Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
“Don’t worry, aside from combat, there’s nothing else we’ll have you do.”
(Player Name) (M) readily agreed.
At this moment, system mission prompts also chimed in.
【You have completed the regional mission: Arrest the Savage Beast Mercenary Group】
【You have resolved the chaotic events in Black River City. Black River City’s favorability towards you has increased (current 70, all entertainment facilities offer a 30% discount)】
【You have received rewards: 20000 Experience Points, 500 Contribution Points, 5 Copper Coins】
【You have triggered a Hidden Mission!】
(Player Name) (M)’s eyes lit up.
He knew these orcs must have some secret. And here it was, finally appearing!
【Mission Description: After contacting the Savage Beast Mercenary Group, you discovered through your extraordinary insight that these rugged mercenaries were actually orc warriors in disguise. They have been enduring hardship to hide their identities, and some conspiracy must be brewing within them…】
【Mission Objective: Contact the Savage Beast Mercenary Group and uncover the conspiracy they are brewing!】
【Mission Reward: Unlock the next stage of the mission】
【Mission Restriction: All players who accepted the prerequisite mission】
It was clear this wasn’t a public mission. Only the 76 players present could accept it. Typically, missions with such restricted player ranges offered very good rewards.
(Player Name) (M) began to anticipate it.
He ruffled the fur on Xiao Heizi’s head.
He thought to himself, *I’ll earn more King of Winter Ace dog food for you, Master, so you can grow even stronger than the other Nightglow Wolves! That way, you won’t lose your chance to pick a mate because you can’t beat other Nightglow Wolves during mating season!*
“So, what should we do now?” Pet turned to look at his crestfallen subordinates. For a moment, he felt an incomparable pressure.
“For now, let’s return to our base with us. We also need to get to know each other better, as we’ll be comrades-in-arms from now on.”
(Player Name) (M) bowed courteously.
Pet hesitated for a moment before awkwardly mimicking (Player Name) (M)’s bow.
***
Foreigner Legion (Organization) Base.
(Player Name) (M) and the other players sat around a bonfire with a group of orcs. After a few sizzling, juicy roasted meats and strong liquor, their camaraderie was as solid as ever.
The orc leader, Pet, fueled by the alcohol, even proposed a brotherhood pact with (Player Name) (M)!
“Brother, life isn’t easy for us!”
Pet held a large wooden cup filled with potent liquor brewed by the players, comparable to industrial alcohol. However, for the orcs, it was the finest drink.
He said drunkenly, “Damn it, the higher-ups are always throwing their weight around, and it’s hard to manage the lower ranks. Brother has younger ones to support and older ones to care for. I can only endure and still have to come out on missions.”
With that, he downed the liquor in his cup, hiccuping as he complained, “Hic! Brother’s hardships, can you… can you understand them? Hic!”
“I understand, I understand.”
(Player Name) (M) patted Pet’s back with a look of profound sympathy, as if he truly empathized.
Seeing that the time was right, he asked, “Brother, you mentioned you’re out on missions. What kind of mission is it? Perhaps I can offer some help~ The sooner the mission is done, the sooner you can go home. Your wife is waiting, isn’t she?”
“Hic!” Pet squinted at (Player Name) (M), then pointed at his nose and laughed, scolding, “You, you won’t trick this old brother’s words out of me! Hic! When this old brother was out making a name for himself, you were probably still playing in the mud… Hic, Sea God’s Tear, have you heard of it?”
(Player Name) (M) was taken aback.
The Sea God’s Tear was the very thing he had stolen!
He had already given it to the King of Winter.
Thinking about it, the names Pet and Bart sounded familiar…
(Player Name) (M) froze for a few seconds before finally realizing.
Wasn’t this Pet the lion-like orc leader he encountered at Whirlwind Dunes previously?
And Bart was that green-skinned orc warlord!
He had even lost his Appraisal technique back then.
After not seeing them for some time, these two had suddenly appeared as humans.
He was momentarily baffled.
Good heavens.
It turned out these orcs were here to find the Sea God’s Tear.
They were probably looking for him, the thief.
And yet, the thief was right in front of them, and they knew nothing about it.
They even wanted to become sworn brothers with the thief…
(Player Name) (M) was at a loss for words, finding it both amusing and exasperating.
“Hic! This is all I, I can tell you!” Pet held up three fingers and said to (Player Name) (M), “Hic! Let me tell you one more thing. This brother came to the Wintery Empire to kill people! Need to kill two, two people… a thief, and, and, it’s, it’s…”
“Thump—”
Before he could finish speaking.
Pet’s head lolled to the side, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Within three seconds, his snores were thunderous.
*Who was the other one?!*
(Player Name) (M) was going mad!
The mission was almost complete, and this guy had gotten himself dead drunk!
But there was no way to wake him up now.
He looked around and found that all the orcs had been successfully intoxicated.
They had already drunk a lot of beer in the tavern.
Now, after being heavily plied with drinks by the players, even their robust physiques couldn’t endure it. Furthermore, they had no Qi to expel the alcohol…
Therefore, Pet was considered to have a relatively good tolerance for alcohol.
He had managed to hold out until the end.
As for the other orcs.
They had fallen asleep before the players could even interrogate them for information.
“So close to success!”
(Player Name) (M) punched his fist into his palm, filled with regret.
When they woke up the next morning, these drunken orcs would surely become vigilant. It would be impossible to use the same trick to interrogate them for information then.
“Moyu, what do we do next?”
The players were also somewhat at a loss.
(Player Name) (M) frowned and paced a few steps.
A plan gradually formed in his mind.
First, these orcs could be utilized to deal with the troublesome remnants of the Winter organization.
Next, they needed to find a way to expose the second target to the orcs.
The best way to get the orcs to expose their second target was to first help them complete their first objective.
That is, to find the Sea God’s Tear.
He recalled the information he gained when he obtained the Sea God’s Tear:
【Sea God’s Tear】 Divine artifact. A beautiful blue crystal containing the divine power of the Sea God. (This item is of no use to you, but if given to the King of Winter, he might be very pleased.)
Key information: Blue crystal.
Bart and Pet were only 8th-tier orcs, with strength comparable to a Champion Knight.
However, at such a level, they should not be able to sense Divinity.
This meant they could be tricked.
Then, have a player impersonate the thief.
After the orcs found the “Sea God’s Tear,” they would surely proceed to the next stage of their mission.
At that time, he could easily follow up and complete the Hidden Mission.
“Now…” (Player Name) (M) stroked his chin, looking at the eager players around him.
A cunning smile crept onto his lips, and he said slyly, “Now, let’s go find a blue crystal first.”
