Chapter 26

▪️THE MOST SHAMELESS PLAYER

Human beings have always been like this.

When a group of people lacking a leader met someone with some strength and boldly steps forward, everyone within that group would at least hear out what this person wanted to say.

Moreover, the name Xiao Mu was a relatively well-known streamer within the gaming sphere. Additionally, he had also published the first video essay of the game. Thus, everyone was willing to at least listen to him once and give him face.

Seeing the players within the vicinity quietening down, Demacia felt very satisfied. He took a small step aside and gave the horn to Li Mu who came up to the center stage.

Li Mu took the horn, coughed a few times, before starting,

"Be quiet, everyone. We shouldn't resort to infighting when the quest has not even started yet. ElvKing is vastly different from the games we have played before. We cannot hastily make our decisions without sufficient preparations..."

After listening to him, the commotion resumed once more as the players began to digest what Li Mu had just spoken.

"Brother Mu, what do you mean?"

Someone asked him in doubt.

Li Mu looked at him and explained,

"I'm just saying that, although we have already acquired the quest info, we still didn't know the exact dungeon's composition nor the goblin's overall situation. We will most likely fail if we act upon in an unorganized manner. After all, except for Demacia and his teammates, each of us have only three perfect resurrection chance."

As the players listened to his explanation, each of their expressions gradually became serious as they showed more willingness to listen.

Seeing that everyone was willing to hear him out, Li Mu felt satisfied as he breathe a sigh of relief. He then cleared his throat and continued,

"This is not a conventional dungeon exploration. We have no unlimited resurrection chance and after dying three times, those who did will have to start everything from scratch. Also according to the details of the quest, the upcoming fights will likely be a battle of attrition. Therefore before we leave, we must first work out a detailed plan instead of just dividing into countless parties and swarming the enemies mindlessly."

"Uncle B also mentioned that Florence is 30 kilometers away from our town, which is around 20 kilometers beyond the safety zone. If we blindly rush to get there in a hurry, the variables within our journey would just be too risky. We might even encounter danger along the way and expose ourselves to the goblins."

"In addition, we have only one teleportation circle. If we set up the array and fail to protect it under the goblin's counterattack, then we might not even be able to achieve any of the objectives of the quest."

Seeing the eloquence of the player named Li Mu, Berserker showed a little bit of surprise.

Oh Matriarch, luckily it seems that there are still some sensible people left amongst these chosen ones.

However...

Who is this Uncle B they're referring to?

Berserker was lost in thought.

It's actually you!

Evé, whose currently observing everything from high above, perceived the oak treant's doubt due to their link of faith and inwardly sighed within herself.

"Brother Mu, do you have some sort of plan in mind?"

Another player asked.

Li Mu smiled and replied,

"Of course. I suggest that we form a special attack team, which is primarily composed of players who are good at stealth. They will first go to Florence along with the materials needed for the teleportation circle, but they won't enter the dungeon. Instead, they will choose a safe place far away from Florence and set up the teleportation circle there."

After detailing his initial plans, Li Mu then curled his lips before resuming,

"There is no time limit for the quest. The first objective also didn't state that we have to complete it first. Sure, the materials of the teleportation circle might be only be for one setup but as long as we do things efficiently, we could probably dismantle and reassemble the array a couple of times before the energy stored within the catalysts ran out."

"Therefore, we can first establish a hidden teleportation circle far from the vicinity of the dungeon. This can serve as our temporary stronghold and this initial array will be used to teleport all the participants within that location. After completing the second and third objectives, we will all then team up together, dismantle the array and take the materials to Florence by foot."

"My final plan is to only reassemble the teleportation circle once we have already fully secured the dungeon thus eliminating the need of us protecting the array in the first place since it would no longer be threatened by any goblins at that point. Moreover, it can also ensure that everyone will share the rewards for establishing the teleportation circle!"

Can things be really done like this?

The players' eyes lit up in excitement.

