Gamers of the Underworld

Sherlock was about to use a Teleport Scroll to Winterfell when he noticed Arthur and NotWearingPants. He pondered for a moment and said, “Wash yourselves clean and follow me. You’ll be my assistants.”

They looked at each other and then followed Sherlock. The other gamers were green with jealousy.

“They are so lucky to get special missions consecutively!”

“I wonder what the Dungeon Lord is asking them to do.”

“Definitely good stuff!”

“That’s a benefit of being rich, isn’t it? Perhaps I did not spend enough money!”

“This has nothing to do with being rich. The other three rich gamers were not chosen. This game also doesn’t have any currency exchange. Even if we wanted to spend money, we’re unable to do so.”

The gamers started to chat excitedly again. Sherlock understood that the gamers liked to gather and chat. He did not stop them as he was a benevolent Dungeon Lord. They developed the Dungeon far faster than normal Goblins. Their fondness for chatting was not a serious flaw.

Sherlock assigned Bru to manage the Dungeon. Then, he took the metal ball with unknown Magic Power and beckoned Arthur and NotWearingPants to stand by his side.

Both of them were nervous. NotWearingPants was swallowing his saliva incessantly while Arthur looked like he was fighting a BOSS-level monster. The other gamers watched with envy.

Sherlock tore his Teleport Scroll and the Teleport Spell formation appeared at Sherlock’s feet. With Sherlock’s expansion of Mana, the spell formation widened to include Arthur and NotWearingPants. Mana flashed brilliantly, and the three of them vanished.

The gamers marveled at the short brilliance of the Teleport Spell. They looked dazedly at the empty space for quite some time before a gamer exclaimed, “Holy cow! What’s that?”

“That was Mana! Is that the Dungeon Lord’s skill?”

“It seemed like a skill book. I saw Sherlie take out a scroll before tearing it.”

“Can we buy it?”

“Where did they go? New map? I’m dying with envy!”

The entire Dungeon was filled with lively chatting again.

In the next instant, Sherlock, Arthur and NotWearingPants appeared at the Reception Hall of the Teleport Portals in Winterfell.

“Go out once you’ve filled in the forms. There are people using the portals behind you!”

It was the same previous Orc who shouted at Sherlock and the Goblins and slapped a form on Sherlock’s chest.

Sherlock filled out the form while Arthur and NotWearingPants surveyed the surroundings curiously. To them, it was an entirely new world.

Succubi, Gnomes, Giants, Golems, Mantis Men, Taurens… and Goblins that looked like them!

Sherlock was used to these strange creatures, but it was the first time Arthur and NotWearingPants witnessed them. They were also in awe of the grand Reception Hall of the Teleport Portals and the detailed sculptured pillars that were dispersed in rows to support the hall’s roof. The ceiling painting depicted a winged Devil extending his finger to a commoner surrounded by an inferno of hell. The Devil was supported by numerous other devils.

“This is the painting ‘World Destruction’ depicting the Great Devil Michelangelo destroying the entire Surface World. At that time, the Great Devil Michelangelo almost destroyed the Surface World, but he was stopped. Nobody knows whether it is true as it is just a painting,” Sherlock explained to the astonished Arthur and NotWearingPants as he completed the form.

NotWearingPants nodded and looked around as he said to Arthur, “This is great information. I have to take more pictures. Tonight I’m going to post an exposition article!”

Arthur was more composed than NotWearingPants. He merely surveyed the environment with his wide eyes.

Sherlock handed the form to the Gnome by the exit. Both of the Gnome’s ears were bandaged and he was complaining about his predicament last night to his colleague as he stamped Sherlock’s form.

After Sherlock’s visa was processed, he brought Arthur and NotWearingPants out of the Reception Hall. The streets of Winterfell were bustling with activity. Giants ambled slowly as they dragged their heavy merchandise, while Hades Mare and Skeleton Horses pulled carriages at high speeds along the green pavements. Sherlock did not stay on the pavement for long as he hurried to the Bazaar. Arthur and NotWearingPants did not have the chance to observe the surroundings as they followed Sherlock closely behind.

