The Survival Rules of NPCs

Chapter 88: The First Batch of Elite Troops Returns Empty-handed...

Chapter 88 The First Batch of Elite Troops Returns Empty-handed...

"How did you feel after spending the day here?"

At this moment, the leaders of the hunting grounds, the镖人 (bodyguards), and the Beihai Association reunited and spent the entire day questioning this issue.

Holy Stone City...is calmer than I imagined, but also more difficult to gather intelligence on than I imagined.

"The residents of Holy Stone City seem very wary of outsiders. If a local tries to gather information, they will chase you away or even report you directly to the sheriff as a suspicious person, giving you almost no chance. Even if you try to inquire with money, you will be suspected. We have already had several people driven away!"

"I know a little about the situation," the guild leader of the hunting grounds said in a low voice. "Holy Stone City has just experienced a cult rebellion. Not only were several nobles massacred, but many civilians were also killed. Many doctors and warriors' families were kidnapped or even tortured, which has led to the local residents now distrusting the influx of refugees. They are even holding protests to reduce the number of refugees entering Holy Stone City."

"I've heard some things too." The president of the Beihai Association sighed. "The situation is very troublesome. The whole city is on high alert. As soon as the refugees leave the refugee area, they will be reported by the local residents. Unless we use strong measures, there is no way to find out anything. Right now, we can only find out some basic information."

It's impossible to say they didn't find out anything at all. For example, they learned that a new viscount had arrived and hired a large number of refugees to work in the workers' quarter, but that recruitment had already ended before new refugees could arrive.

In other words, it would be very difficult for them to find the previous refugees to ask for information, because that recruitment was so exaggerated that it almost emptied the refugee area.

Those who have just entered Holy Stone City are newcomers like them, and their knowledge is limited.

Taking back this basic intelligence would certainly bring some rewards, but they didn't bring their elite troops to Holy Stone City to gather this kind of information. With a day already gone, the leading guild leaders were getting anxious.

According to the rules, each person can only stay here for two days, and then they have to leave to be replaced by the next batch of people. Even the guild leaders are no exception. In order to seize the first-hand information, they not only came in person, but also arranged for the elites of the guild to accompany them. However, they were surprised to find themselves in this situation. They immediately felt that they had been taken advantage of.

Because once they go out today, according to the rules, the number of people who have reported must go through a full round before it's their turn again!

I was careless!

If they had known it would be like this, they should have sent someone to probe the area before deciding when to bring in themselves and their elite troops. Now, if any opportunity arises in Holy Stone City, they can only watch helplessly from outside the city. What are they going to do?

The镖人 (bodyguard/escort) couldn't help but sigh: "We've really stumbled. I don't know if the sweet rice dumpling was intentional or not. It looks like we're really going to have to return empty-handed."

"How's it going over there?" The guild leader of the hunting grounds looked at the镖人 (镖人 is a person who escorts goods), who had a good relationship with the group of casual players, and asked subconsciously.

"Ghost Wolf and Sword Wind Legend didn't even come in, which I found strange at the time. The person they sent said that the representative had decided to give the opportunity to the subordinates first. At the time, I thought those guys were being very generous, but I didn't expect them to be so shrewd."

"It was probably Black Rose's idea," the Hokkaido chairman muttered. "That woman is always very shrewd. She's probably already allied with Garou and the others. The fact that none of the three representatives came in this time means she must have anticipated this situation. I should have realized it back then; I was too hasty."

"Well... now we're completely stumped," the镖人 sighed.

"It's just a small loss," the Hokkaido guild leader said calmly. "Our guild has stronger cohesion. Even if we return empty-handed this time, the efficiency of our members won't be much lower. Even if new situations arise in the next few days, the guild members won't abandon us directly."

"That's true..."

'

"Let them play their little tricks for now," the hunting ground's leader said. "It's good for them to lie low in the rear for a while, and inform their subordinates to gather as much basic intelligence as possible. It seems we'll need to be more cautious with our future arrangements."

Meanwhile, the two Sword and Wind Legends, who were still waiting outside the city, couldn't help but admire Black Rose's first arrangement.

"Your idea was right after all." Even someone as arrogant as Hungry Wolf had to admit that if the other party hadn't stopped him, he would have rushed in without thinking and probably ended up like those other guild leaders, only to find nothing.

Black Rose smiled slightly and said, "Each person only stays for two days. Even if they go in immediately, there's not much they can do in two days. It's better to send your subordinates to investigate. I was just taking precautions. I just didn't expect that the three guild leaders wouldn't even think of this."

"You're smart enough. If you were to establish a guild, your power wouldn't be any less than theirs," Sword Wind Legend laughed.

"I'm not interested..." Black Rose said lazily. "Uniting players sounds nice, but it's just using the majority to support a small group to conquer the world. Such a system may be effective, but it's just too boring."

"Hahaha..." Sword Wind Legend burst into laughter, "I think so too!"

"The rule about sweet rice dumplings must have been set, and then it seems like there's been no news. Apparently, the people inside haven't found her either," the Hungry Wolf said in a low voice. "What exactly is she trying to do?"

