Chapter 117.1 Merfolk Shore
His Miaojesty was in a state where extreme rationality and extreme nervousness met. In short: looking as handsome as it gets in seconds.
Being a chuunibyou on one’s own wasn’t frightening, what was scary was when someone went along with it.
Jian Qingrong put the blood-soaked cloth back into his pocket. Much like a scheming court official, he started to speak cunningly, “Just as you said, waking up the Merfolk King prematurely is the key to resolving the situation.”
Wen Shi blinked. Did he say that?
Jian Qingrong spoke softly, as if worried about scaring away a sensitive and suspicious cat, “My King, in your plan, the Merfolk King appeared only at the end, in what is known as a full-blooded awakening.
“…From the reverse perspective, if this schedule is moved in advance, the Merfolk King would be significantly weaker.”
Ji Yuanzhi almost instantly caught onto two important points.
Wen players talked about the game, Jian Qingrong, unlike other NPCs, seemed to hear a part of it. But this needed more thought. Maybe the game covered up and silenced certain aspects.
Another point was crucial at the moment. The behavior logic didn’t match.
Starting from the Big Factory instance, Jian Qingrong had helped Pei Wenwei as an accomplice, but now he joined in steering the direction as a leader. When someone’s actions and daily behavior didn’t match, it meant other motives were at play.
“Not knowing the whereabouts of the Merfolk King or his key weaknesses makes achieving this quite troublesome.” Wen Shi calmed down and regained his rationality. “And it needs a significant investment.”
During this process, it was inevitable to interact with the Merfolk King. To leave safely, it required using skills and high-level items.
Jian Qingrong said slowly, “We can use someone else’s plan. You suspected a few classmates were acting strangely…”
He then looked at Ji Yuanzhi, “We had a good investigator here.”
Based on the scarecrow’s memory, Ji Yuanzhi successfully found the chief attendant in Sealed Coffin Village, showing his investigative ability.
“The person behind the scenes is daring and thorough, always staying on the sidelines. After identifying them, a little guidance is enough to gain an advantage.”
Wen Shi remained composed. While it made sense, involving a third party could complicate matters. No one was naive. Considering it from another perspective, if Wen Shi were brought into the situation, he would undoubtedly try various methods to shift the danger onto the earlier unsuccessful assassination target during the Merfolk King’s awakening process.
The behavior logic had issues.
Wen Shi had detected the treacherous intentions. Normally, Jian Qingrong wouldn’t allow them to become bait.
“My King…” Jian Qingrong moved closer. “Do you find this plan feasible?”
His humility was an act, his pitifulness was an act, even this cautious tone was all a means to flatter. Wen Shi laughed coldly, dignifiedly nodding. “Feasible.”
Though my close aides have some ulterior motives, one thing is certain: their loyalty is irreplaceable.
Regardless of Jian Qingrong’s intentions, it was all for the sake of better allegiance.
His Miaojesty was quite taken by this approach.
On the other side, the fox spirit had completed the tasks Wen Shi assigned. Wen Shi used points to purchase an【Antidote】.
The【Fungal Strains】itself wasn’t a lethal virus. Most potions in the in-game store could provide relief. However, with each antidote costing ten points per person, equivalent to a hundred points for ten people, it made Wen Shi’s heart ache a little.
He placed the antidote next to the merfolk’s body, setting the stage for a show of grandeur.
In the corner of his eye, Wen Shi noticed Ji Yuanzhi entering the elevator. Anticipating what he was about to ask, Ji Yuanzhi pressed the door close button, expressionless as he said, “Your High Priest is going to delete the surveillance footage now.”
Wen Shi nodded, pleased with his thoughtfulness. Subsequently, he pulled Jian Qingrong to a corner. Having witnessed the entire fox spirit’s performance, the students then followed the fox’s guidance to search for the antidote.
At the moment they discovered the merfolk’s body, the students took a step back in shock. But soon, their eyes were fixed on the antidote. They didn’t check the quantity closely. Fearing its limited supply, a squabble nearly broke out.
Having already endured a round of mental contamination, the students were now in a state of bewildered confusion.
Wen Shi quietly observed through the gaps in the bookshelves. One minute later, the first student to recover cheered, “Much better, my throat feels much better.”
“The merfolk isn’t as formidable as that King Asa.” The senior student wearing a fox spirit pendant touched her throat. “This corpse serves as a warning to our reverence for the Merfolk King.”
Theoretical discussions on paper never have the practical impact as they do in reality. With their conditions improving, the object of their prayers underwent a fundamental change.
“My legs feel stronger too!” one student exclaimed excitedly.
Student days were the most innocent periods. A group of dream-chasing enthusiasts quickly set aside their higher education, with their minds focused solely on better offerings to King Asa in hopes of receiving greater benefits in return.
The system’s notification sound began to ring continuously.
【Leng Hongyu’s belief towards you +1】
【Long Nai’s belief towards you +1】
……
Comparing the turtlekin’s intrusion, Wen Shi calmly wondered where the term “false” come from.
His first command was to establish a consistent account. No matter who asked, the answer should be the same: they didn’t know what happened tonight, only hearing strange noises, flickering lights, and being frightened enough to leave the library early.
Ji Yuanzhi went to delete the surveillance footage. Wen Shi was responsible for collecting the remaining booklets and promotional leaflets. He then returned to give the deceased merfolk a frightening appearance. Although the principal wasn’t the kind of person that would believe stories about hidden scrolls in fish bellies, he would subconsciously pay attention to anything related to Wusa Kingdom.
With more and more people caring, something could come into existence from nothing.
Wait, why did he think it came from nothing?
Something seemed off.
In the moment of Wen Shi’s hesitation, he didn’t forget to worry about one of his followers, Song Yan. The latter had gone alone to complete a side quest, burying something in the lake tonight. He didn’t know how it went.
•
On the way back from the lakes behind the campus to the dormitory building, a figure walked with arms crossed, trembling.
He was soaked through, and with the wind’s touch, the cold intensified.
Song Yan possessed a natural aptitude for learning. To save points, he struggled by the lakeside for a while, and managed to learn swimming and breath-holding.
Mr. Ruan had him bury water plant seeds. Many similar aquatic plants grew in the lake, looking quite ordinary at first glance. However, they emitted a faint scent of seawater on the surface, matching the atmosphere of Mingzhu Academy.
When one smelled this aroma, the body would feel significantly relieved. This was why the foot pain eased upon entering the academy.
Perhaps, just as Wen Shi speculated, players had a potential to transform into merfolk more easily, but their transformation results were mostly similar to subpar merfolk.
As Song Yan approached the bottom of the dormitory building, he saw a sudden dark figure, and quickly hid behind a tree in fear.
The tall and erect figure paused briefly upon catching the scent, then noticed the person hidden behind the tree.
After confirming it wasn’t a monster but rather Arlon, Song Yan freed himself from his state of shock. He slowly emerged from behind the tree and surprisingly took the initiative to speak with Arlon.
Arlon’s presence was magnified by the darkness. The timid voice of Song Yan before him resembled a cowering rabbit.
“I think… now that we know Mr. Ruan is a merfolk, can’t we make use of this?” Song Yan said nervously, “He’s well-suited for getting close to the Merfolk King.”
If you enjoy this novel, support the Translator ginevre on her ko-fi account :))
