When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 700: Chapter 88: The Smitten Aiwass Chapter 700: Chapter 88: The Smitten Aiwass Aiwass was aware of what Hebashia wanted them to do, which was exactly why he tried to pay his way out of this task.

This was the fifth-year anniversary task, the last link in the event chain here at Hebashia’s, and also the first time players physically entered the Dream Realm.

In the chain tasks of the previous two years, players had obtained the “Prototype Dreamy Potation” and the “Dreamworld Navigator.” This year’s anniversary task was to complete minor tasks at various temples and then seek protection from Angel Envoys.@@novelbin@@

Once they truly entered the Dream Realm, they would encounter a variety of plot monsters that were completely unbeatable, many of which were elites from the next version.

Then, friends made along the way and powerful allies players had found beforehand would emerge from every corner to show off their talents before intercepting the enemies and sending players off to the next destination.

Some of these powerful allies were found by players who had just completed chain tasks; others were old friends made in the main storyline, like Merlin; and some were old friends of Hebashia himself…

Essentially, it was like a tour, as well as a preliminary introduction to the Dreamworld Map.

In the end, after much difficulty, they found Hebashia’s daughter and discovered that she was not a Phantom Demon but a mundane soul detained by the mortal Hebashia using Mystical Skills—she had neither reincarnated nor become a Phantom Demon.

When Hebashia was still mortal, he had tried to resurrect her, but even after he died and ascended to become a Phantom Demon, he had not succeeded and simply kept her with him.

Her soul was placed inside an exquisitely crafted ancient doll that the pre-reincarnation Hebashia had hidden in his studio and sealed from the perception of time.

Because she was at the critical threshold of metamorphosing into a Phantom Demon, it was very easy for her to turn into one.

Hebashia couldn’t bring her straight down upon his reincarnation either.

For some reason, such as a battle, the doll shattered at the last moment.

In a flash of inspiration, the player placed her soul on a mechanical bird that Hebashia had given them earlier—this little bird was the “Dreamworld Navigator.”

When she awoke in the Material Realm, the first person she saw was the player who had rescued her, so she would call the player daddy/mommy, and since her soul was damaged, she had forgotten her past memories.

Until Hebashia found a way to restore her memories, she could only follow the player around.

And obviously, Hebashia hadn’t found it before Aiwass’s crossing.

As a result, players ended up with a talking companion pet with a sweet, childlike voice—a nearly spherical, translucid little bird of blue, trailing a pale blue halo of light.

—From a player’s perspective, this was an obligatory task.

After all, “she calls me daddy/mommy” and the pet even had visual effects…

Even if it just sat on your shoulder or head for taking pictures, it was valuable.

But from a practical standpoint, the birth of this daughter bird was, in a sense, a task failure; if the task had succeeded, what would have been brought down was a complete doll.

Then she would have been resurrected by Hebashia.

Let’s not even discuss whether resurrection of the dead from more than two thousand years ago would violate the Hourglass taboo…

The Dream Realm is simply too dangerous.

As it stands, Aiwass is still being hunted by the Bear Celestial Marshal.

If he were to enter the Dream Realm, the Bear Celestial Marshal might sniff him out.

The wild Phantom Demons that prey on souls could be intercepted or dissuaded by the Angel Envoys of the Nine Pillar Gods…

But if the Celestial Marshal himself came to kill him, these Angel Envoys wouldn’t be able to stop him.

If Aiwass were to go to the Dream Realm, he’d at least have to wait until he took down the Bear Celestial Marshal.

Luckily, Hebashia was quite understanding—compared to the players who had freeloaded for three years, Aiwass had actually paid money.

And the amount he paid was much more than the market price for a Codex Book…

although those were all out-of-print books.

But Aiwass was also an Archbishop and the Minister of the Department of Care of Magical Creatures of Avalon, which put him in a completely different league from the errand-running players.

So Hebashia decided to personally collect the materials to make the “Prototype Dreamy Potation.” This process alone should take about two months.

Afterward, she would realize that Aiwass was unable to navigate the Dream Realm and would construct the “Dreamworld Navigator”—which was what Aiwass was really interested in.

Now that Aiwass had received a stronghold as a gift from Morgan, he didn’t need the “Prototype Dreamy Potation” to go on adventures in the Dream Realm with Isabel, considering safety was not an issue.

The “Prototype Dreamy Potation” just provided a strong BUFF that protected players from being suddenly taken out by unknown AOE, allowing them to survive a few rounds in battles across several levels…but getting lost was the deadliest problem.

When souls from the Material Realm enter the Dream Realm, it’s like land creatures falling into the sea.

Although some animals can barely dog paddle and a few can dive to hunt, they are ultimately not as agile as pure aquatic creatures.

Just getting lost in the “deep sea” without a sense of direction is a very critical and unsolvable problem.

Without the navigator, Aiwass wouldn’t even dare leave “Morgan’s Wonder House”—he might not be able to find his way back.

It’s probably going to be a few months by the time she gets all these things sorted out by herself.

By that time, Aiwass will have probably taken down the Bear Celestial Marshal already.

