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Chapter 327 - 324: "Bring it on!

Chapter 327: Chapter 324: "Bring it on!

The aroma of the barbecue shop floated in front of him.

The figure of the blond knight opposite seemed somewhat blurry.

Su Ming’an’s body shivered slightly, and he lifted his hand, using the motion of rubbing his eyes to hide the pain within them.

... The deity of Cloud City had really killed him.

Without a hint of hesitation, without a single question, as if it had been waiting for a long time.

He had just begun to make contact with the other party and hadn’t even managed to speak before the other party launched an attack... until he was crushed to death in an instant.

He even heard the other party say, "I’ve finally waited for you to challenge me."

It was as if it had been waiting to kill him all along.

If his enemy was a deity with a combat power of 9999... how was he going to perfect clear this instance? What on earth had Su Rin done to make a deity wait to kill him?

He lowered his hand, and the remaining painful emotion in his eyes gradually faded away. Facing Sherrod, who was flipping through the menu, he gave a light cough and spoke,

"Sherrod, do you think the deity of Cloud City has always existed?"

Sherrod’s fingers trembled, and he put down the menu.

"Of course," he said with extreme solemnity. "The deity is undying, living in Yun Shang City even before Pulaya existed. Omniscient and omnipotent, mighty yet benevolent, It has laid down the defense barrier, blessing all the inhabitants of Pulaya... Captain, are you interested in the Church of Yun Shang? If you wish to know more, it just so happens that this afternoon is messenger day, and I could take you to the church..."

... This Sherrod really is a devout believer.

It seemed that no information could be extracted from Sherrod’s lips.

He was a Knight of Light, influenced by the church from a young age, unlikely to speak ill of the deity.

Su Ming’an mentioned a few more things, brushing Sherrod’s favorability up to fifty, then he encountered Noel and Lv Shu.

Unlike the previous run, this time, he did not accept Sherrod’s invitation to go to the church to receive messages. Instead, he chose to return.

He did not know the reason why the deity targeted him, but the Curch of Yun Shang was definitely off-limits for the time being.

If he went there, the Pope would be waiting, asking him if he had found a way to maintain the defense barrier. If his response was no, an attack would ensue, and if he couldn’t handle it, divine intervention would be called upon to fight.

Su Ming’an indeed did not know how to maintain the defense barrier, so the Church of Yun Shang was currently a definite dead end.

He took a boat back, returned to his room, and went straight to sleep.

The two hours of sleep from the night before could not sustain a whole day’s activities. He estimated that there would be another instance tonight, so he needed to catch up on sleep during the day.

When Su Ming’an awoke again, the sunlight outside the window had shifted to the west.

In the blood-red glow of the setting sun, he saw the castle of the Royal City from his window, its beautiful glazed roof glistening with a golden sheen.

... The Royal City.

If he couldn’t make a breakthrough at the Church of Yun Shang, what about the Royal City?

Should he look for a breakthrough at the Royal City tomorrow...?

He pondered as he rose and pushed open the door.

The setting sun outside the door seemed a bit dazzling; he squinted and suddenly noticed a lively figure standing by the clothes rack at the doorway.

She bowed her head slightly, her delicate hands brushing her black hair at her shoulder, looking quite enchanting.

When she saw him open the door, she turned slightly, revealing a gentle smile to him.

The glimmers in her eyelashes appeared ready to drop but stayed put, her face in the sunset looking as beautiful as a fairy tale, her smile just perfect.

He glanced at the girl outside the door, and Su Ming’an fell silent for a moment before shutting the door with a "bang".

"Wait, wait..." A weak female voice rose from outside, followed by a series of urgent knocks on the door—the person outside had an air of "I won’t leave unless you open up".

"Please, open the door, open the door, I have something to discuss with you, something very important..." she knocked.

"For matters, reach out to the Eastern District Soul Hunter Department, don’t look for me, I don’t take solo commissions," Su Ming’an said.

"No, it’s not that! I’m not an npc! I truly have something important to discuss with you..." The person outside hesitated for a moment, then added, "I need to speak with you... Su Ming’an."

Su Ming’an opened the door.

The girl in the cabbage-green Lolita dress stood at his doorstep, her face flushed red from what looked like a long wait.

At first glance, Su Ming’an didn’t notice anything unusual, but upon a second look, he suddenly recognized the face—it was familiar.

"Yamada Machiichi?" Su Ming’an asked, looking at her somewhat masculine face.

