Chapter 4 : Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Matchmaker
【Congratulations! You have encountered the game’s protagonist!】
【Main Quest Unlocked!】
【Countdown to Version 1.0 Open Beta: 177 Days, 08 Hours, 6 Minutes, 16 Seconds】
Quest: Help Elaine deal with her current trouble.
Reward: 1500 Experience Points, 50 Silver Coins, Elaine’s Favorability.
While Lin Qi was dazed, footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the alley.
「They must be hiding nearby!」
「Find them, no matter what!」
Coming back to his senses, he grabbed Elaine’s outstretched hand. "I am Isaris Roland. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Are you being hunted by the Black Syndicate too?" Elaine asked curiously.
"Let’s just say I am not exactly friends with them. I will explain later. For now... can you give me a strand of your hair?" Lin Qi looked at the girl with a face full of longing.
Elaine instinctively leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive posture. "Are you some kind of pervert?"
"What? No, it is just a promotion material," Lin Qi explained, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"There is such a weird promotion material? Fine." Hearing his explanation, Elaine reluctantly plucked a strand of her silver-white hair and handed it over.
He probably won’t ask me for the roasted apple money anymore, right?
Before Lin Qi could even celebrate obtaining the hair, a system prompt appeared before his eyes.
【Requirements met. Do you wish to begin promotion to Romance Pathway: Sequence 9 The Matchmaker?】
Yes!
A sensation that defied description surged through his entire body. This was completely different from the game. In the game, leveling up or promoting was just a click of a button; you couldn't feel anything.
But this... this was the feeling of power flooding his veins!
System, add points!
The experience points he had earned earlier finally came in handy.
As Lin Qi dumped all his experience into The Matchmaker class, a series of chimes rang in his ears.
"Open the panel!"
【Character Panel!】
Name: Isaris Roland (Lin Qi)
Race: Human (Viridian Kingdom)
Identity: NPC (Easter Egg Character)
Level: 10
Experience: 520/0
Health: 170/170
Stamina: 80/80
Primary Class: Romance Pathway: Sequence 9 The Matchmaker [LV10]
Sub-class: Artist [LV3]
Attributes: Strength 18, Speed 13, Endurance 10, Intelligence 8, Faith 2
Special Attributes: Charm 9, Willpower 4, Luck ???
Skills: Roland Secret Sword LV1, Alcohol Appreciation LV4, Gravity Thread LV1, Emotional Disturbance LV1
(Remaining Skill Points: 10)
Combat Power: 27
【Evaluation: A little piece of trash who has just entered the transcendent world. Worthless except for his looks. He couldn't even defeat ten fully armed ordinary men.】
"Put all skill points into Gravity Thread!"
Gravity Thread LV1 → Gravity Thread LV10 (Threads are invisible to others, length up to 15 meters, extremely high durability.)
「Found them! Over here!」 A man in black searching nearby heard his companion’s shout and quickly gathered his team toward the small alley.
Hmph. Let me show you what I am made of...
After seeing more than thirty men in black swarm the alley entrance, Lin Qi immediately chose the path of least resistance. He raised his hands and shouted, "We aren't actually together, gentlemen!"
"You..." Elaine was fuming.
"Run!"
Taking advantage of the moment the thugs were dazed by his sudden declaration, Lin Qi acted.
He quickly activated Gravity Thread, secretly linking several thugs in the front row together. He grabbed Elaine’s hand and sprinted toward the other end of the alley, setting up more Gravity Thread traps along the walls as they ran.
"You are a Transcendent?" Elaine was shocked as they ran.
"Of course. Did I not just ask you for the promotion material?"
"No... but you..." Elaine was stunned. Who on earth manages to successfully promote just two seconds after getting the material? Was this some kind of once-in-a-century genius?
Kissmark Town, Isaris’s House.
The two of them, having escaped their pursuers, were now resting on the sofa.
