**16:16**, cooldown ended.
Rita immediately logged into her game. Only **54 minutes** remained before the third closed beta would end.
Once online, she **Disguised** herself as a goblin and returned to the city. She headed to a Silvermoon City restaurant and learned all the city's signature recipes. Then, she teleported to **Bloodmoon City**, where she found a wealthy goblin and bartered for **10,000 gold**.
She checked the time—still enough left—so she went around collecting small amounts from other poorer goblins, eventually gathering an additional **800 gold**.
By this point, she had accumulated a total of **20,800 gold** from the two elven main cities. Adding the **378 gold** she had earned from making 3 gold per day between June 7th and October 10th, and subtracting the costs of teleporting and learning recipes, she now had **21,108 gold**. She still had **1,084 gold bricks** looted from Lopez's house.
Rita spent more gold learning the signature dishes from the **Bloodmoon City** restaurant before heading back to the **undead city**, where she had first learned **alchemy**. Entering the alchemy shop, she approached the familiar figure busy with cauldrons and test tubes, typing "teacher" into the dialogue box.
The undead alchemy mentor didn't stop her work but suddenly issued Rita a task: **[Alchemist Master Apache asks you to craft ten beginner potions and ten intermediate potions.]**
Though the task didn't specify if all ten needed to be the same potion, Rita understood that this was a test.
But since the game only showed progress bars for crafting, it seemed impossible to judge her performance that way.
After a brief thought, she submitted the **20 best potions** she had made recently, including a variety of types. "Teacher, these are my latest results."
The undead mentor stopped stirring the test tube, taking the potions from Rita.
Minutes later, the task completion notification appeared.
The reward was a book: **[Apache's Alchemy Notes]**
**[Apache's Alchemy Notes (A-grade)]: A notebook containing the thoughts and insights of Alchemist Master Apache during her advancement from an advanced alchemist to a master alchemist. You won't learn any new recipes from it, but perhaps you'll gain something more valuable. (Other alchemists innovate for honor, but me? I do it for the money to buy more booze!
That's why my potions always sell the best. It's been so long, and they still don't understand—passion projects don't pay the bills! — Apache)**
After silently reading through the description, Rita pulled out **2,000 gold** and handed it over. "I may not have the chance to come back again," she typed.
Before she could even hit **send**, the gold was gone—snatched up by Apache in an instant.
The next second, Apache tossed her a dark green pouch.
**[Apache's Potion Pouch (0/8) (S-grade)]: Apache always has so many orders. This little trinket helps her store potions for delivery, allowing stacks of up to 999.**
The biggest surprise wasn't the high stack limit but that it was classified as a **tool** item, meaning it didn't take up any bag slots!
A notification popped up: **[Do you wish to bind this item?]**
Rita, overjoyed, immediately clicked **yes**!
This time, she played it safe, typing first: "Teacher, this is just for your booze. You don't need to give me anything more. I truly love alchemy." Only after sending the message did she happily hand over another **1,000 gold**.
Seeing that Apache had no intention of giving her any more items, Rita smiled, turned, and left, eager to make it to the auction house in time.
In a few days, it would be **Zoey and Rick's wedding**. As family, it was different from being just a guest—while cash gifts were fine for engagements, a proper gift was better for a wedding.
Zoey had given her **20 million** during their engagement, so she couldn't afford to appear stingy now.
But Rita didn't feel any resentment over it. After all, she had already leeched so many stat points from Zoey, not to mention an **A-grade item** and one of her **ears**, and Zoey still had no idea who her enemy was. She even gave Rita money to spend. With Rick's **Divine Gift** now 80% ruined, Rita's sense of injustice had vanished.
Giving a physical gift from the real world wouldn't impress Zoey, but giving something truly valuable from the game? Rita wasn't that generous.
She had a perfect idea.
**[The Witch of Pleasure's Bed (C-grade)]: Enhances the intimacy of couples and married people, providing them with ultimate pleasure. No one is allowed to say no.**
What a wonderful item—completely useless, but still a **C-grade** tool!
And it was dirt cheap, only **20 gold**.
**Let the world spread some more "AIDS"!**
She also found a **Binding Stone (A-grade)**: **[Binds an item or tool to your soul, making it impossible to lose or be stolen, not even by the Thief God. Upon your soul's dissolution, the item will turn to ash, returning to the void.]**
Rita: "Is this targeting me?!"
Still, she needed it just as much as anyone else.
They cost **100 gold each**, and Rita bought **50 of them** without hesitation!
She spent **5,000 gold** without blinking an eye.
Then, she began buying up cooking recipes—anything in the auction house she didn't already know. Each time she bought one, she immediately learned it to avoid buying duplicates.
All of this was preparation for her **God of the Culinary Arts** Divine Gift. Even low-level recipes wouldn't be incredibly useful, but learning more would help her later when creating her own.
Once done with culinary prep, it was time to focus on her **Master Archer** Divine Gift.
**[Explosive Arrow (B-grade)]: Fires an explosive arrow that detonates on impact, dealing damage to the target and enemies within a 2-meter radius. Costs 100 MP per use. No cooldown.**
**[Push Shot (C-grade)]: Your projectile emits a shockwave, pushing enemies back. Costs 30 MP per use. 3-minute cooldown.**
**[Soul Resistance (Passive, S-grade)]: Provides permanent defense against soul-based attacks, granting immunity to mental control skills and reducing soul-based damage by 30%.**
One was an area attack, the second a pushback skill, and the last one provided immunity to mental control.
Originally, Rita had planned to buy more offensive skills, but when she saw **Soul Resistance**, she didn't hesitate. Even though it cost **12,000 gold**, far more than her **Phantom Shift**, she needed high-end skills.
She bought **Explosive Arrow** for **450 gold**, **Push Shot** for **130 gold**, and combined with the **3,000 gold** for Apache, the **5,000 gold** on Binding Stones, the **20 gold** for the bed, and the **485 gold** spent on recipes, she was left with only **23 gold**.
Satisfied, Rita left the **undead city** after spending her last **23 gold** on herbs for more **advanced invisibility potions**.
She then logged off, canceling the shadow she had left in Rick's secret room.
The time was **17:03**.