Chapter 1 Main Quest and Side Quests

[Main Quest Triggered]
[Side Quest Triggered]

After the three greeted each other, the system prompt rang out immediately—two sentences in a row, in fact.

The next second, all three of them looked at the quest log in unison.

First, the main quest: [Find the original translation of the *Ramayana* among Blackbeard's treasure]

Next, there were three consecutive side quests, namely:

[Help Blackbeard find his old comrades on Jumo Island], [Board an enemy ship during a naval battle and kill at least three enemy sailors], and [Participate in a deck boxing match and defeat the "Viking"].

"Hmm...there's quite a lot going on in this script." After quickly reading the quest content, Feng Bujue muttered this rather uninformative line.

This was one of his usual conversational techniques, using this "throwing a brick to attract jade" method to get the others around him to voice their opinions first.

"Looking at the content, these are all tasks that can be taken care of while doing the main quest..." Honghu understood Jue Ge relatively well, so he immediately added a similarly uninformative piece of nonsense, indicating that this grand strategist would not fall for your tricks.

"Heh..." As a result, two seconds later, Snow, quick-witted but "inexperienced," smiled and said, "Thinking about it the other way around...based on the principle that side quests are 'optional,' aren't these three quests implying...that we can choose not to join Blackbeard's camp, not help him find people, not help him fight naval battles, and not participate in any sailor boxing matches...but instead choose to hide here until the ship docks, then head straight for the treasure and complete the main quest?"

"Eh?" Hearing this, Honghu immediately perked up, "This 'Snow' brother, you're pretty good, let's be friends, shall we?"

Honghu was also a sensible person; he knew very well that in this game *Thriller Paradise*, a player who could immediately make this analysis after seeing the above four quests was at least one level higher than the "average" player.

Levels, equipment, skills, specialization...these things can all be obtained through time or money, but wisdom is not easily obtained, so...the more friends like this, the better.

"Hmph...okay." A second later, Snow replied, "I've also heard a lot about Honghu's reputation. I'm honored to be acquainted with such a celebrity."

His words actually carried a hint of sarcasm. Logically speaking...if he and Honghu became friends, then Honghu should be the one who felt honored.

In reality, Honghu was at best a first-tier celebrity in the gaming circle, but in terms of social influence and power...he might not even be as strong as some second or third-tier small stars.

And Snow...without exaggeration, he was like the "prince of the underworld"; as long as he was willing, he could make those so-called "high society" figures kneel down and lick his shoes, or even disappear from the face of the earth in minutes.

However, in this game world in front of them, they were both just..."players."

This is also one of the charms of the Internet—the network can, at a certain time, in a certain place...allow people whose identities and statuses are very different in the real world to be in a relatively fair environment.

In this environment, the various resources that those "superiors" usually control...such as priority in speaking, the right to choose; the ability to dominate the direction of events through various legal or illegal "off-site means," etc....will all disappear.

Just like how animals raised in captivity gradually lose their ability to hunt, when those people come out of the cages called "money" and "power," most of them...will appear particularly fragile, incompetent, and even stupid.

Of course, there are exceptions...

Snow is one exception. Even if you take away everything around him, he is still a difficult character to deal with.

Fortunately, at this moment...he is a companion, not an opponent.

"Where, where~ I'm just making a living, not a celebrity, everyone is a friend who plays games, there's no need to be so polite." After receiving the other party's reply, Honghu made a very humble response.

The current Honghu is obviously much more mature than when he first met Jue Ge. It can also be said that...it was the "meeting Feng Bujue" thing that made him grow a lot.

Back then...during the "Tower Ascent" script, he and the other two studio players flattered each other in front of Jue Ge at the beginning; he would never do such a thing now.

The higher a person stands in a certain field, the wider their horizons, the more they will understand the principle that there is always someone better, that there is always a sky beyond the sky; if they want to go to "higher places," they must learn "awe," learn "self-reflection," learn "humility"...

"Complacency" is something to be enjoyed by those who are complacent and stick to the old ways after a little success. It is a kind of compensation from heaven for those who "stop at this skill."

And Honghu, definitely does not belong to that kind of person...Therefore, he has long abandoned that "complacency" and placed himself in a very low position, fighting with the mentality of when his career was just starting.

Today, Honghu has made considerable progress in his words and deeds, quick wit and long-term thinking. As the team's strategist, his ability is no longer inferior to Jue Ge's. His assistance to the [Scrap Alliance] all the way to the finals in s2 is a good proof; and in terms of dealing with people, Honghu also tends to show the demeanor of a general. If you really want to talk about the ability to "play dumb," he can also compete with Jue Ge.

"I think...how about this." After listening to the two of them talking for a few sentences, Feng Bujue maliciously interjected, "You two...just crawl into a barrel and chat slowly; I...will go out alone, join the pirate group, complete the side quests, and come back to call you when the ship lands."

"Forget it..." Honghu said, already opening the lid of the wooden barrel he was in, poking his head out, and turning on the flashlight he was carrying, "If we let you go out alone, you'd sell us out within three minutes."

"You don't trust me that much?" Jue Ge also opened the wooden lid above his head, revealing half his head and raising his eyebrows.

"Ha!" Honghu chuckled, "I've even thought of the specific process of you betraying your teammates...The first step is to deliberately get discovered and caught; the second step is to claim that you admire Captain Blackbeard very much and want to join his pirate group; the third step is to report the locations of me and Snow as chips, and at the same time put the blame for the 'disappearance of the withered leaf wine' on us...That's it."