As it looks presently, the brand the Bear Celestial Marshal left on Aiwass is growing faster than that…

After parting with Hebashia, Aiwass headed with the two to the gathering place of the goblins.

He spent a total of 240,000 White Crown Coins on the Codex Books and was left with some change—though calling it change, it was still several thousand.

It was enough to purchase some living supplies.

Outside the bookstore at this moment, night had fallen.

Looking up, the night sky was filled with stars—although these stars were all artificial.

Elves used their ancient technology to synchronize the “ceiling” of each layer to display the same starry sky at a given moment.

This was to facilitate Astrologers and Ritualists, letting them avoid having to calculate the precise positions of the constellations themselves…

and so they didn’t have to run to the edge of each layer to see half the sky, then to the opposite side for the other half.

The brightness of these stars was far greater than that of a normal night sky—which was quite normal.

Unlike Avalon, which lacked much entertainment activity come nightfall, the nights in the Holy Nation were as bright as day.

On every street corner, massive crystals of various colors shimmered with the glow of neon lights.

Night had already fallen, but the streets were far from deserted.

Different crystal patterns and shapes indicated different types of shops, while the colors of the crystals corresponded to the race of the shopkeepers.

Although the Holy Nation was home to many races, people usually preferred to do business with others of their own kind.

The deep green, diamond-shaped crystal signified a Goblin shop.

Aiwass quickly located one that offered Troll delivery services and purchased some necessary supplies for daily living.

While the Holy Nation prohibited the trade of Trolls, as a perpetually neutral country it respected the customs of other races and nations and did not seize others’ property—so Trolls, considered private property, were still seen as the possessions of the Goblin merchants.

Selling was certainly not allowed, as the Holy Nation strictly forbade this kind of transaction.

But renting was permissible.

Just like the Goblins who brought Trolls to Avalon to work on the railroad, some Goblin merchants bought or captured Trolls and took them to work—essentially acting as contractors without having to pay the Trolls.

For many Trolls, they were actually happy to work here.

At least under the jurisdiction of the Holy Nation, they didn’t have to worry about being beaten, starving, or dying and could wear decent, well-fitted clothes.

If they were injured or fell sick, free medical care was available.

All these were much better than a random life and death on the hot southern continent.

“Your Excellency Archbishop, this must be your first visit to our shop,” the Goblin merchant said, his voice more in line with human racial stereotypes of Goblins—sharp, shrill, and noisy.

He had deep green skin and even standing on a half-meter cushion, he was only as tall as Aiwass’s chest.

His Avalon language was not standard, tainted with a heavy Holy Nation accent.

But his service attitude was very warm and respectful, “This time, the delivery fee is on us, free of charge!

Plus, you’ll get a 10 percent discount on this purchase—why don’t you take a look at some other items?

“If you spend over five hundred White Crown Coins, you get a 8 percent discount, and over a thousand White Crown Coins gets you a 15 percent discount, along with an extra raffle!

It’s guaranteed to win, with a minimum gift of a fine gemstone ornament worth fifty White Crown Coins, and the grand prize is a pure-blood Gryphon egg!

No worries at all, all formalities are proper!

“I see you don’t carry a scepter—here I have a fine white crystal scepter for only three hundred White Crown Coins.

We also have a better Holy Scepter, the original price is two thousand eight hundred and eight.

Look here, it’s written on the tag…

Your Excellency Archbishop, let’s be friends, how about I sell it to you for one thousand five hundred?”

Aiwass, who had not intended to buy anything, was tempted by the offer.

The Holy Scepter, after all, was almost in the purple weapon category.

Although it was mass-produced—roughly equivalent in status to the Rune Sword of Director Gordon.

Sherlock’s staff was also of this level.

To buy one for one thousand five hundred White Crown Coins was a steal!

Aiwass certainly wasn’t short on cash, and even reselling it second-hand in Avalon would still turn a profit.

Buying a legitimate, up-to-standard, clean purple Weapon in Avalon would cost several thousand White Crown Coins.

Many young Arbiters couldn’t afford such items.

And speaking of which, Aiwass did indeed lack a scepter.

Though as a Demon Scholar, he already had a powerful main weapon.

But as a Priest, he only had the Mitre, which counted more as a secondary weapon, and truly didn’t have his own scepter.

This shop had a good reputation among the Goblin merchants.

At least, there were no counterfeit goods to swindle the customers—the only issue being some refurbished second-hand goods and the owner’s propensity to upsell unnecessary items.

But Aiwass did need a scepter, so this could not be counted as unnecessary.

This was an essential need!

An essential need didn’t count as upselling…

It just so happened that he brought enough money this time, still having tens of thousands left—

“…What is the best scepter you have here?” Aiwass couldn’t help asking: “Do you have anything better than the Holy Scepter?”

At these words, the Goblin merchant’s face lit up with joy.

“For something even better, the discount may not be as significant.”

He clapped his hands: “Let me introduce them to you one by one…”

Behind Aiwass, Sherlock covered his forehead with a hand, somewhat helplessly.