Chapter Three Countdown: Day 7.
Early morning.
After a night of contemplation, Ming had a daring thought: to send the frogs into the mist to explore that world.
He analyzed all the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages: 1, Due to the frogs' unique characteristics, they wouldn't die unless they provoked danger, so they could move freely within the mist; 2, To some extent, they were scouts, but at specific times, they were resource retrieval teams; 3, Their excursions were low-cost.
Disadvantage: There was only one point - he feared they would trigger hidden quests.
Therefore, Ming deliberately brought the frogs before a crumbling wall and carved various symbols like exclamation marks, question marks, periods, etc., with a dagger. Then, he began his lesson with the three tadpoles.
"Your foodie watched you draw an exclamation mark on the wall and then a big cross over it. It understood that it had to eliminate a mark upon seeing one - it's well-versed in that~"
"Da Vinci looked at your speechless expression. It knew Foodie was wrong. Thus, Da Vinci chose to pretend to understand. If it didn't touch these marks, it wouldn't make a mistake. Ming couldn't find fault with that~"
"..."
Ming looked at Da Vinci. Although your understanding is severely flawed, the conclusion is right.
He gave a thumbs up and quickly stuffed a chubby white worm into its mouth, then turned to Merlin.
"Your Merlin tilted his head. Ming, it's not mealtime yet. Besides, it only likes eating poisonous things~"
"Merlin looked at you pointing at the wall. It nonchalantly stuck out its tongue, indicating that it understood a while ago - to ignore and avoid anything it encounters. It assured you that you can trust it~ It absolutely won't cause any trouble for you~"
"Merlin licked your palm, 'Ming, I will keep an eye on Foodie. I will make it understand~'"
"How thoughtful~"
Ming placed Merlin on his palm, gently stroking its head. He felt at ease with Merlin being a part of the frog's mist exploration team.
Half an hour later.
On the edge of the mist.
Ming placed the three frogs on the ground, stroked their heads, fed them fish, and kissed their heads to point them toward the mist. He himself stood fully armed at the edge of the mist, ready to deal with any emergencies.
Today, he planned to have the frogs make short-distance attempts. They weren't looking for rapid progress but rather for steady success.
"Your frogs have entered the mist. They look at the hazy ground and the crimson sky... They see a pale, eyeless creature. The monster also turns its head towards them without making any movements, then continues to face the mist border... The frogs think it's aloof~"
"Merlin thinks that if this creature were its pet, it would surely put it in a large cage and take good care of it, feeding it poison every day~"
"..."
Upon receiving the frogs' travel information, Ming furrowed his brow. It had been one night, and the eyeless monster was still outside. Was it planning to wait for him?
Was it really necessary to do this just because he had failed in the one-on-one challenge?
However, the brief encounter between the eyeless monster and the frogs confirmed one thing: these creatures really weren't interested in his frogs at all.
He remembered how it was just in the early. Da Vinci had provoked a zombie in the hallway, but the zombie ignored it and didn't even give it a glance.
At that time, Da Vinci was so upset that it stripped the zombie bare, which also helped Ming complete his first hidden task.
Eventually, it received the title "Short and Fast".
"Foodie tells Merlin, don't worry, I'll bring it home for you~ Foodie rushes over, and croaks at the eyeless monster who has turned its face towards it~ Do you want to live a carefree life, with plenty to eat and drink?"
"Foodie watches as the eyeless monster sniffs at it and continues to ignore it... Foodie seems a bit disappointed. It uses its collecting ability on the eyeless monster, but the collecting fails due to being overweight~"
"Foodie thinks it would be embarrassing to return empty-handed. It looks at the skull 'belt' around the eyeless monster's waist, uses its collecting ability, and successfully collects it~ Thanks for your gift, goodbye~"
"~~"
Ming laughed. It was a good start.
He reflected on the frog message he had received, confirming that the four-armed Vashak was no longer here, which was a good thing for him.
"Your foodie returns and tells little Merlin that the eyeless monster over there is busy and can't become your pet for now. It says that once it's done with its tasks, it will definitely come home with you, and it also thoughtfully gave its belt as a token~"
"Da Vinci doesn't believe it. It pats Foodie. If it's willing, why is it spinning around and baring its teeth, roaring~"
"Foodie rotates its eyes and tells Da Vinci and Merlin that the monster is excitedly saying goodbye to us, wishing us a pleasant journey. Foodie croaks at the eyeless monster, wishing it to be happy as well~"
"Your frogs turn around and continue to head deep into the ruins. They walk and discuss what the eyeless monster is doing here. Da Vinci thinks it must be waiting for an old friend~"
"Everyone should be happy~"
Ming jumps into the mist, looking at the still-spinning eyeless monster as if it's looking for something. He smiles and says, "Old friend, give me some spider silk~"
"Chirp!!"
Upon hearing Ming's voice, the eyeless monster immediately stops searching. It turns its face towards the sound and slowly moves forward, sniffing with its small nostrils. Suddenly, it stops and continues to face the man not far away.
Familiar scent.
Then, it charges forward, its flat belly rolling from bottom to top, and its rear begins to spray mature spider silk.
"Thank you~"
Ming can assure that these thanks are from the heart, with no pretense at all.
How could he, a man of such deep feelings, deceive others?
"Thank you~"
He raised his hand to catch the thrown spider silk and stored it in the warehouse while thanking the 'old friend' for its gift~
"Your frogs are squatting on top of the ruins, looking at the scene in the distance. They finally understand why the monster is ignoring them. It's because it already has someone it loves, and that's you~"
"Foodie thinks that this might be true love. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so generous as to give Ming so many spiderwebs for free~"
"Merlin turns around and continues to move toward the ruins. Now it doesn't want the eyeless monster as a pet anymore. It thinks the eyeless monster is silly~"
"~~"
As Ming collects the spiderwebs, he sees the eyeless monster suddenly rushing over, moving so fast that he himself is embarrassed.
He jumps out of the mist. Accepting spiderwebs is one thing, but close contact is another.
we're not familiar with each other, ok?
Besides, Ming wants to conduct an experiment. He throws a spiderweb from his warehouse. The spiderweb lands a meter in front of him and spreads out...
"..."
Although the throwing distance is not far, he thinks it's quite fun. According to this situation, he is also close combat 'Spiderman'.
Even though, he can't make spiderwebs himself...
"I'm a serious businessman, and naturally I believe in fair trade~"
Ming jumps into the mist from a different angle and releases a volley of arrows at the eyeless monster on the other side.
A moment later, he collects a wave of spiderwebs and jumps out of the mist again.
Exchanging arrows for the web is a fair trade, very reasonable.