The Slime Grass Deception

First, concerning these wooden houses, it was a theoretical impossibility for anyone to approach another’s dwelling; residents were strictly confined to their own.

Lin Ran had, in fact, tested this theory upon his initial arrival, finding himself utterly unable to draw near any other wooden structure.

Secondly, the individuals who had appeared were all designated as [Ordinary People].

To have cleared the second wave of attacks so swiftly, surely these were not individuals without their own formidable capabilities?

Consider that his freshman group chat, typically bustling with 99+ unread messages daily, remained largely silent; most of the school’s population was still grappling with the second wave of challenges.

It seemed highly improbable, then, that by sheer coincidence, all the “ordinary people” who had overcome the second wave would now be conveniently gathered before his own doorstep.

Finally, and perhaps most critically, the undeniable evidence lay just beyond the windowpane.

While the vast majority of wooden houses stood conspicuously empty before their entrances, a distinct crowd had congregated specifically before the human dwelling where the Dream Eater was slain—the very one Anmeng Yue had shown him previously.

This strongly suggested that only those who had successfully navigated the second wave of assaults were currently able to encounter this particular group.

Therefore, within the context of this game world, under what precise conditions would a substantial contingent of individuals, their intentions undeniably clear, suddenly materialize?

“A hidden event—or perhaps a hidden quest,” Lin Ran mused aloud, “the trigger condition must be passing the second wave of attacks as early as possible.”

As he voiced his deduction, Lin Ran thoughtfully stroked his chin.

“Huh?” Anmeng Yue lifted her head, her expression a canvas of bewildered question marks.

“Isn’t that a good thing? Why would it be troublesome?” she questioned, then added with a sly grin, “Just remember to spend any crystal cores you earn from hidden quests at my shop.”

Having said her piece, Anmeng Yue let out a wide yawn, clearly contemplating the allure of returning to bed for a glorious second nap.

“Hey, you profiteer, go ahead and sleep,” Lin Ran retorted, “but just know that any money earned later won’t have anything to do with you then.”

Anmeng Yue paused for a beat, processing his words, before a flush of indignant realization spread across her face. “Profiteer?” she huffed, puffing out her cheeks in immediate protest:

“My prices are clearly marked and utterly fair! What ‘profiteer’ are you talking about!”

“And besides,” she continued, “I have no combat power; wouldn’t I just be a liability down there?” Though her words conveyed reluctance, the mere mention of potential profit had her instantly grinning, trailing steadfastly behind Lin Ran.

The small, expectant dolls, who had initially shown signs of wanting to follow, were promptly quelled by her fierce glare.

Witnessing her extraordinary ability to change expressions in a split second, Lin Ran could only marvel in silent admiration.

Without waiting for her explicit verbal agreement, and choosing not to expose her thinly veiled excitement, he pressed on with his strategic outline:

“You are the sole individual among us who possesses crystal cores.”

“My requirement, therefore, is that you lend me ten crystal cores as bargaining chips for the upcoming negotiations.”

“And finally, please retract your tail.”

Anmeng Yue nodded, deeming this request unproblematic, as the cores were merely being lent.

Lin Ran, surely, wouldn’t stoop to becoming a deadbeat debtor… would he?

But… was he truly intending to negotiate with those NPCs downstairs? Was he looking to purchase something?

“You’ll receive a ten percent share of the total profits afterward.”

“Deal! Boss, I shall lead the way! Sir! This way!”

****

The two approached the grand door, drew a collective deep breath, and with a shared glance, pushed open the heavy wooden portal.

Beyond the threshold, a formidable throng of some seventy to eighty individuals stood arrayed, each brandishing a weapon.

While the majority wielded rudimentary wooden swords and staffs—the lowest tier of weaponry—it seemed even those bearing torches possessed what might be considered the most potent arms within their ranks.

In terms of their collective strength, they appeared decidedly unremarkable.

At the forefront stood a burly man, his face marred by a prominent scar. The moment Lin Ran appeared, he abruptly leveled his rusty greatsword directly at his face, declaring:

“You are the owner of this wooden house, are you not? We are members of the Adventurers’ Guild. The High Priest in the city has detected a demonic presence here, and we have been dispatched to investigate. Should our suspicions prove true…”

It was then that his gaze fell upon Anmeng Yue, who was cautiously peeking out from behind Lin Ran, only half her head visible.

