Chapter 32: The Meteor Desert Eagle

The authentic meteorite pistol was crafted by an American firearms manufacturer using a meteorite estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. Only two such pistols exist worldwide, and they are valued at $4 million each. Many wealthy collectors have tried to purchase them, only to find they were donated directly to an American museum upon completion.

However, where there is demand, there is supply. Even if rare, meteorites are not impossible to find. Through a broker, Yu Xun'ge purchased a custom-made meteorite pistol from a wealthy businessman who had spent a fortune commissioning it years ago. It cost 60 million for a single piece, with no room for negotiation, as the businessman had poured immense effort into sourcing the meteorite—which was far more expensive than gold—to satisfy his obsession with firearms.

Furthermore, he had insisted on using professional craftsmen to ensure it was not merely a model, but a fully functional weapon. He even had it customized into his favorite model: the Desert Eagle, chambered in the powerful .50 AE caliber, renowned for its devastating ballistics and lethality. The only drawback was the magazine capacity, which held only seven rounds.

The businessman had been reluctant to sell, seemingly on the verge of backing out at any moment, unable to explain why he suddenly wanted to part with it. He insisted that if Yu Xun'ge wanted to buy, she had to take both, as they were a pair. Though the price far exceeded the item's intrinsic value, Yu Xun'ge paid without hesitation.

The meteorite Desert Eagle was finished in a gunmetal grey, and the unique texture of the meteorite paired with the rugged silhouette of the Desert Eagle made Yu Xun'ge fall in love at first sight. Most importantly, she had the engineering recipe for its ammunition.

After returning to her hotel with the cases, she immediately tucked them into the "Magician's Dentures." Although the businessman had emphasized that the meteorite's radiation was negligible, Yu Xun'ge couldn't help but visualize the businessman's bald head whenever she thought about it.

She had studied engineering; even if she couldn't max out the advanced level before the third closed beta, she was more than capable of maintaining firearms.

Yu Xun'ge spent 620 million on bows, crossbows, and firearms alone. After being referred to the right people, she spent nearly two million more to commission 10,000 arrows of various types, 50,000 crossbow bolts of different specifications, and 7,000 rounds of ammunition compatible with the Desert Eagle. The craftsmen refused to make any more.

With the remaining hundred million plus, she purchased various swords, blades, and shields. Aside from the meteorite Desert Eagles, she had 60 matching cases made for her 60 other weapons, stacking them neatly into her inventory.

If even a few of these 60 weapons mutated, she wouldn't be at a loss. While even a legendary weapon might not necessarily fetch 3,000 gold—as the value varies significantly based on level, with a 10th-level legendary weapon being worth far less than a 20th-level one—these items were rare commodities; even if you had the money, people weren't always willing to sell.

Although Yu Xun'ge spent most of September in Hong Kong, her alchemy progress didn't suffer. She delegated the trivial tasks to her broker, only reviewing the summarized data he provided before inspecting the weapons; if she liked them, she paid and finalized the paperwork. Each time she acquired a weapon, she would drive out to roam the city, and by the time she returned, the weapon would be gone. The broker was sensible and never asked unnecessary questions.

She treated hoarding weapons as a way to clear her head, and her alchemy experience actually rose faster, from five points a day to seven. Still, it wouldn't be enough for the third closed beta.

Speaking of the beta, the third closed beta was scheduled for October 10th, and Su Yitong and Yu Xunhuan’s wedding was set for October 18th. She couldn't help but sigh in admiration; they were truly the protagonists, getting engaged a few days before the second beta and marrying right after the third. Was the game meant to be the witness to their happiness?

Yu Xun'ge made up her mind to ensure Yu Xunhuan missed the third closed beta as well.

On October 1st, Yu Xun'ge returned to S City. Her first priority was to feed the "Meow Meow Hostel." During her absence, she had left self-feeders by the cat beds; although the high-quality cat food wasn't as good as her homemade meals, it sufficed. After placing a bowl of meat soup on the floor, she sat on the backyard steps, watching a calico and a tabby fight over their food.

Though the cats had never brought her any gifts in return, she had slowly come to view hosting them as a way to relieve stress. Often, when she was deep in thought, she enjoyed pondering things while watching the stray cats.

By now, Yu Xunhuan had moved into a villa district where strangers were strictly barred, and Su Yitong had encrypted his phone, rendering the methods she had used during the second beta useless.

Few people knew about Yu Xunhuan's move. Even his close friend, Ye Dong, who had arrived in S City, was only lent the small apartment Yu Xunhuan used for work, rather than being brought into the Yu family home as in her previous life. It wasn't easy to shift the blame onto someone else this time.

After much deliberation, Yu Xun'ge decided to manufacture an alibi for herself during those days. She could use "Phantom Shift," and her primary mana potions could restore 60 mana, while the "Never-ending Coffee" could restore 500 points. Combined with her base mana pool of 200, which had increased alongside her intelligence, she could go anywhere she needed, provided her body and mind could handle the strain—a fact she wasn't yet certain of.

On the night of the 4th, she visited the Yu family villa. Though it was Yu Xunhuan’s, Yu Qingshan and Yi Qiuguo had moved in as well. She told them she wanted to visit Jiang City; they were used to her traveling all over the world lately. But that wasn't the main reason for her visit. With a serious tone, she said, "I found out the date for the first closed beta was February 2nd, and the second was June 6th. Several other players and I suspect that if there is a third, the date will be just as unusual. I haven't heard of any beta on September 9th, but dates like October 10th, November 11th, and so on—these special dates—could trigger a beta at any time. You must keep your phone on you 24 hours a day on these special dates, understand?"

Yu Xunhuan was moved; for the first time, he felt a flicker of sibling affection for Yu Xun'ge. Not to mention him, even Yu Qingshan and Yi Qiuguo were impressed. Their daughter might be stingy, but when it came to major matters, she was truly generous!

Yu Xunhuan nodded solemnly. "I understand." He took Yu Xun'ge’s hand and said sincerely, "Thank you!"

Su Yitong hadn't told him anything, and he couldn't believe that a power as large as the Su family couldn't gather such information... yet Yu Xun'ge had come specifically to warn him the moment she heard something.

Yu Xun'ge patted Yu Xunhuan’s hand. "If our whole family becomes players, you'll have more leverage in the Su family! Remember, don't harbor any wishful thinking. It's just one day out of the month; don't be lazy, and don't get all sentimental on me! I'm leaving now."

Yu Xunhuan walked Yu Xun'ge all the way back to her own villa before heading home.