Chapter 97: Chapter 20: Assigning Tasks! A Dolphin in the Ice and Snow

"Perfect~"

Su Xuan quickly activated the recording function, capturing the exact moment Rosaline’s smile blossomed. The sight was as precious and rare as seeing one’s sister-in-law in a flimsy swimsuit, inviting you to join her in the bath.

Rosaline paid little attention to Su Xuan’s somewhat childish antics.

She quietly closed the door, drew her sword, and carved three words on the door—"Do Not Disturb."

Su Xuan looked at the words, feeling a little confused.

’After all, no outsiders were allowed in the Guild. So who was she trying to keep out?’

"Mr. President~"

Just after everyone’s rewards were distributed, Beiya Fuli eagerly asked Su Xuan, "Are there any more quests you can give us?"

Su Xuan certainly appreciated the Elf Sisters’ enthusiasm for work, but he couldn’t let them get too exhausted.

These two looked like they were only fifteen or sixteen... ’Okay, right... Elves are a long-lived race. Appearance isn’t an accurate way to judge their age.’

But he was certain that Beira Furo and Beiya Fuli weren’t very old.

"Fuli, Flora, are you hungry?" Su Xuan asked, instead of answering their question directly.

The Elf Sisters exchanged a glance. They were, in fact, hungry.

It was only natural. After all, two combat quests had completely drained their Magic Power and stamina, so of course they were hungry. They weren’t like Rosaline, who felt neither hunger nor thirst.

The two little darlings nodded their heads like chicks pecking at grain.

"Go eat first. I’ll give you another quest after you’ve had your fill," Su Xuan said.

"Okay!"

After a satisfying meal, it was time for a relaxing lunch break.

The warm, gentle sunlight even had the Elf Sisters, despite their eagerness for more quests, dozing off in their wooden chairs by the window.

Su Xuan was no exception, lounging on the Guild hall sofa as he browsed messages on the world channel and game forums.

From these messages, he learned that several Guilds were actively pushing for an A-Level rating. There were even rumors that some tycoon had bankrupted himself, spending hundreds of millions to build up his Guild. Most Players, however, were still stuck at F-Level or E-Level.

’It really takes all kinds. Everyone’s out there living their own story.’

Su Xuan glanced at his Guild’s assets. After daily expenses and the Adventurers’ salaries, he had about 25 Gold Coins left.

’And that was without even having to pay Rosaline and Alice. Man, making money really isn’t easy...’

Sighing, Su Xuan focused his attention on the two remaining quests.

One combat quest, one lifestyle quest.

The combat quest was to kill a creature called a Snow Dolphin. It was rumored to be a dolphin-like being formed from ice and snow, but he’d never seen one himself.

The lifestyle quest was to collect specific medicinal herbs for a physician. This quest didn’t require high-level Skills, but demanded great patience and attention to detail.

After some thought, Su Xuan decided he, Rosaline, and Alice would take on the Snow Dolphin quest, while Ivsha would lead the Elf Sisters on the herb-gathering task.

Having made his decision, he stood up and surveyed the Guild members.

They’d rested for an hour and should be mostly recovered by now.

"Is everyone well-rested?" Su Xuan asked politely.

"Mr. President~"

"Are we starting a quest?"

Beiya Fuli and Beira Furo stood up expectantly, but the slight tremble in their calves showed that their Magic Power hadn’t fully recovered yet.

"Yes."

Su Xuan gave a slight nod and proceeded to explain the quest assignments in detail.

"We guarantee we’ll complete the quest!"

Upon receiving their assignment, the Elf Sisters were immediately brimming with enthusiasm!

"Well then, let’s be off, my dear Elves~"

Ivsha gave a gentle smile, feeling a great fondness for the two innocent Elves.

"Mhm!"

Led by Ivsha, the three of them stepped into the Teleportation Array.

After they left, Su Xuan immediately stood up, ready to lead Rosaline and Alice to the quest location.

Conveniently, finishing this quest would also complete the second phase of Alice’s character quest and unlock her second Soul Weapon.

"Let’s head out too," Su Xuan said.

"Mhm," Rosaline and Alice replied in unison. They followed close on his heels, stepping into the shimmering Teleportation Gate together.

As the white light of the Teleportation Array faded, they found themselves at the quest location.

However, the sight that greeted them was a vast, snow-covered world, which gave Su Xuan an instant headache.

"So cold!" he couldn’t help but shiver. Although his Physique had been significantly improved, he still had trouble withstanding the raging wind and snow.

Su Xuan hurriedly activated his [sunny and cheerful] trait, causing his body to glow and radiate heat against the biting storm.

At that moment, Rosaline said pensively, "I sense a trace of Magic Power within this blizzard."

"You’re saying this blizzard is artificial?" Su Xuan scanned their surroundings. They weren’t on a snow-capped mountain, but a vast plain completely covered in white snow.