"I also think she has ulterior motives..." Black Rose said quietly, "She doesn't want too many players to disrupt the order. The reason seems feasible, but I always feel that she is hiding something. Moreover, judging from her ability to control the city gate guards, she may have received a big mission, or even reached a cooperation agreement with the nobles of Holy Stone City."

"Really?" Berserker rested his chin on his hand. He and his group were still homeless, while Berserker had already formed an alliance with nobles?

This skill gap is so huge, we're both players, but it feels like we're not even on the same level.

One more day until the shadows arrive!

After inspecting the factory, it was nighttime when Bright finally had time to calm down and reflect in the crematorium.

The first batch of players were barely contained within the refugee zone, with Sweet Rice Dumpling and Dog Egg responsible for covert surveillance; the two's professions complemented each other perfectly.

Sweet Rice Dumpling, as a level 30+ Flash Thief, possesses stealth abilities that surpass those of current players, while Dog Egg has the ability to infiltrate shadows. Sweet Rice Dumpling is responsible for infiltrating nearby, while Dog Egg infiltrates the opponent's shadow at close range, thus allowing them to monitor the movements of those important guild leaders at any time.

As spies, these two are a perfect match in terms of professional skills.

According to the latest intelligence, several guild leaders seem to have realized that they arrived too early, leaving no room for error, and that they would have to return empty-handed and forced to stay outside for nearly ten days. They also realized that it might be a trap.

On the other hand, the representative of the scattered players, because a female player named Black Rose seemed to have realized this in advance, did not come in immediately. It has to be said that there are smart people among the players.

Bright cracked his knuckles. According to the mission intelligence, the first batch of elf robes would soon be scattered, and the shadow forces would also be mobilized. With players mixed in, there was a high probability that they would split into two factions. If he wanted to continue acting as a mission intermediary, he had to control the situation, and the first thing he had to do was destroy the guild system.

Players banding together is very disadvantageous to me. Holy Stone City is too small and too fragile. Once the guild's power gains new strength, it will expand rapidly and have a real chance to control a city. I must nip this trend in the bud.

What is the way to dismantle a guild?

Naturally, the approach should start from within.

The formation of guilds is essentially about banding together for mutual support. However, unlike in games, in actual operation, there will inevitably be disputes over private interests and corruption of power. When resources are concentrated in one place, it is inevitable that corruption of power at the top will arise. No matter how fair the guild leader is, it is impossible to treat everyone equally.

Those who harbor the most resentment about this are the middle and lower classes, and even the bottom class.

Bright had already thought of a way to dismantle it. As an individual, why should I share with the guild if I have enough benefit? What good would it do me?

The fundamental purpose of limiting player inflow by using sweet rice dumplings is precisely this: to guide players, keep missions secret, encourage them to fight independently, and only for themselves, so that their intermediaries can function effectively.

Fortunately, those guild leaders weren't very smart and didn't realize this as quickly as Black Rose did.

The players have likely made some progress; the remaining challenge is figuring out how to deal with the looming shadow.

The intelligence notes don't provide much information on this, so what exactly is the shadow?

Is it someone who has sided with the Shadow faction, or... the Shadow power itself? In what form will they visit?

What is the purpose of their visit?

Based on his guesses, Bright felt that the Shadow Faction was less likely to be involved. Given the great turmoil that had occurred in Holy Stone City, if the Shadow Faction had been lurking there for a while, they should have made their move long ago. There was no need for them to keep observing.

They could have helped Eliza when she was at her most difficult and desperate to gain her trust, instead of trying to seduce her now.

If it really is a hidden person, then in Bright's view, they are not much of a threat, at least the other party is not very smart.

However, if it is the shadow itself, that is, if the deity can appear directly in some form, then the situation is different.

If they can appear directly, can they attack us directly?

Are there any restrictions on how you can make a move?

Logically speaking, there should be limitations; otherwise, why would there be any need to visit them? Wouldn't it be better to just suppress them directly? Moreover, the people they contacted weren't high-ranking figures like Duke Raven, but rather people from Holy Stone City, which means that the other party's power is also limited... or at least greatly restricted!

Moreover, since the game is a contest between two forces, it is impossible for one side to have too much of an advantage.

The elves are so weak that they can't even protect their newly formed robes. If the shadows can suppress them directly, it would be too unbalanced.

From a game balance perspective, this should be impossible...

Just then, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door. Bright instinctively used his spiritual sense to observe and immediately recognized who it was.

He is becoming more and more proficient in using the Corpse Whisperer's abilities. Within a short distance, if he detects any unusual activity, he can use his invisible spiritual form to observe and provide early warnings of many things.

The intelligence report stated that there are very few professions that can see spirits with the naked eye before level 30.

It's Wang Ye!

"Come in..." Bright said gently.

The door creaked open, and Wang Ye strode in, his face anxious: "Sir, there's new intelligence."

The other party was very anxious, but still did not rush in. This composure was more reliable than Gou Dan's.

Bright nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "Take your time..."

""

"The people of the Heart of the Forest seem to have received some guidance and are rapidly shifting their positions. Li Gou Dan overheard that they had received instructions from Mother Earth, saying that Mother Earth was about to descend or something."

"What?" Bright was taken aback.

Is the baby bok choy about to be born?

Is it true that a level 80 Archdruid is appearing now?