The Players and the Protagonist Want to Kill Me – Chapter 911

Chapter: Chapter 701: Intelligence
Chapter 701: Intelligence (Combined Chapter)

Nobody Does Human Things retracted his gaze from the woman. Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun also nimbly deactivated the recording function, unnoticed by anyone.

*He’d show this to Mia later, kekeke~*

Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun scanned their surroundings, using Appraisal technique to find informants. Currently, the tavern was mostly filled with Adventurers, Mercenaries, and some residents of the small town. However, to gather information, they couldn’t simply approach anyone. Asking too many people would raise suspicion. It was best to get the desired intelligence from three to four individuals at most. Adventurers, who traveled extensively, were a good choice. Bards, too, usually knew the local situation and had access to information, though they might be prone to exaggeration.

“Your peanuts and ale.” The woman moved quickly.

Before Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun could finalize their target, their food and drinks were already served. At the same time, Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun had zeroed in on a candidate. It was middle-aged man with a full beard, a bulbous nose, and a square face. A scar ran across his right eye, giving him a ferocious appearance. His identity was that of an Adventurer. He frequented the nearby forests and occasionally sold goods in the Royal City.

Currently, this Adventurer, named Mo Ze, was engaged in a game of Gwent with a lean man at the opposite table, and he was on the verge of winning. Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun and Nobody Does Human Things ambled over, each holding a mug of ale, feigning an interest in the card game. This was a common sight; Gwent matches often attracted spectators, though these two were hardly experts, merely novices. Nevertheless, having spectators nearby heightened their competitive spirit, and the game quickly became more intense and thrilling, fraught with unseen battles.

Soon, both players laid down their cards. Mo Ze’s points were higher, securing his victory.

“That was quite a game!” Nobody Does Human Things exclaimed flatteringly. Mo Ze, indeed, showed a hint of smugness, prompting Nobody Does Human Things to mentally tag him as someone who enjoyed flattery and was easily manipulated.

“Your exquisite skill has astonished me. Might I have the honor of a match with you?” Nobody Does Human Things directly invited Mo Ze, presenting his deck.

“Of course, it would be my honor.” Although they had just met, Mo Ze readily accepted. The lean man smiled, vacated his seat, and left after a brief farewell, carrying his ale.

“To be honest, I’m still a beginner. I only started playing this new thing a couple of months ago…” Mo Ze admitted with a touch of embarrassment, fearing the younger man might be a skilled player and he would be humiliated if he lost. This statement carried a hint of probing and feigned weakness, hoping the other party would show him some leniency.

“Ah, who wasn’t a beginner at some point? No one is born a seasoned hunter!” Nobody Does Human Things replied dismissively. Holding his cards, he had already decided to prolong the game, making it tense and exciting, before ultimately losing to Mo Ze. The emotional ups and downs would undoubtedly foster a better impression in Mo Ze.

The match began, and the two players were evenly matched. Gwent has rounds, with the main match played in best-of-three rounds, while a mini-match is decided by total points. They traded wins, and after an hour, the score stood at two-two. The final mini-match would determine the ultimate winner.

During the game, Nobody Does Human Things naturally engaged Mo Ze in casual conversation. They discussed Mo Ze’s background, his strength, his recent experiences, his family, and the strange encounters he had. Of course, Nobody Does Human Things also shared some of his own experiences, blending seven parts truth with three parts fiction. As Players, their experiences far surpassed those of this small-town Adventurer, constantly eliciting exclamations of surprise from the square-faced man.

“Hey, have you heard anything about Lapland lately? Many people can’t get in, and if they’re not careful, they get killed by the sentries!” Nobody Does Human Things finally revealed his concern, sensing the opportune moment.

“Is that so!?” Mo Ze looked stunned. “I was just in Lapland the day before yesterday. I remember clearly; I hunted a Wind-cutting Wolf, and a certain Mage needed its pelt for a warm vest. I even got a good price for it…”

Hearing this, Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun’s hearts sank. Did this Adventurer know nothing about why Lapland was inaccessible? To obtain more information, Nobody Does Human Things had to press on, bracing himself.

“I heard that those who were killed were outsiders who didn’t follow the rules.”

“Oh, that makes sense then.” Mo Ze played a card, “Piercing Frost,” and a knowing smile curved his lips. He said disdainfully, “If those outsiders intended to cause trouble in Lapland, they miscalculated. The guards at Lapland’s gates have lie-detecting abilities. If they detect a lie, they assume malicious intent and kill on sight. This is in accordance with the laws of the Kalunka Empire… You didn’t know about this?”

“Uh… we really didn’t,” Nobody Does Human Things chuckled sheepishly. “We’ve been in this small town, hunting nearby and selling our goods to the local merchants. We’ve never actually been to the grand Lapland.”

“I see,” Mo Ze nodded understandingly. “You’re still young. You should experience Lapland for yourselves. Besides, Lapland is currently recruiting and offering high prices for ordinary workers to help build an altar. You could earn quite a bit by going now~”

Nobody Does Human Things smiled and nodded. Coincidentally, the game paused. Mo Ze won the fifth round with a higher score.

