Chapter 237:

Words : 1873 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

When Brother Loyalty heard Lord Murphy’s words, his heart immediately began to pound with excitement. He felt that he might have triggered the legendary “Hidden Quest”, but this quest didn’t appear immediately. Instead, Murphy, like a real NPC, first started chatting with Brother Loyalty about “history”. He looked at the gray-black gunpowder powder that Brother Loyalty had processed twice, and extended his finger to rub some between his fingers. The characteristic smell of gunpowder made him twitch his nose. “I just heard your doubts outside, about the dwarves and halflings’ lack of progress in gunpowder craftsmanship. Your assertion is incorrect, my warrior. They haven’t given up on researching this art of war, it’s just that you come from another world and aren’t familiar with our history here.” Murphy shook his head and said to the wide-eyed Brother Loyalty: “The halflings not only haven’t stopped researching gunpowder, but they actually came up with upgraded excellent products shortly after the dwarven firearms appeared. According to my shallow knowledge of history, I can tell you with certainty that in the year 430 of the calendar, during the large-scale mineral exploration operation carried out by the dwarves on the outskirts of the Dark Mountain range, their prospectors accidentally found some magical minerals. It was the appearance of those minerals that completely changed the history of halflings and dwarves on this continent. That thing is called ‘Combustion Gold’. Have you heard of this name?” “Mmm hmm!” Brother Loyalty nodded vigorously, saying: “In Lady Tris’s alchemy class, this thing appears as frequently as the word ‘loyalty’ in Lord Maxim’s mouth.” “Uh, you can’t let Maxim hear that, it’s very damaging to the hearts of the loyal ones.” Murphy was amused, waving his hand as he said: “Anyway, Combustion Gold is quite magical, it has all kinds of wonderful properties. If you’ve ever disassembled a Witch Hunter’s automatic hunting crossbow, you’ll easily find that the reason why that small steam engine can provide such powerful energy is because Combustion Gold Catalyst has been added to its combustion furnace. Just a piece of metal rod the size of a fingernail can give it power far beyond the ordinary in the wondrous movement of steam. I’m not an expert in this field, so I can’t explain to you in detail how this thing works. But the fact is, I’ve heard Miriam say that one of her steam engineering professors once summarized in class that half of the foundation of halfling technology development is built on the research and use of Combustion Gold. The most powerful thing about this stuff is that it can also be used in gunpowder making. Have you seen those special ammunitions used by Witch Hunters? Those bullets have a tiny amount of Combustion Gold powder added to them, just a little bit can turn ordinary black powder into something miraculous. Being hit by such a bullet, even a vampire like me would feel quite painful. We all thought this was normal before, but after hearing your brilliant analysis just now, I suddenly realized that what we see as normal might be the most abnormal thing in the eyes of you otherworlders.” Murphy paused, giving Brother Loyalty a little time to think. Then he asked: “So, in your world, there doesn’t exist such an almost omnipotent mineral as ‘Combustion Gold’, right?” “Of course not.” Brother Loyalty thought to himself that this NPC was truly intelligent, and talking with him really gave a wonderful feeling of chatting and discussing with someone from another world. This game’s sense of immersion and engagement was really unparalleled. He replied: “The technology in our world follows the principle of a tech tree. One technology needs to be illuminated before it can drive the progress of other technologies. There isn’t a magical substance that can be used across various industries. From what you’re saying, Combustion Gold can be used both as a combustion agent and as a catalyst to accelerate steam power. This is indeed quite incredible. But your explanation also clarifies my confusion. If just a little bit of Combustion Gold powder can make black powder explode with several times more destructive power, then halflings and dwarves indeed don’t need to continue in-depth research on the basic black powder level to illuminate tech trees they don’t need at all. Ah, it seems my understanding of this magical world is still not enough.” “Indeed, but I have a quest for you!” Murphy patted Brother Loyalty’s shoulder and said: “I want to ask you to make some weapons for us in the way of your world. I mean, design new weapons following your tech tree. Transia needs new weapons.” “Huh?” Brother Loyalty asked in confusion: “But you already have such a wonderful substance as Combustion Gold, why would you...” “Because Transia doesn’t produce Combustion Gold! My warrior, at least in my memory, our land hasn’t received the love of Mother Earth.” Murphy said in a deep voice: “Those minerals, though magical, are all in the hands of the dwarves. They were also very capable, why didn’t they receive tasks specifically assigned by Lord Murphy? “We’ve told you to grind for favorability, but you just wouldn’t listen!” Meow King said proudly while riding his horse: “This must be because our Meow has higher favorability with Lord Murphy and Baroness Miriam, that’s why we received the task! Moreover, the development team’s note in the task has