Sherlock arrived at the Bazaar and ignored the makeshift Goblin stalls along the street. He brought his two Goblins to a shop.

In the shop’s window were glass bottles filled with green bubbling solutions. An eye-patched parrot with sharp teeth stood on a suspended wooden beam. Something like an animal’s internal organ hung on the signpost, which read “FeelAtHome Magical Items Shop.”

Sherlock made sure it was a Magical Item Shop before going in.

Arthur and NotWearingPants were following behind and whispering to each other. They looked curiously around and could not resist touching the Magic Wand that was placed on a rack.

“This is a Magic Wand from a great Surface World Magician who perished. The human nations fought two wars just to obtain this Magic Wand. Three Kings perished. They were not aware that they were fighting for a fake wand. The real Magic Wand is with us—FeelAtHome Magical Items Shop,” a Gnome explained the Magic Wand’s history hastily with a creased face. He looked like a newborn baby with a gentleman’s dome hat, long nose and a monocle perched on his pointed right ear.

The Gnome inhaled deeply and continued speaking quickly, “Respectable Devil Lord, if you buy it now, I’ll offer you an acquaintance discount of ten percent. You can take home the Magic Wand for 9,800 Magic Stones. I’ll even give you a Teleport Spell Enchantment with a cooldown period of one hour and a fixed Teleport Portal. You won’t ever need to use Teleport Scroll anymore. If you purchase a lot of items, I’ll arrange for a free delivery service and offer you a small little present. Don’t you think you’ve got a good deal?”

Sherlock felt his muscles convulse when he heard the price. Both Arthur and NotWearingPants were not knowledgeable about Magic Stones as Arthur blurted out, “Is this a hidden mission’s reward? Are Magic Stones the future in-game intermediate currency? Where is the currency exchange portal? I’m okay if it does not exceed 1,000,000 yuan.”

“Oh my God, you are rich.” NotWearingPants looked in admiration at Arthur.

Arthur ignored NotWearingPants as he looked earnestly at the Gnome shopkeeper, waiting for an answer.

The Gnome shopkeeper did not have the otherworld’s knowledge and were not aware that the two Goblins were from the otherworld. Even if he was experienced and knowledgeable, he did not understand what Arthur was saying. The Gnome shopkeeper looked questioningly at Sherlock.

Sherlock knew the backgrounds of Arthur and NotWearingPants and the great difference between the cultures of the two worlds. Even if the Gnome didn’t understand Arthur’s questions, it was normal. Sherlock did not want to explain as it was his commercial secret!

“Apologies, I’m not here to buy things. I would like you to appraise a Magical Item.”

Sherlock took out from his pocket a metal ball that was emitting faint magical lights. He could feel the weak Mana on the metal ball’s surface, but he did not know what it was. All he knew was that it was valuable!

The Gnome shopkeeper adjusted his monocle and used his long slim fingers to take the metal ball. He scratched his long sharp nails on the metal ball and made shrill screeching sounds.

As Sherlock waited for the shopkeeper’s appraisal, Arthur frowned and asked NotWearingPants, “Why didn’t they tell me where to add money to my account?”

NotWearingPants rolled his eyes and said, “Rich man, you triggered the hidden mission after killing that Spider. We’re obviously in the mission. Don’t think about the Magic Wand. It’s only for show.”

They muttered to each other at the side. Sherlock was used to their antics and knew that they treated everything as part of a mission. The Gnome shopkeeper heard the Goblins saying strange things and cast them suspicious looks before whispering to Sherlock, “Devil Lord, there seems to be something wrong with your servants’ head…”

“Thank you for your concern…”

The shopkeeper looked at the metal ball for a long time and took out a book for reference. He flipped through the book while licking and cross-referencing the metal ball. Sherlock considered informing the shopkeeper that the metal ball was found in a Spider’s stomach, but upon seeing the shopkeeper’s intense concentration, he decided not to.

“I knew it!” The shopkeeper removed his monocle and said, “This is a key, an Ancient Ruin’s key.”