Chapter 113: The Second Target
Chapter 113: The Second Target
“Andergreen, do you have the ‘Magic Scroll of Frozen Earth’? No!” Andergreen instantly refused without a second thought.
“Let’s be honest. It was the old man Bevicent who sent me. He personally told me you have the Scroll of Frozen Earth! I’m just a messenger. If you really don’t have it, I’ll take this Potion of Flame’s Breath to Bevicent. Surely he’ll still pay me the promised reward!”
Chen Mo had no fondness for this Great Ice Mage. The old man had a short temper and was too clever. Trying to gain favor with him was nearly impossible. Even if some favor were gained, getting benefits from him was still tough. Since that was the case, why be polite?
Bevicent!
So it really was that old scoundrel who sent him!
Andergreen glared furiously at Chen Mo, eyes sharp enough to kill. Yet Chen Mo stayed calm. He wasn’t afraid Andergreen would kill him. If the old man dared to kill him, he’d report it to Bevicent. He believed Bevicent would seize this leverage.
“Master Andergreen, why suffer like this? From what I see, that old fool Bevicent won’t live much longer anyway. But your pet… if it doesn’t get the Potion of Flame’s Breath, its condition will only worsen. It could even die. Is it worth letting your precious pet suffer and be threatened with death, just for some grudge against an old man who’ll soon be dead?”
Andergreen stayed silent, so Chen Mo pressed on earnestly.
“No chance! My hatred for Bevicent runs too deep. I will never give the Scroll of Frozen Earth to him!” Though his expression shifted slightly, Andergreen’s words remained cold.
“Master Andergreen, you’re not the world’s only Great Ice Mage. That scroll isn’t the only one in existence. In a few more years, Bevicent will still get his hands on one. He’ll just waste some time, that’s all.
But think of your pet. How much longer can it hold on without the Potion of Flame’s Breath? What if, before it dies, it looks at you with resentment? What if it regrets choosing the wrong owner? Will you regret your decision later… when you recall you could’ve saved its life but didn’t… while Bevicent just finds another scroll elsewhere?”
For his lifelong Boss-minion, Chen Mo poured every ounce of effort into this persuasive speech.
His words seemed to work.
Andergreen knew better than anyone there were plenty of Great Ice Mages. As Chen Mo said, Bevicent would still get a Scroll of Frozen Earth eventually, even if it took years. But his pet didn’t have years to wait. Without the Potion of Flame’s Breath, it might die or suffer permanent damage within months.
Weighing both options, agony twisted inside Andergreen.
“Well, I suppose I’ll head back to Bevicent then.”
Seeing Andergreen still wavering, Chen Mo decided to nudge him.
Andergreen snapped his furious gaze back to Chen Mo.
His feud with Borin was grounded in guilt—which stopped him from demanding the Potion himself. But Bevicent? That old scoundrel owed him! If Bevicent got the Potion, he’d march right over to mock Andergreen mercilessly!
In the end, not only would his beloved pet suffer… he’d have to endure Bevicent’s sneering too!
The image finally solidified his decision: “Wait!”
Chen Mo paused. Even if Andergreen hadn’t decided, he wasn’t leaving.
Not for Bevicent, but for himself. Catching Sesshylow required that scroll—he must get it.
“Fine, I’ll give you the Scroll. But when you hand it to Bevicent, you can’t say you’ve got it from me! You must say you…”
“…found it by the roadside!”
Chen Mo rolled his eyes, finishing the thought sarcastically.
“Exactly. Say you found it while walking, absolutely not from me!”
He found it strange a Hunter guessed his mind, but quickly moved on.
At last, Chen Mo persuaded the stubborn, ill-tempered old man. They exchanged the Scroll of Frozen Earth. With it in hand, capturing Sesshylow was much closer.
“Alright. Which monster do you want me to Freeze? As agreed—only within the Frozen Wasteland. Too far, and I’m busy,” said Andergreen, carefully storing the Potion first.
“The monster in the Frozen Wasteland’s Sealing Magic Array,” Chen Mo smiled faintly.