As expected of a veteran streamer that specializes in finding bugs within any game!

Evé was also partly amused as she continued on to silently observed their proceedings.

"Additionally, after establishing the teleportation circle for the first time far away from Florence dungeon, we can also lure some goblins out by kiting them to test how powerful they actually are."

"If they are weaker than us, then we will take the initiative to attack. But if they are more powerful, then we will use guerrilla tactics instead outside of Florence and slowly drain them of their strength."

"I think that hunting within the safety zone during this period of time has made everyone realize that the mobs in this game do not respawn. Instead, ElvKing simulates the ecosystem in the real world. Thus goblins can eventually be exterminated one by one given enough time. We can absolutely win by battling it out protractedly!"

"If the enemy advances, we then retreat instead. If the enemy bunkers down, we then disturb them incessantly. If the enemy felt tired, we then fight them head on. If the enemy retreats, we then chase them to death!"

Li Mu kept talking in an impassioned manner.

"That is a good idea!"

The players all nodded in unison.

"No wonder you are a veteran streamer. Your ability to command and your insight are both impeccable."

"Brother Mu, you are right! We will listen to you as our leader for this quest!"

In the meantime, quite a lot of people also suddenly realized something.

"No wonder there is no living critters within the safe zone recently. I just noticed just now that we have only been eating fruits these past few days. Why, it turns out that mobs wouldn't indefinitely respawn, so maybe the animals are also the same."

"Wait, I was wondering why I smelt barbecue in the woods last time. Was it you guys!?"

"Sure, we can just eat fruit every day. But roasting barbecue definitely taste better, especially with the kind of pheasant living within the safe zone. That pheasant is purely organic without any sort of moderm chemicals, making it extremely tender you know. Man, if only the saintess was not watching us in the camp, then we would have held a barbecue party already."

Alice: "......"

The saintess who was silently standing beside the Oak Guardian was almost stunned by the player's words.

Oh dear matriarch high above, was this actually the reason why the animals in the forest all suddenly disappeared!?

T-These group... These hooligans...!!

She gritted her teeth, not knowing how to describe what she's feeling in words.

The players continued on with their discussion not noticing the enraged state of the blond holy maiden at the sidelines.

"Just wondering, how do we lure the goblins, Brother Mu?" Someone asked, bringing back the discussion at the main topic at hand.

Upon hearing the question, Li Mu furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before hesitantly replying, "This is indeed a problem. Maybe we can try to use food to lure them—"

"Wait, wait! Bro! Brother Mu! I have a great idea! This can definitely lure those goblins!" Demacia interrupted as he came up to him in excitement.

Li Mu glanced at him skeptically but still gave Demacia the horn.

Demacia took it eagerly and let out a perverted laugh, looking quite vulgar with his behavior.

"Hehehe, well...we need the help of our female players for this one."

"Female players?"

"Demacia, are you thinking of some perverted idea again?" the male players jeered, while the female players frowned in disapproval.

"Oh no no no, not at all..." Demacia laughed awkwardly, then continued, "You see, Uncle B's information also includes the habits of goblins, right?"

"Hehehe, so...you all remember, goblins don't have females right? Instead they reproduce by using female humans or some other sentient creatures as their breeding stock...and well, now it's spring, the season of love and mating..."

Demacia then grinned mischievously, "You see, the elves are already beautiful, and goblins are also humanoid creatures that like aesthetics similar to ours. So, the girls could you know, bait them with their looks and all...just a little bit, for a good cause, right?"

"W-What's it called? Honey trap? Of course, we're just luring them out, so we still need to take safety precautions!" Demacia said while looking pleased with himself.

Alice: "..."

Berserker: "....."

All the players: "....."

Describing everyone's reaction at that moment as dumbfounded would be an understatement.

Evé, who was also watching everything from high above, choked and couldn't help but sigh as she taps her forehead in exasperation.

"This guy really lives up to his title as the most shameless player in the game..."