"Hmm..." Before he could finish speaking, Snow also emerged from his barrel, "It's really a good plan. This not only solves the problem of two companions who will eventually share the main quest rewards with you, but also wins you Blackbeard's trust...Even if that trust isn't very strong, it's enough to keep you on the ship."

"Tch...Am I such an unambitious person?" Feng Bujue squinted his eyes and looked left and right, then took out [Bell's Everyday Knife] from his waist and cut open the rope net covering the three barrels.

"Me? Feng Bujue, would I need to betray my teammates to gain the trust of NPCs?" After cutting open the rope net, Jue Ge put away his knife, stood up, and said, "Get it straight, this is the main universe..." At this point, he patted his chest, "We have connections."

"Right, right~" Honghu also squinted his eyes, stood up and said, "I almost forgot...Even Dou Mo is one of your people, right?"

Honghu naturally still remembered the fact that Feng Bujue calculated against his team in the s2 finals and the entire team was directly sent out of the main universe.

"Ah...who knows." Jue Ge laughed, did not give a clear answer, and quickly changed the topic, "In short, I am definitely going to do the side quests, whether you two want to do them...is up to you."

"Do it, why wouldn't we do it?" Honghu said, "You're the only one who said all that, I never said I wanted to hide here."

"Hehe...it seems you two are quite familiar." Snow, who had been silent for a while, climbed out of the barrel at this time and said with a smile.

"Ah...sort of." Honghu replied, "Dealing with Brother Feng...whether as a teammate or an opponent, will be a very unforgettable experience."

Snow smiled knowingly when he heard this: "Heh...indeed, I deeply agree."

"Oh?" At this moment, Honghu also realized something, "Speaking of which...isn't this the first time you two have met?" He turned to look at Snow and asked suspiciously, "I remember, Snow, you just called him 'Mr. Crow'?"

"Yes." Snow did not intend to hide it, "About a month ago, we met twice, and some things happened during that time...so..."

"Hey, hey, hey..." Feng Bujue interrupted Snow, "Why are you describing it with a tone as if we met in a gay bar?"

"Huh?" Snow was stunned, "Did I?"

"Of course, you did." Jue Ge replied confidently in his hometown dialect, and immediately looked at Honghu and asked, "You be the judge...Isn't his statement just now easy to associate with... 'I used the name Mr. Crow to hang out in gay bars, and then he picked me up' that kind of conclusion?"

"Uh..." Honghu didn't know what expression to use to face this question and answer, "At first, I definitely didn't think about that at all, but now, you've forcibly brought me into that kind of brainwashing rhythm that I don't want to enter..."

"Look, you see." Feng Bujue, after receiving the reply, looked back at Snow and said, "It's your statement that's the problem, right?"

"Hey...it's clearly your problem..." Honghu supported his forehead and shook his head, "And...what's there to dwell on in this kind of thing, a lot of people know that you have a girlfriend, okay?" He lengthened his voice, "If you don't want me to ask about 'what exactly happened between you and Snow'...just say it directly, there's no need to bring the conversation to strange content to divert attention...Anyway, I wasn't very interested in this matter in the first place."

Hearing these sentences, Feng Bujue's expression changed slightly, and he thought to himself: "Wow...you've grown in ability, my intentions are seen clearly."

"Okay, let's talk about the script." But Jue Ge did not praise the other party face to face, but immediately changed the topic, "Snow, are you planning to stay here, or come out with us?"

"I..." In the past ten seconds, Snow had been observing his words and expressions and analyzing the relationship between the two people in front of him and every sentence they said; Now, when Jue Ge suddenly asked him this question, he hesitated for two seconds, and then continued, "...Naturally, I will act with the two of you."

"Okay, you go open the door." Feng Bujue didn't give the other party time to think at all, and immediately made a request.

"Hmm..." Snow wasn't stupid, he immediately asked three very constructive questions, "Excuse me...why should I go open the door? Why should I listen to you? And...why don't we search this 'third storage room' before leaving?"

And Feng Bujue was also prepared, and immediately replied: "It's very simple...because I have connections, and I have to rely on me to connect with Blackbeard. So...exploration work like 'possibly running into guards and being instantly killed after opening the door' definitely can't be done by me." He paused, "As for the reason for not searching this room...it's also obvious; we're going to join the pirate group in a while, if you 'steal' their things now, won't it become a hidden danger later?"

"Ah..." Snow heard this, thought for three seconds, then rolled his eyes and said, "Why am I convinced by this somewhat unreasonable reason..."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the door.

Feng Bujue and Honghu then looked at each other, the former just shrugged with a smile, while the latter shook his head helplessly.

A few seconds later, Snow came to the door of this third storage room.

It was a very thick wooden door. Whether it was the door panel or the lock on the door, it looked like it couldn't be destroyed by ordinary knives and guns.

After standing still, Snow put his hand on the doorknob; before opening the door, he looked back at his two teammates.

At this time, Feng Bujue was looking around with an indifferent expression, while Honghu was focused, holding a flashlight to illuminate Snow.

"Heh..." Snow laughed softly again when he turned his face towards the door panel again.

Jue Ge and Honghu did not hear this laugh, because the continuous sound of the ocean waves drowned it out.

Glulu—

Then, Snow turned the doorknob and opened the door.

As expected, there was indeed a guard outside the door, but the guard was lying on a hammock a few meters away from the wooden door, snoring loudly; the shaking of the ship and the surrounding sounds had no effect on him...Undoubtedly, he was already used to sleeping in such an environment, and the bursts of snoring indicated that he was sleeping soundly.