The Great Thief

”Alright, I’ll stop making fun of you guys. The young man seems to be embarrassed. Please wait for a moment.”

Pasonia stepped into her room and came out with a book in her hand, saying, ”You’ve wanted this for a long time, and now I’m giving it to you. Remember what I taught you.”

”Aunt Pasonia, don’t worry. I won’t open it until I am level 50,” Water Fairy promised as she took the book.

Lu Li glanced at it and saw that the cover was engraved with the word ’Backstab’.

”Although the two of you completed the quest together, there is only one copy of the skill book. There isn’t much I can do,” Pasonia said helplessly.

This was purely nonsense. For a Thief at her level, there was no way she only had a single skill book.

However, Lu Li and Water Fairy knew how stingy the System could be, so it seemed like they weren’t going to receive another one. Water Fairy hugged Pasonia’s arm and asked, ”Aunt Pasonia, I will take this reward, but can you give the EXP to him?”

Lu Li was shocked, but he wasn’t shocked that Water Fairy wanted to give him the EXP.

He was shocked because Water Fairy was acting so coy. Could a person who was that cold act so coyly? Surely this was impossible for a star player like her?

Lu Li was overcome with shock.

Pasonia obviously loved Water Fairy, far beyond their mentor and apprentice relationship. She touched Water Fairy’s hair and agreed.

Then, Lu Li and Water Fairy received the EXP and reputation from the System.

When Lu Li left the Trial Tower, he was level 44 with 46% EXP. After completing the lakeside town quests, he had received 9% EXP from Mayor Solomon and another 7% from the Orcs of the Fortress.

However, upon the completion of Aunt Pasonia’s quest, Lu Li was level 45 with 25% EXP.

Being the main player to complete the quest, Water Fairy received even more.

Killing monsters to level could never compare to this rare quest. Unfortunately, the opportunities were limited and they were not easy to trigger. Even someone like Hachi Chan wouldn’t be able to keep up with the highest-level players.

The only reason why Water Fairy had asked Lu Li to complete this quest with her was to repay him for the Trial Tower.

”Well, sit down if you’re not in a hurry to leave and spend some time with this immortal old lady,” the old woman offered as she pointed at a chair and motioned for Lu Li to sit down.

Water Fairy had snuggled up to Pasonia, as though she was her granddaughter.

Lu Li was now very sure that although Water Fairy seemed cold and proud, she was in fact just a young girl that had developed a mask to protect herself because of the way she had been raised.

In the past, Water Fairy probably wouldn’t have even seen him as a friend. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have worn the mask in front of him.

”Yesterday, my Backstab had a 93% Skill Completion,” Water Fairy said with some pride, like a little girl who had finished her chores and was now asking her parents for candy.

”That’s better than the last time. Keep practicing and you’ll improve. Back then…”

The common problem among old people was keeping their memory. However, her phrases often gave Lu Li and Water Fairy plenty of inspiration. They would even occasionally hear some funny things about the other legendary characters.

For example, the Raven Ridge Village was filled with ghosts that couldn’t be seen or attacked. They would require SS Detection before they could even reveal them!

Queen Sylvanas was also apparently not the first to escape the control of the Lich King.

Among these tales, there were many other things that Lu Li had never heard of before.

”Aunt Pasonia, can Lu Li be your student?” Water Fairy asked while they chatted, trying to take advantage of the mood.

”Oh, my girl is becoming of age,” Pasonia joked.

”So you agree?’ Water Fairy heard her tone and thought that she had agreed.

Pasonia shook her head and patted her back, saying, ”This is impossible. You are a disciple of Ravenholdt Manor and it was already risky to take you as an apprentice. If I take another apprentice, I am afraid that neither MI7 nor Ravenholdt would be able to sit back.”

She had previously known about the factions that Water Fairy and Lu Li were part of, but nothing else. Perhaps it was the Shard of the Defilers they had equipped that betrayed their identities.

MI7 and Raveholdt had no direct conflict; they were simply peers. However, they were both teams of assassins, so some conflict had naturally occurred over the years.

”That’s okay Aunt Pasonia. He can find his own mentor,” Water Fairy comforted.

”He is much stronger than you and has been on many adventures. He already has much to be proud of,” Pasonia said as she pointed at the mark on Lu Li’s shoulder.

There was the Blessing of the Moon Goddess, as well as the Blessing of the Keeper of the Grover and the Blessing of the Bloodfang Worgen.

These were invisible to the average player, but NPCs could see them.

”Esteemed lady, I have a few questions. Can I ask them?” Lu Li was disappointed that he wasn’t accepted by this knowledgeable and powerful NPC as an apprentice, but he quickly adjusted his emotions.

”Ask away,” Pasonia nodded.

”There are countless famous people on this continent. There are Mages like Aegwynn, Khadgar and Antonidas, and Paladins like Turalyon, Tirion Fordling and Uther. There also countless others for the other professions, but why are there so few Thieves?”

It was worse than just a few – Thieves were basically unknown.

The assassins of MI7 were only famous they were part of an official organization.

”Children, if an Assassin is known to many people,” Pasonia said as she blinked, then paused and continued, ”He is already dead.”

Lu Li was a little dumbfounded; he didn’t expect the answer to be so simple.

However, he couldn’t think of anything to refute it. It was obvious – how could a Thief who used skills like Cheap Shot reveal their identity?

Perhaps he had already unknowingly passed by many famous assassins when he walked through the streets of Stormwind.

”How can I find a teacher that suits me?” Lu Li asked.

”Haha, that is funny. You’re a part of Ravenholdt Manor, so why are you looking for a mentor outside it?” Pasonia asked, then sighed, ”Although I don’t want to admit it, MI7 is much smaller than the Assassin’s League. The number of Master Thieves are far too few, but more often than not, people don’t know how big the groups truly are.”