Chapter 931: Chapter 465: The Secret Realm Descends

[Task Number]: D-93662

[Type]: Investigation

[Reward]: 500-1000 gold coins/15-30 points

[Task Briefing]:

Recently, a large number of mysterious exotic-style items have been circulating in the market, suggesting the emergence of ancient ruins near Twin Canyon. Adventurers with relevant experience are needed to investigate and compile a report.

[Time Limit]: 45 days

[Extra Information]:

If there are special discoveries, the task level and reward can be adjusted according to the specific situation.

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This is the commission taken by the Vengeance Blade Blade at the adventurer association.

The "D" prefix in the task number indicates the level of this task, and the task reward is within the expected range for this level.

The highest reward is 1000 gold coins, which is a very substantial income for most adventurers in Suo Yu Bay.

Even for those senior adventurers with a professional level above Level 5, it’s not considered low.

But on the Vengeance Blade Blade, there are a lot of crew members. Just among the core professionals, including the newly joined Xia Nan and Alton, there are a full eight people.

gold coins, divided evenly, each person’s income would barely exceed 100 gold coins.

Moreover, a considerable portion needs to be set aside for the wages of other ordinary sailors on board, as well as for living expenses subsidies.

Considering the time spent resting midway and doing the task, which could take almost half a month, the actual earnings might not even reach three figures.

As adventurers with a professional level above Level 3, this kind of income is undoubtedly below average standards.

Especially in a bustling adventure town like Suo Yu Bay, which is a seaside port with plenty of opportunities.

The Vengeance Blade Blade team has a good atmosphere, but it’s built on the stable and positive relationships among the team’s core professionals.

They are indeed companions, but to some extent, their relationship is just slightly higher than "colleagues," not reaching the "family" level willing to sacrifice their lives for each other.

If there’s not enough stable income to support the team, what seems to be solid unity will quickly collapse, and the team might dissolve in a matter of days.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, Lorin wouldn’t take such low-income, time-consuming investigative tasks.

But now, things are different.

On one hand, this commission issued by the adventurer association is marked as a D level task, but "Extra Information" clearly states that if there are special discoveries, the task level and actual rewards can be increased based on the situation.

This implies that if ancient ruins indeed emerge near Twin Canyon, the Vengeance Blade Fleet’s earnings would far exceed the apparent amount.

Furthermore, the allure of "Ancient Ruins" itself is enough for Lorin to investigate even without the association’s task rewards.

On the other hand, it’s due to Captain Lorin’s personal reasons.

It’s mentioned before that this action was a hasty move, not part of the plan, and even interrupted the crew’s vacation.

Lorin might not be truly interested in the ruins themselves but in some other unknown matters, accepting the association’s commission along the way.

Regarding this, Xia Nan had previously probed the matter with Lorin.

However, the only information gleaned is the sibling relationship between Lorin and Edson.

There’s no knowledge as to why they’re both interested in this part of the sea.

Standing on the deck, reflecting on the task information, Xia Nan pondered.

He has never revealed the existence of the attribute panel or the secret of his Otherworld guest identity, and he doesn’t plan to do so in the future.

Therefore, even discovering from the attribute information of the initial Surgical Knife that it’s an artifact from Otherworld Secret Realm, and knowing the suspected "Ancient Ruins" in the task introduction is probably Exotic Secret Realms, Xia Nan hasn’t informed anyone else.

The canyon is extremely quiet, unnaturally so.

Every crew member on the Vengeance Blade Blade has noticed this, and in Lorin’s warning, they’re prepared for battle.

With heightened focus, the wooden ship sails deeper along the exotic-colored strait in the canyon and eventually docks at the pier situated deep within the canyon.

The oppressive and dull atmosphere in the air dampened the sailors’ spirits even when they finally got to land again. They weren’t as excited as usual and quickly set up defensive measures at Lorin’s command.

Something is certainly wrong with Twin Canyon.

Under normal circumstances, a canyon inhabited by numerous Fishfolk year-round wouldn’t be as eerily silent as it is now.

Several baskets of rotten fish, emitting a stench, lay on the wooden pier’s corner, and nearby, a few patches of brown-red blood stains that have solidified could be seen faintly; the usually bustling pier was now devoid of people, with only a few scattered old fishing boats rocking against the pier’s piles producing a sharp sound.

Lorin released the ship’s wheel, stepped onto the deck, her brow furrowed.

Something is wrong with the situation in the canyon, and the originally prepared plan was disrupted.

They need to first verify what exactly happened here to decide whether the task can proceed.

With the situation unknown and the possibility of encountering unfamiliar enemies, she naturally wouldn’t send ordinary sailors who have no resistance in front of demons ashore, leaving all ordinary crew members on the Vengeance Blade Blade.

Being a critical vessel, ensuring the Vengeance Blade Blade’s safety is paramount, so she also left Rein and Gordon, two brothers, to watch over the ship.