“Holy crap! A monster! There really is one here!”

To Lin Ran’s astonishment, the man was so thoroughly startled that the greatsword in his grasp instantly trembled, causing him to involuntarily stumble back several paces.

Seriously, this scarred, rough-hewn man was going for a comedic contrast now?

The other members of the Adventurers’ Guild, however, reacted in stark contrast. Upon glimpsing Anmeng Yue, they collectively affirmed the veracity of the intelligence they had received.

Thus, they could now openly commence with burning, killing, and looting… no, rather, they could begin their righteous judgment!

“Surrender the monster and the house, or you shall be deemed a sinner against all humanity!”

“Ah—you humans, deluded and led astray by demonic enchantment, let the cleansing flames redeem your very souls—”

“Why waste breath with such tedious chatter? Burn him! He’s clearly a traitor to humanity!”

A fervent crowd, brandishing torches and crude weapons, became utterly incensed, spittle flying from their lips in their fury.

Despite the vicious attitudes displayed by the enraged mob, Lin Ran’s face remained adorned with a deceptively harmless smile.

Indeed, Anmeng Yue, as a Dream Eater, was undeniably the central focal point of this entire hidden event.

For when one spoke of “monsters,” the only one universally acquired by every individual in this world was precisely this Dream Eater.

The hidden event, therefore, was designed to test players’ adaptability to unforeseen circumstances and their individual stance regarding the Dream Eater.

Would they surrender the Dream Eater, thereby forfeiting their right to shop transactions and eternally losing the ability to utilize crystal cores in the coming apocalypse?

Or would they staunchly defend the Dream Eater, engaging in combat with their adversaries, only to potentially face accusations from these NPCs to the kingdom’s highest echelons, resulting in troops being dispatched to eradicate them?

In essence, neither option seemed to promise a favorable outcome; true advantage could only be gained through the most astute handling of the situation.

One path involved negotiation: securing the Dream Eater’s survival and, in doing so, earning her unwavering loyalty.

The alternative was through brute force: physically repelling every single foe.

This, precisely, was the “trouble” Lin Ran had alluded to.

Yet, his inherent tendency was always to opt for a third, unforeseen choice.

He scratched his head, adopting an air of profound perplexity, and with a blank expression, inquired:

“A monster? What monster? Have you all perhaps made some grave error?”

A woman, clad in a white priestess uniform, raised her staff and pointed it directly at Lin Ran’s nose, berating him:

“What ridiculous jest are you playing at? The magical fluctuations are so palpable, any sentient being could perceive them!”

“Oh~ so you were referring to *magic power*!” Lin Ran exclaimed, a sudden look of enlightenment dawning on his face as he slapped his thigh.

“Oh dear, what a truly colossal misunderstanding this has been!”

His overly dramatic performance was so cringeworthy that Anmeng Yue, standing behind him, felt an overwhelming urge to find a hole and bury herself in it.

‘It was excruciatingly awkward, she thought. ‘Please, brother, tone it down.”

Lin Ran turned and re-entered the wooden house, only to re-emerge moments later, cradling a vibrant green plant in his hands.

It was Slime Grass, a plant that, to the casual observer, appeared indistinguishable from common weeds.

However, the very instant he produced it, the assembly of mages and priests, clutching their staves, simultaneously emitted a chorus of sharp, explosive cries.

“My heavens! What is that?! Slime Grass? The sheer magical energy emanating from it could only belong to Slime Grass!”

“That, they say, is the legendary root of all slimes, found only in the very places where slimes are born!”

“Isn’t the Slime Plain located near the Demon King’s Castle? Legend has it that the very first monster the Demon King ever tamed was a slime, and though slimes are inherently weak, the Slime Plain itself is said to be personally guarded by the Demon King!”

“Damn it all! Are the slimes we typically encounter born and bred from consuming *this*? What utter decadence!”

Lin Ran offered a knowing smile and a slight nod, a clear indication that the opposing world, as a whole, possessed a remarkably low level of martial prowess.

Despite being an alternate world, it clearly posed no significant threat to the Demon King.

Slime Grass, in their eyes, was nothing short of an extravagant luxury.

