Chapter 113: A Fierce Competition Xin and the others exchanged glances as they surveyed the room.
"Where did it go?" Yuzuro asked, confusion evident on her face.
"In the next area. It just means that there are no treasures here," Victor explained.
Yuzuro hid her disappointment and nodded, deciding to move along.
The group ventured further into the old kitchen, a place that had once been reserved for head chefs and their closest attendants.
Despite the passage of time, the room still carried the remnants of its former glory. The air was thick with the lingering scents of exotic herbs and spices, serving as a testament to the exquisite culinary achievements that had taken place within these walls.
The kitchen, in its current abandoned state, stood as a preserved relic of its former elegance and refinement.
Upon entering, the group was met with a chaotic scene. Players weren’t merely searching for items; they seemed to be locked in heated disputes over a particular item that had captured their collective attention.
"Hey, that’s mine! I saw it first!"
"So what if you saw it first?!"
"Back off!
"Why don’t we settle this like civilized people? A duel, perhaps?"
"Get lost!"
"It’s mine!"
"Go to hell!"
"I was here first!"
"Oh, yeah?! Well I was here years before you!"
"The two of you shut up! I was here even before this dungeon was created, alright?!"
The commotion grew louder as players argued and bickered over the coveted item, their tempers flaring in the eerie atmosphere of the abandoned kitchen.
When Xin took a closer look, he realized that the players were fighting over a very rare item: the [Boiling Brew Kettle of Big Daddy’s Coffee].
Quite the dandy name, Xin mused.
And when he used his appraisal skill on the item, he understood why everyone was clamoring for it.
ǁ Boiling Brew Kettle of Big Daddy Coffee ǁ
Wondrous Items, Very Rare (requires attunement)
A magical kettle that swiftly boils water. Drinks made with boiling water grant 10,000 temporary HP for 1 hour when consumed hot.
With a 4-cup capacity each day, it’s the perfect companion for health and refreshment on your adventures.
When you fill it with water and let it stand, the water boils after 1 minute.
A carved quote on the handle read: "Ever-boiling kettle. A most useful item for the tea lover in your party."
ǁ E N D ǁ
"It’s a very rare item," Xin muttered.
"Oh, right. With your crafter class, you can probably appraise items now," Rever commented.
"So what does it say?" Victor asked.
Xin shared the item’s description with the rest of the group. Since they had formed a party, it was simple to share information with just a push of a button.
"Hmm . . ." Rever whistled and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "No wonder they’re fighting over it."
"I don’t understand. Aren’t rare treasures supposed to be scarce here?" Yuzuro asked. "And with all these players around, shouldn’t there be none left?"
"That’s a valid point," Victor agreed. "However, once in a while, if you’re lucky enough, the system drops rare new items in dungeons."
"Oh." Yuzuro nodded, her fingers tapping together. "I didn’t know that."
Rever gave Yuzuro a brotherly pat on the head. "Now you do. So, it’s better to have a pet to help you with this kind of stuff. Like Shadow over there. He’s already eyeing that item."
"You have a pet, right?" Victor asked Rever.
Rever flashed a toothy grin. "Of course. But not as impressive as yours."
All eyes briefly went to Midnight Duchess, but the woman’s response was only a nonchalant flipped of her hair.
"I wish I have a pet," Yuzuro muttered.
. "I’ve gotten you one before right?" Rever said to her.
"That one is very aggressive and doesn’t listen to me," Yuzuro exclaimed. "As much as I appreciate your help in getting me one, but I have to let it go."
"I feel like my life is in danger whenever I called it to accompany me," Yuzuro lamented with a wry smile.
Rever scratched the back of his head. "Maybe because you’re low leveled?"
While the two were talking, Xin stared at the rare kettle perched on the counter with the other kitchen tools. It sat there in plain view, like a coveted prize waiting to be claimed.
Anyone who tried to approach it was met with fierce opposition from all sides, and those who thought they stood no chance quickly retreated.
"Do you want it, Lord Schrodinger?" Victor asked, noticing Xin’s intent gaze fixed on the item.
Midnight Duchess’s bored expression suddenly sharpened, and she straightened up as if jolted awake.
Xin pondered for a moment before responding, "Well . . . I do think it would be a waste not to get it. It’s a valuable item, and we can decide later how to distribute it. Perhaps we could toss a coin or auction it and split the profits among us."
"Money doesn’t particularly interest me," Victor replied, "but I’d be happy to acquire it for you as a gift for your first dungeon adventure." He offered with a friendly grin.
Xin found Victor’s generosity a bit surprising but decided it was just part of Victor’s character.
Rever nonchalantly draped his arms over the back of his head and chimed in, "I don’t have any attachment to that kettle. If it boosted STR, then I might consider fighting you for it. But, well . . . consider it a gift for your recovery."
Yuzuro joined in as well, saying, "I’m on board with that. I’d like to give you something too. But . . ." she worriedly stared over at the players who were like beasts vying for the only meat in the area.
". . . Are we really going to fight that?" she muttered in a low voice that only she could hear.
Xin was deeply touched by their willingness to give him a very rare item as a gift. He knew that Rever could enhance his position by presenting it to his guild, and Yuzuro could fetch a high price for it to help with her and her brother’s finances.
But rejecting their generosity didn’t feel right either, especially when they were so eager to give him something.
"Thank you," Xin replied with heartfelt sincerity.