The scene of this person fleeing thousands of miles on the Yate Vessel was still vivid in his memory, and he hadn’t expected her to turn up at his door in women’s clothing so soon.

"May I come in?" Yamada Machiichi asked, adjusting her bangs: "I’m still a member of your team, aren’t I?"

Su Ming’an stepped aside, indicating for her to enter.

After the door was closed, Yamada Machiichi timidly stood by the table, fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

"Could you include me on the team’s missions from now on? I am at least a B-level Soul Hunter, and I’m a member of your squad," Yamada Machiichi said in a soft voice.

"No," Su Ming’an said.

"..." Yamada Machiichi blinked and quickly continued, "Then, could you do me a favor?"

"I won’t help," Su Ming’an said.

Yamada Machiichi pursed her lips.

"I want to meet the leader of the Soul Clan; can you take me there?" Yamada Machiichi said. "Don’t rush to refuse. I’m willing to exchange something for it; consider it a paid commission."

Her fingers twitched, summoning a share panel.

Su Ming’an glanced at it.

[Occupation Evolution Gem (Large) *2]

[Possessing this gemstone, you may advance your occupation by one grade.]

...

Occupation Evolution Gem.

Equivalent to a hard currency, it was among the most sought-after props by players.

Yamada Machiichi was actually offering such a thing for trade—her desire to meet the Soul Clan leader must be intense.

But Su Ming’an didn’t agree immediately: "Even if you say this, I do not have the ability to meet with the Soul Clan leader. We are both human; delving deep into the Soul Clan’s territory to meet their leader is too dangerous."

"No, you can," Yamada Machiichi insisted, staring at him. "To you, instances are like home, whatever you wish to do, you can achieve. If you agree to this trade, you’ll be able to take me to meet the Soul Clan leader—the key point now is, whether you agree to this transaction?"

"...You really trust me," Su Ming’an said flatly. "But indeed, I can’t meet with the Soul Clan leader. I’m a Soul Hunter, and unless there’s a special extermination mission, I can’t even find where the leader resides."

"You can find them, I believe in you—as long as you agree to this deal," Yamada Machiichi said with an unwavering gaze.

"Even if you say that..."

"Because you are the Number One Player, you are the Lighthouse, so you can certainly do it, right?"

"I agree," Su Ming’an said, extending his hand. "Payment first, where’s the Occupation Evolution Gem? Hand it over."

Yamada Machiichi directly tossed two blood-red Occupation Evolution Gems to him.

"Ask about why you’re seeing the Soul Clan leader?" Su Ming’an took the gems.

"I possess a special prop that’s favorable to the Soul Clan, but due to my human identity, I can’t communicate with the Soul Clan hierarchy. I’ve tried, but as soon as they see me, they just want to kill me, with no chance for a proper conversation." Yamada Machiichi said, "But you definitely can, because you are the lighthouse, so you can definitely succeed in any mission within the game instance."

"... You really have mastered the skill of communicating with me."

"Indeed, I have learned."

"Then let’s set off in a while." Su Ming’an swept past him.

"Today?"

"You’re in luck, I also happen to be meeting the Soul Clan leader tonight, along with you," Su Ming’an turned back, looking at him with a warning glance: "So, I’ll witness the entire transaction process between you and the leader. If there was deceit in your words before, you still have a chance to come clean."

"There wasn’t." Yamada Machiichi said, "I’m not as foolish as Edward. I understand the consequences of going against you. Since I have the resolve to approach you, I won’t make stupid moves. Everything I’ve said is true."

"The livestream is still on."

"Would people not know Edward is a fool if the livestream was off?"

"..." Su Ming’an fell silent for a moment: "I’m gradually enjoying communicating with you."

...

Night fell.

Su Ming’an and Yamada Machiichi, each wearing a mask and draped in black cloaks, set out from the night of the Thirteenth Street, using their respective Teleport Skills to bypass the nighttime blockade of the Soul Hunters.

Night in Pulaya was particularly chaotic, and through his pure white mask, Su Ming’an saw quite a few violent crimes.

On the way, he used the Occupation Evolution Gems to upgrade his core occupation skill, Cloning, to level 12.

Bright State specializing in combat, swords, and blades was upgraded to lv. 8. Shadow State then acquired two more elemental resistances:

[Wind Series Resistance lv.8: You can be immune to wind category elemental attacks from creatures with Mentality Points 15*6% lower than yours.]

