Volume 2: Empire Chapter 187 First Contact
"Mrs. Fekochik is now the second person with the most shops in Holy Mountain, the first being Mr. Sergei."
Sergey...
Fekochik has risen to prominence by riding on the economic express train of Raging Waves City. There is no information about him in Luke's mobile phone database, but there is quite a lot of information about Sergei.
Mercrido Sergei is a human being, an old-school businessman in the Holy Mountain of the Tedega Hills. He is involved in almost all industries, and because he inherited the baronial title of his family, he has a very high status in the Holy Mountain.
According to the intelligence of the Secret Service, Sergei is now highly relied upon by the Duke of Celtic, and the foreign trade routes he operates are the lifeline of the Barbarian Legion during the war.
It was precisely because of his influence that when he entered the city, those who had been harassing Coconut left in fear.
Luke listened to the bartender's story very carefully, and was surprised that Mrs. Fecochek's hobby was so special. To become the second person with the most shops in the Holy Mountain within two years, Mrs. Fecochek must be either pursuing fashion or buying shops.
It also shows that the barbarian Fechik really made a lot of money in the City of Rage.
There are almost no large factories in Tedega Hills, and most of the daily necessities are produced by hand-made workshops. Controlling the number of shops is not only a symbol of financial strength, but also represents the right to speak and influence. Especially since the Fekochik family is still a barbarian and has a certain family background.
I have underestimated the Fechik family.
"The second person who owns the most shops in the Holy Mountain!" Coconut was also very surprised after hearing the bartender's story: "Did Mrs. Fecochik really invite us to stay at her house?"
Luke replied: "Mrs. Fickochick likes to hear about what's happening outside. You must have heard a lot of stories about overseas in Southampton. You can definitely become good friends."
Coconut didn't realize that she was sold out by Luke. She promised solemnly: "I have heard a lot of stories from overseas. I will definitely satisfy Mrs. Fecochek."
Luke took a sip of wine, but he really didn't want to drink another one. He took out some change to pay the bill and said to Coconut, "Come on, I'll take you to Fekechik's house. You guys take a good rest first, and I'll take care of the Nirvana Egg mission."
"Okay, Mr. Luke."
Coconut and her team followed Luke to the Fecochik residence. Mrs. Fecochik was very enthusiastic. After asking the housekeeper to take them to choose a room, she asked the kitchen to prepare a lot of delicious food.
After Luke settled the coconut, he left with the bag containing the Nirvana Egg. Before leaving, Mrs. Fekechik specifically reminded him that there would be a pool party in the evening and he must be on time.
Luke agreed and left.
The anonymous client who issued the Nirvana Egg mission was a high-ranking priest of the Abyss Temple named Egbert. What Luke had to do now was to go to the Adventurer's Association of the Holy Mountain and inform them that the Nirvana Egg mission had been completed. After confirming the authenticity of the item, the Adventurer's Association would notify Egbert to come and take over.
The Adventurer's Guild of the Holy Mountain was built inside a mountain wall, with an open mission hall outside and a maze-like functional area inside.
In Raging Waves City, the Adventurer's Association was under the strict supervision of the City Government Office and could only accept formal bounty commissions. In the Holy Mountain, the Adventurer's Association's methods were much wilder, and illegal employment transactions accounted for a large proportion, so there were many secret rooms here.
Luke stated that he had completed the Nirvana Egg mission, and immediately attracted the attention of the Adventurer's Guild after showing the Nirvana Egg. He was taken to a secret room, where a brown goblin with wrinkled skin was in charge of receiving him.
"Mr. Luke, please take a seat. I'm a senior mission confirmation specialist, you can call me...Tulu." The brown goblin put on a pair of glasses and silk gloves, and took out the testing tools one by one from the tool kit he carried with him. Finally, he said to Luke: "Can I see your Nirvana Egg?"
Luke put the bag containing the Nirvana Egg on the table, and his hand shook, and the Nirvana Egg rolled out.
"Be careful!" The brown goblin Tulu immediately held the Nirvana Egg steady with both hands: "This is a treasure worth 100 million Reichsmarks!"
Luke said casually, "It looks like an egg, but it's definitely not as brittle as you think. Even if you hit it with a hammer, it won't leave a mark on it."
