Chapter 169 – Observations and Surveillance

The gates of Stone Ridge Town were magnificent, fully opened wide enough for even large-sized units like giants to stride through effortlessly.

Flanking the gates were over a dozen well-equipped garrison soldiers, among them units yet to awaken consciousness, as well as townsfolk of Stone Ridge Town who had undergone class changes and possessed considerable strength.

There were also two players dressed in flamboyant silver armor, appearing as officers.

“Stone Ridge Town welcomes all visitors.”

“Fighting is prohibited within the town. Violators will receive warnings for minor offenses or be arrested on the spot for severe ones.”

Various notices were prominently displayed at the gate, written in both Mystic Script and the common language of the Eternal World.

There were no restrictions on players coming and going, only a ban on a few overly large creatures from entering.

When Sophia’s group approached, the large lump of Golden Slime attracted some glances, though not many—the garrison soldiers glanced briefly before looking away.

Here, a Golden Slime wasn’t particularly special.

But using a Golden Slime as a means of transport was quite a novelty.

Could Slimes really be utilized this way?

Some players pondered, deciding to try it themselves later. They might not be able to buy a Golden Slime, but a regular three-star Large Slime wasn’t much smaller in size.

They thought it feasible.

Upon entering Stone Ridge Town, everything around them felt incredibly novel.

Rare-tier units like Skeleton Generals, Wyverns, Royal Griffins, and Spring Spirits—conspicuous and unique—were not exactly commonplace here, but they were frequently spotted.

There were also players hawking wares or loudly shouting phrases that Sophia could understand word-for-word yet couldn’t grasp the meaning of.

“Take a look, have a see—freshly picked Little Lamp Grass!”

“Exploring the Phantom Forest to the southwest, looking for a group! Currently three short of four, need a big sister with a Nun Unit or self-healing abilities. Big-chested guys are fine too.”

“Newbie stats XXX, can wear thigh-highs, any big brothers willing to carry me?”

“Witch Inheritance Stone! Witch Inheritance Stone! Only one available, brothers who want it better bid fast!”

Witch?

Sophia keenly caught the keyword, though she didn’t quite understand why a group of male players crowded around the seller, emitting eerie “hehehe” chuckles that made her skin crawl.

Sophia quietly detoured farther away and inquired through the Mental Link.

“Well, this question…”

Lord Mu paused, “You’ll understand later. The truth might be a bit eye-watering.”

“And what are thigh-highs?”

“That’s a good question…”

As if afflicted with ‘Dolai Syndrome,’ Sophia was exceptionally curious, asking question after question, since everything here was completely different from the Eagle Kingdom of her memories.

Of course, while she expressed surprise and curiosity in the mental channel, her face remained composed, though she couldn’t help occasionally glancing around—much like a novice lord from a wealthy family visiting Stone Ridge Town for the first time.

“Respected Young Miss Lord, is there anything you need help with? I’ve been in Stone Ridge Town for over a year and am extremely familiar with the place.”

A young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, who appeared refined and scholarly, approached.

He was clad in a golden-threaded treasure robe from the ‘Unique Embroidery’ Merchant Guild, wore an expensive mechanical watch on his wrist, and was followed by several well-equipped Halberdiers and Sharpshooters—clearly a seasoned player doing quite well for himself.Wanting to get familiar and make friends with the new lord who had just arrived in Stone Ridge Town, the young man thought that if he could latch onto such a beautiful and wealthy new young miss, he could save decades of hard work.

After all, the end goal for ordinary ranger players was merely the starting point for lord players.

Sophia frowned. She was sensitive to gazes and not particularly patient by nature. However, remembering her important mission, she replied coldly, “You’re mistaken. I am no lord. I’m only here on a task assigned by my boss.”

Daisy said with a cheerful smile, “She’s right, it’s all on our master’s orders. We don’t have time to deal with outsiders.”

They walked past the young man and headed straight for the bustling part of town.

The bespectacled young man wanted to chase after them and say something more, but he was blocked by Lu Liu in his black armor. The tall Lu Liu cast an intimidating shadow, and the young man retreated with an awkward laugh.

“The boss’s task?”

How could that be!

Players couldn’t see any information about other players or their subordinate units—they could only judge by appearance.

In the young man’s eyes, Sophia’s elegant demeanor and refined speech clearly indicated she had received high-level etiquette education, undoubtedly making her a wealthy young lady. How could such a wealthy young lady be an employee of another lord? It must be a poor disguise.

As for the other woman with phoenix eyes and delicate features, and the burly man in black armor, they were likely players hired by the wealthy female lord.

The young man adjusted his glasses, a glint of intelligence flashing behind the lenses.

…

Sophia and Daisy walked further into the town and soon saw the most prominent landmark in Stone Ridge Town—the Player Association.

The association’s door, resembling a massive cube, stood wide open, with countless players coming and going.

Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby, Sophia could see task information scrolling continuously. Accepting and issuing tasks were the main functions of the Eternal World Association.

Around the Player Association stood rows of shop buildings, their billboards flashing eye-catching text.

“Unique Embroidered Attire.”

“Northern Qi Pharmacy.”

