Ashen Dragon

As soon as Swashbuckler stepped into the most famous bar in Barto City, "Caroline's Home," all the players began to laugh at him. Some shouted

"Swashbuckler, you got killed again!"

Swashbuckler didn't reply. He said to the bartender, "Warm two cups of beer, and give me a grilled sausage."

Then he handed over nine copper coins.

The food and drinks sold at "Caroline's Home" were the best way for players to replenish their energy, as certified by many occupation strategy players.

The players then deliberately shouted louder, "You must have stolen someone's stuff again!"

Swashbuckler widened his eyes and said, "How can you slander someone's innocence without any proof…"

"What innocence? I saw you with my own eyes using Mage's Hand to steal a Magic Ring from the Royal Guild in the mine the day before yesterday. You got blocked at the respawn point and killed seven or eight times."

Swashbuckler's face turned red, the veins on his forehead bulging as he argued, "Stealing equipment can't be considered stealing… stealing equipment!...

Can the actions of a Wanderer be considered stealing?"

He went on to say incomprehensible words, like "Mage Hand Sleight," "Trickster Thief Profession," "Thieves' Tools Proficiency," causing everyone to burst into laughter.

The air inside and outside the bar was filled with joy.

Suddenly, Mantou, dressed in a Security Officer's uniform, swaggered into the bar with a long sword carved with intricate emblems in his hand, which made many players envious.

Swashbuckler got excited but didn't know how to respond, so he just said

"Ah! Mantou."

"—You're here?"

During the eighteen days Mantou worked as a laborer, Swashbuckler had many encounters with him while sneaking around the mine, so he had a lot to say about the mine, the Great Goblin, the Ogre, blocking the door, and moving bricks…

But he always felt as if something was holding him back, swirling in his mind and unable to come out.

He thought that now Mantou had made it big, maybe he could get some gold coins or something by hanging out with him.

"Yo, isn't this Brother Lang!"

"How have you been recently?"

Mantou was very happy to see him, took off his helmet, and greeted him warmly.

Swashbuckler shook his head in sorrow and sighed, "Not so good, the Royal Guild is really too much, all the things I worked hard for with my own hands were stolen by them."

Mantou patted his chest heroically, "What did they steal from you? I'll get it back for you!"

"Robbery is a serious crime!"

"It's the Sheriff's duty to punish all criminals, whether it's robbery or theft!"

When he said "theft," Mantou's tone was intentionally heavier.

Swashbuckler shivered immediately. He knew a sad, thick wall had formed between them.

"Nothing, nothing... I already got it back."

Swashbuckler mumbled.

Mantou grabbed Swashbuckler and said heartily, "It's all right, Brother Lang, if you feel wronged, just tell me!"

"I, Mantou, will stand up for you!"

As a fragile Trickster Thief, Swashbuckler couldn't resist against Mantou, a warrior.

Swashbuckler almost cried, "You don't need to intervene, Mantou."

"These things are not worth mentioning..."

Someone nearby who enjoyed the drama shouted, "Swashbuckler has stolen something again and got chased all over, hahaha!"

"Exactly, exactly."

"Even stealing from Royal, tsk tsk."

"Swashbuckler should be killed more often."

Swashbuckler barely managed to break free and once again widened his eyes and loudly argued: "How can you always slander someone's innocence without any proof..."

"Haha, there's even a video on the forum, you can go check it yourself!" said a player who had been stolen from by Swashbuckler, gritting his teeth.

"Is what they say true?"

"And... was it you who stole that healing potion in the mine back then?"

A hint of a malicious smile appeared on Mantou's face.

Suddenly, Swashbuckler recalled the days working in the mine when he secretly took Mantou's potion, not expecting the guy to remember for so long!

Swashbuckler sensed danger, ready to escape.

"No…" he said.

"Mantou, what are you going to do?"

"Brother Lang, sorry, but I'm just doing my job," Mantou said with a heavy tone, but his hands never stopped moving.

He pulled Swashbuckler back and skillfully snapped a carefully prepared silver bracelet onto his wrist.

"Citizen, you are suspected of theft. I am ordered to arrest you!"

A reward notification popped up on Mantou's screen.

[You have captured a criminal, earning an additional Faction Contribution: 150 points]

"Hehe, that was easy."

Mantou smiled with joy.

Swashbuckler was stunned, his face showing a mix of joy and sorrow, his lips trembling but saying nothing.

His face finally turned indignant as he shouted clearly

"Mantou, you son of..."

But his mouth was immediately stuffed with a towel.

"Citizen, please do not try to provoke a Security Officer," said Mantou calmly.

"Hahahaha!"

The bar was again filled with joyous air.

...

That night, Swashbuckler leaned against the cold wall of the Barto City Prison, bored, scrolling through the player forum. He still had three days of imprisonment before he could get out.

Then he found a hotly discussed post.
Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

"Mantou's justice arrest of Swashbuckler [Video]"

The comments below were filled with joy

"First time liking Mantou this much."

"Support Mantou!"

"There are still good Mantous in the world!"

"No laughing, just arrest him straight away!"

As Swashbuckler scrolled through the comments, his face gradually turned red and he gnashed his teeth:

"Hmph, damn Mantou..."

Suddenly, Swashbuckler stumbled upon Singo's strategy post, introducing the homeland of the Tieflings, the city full of blood and sin—Northwind Castle.

"I, Swashbuckler, am a cunning hero in chaotic times, how could I be confined in this small Barto City?"

He looked at the cold, hard prison bars, and suddenly made up his mind.

...

The next day, the prison guards found the cell door pried open, and it was empty inside, leaving only a small line of writing:

"A golden fish is not meant for a small pond, it turns into a dragon when it meets the storm."

The handwriting was messy, but bold.

However, the guards didn't understand it, just thinking it was a stain and wiped it off.

Meanwhile, a new hot post appeared on the player forum:

"How could a small Barto City confine me, Swashbuckler! Brother Lang's Northwind Castle adventure!"

"Damn, Swashbuckler left the main city?"

"Awesome, Brother Lang!"

"Don't worry, with Swashbuckler's nature, he'll get himself killed and respawn back soon."

"Good news, after Swashbuckler left, Barto City's crime rate significantly dropped."

"Everyone disperse, let's block him at the respawn point later."

While the players were heatedly discussing, Swashbuckler was running madly on the edge of Stormy Ridge, with several ugly Hill Giants chasing after him.

"What the hell is this——" Swashbuckler wailed, activating his Rogue's sprint, his legs almost blurring.

(Note: Not an ensemble cast! Not an ensemble cast! The author had a brain freeze when writing on launch and got carried away, too many players in the beginning, but it will focus on the protagonist later!)