Chapter 38: Show-offs, Getting Advice

Sweet Little Cookie: "Brother Cheng, where exactly is this Great Tomb of yours? I haven’t heard anything about a Land of the Dead over here. But, your situation is a bit hard to judge. By the way, what Tier are those Undead Skeletons? Why don’t we all analyze it together?"

Little Ordinary Person: "Say, is everyone this free? Playing the game with your phone right beside you? Don’t you all have to use Consciousness Descent to take care of things in-game?"

Brother Cheng Takes Off: "Little Ordinary Person, can you please not interrupt? At this stage, how much can any of us really do? We only get eight hours to play each day. Just look at the time. We’ve been playing since eight o’clock, which means there are only a little over two hours left. Anyone who could finish their tasks has already finished them. Otherwise, why do you think I’m only asking for advice now?"

"@Sweet Little Cookie, I don’t know where my Great Tomb is either! The place I first appeared in was just like a mass grave! Not a single blade of grass in sight! And it’s pitch-black and super creepy all the time. If I hadn’t chosen to run into this Great Tomb, which looks a bit like a ruin, during the initial story sequence, I’d definitely be dead by now! After all, there are tons of wandering hyena skeletons outside, in huge, terrifying packs. I’m honestly scared those things will tear out my ass."

Not the Tea Monarch: "Haha, you’re hilarious, Brother Ghost Fire. You’re a damn skeleton. Do you even have an ass? Say something useful. What’s the strength of those skeletons you saw? And what about you? If you’re not confident, take my advice and just lay low."

Brother Cheng Takes Off: "The weakest ones, judging by the color of their Soul Fire, don’t even seem to be Entry Tier. They’re in huge packs, just chaotically slaughtering each other in an open area. I also noticed a few big guys among them riding Undead Bone Horses. From a distance, the strongest one looked like it was spewing black flames that shot five or six meters into the air. It was unbelievably cool. It has to be at least Tier Three! It might have even reached the Middle Tiers."

Insomnia and Rain: "???"

Sweet Little Cookie: "???"

Not the Tea Monarch: "??? Either lay low or wait to die!!! You want to pick up scraps? You want advice?! Why don’t you look in a mirror and see what Tier you are, huh? Listen to your bro and get as far away as you can! Of course, if you want to risk it and play the fisherman, seeking fortune from danger, then just pretend I didn’t say anything!"

Brother Cheng Takes Off: "What’s with all the question marks? And Brother Green Tea, I just got the reward for the 300-day progression scenario. I’m almost Tier Two now, so I should at least count as a semi-Strong Person, okay! How can you all look down on me like this?"

Wada Xiwa: "Haha, I log on and immediately see something this interesting. Almost Tier Two? You mean you’ve maxed out Tier One? I can’t believe you can get a reward that brings you to the brink of Tier Two just by lying on your back through the progression. I’m so jealous I could die. It’s more painful than losing a million bucks. Say no more, Brother Cheng, I support you. Fortune favors the bold! Charge in there! What if you actually make it?"

Brother Cheng Takes Off: "Get lost! You wannabe Japanese toad! Do you really think I’m an idiot? I was just asking! I admit, for a second there, I really did think about going to pick up some scraps, but it was just a fleeting thought. Your Brother Cheng has seen the light. A wise man knows when to bend and when to stand firm. Forget it. I’ll stay far away. I’m not about to let a troll like you, you green-eyed monster, laugh at my expense."

Wada Xiwa: "You’re the wannabe! Your whole family are wannabes! It’s a reference, you get it? Don’t you guys think little rain frogs and stuff are really cute?"

"..."

Watching the group chat, Lince really wanted to ask what rain frogs had to do with Wada Xiwa.

But he wasn’t in the mood for banter right now. ’Time to get to the real issue,’ he thought.

He got straight to the point, wasting no time.

Night Owl: "Everyone, I’m in a bit of trouble myself. How about we all put our heads together and come up with a plan?"