"Are you sure they won't follow us here?" Elaine asked, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"This is a property of the Roland family. The Black Syndicate wouldn't dare barge in here." Lin Qi unbuttoned the top of his shirt and fanned himself.
"The Roland family?"
"Let me introduce myself again. I am Isaris Roland. The illegitimate son of the Roland family here in Kissmark Town."
"Oh... I am sorry..."
"Why apologize? I do not think being an illegitimate son is a bad thing. Besides, my parents were both very good to me." Lin Qi waved it off.
"I am Elaine Morning Star, the eldest daughter of the Morning Star Family of Serafino." Elaine stood up and performed a proper curtsy toward Lin Qi, though it looked a bit odd since she wasn't wearing a dress.
Looking at the suddenly solemn Elaine, Lin Qi seemed to know what she was going to say next.
"Could you please tell me where the Moer Family is located?"
Sigh... Lin Qi sighed inwardly. This naive girl actually believed that nobles would help each other out of the goodness of their hearts.
The Morning Star Family had suffered a massacre at the hands of the families ranked second and third in Serafino. Elaine, having narrowly escaped, was still very innocent. She wanted to seek help from the Moer Family, who were long-time allies of the Morning Stars, to help her get revenge.
How could that be possible?
Their so-called "long-time alliance" was merely based on political marriages and shared industries. This poor girl hadn't stopped to think: now that the Morning Star Family was wiped out, where did those shared industries go?
They had all been swallowed up by the Moer Family.
Going to the Moer Family for help was like walking straight into a tiger’s den.
Lin Qi found himself in a dilemma. In the original background story, Elaine did manage to escape the Moer Family and grew significantly from the experience, but he couldn't be certain she would make it out alive this time.
In this world, everything was real for Lin Qi. There were no save points or restarts. Should he interfere with Elaine’s decision?
"Why are you looking for the Moer Family? The Roland family has a partnership with them. If you do not tell me your purpose, I am afraid I cannot answer your question."
Lin Qi chose a middle-ground answer.
Indecisive!
He decided to see how she would respond first.
"The Morning Star Family was massacred. I need the help of the Moer Family. That is the only way I can avenge my family!"
Elaine clenched her fists tightly.
There it is.
This was the initial goal of Elaine’s background story. In the original plot, no one helped her, and she eventually headed to the capital to find a way to become stronger.
During her journey, she witnessed the oppression of commoners by the nobility and learned of the kingdom's corruption. After getting her revenge, she vowed to change the kingdom.
It was only after Elaine made that vow that the main storyline truly began.
"Why do you think the Moer Family will help you?" Lin Qi asked, looking directly into her eyes.
"Eh... what do you mean?" Elaine blinked her large, beautiful eyes.
"Did the Morning Star Family and the Moer Family share any businesses?"
"Yes! The communication devices..."
"My uncle has many of those devices. He told me they were the property of the Moer Family. He did not mention the Morning Stars at all."
"..."
Elaine was not stupid; on the contrary, she was quite bright. It wasn't that she hadn't considered the possibility of being alone and without help—she just couldn't accept it.
It was like knowing you failed an exam but needing to see the grade with your own eyes before finally giving up.
The eldest daughter of the Morning Star Family seemed to lose all her strength, collapsing back onto the sofa.
Even though... even though I expected this... why do I still cry after hearing the answer?
The debt of a slaughtered family, the pursuit of gangs, being completely alone... it all weighed heavily on a teenage girl.
She wasn't some mentally indomitable transmigrator or a battle-hardened war god; she was just a flower that had grown in a greenhouse for over ten years.
"I will help you."
"What?" Hearing his voice, Elaine lifted her head to look at Lin Qi.
It was strange. Even with her nose running from crying, her face didn't look ugly at all. Instead, it carried a fragile beauty that made one want to protect her.
Only by staying by Elaine’s side could he get more screen time, and only then would the system issue more quests to make him stronger.
"I said, I will help you."