Gamers of the Underworld

“I understand your issues. Don’t worry, the fearless warriors who don’t require money are on their way. I guarantee that your problems will be solved within a hundred and eighty years.”

“One hundred and eighty years is the upper limit. Normally, it wouldn’t be like this as we are professionals with high efficiency.”

“What? Contract? Ah, you aren’t providing remuneration, so I’m treating it like a good deed for publicity. Because of that, we can’t sign a contract.”

“What? You have clay products? And a lot of young labor that can help us earn money? Aiya, that’s not good. If you work without salary and the Union discovers it, they will say I’m exploiting workers. How can a superior Devil like me do such a thing?”

After a cordial and effective communication session, Sherlock escorted the poor Orcs that were requesting help out of the Guest Hall.

“Ai, I said that without Magic Stones, nobody would be willing to help.”

“Yes, it’ll be difficult if you just provide labor in exchange.”

The Orcs looked very dispirited.

The Orc Captain sighed. When he was about to try his luck at other places, he found the Black Armored Gnome and his companions standing in front of him.

Each of the Gnomes and Houndhead Men had an overwhelming aura.

The Orc Captain was able to discern their prowess.

“Are you here to entrust missions? Can you entrust the mission to us?” a Gnome came forward and said to the Orcs.

…

I, Grubbs.MacartneyLotte.Sades.Tragu.Apple, am an Orc leader.

During my younger days, my companions and I lived in a carefree village. They thought we would live without worries until a group of Ogres came to our village. They became stronger and attacked us.

We had no choice but to leave our home. We came to Winterfell to look for brave warriors to help us take back our homeland from the Ogres.

We have neither a home nor any money.

We met a superior Devil called Sherlock, who was very condescending. We thought that he was unwilling to help us because we didn’t have any Magic Stones.

We were wrong. Lord Sherlock is a good Devil. As we were leaving the Adventurer’s Guild, a group of citizens from Eternal Kingdom wanted to help us. Besides them, the nearby Goblins, Gnomes, and Houndhead Men also provided assistance.

That must have been an order from Lord Sherlock. Without his order, why did so many of his servants help us? The later conversations confirmed this point.

“Sherlie? Yes, he lets us help others.”

“Yes, yes, Sherlie let us help in this mission. Entrust the mission to me. Please, I’ll help you complete the mission!”

“Get lost. I’m Sherlie’s most loyal servant. I’m willing to do anything for Sherlie. Tell us when we’re setting off!”

I was very touched by them.

I also heard their other comments.

“Gosh, are the Orcs in the game that weak?”

“Fighting Ogres? Is that a new version?”

“Oh my god, after all the studying missions, we finally have classic RPG content.”

“Are there any rewards for the mission?”

“It must be a Hidden Plot!”

“We thought cleaning chores were Hidden Plots, and they were just cleaning chores.”

“This is a realistic online game. Carrying bricks is carrying bricks, learning is really learning. Helping others and cleaning are both as advertised. Why are you confused?”

They were a bunch of humorous creatures. Why are the Houndhead Men intelligent? I don’t quite understand. Perhaps times have changed.

I’m very happy they are willing to help me. I hope they can help us take back our homeland. As for rewards…

…

“Three hundred kilograms of salted fish, clay-flavored saline and alkaline soil, and lots of young labor to help us do work. I feel that such rewards are sufficient.”

NotWearingPants informed the Guild members at the Home of the Pioneer in Eternal Kingdom.

“What’s the situation? Was the mission given to us?” a Beta Gamer quickly asked.

“The situation is that other Guilds are coming to join us—Dragon Raja, the Meat Vegetable Rice Alliance, and other Guilds,” Peasant explained.

Another gamer said with disappointment, “Ah, it’s not easy for us to accept a combat mission, and there are so many Guilds fighting with us.”

“There’s no choice. We can’t stop other gamers from accepting the mission. According to the Orc, Apple, the Ogres are extremely strong. The more gamers, the better. It seems like a Plot Mission, and it’s good that we complete the mission together.” NotWearingPants consoled everyone.

“No matter what, let’s nail it down. Now, please list the mission requirements.”

Sylvanas clapped her hands to attract attention, and she said, “Starting from tomorrow, let’s extend our online duration. Those who are studying or working won’t have a chance to participate in the mission. If you wish to participate, find some friends to carry you, because there’s no Teleport Portal and we don’t know what will happen along the way.”

“Wah! So hardcore?”

“Don’t we have something similar to Teleport Portals? Why can’t we use the same method to teleport like before?”

“This game design is unreasonable. It’s discriminating against the working class!”

“Other games require topping up of the account. This game is killing us.”

The group was complaining, but the mission required the gamers to follow the Orcs to their homeland. There would be many gamers going. If there was waiting for gamers, then the journey would be delayed indefinitely.

They confirmed that there were no Teleport Portals and no Airship. Besides the two Beetlemons that they had brought, there was nothing else.

They thought of bringing more Beetlemons, but to bring the Beetlemons to Winterfell required three days of travel. The Airship was faster, but it belonged to Eternal Kingdom and not the gamers. The Airship was a Plot tool and could only be used in Sherlock’s Plots.

Similar scenes were enacted in the various Guilds. The Beta Gamers weren’t the only gamers who wanted to participate in the mission.

After being restless for a long time, the gamers could finally kick some a**.

…

Apple brought his Orcs to the Eastern Gate of Winterfell. According to his agreement with the Eternal Kingdom servants, they would set off from there in the morning. Then they would walk for three days and return to Apple’s village, which was occupied by the Ogres.

Though he wasn’t sure if the Goblins, Gnomes, and Houndhead Men could defeat the invaders, they were his only hope.

As Apple was thinking of defeating the Ogres, he brought his Orcs and arrived at the Eastern Gate. He didn’t expect to see the placed filled with creatures and the nervous Garrison Guards who came to maintain order.

The Goblins, Gnomes, and Houndhead Men were checking their equipment. Some were chatting, some were shouting at the Garrison Guards, and some were even dueling in the crowd…

What… what was happening?