“Northern Qi Acquisition Firm.”

“Big Bird Tavern.”

Sophia murmured to herself, relaying all the information here to the Lord. Following the Lord’s guidance, she then headed to the office for leasing territories.

Mu Yuan had naturally done his research and had a clear plan for what to do and where to go upon arriving in Stone Ridge Town.

Now, from hundreds of kilometers away, he remotely directed Sophia every step of the way.

Rounding it up, it was almost as if he had visited Stone Ridge Town himself.

By this time, it was already late in the day. The merchant convoy would inevitably have to stay in Stone Ridge Town for a day and conduct some simple research and investigations.

Soon, Sophia completed the procedures for leasing a territory.

Small temporary territory: 1.5 Soul Crystals per day.

“So expensive!”

Even Sophia, the employee of the impoverished Tianyuan Territory (not a wealthy young lady), who had mentally prepared herself, nearly widened her eyes and cursed out loud.

How much could they earn from a single trade run?

Mu Yuan also found it expensive, but there was no other choice. There was no room for negotiation when it came to the rental fees for such temporary territories. For outsiders like them, Stone Ridge Town had a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. When he considered that the merchant convoy had over thirty people, the cost per person didn’t seem so high… or so he tried to convince himself!

There was, in fact, a more budget-friendly option: setting up camp outside the town.The area around Stone Ridge Town was quite safe, and with the strength of Lu Liu and the others, they could set up camp and rest without fear of being ambushed.

However,

Boss Mu wasn’t stingy to that extent. He had allocated a certain amount of funds to Sophia and the others. Even Dolai… well, received a little pocket money—not much, as he hadn’t forgotten how Dolai spent money recklessly in the trial space.

After renting the outpost, the ordinary soldiers stayed behind to rest and guard the goods.

Sophia and Daisy went out to begin their work.

Even Lu Liu and Dolai were sent out by Mu Someone to act as eyes and ears, gathering more information about Stone Ridge Town.

Night gradually fell.

Stone Ridge Town grew even more bustling at night, as many player teams returned from hunting and making a living. They sold the materials and valuable monster remains they had gathered and began spending extravagantly.

The Big Bird Tavern was filled with a lively atmosphere.

The entire Stone Ridge Town was like a city that never slept, with neon lights flashing outside shop after shop.

Throughout the night, Sophia hardly slept, inspecting everything around her.

Under Mu Someone’s remote guidance, Daisy also went to the town’s large market, where she purchased batch after batch of Remnant Souls.

The prices were clearly much cheaper than buying them on Blue Star, and there was a considerable variety and quantity of Remnant Souls available.

“If conditions permit, we should establish a long-term outpost in Stone Ridge Town. But renting an outpost is another huge expense. This town really knows how to make money.”

When would Tianyuan Territory be able to earn money as effortlessly as Stone Ridge Town?

How infuriating!

Soon, under the Lord’s remote guidance, Daisy, swaying her fox tail, purchased batch after batch of supplies in Stone Ridge Town. This Witch with a fluffy tail was indeed better at bargaining than Mu Someone, saving quite a bit of Soul Sand.

The Jade Crystal Rice and Snakescale Fruits transported by the merchant convoy were sold at standard prices to the “Beiqi Acquisition Firm.”

There was no room for bargaining here either.

The quantity of goods was too small for a major merchant guild like the Beiqi Acquisition Firm.

Compared to before, Tianyuan Territory was still too small in scale.

Even the Undead General and General Dolai were, at most, just two Epic-level younglings.

With their initial objectives achieved, the Guangyuan merchant convoy began packing up for the return journey.

At the same time, several kilometers away from the town, in front of a hidden cabin deep in a dense forest.

The young man who had flirted with Sophia the previous day pushed the door open. He had removed his glasses by now, and beneath his seemingly refined eyes lay a hint of brutality. Licking his lips, he said:

“Boss, I’ve observed them. They’re definitely a fat sheep. She tried hard to hide it, but she couldn’t conceal the naivety and curiosity unique to a newcomer. Not to mention, they even used a Golden Slime as a transport tool. It’s as good as admitting their wealth—how laughable.”

“If we hijack their goods and kidnap this rich girl Lord to plunder her territory… after this job, we’ll definitely strike it rich!”

The young man’s eyes burned with fervor.

“And not just that…”

The rich young lady carried herself with elegance, her features as delicate as a porcelain doll.

The other female player was also top-notch. With her phoenix eyes and a hint of charm, her figure, though hidden under a large cloak, was undoubtedly graceful.

At this thought, the fire in the young man’s heart burned even hotter.

The other wanted criminal players also licked their lips, their eyes filled with restless heat.”Rich and beautiful, a target like this only comes once in a decade!”

“You’re right, boss. Such a top-tier new territory must be filled with all kinds of treasures. One hit here is worth ten elsewhere!”

“These newcomers are so naive, thinking a bit of strength is enough to run a trade. Let’s teach this rich young lady the harsh reality of the world.”

“Heh, I’m reminded of that young woman from half a year ago. Her screams were truly mesmerizing.”

“Heh heh heh heh heh…”

Chapter One.

(End of Chapter)