Chapter 162:

“Ding” The sound effect that suddenly rang out on little player’s character interface after nightfall made the testers who were still busy with various tasks around the Crimson Citadel look at the Computation Bead in unison. Since the launch of this new version, the triggered quests have been increasing, making the little players both pained and happy. However, what was triggered this time was not a quest, but a strange “online note”: 【Plot Event – ‘Night Thorn Tryst’ has been triggered! Event Description: Thanks to the effective progress made by the testers in the main storyline, the Crimson Citadel, which is in the midst of rebuilding, has finally welcomed its first heavyweight visitor. Lady Anastasia Shani Romanov Torrez, the grand duchess of the Thorn Clan, visited her ancient kin tonight. This elegant life from the far north will stay in the Crimson Citadel for a short while. As an important figure in the Thorn Clan and the Kingdom of Nordtov, gaining the recognition of Lady Shani means that you have earned the qualification to visit new areas and interact with new forces. Please seize the opportunity, as Lady Shani will not stay in the Blood Vulture Halls forever. Small tip! Lady Shani is a noble being from the northern country. When interacting with her, please be sure to ensure that your etiquette is appropriate! In fact, when interacting with any noble being, please try to be well-mannered. This is very important for the testers’ gaming experience.】 “What? A new NPC has spawned?” Khaki Tony Tai, who was currently performing his “patrol” duties in the city, asked his good buddy beside him in surprise, “This NPC seems to be quite something. It even triggered this kind of server-wide announcement. Is it a time-limited NPC?” “You’re asking me, who am I supposed to ask?” Path of Mud and Oil rolled his eyes. He had been dragged by his buddy to grind reputation with the Kadman People’s Army these past few days, so how would he have time to go around and learn about new plot developments? “It sounds like a female NPC. Why don’t we drop by and take a look? We’ll be done with this patrol quest in a few minutes anyway. Let’s go there together after we change shifts.” Khaki Tony Tai extended an invitation, and his good buddy agreed without much hesitation. Now that the sleep connection function had been enabled, players’ daily gaming time had reached 14 hours, allowing them to not have to be so stingy with every minute of their time. Naturally, they had much more time to squander on playing. “Speaking of which, have you seen Niuniu these past few days?” Khaki Tony Tai walked the streets with his imposing Spirit greataxe, carrying out his patrol duties while quietly asking his buddy Ah You, “Niuniu didn’t play with those students from the finance department, nor did he follow Sister Pomegranate to Bataxin city. It’s like the kid mysteriously disappeared after the version update. What the heck is he doing?” “He should be grinding reputation, right?” Path of Mud and Oil scratched his head and said, “Didn’t we hear him say last time that he got to know an important NPC on the Witch Hunter side? And that he wanted to grind to that NPC’s Warrior title or something. But didn’t the Witch Hunter already leave Transia in terms of plot? Could it be that Niuniu left the newbie village together with them? Damn! Is he exploiting a bug? Using the method of following an NPC to ‘smuggle’ himself out of the newbie village? That’s too cunning!” “Hard to say.” Khaki Tony Tai shook his head and answered, “Ever since playing this game, everyone seems to have gone a bit abnormal. Speaking of which, a few beasts from the dorm next door have already filled out the test application and keep pestering me about when they can enter the game. It’s so annoying.” “What’s so annoying about that? It’s not like we have control over that matter. The patrol quest is done. Let’s go to the Blood Vulture Halls and see what that new NPC looks like.” The two little players quickly returned to the Blood Vulture Halls with their arms around each other’s shoulders, only to see a group of people gathered in the Descendant Hall, craning their necks to look inside as soon as they entered. Among them were some who had just come out of the “dungeon area”. They gathered here, whispering to each other, no longer even running dungeons. “What are you guys looking at?” Khaki Tony Tai curiously reached out and tapped the shoulder of Heaven’s Chosen Grayman, who was stretching his neck to look inside. The guy turned his head back and excitedly said to his two companions, “New NPC!” “Ah? We know about the new NPC, but why are there so many people here?” Path of Mud and Oil asked in surprise, “What’s so special about this new NPC? To get you guys this excited?” “Beautiful!” Heaven’s Chosen Grayman clutched his chest, a dazed expression on his face as he said, “Very beautiful! Not the seductive kind like Lady Tris or the physically stunning kind like E-cup Adele. Just very beautiful. Ah, it’s hard for me to describe. Quick, look! She’s coming out!” “Lady Shani is coming out! Wow, she really gives off the vibe of a married older sister! Lady, I love you!” “Slurp slurp, first there was the jailbait loli lady, then the anti-gravity E-cup sister, followed by the enchantress Tris. Now there’s even a template for a married woman! Slurp slurp, these dog developers are really too good!” “Cammy! The wife version of Cammy! Miss Cammy, is that you? Ah! The hairstyle and figure are exactly the same!” “Ah, I’m in love! Lady Shani, I’m in love!” “Get lost, get