Chapter 384
The Legendary Golden Dragon, Karensky!
He's truly saddened now.
He'd like to offer William some advice to improve Dawn City's policies, showcasing his wisdom and intelligence.
However, after spending a few days in Dawn City, he encountered an issue.
Some policies that seemed suitable in other cities were ineffective in Dawn City. Conversely, some of Dawn City's policies, which appeared backward to him, worked perfectly there.
So, for three days, he sought out policy loopholes.
In particular, Dawn City was home to citizens of all races, experiencing a level of happiness unimaginable elsewhere. Karensky himself clearly felt this familial happiness.
There was no major conflict among adults, and children of all races played together happily, attended school, took risks, worked, and joined the army. Elves had no aversion to half-elves, and humans didn't shun dwarves.
In Dawn City, Karensky witnessed truth, goodness, and beauty. The intrigues of the human kingdom and even the imperial city were virtually nonexistent in Dawn City.
It had to be said that this peculiar situation unnerved Karensky.
"What's the reason races living here can coexist in perfect harmony, even without strife among their own kind?"
Karensky, as a golden dragon, had lived for thousands of years. Although he hadn't experienced the Second Era, he was born in the early Third Era. Over the millennia, since gaining the ability to transform, he often dwelled in human society and accumulated vast knowledge.
He was a knowledgeable dragon, serving as a tutor in the Red Fire Kingdom's College, a bard in The Sunset Empire, and even a librarian in The Blue Frost Empire's library. His knowledge was extensive, to say the least.
Nonetheless, his understanding, especially as an outsider, couldn't fathom the Dawn City Master's remarkable ability.
Was it merely their charismatic personality?
"No, I must inquire," the Legendary Golden Dragon Karensky took a deep breath. He glanced at the sparsely populated street, shook his head in mild confusion, and proceeded to the City Master's residence.
He glanced at the two Elf guards at the door.
Huh?
Replacements?
"Lord of Dawn, William Blackleaf, I am Karensky!"
The two Elf guards exchanged glances and spoke in unison, "Your Excellency has already departed. He left a letter for you!"
"Ah? Departed?" Karensky was bewildered. When had this happened?
Then it struck him, and his expression paled. He understood himself well. Whenever he became perplexed, everything else around him faded away, as long as no one posed a threat or detected danger.
In such moments, he delved into his own thoughts, contemplating the process and outcomes of things. Often, these contemplative sessions could last for days, months, or even years.
Perhaps the Dawn City Master had greeted him, but he hadn't heard.
Karensky retrieved the letter written to him in the Dragon language by William. A faint smile graced his lips.
The handwriting wasn't very neat, and it was rather small, but it showed thoughtfulness. What made it special was that it was written in the Golden Dragon script of the Dragon language.
Karensky inquired, "Does your Lord have a fondness for the Dragon language?"
"Yes, Your Highness greatly favors the Dragon language, especially the Golden Dragon script. He claims it possesses a wild and unrestrained beauty!" the Elf guard responded promptly, having repeated this phrase countless times in his heart.
"I see," Karensky nodded, his expression unchanged. He couldn't help but smile and placed the letter into his spatial ring.
Hmm, he had read the letter's contents.
The Dawn City Master, driven by a sense of justice, intended to lead 100000 troops against the evil Orc empire in the far north. He hoped that Karensky, a messenger of kindness and justice, would help safeguard this beautiful city of dawn.
"Is this considered a favor? It should be. Any honest being should protect such beauty," Karensky gazed at the splendid Dawn City. Well, safeguarding the house was the first step. Despite the presence of Epic Level Professionals in the city, they were too feeble, and not to mention, careless of their duties. In the name of justice, Ben Long had to step in!
"Oh, I forgot to ask the Dawn Lord when he returns…" Karensky slapped his forehead. He'd discuss it when the time came. If he couldn't grasp the key to Dawn City's peace, stability, and freedom from strife, he'd consult the Dawn City Master.
At this moment, the prince had already led 100000 troops and over 1.8 million players to the far north.
In this freezing world with temperatures below minus 40 degrees, the players were exhilarated upon arriving. They played snowball fights, built snowmen, and skated everywhere.
After all, they had grown weary of the monotonous life in the southeastern region, where they were battered by wind and rain daily. Except for those who couldn't live without the sea, most players found great joy in this unexpected journey to the far north.
Even though many started with snowball fights, they eventually transitioned to playing intense ice hockey. Snowmen were piled up, concealing players within.
They also taught young snow Elves and others the ways of the game. Beyond these harmless activities, players were genuinely thrilled.
