LUO YAN looked around the Arena once they entered. He was surprised to see that there were already quite a number of players inside. Most were lining up in different booths. It was only half past eight in the morning and yet there were already a lot of participants here. Maybe he and Luo Jin should have gone earlier. Well, at least the line in each booth were still not that super long.
"Let's go and line up," he told to Luo Jin.
There were currently five booths where players could register for the Rookie Carnival. The two went and line up at the booth with the shortest line. Although Luo Yan said 'shortest' but it would probably still take about half an hour before it was their turn. He let his younger brother stood in front of him since he's much smaller and it would be easier to talk to each other this way. Luo Jin probably thought of that too. So, even if he wanted to act tough and stood behind him, he didn't insist.
As soon as they lined up, Luo Yan looked around, observing the other players around. But he didn't see anything interesting, so he just looked forward. As he did, he happened to hear the conversation of two players standing on the line to their left. Luo Yan would probably not notice what they were talking about but he heard the names 'white-haired elf' and 'black-haired gnome' being mentioned. The two were obviously talking about him and Luo Jin. He's sensitive to things like that, so he couldn't help but listen.
"Hey, those two are both Special races, right?" one asked.
"Yeah. According to what I heard, Special races are mostly a sub-type of Common and Rare races. So, obviously, they are another kind of elf and gnome," his companion said.
"Do you think they're powerful?"
"They probably have skills that are only unique to their race. But I doubt those two could live up to them," the player said arrogantly with a bit of a mocking tone.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, use your brain. If they managed to get a Special race from the random selection, that meant their gaming experience wouldn't exceed three months. How skillful could they be with such a short amount of experience? Besides, look at their costumes. They're obviously pay-to-win players. They probably drank tons of EXP potions just so they could reach level 80 in such a short time. Participating in the Rookie Carnival, these rich second generation must really think that they could win as long as they have money. How shameless."
"You're right. No wonder I thought they were dressed too well. It turned out that they were one of those pay-to-win types," the other readily agreed. "Do you think that white-haired elf also bought that three-tailed fox on his shoulder?"
His companion snorted. "Definitely. He probably bought it at a very high price at one of those auctions."
"Rich people do have it good."
Luo Yan no longer listened to the two. He would bet that these two were not the only ones talking smack about them. If he wasn't covering the lower half of his face, these people might even say that he beautified himself to the max. It's true that their costumes were mostly bought by money. But the two of them leveled up using the natural way – grinding and defeating a lot of monsters. Luo Yan, of course, would not stoop down to their level and explain it to them. The best revenge he would have was by winning the whole thing. These people's faces would probably hurt once that happened.
[Mashter, should Eclipse scratch the faces of those two.] – Eclipse suddenly said, clearly, he heard what those two people said as well.
He glanced amusedly at the fox on his shoulder who was now licking his claws. [Why do you always resort to violence?]
[Because the people Eclipse wanted to scratch deserves it.] – Eclipse said proudly. [Those two in particular definitely deserves it. How dare they talk like that about you, Mashter? You're so great and powerful, are they blind? You could probably finish them off in just one move. And saying that you bought Eclipse. Mashter obviously found Eclipse. Can't they see the great connection that we have? They're definitely blind!]
Luo Yan almost laughed because of the little guy's reaction. [Yes, yes, they're blind. But Eclipse, you don't have to mind people like that. They will soon get what's coming to them.]
[But Mashter, I think your brother definitely minds.]
Luo Yan gazed down and sure enough, he saw Luo Jin glaring at the two players. If his eyes could produce lasers, those two would probably be incinerated by now.
"Ah Jin, don't pay those people too much attention," he said. "They're probably the type who's all talk but no bite."
"I know. I'm not so hot-tempered that I would automatically attack people badmouthing me," Luo Jin grunted.
Luo Yan raised one of his brows, clearly saying 'weren't you?'. But he still said, "Of course, Ah Jin is so mature, how could he do something like that?"
Luo Jin could hear that the other was definitely patronizing him. But he didn't comment on it and just said, "If I meet them in the prelims, I'll definitely beat them to a pulp."
[Mashter, I think I'm starting to like your brother.] – Eclipse said after he heard that.
Luo Yan sighed. Well, the two would definitely get along when it came to reacting to people hostile to them. Or at least, what they thought was hostile. Violence first before talking.
Soon, almost 30 minutes had passed and it was now their turn to register. Luo Jin walked inside the booth first. It probably took no more than five minutes before he walked out again.
"I'll wait for you down the stage," Luo Jin said because the booths were placed on the stage of the Arena.
Luo Yan nodded and walked inside the booth with Eclipse. The booth was an enclosed space the size of a telephone booth. When he entered, a mechanical voice said;
"Please, stand still until we finish scanning your data."
So, he did as he was told. He stood still. Then some kind of laser went up and down, then turned left and right on his avatar. After a few minutes, the mechanical voice sounded again.
"Player name, Noctis. Level 86. Started playing two months and 19 days ago. Has one registered pet – a void kitsune named Eclipse. Qualified to join the Rookie Carnival."
After that, another voice sounded. This time it was a more cheerful voice.
"Congratulations, dear player! You're now registered to the upcoming Rookie Carnival. Please be sure to arrive at the Safehaven Harbor at 12 o'clock in the afternoon on the 6th of October!"
With that, he finally went out of the registration booth.