lost. You said the same thing when you saw Adele, and you said the same thing when you saw Tris. You fickle dog!” “Phew, the people of Transia are really passionate.” Sitting in Tris’s office, Shani gracefully took the iced drink handed to her by Murphy. With her Golden rank perception, the actions of the little players just a wall away couldn’t be hidden from her at all. Although she was still very annoyed by this group of rude folks. But as Tris said, women would never truly get angry because men passionately pursue them, especially people captivated by their beauty and temperament. The restlessness of the little players was the absolute recognition of Shani’s powerful charm as a woman. This brought a hint of a smile to the face of the Thorn grand duchess. “Well then, let’s start talking about the so-called proper business.” Shani took a sip of the drink, very satisfied with the pure blood mixed in it. She looked at Tris and Murphy, and said, “Part of the reason I came tonight was to see the current situation of the Blood Vulture Clan with my own eyes. Please allow my rudeness, but the fact is, with your current state, there’s no way you can withstand the coming Black Disaster. You obviously need help! Whether it’s in terms of supplies, manpower, armaments or standing forces, you all need help.” “This is exactly what I was hoping to discuss with you, Grand Duchess Shani.” Murphy said softly, “Lord Palanno should have already reported our request to the Wolf Queen. We hope to regain control as soon as possible of the 6,000 Blood Servants captured and disarmed by the Winter Wolf Legion.” “Only 4,000 left, you know.” Shani replied with a smile, “Due to a series of ‘unexpected reasons’ such as riots and disobedience, your Blood Servants experienced a brutal crackdown. My great-great-granddaughter little Catherine possesses the same forceful grip and decisive nature as my father. In fact, if it wasn’t for the sudden visit of Lord Palanno, I’m afraid the remaining 4,000 wouldn’t have been spared either. After all, the Kingdom of Nordtov has been trying to establish a steam train track crossing the Great Wilderness. The slave laborers under the dwarf foremen of the Frost clan are never enough. But since the lord of the Blood Pact Knights has spoken, we will send the 4,000 back soon. The question is, with your current situation, can you really handle them? If they shatter on the spot and turn into mobs, they might as well stay on our side. At least they can serve as cannon fodder when Fort Crimea is attacked.” “This is related to the second thing we want to discuss with you next.” Murphy coughed and said, “We hope to make a long-term food supply agreement with the Winter Wolf Legion. We can use the mining areas in southern Transia as collateral. You also need to find sales channels for the huge amount of grain you’ve obtained in the Kafhoka Plains. This transaction is beneficial to both of us.” “Indeed beneficial.” Grand Duchess Shani nodded and said, “However, if everything in this world that’s mutually beneficial could be done, there wouldn’t be so many conflicts. I’m going to make my request now, Murphy, listen carefully.” This cunning winter fox from Nordtov had already judged who the true lord of this land was, so she said bluntly to Murphy, “Hand over control of the entire Gorsen Forest at the border between Ice Bay and the Count of Seicob’s territory, the small eastern border town of Bataxin, and that small plain between south of Fort Crimea and Foul Swamp! If you agree to this price, there will be enough food setting off for Crimson Citadel tomorrow. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t agree. The junior officers of the Winter Wolf Legion are thirsty for glory and military achievements. With just a hint from me, our brave Nord warriors can use the sharp blades in their hands to take what we want. And compared to trading, the crude children from the Great Wilderness obviously prefer to directly rob.” “Heh, so there’s nothing to discuss then?” Murphy and Tris laughed at the same time. They had long anticipated Shani’s lion’s share demand. Murphy no longer spoke. Tris raised her glass to Shani. She said in a drawling voice, “Then please go back, little Shani. Let your wolf cubs step onto the land of Transia. We’d love to have someone help us block the Black Disaster. Most importantly, you seem to have forgotten that there’s a third party in this game about Transia’s future. I think General Loren of the Goldflower Kingdom’s Pioneer Army and Lord Payne, who is actively preparing for war, probably won’t be too happy about your rude territorial demand. Remember this, Shani! The Portia Federation did fail in the Ten-Year War. It failed miserably and lost itself in the process. But that doesn’t mean Transia has also become a prisoner. The people here may be a bit poorer and more savage, but they have backbone! So my advice to you is, if you want to negotiate, show some sincerity! Otherwise, don’t waste words!” Beside her, Murphy added in a serene tone, “This dark land is full of cunning vampires and superstitious savages. The common point between the two is that we won’t be coerced. At worst, when the Black Disaster comes, everyone will scatter! If you shoe-wearers don’t cherish your precious lives, then what do we Transia barefoots have to fear? I won’t discuss any issues regarding territory with you. You’d better extinguish this thought early on. Why not leave your mighty Winter Wolf Legion to wait for the gnoll Black Disaster to come and then negotiate with them, how about that, Madam Shani?”