Chapter 549 The First Founding Task?

“Please have some tea, meow.”

Polio placed his b.l.o.o.d.y chrysanthemum tea in front of the down and out Gnome before sitting next to him.

“Can you repeat your story once again?” Phoenix said to the Gnome solemnly.

“I already said it.”

The Gnome lifted his head to look at Phoenix in surprise. Polio raised his paw and said, “Meow, don’t be mistaken, we’re not looking for trouble. Your story is too… meow, depressing.”

It was too depressing, so the story had to be told twice. The Gnome didn’t understand, but since he was already in Eternal Kingdom, he had to listen to them in order to get help.

The Gnome inhaled and said, “I’m the grandson of a farm owner in a common village. Recently, my grandpa’s farm was invaded by Devil King Mammon…”

“Pfff!”

Phoenix made a strange sound.

“What is it?”

The Gnome stopped and looked at Phoenix, befuddled.

“Apologies, I thought of something pleasant.”

“Is your wife having a child?” Polio said before the Gnome had a chance to speak.

“How did you know? Have you watched ‘Mermaid’ recently?”

“Of course. When Lord Sherlock was watching the movie, I was watching from behind him, meow.”

“How was my meme? Do I get full marks?”

“Not good, meow. It was too contrived. Watch me next time, meow.”

Phoenix and Polio chatted with each other. Finally, Phoenix noticed the Gnome gaping. He flapped his wings twice, dry coughed once, and said, “Apologies, we got side-tracked. Please continue your story.”

The Gnome continued his story.

“Mammon cursed my grandpa to death. Then, he used unscrupulous methods to take over the farm that my grandpa left for me. Recently, I came to know that a lot of treasure was buried underneath the farm. Mammon was going after the treasure, so he had his eyes on the farm…”

“Hahahaha! Meow!” Polio started rolling on the ground and said, “Mammon, he said that greedy Devil King Mammon took a fancy to his farm and cursed his grandpa to death. He used unscrupulous methods to take over his farm. Hahahaha!”

“Hahaha!” Phoenix also rolled on the ground. He tried to flap his wings to return back to his original position, but it was in vain. He was still laughing as he said, “Is Mammon broke? Is he in such a pathetic state? Hahahaha!”

“Stop laughing. Why are you laughing at me? If you help me chase away Mammon and his minions and retrieve my treasure, I’ll give the farm to the Pioneer Alliance!” the Gnome shouted loudly, but Phoenix and Polio had no intention to stop laughing. To them, the Gnome’s words weren’t reliable. Who was Mammon? He was one of the seven Devil Kings who ruled over Hades. Though he was greedy, with the restraint placed by the Devil Management Committee, he had no reason to take over a farm just for treasure. Was Mammon not afraid of being punished by the Devil Management Committee?

“What’s so hilarious?” Sherlock asked as he stood by the entrance of the Dungeon Lord Main Hall. Both Phoenix and Polio were laughing incessantly.

“You… you’ll repeat your story again. Hahahaha!”

…

“Don’t worry, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation. As a professional Adventurer’s Guild, we accept all kinds of missions, but you have to sign a contract. When we solve your problem, we’ll obtain the farm, buildings, and furniture, while you will get the treasure chest,” Sherlock said as he led the Gnome out.

“Who’s going to take this Gnome to Winterfell’s old district and look for Evelynn to sign the contract?”

A gamer shouted excitedly, “Gos.h.!.+ I got the Strange Encounter Mission!”

The gamers at the side spoke enviously.

“Oh my G.o.d, what a fortunate event. I’m so envious.”

“Awesome, awesome.”

“I’m standing in the front, but I didn’t obtain the mission? This is unfair!”

“You must have an appealing face to obtain the Strange Encounter Mission.”

“Be resigned to your fate. I started playing during the Second Beta Testing, and I haven’t obtained a Strange Encounter Mission. Instead of waiting for a Strange Encounter Mission, accept the missions at the Adventurer’s Guild. The rewards are better than the rewards of the Strange Encounter Missions.”

“Why aren’t you at the Adventurer’s Guild waiting for missions?”

“A gamer must have a dream. What if I get a Strange Encounter Mission?”

Sherlock wasn’t bothered by the gamers. After sending off the Gnome, he returned to the Dungeon Lord Main Hall.

When the door was locked, the noise outside was cut off. A group of Orcs watched the back view of the Gnome recede into the distance.

