Chapter 36: The Hunter Sect Squad is in Action
Fishing Fire Village is a medium-sized village closest to Winter Lake, home to about 200 farming households.
Actually, this place wasn’t always called Fishing Fire Village; it was once Bonfire Village.
However, since fishing became viable in Winter Lake, the villagers of Bonfire Village gradually made their living by fishing. Under the decision of the elders, Bonfire Village was renamed Fishing Fire Village.
When the Hunter Sect squad arrived at Fishing Fire Village, the first thing they saw was a statue of a knight sculpted from clay.
Due to the villagers’ limited skills, the statue’s appearance was very blurry, but the players immediately recognized the knight, who wielded a greatsword and looked incredibly imposing, as the King of Winter.
It was simple; the Dragon Crystal Armor was too distinctive, almost becoming one of the King of Winter’s trademarks.
The sky was a pale blue, and the distant mountains were like painted eyebrows.
Red tiled houses stood in neat rows, wisps of smoke curled from chimneys, and the midday sun heated the air. A gentle breeze carried the aroma of rural life into their mouths and noses.
On the clean and tidy country dirt roads, farmers carrying vegetable baskets and fish baskets came and went from time to time. They were energetic, their eyes bright, and the smiles on their lips painted a picture of hope.
The players realized with surprise that the game world had undergone immense changes without them even noticing.
“Leisurely Brother, do you remember the screenshots uploaded by the first testers when they first arrived at Dawn Town?”
“Remember, how could I not?”
Leisurely Brother glanced around, appreciating the thriving rural scenery of this foreign world, and said with some emotion:
“The villages weren’t like this back then. The village roads were covered in feces, it was filthy, and the farmers looked numb and sallow.”
“It’s hard to imagine that we’re witnessing the quiet transformation of an era in a game, in less than half a year.”
“Perhaps this change is still minor, but I must admit, Emperor Winter is indeed a very thoughtful person with very progressive ideas.”
“Throughout history, how many people in power have genuinely cared about the lives of commoners?”
Speaking of this, Leisurely Brother chuckled coldly and sarcastically remarked, “I recently read a novel about a high-martial world where a lord executed a knight who wasn’t loyal enough and reclaimed the pensions for the deceased soldiers.
“Someone actually said that pursuing fairness in such a world is foolish behavior, that their brain is malfunctioning.
“Clever people know that this isn’t about pursuing fairness at all. The lord killing the knight was a warning to his subordinates to obey orders and consolidate his rule.
“Emphasizing the importance of pensions was about winning over the populace.
“Fairness is impossible in a high-martial world, but that doesn’t mean commoners aren’t important.
“Where do those knights come from? Were all the heroes and powerhouses in history from the noble class?
“Who is truly foolish? Those with a limited vision.”
Leisurely Brother shook his head and said no more. The other members of his squad also looked thoughtful, gradually beginning to understand some of the King of Winter’s seemingly radical actions.
Just then, an old farmer noticed the players. His eyes lit up, and he approached them, asking with reverence,
“Esteemed Foreigners, is there something important that brings you to Fishing Fire Village? I am Old Link, the village chief of Fishing Fire Village. Please tell me if you need any assistance!”
“Since you are warriors of His Majesty the King of Winter, the entire Fishing Fire Village will cooperate fully.”
Old Link would never forget His Majesty the King of Winter’s grace. At that time, His Majesty the King of Winter was merely the Lord of Eagle Territory and had trampled his fields with his soldiers.
But there was a reason for all of this.
At first, he thought the dozen silver coins were a blessing from the gods. It wasn’t until he went to the market to buy goods later that someone informed him that they were the latest batch of silver coins, engraved with King Colon’s name, which only nobles in Winter Fort possessed.
Old Link had an epiphany. After much thought at home, he finally understood why His Majesty the King of Winter had trampled his fields before giving him silver coins.
He guessed that His Majesty the King of Winter had specifically investigated and found that his family of five would not have enough food to live on after paying taxes, and he didn’t want to give alms directly.
Therefore, he took this remedial action.
How benevolent was His Majesty the King of Winter! He abolished the tithe, not only solving the basic needs of a humble farmer but also preserving his pitiful self-esteem.
From then on, Old Link no longer believed in the God of Harvest; he only believed in the King of Winter. He sent all three of his sons to become City Guards for the King of Winter, even sending them to the battlefield, though one son died in the war.
But Old Link did not regret it.
It was his son’s honor to sacrifice for His Majesty the King of Winter. Moreover, His Majesty the King of Winter had sent a considerable pension.
Looking at the old farmer before him, sun-tanned, weathered, yet full of enthusiasm, Leisurely Brother couldn’t help but sigh in his heart once again, “The King of Winter is truly awesome!” He then followed up on Old Link’s offer and asked,
“It’s like this, old man. His Majesty is looking for a creature with a fish head and a human body, about the height of a seven or eight-year-old child. You often fish in Winter Lake, have you seen such a creature?”
Upon hearing this, Old Link pondered for a moment. Several images flashed through his mind, and he said with some uncertainty,
“Are you talking about… water monkeys?”
“Water… water monkeys?”
The players from the Hunter Sect squad looked at each other, wondering why the image of a Tibetan fox immediately popped into their minds.
“That’s right,” Old Link nodded affirmatively.
“We’re not very educated, and we don’t know their specific name. However, they’re very fast in the water, and they’re cunning and like to steal things, much like monkeys in the mountains and forests, so we named them water monkeys.
“These water monkeys have fish heads and human bodies, but they’re not very capable. If four or five adult men are together, they behave themselves and dare not move.”
“…”
Leisurely Brother and the others were filled with surprise and joy, knowing that the “water monkeys” Old Link mentioned were most likely the Koutao Mermen.
“Captain, you’re the best! Those other players would probably search for ages if they were looking foolishly.”
The skilled saboteur couldn’t help but flatter Leisurely Brother in the team chat.
“Of course~”
Leisurely Brother chuckled and eagerly said to Old Link,
“Old man, the ones we’re looking for are probably the ‘water monkeys’ you mentioned. Could you take us to see them? His Majesty the King is very anxious right now; he needs these water monkeys for something important.”
When Old Link heard that His Majesty the King of Winter was anxious, his expression immediately became serious. He patted his chest and assured the players,
“Don’t worry, I’ll gather a few strong young men to take you there. They live on the north shore of Winter Lake, which is still quite a distance from here.
“But you must be very careful. When we usually fish, we only encounter small groups of water monkeys. But who knows, if you go looking for them deliberately, you might encounter a large swarm.
“Once their numbers increase, even if their individual combat power is average, they become very dangerous!”
He paused, rubbed his rough hands, and earnestly advised with concern,
“You are His Majesty the King’s warriors; you cannot die at the hands of those savage Magical Beasts.”
