20. How to Trigger Hidden Quests: The Repeater

Crack!

A silvery-white arc of electricity shot from the tip of Su Yu’s wand, striking the Paladin, Megatron, directly.

-143!

Before Megatron could even react, he transformed into a beam of white light and vanished from where he stood.

The arc continued to bounce after hitting Megatron.

Bumblebee, Qingli, and Yoyo-Wo-Xin.

-150!
-151!
-155!

Three massive damage numbers popped up above their heads.

Because Su Yu held a level advantage over them, he had dealt nearly the maximum possible damage of his [Chain Lightning]!

The three of them didn't even have time to counterattack before they dissolved into white light, forced offline to reflect on their defeat.

Seeing this, Zhan Tianjian stood frozen in shock.

The four core members of his guild, whom he prided himself on, had actually been wiped out by a single spell from Su Yu? Was the gap really that vast?

Su Yu smiled at him. "Back to my previous question: asking me to join your guild—do you think you’re worthy?"

"This..." Zhan Tianjian’s face turned pale; he was speechless.

...

Meanwhile, inside a small villa in the eastern suburbs of Donghai City.

Four young people removed their helmets simultaneously, stepping out of their respective bedrooms with grim expressions.

In the hallway, they looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

"We... were actually wiped out just like that? And by a single spell?" a thin young man asked, his voice raspy.

The young man's ID was [Yoyo-Wo-Xin], a top-three healer in the Zhan Tian Guild and one of Zhan Tianjian’s most capable lieutenants.

He had campaigned through five or six major online games with the Zhan Tian Guild, but this was his first time encountering such a formidable opponent!

The only woman among the four, [Qingli], nodded. She leaned against the railing of the atrium, her expression cold and stern. "That’s right, we were wiped out. And compared to the video on the forum, 'Nemesis' is dealing 20 points more damage and has mastered an additional area-of-effect skill."

"How can this be!" [Megatron], one of the four, said with some irritation. "In the forum video, didn't Nemesis claim he only killed the Emperor’s Blood members because he had a buff from a high-level NPC? Could that buff still be active on him?"

"The buff might have just been his excuse," [Yoyo-Wo-Xin] said, his face darkening. "It’s been an hour since he wiped out the Emperor’s Blood team; the game designers wouldn't create a buff that lasts that long. This must be the real strength of Nemesis."

"This is hellish!" [Bumblebee] punched the pristine white wall, leaving a shallow indentation.

He turned his head to look at the room at the end of the hallway: "The Guild Leader is still in the game. I wonder how the old man is doing now."

...

Back in the game.

Facing the silent Zhan Tianjian, Su Yu did not kill him. Instead, he said coldly, "Wiping out your four subordinates is a lesson for you. Remember, don't oppress ordinary players in the future, or what happened today will happen again!"

With that, he turned and left.

Hearing Su Yu’s words, Zhan Tianjian understood. It turned out that Nemesis had developed a grudge against them because of the "village entrance blockade" incident earlier, which was why he had struck so hard.

But the Zhan Tian Guild had been completely wronged in that matter!

Seeing Su Yu turn to leave, Zhan Tianjian immediately explained, "Little brother, it’s not what you think at all! The people blocking the village entrance weren't from our Zhan Tian Guild, but were disguised members of the Emperor’s Blood Guild... (200 words omitted)..."

Zhan Tianjian gave Su Yu a long explanation and even produced quite a bit of evidence he had just gathered.

Su Yu listened coldly.

In truth, he didn't care about any of this. He was simply looking for an excuse to strike at the Zhan Tian Guild—nothing more.

After Zhan Tianjian finished, Su Yu nodded indifferently. "So, you’re saying I’ve wronged you?"

"Of course, we were definitely framed," Zhan Tianjian said hurriedly.

"Fine then. Let’s add each other as friends; we can stay in touch if anything comes up."

Su Yu tossed a friend request to Zhan Tianjian and walked away without looking back.

Seeing that Su Yu still didn't seem entirely convinced, Zhan Tianjian felt helpless.

"Forget it, adding him as a friend is a start. I’ll win him over slowly later," Zhan Tianjian thought to himself, watching Su Yu’s retreating figure.

...

Su Yu headed west, toward the residential district of Nolan Village.

Regarding the invitation to join the guild, the best move for Su Yu would actually have been to join the Zhan Tian Guild. With his strength, he could easily infiltrate their inner circle and sabotage their betrayal plans at a critical moment.

However, Su Yu knew his own temperament; it was easy for a spy to give themselves away through subtle details like eye contact or facial expressions, ruining the whole plan.

So, Su Yu chose a safer route.

He added Zhan Tianjian as a friend. Once they grew familiar, he could sell them some unimportant equipment to solidify their "friendship," which would still allow him to keep tabs on the Zhan Tian Guild's movements.

Using that information, he would find a way to deal with those traitors later.

...

Just as Su Yu arrived at the residential district in the west of the village, True-Red-Eyes Black Dragon came online and sent a message:

"Big Boss, according to your instructions, I’ve completely stirred up the forum! Most people are now convinced that the Zhan Tian Guild must have been up to some dirty business! (*≧▽≦)"

Su Yu: "Good work! It’s a pity I don't know that rich kid from Emperor’s Blood, otherwise I’d definitely make him give you a big red packet."

True-Red-Eyes Black Dragon: "Emperor's Blood? Wait, Boss, you... ヾ(･`⌓´･)ﾉﾞ"

Su Yu: "Alright, I'm doing a quest, talk later =。="

Su Yu closed the private chat interface and began to focus on his task.

...

Though Nolan Village was small, it was fully equipped with everything: a blacksmith shop, a tailor shop, a tavern, residences, major guild halls... every type of building was present.

In a secluded alleyway in the residential district, Su Yu began chatting with an elderly NPC resting on a bench.

"Morning, Grandpa, the weather is nice today!" Su Yu greeted the elderly NPC enthusiastically.

"Heh heh, little brother, what makes you think it’s nice? It’s clearly an overcast day today." The elderly NPC was amused by Su Yu.

"Isn't an overcast day great? It’s cool and comfortable—definitely better than being baked by the sun!" Su Yu smiled.

"Well said." The elderly NPC lay comfortably on the bench. "It’s cloudy today, so my daughter will probably come to visit me. How truly happy I am!"

"Oh? Your daughter?" Su Yu chimed in.

"That's right! Let me tell you, my daughter..."

And so, Su Yu started chatting with the old man.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Half an hour later:

The elderly NPC said happily, "It’s cloudy today, so my daughter will probably come to visit me. How truly happy I am!"

Su Yu: "Oh? Your daughter?"

"That's right! Let me tell you, my daughter..."

An hour later, a similar dialogue appeared again:

The elderly NPC said happily, "It’s cloudy today, so my daughter will probably come to visit me. How truly happy I am!"

Su Yu: "Oh? Your daughter?"

An hour and a half later:

The elderly NPC said happily, "It’s cloudy today, so my daughter..."

Without realizing it, two hours had passed.

Over those two hours, Su Yu had accompanied the elderly NPC and repeated the same conversation exactly four times!