Su Xuan’s eyes narrowed. He spotted a small, out-of-place snow mound.

Curiosity piqued, Su Xuan headed toward the small snow mound.

But before he left, he pulled Alice close. The little one couldn’t withstand the storm on her own, so she’d turned into a doll and was now nestled in his arms, soaking up his warmth.

’Of course, that’s assuming Alice isn’t tricking her master!’

Su Xuan brushed away the snow and was surprised to find that it wasn’t a mountain, but the top of a building.

His brow furrowed, and he scanned the surroundings warily once more.

’It was like he was standing on top of a frozen kingdom.’

"The Icefield Witch!"

Su Xuan suddenly recalled Roxia mentioning the Frost Fragments, along with the legends surrounding the Icefield Witch.

This Witch had single-handedly frozen an entire nation the size of the Star Kingdom. And now, he was standing right on top of it!

"We need to find our target, finish the quest, and get out of here. Fast."

’Su Xuan shivered uncontrollably. Even the Holy Light couldn’t drive away the chill of this world of ice and snow. When he got back to the Guild, he was definitely going to hug Ivsha tight and hide under the covers...’

Hearing Su Xuan’s words, Rosaline nodded.

Then, she began searching the area for the Snow Dolphin.

According to the quest description, Snow Dolphins were Demons born from the Ice and Snow Element. Their icy bodies allowed them to hide amidst the falling snow.

However, finding them in this frozen wasteland was no easy task. Only someone with keen Perception could detect the subtle ripples of Magic Power in this frigid world. As an experienced Oath Knight, Rosaline immediately pinpointed the faint magical fluctuations among the swirling snowflakes!

"There!"

Rosaline quickly drew the Oath Sword, and a snow-white Sword Aura instantly shot through the air.

"SQUEEE~"

A piercing cry split the air as a snow-white dolphin suddenly burst from the snowy landscape. It traced an arc through the sky before diving back into the snow and vanishing without a trace.

’Trying to escape?’

Rosaline scoffed. The Oath Sword flashed again with a dazzling Sword Aura as she swung it toward the snow-covered ground.

Su Xuan watched quietly from the side, having full confidence in Rosaline’s strength.

Just as Su Xuan was focused on the fight, a snow-white dolphin burst from the snow near him without warning, ramming toward him with lightning speed.

"Don’t you dare hurt my master!"

Alice, without hesitation, pulled out her Big Scissors and bravely engaged the Snow Dolphin in battle.

However, even as Alice fought it, Su Xuan could still feel the snow beneath his feet begin to tremble.

’This is bad! There are more!’

Su Xuan’s brows furrowed. He immediately drew his sword, readying himself for a fight.

Just then, another Snow Dolphin burst out of the snow, ramming towards Su Xuan in the same manner.

"Begone!"

In the nick of time, a Sword Aura descended from the sky, piercing straight through the Snow Dolphin’s body.

"These are clones created by the Snow Dolphin," Rosaline explained calmly after making the kill. "The real one isn’t here."

As she finished speaking, Su Xuan watched the Snow Dolphin’s body melt into ice and snow before disappearing completely.

Meanwhile, Alice had successfully defeated the other clone.

"Master, are you okay?" Alice asked, clutching her Big Scissors worriedly.

"Yeah, I’m fine."

Su Xuan gently pushed away her Big Scissors. ’To be honest, those things kind of creep me out...’

"Do you have a way to find the main body?" Su Xuan asked, turning to Rosaline.

"I do."

Rosaline nodded. "I left a trace of my Sword Qi on one of the clones. It will lead me to the main body’s exact location."

"You can do that?" Su Xuan’s eyes lit up. It was the first time he’d ever heard of Sword Qi being used for such a purpose!

’Then again, maybe only Rosaline could pull it off. After all, her Sword Qi was infused with the power of the Oath Sword, a power that originated from the White Rose.’

"Found it!" Rosaline suddenly shouted.

Just like that, she had located the target.

"Follow me!"

She took off, sprinting in a specific direction with Su Xuan close behind.

Before long, they arrived at the foot of a snow mountain several hundred meters high.

At the foot of the mountain was a dark cave where, according to Rosaline’s tracking, the main body of the Snow Dolphin was hiding.

"Master! I can smell the Witch’s scent!"

Alice suddenly warned.

’A Witch...’

Su Xuan’s eyes narrowed. If this truly was the kingdom frozen by the Icefield Snow Maiden, then it was entirely possible that the Snow Dolphin was a creature born from the Witch’s power.

"Let’s go in and take a look."

The light inside was dim, so as Su Xuan stepped into the cave, he lit a torch.

When they reached the deepest part of the cave, his attention was caught by a snow-white, crystalline gleam.

"This is..."

[Snow Porpoise Egg (Epic): Egg of a Snow Dolphin. (You’re kidding me! Dolphins give live birth!)]