“Lord Sherlock, the Gnome is highly suspicious. Though his story is hilarious, he doesn’t have good intentions. I suggest we kill him. Meow.”

Polio moved forward and suggested solemnly to Sherlock. Phoenix got close to Sherlock and landed on his shoulder, then said seriously, “Would Mammon rob him? It’s as hilarious as Michelangelo robbing a common Human. Lord Sherlock, I feel that his request is mocking our intelligence. I suggest killing him. Please give this mission to me.”

Sherlock didn’t accept their suggestions.

“Whether he is deceiving us or not, we have signed a contract, so we will follow it. As long as we chase away those robbers, we’ll obtain the farm and the treasure. If there’s no treasure, the Gnome will have to compensate us. We aren’t on the losing end.”

Polio asked in surprise, “Wait, Lord Sherlock, didn’t you agree that the Gnome would get the treasure chest, while we would obtain the farm?”

“Yes, the Gnome will get the treasure chest.”

Polio was enlightened.

“You’re indeed Lord Sherlock!”

…

“Why did the advertis.e.m.e.nt that we published using our Magic Stones become an Adventurer’s Guild mission? This is infuriating! Is the game messing with us?”

Sylvanas was so furious that the few hairs that she had on her head were standing on end. Arthur spent 100 Magic Stones to publish the advertis.e.m.e.nt in the newspaper in order to find affordable land. A Gnome came, but he signed a contract with Lord Sherlock. The mission appeared in the mission list of the Adventurer’s Guild, and the difficulty level was designated as S-Level. The reward for the mission was the farm.

The categories of missions weren’t based purely on difficulty. The higher the reward, the higher the category. Hence, a higher safety deposit was required for accepting the mission.

Though it was a safety deposit, it was non-refundable.

“We have no other choice. Perhaps, it’s our punishment since we’re exploiting the loopholes. We’re better off than the Changan City Guild. They were condemned publicly in the newspaper, while we only lost 100 Magic Stones.”

BurningChestHair consoled everyone, but NotWearingPants quickly said, “I would prefer to be condemned in the newspaper than lose 100 Magic Stones.”

The other gamers nodded in agreement.

One hundred Magic Stones wasn’t a small sum.

“The mission is going to be publicly available. We have to obtain the mission quickly. This is like the first founding task!” Peasant said anxiously as he gazed intently at the Adventurer’s Guild System. He wanted to accept the S-Level mission the moment it was available.

The reward for this mission was a large piece of land. It was like the first founding task of traditional online games.

The compet.i.tion was intense. If the old district of Winterfell wasn’t a safe zone, the place would have become a battlefield.

All of the large Guilds had their own Strongholds in the Dungeon and the wilderness, but they were buildings that were restricted to a few hundred square meters. They weren’t considered territories. The Territory System had been refined since game version 0.9. During the Public Beta Testing, the final Territory System was completed, but the Guilds had to pay large sums of Magic Stones to Lord Sherlock or Queen Victoria. It wasn’t feasible within a short period of time. With this mission, the gamers of Eternal Kingdom had the chance to obtain a new piece of land and establish their own country!

Even the unaffiliated gamers were concerned about this mission. The new gamers who were also concerned were unable to enter Winterfell because there were too many of them. Sherlock wouldn’t allow gamers who didn’t have at least Reputation Level 5 to visit Winterfell freely. These gamers could only obtain information of the mission via the discussion forum or gossip at the Dungeon plaza.

The gamers of Victoria City also wanted to partic.i.p.ate, but they were unable to enter Winterfell. So they looked for the customer service officer Eggface to make complaints.

Many gamers were befuddled by the S-Level mission when it was available.

[Adventurer’s Guild S-Level Mission—The Farm Invaded by Mammon

Mission Description: A Gnome claimed that Devil King Mammon invaded his farm, and he requested help reclaiming his farm. Your mission is to chase the invaders away and make sure that they don’t come back. Or is that the wishful thinking of the Gnome?

Mission Objective: Get rid of the minions of “Mammon” and protect the farm and the Gnome farm owner.

Mission Reward: The Guild or the gamer will receive a large piece of farmland that’s at least 5,000 square meters. As the farm is desolate, the surrounding lands are unclaimed lands.

Mission Conditions: This mission is a Faction Mission. All gamers or Guilds in Eternal Kingdom are eligible for this mission if the safety deposit of ten Magic Stones is paid.]