Since receiving the SSS mission, they hadn't been able to contain their excitement. The mission was essentially compulsory, forcing them to buy a warm coat from the far north. Originally, players were reluctant, but the prince had made it clear that those who didn't purchase the coats in Dawn City wouldn't be allowed to participate in the mission.
Players begrudgingly complied. They were left with no choice but to spend their in-game currency. SSS-level missions were exceedingly rare and exclusive across the world of gods and continents. Others could only dream of such opportunities.
As they continued, players who removed their coats quickly realized a problem. Without activating the Battle Energy shield, their Health Point gradually depleted due to the severe cold. They were freezing to death.
Moreover, upon seeing the exorbitant prices for coats in Ice Capital City, they were dumbfounded. The prices were beyond their means, except for those willing to spend real money. These coats not only provided warmth but also possessed extraordinary attributes, making them highly desirable.
Many players vented their frustrations on the forums, criticizing the game's developers. They couldn't believe that attribute fashion was being sold in NPC stores. They felt it was a harbinger of the game's end.
However, as time passed, three days later, the task hadn't officially begun, but players could exit the teleportation hall and witness groups of Elf legions marching in formation. These Elves were donned in high-quality fur armor.
The players' excitement knew no bounds. They felt honored to participate in the super main
task, and their hearts burned with pride.
At this moment, discussions about the ten-year-long bloody war's super main task were ubiquitous on the forums.
"I can't take it anymore, this is unreal! Look at the Black Leaf Elves, Moonlight Elves, and Snow Elves, the three Legendary Elven races, marching against the Orc Empire. The sheer number of troops and steeds is astounding.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the NPCs participating in this war will likely number in the tens of millions or more."
"I can't believe it," a female player chimed in, "the Black Leaf Elves' young warriors are so handsome. Their cheeks are flushed from the cold, and it's adorable."
"The Snow Elves' white hair is stunning!"
"The Moonlight Elves are no exception. Have you seen Princess Anne? She's like a little penguin, incredibly cute. I'm absolutely charmed!"
"Do you notice something interesting? Even among these Elves, the most adorable ones seem to be the cubs."
"Well, that bald guy is certainly something…"
"Let's not change the subject. We've all received the task. Have you seen the exchange list for this super main task?"
"The Battle Merit Score Table can be used to exchange equipment, scripts, skills, items, positions, NPC guards, and even wives from the Dawn Mercenary Regiment…"
"Let's skip the topic of wives for now. The mercenary regiment already has many core players. The assigned wives are actually honest women from Dawn City's brothel. William clearly thinks we're naive; it's unacceptable!"
"Exactly! I've reported this reward issue to the official. It's frustrating. Instead of finding a wife to take home, it seems we'll end up with countless NPC lovers."
"As a core member, I've decided to forgo the wife reward. It's not worth it…"
"Indeed, as an outstanding core member, I must say the wives come with numerous unlockable actions!"
"Guys, let's get back to business. Should we go ahead with the exchange or not?"
Meanwhile, a group of Professional players gathered in a spacious ice house, gathered around a stove, and sat on a heated kang (a traditional Chinese heated bed) while discussing the benefits of the upcoming war.
Chu Liuqiu, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, looked like an old man as he exhaled white breath. He said, "The most crucial option on the Battle Merit Score Table is obtaining 10000 Points, which grants you an NPC guard. Humans, half-elves, Elves, and dwarves are all possibilities, with their Bloodlines marked as equivalent!"
"This time, the official rewards are substantial. They plan to provide us with NPC Pro guards. Is this akin to having followers?" Changli Jiuge couldn't help but chuckle.
Xiao A Yin shook her head. "No, it's not quite the same. Pets don't possess absolute loyalty; they may run away if mistreated. Additionally, these Pro guards were once intelligent NPCs with lives and families. If you don't get along with your assigned Pro guard, they can choose to leave. That's how it works in the world of 'gods.' The official hasn't provided any details about these Pro guards."
As the players discussed the low loyalty of William's Pro guards, the middle-ranking NPCs, and other Intermediate Level NPCs, the prince was attending a meeting.
Regarding the decision to make that side the vanguard, the three Elves were reluctant to commit their own legions to such a perilous undertaking. Consequently, William William assessed the task's rewards and contemplated his strategy. With a wave of his hand, he accepted the mission, known as the Vanguard Army, which consisted of 1.8 million intermediate-level players. It was no longer merely a pioneer force; based on its sheer numbers, it represented the final large-scale assault.