[Earth Series Resistance lv.8: You can be immune to earth category elemental attacks from creatures with Mentality Points 15*6% lower than yours.]

...

If it continued like this, his Shadow State would probably be able to completely ignore attacks from magic series players.

Su Ming’an speculated that when his core occupation skill upgraded to level 20, there should be a qualitative breakthrough.

After all, he had seen from the forums that ordinary players’ occupation skills would undergo a transformative breakthrough when upgraded to level ten. His occupation skill, however, did not show any significant changes when it was upgraded to level ten.

He guessed that his occupation’s transformative node should be at level 20.

Following the panoramic map of Pulaya, Su Ming’an walked through the most secluded alleys all the way to Huali Street in the Southern District.

Yamada Machiichi, who was behind him, was very silent, just quietly following him. Even when a Soul Clan attack suddenly occurred nearby, there was no motion as if he was waiting for Su Ming’an to completely deal with these Soul Clan members.

After cutting down a Soul Clan member who lunged at him with a single stroke, Su Ming’an shook the sword in his hand, when suddenly he heard Yamada Machiichi starting to speak.

"Su Ming’an," he said.

"Speak."

"Many people have their eyes on you," came the somewhat muffled voice of Yamada Machiichi: "In this instance of thousands of players."

"As expected." Su Ming’an looked towards the night ahead: "My number has already been leaked, and this time I’m not using a tracking prevention prop. It’s normal for many people with ulterior motives to be in the same instance as me."

"... Have you ever considered joining the United Group?" asked Yamada Machiichi, his voice floating over.

Su Ming’an paused slightly.

The chilly night wind lifted the hem of his cloak as he turned, turning off the livestream.

"Are you one of those people with ulterior motives?" he asked.

"I’m not urging you to join," Yamada Machiichi said, "In fact, I very much hope you don’t join... such an organization."

"Why? Why shouldn’t I join when someone in the instance is sending me props and equipment?" Su Ming’an started to question him.

"Do you lack these pieces of equipment?" Yamada Machiichi asked, "I have roughly analyzed your damage data, and the equipment you have should not be below Red Level, right?"

"But they might be able to provide me with more suitable ones."

"... No." Yamada Machiichi was silent for a moment: "The risks don’t match the benefits."

Su Ming’an fell silent for a moment.

Yamada Machiichi was right, and he saw it clearly.

... because the risks don’t match the benefits.

Two months had passed since the world game began, with over nine months remaining.

No one knows what the situation will be like later.

If now, these people could track his instance through his number, later on, more information could trigger even more terrifying events.

Due to the incidents with Edward and Yu Ruohuo, he had already lost trust in such organizations. Even if there were truly heroes and great men among them, there would inevitably be scoundrels who prioritize interests and power.

Once he chose to join them, branded with the "United Group," he would inevitably be subjected to others’ control.

Because there was no one else behind him.

His ordinary background made it impossible for him, from the very beginning, to have someone he could truly trust and stand on the same platform with him.

He knew the extent of his own influence, so he couldn’t possibly hand over his influence to an organization he didn’t fully understand.

Whether it was Mizushima Kawa Sora or Edward, he could see that these people were not as free as they appeared, even though they had all achieved perfect passes just like him.

An international organization like the United Group could recruit talents but would also tolerate exceptional individuals.

... But they would definitely not tolerate an existence whose influence and absolute power far exceeded their own.

They would have to consider the situation after the world game ends and start planning a "new order" from now.

But in this order, there would be no room for a dominant existence like the "Number One Player." They fundamentally contradict each other.

They would surely try to find leverage on him and wouldn’t unconditionally supply him with benefits. Whether it’s desire, relationships, kinship, or public opinion, these people were much more skilled at manipulation than he was.

Instead of being caught in the middle of organizational struggles, it’s better to maintain the current detached and independent relationship.

Sometimes, the human heart is much more complicated than any instance.

— It was the actions of people like Edward that initially made him lose trust.

"... Then why did you cooperate with Noel?" Yamada Machiichi’s somewhat dry voice drifted over, interrupting Su Ming’an’s thoughts: "You don’t trust an organization like the United Group, so do you trust Noel?"

Su Ming’an’s expression remained unchanged.

But from his eyes, Yamada Machiichi already got an answer.

...

[Yamada Machiichi.]

[I don’t trust Noel either.]