Speaking of which, he mused, ‘how remarkably similar are the experiences of this legendary Demon King to my own…’

Lin Ran shook his head, forcibly dispelling the errant thoughts swirling in his mind, and refocused his attention squarely on the present situation.

“Indeed, the immense magical energy you all perceived emanates not from some nefarious monster, but from *this*!”

Lin Ran raised the Slime Grass even higher for all to see.

“Allow me to formally introduce this precious plant, which I painstakingly acquired from the Slime Plain after much arduous effort—this is Slime Grass!”

Upon witnessing this, Anmeng Yue began to grasp the general gist of his plan.

Presumably, Lin Ran intended to trade the Slime Grass to these individuals at an exorbitant price, in exchange for crystal cores?

Only…

“According to your own assessment,” Anmeng Yue whispered, “if these people are indeed part of a sudden event, they won’t be returning later, making this a one-time transaction.”

“Frankly, I think it would be far more practical to simply relieve them of their crystal cores by force.”

Anmeng Yue leaned in close to Lin Ran’s ear, her voice a soft, conspiratorial whisper.

“Only you,” Lin Ran murmured back, “your thought process is remarkably direct. A profiteer truly knows how to make a fortune using the simplest means.”

“You’re still calling me a profiteer! You’re *still* calling me a profiteer! I’m angry, truly angry now! I’ll be charging interest on those crystal cores!”

As the two quietly exchanged whispers, the scarred man pondered for a considerable moment before finally breaking the silence.

“This level of magical energy, I believe, requires no further identification. We were rash in our assumptions; if this is merely the ambient magic emanating from Slime Grass, then I sincerely apologize for our prior conduct.”

To Lin Ran’s surprise, the scar-faced leader then bowed solemnly and respectfully towards him.

This man was proving to be rather decent, after all.

“Of course, in accordance with the regulations of the Adventurers’ Guild, a thorough search remains a necessary procedure. We must verify that no actual demonic entities reside within the house.”

With a subtle glance towards a few capable adventurers positioned behind him, he signaled them. Without a word or change of expression, they moved past Lin Ran and entered the wooden dwelling.

Anmeng Yue instantly became agitated, her hand instinctively clutching at Lin Ran’s sleeve.

Lim and Vera were clearly hidden upstairs; they would undoubtedly be discovered!

Just as she was about to voice her concerns, Lin Ran silenced her with a reassuring glance.

“Rest assured,” he whispered, “they are far more dependable than you are.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have personally brought you along; I genuinely wouldn’t trust you to hide effectively on your own.”

“You’re still insulting me!”

The scar-faced man, meanwhile, behaved as if completely unfazed, pulling a small notebook from his trousers pocket before addressing Lin Ran:

“Young man,” he began, “I trust you’re not concealing any secrets. So, while my associates conduct their search, perhaps we could discuss the trade of this Slime Grass? You intend to sell it, do you not?”

As mere adventurers, their capacity for purchase was inherently limited to the bare minimum.

Ultimately, they simply did not possess substantial funds.

Should Lin Ran possess any additional stock of such a vital commodity, the leader would, upon returning to the city, report it directly to the King, prompting His Majesty to dispatch a royal trade caravan for procurement.

Just then, the searching party emerged from the house, shaking their heads, signaling they had found nothing.

Indeed, it would have been truly baffling had they discovered anything.

The slimes had immediately retreated into the sewers, and the dolls, once deactivated, were indistinguishable from ordinary playthings, incapable of emitting even a whisper of magical energy.

“So, regarding the Slime Grass, what is your asking price?”

Lin Ran, hearing this, feigned deep contemplation for a considerable moment.

The scar-faced leader, anticipating an exorbitant price, was already preparing a mental report for the King.

However, Lin Ran’s subsequent words utterly astonished everyone present.

“No, this is not for sale.”

He then produced three fresh stalks of Slime Grass, along with the ten crystal cores he had borrowed from Anmeng Yue.

“These ten crystal cores are your basic remuneration.”

“And these stalks of Slime Grass are your sales commission; anyone who successfully sells my merchandise can exchange it for Slime Grass from me!”

“I am now formally employing all of you as my exclusive trade caravan, to assist me in selling my goods!”

…