The storm soon subsided, and Charlie's team blended into the crowd like fish in a river, quickly integrating into the incoming new apprentices, who were guided and dispersed by other volunteers around the outskirts of Twilight Town, presenting a bustling scene throughout the small town.
When Charlie's team had fully adapted to the environment of Twilight Town, they could see its true appearance.
Rather than calling it a small town, it is more like a small city. The entire small city is shrouded in a grayish-brown haze, the sky is half-obscured by the dense tree canopy, and through the gaps, a grayish-black vortex-like sky can be seen, with no trace of sunlight.
The air is unusually damp and cold, with a faint odor of decay, always giving the feeling that something is quietly rotting in some corner.
Twilight Town is nestled in a low-lying basin at the foot of a mountain, with an open terrain, no walls or gates, directly exposed to the complex forest. Various tents and camps can be seen everywhere, spreading out from the core buildings, and the further out, the lower the rent.
The environment of the tents is very simple, often ten or more connected together, with only a narrow passage in the middle, and almost no place to wash. It is really hard to imagine what the apprentices who are struggling around the outskirts of Twilight Town will become after a few months of hard work, and what their tents will turn into.
Seeing those tents whose original colors and materials can no longer be distinguished, Charlie was at a loss for words. The scent they emit has already blended into the background of Twilight Town.
This is a major feature of Twilight Town, with diligent apprentices and a large number of night watchmen forming the outer defensive line of the small town.
Many newcomers to Twilight Town are usually at a loss, firstly because of the huge environmental difference, and secondly because they are completely unprepared for the rules of the free task, having no clue at all.
"Charlie, what should we do now?"
Hearing this question, Charlie felt quite helpless, thinking that his team members are not much better off than the others.
Facing a completely unfamiliar environment, Charlie can't provide any experienced advice either. But as the team leader, he doesn't have the right to say "I don't know".
After thinking for a while, Charlie smiled and said, "Your current problem is that you rely too much on the team leader. This is not a good phenomenon. If you always follow my arrangements, it will stifle your own judgment and execution, and you won't improve. So, I've decided to give you all an opportunity to train.
Look, we've come to a brand new place, and we know nothing about the surrounding environment, customs, and dangers. We're not familiar with the market conditions here, don't know the consumption standards for food and accommodation, and don't know how to accept tasks, complete tasks, and earn points.
And the biggest problem facing us right now is how to solve the food and accommodation problem for tonight? All these things need to be figured out. If everything falls on me, the efficiency may not be high. We must split up and each figure out some things, so that we can get ahead of many newcomers, understand?"
Qingtong pondered, "Charlie is right. Although he is also a first-timer here, his thinking is much clearer. We are a team, not just Charlie's team. Everyone needs to think about how to play their own role, and can't just rely on others to arrange things!"
Qingtong timidly said, "But... what if we run into bad people?"
"This is Twilight Town, theoretically you won't be in any danger. Of course, you may encounter some seniors trying to take advantage of the newcomers who don't know the rules, but for you, that's also a kind of tempering!"
"Okay!" Qingtong murmured, swallowing some words.
"We'll divide into three groups, the Gossta brothers in one group, you three girls in one group, and I'll be by myself. Now everyone choose the tasks within our team! Choose from the topics I just listed, and after you're done, I'll take care of the rest. Let's gather back here in three hours, okay?"
Everyone responded in unison, and quickly selected some tasks.
Finally, Charlie reminded them, "You've all signed the Ally Pact, so you can sense each other's positions. If you have any problems, report it through the soul link, and the others will come to support you immediately!"
"Got it!"
Avoiding the main difficulties and focusing on the trivial ones is the nature of everyone, especially in an unfamiliar environment. The two problems they left are the most difficult ones: solving the food and accommodation for tonight, and figuring out how to complete tasks and earn points in Twilight Town.
The Free Task Season has no time limit, only a recommended time. The academy suggests completing the task within three months. Those who fail to meet the target cannot return to school until they do, and some even take one or two years in the Free Task Season before being allowed to advance to the second year. So you can see a large age gap between each grade.
This task season requires each official member to earn at least 300 task points, and the team must reach at least 1,500 task points, in order to return to school legitimately. Otherwise, they can only go back to the academy for some supplies and stay briefly, and the teleportation fee back and forth is quite expensive.
