“Goddess Holy Mother… I’ve never seen a house so tall!”

“So luxurious, from the velvet carpet, the floating mana chandelier- Goodness! The floor is made of sky marble!”

“Look at them! Top-grade beauties!”

In the lobby equivalent of the building, people were in high spirits, feasting their eyes. Some commented towards the decor, some immediately captivated by the enchanting mien of the staff.

Likewise, Viers was also watching the maids and butlers, although for different reasons.

There was something off about them… Puppets? Projections? Whatever the case, they weren't real people. The resort’s staff are pretty much all NPCs.

Although Viers couldn't use any Arte, he had soul 5 affinity. The staff, no matter how lifelike they were, didn't feel like beings with souls.

“Ladies and gentlemen, from now on your attendant will explain things for you. Enjoy your stay,” the Aletros said together.

Each participant was promptly approached by the resort staff. Males approached by the maids and the butlers drew near on the fairer gender. The staff was not all human race. There were elves, dwarfs, beastfolks, and others. Those of the other race got approached by the same race of the opposite gender.

Elves… Viers’ mind wandered as he watched a skinny elf male participant. An approaching maid interrupted his train of thought.

“Honored guest, this humble one’s name is Kaari and I’ll be your personal aide in the resort. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Kaari was like a high school fashion model. Black and white maid uniforms accentuate her pale skin. The lacy maid headdress on her curly blonde hair was a nice touch.

“Hello,” Viers curtly answered.

“Before we begin, please write down the name you wish to be known while the trial is ongoing, my lord. You can use your real name or an alias. This is mandatory for all the participants.”

Kaari gave Viers a paper and a feather quill.

How very game-like.

Viers didn't hesitate and wrote ‘Tanael’.

“Are you sure this is correct?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Certainly. Please follow me, I’ll explain everything to the best of my capability.”

This NPC’s demeanor, facial expression, body language, are all very life-like. Incredible…

“ARAVIIIIIN!!!”

Suddenly, Viers heard a shout and snapped his head.

Viers saw a guy trying to attack another guy with two pretty girls on his side, one wolf beastfolk and one blonde priestess. However, the assailant’s attack was thwarted by a protective shield that knocked him back.

“No hostile actions are permitted in the hub area,” White Aletro spoke.

The attacking guy gritted his teeth until his lips drew blood and watched the Aravin guy with undiluted hate.

Viers turned his head around, no longer paying attention.

Those people must have a complicated history with each other. Nothing unusual. By the way, the green-robed guy, the leader of the gang that kidnapped Harry’s friends should be here too since I saw him disappear before me. Considering I threw a monkey wrench on his plan, he must have wanted me dead. Good thing I wear a disguise. Wait! Since in this trial everyone's cultivation is the same, I should try to kill him while we’re in the trial! To tie up loose ends! Hehehe, watch out for yourself, Green Robe. The other side should think the same. Our game of deadly hide and seek begins now.

“Kaari, continue.”

“Certainly.”

And so began Viers’ tour on the Path of Paradise Resort. The first place Viers visited was the cafeteria on the ground floor, just beside the lobby. There was every kind of food available from all corners of the continent. The appetizing smells and visuals were very appetizing but Viers managed to rein in his gluttony and went on with the tour.

Kaari led Viers upstairs for the other facilities.

While there were stairs built -or conjured- on the 30 stories building, the elevator equivalent was very interesting.

There were no boxes with mechanical mechanisms that went up and down but a no-gravity area inside of the building, from the top floor to the lowest. On the zero gravity area, Viers could fly just like on the outside of the resort. Reaching the 10th floor was as easy as floating up. Since the ‘elevator’ area was 30x30 meters, there was no problem of overcrowding even for 382 participants.

“This is the shopping floor,” Kaari led Viers to the 2nd floor. “My lord can buy things from mundane to magical, from straw sandals to moon essence. Feel free to take your time as long as you need.”

“Got it. I’ll browse for a bit.”

The shop floor was as big as a mega supermarket with the goods on display. There were also books that projected 3D images for easy item-browsing. The staff there were eager to help. Viers expanded his horizon on the things sold here for a short while, just so he could measure the store’s versatility. There were many good things but outside’s coins and crystals were unusable. And apparently, there was no selling function.

“Next is the entertainment fl-”

“Kaari, can we skip to the rooms first?”

“As you wish, Lord Tanael. The rooms are different according to your pick. The higher one goes, the better the accommodation. For you, sir, I recommend the-”

Kaari went on and on, enthusiastically explaining the greatness of the resort.

About 30 minutes later, Viers had seen most of the resort and a thought formed inside his head.

“It’s a trap!”

Viers said like a certain Mon Calamari admiral.

Since the goal of the trial is to gather as many spark shards as you can, the resort is an anathema. This whole place is a colossal spark shards sinkhole like those time-limited ultra-rare waifu gatchas in mobile games!

