Infinity, The Arcade Age

Double-Gun Lady had a rough idea about the general effect of Qin Ming's pistol. Even if he hadn't explicitly explained it, she could easily guess the gist.

After all, Qin Ming had just purchased Tarma's head, and shortly afterward, Tarma himself was summoned. Even an idiot could connect the dots.

But her understanding stopped there.

She didn't know the exact rank of Qin Ming's gun, nor was she aware that the heads he used had been enhanced by his fusion abilities.

After delivering her specially prepared farewell gift and failing to ignite any romantic sparks, Double-Gun Lady and Qin Ming simply ended up as rowdy drinking buddies.

Sitting shoulder to shoulder, they casually chatted.

When Qin Ming carefully put away the gift, Double-Gun Lady's face turned serious.

"Hey, Old Dog, have you pissed off some guild members here in the Nightmare Space?"

Qin Ming froze for a moment, his expression turning grave.

Seeing his reaction, Double-Gun Lady rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.

"Guild members aren't to be trifled with. They're like superglue—once they latch on, they never let go. And they hunt in packs. No matter how powerful your talent is or how quickly you grow, you can't withstand the sheer weight of their numbers. Even if each member throws in just 1,000 points, they could raise a monster strong enough to crush you. And trust me, there are already plenty of monsters in their ranks. You'd better watch your back."

"…How did you know I've clashed with a guild?"

"When we entered the Three Kingdoms 2 world, I got a notification from the Nightmare Space. Someone tried to use an item to track us into the world and cause trouble. Who else would pull such a scummy move if not a guild? It's textbook guild behavior."

"Last mission?!"

"Yeah. And don't look at me like that. At the time, we weren't as close as we are now. If I'd told you back then, you might've bailed on the mission, and then where would I have been?"

Double-Gun Lady rummaged through her pocket, pulled out a scroll, and handed it to Qin Ming. Her face was deadly serious.

"Take this, just in case. This is the last thing I can do to help you."

The scroll she handed over was none other than the Forced Return Token: Game Currency Voucher.

It allowed its user to forcefully return to the Nightmare Space, ending their current mission world early—albeit at a cost.

Staring at the scroll in her hand, Qin Ming's brow furrowed deeply. After a long pause, he finally nodded and reached out to accept it.

"Thanks. I'll take it. As for the 10,000 points I owe you, just consider it settled."

"No need. Debt is debt. I'm currently debt-free and as safe as can be. I don't need those points. But you're in danger—serious danger. I know how guilds operate. Once they set their sights on someone, they never let go until that person is dead. They can't risk you growing stronger and coming back for revenge. So they'll hound you until the end."

"…They never let go?"

"Never. Unless, of course, you decide to switch sides and join them. In that case, they'll stop the hunt and even let you share their resources. But then you'll just become a target for other guilds. Guild competition is brutal. The stronger your talent, the bigger a target you'll become."

After transferring the 10,000 points to her and fulfilling their agreement, Double-Gun Lady let out a long sigh and smiled faintly.

"Well, everything's settled. It's time for me to go. See you in the Mid-Level Adventurer Zone, Little Bro. I don't know what your talent is, but I know it's stronger than mine. If nothing goes wrong, I'll see you there!"

She extended a hand towards Qin Ming.

Qin Ming nodded and firmly grasped her hand.

"Old friend, see you in the Mid-Level Zone!"

"Make sure you control yourself when you get horny, okay? Don't go hitting on other adventurers—they're not trustworthy. You might fall into a honey trap!"

"Worry about yourself instead. Improve your combat skills, or next time you face a strong opponent, begging for mercy might not work."

With a smirk, Double-Gun Lady turned and walked towards the door.

Before leaving, she turned back, gave Qin Ming a thumbs-up, and flashed him a radiant smile before disappearing from the room.

Qin Ming let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

To be honest, after this mission, Qin Ming had seriously considered forming a permanent team with Double-Gun Lady.

Their cooperation had been flawless, their personalities clicked, and they genuinely trusted each other.

But… teaming up with a Mid-Level Adventurer wouldn't work. My talent is too special, and the power gap between us is starting to widen.

Besides, she's already got the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade. Even I wouldn't feel confident going up against her directly.

For most enemies, just surviving her first strike would be a miracle.

Shaking his head, Qin Ming dismissed the thought.

She'll do fine on her own. She's strong enough now. As for me… danger is closing in.

Picking up the Forced Return Scroll, Qin Ming smirked coldly.

"So persistent, huh? I only killed two of your guys, and you're biting down this hard? Looks like I didn't kill enough of you last time."

He stashed the scroll safely in his inventory and then counted his remaining points.

25,000 points.

A cold gleam flashed in Qin Ming's eyes as he stood up and walked towards the door.

A big fight is coming.

But before that, there's one last thing I need to do.

I need more consumables—enough to push one final upgrade.

After that… I'll see just how unyielding these guild hounds really are.

His target for the final upgrade?

The head of Kasamoto Eri, Double-Gun Lady's farewell gift.

He planned to fuse it with Tarma's head, enhancing it to a Radiant Silver Tier before attempting a Golden Fusion.

When I'm done, this little minion better be useful—in every way.

Time to prepare for war.

(End of Chapter)