Chapter 19 Getting Stuck on a Tree

After obtaining a precise map from Elson, the group finalized their rendezvous point with Marshal Aufra in a wilderness area outside Holletta’s capital. Hao Ren decided to use Fuzzy Teleportation to get there directly, which would minimize their contact with other knight orders along the Dragon Spine Mountain Range blockade—after all, Hao Ren and his group had descended from the sky into the Dragon Spine Mountains, and the mountain range was now a military zone.

But it wasn't until everyone was hanging from a tree that Hao Ren realized Fuzzy Teleportation was indeed a function to be used with caution. The data terminal's instructions stated that it was a feature to be selected "only when you don't know the exact coordinates of your destination but need to get there quickly." It would help the user avoid physical obstacles to prevent being teleported into a wall or a tree, but it couldn't prevent you from being teleported into mid-air and then hanging from a tree.

Hanging precariously from a tree branch, Hao Ren muttered, "I think we should have asked Elson to arrange a carriage for us; we weren't in a hurry anyway..."

Lili, hanging next to him, swayed back and forth: "This is so much fun!"

"Next time you get teleported over a puddle, let's see if you still think it's fun," Vivian's voice came from behind them, followed by a flurry of flapping wings. The vampire girl was the first to free herself from the tree branches by disassembling into bats. "Stop hanging around. Let's get down and see where we are. I'm suddenly a little skeptical about the effectiveness of Fuzzy Teleportation."

So the group began to shake vigorously, accompanied by the cracking sound of breaking branches. These Fuzzy Teleportation tree-hangers fell to the ground like dumplings. Nangong Sanba preened as he got up, "I'm telling you, this is nothing. I was trained in this as a kid. My sister's tail was higher than the trees when she swung it. This time, we just got hung up in a tree; as long as we're careful..."

Hao Ren turned his head and glanced at him: "Careful of your sister."

Nangong Sanba glared: "I'm talking to you nicely; why are you cursing me?"

Nangong Wuyue jumped up from behind and whacked her brother on the head: "You're going to remember all your life how many times I hit you with my tail, aren't you?"

Hao Ren watched the half-baked demon hunter squat down, covering his head, and could only shrug: "I said, be careful of your sister."

Lili hopped onto a large rock nearby and looked around, discovering that they were in a desolate wilderness. The tree that the group had been hanging from was one of the few tall plants within a few kilometers—their luck was truly extraordinary. To the east, they could see the outline of a city. If he wasn't mistaken, it should be the capital. Aufra should be waiting for them nearby.

"Holletta's capital... I've always heard it's a pretty prosperous place; I just never had a chance to take a look," Hao Ren said with some emotion, looking at the city outline at the end of the horizon. This planet had many scenic spots and beautiful landscapes, but every time he came here, he was either fighting with rocks or with forests, or he was entangled in a bunch of gloomy and frightening ancient stories. He really hadn't had much opportunity to visit those famous places. "Speaking of which, Aufra should be waiting for us nearby, right? Elson's message should have arrived long ago... are we here too early?"

As soon as Hao Ren finished speaking, he heard a clear and loud voice from behind him: "Actually, I've been waiting here for a while—I just didn't dare associate this image of a group of people falling out of a tree with the heroes who are saving the world."

Hao Ren turned his head and saw Aufra standing there at some unknown time. The valiant female marshal was still dressed in military attire, but the armor on her body had changed from standard combat steel armor to a close-fitting soft armor. She looked at the strangers in front of her with a smile, with some surprise and some astonishment in her eyes: "I didn't expect you to appear in such a surprising way every time—and I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

Hao Ren awkwardly scratched his nose: "I don't hang from a tree every time..."

"Follow me, I've prepared a carriage. It's quite a distance to walk to the capital from here." As Aufra spoke, she raised her hand and pointed into the distance. Hao Ren saw a plainly decorated but large carriage parked by the side of the road, big enough for everyone to ride in.

The group got into the carriage and headed for the capital. Becky was as excited as if she had taken drugs, sitting in her seat and fidgeting. Aufra looked at the situation with some confusion: "What's wrong with her?"

Hao Ren shrugged: "She's just excited to be in the same car with her idol."

