more beasts, to stop for a break. Chang Long's stomach began to protest with hunger, but fatigue was not an issue thanks to her Buppha Garland. Just breathing in the scent from the garland relieved her tiredness. Even Kitsune would come for a hug to inhale the necklace's soothing fragrance when it was tired, before running off to herd more beasts.

    "Understood,"

    Kitsune walked over to sit beside Chang Long, who was spreading a cloth on the ground and taking out their dining set. Once they sat down, the system immediately notified them of their achievements from leveling marathon.

    "Player Chang Long and pet have slain 50 level 10 Stingy Squirrel Beasts, receiving 50,000 experience points. Player Chang Long and pet have slain 30 level 13 Drunk Honey Bear Beasts, receiving 39,000 experience points. Player Chang Long and pet have slain 15 level 14 Fluffy Spider Beasts, receiving 21,000 experience points. Player Chang Long and pet have slain 6 level 20 Grumpy Beaver Beasts, receiving 12,000 experience points. Player Chang Long has received a total of 207,400 coins. Player Chang Long has received 100 walnuts, 30 honey jars, 15 bottles of honey liquor, 10 spider silks, 5 bottles of spider poison, 2 branches, 6 pieces of bark, and 2 water elemental gems."

    "Player Chang Long has fulfilled the basic conditions for leveling up, advancing to level 21."

    "Player Chang Long has fulfilled the basic conditions for a beginner profession, advancing Evasion Skill to levels 8..12 and Swordsmanship Skill to levels 3,4,5."

    "Sacred beast, the Flame Fox Kitsune, has advanced to level 20. The Sacred Beast Flame Fox Kitsune has reached the threshold for evolution stage 1. Would the player like to commence evolution now?"

    "Evolution now... really!?"