Chapter 113: The Jelly Bean Man is Actually Me
"Number of people participating in the campaign (233/1000)."
"Number of people participating in the campaign (588/1000)."
"Number of people participating in the campaign (1000/1000)."
In just ten minutes, the quota for a thousand players was filled. The golden exclamation mark above Su Yu's head turned gray, indicating the quest was now unavailable.
A large crowd of players rushed over, hoping to join, only to find they were too late. The last group wailed in disappointment:
"Ah, I was just a few steps away! Just a few steps from accepting it!"
"Me too! If only I'd checked the forums a few minutes earlier!"
"Why does this feel like being eliminated in 'Jelly Bean'?"
"Don't even mention it! It really does!"
"I never thought the Jelly Bean man would be me!"
Hearing this, Su Yu laughed and called to the players, "Alright, all you Jelly Bean men, head back. Just come a bit earlier next time!"
The nearby players burst into laughter. Somehow, a simple quest had turned into a game of Jelly Beans!
Su Yu then turned to the guild leaders chatting nearby. "Snow Leopard, Zhenhong, set up a few chat groups and invite all the players who received the quest. It'll make organizing the mission easier."
"Got it!" replied Snow Leopard and True Red-Eyed Black Dragon immediately.
"Now, I'll go trigger the mission. Everyone wait here." Su Yu waved to the crowd before hopping on Tima and riding back to meet with the princess.
---
Five minutes later, with the sound of wheels rumbling, the princess's convoy set out from Maple Leaf City. The players quickly summoned their mounts and followed behind.
Everyone was buzzing with excitement.
"4,500 experience points!"
"If it's anything like last time, we got 6,600 experience points for 3,000! Could this one break 10,000?"
"After this quest, I bet the ranking boards are going to change again!"
Some players eyed the figure riding ahead in admiration. Somehow, every time that guy showed up, he caused a stir!
---
Inside the third carriage, Su Yu sat alongside Queen Alizee, just like before.
However, Alizee looked a bit apologetic. "Nemesis, I should've informed you earlier. This time, instead of taking the same route back, we're heading to Plantagenet City via a different path."
"A different route? Which one?" Su Yu asked curiously.
"This time, we'll be taking the river. General Shu He's warships are already waiting for us at the Lanfeng Town ferry. Based on my assessment, taking the water route will be safer."
Su Yu nodded thoughtfully. "By river, then. I don't mind at all."
The princess had a point. The rebels' navy was their weakest link, so if they traveled by water, it would indeed be much safer.
"But..." The princess glanced at the throng of players following them, clearly a bit embarrassed. "General Shu He only prepared three warships, which won't accommodate so many adventurers. Could you maybe ask some of them to stay behind, leaving only three or four hundred?"
Su Yu frowned, realizing this was the first hurdle of the mission. But he quickly came up with a solution.
"Don't worry, I've got an idea!"
Turning to the cat Morning Star, curled up in the Queen's arms, he asked, "Morning Star, can you transform into a deer and let's head to the Lanfeng Ferry?"
Morning Star let out a resigned sigh but agreed.
---
Ten minutes later, at Lanfeng Ferry.
Players gathered on the dock, watching the massive fleet of ships in the distance. The three largest ships, General Shu He's warships, proudly bore the Gorse family flag atop their towering masts. About thirty or forty soldiers, clad in armor and wielding bows, stood on each deck, looking formidable.
Behind the warships, three large civilian merchant ships awaited. Su Yu had personally purchased these for 50,000 psionic coins each to accommodate the players.
The players lined up to board, their excitement palpable:
"This is even bigger than last time! A full-on naval battle!"
"I've always been scared of water, but now I can't wait!"
"Did you hear? Nemesis just told us in the chat room that he bought these three ships, each costing 50,000 psionic coins!"
"Wait, 50,000? For real?"
"It must be! A friend of mine once considered buying a small boat, and for ships this size, it's almost 50,000 or 60,000 psionic coins."
"Three ships… That's 150,000 psionic coins! Nemesis really is loaded!"
"He's incredible! High-reward quests, and now spending so much to make sure we're all part of it!"
"Yeah! Once this mission's over, I'll give my psionic coins to Nemesis. He deserves it!"
"Count me in."
"Me too."
---
Meanwhile, Su Yu, the princess, General Shu He, and the ship owners stood on the pier, finalizing the preparations.
The princess glanced at the three civilian ships. "Nemesis, you bought these ships? That must've cost a fortune!"
"Not much," Su Yu replied with a smile. "Only 150,000 psionic coins. For your safety, Your Highness, any expense is worth it."
He pulled out his black magic crystal card and paid the 150,000 psionic coins directly to the ship owners, who beamed in gratitude as they received the funds.
Alizee watched him in astonishment. Su Yu never asked for favors, yet here he was, spending his own wealth to help her. Her heart swelled with gratitude.
"When I ascend to the throne, I must grant Nemesis a high position!" she resolved silently.
"Ding! [Queen Alizee] +3 favorability to you."
Seeing the increase, Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Paying the ship owners in front of the princess had been a strategy to gain her favor. Now, her favorability was up to 17. Just three more points, and he'd unlock a few world reputation points. With 10 world reputation points, he could finally buy a territory!
Beside them, General Shu He—a burly, battle-hardened soldier—watched approvingly. He had no objections to Su Yu buying these additional ships; after all, if they faced an enemy ahead, these vessels could act as a buffer.
Glancing at the sky, Shu He turned respectfully to the princess. "Your Highness, it's getting late. Shall we set sail?"
"Yes, let's go!" Alizee nodded. She threw a warm glance at Su Yu before stepping up the gangway onto the warship.
Su Yu followed her onto the vessel, and together they ascended to the second level of the ship.
The second level was clearly prepared with care by General Shu He. The decor was luxurious, and the view was expansive, allowing a clear panorama of the vast river and the bustling town of Lanfeng on its western shore.
The river stretched ahead, wide and calm—a natural path toward their destination. This was the Eternal Night River, which flowed all the way to the meeting point with the Radiant River, from where they could reach Plantagenet City in three days.
General Shu He stayed on the main deck, watching as the crew loaded supplies. When all was ready, he raised his voice, the command ringing out across the pier:
"The princess has given the order—the fleet will set sail!"
His voice echoed over the river as the fleet embarked, and the journey officially began.