Chapter 350: One More Show

“Even if the wood elves could really replicate high elf magitek… don’t they see humans as enemies?”

The old man still appeared to have a hard time believing what happened his long life had afforded him rich experience, but his perspective had also become gradually stubborn. “Why would they give humans such a treasure?”

“Sure, they are unfriendly towards most humans…” Edward murmured.

He reached out his hand to scratch his hand by reflex then, but quickly retracted it when he was scalded by the flames over his helm, even blowing it for a while before saying, “But us Players had allied ourselves with the wood elves of Trinia. Isn’t it normal to help an ally?”

Edward’s explanation, however, was rather exaggerated.

Although Goddess Luna had allied herself with Xi Wei and had her believers to work in a bilateral partnership with the Players, that didn’t actually change the wood elves’ natural disdain against humans. Even if the Players displayed their ability and extended good will time and time again, only a small portion of the wood elves would treat them as equals.

Prejudices carved into the bones are really hard to change.

That said, Edward’s boasting was measured.

The old man appeared very weak, but he should live for some time thanks to the moonstone recharging his elven stone.

And as long as he was alive, he would still be the highest authority of Crookes.

The Meredith name alone had stood tall over Crookes over a century and was as effective as a golden cudgel. He just needed to show his face to calm the refugees whom Simba and the other newbie Players were relocating, so that they won’t have to stay scared in every moment or even stir trouble.

It was harsh to say it, but most humans were always social creatures who liked to blindly follow the crowd. Moreover, the Players could handle any provocateur daring to stir trouble, and there was no need to worry about the old man’s safety.

But the problem was that Old Meredith was neither a player nor a believer of Xi Wei, the God of Games.

Even with Eleena keeping the peace with both sides, Edward wouldn’t trust him.

This was the time that a certain level of the Players intimidation was quite important. That was why Edward would put things that way, since being ‘allies of the wood elves’ could command a strong influence over a typical small country, let alone a city. “I see…” While the old man still doubted that the wood elves would trust humans, there was no faking something that recharges an elven stone. Moreover, the group led by the youth was also equipped with items that had an elven air to it.

“In exchange, could you tell us what that big hole behind you is?”

Once Edward saw that the old man accepted his explanation, he quickly pressed on with the question he really wanted to ask. “This is a tunnel directed straight into the Dark Sky Stratum, which pierces the second stratum of Deep Wall… I’m not sure about the actual depth, but it would definitely extend beyond a hundred kilometers!”

The old man spoke solemnly. “I once had a flight-capable automaton explore it, and that’s the distance when we lost contact. I’ve come this time to suppress the monsters from the tunnel and the third stratum, because they don’t belong to the Faint Crystal Stratum. If they came in as they liked and activated the defensive measures, the entire ruin would become even more active!”

Edward summed up his thoughts after listening carefully to the old man’s description.

The Faint Crystal Stratum which was full of crystalline formations was the first stratum, and with the ground itself having the effect of a thick rampart, it was therefore the Deep Wall. As such, past the thick wall would be the Dark Sky Stratum!

In other words, the second stratum was behind the hole the old man was struggling to defend!

“Alright. Mister Meredith, please leave the Faint Crystal Stratum—the people of Crookes still need your leadership.” Edward promptly said after getting the information he wanted. “You can leave this to us.”

“Don’t underestimate the monsters from the second and third stratums!” The old man shook his head with a grave look. “Stardust Net—the high elf relic I use only stopped those things by using almost remaining energy left in the elven stone! I wouldn’t have lasted another hour if you didn’t come in time, but that energy would have enough to restrain an adult dragon for three days and night!”

“So, you’re saying there are stronger monsters than dragons?” Edward asked.

“Individually speaking, not really… they might be as powerful as wyverns, but in numbers they would be stronger than dragons!” The old man answered solemnly, having no intention to make light of the situation.

Edward was nodding empathically in response too.

But just when the old man presumed that he understood his advice, Edward suddenly said, “Got it. If there’s nothing else, please withdraw the high elf relic and leave.”

You people understand nothing!

The old man almost blurted out a curse.

Nonetheless, for the sake of not having his image break down in front of his granddaughter, he kept his frustration in control and reemphasized himself. “They are monsters that could match a dragon in groups!”

“Aren’t they just wyverns? It’s not like we haven’t dealt with those.”

But this time, the Players appeared impatient as well-in fact, Joe was pulling at his hair and complaining quietly. If it had been a real dragon, the Players might have called up their companions here to beat up that Boss. But to tell the truth, when it came to normal beasts like wyverns, any Players present here would be able to take down two or three of them alone.

Soloing a devil would get you followers on the Player forums, whereas soloing a giant would earn you cheers. But if you solo one wyvern and then tried to show off for the forums, the Players would most likely assume that you were joking and suggest that you put up one more show by soloing a Megasaur or something…