Chapter 1 Contract?

"A contract?" Shi Feng muttered to himself, somewhat perplexed.

In his previous life, the information he'd gathered hadn't mentioned anything like this. However, that lucky player probably hadn't revealed everything either. Naturally, he wouldn't have known these details. But if that lucky player could do it, Shi Feng refused to believe he couldn't. He was far stronger than that player had been back then. There was no reason he should fail.

As long as he completed this mission, he would have the capital to rise up in White River City.

As for what that capital was?

Did he even need to ask?

For any player entering White River City, there was nothing better than owning property there. And not just any property, but a noble's residence in the trade center district. Only by owning a residence in White River City could a guild establish a guild residence.

A guild residence was extremely important to a guild. It was arguably the most important benefit a guild could have.

Every guild residence was like a private territory. The greatest benefits were accelerated leveling speed and unique residence quests. With a guild residence, all guild members resting there could store double experience. Whether grinding monsters or leveling up, they would gain double experience.

However, the amount of double experience stored depended on the time spent resting in the guild residence. Typically, 48 hours of rest would store 20% of the double experience, up to a maximum of one level's worth. This was a fatal attraction for guild members weary from battle who wanted to rest.

Then there were the unique guild residence quests. These quests all came from local NPCs and were available daily, offering generous rewards. Sometimes, they even rewarded Dark-Gold ranked items. Additionally, they increased guild honor and guild funds, as 20% of the quest reward went to the guild. Even with only 80% of the money, it was still more than many high-level quests offered.

The guild residence also had many other functions. It could be said that the heart of a guild was its guild residence.

Unfortunately, obtaining a guild residence was extremely difficult. Even the top-tier first-rate guilds spent over a month to acquire a remote guild residence. Not to mention the second- and third-rate guilds. Even after four months since the launch of God's Domain, many third-rate guilds still didn't have a guild residence.

In his previous life, Shadow didn't get its first guild residence until seven months later. That's right, seven months. By then, many players had reached level 50. Shadow barely managed to get a remote guild residence in a city with 200,000 to 300,000 people. Only then did Shadow get on the right track and officially become a bottom-tier guild.

Only a guild with a guild residence could be considered a true guild. The ability to quickly obtain a guild residence was a testament to a guild's strength.

Shi Feng's goal was to obtain a guild residence within fifteen days of entering White River City, and Blackbeard's letter of recommendation was the fastest shortcut, bar none.

"Yes, but..." Weissman carefully sized up Shi Feng, then shook his head slightly. "Young man, your strength is too weak. I'm afraid you won't be able to complete this contract. Although I don't know why Blackbeard trusts you so much, it's still too early for you."

"Lord Weissman, I believe I am capable of this task," Shi Feng said resolutely.

Weissman couldn't help but smile. Young people were always so confident, but they only realized their foolishness when they encountered real trouble. He then said, "Young man, how about we make a deal?"

"If you can pass the test I set, I will agree and help you complete the Black Iron Contract. If you don't pass, why don't you come back after you become a formal swordsman?"

Shi Feng lowered his head in thought. He remembered that in his previous life, the lucky player had obtained a private territory after reaching level 10 or so, but Weissman was saying to come back after becoming a formal swordsman.

Players' initial jobs were not formal professions, but apprentice jobs. To become a formal profession, which was a Tier 1 profession, one had to reach level 20 and then apply for a job assessment at the Job Association. After passing the assessment, one was considered a formal Tier 1 profession. Shi Feng, after passing the job assessment, would be a formal swordsman. Not only would his stats greatly increase, and he would learn unique Tier 1 swordsman skills, but he would also receive a formal swordsman badge.

If that lucky player at level 10 or so could pass, Shi Feng didn't think he couldn't. He was already level 13, not just reaching level 10, and his equipment was very good. There was no reason he couldn't pass.

"Lord Weissman, I accept your test," Shi Feng nodded affirmatively.

"My request is simple. As long as you can obtain the Devil's Heart. In the Land of Curses, there is a Devil's Castle. It was originally a lord's mansion, but it was seduced by the devil, and the lord also fell into the devil's path, becoming the Dark Knight Gaia, cursing all the subjects under his territory to become Demonkin. I need Gaia's heart to resolve this curse. I wonder if you are willing to go to the Cursed Castle to kill the Dark Knight Gaia and bring back his heart?" Weissman asked very seriously.

"The Devil's Castle in the Land of Curses?" Shi Feng couldn't help but be shocked.

That was the most top-level 20-man team dungeon for levels 10 to 15. He didn't know how many guilds were wiped out again and again while attempting to clear the Devil's Castle, and in the end, all died at the hands of the Dark Knight Gaia.

"That's right. It depends on whether you can do it. If you can't even do this little thing, then I can only advise you to give up that contract," Weissman advised.

"Is there a time limit?" Shi Feng asked.

"There isn't. It's fine even if you complete it after you're promoted to a formal swordsman," Weissman laughed.

"Alright, I agree to this deal," Shi Feng breathed a sigh of relief. Most people were not even level 10 yet. If there was a time limit, and the required time was very short, then he wouldn't have time at all. If there was no time limit, then there was no problem.

Shi Feng also understood why that lucky player was able to complete this mission.

At that time, most players were already around level 20, and the elite teams of third-rate guilds could completely clear the Devil's Castle and obtain the Devil's Heart. But for all the guilds now, this was an impossible task.

To clear the Devil's Castle, you had to form a twenty-man team, and the level had to reach at least twelve or thirteen levels, and you had to get a very good set of equipment, otherwise there was no chance to clear the Devil's Castle.

"It seems I have to hurry up and form a team," Shi Feng had a rough goal in mind, especially the social event in a few days. If he had enough capital, maybe he could form a good team, and then it would be much easier to clear the Devil's Castle.

Weissman watched Shi Feng leave, and suddenly seemed to think of something. He stopped Shi Feng and said, "Young man, wait a moment. I have something very important to give you."