Chapter 3: Divided into Groups

Watching the money pouch bounce in Li Bin’s hand, the centaur warrior promptly agreed. He led Li Bin in a winding path through the village, weaving between several buildings before finally arriving at the back door of the town hall.

Entering from the rear, Li Bin saw a very old centaur loudly proclaiming something, surrounded by a dozen or so players seated nearby.

As soon as Li Bin stepped in, a strange expression flickered in the eyes of the players. Before Li Bin could speak, a minotaur player in chainmail with one horn broken waved his scarred hand and said, “Kid, this isn’t a place for fooling around. Best leave while you can.”

Li Bin was momentarily taken aback. The centaur warrior who had led him in quickly explained, “This is Thunderbull, a barbarian-class player and one of the main forces in this mission. Since this task requires elite participants, each player may only bring one hero and sixth-level troops.”

Li Bin nodded, stepped up to Thunderbull, and stated coldly, “If I was brought here, it means I have the strength to be here.”

Thunderbull snorted and sat back, saying no more. But a medusa player at his side spoke sharply, “A level-three player—what strength could you possibly have?”

The others quickly voiced their agreement, but Li Bin only sneered and was about to retort when the old centaur spoke up, “Let’s not be so quick to judge. This is a level-restricted mission. Only those with sixth-level units could receive this quest. If he’s been brought here, he must have the corresponding strength. Please refrain from making unfounded assumptions.”

“Let them say what they will. You were the same when you first joined,” a player sitting in the corner remarked in a similarly cold tone.

“That’s just the first ones not wanting to share the rewards,” a female player interjected.

“What did you say?” Thunderbull rose, gripping his axe.

“Enough, all of you.” The old centaur’s voice boomed, quelling the crowd. “We haven’t even finished discussing the mission.”

“What’s there to discuss? Let the cannon fodder distract the harpies. We’ll charge in, and whoever grabs the goods gets them,” Thunderbull shouted carelessly.

His outburst was met with cheers from the rougher players, though a few shrewder ones frowned at his words.

A lizardman player intervened, “Shut up, all of you. Do you want to die on this mission? Do you want to lose all your hard-earned sixth-level troops? If not, then listen to the chieftain explain the task.”

Perhaps the lizardman’s identity was special, for silence fell. The old centaur continued at last, “Very well. You all know the mission by now. You will be divided into three squads to enter the upper mage’s newly discovered tomb and search for his spellbook and research notes. The first team to find the mage will receive half of the battle rewards and first pick of the loot. All participants will receive a copy of the mage’s research notes.”

At this, a gleam flashed in every player’s eyes. With these notes, once they left the beginner’s continent and claimed their own territory, they could immediately build a third-level mage tower, saving immeasurable time, effort, and money.

Seeing their excitement, the old centaur nodded in satisfaction. “You’re all about to leave the beginner’s continent. I trust you understand the value of these things. However, this mission is dangerous, and you’re restricted to bringing only one hero and sixth-level or higher troops. So, as always, I’ll give you one last chance to choose…”

“What’s there to choose?” Thunderbull stood again. “Such treasures right before me—why wouldn’t I go for them?”

“Exactly…” several others echoed, rising from their seats.

Thunderbull waved his large hand and said loudly, “Come on, let’s divide into teams and start the mission.”

The old centaur, rather than angered at Thunderbull seizing his role, watched his every move with interest.

Under Thunderbull’s organization, most players gathered around, each taking a slip of paper from Thunderbull’s hand. Only a few cautious players waited until the crowd had dispersed before collecting their slips.

When no one else approached, Thunderbull frowned at the two slips left in his hand and said, “Why is there one extra? Did someone not take theirs? Come get it!”

Li Bin’s heart skipped a beat. He’d thought Thunderbull was just a brash fighter, but his rousing words revealed no small leadership skill. Yet what truly surprised Li Bin was Thunderbull’s ability to so swiftly prepare the lots for everyone—either he was far more meticulous than he appeared, or he knew some inside information about the mission.

Just then, a cold voice came from the corner, “You take yours. The last one is mine. Why bother drawing lots?”

Li Bin turned but saw no one; as he puzzled over the voice, Thunderbull spoke again, “That won’t do. I made these lots, so if you let me go first, aren’t you worried I might cheat?”

“What’s there to fear? Among those present, we possess the greatest strength in the Bloodlands. Even split into three teams, we won’t be so easily wiped out,” came the same cold reply.

Thunderbull shook his head and drew one slip, tossing the remaining one to the floor.

“Now, everyone open your slips. They show the three entrances to the upper mage’s tomb. Gather according to your instructions and prepare for battle.” Thunderbull glanced toward the source of the cold voice and returned to his seat.

Li Bin, uneasy, unfolded his slip. Only one line was written: “Entrance to the Abandoned South Mountain Mine.”

Puzzling over its meaning, a player beside him leaned over and said, “You got ‘Entrance to the Abandoned South Mountain Mine’ too? Looks like we’re in the same team. I’m Gate of Excitement—what’s your name?”

Li Bin looked up and saw a satyr player standing beside him, full of enthusiasm. Around the room, the other players were also forming teams according to their slips.

Li Bin and Gate of Excitement were soon found by their other teammates. To their surprise, Thunderbull was in their group as well. He glanced at his assembled teammates and said, “Glad to have you all on this mission. Since teamwork is essential, you’d best introduce your strengths. Otherwise, poor coordination will not only doom the mission but waste our lives…”