Comprehensive network wizard, magic emperor.

Chapter 115: Warm and Hospitable Stone Tower Town

Three teammates left one after another, and the channel fell silent for a moment. Then everyone discussed going to the public channel to recruit people to fill the quota.

Lin Bo received private messages from warlocks, dwarves and bards again.

Farewells in private are always lighter and more silent. Lin Bo and the others agreed that if they were to meet again in the future, they would run maps together again. They should keep in touch and let each other know if they had any difficulties or needs, and help each other.

The dwarf was very serious. He was the most forthcoming when saying goodbye in the team channel, but he was the one who talked the most in private chats.

Not only did he say goodbye, he also took the initiative to chat about dwarven topics such as forging, construction, mineral processing, and wine.

Lin Bo rarely discusses personal matters, whether personal or private. He maintains a clear distinction between online and offline life. However, many of his teammates are different. They treat the online community as their own, proactively sharing their daily experiences and worries.

He chatted with the dwarf about his daily forging, construction, and alchemy, which were his life.

The dwarf finally had enough to talk, and he asked Limbo to open a trade route.

Then he was given a large barrel of strong liquor and a stack of precious brewing recipes, which recorded hundreds of dwarven drinks.

[Drinking Expert]: Just drink it. I'll give you more when you're done. I can't let a dwarf friend be without a drink. I really want to invite you to the great hall of our tribe. I will definitely treat you to three days and three nights of drinking.

[Lighthouse Guest]: Good (happy)
Lin Bo patted the sturdy oak barrel, and the rippling wine whispered in his ears, telling the story of how grains from the other world fermented, the sweat of the dwarf winemakers, and the laughter wafting from the hall in the belly of the mountain.

A message popped up on the website that a new member had joined the team.

Nowadays, players in the [Sea Spirit Altar] dungeon are trying to challenge the ten-person difficulty, but the success rate is not high.

The only team that can consistently clear dungeons is this veteran team they formed, and the affix guides they produced have proven their strength in the channel.

So when they announced they were recruiting, online players signed up eagerly.

The three new players joining the team are a warrior, a monk, and a warlock.

Everyone greeted each other, introduced themselves again to their professional levels and tactical positioning, and then started today's map run.

Lin Bo packed up his equipment and stepped into the portal.

On a rainy night, the area where the players gathered was brightly lit. A three-eyed skull, lantern in hand, emerged from the deep purple vortex of space and time. The three new members were already shaking hands and greeting their old teammates.

[Splitting Stone]: I heard you have a superstar? Where is he?
The excited heavy-armored warrior smiled at everyone he met. He was very happy to be recruited into the team.

[Barrier]: Look behind you.

The soldier turned his head and saw a cold three-eyed skull mask, which frightened him and made him cry out in surprise. His old teammates who were watching the excitement smiled and said, "As expected."

Lin Bo sighed helplessly.

[Lighthouse Visitor]: It seems that next time I have to take off my mask before coming in

[The nimble monkey on the tree]: Come to think of it, it seems like none of us have ever seen the face of the wizard brother?

[Holy Light]: That’s right! Take off the mask quickly!

[Lighthouse Guest]: Maybe next time
Pastor Cat curled her lips, looking unhappy, and said that she might be the one to leave the team next time.

At this point, the team chat fell silent for a moment. It was the Paladin who took the initiative to boost morale and begin today's map run.

After completing the two daily challenge opportunities, everyone left through the teleportation channel. The new teammates ran to the public screen and cheered.

[Splitting Stone]: Brothers, let's get on the trailer! Do you understand what I mean? It's worthy of being the strongest team in the channel. It's too fierce. Every teammate is so strong, and the big brother is even more... I don't know how to say it.
[Fist of the Heart]: I finally got my first affix treasure chest in my life (happy) (happy)
Old players who had been lurking in the channel were suddenly brought out, expressing their envy and wishing they could be among the players who were leading the charge. Newcomers who had just joined were asking who the top player was.

Lin Bo worked in the East Cliff Grottoes while checking the public screen. He had a feeling he would meet many new friends. People in his team kept coming and going, but until he found a higher-level dungeon, they would stay, like a reef.

After laying the circuit in the cave, it would be late even if we completed today's construction plan.

In the evening, some foreign explorers and reporters wanted to enter the lighthouse, but they were stopped by local men armed with swords and forcibly driven away from the cape.

The reporter from Jinbei Daily and his assistant were whispering.

After a full day of wandering, they all felt that this town was unusual. Whether it was the legend of the treasure shrouding it or the xenophobic residents, everything seemed like a mystery. Even more strange was that the painting of the Five Gods in the church showed an old man at the head.

When reporters asked local priests why the Holy Father was not placed first, they explained that it was a local tradition, which is totally unreasonable.

What are they guarding against when they are so cautious?
The reporter intended to stay and find out what was going on, but almost no townspeople were willing to provide accommodation, even for a higher price. Finally, as the sky darkened, they finally found shelter at the home of a widow on the edge of town. However, the widow's neighbors came over to warn them not to trespass.

