"Hey, it's getting lively!"
Jimmy rushed to answer, his mouth stuffed with meat, and his words were slurred. "The Adventurer's Guild has a big quest! A special investigation mission for the Phantom Wolf Valley incident team, star rating to be determined! The reward is shockingly generous! They say we need to thoroughly investigate the root cause of the destruction of Phantom Wolf Valley and the magical changes, and also assess the current danger level of the Monster Mountain Range near Osborne Town!"
Siqi took over the conversation, her voice sounding calm in the firelight:
"As soon as the quest was posted, the entire Grizz Bear Tavern went ballistic. Many newly emerged adventure groups, or those that suddenly arrived from the neighboring town, were eager to take the quest. Even some lone warriors who usually kept a low profile started forming temporary teams."
Mark understood in his heart that although Elaine had revealed some information to him, there were some things she did not tell him clearly.
For example, the most obvious mission of the Magic Association and the Church of Holy Light this time may be to rate the danger level of the area near Osborne Town.
If the danger level near Osborne Town increases, the Adventurer's Guild will probably allocate some more powerful adventure groups from other towns to station in Osborne Town.
Even if they are not permanent residents, other adventure groups will probably have more opportunities to take on missions near Osborne Town.
He feigned curiosity. "Ghost Wolf Valley? I heard about it from Ailian when we were handing in the quest. There are contribution point rewards, and you can pick up items in Ghost Wolf Valley as well. The profit is indeed quite large. What about the three major adventure groups? They suffered such a big loss last time, aren't they going to make up for it this time?"
Beta scoffed and pulled out a piece of wood to stick into the fire. "Mad wolf? Stag? Silver fox? Ha, quite clever!"
"I went to have a drink with the Mad Wolf leader. The old man didn't drink much, but he was honest. He said that the Phantom Wolf King was evil!"
"He also got information about the werewolf we hunted from the guild's internal channels. He said the guild had a high-level appraiser identify it, and that werewolf was no ordinary one. He's afraid that if he goes in again, he'll encounter the werewolf transformed by the Phantom Wolf King."
"It's a rare moment for the three groups to agree on this. Stay away from that damn place! Money is good, but you have to be alive to spend it."
Siqi nodded and added, "The leader and I have discussed this before. The risks and benefits are not proportional."
"The weirdness of the Wolf King's lair last time was enough to give us a hard time. Now the Phantom Wolf Valley was destroyed overnight without any warning. There must be a lot of trouble here. Even if there is no danger in going in now, what if we pick up something we shouldn't... So, we didn't get involved."
The firelight danced on Beta's face, revealing the clear caution in his eyes. "Mr. Mark, I know you're strong and cunning. But listen to my advice, brother. That place is a whirlpool right now. It may look calm, but who knows what deadly things are hidden underneath. The three major groups have retreated, and those ignorant young men from other towns who came here are probably..."
He shook his head and said nothing more, but the meaning was self-evident.
He thought that Mark and the other two had finished their mission and were in a hurry to leave Osborne Town and go to the Wolf Valley.
As a friend, he deliberately brought up this topic in order to persuade Mark in disguise.
Of course, Mark heard the hidden meaning and concern in Beta's words.
He swallowed the soft, flavorful bacon with a warm heart, smiling sincerely. "Thanks for the reminder, Captain Beta. We really don't have much interest in Phantom Wolf Valley. The farther away from that place... the better."
He picked up a piece of soup-soaked pancake, its edges crispy, and added casually, but his gaze met Beta's with a hint of seriousness. "It's not just in Phantom Wolf Valley. If you ever come across something like that in the werewolf den again...with that strange holy light or a strange aura, Brother Beta, listen to me, stay away. Some things, once you get them on you, you can't get rid of them."
Beta paused slightly. The profound meaning and certainty in Mark's words made his heart tremble.
He looked at Mark deeply, and without asking any more questions, he just nodded vigorously, keeping Mark's reminder in mind: "I understand! Thank you, brother Mark!"
He picked up the water bag and gestured to Mark, saying everything.
No words were spoken that night.
Early the next morning, the two teams set out on their journey.
Over the next three days, they first crossed the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range and arrived at the Rotten Bone Swamp as planned.
Then follow the instructions on the map, pass through the extended area of the Rotten Bone Swamp, and finally quickly pass through the outer area where the Poison Mist Swamp and the Rotten Bone Swamp meet.
Thanks to Siqi's magic water jacket that isolates miasma and toxins, and Beta's team's rich experience in swamp navigation, the journey was thrilling but safe.
They avoided large quagmires and lurking swamp monster nests, and the scattered poisonous lizards, bone leeches and other low-level monsters they encountered were quickly dealt with by the two teams.
Mark and the other two tacitly maintained the combat rhythm that ordinary professionals should have. Apart from occasionally reminding the team in advance to avoid potential dangers, they did not show too much strength.
It looked like the Beta team could easily pass through the Corrupted Dragon Swamp without them.
As for the young archer Colin who had just joined the Beta team, he was quite skilled and his archery was accurate, but the contempt and impatience towards Mark's team remained unchanged.
Especially when Mark was playing the role of a shield warrior and holding up his shield to block the attacks of Warcraft, there was always a subtle hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
A clergyman turned into a shield warrior in an adventure team, what else could that be but incompetence?
Beta actually makes friends with such a priest. No wonder he has never been promoted to a three-star adventure group despite being so famous in Osborne Town.
Monica saw all of this, but occasionally when she was communicating with Xiao Mu, her fingertips would unconsciously rub the handle of the dagger.
It was not until the evening of the third day, when the thick stench of decay and paralyzing poisonous fog in the air were finally replaced by a fresh, cool breeze carrying moisture, that a mind-opening scene finally appeared before everyone's eyes.
They arrived at Starfall Lake.
As the name suggests, the Falling Star Lake is a huge lake that looks like a piece of fallen star fragment embedded in the junction of mountains and swamps.
The lake water is almost dark blue in color, and the surface is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the stars in the sky and the rising half moon. For a moment, it is difficult to distinguish the boundary between heaven and earth.
The lakeshore is winding and covered with silver-gray fine sand, which contrasts sharply with the surrounding dark green tundra and the dark mineral rocks in the distance.
However, the most striking feature is not the vast lake itself, but the raised rocky area surrounding the lake's western shore.
In the exposed rock formations, countless tiny and dazzling silver-white points of light flickered, as if the Milky Way was crushed and scattered among the mountains. That was the legendary mithril vein!
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