Brother Cheng Takes Off: "Yo, another lurker who rarely surfaces has appeared!"

Not the Tea Monarch: "Little Bro Owl, feel free to ask anything. But no matter what the trouble is, listen to your big bro: join our Lay-Low Crew. As long as we can survive until the second round of closed beta slots are given out, it’s a victory! We absolutely cannot get greedy for game rewards and the like. We don’t do risky business!"

Insomnia and Rain: "Go on. If we can help, we will. As long as it’s not some ridiculous problem like Ghost Fire’s."

Sweet Little Cookie: "+1, I feel the same way as Sister Yu."

"..."

’Little Bro Owl?’ Lince was speechless for a moment, then his expression turned strange.

’Nice. Real cocky!’

Night Owl: "Don’t worry, everyone. I’m not in the same boat as Brother Ghost Fire."

"Then I’ll get straight to the point. I assume everyone knows about the videos of the Giant Lizard and the Swamp Territory that went viral in True Game a while back, right?"

Lince simply typed out that single sentence.

The next moment, the entire chat group fell silent. Not a single word appeared.

And just as all the members of the group chat fell silent, apparently still processing what he had sent, Lince rapidly typed out a description of the situation with the Truth Church.

At the same time, he revealed his plan to take over their nest! Finally, Lince also asked the Players in the group to avoid spreading his ID on the forums as much as possible.

That did it. The entire group went quiet for at least ten more seconds.

But in the end, it was Insomnia and Rain who was the first to speak.

Insomnia and Rain: "It seems this group of ours is a real case of crouching tiger, hidden dragon. To think the Giant Lizard Player was right here with us. Night Owl? That forum handle doesn’t seem to fit the style of the Giant Lizard Player at all."

With Insomnia and Rain having broken the silence, the chat instantly erupted with activity.

Not the Tea Monarch: "The Giant Lizard? Brother Night Owl? Holy shit! So you’re the real deal?! Is it too late for me to retract my previous statement?"

Brother Cheng Takes Off: "A master!!! The Giant Lizard master is here with us? Holy crap! We’ve struck gold! Now this is a real powerhouse! Hey, Brother Green Tea, what are you so afraid of? I love seeing you act all cocky. Haha, finally bit off more than you can chew, huh? Better watch out, or the master might just come through the internet and wreck you. By the way, Big Bro Giant Lizard, are you in need of a leg-hugging pendant? How about me?"

Not the Tea Monarch: "Get lost, you ghost-fire-spewing skeleton! Why are you butting in? Even though I’m of the Sea Race, I’m also a Lizard! The Giant Lizard master and I are clearly family!"

Sweet Little Cookie: "Alright, everyone, stop messing around! Night Owl’s problem is important, so let’s all think it over seriously. It’s fate that we’re all in the same group."

Little Ordinary Person: "Fate, it must be fate! Let me think about this... just let me think..."

Lince just smiled as he watched the two show-offs in the chat.

His explanation regarding the Truth Church had been very detailed, so no one in the group immediately doubted his identity.

Besides, nobody would dare to fake something like this. The videos of the Giant Lizard were too widespread and recognizable. The risk of impersonating Lince was immense; the moment they revealed their face in reality, it would be all over.

Therefore, Lince wasn’t in a rush. He was even consciously maintaining a certain persona.

Soon, much to Lince’s surprise, the first suggestion came in.

Insomnia and Rain: "Night Owl, the information you’ve provided is incomplete. Without knowing what reward you received from the 300-day progression or your specific level of strength, I can only offer the following analysis and advice. I hope you’ll consider it carefully. Think of it as a gesture of goodwill from my friend and me."

"..."

’That was fast,’ he thought. ’This Insomnia and Rain... she’s interesting.’

Lince already had a strong suspicion about her, but he kept it to himself. He immediately started reading the advice and analysis she had provided.