The response came almost immediately. Renan supposed that he had also just recently gotten off Masteria.

[Tora: HELL YEAH! What’s up boss!? Ready for the raid!? I’M PUMPED!] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Renan smiled. Even Tora was like this. Enthusiastic and ready for tomorrow.

[Lumi: I have a special job for you during the raid.]

[Tora: SPECIAL JOB!? I’M LISTENING!]

[Lumi: I’m going to bring one of the natives with us. A young mage named Eden. He’s my disciple.]

[Tora: WOAH! You have a disciple!? That’s so cool! Wait, a native? Like an NPC?]

[Lumi: Yes. He’s important. And he’s not as strong as the rest of us yet.]

[Tora: Got it boss! You want me to protect him!]

[Lumi: Exactly. Your role in this raid is simple. Keep Eden alive at all costs. And I really do mean at all costs. Let the players die, let me die, let yourself die.]

[Tora: ...This is really important to you, isn’t it?]

[Lumi: Yes.]

[Tora: Then consider it done! I’ll guard him with my life! No demon is getting past me!]

[Lumi: Thank you. Send me your bank account.]

[Tora: ???]

[Lumi: Eden is worth more than you can believe. Even if I believe you will protect him to the best of your ability, my heart won’t be at ease without absolutely making sure of it.]

[Tora: Boss... there’s no need? It’s just a game, and, you know, protecting people... that’s what tanks do! We protect people! I’ll make sure your disciple doesn’t get a scratch!]

[Lumi: $10k]

There was a rather long pause. Only after a while, did Tora continue.

[Tora: You serious?]

[Lumi: Yeah.]

[Tora: I mean... I can send the details.]

[Lumi: Great. I’ll send you a portion now to prove my words, and the rest when you are successful with your mission.]

As soon as he received the banking details, Lumi wasted no time. And why would he?

To begin with, he had set up a system for anyone to buy their way into the class of the Hero of Light with just a bit of payment. Even if many people hadn’t done it, it had already squirmed about fifty thousand dollars into his pockets.

But that was actually nothing. Renan even considered it a small miscalculation. He had assumed it would take a while to begin receiving money through a more mainstream market, and thus set this up as a stopgap.

The reason it never mattered at all was Lucas.

By providing the man with his reputation, collaborators, and an early interest in Masteria, he had effectively speedran the process of a centralized market coming into play.

And by taking just the most miniscule tax, below even a single percent, he had already generated nearly four-hundred thousand, even after deducting everyone else’s cut.

Money was useless unless spent. So that’s why, despite throwing money away into what was effectively a firepit, Renan did not feel bad.

Speaking of money being useless unless spent... he had to capitalize on it. He had sponsored Lucas on creating an RMT service, but it currently had limited item trading capability.

He had tons of Ems on Masteria, and money on earth. It was ludicrous to keep it all unspent. Luckily, or rather, entirely planned, it that his guild would become the new base of operations for this item market. Which of course, would mean that expensive items would become centralized in one place, allowing for a proper item market, which he would abuse.

Renan closed the message window, satisfied.

Tora was reliable. If he said he’d protect Eden, he would. The man might be loud and boisterous, but when it came to actually doing his job, he was solid. Still, extra insurance wouldn’t hurt.

It was more than just that, though. It also bound the man to him beyond mere friendship. If Renan was his financial boss, then following his orders and deferring to him would be only natural.

With everything ready, Renan headed to bed.

Tomorrow would be the day.

...

The next morning, Renan woke early. He went through his routine quickly. He took care of his physical body with food, water, and mental preparation.

Then he climbed into his game pod and logged in.

[Welcome to Masteria Online]

Light engulfed his vision, and when it cleared, he was standing in Merath’s library.

He opened his eyes. He could already see the familiar endless walls of books, the towering shelves, and smell the scent of old parchment and magic. It was a deeply comforting feeling.

Lena was already there, examining the completed ring Merath had made. She looked up when Lumi appeared.

"Morning!" She greeted cheerfully. "Ready for today?"

"As ready as I’ll ever be." Lumi replied.

Lena cheerfully passed the ring. "Look! Merath only got to make one. The others, he still needs time. A bit of a shame since we’re going today, but whatever! Equip it, equip it!"

Lumi took the ring as he was given it. He inspected it.

[Tier 5 Magician Ring - Master Craftmanship]

[Required Level: 15 (50-35)]

[A mysterious force has lowered the level requirement.]

[STR +10]

[DEX +10]

[INT +50]

[HP +250]

[MP +2500]

Lumi grinned as he saw the item. A mysterious force lowered the level requirement? Lumi already knew exactly what that was.

It wasn’t a matter of craftsmanship. Actually, this meant the rest of the rings would have a level requirement of 50 unless Merath had also specifically invested in it.

Equipment was inherently a supernatural thing. While on Earth, any item that gave you power when worn would be classified as magic, it was entirely normal on Masteria, and even considered not necessarily magical.

And the stronger a piece of equipment became, the more that one could do to it. At level fifty, the ring was powerful enough that several modifiers could be added to it.

Unfortunately, this is an inherently random system which requires retrying enchantments over and over for a specific effect.

That meant that Merath had wasted dozens, if not hundreds of his own stash of crystals to attempt to give that specific effect.

He owed Merath more than just one.

He equipped the ring, smiling as his stats visibly went up.