Becky looked at Aufra with sparkling eyes, wishing she could pounce on her and rub against her: "Lady Aufra! I'm your brain-dead fan!!"

Aufra was shocked when she heard this: "Brain injured?! Did you get hurt while adventuring in another world? I have a doctor there..."

Hao Ren almost choked to death from coughing. He patted Becky on the shoulder hard: "That's why I said you need a few days to adjust when you get back home. Look at what habits you picked up on Earth—put your feet down; this isn't a sofa!"

Aufra looked curiously at Nangong Sanba, who was sitting in the corner of the carriage, looking out the window: "This... is he also a member of your group?"

"His name is Nangong Sanba, a new member of the team," Hao Ren directly treated Nangong Sanba as a new member. Anyway, the latter couldn't quit now if he wanted to, and it looked like he was interested in working in the same unit as his sister. "He's not familiar with things in this world yet, so please forgive him if he says anything inappropriate."

Aufra looked at the group even more curiously. Hao Ren felt uncomfortable under her gaze: "Is there a problem?"

"No... I'm just wondering what your normal lives are like. A group of strangers who can travel through time and space at will, bearing special missions, you must have seen a lot of things outside. I can't imagine that kind of life... but I'm a little envious of this mercenary girl and the four masters. It's really an incredible adventure. Speaking of which, the four masters won't be back for the time being?"

"They should be back soon," Hao Ren smiled. "We found a stable connection channel that can permanently send the four masters back to this world. In fact, the main purpose of our coming here this time is to send Becky home."

Aufra nodded thoughtfully, then said bluntly: "But before that, I hope you can meet with our Pope and King—not as a formal audience, but as a guest. You know, only you have the ability to solve what's happening in our world. His Majesty the King and His Holiness the Pope already know what happened in the Dragon Spine Mountains; they have been waiting for you for a long time."

Hao Ren agreed readily: "Of course, I've wanted to find someone in charge here to understand the situation for a long time. I originally thought it would be enough to find you, but it's even better to have the opportunity to understand the situation with your King and Pope."

Becky suddenly remembered something and sat up straight: "Wait! His Majesty the King? Does that mean the conferment and rewards can be carried out directly?! His Majesty the King will handle this personally?!"

Aufra was confused: "Conferment? Rewards?"

Becky's eyes were green: "The bounty! The bounty for the Sacred Pearl! Manor estates, noble titles! And half a box of gold and silver jewelry can't just disappear—wasn't that what I set out from the Great Plains for?"

Aufra was dumbfounded when she heard this. She had been immersed in the topic of the fate of the world and hadn't come back to her senses yet, but she didn't expect Becky's mind to be on these things. Seeing this situation, Hao Ren could only shrug helplessly: "Don't be surprised, that's all she cares about. Just give her the bounty from back then; this girl is obsessed."

Aufra's expression: o_0?!

It's no wonder that Aufra had this expression. Throughout history, there haven't been many heroes who saved the world who would charge depreciation fees like Becky, especially a group of superhumans who can travel through time and space. This made Aufra subconsciously think that they were all otherworldly—if you saw Superman save America and then tear up an IOU for the Pentagon, you would definitely have the same expression...

At this time, the carriage finally drove into the first gate of Holletta's capital. Of course, the marshal's carriage was not questioned. Aufra took this opportunity to quickly remind Hao Ren: "The truth about what happened in the Dragon Spine Mountains is a secret. People only know the version spread by the Church, so I hope you can hide your identities—you will receive the necessary rewards, but I'm afraid the royal family can't announce the true story behind the rewards. I hope you can understand."

Hao Ren waved his hand dismissively: "Oh, it's okay, I don't care about that. Anyway, we don't live here permanently. You can give all the rewards to Becky."

Becky immediately burst out laughing.

"There's another reason to hide your identities," Aufra's expression was slightly awkward. She opened the carriage curtain and pointed outside, "In the official propaganda..."

Hao Ren turned his head and looked out the carriage window, his expression slowly freezing.

Aufra's voice came slowly: "... You all heroically died as mercenary leaders... but rest assured, your tombstones and hero statues are placed in the front row."

Hao Ren: "..."