Chapter 9: Devouring Panda, Not Devouring a Panda!

Josh kept farming the boss. Waiting 1 hour and slaughtering it. Incidentally it now only gave 1 XP per kill.

Meaning it would take almost 42 days of intense killing every hour to reach level 3. Josh hoped it would change on Floor 2.

He kept killing until, finally, another item dropped.

[- Material: Cerberus Hide]

Unsure of the value of such a thing he pocketed it. He was expecting there to be a material tab opening on his equipment screen.

Nope! It seemed like he had to hold it like a dumbass.

He kept at it until finally after 3 days of farming he dropped something of value. Another Cerberus Claw.

His weapon slot was already full. Thus, with both the hide and weapon in hand he muttered.

"Teleport Out!"

Before him, appeared Metropolis C in all its glory. Josh couldn't help but wonder if there was a Metropolis A and B out there.

"You! You're the one that is Classless, right?!"

A man approached Josh while holding his UW forward, possibly recording.

"It took you 3 days to clear Floor 1! How do you feel knowing there are 10 years old out there clearing it under a day?"

"Are you stalking me? What's with that pointless question anyway?"

"I see you are carrying a Cerberus Claw and a Cerberus Hide! This explains it! Would you say your insistence to climb the tower even while Classless is based on your lack of knowledge?"

"What are you even talking about?"

"*Clears throat* It is common knowledge that one can store one's weapon into the equipment slot! It is also common knowledge that Cerberus hide is worthless!"

At that point, Josh pegged him as a complete fool and decided to just ignore him.

Browsing the UW, he quickly found a place to sell his loot. He needed Credits to enter the tower again. He was also starving.

Josh assumed the only reason he had managed to survive long without sustenance to be because of his level up.

Opening a navigation function, Josh simply started walking toward his destination. On the way there he could see many ads. A recurring theme seemed to be that most would be linked to the Tower.

For instance:

<1 Floor, 1 Mission, 1 Boss, 1 Lore Piece, and 1 Guild to get you through it all: Power Leveling! The best of the best! >

What a straightforward guild name!

<Valkyrie Yogurt! Endorsed by the S Class Eclipse Valkyrie herself!>

Josh couldn't help but scoff at that one. S class and Yogurt in the same sentence.

Looking at the face of the girl on the screen he understood how it helped to sell it. She looked beautiful enough to attract the gazes of the boys and valiant enough to inspire the girls.

Finally, Josh entered a place called District B. There he found the shop he was looking for <Trade4Days >.

"Do you plan on clearing Floor 1 over and over again to earn your keep?"

Only then did Josh realize that the guy was still following him.

"Sorry, I wasn't listening. Also, I don't care. Go away."

Only then did the man leave while stomping his feet, not that it bothered Josh.

It was time to make $$$!

Josh approached a store clerk, a young man that was casually reading something on his UW.

"Hey there, I'd like to sell these two items!"

"Brother, for such a small transaction just talk to the U-bots."

Then he ignored Josh.

After interacting with the robots Josh managed to get 11 Credits in total. 10 for the weapon and 1 for the material. This would mean 2 entries into the Tower and a week of meals.

This was sufficient.

A quick search on his UW revealed that the price of entry would only increase when someone reached level 10. After that, the price would be set to the level of individual X 2.

Josh couldn't help but think about how unfriendly that system was for the beginners. According to comments on the blog he had seen, the earnings of a Climber were exponential.

Josh could think of a few reasons explaining this:

-Making it harder to Climb to avoid people going in lacking preparation (and dying).

-Keeping the power in the hands of the elites.

-Reducing the number of powerful citizens to reduce the crime rate.

Either way, Josh simply looked for somewhere to buy food because he was starving. Apparently, he had to head to district G if he wanted to eat.

He could also get himself some cheap snacks or buy ingredients and cook himself. For that one, he would require a kitchen.

Looking at the prices, if he wanted his own place remotely near the Tower it would cost him around 200-400 Credits a month and even require down payments.

Josh quickly gave up.

It seems like land prices had exploded in the area.

Back on Earth, one could always create new developments away from the metropolis. Here the whole economy seemed to be dependent on the existence of the Tower, so it wasn't an option.

Josh couldn't help but wonder how long such a development took. Surprisingly only a few months according to a wiki page.

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As soon as Josh entered district G, his stomach started rumbling loudly. The aroma was overwhelming and so delightful. It smelled of barbecue and spices. Apparently, all the restaurants in the city were zoned here.

This reminded him of the street vendors that would sell delicacies on Earth. It also reminded Josh of some nice memories, of her smile as he held her hand while casually strolling.

How sweet were the days back then! When his only troubles were his low-paying job and trying to get a promotion. Before the training, before the killing, before the transmigrating.

She would have loved this place. The little one too. As he stood there in a daze someone called out to him.

"We meet again! Why is it that whenever I see some bumpkin observing the scenery it's always you!"

It was the young man that had helped him before.

"Hey there. What can I say, this world is amazing in its own way. *Sigh*"

"I know, right! Name's Dale! Dale the Phoenix!"

Josh couldn't help but chuckle at the Chuuni name.

"Hey! Stop laughing! I was going to treat you to a meal too!"

"I'll be counting on your expertise then, Mr. Phoenix!"

The youngster gave a wry smile.

"Alright, guess I'll forgive you. Let's go to the Devouring Panda! You will experience true bliss!"

Josh followed him quietly.

From time to time his guide would point at various shops and stands, describing their specialty and which ones were his favorite.

This reminded Josh of a friend he knew back in the day. Back when he was just a student. Back when he still had friends. Back when his hands weren't stained with blood.

He couldn't help but think how comforting this was. How nostalgic too.

For once the usually stern Josh couldn't help but smile.

Before long they reached a brightly lit huge restaurant. The place itself was shaped like a humongous panda. Cute and eating bamboo.

The sheer effort and creativity that went into creating it were praiseworthy.

"Here we are. My new friend, welcome to taste bud heaven! Right, what's your name by the way?"

"Josh, Josh Malum."

"I like the ring of it. It's not as great as Dale the Phoenix, but it's still pretty cool ;)"

They went toward an available seat and then sat down.

Before long a young and cute waitress came to take their order.

Josh couldn't help but glance around, some customers were served by U-bots, some others by real people.

"It depends on the section where you sit. Also, I'm a regular here this is why I have the chance to get the special VIP treatment. Otherwise, no way such a goddess would be taking our order."

He then winked at the girl making her giggle. It seemed he wasn't bragging about being a regular.

He then grandly declared that he would take two portions of their cheapest meal set.

"The cheapest? What happened to being a VIP?"

"Hehe do not underestimate this place. Even the cheapest meal here cost 1 Credit!"

Enough for a week?!

"Believe me, friend. It's totally worth it."

Before long arrived two steaming stews. While looking quite normal it did smell heavenly.

Then Josh ate a small spoonful, came an explosion of savor. It was so damn delicious that he almost had a foodgasm.

What he did get however was a message.

[+Well Fed F-rank!]

"What was that?!"

"Hehe, what did I tell you? You got the buff, right? For 24 hours this will help you regenerate a tiny bit faster.

While it won't change anything significant it will make it so hunting is less tiring. Look around."

Josh did as he was told. He couldn't really notice anything special.

"All of them are Climbers, some even rankers."

Josh frowned at the new term.

"You know about the guild rank system, right?"

"Not that well.", Josh admitted.

"So not a single guild offered to recruit you?"

"None."

"Why not?"

"Cause I'm Classless."

"WHAT?!"

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