Yes! His target was the Frozen Wasteland’s Area Elite! Once Andergreen kept the Area Elite frozen for six hours, Chen Mo could unleash the Power of Annihilation. Killing the Elite alone meant another huge reward!
Trash mobs in the Frozen Wasteland weren’t worth his time otherwise!
“That thing? No!” Andergreen instantly refused again.
“You agreed to it. You didn’t ask the details—that’s not my fault. If you refuse now, I’ll tell Bevicent you gave me the scroll—and that you lied to a weak Adventurer! I’ll claim you tricked the Potion of Flame’s Breath from me!”
Chen Mo stated calmly. If that didn’t move the old man—well, he was out of moves.
The threat hit its mark. Andergreen glared fiercely, teeth grinding. “…Fine! Release the damned thing, I’ll Freeze it! After this, get lost and never let me see you again!”
Cough Threatening an NPC was risky—definitely better avoided. This Great Ice Mage despised him now.
But it was too late. Chen Mo never planned to gain his favor anyway.
He was a Hunter; the NPC was a Great Ice Mage. Two worlds apart.
“Not yet. I don’t have time. Wait until tomorrow night.”
Chen Mo couldn’t fight the Area Elite yet. He couldn’t risk it without Blood of Curse. Power of Annihilation couldn’t trigger otherwise.
He’d thought this through: six hours of Freeze time was no random choice.
Game-night was near. At night, as players logged off, monsters in the Frozen Wasteland became deadlier. Player numbers plummeted. Darkness was Chen Mo’s chance! He could hunt for Blood of Curse without competing crowds. During the day? Impossible—too many Players and Guilds scooped up the loot.
Forum wisdom claimed defeating the Frozen Wasteland Area Elite—much less unlocking the whole zone—was only possible at night.
Chen Mo planned this: hunt monsters for six hours tonight. Scout conditions tomorrow and hunt more tomorrow. Close to midnight—right before the System reclaimed all Blood of Curse—releasing the Area Elite. He’d use up every drop of Blood of Curse at once!
Then night would fall—six full hours to relentlessly attack the Frozen Area Elite!
Once dawn broke—Frozen or not—player numbers would surge. Someone would interfere. Area Elites became far stronger if multiple Guilds/players attacked. Killing it then? Hopeless.
“Find me then. Remember: do NOT give that scroll to Bevicent until the day after tomorrow. Or I won’t Freeze anything for you!” Andergreen snapped impatiently.
“Deal. I promise.”
Chen Mo knew: Andergreen feared Bevicent flaunting the scroll after getting it. He gave quick assurances.
Even if Andergreen hadn’t said it, Chen Mo wouldn’t return to Bevicent prematurely. Not until he’d tried slaying the Frozen Wasteland Elite.
Catching Sesshylow was possible at Level 18 (her level), but one more level increased his Attributes, boosting his success rate. Level mattered.
Andergreen dismissed him with a curt wave. Chen Mo left the castle.
Outside, daylight remained. Players teemed everywhere. Chen Mo headed to area swarming with monsters—claimed by the Flying Arrow Guild. A Guild member stepped forward to shoo him off. But Chen Mo simply logged out… right before reaching him.
He still had online time left. Logging out early? Resting—preparing for the grind later.
Just ten minutes before game-night arrived—Chen Mo logged in.
Not full darkness yet… but the Frozen Wasteland already felt uneasy. Most Players had logged out or retreated to town. On bleak, icy soil, faint silhouettes of other players dotted the horizon.
No sign of the Flying Arrow Guild near his hunting zone. Perfect.
Chen Mo located two monsters and began attacking cautiously. He studied their movements and weaknesses first.
The Frozen Wasteland’s sole monster-type: Level 16 Rotting Mud Monsters. They spat out venom—Highly Toxic. Due to frost, their attacks were slow. During daylight, these were easy: attacks were predictable. Dodging simple.
At night? Worse. Far worse. Attacks grew erratic. Two hits meant stacking poison Damage. Without high Attributes and gear—even with Priests healing—you’d be in trouble.
Three hits? You died. Period.