Saving the World in an Apocalypse-Style Text Game

Chapter 131: Chapter 121: The Game with Amos_1 Chapter 131: Chapter 121: The Game with Amos_1 [You swing the ‘Ancient Dragon Tooth Mace’ in your hand, creating a terrifying gust of wind as you crush the tiny white light in front of you…]

[Like splashing a small cherry tomato, red juice splattered everywhere…]

[You have defeated the Apostle ‘Pale Wailing Song’! You have gained 810 points of spirituality.]

[As your invasion permissions have been enhanced, you can acquire an extra item from the opponent apostle.]

[The Lucky Coin you carried suddenly blinked faintly…]

[You have acquired ‘Long Bow of Chanting Winds and Rhyming Moons+5’ (Rare+ Level Weapon)!]

[Due to the special power of the ‘Bookmark of Annihilation,’ the soul strength of this Apostle is reduced to zero!]

[You have killed the Apostle ‘Pale Wailing Song’ completely!]

[You are returning to your chapter…]

Lin Xun’s eyebrows twitched.

He didn’t expect the ‘Lucky Coin’ to suddenly take effect and explode the enemy apostle’s weapon.

Returning to the infernal chapter, he opened his inventory to examine the newly acquired spoils of war.

[‘Long Bow of Chanting Winds and Rhyming Moons+5’ (Rare+ Level Weapon): The bow is made of ‘Sacred Birch Bark’ and ‘Wind Demon’s Horn’, and the bowstring is made of ‘Murmuring Eyelashes’ Tendon’ and ‘Palemoon Quicksand’.]

[The entire bow is almost as tall as a common man. When the bow is drawn to full capacity it appears like a full moon, and the arrow is launched with the force of a shooting star, its power is astonishing. This lethal weapon requires extremely sophisticated archery skills to handle perfectly.]

Lin Xun still has three crossbow bolts in his inventory, which he received when slaughtering monsters with a military crossbow.

In the game, crossbow bolts and arrows are not interchangeable. It’s not because the game design is rubbish, but just the game’s raffish realism.

Crossbow bolts are typically thick and short, but bows require long draw distances. Crossbow bolts simply can’t be used to draw a longbow and notch an arrow.

He tried equipping a few of the Shells with the longbow. While they could be successfully equipped, the game text indicated that they didn’t have the sophisticated archery skills necessary to properly handle the weapon.

Translated into simple terms, that means they can’t aim…

Lin Xun stowed away the longbow to equip it on an appropriate Shell later, or to sell it if he needs money someday.

After some reshuffling, he clicked on the Rest Page and was teleported to the Disciple’s Sanctuary!

He treaded along until he reached inside the castle, heading for the Council Hall 13.

[You have arrived at Council Hall 13, stepping inside…]

[The Council Hall is empty with rows of seats facing the podium.]

[Do you want to take your place as per the seating certificate, or do you want to leave a message at the podium?]

[You approach the podium and discover a stack of ‘Note Pads for Recording Information’.]

[Do you wish to leave a message?]

These note pads cannot be kept in the inventory?

The functions of these note pads are somewhat special. Lin Xun originally intended to grab some note pads for future use.

After clicking ‘Yes’, he was just about to type in the pop-up textbox.

The chatroom feature suddenly activated again.

[An unknown figure in a black robe has appeared in front of you…]

[Amos: You’re quite fast. Task completed already?]

Unexpectedly, Amos was still waiting in the Council Hall. Lin Xun wasn’t sure if he was waiting for him or for the ‘Transmitter’.

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes, typing quickly.

[Blood King: Task accomplished without fail! I dare not slacken in what you have entrusted me, sire!]

Amos didn’t immediately reply, presumably checking whether the ‘Horseback Warrior’ had been killed.

[Amos: Interesting! I didn’t expect you to kill the ‘Horseback Warrior’ before the ‘Transmitter’.]

[Amos: I originally favored the ‘Transmitter’, it seems you are more outstanding than the ‘Transmitter’.]

[Blood King: Sire, you flatter me.]

[Amos: Did the ‘Transmitter’ not get rid of the ‘Horseback Warrior’? How did you get the upper hand?]

After saying this, Amos paused, most likely checking on the ‘Transmitter’s’ condition.

[Amos: How did the ‘Transmitter’ die?]

Lin Xun had been prepared for such a situation and responded calmly.

[Blood King: my lord, I know not. It’s probably because the ‘Transmitter’ was no match and met his end at the hands of the ‘Horseback Warrior’.]

[Blood King: I am no match for the ‘Horseback Warrior’ either. It was only through the use of a precious artifact that I narrowly succeeded in sealing victory.]

The subtext of what he said was: My lord, I’ve been giving it my all for you, could you perhaps reimburse the cost of the precious artifact, please?

Lin Xun continued to type: My lord, don’t mind if the ‘Transmitter’ is alive or dead, are you going to confirm whether the ‘Horseback Warrior’ is dead or not? I’ve completed the task. Please, can I get my reward?

After contemplating that such a reply would be inappropriate and does not conform to his subordinate’s posture, he deleted his words and waited for Amos’ response.

[Amos: The ‘Bookmark of Annihilation’ will not destroy the soul of the invader, it only ensures the death of the defeated invaded.]

[Amos: Was the ‘Transmitter’ killed by you?]

???

Wasn’t the ‘Bookmark of Annihilation’ supposed to be a bilateral bet?

Why is it so unbalanced such that only the victor dies and there is no penalty for failure?

This unexpected twist had disrupted Lin Xun’s comprehensive plan.

[Blood King: My Lord, I know not of what you speak.]

[Amos: Only you and I know of the ‘Transmitter’s’ soul seal. Aside from you, who else could have killed him?]

With countless thoughts flashing through his mind, Lin Xun pondered the strategy to handle Amos.

[Blood King: My Lord, it could be that the ‘Transmitter’ failed to invade for the first time. After the ‘Horseback Warrior’ learned of his soul seal, he happened to have a ‘Bookmark of Annihilation’ and countered by killing the ‘Transmitter’.]

[Blood King: I am absolutely loyal to you my Lord and would never do such a thing.]

While such an argument was a bit far-fetched, it was the best strategy he could come up with for the time being.

Lin Xun silently awaited Amos’s response.

[Amos: Haha, ordinary people might have been fooled by you. But I have a way of checking battle records, and the last one that the ‘Transmitter’ fought against was indeed you!]

[Amos: Tell me, why did you kill the ‘Transmitter’? If you don’t give me a satisfactory explanation, I wouldn’t mind using the ‘Bookmark of Annihilation’ to end you personally.]

Lin Xun didn’t know how to respond at first.

It wasn’t because he feared Amos invading him with the bookmark. His soul seal was a disguise and unless Amos got his real soul seal, he couldn’t invade him.

But if he did not provide a reasonable explanation, it was likely that the hard-earned ‘Seating Certificate’ and all previous efforts to infiltrate the New World would go down the drain.

Narrowing his eyes, Lin Xun typed decisively.

[Blood King: My lord, was this not a tacit understanding between us?]

[Amos: ?]

[Blood King: Sigh, my lord, I didn’t want to say it for fear of meeting the same fate as the ‘transmitter’.]

[Amos: ? ? ?]

[Blood King: Sire, I know you cherish your reputation and want to keep your hands clean. Therefore, I took on the dirty work and hard work for you without complaint.]

[Amos: Interesting, let me take a look at what we tacitly agreed upon.]

[Blood King: Since you have commanded me, my lord, I can only tell the truth. I just hope that you will remember that I have always strived to consider your viewpoint and allow me to die quickly.]

[Amos: Speak then, let’s hear it.]