Charlie scanned the surroundings and saw a scarlet glow in the distance, very conspicuous in the twilight. He walked towards it.
"Blood Raven Tavern", a few scarlet, glowing large characters appeared in his vision, with a few traces of blood-like drippings on the edges, giving the tavern a mysterious aura.
Charlie followed the crowd and entered the tavern.
The tavern extensively uses dried wooden stakes as tables and chairs, natural and rustic, and is relatively clean. The lighting is dim, and soothing music is floating in the air. In this environment, you can see a desire in the eyes of every man and woman, seemingly easily inviting you to go out with them and roll around in some tent for hours, although this may just be your illusion.
Charlie didn't know that the apprentices struggling to survive in Twilight Town are on the edge of life and death every day, and the tavern is the best place for them to relieve themselves. After experiencing life and death, they will cherish the present and liberate their desires. Apprentices generally go through this transformative stage within three months to half a year, and most of the men and women also mature during this transformation.
Charlie walked straight to the bar counter and sat down.
The bartender skillfully pushed a large mug of ale over, and held out his hand, "50 gold coins, you can sit here until midnight, and it'll cost more if you want to stay overnight."
Even the bar stool charges a fee, and the price is not cheap.
Charlie reached into his pocket, took out a huge gold coin, and tossed it onto the counter, rolling with a crisp sound.
The bartender's eyes lit up, and he lightly pressed it with his finger.
This is a large gold coin minted in the Extreme Sea Port, slightly larger than a regular gold coin, and inlaid with a magic energy crystal in the center, worth 100 times a regular gold coin, and convenient to carry. Since it is recognized by the Arcane Circle, it is a hard currency throughout the continent, more credible than the gold coins issued by the Millennium Empire, and on par with the temple gold coins of the Holy Blade Church.
Ordinary people can't get this kind of gold coin. Donald left him 2,000 of them, stored in the spatial ring.
Charlie smiled, "The consumption here is not lower than the Arcane Circle, huh!"
"Of course, the supplies here are pulled from the Arcane Circle, and it's already good that they don't mark up the prices." Maybe because of the gold coin, the bartender said a few more words.
Charlie said, "I just came to Twilight Town and don't know the rules. I want to ask about a few things."
"Like us local townspeople, we only know some common sense. Feel free to ask, but if you want to ask about task-related questions, I suggest you find them." The bartender nodded towards the booths in the distance. "They're senior apprentices like you, who have been mixing here for half a year to a year. They basically know everything. Those who don't understand either went back to the academy or are rotting somewhere."
This bartender looks to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, and Charlie thought he was a student working in the tavern, but didn't expect him to be a local resident.
Charlie exclaimed, "You're not an apprentice?"
The bartender gave a bitter smile. "I wish I was."
"Isn't this place the birthplace of the academy? Aren't you supposed to be a descendant of the academy's founders? Shouldn't you have the qualifications of an apprentice?"
The bartender shook his head. "I'm just an ordinary person. Even before the mages came to Twilight Town, this small town had existed for a long time. Maybe it's because there were residents that the mages started here! After all, mages also need to live."
This is an unexpected discovery, Twilight Town's history is even older than the Arcane Circle.
"Those people you told me to ask, why are they staying here for a year or six months? Isn't the free task season only three months?" Charlie naturally wouldn't easily let go of someone willing to reveal information.
The bartender hesitated, "I don't understand much, but I often hear people say, it's not always better to be faster, especially for senior apprentices. They need an environment full of danger and pressure. Some want to consolidate their realm, some seek breakthroughs, and some are simply for the benefits."
"Regarding the gold coin, I see." Charlie nodded and said, "I'll go ask them first, and if I have any other questions, I'll come back to you."
"Okay." The bartender happily put the large gold coin into his pocket, and took out 50 gold coins from his pocket to replenish the counter. He kindly reminded, "But you should be mentally prepared, they are generally not interested in gold coins."
"Then what are they interested in?"
"Of course, it's points. But since points can't be exchanged, this place usually uses a barter system. See if you can find something that interests them."
"Look, I just got here, I don't have any materials or spoils, and the equipment I have, I need to use myself. What can I bring to exchange with them?"
The bartender thought for a moment and said, "There are also scrolls, the higher the level, the more popular."
"Got it!" Charlie smiled and stood up, heading towards a booth.