Since the locals had said so, the reporter and his assistant were bound to rush in. Journalists need to be rebellious, to play devil's advocate, and even to do bad things.

After dark, they sneaked out through the window.

The assistant whispered, "Sir, where should we go?"

“The biggest problem area. First the church, then… the lighthouse, yes, that lighthouse.” They moved stealthily in the bright moonlight, avoiding the lights held by the night watchmen.

The assistant pointed nervously at the rooftops of the houses and said, "Look, those birds."

"It's a seagull." The reporter squinted his eyes and observed.

"Yes, they seem to be looking at us."

"Just some stupid animals."

The two walked all the way to the church deep in the town, and saw more seagulls standing on the roof. They were all very quiet, staring at the two humans. The reporter and the assistant couldn't help but shrink their necks, quicken their pace, and trot.

late at night.

Lin Bo was chatting with netizen [Picking up trash makes me happy], and the prosthetic limb reconstruction technology for crazy dwarfs has been almost cracked.

In the fields of mechanical manufacturing and alchemy, [Garbage Pickup] has gone further than Lin Bo, and all the cracking work was done by her alone.

What Lin Bo did was to purchase the remains of alchemical beasts from the [Alchemical Circus] copy and send the physical samples to [Garbage Picker] for research.

In the academic field, he was also a novice who was guided by the big boss.

[Picking up trash makes me happy]: Okay, take these materials back. If you have any questions, just ask. I, a kind and generous person, will answer your questions and resolve your doubts.
[Lighthouse Guest]: I’ve recently been researching how to replace metal neurons with biological materials.

The netizen on the other side was silent for a long time.

[Picking up trash]: Hiss... I understand what you mean, but the active metal wire is both muscle and nerve. If you want to replace it with biological materials, it will be very difficult.

[Lighthouse Guest]: Because it is difficult, we have to try
They discussed possible solutions, and soon a Fungus-speaking Seagull flew in.

[Garbage Pickup]: There are two ideas. One is metal that looks like a living thing, and the other is living things that look like metal. Active metal wire is the former, but the operating temperature is too high, and it is also painful to combine with living things. You might consider the latter, such as some mud monster races, which can simulate metal.
[Lighthouse Guest]: That makes sense. Please wait a moment. I have something to do here.
The Fungus Whispering Seagull landed beside the desk, ready to deliver a message to the wizard, but was shocked to see the Great Little King, the spokesperson for the White Marsh, feeding three peregrine falcon chicks.

The little seagull was also stunned. There was still fish paste on its beak. It wanted to leave, but the three glutinous rice ball-like chicks made squeaking sounds to keep it.

Lin Bo asked: "What happened to (magic words)?"

The Fungus-speaking Seagull saluted with a swift flap of its wings, and with a few quacks, explained that unknown humans were active in the darkness of the town. Then, it left the lighthouse and returned to its post. However, as it left, it turned its head frequently, looking at the little king with a complicated expression.

The little king froze in place, then suddenly groaned in pain and lay on the table pretending to be dead.

Lin Bo touched its head and said, "(magic language) What happened to you?"

The little seagull doesn't speak.

Outside the cape, the reporter and his assistant ran breathlessly, followed by a group of angry townspeople who had discovered their tracks when they left the church after a fruitless search. The night watchman called out to all the neighbors.

"Catch the thief!" The hospitable locals chased him relentlessly with lanterns and torches.

The reporters looked desperate. They had been running for almost half an hour in a panic, and the air they breathed into their lungs felt like it was exploding.

Suddenly, the assistant beside him stopped.

"What are you doing? Keep running!"

"Sir, I can't hold on any longer. Go away and I will stop them for you. Live!" There was only determination on the young assistant's sweaty face.

"You are a good boy. Listen, I will never forget you." The reporter patted his companion on the shoulder, held back his tears, and ran away.

Behind me, I heard the assistant's screams. He'd been caught by this mob and might have been killed. What a terrible town!

The reporter's eyes went dark and he saw a strong light flashing in his field of vision. He followed the light and when he got closer he found that the light came from a lighthouse. He had already run into a cape surrounded by the sea on three sides. This was a dead end.

However, the townspeople did not set foot on the headland in pursuit.

They paused in the distance, and then the lights and torches receded and went away, like stars dissolving into the darkness.

The reporter trembled with fear, the cold wind blowing away the sweat on his body. He looked back at the road he had come from, then at the lighthouse behind him. What should he do next? Those townspeople must be tired and have given up the pursuit. Going back now would definitely be a dead end. Perhaps he could stay at the lighthouse for a night?
The reporter didn't know who the lighthouse keeper was, but he heard that the townspeople all came to him for medical treatment. A doctor must be a civilized person and would not collude with the mob. As long as the night watchman was kind, he could let himself survive.

So he walked towards the lighthouse.

He walked across the yard and came to the main gate. Just as he was about to knock on it, the door suddenly opened.

A tall, red-haired baboon stood before him.

The reporter was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt down.

The baboon silently moved away, revealing the night watchman behind him. He stood in the warm orange light of the incandescent lamp and stretched out his hand to the Jinbei City reporter who was kneeling on the ground.

(End of this chapter)