The residents of Minos City disliked snow. During the cold season, streets piled high with snow walls several meters tall, paralyzing transport for half a day. Even flame-chariots wreathed in fire couldn’t budge an inch.

But it wasn’t cold season now. Though fine snowflakes drifted gently through the air, Minos City’s main avenues remained bustling with people and carriages—daily life flowed uninterrupted.

Baili Heavenbreaker loved patrolling on such softly snowy days. It gave him a cleansing, soul-soothing ease—like how serial killers still visit church to confess. Strolling through the hushed white streets of Minos City, he felt like a refined villain: lofty in thought, noble, free of vulgar tastes.

He yearned for crime, revered fiends who dared challenge truth and Justice, and craved the power to roam freely as a true master villain.

He’d believed himself strong—perhaps not Jian Gu’s equal, but close. Until yesterday: a woman with terrifying magical damage instantly defeated him. Only then did he grasp how far he still had to go. Past victories came too easily; he’d underestimated this world’s heroes.

So he bowed his proud head, concealed his identity, erased his "red name" status by special means, even altered his face. He’d seclude himself, grind through this inheritance quest chain in one breath, then challenge her again—and reclaim his honor!

The quest had just begun; many steps remained. He wasn’t worried. Slow and steady wins the race. Current objective: with an NPC’s help, disguise as a city guard, patrol Minos City, monitor for players carrying enemy-faction quests, and protect the goblin Ivan in the Dungeon.

Yet after hours of patrol… nothing happened. How utterly boring—Baili Heavenbreaker mused.

Might as well keep walking… Hmm? What’s up ahead? Why such a crowd?

Daring to cause a public disturbance?! Haven’t you heard of Minos City’s ultimate enforcement arm—the City Administration Enforcement Bureau? *I’m* Bureau personnel! Cause trouble right under my nose? Tired of living, are you?!

*****************

"Step right up! Take a look!"

I strode down Minos City’s main street, clutching a thick stack of flyers.

Yingning walked beside me, shoving flyers into every passerby’s hand just like I did.

Yep—we were committing the very act sanitation workers despised most: handing out flyers!

I passed one out, took a deep breath, raised my mini loudspeaker, and shouted in my current delicate voice:

"Step right up! Registration is OPEN for the [First Annual Yader Continent ‘World’s Strongest ID’ Fighting Tournament]!"

Laughter rippled through the crowd. *Exactly as expected~*

—Finals of the 6-character group: both fighters raised hands overhead, poised. At the Referee’s signal—*shing!*—they drew their IDs and clashed. IDs met midair with *clang, clang*, sparks flying. After three hundred furious exchanges, the Kuang Shao Family leader slipped. The Zang Ai Family boss seized the opening—*thrust!*—driving his weapon "[Zang Ai · Xiao Ji Yi]" into the foe’s chest. Stunned, the opponent retaliated, slashing his own ID "[Yong Pin Shuai · Kuang Shao]" across the victor’s throat. Both gravely wounded. "[Yong Pin Shuai · Kuang Shao]" collapsed first from exhaustion. The Referee declared "[Zang Ai · Xiao Ji Yi]" winner.

*What a beautiful scene…*

"This [World’s Strongest ID Fighting Tournament] is exclusively sponsored by the Guns & Roses Guild! For fairness, categories split by ID length: 1-character, 2-character, 3-character… up to the 16-character group—the max!"

More laughter swelled around us.

"After the tournament, rewards go by final rankings! Every category’s champion receives… *this*!"

I held up a semi-purple Shield—the very one dropped by Baili Old Two.

At the purple glow, the crowd gasped. Laughter died. The air grew thick, feverish.

Semi-purple gear—even the shabbiest piece sold for over 100,000 gold. Since we shut down the Spider Lair dungeon, drop rates plummeted 90%. Now it’s priced-but-unavailable, exclusive to major guild elites.

Gear looted from the Heaven Annihilation Guild’s Elite Squad totaled over ten million gold. Luckily, Yingning hadn’t checked my inventory before logging off yesterday—or she’d have fainted from shock.

Today? Doesn’t matter. Yesterday, in a fit of anger, I sold nearly all of it for crafting mats. Only this Shield and a few practical pieces remain; the rest became trash—common iron and blue-grade junk. Hahahahaha… *hic*… Wait. Why do I suddenly feel so sad…

"Open-air pyramid scheme! Don’t run! City Administration!"

A stern shout cut through the snow behind us. Yingning and I turned. A squad of deep-blue-clad Guards charged through the Fine Snow.

We locked eyes—delight sparkled in both. *Meow!* After all this flyer-spreading… they’re finally here!

[Squad Chat]

Ningbeibei: Plan proceeding smoothly. Prep for outfit change.

Immovable Wisdom King Hokingjin: …Do we *have* to? (crying)

Qingyu: …Guild Leader… truly no other way?

Cannon Fairy: Relax, Yatou! I’ll make them *shine* on this mission! Mwahahahaha… Don’t run, you cowards! What kind of men fear women’s clothes?!

I silently mourned Hokingjin and Qingyu for one second—then felt pure joy.

*Exactly!* What kind of men fear women’s clothes?!

"Handing out flyers, unlawful assembly, blocking carriage lanes—you violated Minos City Management Regulations Articles 132 and 135, plus City Traffic Safety Article 71! Cooperate! Show your Alliance Adventurer Registration Certificates! I suspect you’re illegal Adventurers!"

White light flashed. Dozens of blue-uniformed Guards teleported around us, blocking escape.

No running. Within their city, Guards teleport anywhere. Speed meant nothing.

Yingning and I lowered our heads like scolded children, meekly producing our certs—basically in-game IDs.

"Can… can you skip the point deduction?" I asked, voice trembling.

The man glared. "No."

Points meant permit points. Start with 12. Hit zero? License revoked. Big trouble.

He pulled out a Blue Crystal, scanned our certs—*beep*. Violations logged to the Alliance Adventurers Network. Points and gold fines deducted.

"Five points off. Two gold fine. Three-day detention. Come with us."

Mission accomplished!