Aiden couldn't touch his class advancement yet, so he figured it was the perfect moment to clear some long-term chores off his plate. One major task was spending money, since every million marks added directly to a permanent stat point. Simple math, vicious price tag. He wasn't reckless enough to dump money carelessly, though. He treated the whole process like a long game. Equipment usually topped the priority list for most players. The central hub always offered equipment several notches stronger than anything fresh players stumbled across in spawnpoint. Aiden didn't rely on personal combat right now, so upgrades didn't matter much until attribute sharing was unlocked in his next class advancement. His interest drifted toward something bigger—property. Yep... buying a home inside Doomsday. The second world mirrored the real Blue Planet in strange ways. Players could legally purchase land or buildings from NPC-controlled areas.A house wasn't just bragging rights either. Owning recognized property boosted a player's daily gameplay allowance to twelve hours. The average drifter only got eight. Those extra four hours stacked into a massive advantage over weeks and months. The downside slapped everyone in the face: prices were outrageous. A cramped thirty-square-foot cubby, just large enough for a mattress, already cost over one million marks. Even worse, having money didn't automatically qualify you to buy a place. Two steep requirements blocked the way. First came Prestige Point. Clearing bosses and grinding NPC tasks bumped it up, although the amount needed for property ownership sat at a level that made beginners cry. Second came citizenship. City registries inside Doomsday worked like old-school frontier towns. Outsiders were tolerated, not welcomed. Players like Aiden could shop, sleep, and leave whenever they wanted, though they had zero standing.One irritated NPC could drop a report, and the city guard would drag you to the gate without blinking. It created an environment where every player acted like a model resident—even a top-level expert lowered his voice when dealing with an ordinary townsfolk NPC. The system left players no choice except to behave politely. Nobody littered, and nobody raised their voice. Even getting cheated by an NPC forced players to swallow their rage and fake a smile. That outsider status made everyone feel like background labor on someone else's ranch. In contrast, a citizenship would flip the power dynamic hard. People who earned it stood taller, walked louder, and even threw attitude around as if it came with the title. The struggle to earn it was brutal, far more difficult than simply stacking Prestige Points. Only a sliver of players ever reached that rank, even among endgame veterans. However, Aiden understood every piece of the system. He also knew a shortcut existed, one that relied more on reputation than combat. Ten minutes later, he strolled toward Lord's Castle, the administrative estate that managed city affairs. He didn't draw attention. He simply lingered near the entrance. A refined silhouette eventually stepped into view. The woman wore a lavender dress that complemented her mature elegance. She moved with a confidence earned over years of influence. Age softened her features yet left her beauty untouched. She still attracted stares from anyone within ten feet. Lady Riley—widow of Grand Duke Guthere, the previous City Lord—held wealth, status, and a reputation that tempted fools like honey tempted flies. Grand Duke Guthere had been dead for twenty years, long enough for the grass above his grave to grow thick. Players who craved shortcuts viewed Lady Riley as the ultimate jackpot. Plenty attempted to pursue her in Aiden's previous life. Every single one hoped to leap into riches through romance. Yet, none lived to brag about the attempt. Guards tore them apart and dumped the remains outside Leafport, banning them permanently.Life outside the walls was a death sentence. That old line about lust coming with a blade overhead felt painfully literal here. Still, danger often hid opportunity. Aiden remembered clearly: Lady Riley activated a hidden quest. He checked his Charisma Points—sixty-eight—and approached her with relaxed composure. A female guard stepped forward before he reached her. "Halt! Identify yourself!"