“Well, that’s all for today then,” Nobody Does Human Things said, putting away his cards.

“Just one match?” Mo Ze seemed to have more to say. As a half-baked novice, he usually either dominated complete beginners or was crushed by skilled players, leaving him with nothing. Now, he had found an evenly matched opponent, feeling exhilarated and truly experiencing the joy of Gwent.

“It’s getting late. I have some things to attend to back at my place. Perhaps we can play again another time,” Nobody Does Human Things stood up, smoothed his wrinkled trousers, put on his leather hat, and bid farewell to Mo Ze.

“Alright, alright. That’s a shame,” seeing the other’s firm intention to leave, Mo Ze sighed helplessly. “My home is on the east side of town. Just ask anyone for my name, Mo Ze, and they’ll find me. You’re always welcome to come for a game. Oh… I’ll prepare some ale and peanuts.”

Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun left the tavern. They now understood why Players were being blocked from entering. The Players, in their attempt to infiltrate Lapland, had clearly lied, which resulted in them being detected by the Golem Soldiers and killed on the spot. But now they were in a Catch-22. If they couldn’t lie, what identity could they use to get in? Should they openly admit they were there to cause destruction? That would likely lead to an even faster death than lying.

“We can’t lie, and we still need to sneak in quietly. I can only say this is worthy of a Gold Legendary-grade mission; the very first stage has us stumped,” Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun lamented.

The two leaned against a low wall near the tavern. The cold wind of the early winter night cleared their minds, dispelling the slight intoxication from the tavern.

“Perhaps we need a reason and a motive to enter the city, and that motive must be harmless,” Nobody Does Human Things frowned, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his sword hilt. What did Mo Ze just say? Lapland was recruiting and hiring civilians to help build an altar and was offering good wages. This could be an opportunity! When the gate guards tested them, they would claim they were entering the city to repair the altar, and their words would be the truth. Causing trouble would be a secondary objective.

The rest was simple. Nobody Does Human Things bribed a beggar with the remaining peanuts to find out where to sign up, though they could have found it themselves. It was just outside the Mayor’s house, but they were feeling lazy. It was already eight in the evening. There were no pedestrians in the small town, and the person in charge of registration was naturally absent. After confirming the location, Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun found an inn to stay in. Haste makes waste; they would have to wait until morning.

Meanwhile, the group of Players in the forest, through persistent effort, had dug a tunnel beneath the Royal City of Lapland. At midnight, they began digging upwards. At three in the morning, they broke through the surface. However, they were met not with the beautiful streets of Lapland, but with a troop of heavily armored Golem Soldiers. These Players were instantly engulfed in a barrage of magical light, unable to make a ripple, and their temporary camp in the forest was exposed. Xi Wei and his companions acted as if they saw nothing, quietly relocating with Loli and Ruo Yi before planting a new Resurrection Crystal. They would simply wait for the Players to continue their efforts.

He hadn’t been idle during this time. Besides teasing and playing with Loli and Ruo Yi, he had been constantly observing the situation in Lapland. If the Players couldn’t get in soon, he planned to directly attack the Golem Soldiers at the city gate. He would use Death Divinity to disable their detection system, allowing Players to enter and exit freely. However, this would only be a temporary fix and still carried the risk of exposure. He decided to wait and see if the unpredictable Players could overcome this current obstacle.

The next morning, Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun arrived early at the registration office, only to find they weren’t the first. It was only five in the morning, yet a sizeable crowd of civilians had already gathered outside the Mayor’s house. To their surprise, Mo Ze was among them.

“Hey! I knew you guys would be interested in this!” Mo Ze exclaimed excitedly, waving at Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun. The two walked over and joined the queue with the others.

“Uncle Mo Ze? What brings you here?” Nobody Does Human Things asked. He recalled Mo Ze as a skilled Adventurer. The nearby forest could sustain Mo Ze sufficiently; he wouldn’t need to do manual labor.

“Ah, I couldn’t sleep last night, thinking about playing cards. I don’t know when you guys will be back from Lapland, so who will play with me then? I figured if you were going to Lapland, I’d tag along. Then we’ll be coworkers, and we can play after work!” Mo Ze had a knowing smile, causing the corners of the two Players’ mouths to twitch slightly. This guy was clearly addicted to Gwent.

However, having Mo Ze along was also beneficial. He was more familiar with Lapland, and having him as a guide would save them a lot of detours.

At seven in the morning, the person in charge emerged from the Mayor’s house. It was a young Black Robe Mage. Although only a second-tier Mage, he carried himself with an arrogant air, barely glancing at anyone. However, his efficiency was commendable. Without delay, he sat at a table outside and began the registration.

Simultaneously, Nobody Does Human Things and Mo Yu Hun Ben Zhen Jun, who were in line, disseminated the rules of Lapland and the news of the recruitment in the Player channel.