NOVPUBChapter 654: Chapter 72: The Players’ New Life_2
Chapter 654 -72: The Players’ New Life_2
He hadn’t yet reached the city gates when several Tiefling Guards came forward to meet him, with their squad leader personally rushing over to greet him.
This was the grandeur befiting Dragonblood Nobility, not to mention a distinguished Viscount, of which there were no more than four hundred throughout the entire Empire.
Even though Isdalia, as the capital of the Empire, was home to many important figures, a Viscount was still not to be neglected.
“Good day, Viscount, right this way, please.”
The Tiefling Guards first bowed their heads to give a “Loyalty Salute,” then respectfully approached, reaching out to take the reins from Mantou’s hands.
Mantou nodded slightly and followed the Tiefling, confidently heading towards that “special passage.”
Suddenly, the Tiefling turned, saying, “By the way, I’m Going to Eat Mantou, Viscount, please show your Wyvern Flying License.”
Mantou’s eyes widened, a bit puzzled: “Didn’t we used to enter the city just by showing the noble badge? Why do we need a Wyvern Flying License now?”
The Tiefling had an apologetic smile: “Sorry, Viscount, this is also a new regulation from above. There’s nothing we can do.
A couple of days ago, some Starfallen took Dragon Eggs and hatchlings from the Wyvern Valley without the Empire’s permission, and rode wyverns in the city without passing the assessment, causing quite a bit of trouble…”
“Haha, it’s that guy; he really got the higher-ups angry.”
Mantou couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
He knew the player who had been riding a sub-adult wyvern recklessly around the city, who was also a prankster video content creator named “Big Water Sloth.”
He had just joined Erezer recently, and unexpectedly, in just a few short months, he had stirred up quite a scene.
“Alright, if it’s a request from the higher-ups, I’ll find it for you.”
Mantou rummaged through his standard backpack and pulled out a neatly-crafted little green card, handing it to the Tiefling beside him.
“Driver’s Name, I’m Going to Eat Mantou, driving age three years, no accident records…
Identity, member of Red Scale Conqueror, mid-level Sheriff of Isdalia’s 13th squad…”
The Tiefling Guard took the driving license with both hands, browsing the text. After a moment, he handed it back with a smile on his face.
“No problem, Viscount, your mount can follow you into the city.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with our Security Team’s work.”
Mantou waved his hand nonchalantly: “No worries, I understand you guys, we’re all workers here, it’s not easy.”
Mantou and Noodle thus entered the City of Isdalia.
The city was still bustling with people coming and going, the busy streets lined with various shops, and small steam locomotives operated on the tracks, with their whistles emitting bursts of sound.
Starfallen wandered aimlessly on the streets, approaching anyone they saw to ask if there were any tasks.
However, the Imperial People who were busy working usually ignored them, hurriedly moving on.
These poorly-dressed Starfallen had already made a name for themselves within the Empire: often lacking in capability, they tended to mess things up, and were thus jokingly referred to as “the useless ones.”
Compared to them, the Imperial People preferred to visit established institutions like Magic Affairs Offices and Royalty Reward Centers to commission those powerful and experienced Starfallen.
Mantou, looking at the newbies in starter uniforms on the street, couldn’t help but remark: “Tsk tsk, there are more and more new players in this game.”
“Holy crap? Look, you guys, it’s Mantou the old thief!”
Suddenly, a newbie player pointed at Mantou, obviously recognizing him, and the group of players around him immediately surrounded them.
“This guy looks so cool; he even has a mount.”
“I started playing because of his videos, Mantou the old thief, haven’t you been away from your Erezer diary for like two months!”
“I want to ride a wyvern too!”
As the “loyal fans” crowded around, Mantou began to sweat profusely, suddenly feeling the urge to run away.
“What are you all doing!”
“I’ve already told you, no causing disturbances with crowds in the City of Isdalia!”
Fortunately, a nearby patrolling Sheriff arrived in time, issuing a stern shout.
He waved his baton, chasing away these “useless ones” like shooing sparrows, and the players immediately scattered – they did not want to end up in jail.
The Sheriff came up to Mantou and performed a respectful salute, “Long time no see, Viscount Mantou, you haven’t been hurt, have you?”
“No problem, thanks.”
Mantou nodded slightly, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember the unfamiliar face of the Sheriff in front of him.
Had he lost his memory?
Unexpectedly, the Sheriff stepped forward, dropped his respectful demeanor, and mocked, “Hehe, Viscount, enjoying the noble experience must feel good, huh.”
Such a punchable face, this familiar mocking tone…
With this thought, Mantou stepped back, his eyes widening in disbelief.
“Fuck? You’re Xin Dog?”
The “stranger” Sheriff nodded with a smug look, “How about that, you didn’t recognize me, did you? With this new appearance of mine.”
Mantou examined him and was surprised to find that not only had the other’s appearance changed, but even the player nickname above his head wasn’t displayed; he looked just like a real NPC.
He curiously asked, “How did you do it?”
Singo pulled out a stack of grey pouches from his backpack, holding it in his hand and smugly showed it off.
“Shapeshifting mask, wear it, and you can disguise as anyone, even hiding your player identity. It’s said to be developed by those guys at Magic Coin, especially for their shady deals.”
“Holy shit, a divine artifact that hides your identity!”
Mantou immediately showed desire, but after a moment of thought, he still said, “Xin Dog, tell me your price, let me give up.”
Singo casually said, “These are made from the skin of a shapeshifter, extremely rare material, it’ll cost at least 500 Gold Coins.”
Mantou’s expression darkened, and he pretended to be on the verge of tears, “Alright, don’t say anymore, it’s another piece of gear that a poor sucker like me can’t afford.”
“Here, take it.”
Unexpectedly, the other party threw the grey pouch to him as if it didn’t matter at all.
Mantou quickly caught it and looked at Singo in disbelief, his eyes filled with surprise but also a hint of wariness.
Was this usually stingy miser actually willing to shed some feathers?
And shed 500 Gold Coins at once?
No good deed goes unpunished; was this guy planning to trick him into being a Black Slave again?
“What, you don’t want it? If not, give it back.”
Singo pretended to reach out to take it back, and Mantou quickly put on the equipment he had just acquired, asking, “What’s up, the Sun rises from the west now?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Mantou’s face began to change, finally taking on the look of a familiar male celebrity.
“You think you’re Peng Yuyan?”
“I’m just restoring my handsome appearance; I actually look like this in real life.”
“Buzz off, you’ll attract even more attention with that face, do you want to be mobbed by the group of newbie players?”
“Alright, I’ll just have to put myself at a disadvantage then.”
Mantou’s face changed again, finally settling into an ordinary passerby face, almost similar to his original appearance.
“Alright, so why are you giving away equipment, and why are you making me become a Black Slave?”
Singo shook his head with a wry smile, “It turns out, I was wrong last time. I take full responsibility for our team’s defeat, this is my compensation to you all, everyone gets a share.
I was just too eager to prove myself last time, that I ignored the most basic intelligence.”
He took out a book with a Red Dragon picture on the cover and “Giant Dragon Research Guide” written on it from his backpack and continued, “According to the intelligence I got, an Ancient Red Dragon thirty meters long would have a Challenge Level of more than 20. The Abyssal Giant Dragon we encountered…
I’m afraid it’s beyond our imagination. When I challenged it despite the risk of total defeat, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree, completely overestimating my capabilities.”
Mantou immediately exclaimed, “Holy shit, that boss is that powerful.
What about Emperor Kai from the Ashen Empire? He killed that Abyssal Giant Dragon alone, doesn’t that make him even more awesome?”
Singo answered truthfully.