already made it very clear. They chose us as advisors to Lady Miriam because our test applications have specialties related to the financial field, and this negotiation is going to rely on these specialties. This is obviously a task specially set up by the development team to enhance players’ sense of perception and immersion, okay? On the surface, it’s Lady Miriam going to negotiate, but in fact, the plot development and negotiation results all depend on how players operate. After all, the Quest Description also said that Lady Miriam is not good at economics, so she needs the wisdom of the testers.” “That’s right!” Don’t Need Hands to Show Off next to him also grinned and said: “I’m a professional financial talent, okay? My brother also graduated from finance, and the student party going with us are all top students in finance. Isn’t it very obvious? The development team wants to make the best use of the testers. I guess this game will not only have merchant gameplay in the future, but it’s very likely to allow players to participate in the economic construction of the territory. Damn, looking at it this way, their ambition is quite big.” “After all, it’s 100% real. Based on this goal, it’s not surprising that the development team comes up with all sorts of weird activities,” Electronic Succubus Old Tune said with a yawn: “Those things that are taken for granted in reality seem particularly strange when put into games, but this is also the charm of this game. We are the real plot leaders, and this feeling of not having to be sidekicks is really great.” They quickly rode their tall horses into the Crimson Citadel, and found that in these few days, a square three-story terraced dormitory building had sprung up in the outer city area of the Crimson Citadel. Workers led by Bricklayer were doing exterior decoration and corrections on this first “residential building”, and some camp carpenters were making windows, doors, and simple furniture for these houses on the construction site. “Wow, these administrative players are doing a good job!” Led More Than Three to Five Pecks looked at the decent-looking building from afar on horseback, and couldn’t help but criticize: “It’s just that their intentions are a bit bad! Isn’t this just a copy of Khrushchyovka? Letting people from another world live in tube-shaped apartments, cold in winter and hot in summer, their conscience is really bad.” “They were living in shacks before, so don’t complain,” Meow King said, leading his brothers to the administrative building. Just as he was about to dismount, he unexpectedly saw an NPC wearing a black robe pulling and tugging with a little player. “I’ve told you, there’s no such vulgar detection spirit ability!” The black-robed NPC scolded somewhat exasperatedly: “Spirit magic is all sacred, how could you use it to peep at women? I’m really furious! Someone like you would be burned to death in the Circle Tower!” “But before you took me as your disciple, you clearly said that detection spirit ability was quite powerful!” That little player also didn’t give in, retorting with hands on hips: “Otherwise, how could I have been tricked by you? This detection spell has no combat power at all. I don’t care! You’re my mentor, you have to teach me! I want the kind that can see through clothes...” “I said, there’s no such detection spell!” The detection Spirit Mage Helu was so angry that he wanted to smash his “apprentice’s” head with his staff. He was also a member of Lady Miriam’s diplomatic team, and was just happy about having the position of “Administrative Knight”, but was now very angry at the outrageous request from his apprentice. Seeing several warriors watching nearby, he angrily shook off his apprentice’s hand, then turned and walked away with the elegance and decorum that a Spirit Mage should have. “Hey, brother, what were you arguing with that NPC about?” Meow King came over and asked. The guy in front of him, named “Thirty-Year-Old Tobacco Mulberry”, snorted and said with hands on his hips: “I was tricked by that cunning NPC. He said I had talent and asked me to be his apprentice. I thought it was a hidden profession, so I switched to ‘Detection Spirit Mage’, but this profession is too pitiful! All detection-type spells! It’s fine that there are no attack skills. But these detections can’t even see through NPC’s clothes. So what’s the use of learning these?” “Damn! This is the first time I’ve seen someone express their thoughts so frankly! To be honest, I also want to learn this spirit detection art that can see through clothes.” Meow King was suddenly struck with admiration. He said to the complaining Tobacco Mulberry in front of him: “We two brothers can definitely become bosom friends. Why don’t you join my team? We happen to be short of a full-time scout and logistics personnel. Consider it. When this game opens 18+ features, I’ll treat you to a good time, brother!” “Hey, you said it, Meow King. It just so happens that I don’t have a team either. Let’s play together. By the way, where are you guys in real life? Why don’t we meet offline, and you can treat me to a good time? People nowadays are just too hypocritical! Unlike us two brothers, we should be frank! As the saying goes, a gentleman is open and aboveboard, while a petty man hides his little brother.” “Hey, you’re really a talented fellow. Alright, come over another day, and I’ll let you experience and enjoy yourself, brother.”

Chapter 237:

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