After obtaining two untradeable, permanently bound [Class Items]...

The [Promotion Trial] settlement was complete!

Lin Yu opened his eyes, feeling his limbs frozen numb with piercing cold, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. 

He pushed open the freezer door with force, stumbling out unsteadily.

Lin Yu reached the table and used his shaking hands to cancel the scheduled text message.

"Phew... finally, [Promoted]!"

Now back in reality, the joy and relief of completing the [Promotion Trial] and becoming a true [First-Tier] player finally washed over Lin Yu.

He'd even obtained two [Class Items]!

"Now I at least have some ability to protect myself," Lin Yu mused inwardly.

He sat in the cafeteria for quite some time until his body gradually warmed up.

After carefully restoring everything to its original state, Lin Yu left the cafeteria directly.

The joy and relief only lasted briefly before settling back into calm.

Though now a [First-Tier] player with six additional items obtained at once, and despite having only experienced three dungeons, by all appearances Lin Yu could be considered a fairly capable "veteran player."

Yet Lin Yu understood clearly that he still only qualified as having "self-preservation capability."

Both the [Tycoon]'s vague implications and the post-[Promotion Trial] settlement text indicated one thing...

Current Lin Yu was a [First-Tier] player.

Where there's [First-Tier], there's Second-Tier, Third-Tier...

And even more powerful individuals beyond.

Compared to those established major organizations and ranked experts, Lin Yu still didn't measure up.

And unfortunately...

The very forces Lin Yu sought strength to defend against were two exceptionally powerful organizations.

[Free Alliance], [Psychological Society]...

That dangerous girl who killed him was definitely no ordinary member of the [Psychological Society].

Lin Yu had sharp judgment - while her initial acting wasn't masterful, that apex predator-like dangerous aura when her true nature emerged...

Even now, the memory made his heart race.

To make her his "revenge target," Lin Yu needed to grow stronger!

Moreover, the pressure wasn't just from the reality side.

Within the [Death Game] dungeon worlds, the [God of Change], [Truth Corporation]...

Though Lin Yu had gotten through the [Frostpeak Mountains] dungeon relatively unscathed,

Over half the participants had died there!

The [Death Game]... was simply that cruel!

"I must continue growing stronger..."

"Though with [False Face] and [Counterfeit], I can attempt some more aggressive 'experiments.'"

Lin Yu arrived at the school's perimeter wall.

With a running start, he easily vaulted over it.

But instead of heading home, Lin Yu moved in the opposite direction.

After all, he'd already told his sister he wouldn't be returning tonight.

He had no intention of wasting this rare "free" evening.

Under cover of darkness, Lin Yu retrieved the pitch-black [False Face] from his item space and placed it over his face.

With each step, his physique and appearance transformed in this unmonitored blind spot.

His originally tall frame became somewhat gaunt, his skin darkening several shades.

That handsome, clear-featured face turned ordinary - sparse eyebrows, narrow upturned eyes giving off a somewhat shifty vibe.

Lin Yu then removed his thick outer clothing, stuffing it into his bag, leaving only thin black undershirt and pants.

He soon arrived at the [Tycoon]'s restaurant.

Lin Yu gently knocked on the door.

"Who's there at this hour?"

The [Tycoon]'s sleepy voice sounded as a second-floor window opened.

Spotting the unfamiliar dark, thin figure below, his confusion grew.

"Who are you?" he asked warily, right hand already moving behind his back in clear preparation for defense.

Lin Yu, prepared, smiled with hands clasped.

"Apologies, [Tycoon]... You may call me [Old Yao], as you can see, a fellow player."

"Having just completed my seventh dungeon and about to enter [Promotion Trial]... I wish to join your [Jiang'an Hall]!"

Lin Yu said with an ingratiating grin.

Simultaneously, he marveled inwardly at how effective [False Face] was!

Even his vocal tone and range had changed significantly.

Though speech habits and accent weren't assisted... mimicking accents happened to be Lin Yu's specialty!

Hearing Lin Yu's purpose, the Tycoon remained guarded.

"Old Yao, is it?"

"Wanting to join our [Jiang'an Hall] is good - being able to attempt [Promotion] by your eighth dungeon marks you as talent... but we don't accept just anyone, understand!"

"If genuinely interested, we'll administer an evaluation!"

Lin Yu quickly adopted an excited expression, nodding vigorously below.

"Of course, boss! I completely understand! Test away!"

"I believe both my character and capabilities will earn your approval," Lin Yu said earnestly.

The Tycoon nodded.

"Good, then return for now... Come back Thursday at 8pm when I'll arrange evaluation tasks!"

As he spoke, Lin Yu nodded repeatedly.

"No problem, boss! I'll definitely complete them!"

With that, Lin Yu gave an exaggerated salute before turning to leave.

After departing, Lin Yu exhaled deeply.

He truly had no intention of joining the Tycoon's [Jiang'an Hall] - or any "organization."

After all, the [Fraudster] class couldn't afford letting others know too much about them.

Lin Yu also detested that constrained feeling organizations brought.

But that was Lin Yu's thinking before obtaining [False Face].

Now, with the mask, his perspective had shifted.

He'd found a method to avoid both constraints and exposure:

Joining organizations under false identities.

And Lin Yu's "aggressive" and "crazy" plan wasn't limited to just joining Jiang'an Hall as "Old Yao."

After leaving the Tycoon's restaurant, Lin Yu rushed straight to Jiangcheng's night market.

Purchasing several outfits to stuff in his bag, he then hailed a cab.

"Driver, to the intersection of Yong'an Road and Park Road in southern Jiangcheng suburbs,"

Lin Yu said quietly.

He'd never been to southern Jiangcheng before.

This address...

Was near the residential location of "Master Thief" Li Nian from the materials Shen Bingmiao had provided last time.