“It is,” Farley agreed.

“Not a subtle one either,” Paina said.

“I guess we’re done here then?” Clarissa asked.

The resort was certainly great and comfortable but there was one glaring thing: Everything cost spark shards. On top of that, everything was expensive!

From getting a sleeping room, ordering dishes at the restaurant, buying items, using the healing center… spark shards and only spark shards could be used as the currency.

Not to mention the shop and cafeteria, the healing center that Viers scouted charges steep prices for even a minor recovery. There were already occupants, a dozen or so people. The unlucky or the fools that challenged too hard of a quest and got injured.

There would be no deaths but broken bones or missing limbs were not illegal in the first stage of the trial.

The entertainment is nothing but a giant waste of time. What use are casinos, swimming pools, zoos of exotic lifeforms, and God forbid, brothels filled with NPCs!?

Viers was amazed by the detail Aletro used to construct such useless features.

The training center was somewhat interesting to Viers. Doing cultivation there would improve one’s cultivation greatly but the effect would only be visible after the trial was over since everyone’s cultivation level was suppressed. It costs an arm and a leg for every hour. Viers did the math and concluded he had better use of his time and spark shards.

Those that unfortunately didn't bring any supplies also must endure their bleeding heart to buy food and supplies for their day-to-day living. Unlike in most xianxias, superhuman Pathseekers might be, but even Level 5s still need to eat food lest they die of starvation.

No, they can still take monster-hunting quests and eat the meat. The resort is really alluring but those with a clear head should already see the traps of this place.

Cafeteria… Even if the food is Hell's Kitchen-level delicious, I can't afford to waste my shards on them. They might be worth tasting if they are giving buffs or cultivation benefits, but even addiction-inducing level taste isn't worth my shards!

Viers went into the building with high expectations and the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment when not met.

Viers returned to the mega shop on the 2nd floor in the hope to find something useful for him since he only browsed roughly before.

C’mon… let this not become a waste of time.

In the stories, the MCs often found an edge by buying things others didn't think useful and benefited greatly from it. Viers had hoped with his ‘education’, he would be able to find something similar like those cheat-users in their Fable.

There were no such things this time and Viers was disappointed twice as deep.

The good things do not disappoint but it’s hella expensive… A simple bread costs 5 shards? Normal difficulty quests only give around 3 shards… This legendary weapon priced billions? Elixirs in the millions? Who could afford that? Even finishing an impossible difficulty quest only yields 1000 spark shards. Seven days is nowhere enough… Ah, perhaps there will be another opportunity to shop in later stages.

“But that’s strange…” Clarissa commented.

“Yeah. If the main objective of Aletro’s trial is to gain spark shards, what would happen if you spend shards in the shop? Would it still count?” Paina said.

“The more shards you have, the higher quality is your spark… If we buy items, the spark would lose shards. This is another trap from Aletro. Perhaps some people find something they hopelessly need in this shop and prefer to buy it directly. To them, it might be better than the uncertain reward at the end,” Farley analyzed.

“Another choice that is thrust to the participants. To do or not to do, that is the question… Hm?”

There was a girl of his age browsing the shop beside him. Her foreign clothes really stood out.

Kimono? Her face look Asian too… I know there’s a place with Japanese culture in the Zamrud Archipelago to the east of Regidana, is she from there or is she another otherworlder?

The girl’s face made a deep frown and closed the 3D book with a sigh. She saw Viers was staring and looked a bit embarrassed. She slightly bowed to Viers then went away.

...Wait and see approach for the time being. It’s not like I can do anything to her right now. Anyway, I’m done here. Let's get out of this lotus-eaters island. I should go back questing… Oh yeah. I have to visit this one place first.

A few minutes later Viers went out of a room with the sound of flushing water. He washed his hands and saw the maid dutifully waiting for him outside the toilet.

Viers did not feel embarrassed because she was an NPC and finally returned to the lobby, fully intent to leave the lotus-eaters island behind.

“Lord, are you sure you don't want to acquire even the cheapest room?” Kaari pleaded with a worried face. Soulless she might be but the exterior was no different than a human woman.

“It’s fine. I’m used to sleeping outdoors,” Viers reaffirmed his intention to begin a homeless life. He went out through the front door.

“May fortune be with you, dear guest,” Kaari accompanied Viers until the entrance.

It seemed the staff cannot leave the resort.

“See ya,” Viers waved his hand once.

Watching the grand fountain just outside the resort, Viers had an idea.

Viers took out his empty water canteens from the Casket and took the water from the gorgeous fountain. Some caught Viers in the middle of a hobo act to which Viers greeted them with a smile, showing his pearly-white teeth.

Hehehe. This whole resort got treated as a fancy toilet and glorified watering hole by me. What a shame, what a shame indeed.