"As a senior appraiser, I certainly know that the Nirvana Egg is very hard, but we should still give it the respect it deserves." The brown goblin carefully held up the Nirvana Egg, then took out an alchemical magnifying glass, used magic power to illuminate it, and carefully observed the magic patterns on the eggshell.
Several tools were used to identify the Nirvana Egg, and finally the Brown Goblin reluctantly put the egg down.
He put away his tools, took off his glasses, and let out a long sigh.
"I didn't expect someone to actually complete this mission. The Nirvana Egg is truly a perfect work of art, and also a precious fire-attributed treasure." The Brown Goblin said to Luke after expressing his feelings, "I have confirmed that this is the real Nirvana Egg. Congratulations, Mr. Luke. After the mission is completed and handed over, you will not only receive a huge bonus, but also be promoted to an A-level adventurer."
Luke put the Nirvana Egg back into his bag and asked, "Is the client of the mission in the Holy Mountain? I don't want to stay here too long just to wait for someone."
The brown goblin replied: "The person who issued the task is now in the Holy Mountain. Please wait here for a moment. The association will send someone to notify the other party immediately, and you will get the money soon."
"I hope I won't have to wait too long."
"No. You can drink tea and wait here, or you can visit the Holy Mountain Adventurer's Association. Since the items you carry are too valuable, I don't recommend you go outside the association. The Barbarian Holy Mountain is not a safe place."
"I understand. I'll wait here."
The brown goblins left, and a waiter brought Luke a drink and some snacks.
Luke didn't eat the food here, but reviewed the next task process while waiting.
When the player takes over the Nirvana Egg mission, he will establish contact with the priest Egbert. During the communication, Egbert will ask about the living environment of the firebird and the process of the player defeating the firebird. At this time, as long as the player appropriately reveals some esoteric knowledge, Egbert will invite the player to participate in his new esoteric experiment.
In the experiment, the player is a little white mouse, being "deceived" to do dangerous secret tests. The player is "extremely lucky" to complete one test after another, and becomes a " good partner" with Egbert.
If the entire plot is completed well, it is an intellectual level-breaking game; if it is not completed well, it is a violent level-breaking game. Different game directions have different rewards. Luke came this time with the strategy to prepare for the intellectual level-breaking game.
After reviewing the plot again, when Luke thought he was ready, a man wearing a smock and a hood, covering himself tightly, pushed the door and walked in.
When Luke saw the person coming, his heart skipped a beat.
There's something wrong with the way this plot unfolds...
However, since it is no longer a game, some changes in the plot are inevitable, as long as the people and the words are correct.
Luke asked, "Are you the one who issued the mission for the Nirvana Egg?"
The other person sat opposite Luke and had no intention of revealing his appearance: "Yes, I am the one who issued the quest for the Nirvana Egg. The Adventurer's Association told me that they have confirmed that the Nirvana Egg is real."
Luke patted the bag containing the Nirvana Egg on the table and said, "Of course the Nirvana Egg is real. Did you deposit the money in the Adventurer's Association? Give me the association's handover form, and this thing will be yours."
"Regarding the reward, I need to renegotiate with you, and the Adventurer's Association has also understood this."
broken!
The plot really went off track!
Luke calmed himself and asked, "I don't think there's anything to negotiate about the reward. If it wasn't for 100 million Reichsmarks, I would never risk my life fighting a firebird."
"If it was a few months earlier, 100 million Reichsmarks would be a lot of money for me, but it's not impossible to get it. But... you know that Tedega Hills is at war with the Empire, and my research funding is much less."
Luke finally realized what had gone wrong.
It's not just because Tedega Hills is at war with the Empire, but also because Qingkong killed four apostles of the Abyss, which made the performance of the Abyss Temple in the war not as outstanding as in the game plot.
If we don’t cut your funding, whose funding will we cut?
But the strategy doesn’t match here, what should I do next ?
"You have no money, what does it have to do with me?" Luke took back the bag containing the Nirvana Egg from the table. "This is the Nirvana Egg. I think someone must be willing to spend 100 million Reichsmarks to buy it."
