Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
“There’s a trap here, slow down… Huh?”
This was the fifth time Balner had voiced his confusion.
They had been traveling for two consecutive days, pushing through a dense forest. The surroundings were a deep, dark green, which could easily cause visual fatigue. When visually fatigued, one’s nerves become lax, making it easier to overlook subtle dangers. However, along the way, these dangers had all been effortlessly resolved by Nobody Does Human Things.
“Lord, what were you about to say?”
Nobody Does Human Things tilted his head slightly. To maintain his act, he had been carrying Balner for the past two days. Now, with a mere turn of his head, he could see Balner’s old, ugly face.
“Uh, nothing…”
Balner lowered his head, not daring to meet Nobody Does Human Things’ gaze. He didn’t understand what was happening to him. He was, after all, a leading figure in the Black Truffle Merchant Caravan and was over 80 years old. Yet, he found himself intimidated by a young man.
In truth, Nobody Does Human Things’ vision had been fatigued for a long time. Everywhere he looked was green, with hardly any discernible differences in the scenery, making it feel like an endless repetition. The reason he could avoid so many traps was that the system map had marked all their locations. To distinguish them from the surroundings, they were highlighted with red warning lines. When he approached a trap, he could simply leap over it. For larger traps, like spell arrays or pits, he just needed to deviate from the marked route on the map. This gave Balner and Platyr the illusion that Nobody Does Human Things possessed exceptional insight, a talent intrinsically linked to one’s natural abilities that many couldn’t develop strongly throughout their lives. Insight, in essence, was a key to becoming a powerful individual.
Seeing Nobody Does Human Things’ excellence, Balner and Platyr admired him even more.
Following the route on the map, Nobody Does Human Things finally stopped upstream of a waterfall. He frowned and compared the map multiple times, finding no issues. But how could this large river be the headquarters of The Winterbreaking Organization? Could the real headquarters be hidden at the bottom of the river?!
“Keke~” Balner, who was being carried on his back, suddenly chuckled. Nobody Does Human Things had been displaying his prowess by seeing through all the traps set by The Winterbreaking Organization. While this made Balner feel ashamed, he also harbored a sense of defiance. He refused to believe that Nobody Does Human Things was omnipotent. How old could this young man be? If Nobody Does Human Things could do everything, then Balner’s eighty years of life would have been lived in vain.
“Brother Nobody Does Human Things, our headquarters are actually suspended mid-air above the river!”
Nobody Does Human Things shot a speechless glance at the babbling Balner. He looked up at the sky. There was nothing above the river, only a few geese honking as they flew by. He desperately wanted to wring Balner’s head off and show the old man what he was talking about.
“Ahem,” seeing Nobody Does Human Things’ displeased expression, Balner coughed lightly. He then struggled to get down from Nobody Does Human Things’ back. (Player Name) (M) quickly handed Balner a tree branch, earning him the old wizard’s approving and admiring gaze.
“You’re doing great!” the old wizard patted (Player Name) (M)’s behind and then, leaning on the branch, approached a nondescript stone by the river. This was a common stone, even with fresh bird droppings on it. No one would ever suspect it was the mechanism for The Winterbreaking Organization’s entrance, let alone the method to activate it!
Balner squatted down, picked up the bird droppings from the stone, and then, to everyone’s shock, stuffed them into his mouth.
“This…”
“Lord, please don’t!”
(Player Name) (M) was stunned. He couldn’t comprehend Balner’s actions at all. But Balner himself felt indifferent. He bared his yellow-green teeth and said with a smile, “As a member of The Winterbreaking Organization, we are always prepared to make sacrifices. What is a mere clump of bird droppings?”
With that, Balner put his whole mouth around the small stone and licked it. When he spat it out, the bird droppings were gone. However, the stone was no longer just an ordinary stone; it began to emit a faint red glow.
“This is the power of our Winterbreaking Organization!” Balner gripped the stone, laughing wildly at the sky, leaving (Player Name) (M) and Nobody Does Human Things momentarily uncertain whether the “power” referred to eating bird droppings or the glowing crimson stone.
After laughing, Balner took a deep breath, calmed his racing heart, and explained with a smile:
“My lord’s wisdom is beyond your imagination, kekeke. He hid a micro-spell array within this tiny stone that can only be activated by a mixture of saliva and bird droppings!”
As soon as he finished speaking, accompanied by Balner’s lingering maniacal laughter, “Boom! Boom! Boom!” A series of spatial explosions rang out. A massive gray fortress gradually revealed its grand form from a spatial rift. Clearly, this was the headquarters of The Winterbreaking Organization.
Looking at Balner, who was still tilted back and laughing as if wound up, Nobody Does Human Things raised an eyebrow and posed a question:
“Since this stone is activated by a mixture of bird droppings and saliva, why didn’t you just apply your own saliva directly to the stone just now?”
Nobody Does Human Things’ words left the octogenarian wizard stunned, and he fell silent for a moment.
“My lord means that the bird droppings and human saliva must be thoroughly mixed…” he stammered, a spark gradually appearing in his dim eyes. “Only with the mouth can you ensure thorough mixing!”
“But, it doesn’t necessarily have to be *your* mouth. Couldn’t you mix the bird droppings and saliva in a cup?” Nobody Does Human Things spread his hands.
Balner: “…(°ー°〃)”
He smacked his lips. Regardless, the taste of bird droppings was real.
“No… My lord would never make a mistake,” he shook his head, his gaze firming once more. “This is a special sense of ritual! Only by completing this process can one truly feel my lord’s mindset and profound wisdom when he invented this material! This is my lord’s love for us Winterbreakers!”
Upon hearing this, Nobody Does Human Things exchanged a look with (Player Name) (M). It was clear that the old wizard’s mind had been thoroughly brainwashed by the Mastermind of The Winterbreaking Organization.