"Please listen to me, Mr. Luke." The other party hurriedly stopped him: "Although I don't have enough money, I can make up the difference with other things. Please believe me, you will definitely think it is worth the money."
Luke didn't really want to leave, so he sat back down: "I don't even know who you are, why should I trust you?"
"It was my negligence..." The other party apologized, then lifted the hood that covered his face and introduced himself to Luke: "My name is Egbert, a priest of the Abyss Temple."
Luke asked, "I heard that the Temple of the Abyss is very respected in the Tedega Hills. How can I trust you when you are so secretive?"
Egbert whispered, "For some reasons that cannot be disclosed to the public, I don't want too many people to know what I did outside the temple. Believe me, I am taking a very big risk by revealing my identity to you. The Nirvana Egg is very important to my research, and I will give you a plan that will satisfy you."
Luke knew why Egbert was so cautious.
The alienation strategy implemented by Qingkong against the Abyss Temple was very effective. Four Abyss Apostles died, and a large number of high-level secrets were known to Qingkong, indicating that there was a traitor in the upper echelons of the Abyss Temple.
Egbert is the high-ranking priest of the Temple of the Abyss, second only to the Apostles of the Abyss and is the most suspected.
It seems that... the strategy is useless.
Luke improvised and said to Egbert, "What happened today was completely beyond my expectations. I just wanted to get the money and continue my adventuring career. I didn't expect to have any intersection with the Abyss Temple.
Especially, there seems to be something special happening inside the Abyss Temple that is unknown to the public."
For the sake of the Nirvana Egg, Egbert immediately comforted Luke: "Please don't worry, this is a matter within our Abyss Temple and will never implicate you.
I can pay 50 million Reichsmarks first, and the Adventurer's Association's commission will be settled separately from mine and will not be paid from the bounty. In addition... I can give you power that you can never imagine."
Are we getting back to the plot?
Luke showed interest: "What power?"
"Power from the abyss."
Luke couldn't help but frown.
The plot is completely off!
In the game, Egbert only invites players to do experiments related to the Nirvana Egg and does not have much to do with the Abyss.
Moreover, the Abyss has always been studied by the Abyss Apostles, and it is a level that the Abyss Mages cannot reach.
Egbert said so...
Is he lying to me? Or is there a big change in the Abyss Temple, and the Abyss Apostle has allowed the Abyss Mages to deepen their research on the Abyss?
"The abyss..." Luke said with emotion: "Although I don't know much about the abyss, I know it is very, very dangerous."
"Fear comes from the unknown!" When talking about the abyss, Egbert immediately became a fanatic: "People think the abyss is dangerous because they don't understand it at all. The energy contained in the abyss exceeds the sum of all the energy in the known world, and the wisdom of the abyss is the sum of all intelligent creatures.
Only by truly facing the abyss can one realize that all the greatness in the world is not as great as it."
Luke asked, "Have you ever faced the abyss?"
"I have faced the abyss!" Egbert answered confidently, "Unlike the Abyss Apostles who opened the gate of the abyss and embraced the abyss, I only touched the energy that penetrated from the abyss through the gaps opened by the apostles.
The feeling cannot be described in words, and can only be expressed through crying. "
Luke felt that he came to Tedega Hill to explore the secrets of the Book of Disaster, and his ultimate goal was to understand the Abyss. Since there was such an opportunity in front of him, he could make some contact with it.
But don't be too aggressive.
At the same time, a risk assessment needs to be conducted with Clear Sky.
"After listening to your description, I have become somewhat curious about the abyss. But... I need to think about it."
"How long do you need to think about it?" Egbert was afraid that Luke would run away with the Nirvana Egg.
"I'm afraid I can't give you an accurate answer. I can assure you that I will never leave the Holy Mountain with the Nirvana Egg before I make a decision."
Egbert looked at Luke and saw that he was determined, so he had to say, "Okay, think about it carefully. But I want to remind you, don't make me wait too long... This is not a threat, but the abyss will not wait for you."
"What does this mean?"
Egbert did not answer Luke's question. He put on his hood again and left carefully.
Luke looked at Eggbert's back as he left, and compared him to the previous version of him in the game. He had changed a lot, and it seemed that he had really come into contact with the Abyss, and that the Abyss had deeply affected him.
