Comprehensive network wizard, magic emperor.

Chapter 287 Factional Reactions, Searching for the Lighthouse Guest
The deep, resonant roar of the flying dragon shook the ancient ruins of the lush, sacred city. The powerful sound, like a cruise ship's whistle, startled the wandering television, refrigerator, and washing machine. The concrete elemental spirit sleeping in the broken street scratched its blocky head, rolled over, and made the car mattress creak.

"Hmm? Someone triggered a boss fight?" A Night Guard player looked up at the sky, thinking to himself, "They've alerted the nearby bastards, so it's not convenient to launch an ambush. Let's observe for now."

He mentioned in the world chat, "In the ruins of Holy City, twelve kilometers southeast of Meteor Town, someone has triggered a boss battle. The target should be the Iron Dragon."

Missiles exploded one after another high in the sky, and the thunderous spherical shockwaves, accompanied by blazing flames, ignited the clouds. The destructive effect, stretching for miles, was enough to annihilate an entire city. From the vast expanse of the sky, it looked like nothing more than a cluster of fireworks.

"The Black Baron's missile breath is really scary." The player rubbed his hands together, took out his binoculars to survey the sky, and carefully observed the battle situation.

The brief brilliance of the fireworks faded, and the black smoke from the explosion scattered in the shockwave. The telescope revealed the majestic form of the steel dragon, with layers of sharp alloy scales and thick oil pipes bulging with veins beneath their rubber skin.

Its flight against the azure backdrop resembled the tranquil flight of a swallow, yet the bluish exhaust fumes from its twin engines were more deafening than a hurricane.

Night Guard players silently admired the metallic beast surveying the sky it ruled. The war machine, corrupted by the evil power of the gods and gaining a twisted life, possessed a beauty of absolute violence that even opponents would secretly marvel at.

The next instant, he clearly saw a glaring, narrow line of blood cut into the edge of the lens, piercing through the field of vision in a single moment, seemingly tearing the sky and the flying dragon apart. The sharpness of the blood-red light made him involuntarily close his eyes and exhale, as if his retina had been scratched and he was experiencing a phantom pain.

When I opened my eyes again, the Black Baron was no longer in the frame.

The Night Guardian player lowered his binoculars and looked up as a black shadow, swirling like a piece of paper, grew larger and larger. Its body disintegrated in mid-air, like petals falling from a black flower, eventually turning into a rain of iron that fell to the ground. The debris crashed into the streets and ruins, creating a deafening roar.

"You just killed him like that?"

[Hermit of the Flying Bird (Night Guard)]: Witnessed the death of the Iron Dragon, successfully defeated it in about three seconds.

After he sent a message on the world channel, the communication stone at his waist vibrated slightly, and a character from the story faction issued him a quest.

[Network notification: You have triggered the quest – Find the Great One, "The Lighthouse Keeper"]

Difficulty: easy

Description: The prophet has once again sensed the fallen Goddess of Plenty and received a crucial divine oracle. Please find the descending player "Lighthouse Guest" and guide him to the Temple of Enlightenment.

[The Hermit of the Ferry Bird] slapped his forehead. He really remembered this nickname. Not long ago, when he joined the world channel, more than a dozen players were unusually enthusiastic and called him "Brother Mage".

According to their descriptions, "Lighthouse Guest" seems to be a kind-hearted person who often helps newbies explore low-level dungeons, which explains his popularity.

The characters in the storyline do issue some missions related to players of the cross-network, but these are often because they are wanted for criminal activities or are being hunted by the opposing faction as high-value targets.

This was the first time he had ever encountered a missing person mission.

Not only him, but all players in the Night Guard faction who were able to be contacted by story characters received the quest "Find the Lighthouse Guest".

It sparked a heated discussion on the world channel.

[Food Soul Butcher - Talitu (Evil Offspring)]: What's going on? I suddenly got a Purgatory difficulty quest to hunt "Lighthouse Guest". Anyone else doing the same thing?

[Shachenmi (Nine Towns)]: I've received a diplomatic mission. The Divine Descendants of Starfrost Town have asked me to invite "Lighthouse Keeper" to discuss cooperation with him.
[Holy Light Above (Night Guard)]: Wow, mage bro, come find me! There's a quest reward to collect!
[Lighthouse Keeper (Night Guardian)]: I'm at the east gate of Meteor Town, about to enter the city.
[I really want to eat meat (Night Guard)]: Coming right now!

The messages in the channel were scrolling by quickly, but [The Hermit of the Ferry Bird] still managed to catch the key information. He suddenly turned around, looked in the direction of Meteor Town, and immediately took out a flying motorcycle, revved the engine, and sped away.

Lin Bo inspects the information board.

[Network Notification: You have delivered a fatal attack. Detection successful! Enemy (Steel Dragon - Black Baron) has fallen. Gain 140,000 Kill Experience (×100% Contribution)]

[Network notification: You have completed the mission - Slay the Sky Overlord]

[Mission Rewards: 22000 Network Disaster Coins, 450,000 Universal Experience, Night Guard Ranger Uniform (White), Missile Dragon Breath Heavy Gun (Blue), Night Guard Ranger Armor Type IV - Skeleton (Purple), "Land Combat Mech Combat Techniques" (Skill Book)] [Completion conditions met; teleportation portal can be activated at any time]

He landed at the edge of the East Gate Square of Meteor Town and saw the security check line in the distance, which looked like a coiled snake.

The concrete walls of Meteor Town are about eleven meters high, and the armored gates are five meters thick. Every day, people and vehicles entering and leaving the town must be inspected.

The garrison soldiers of the Nine Garrisons, clad in blue-painted mechanized armor, resembled mountains and wild steeds. Rotary machine guns atop the watchtowers emitted eerie green laser sights, scanning the surrounding countryside.

Lin Bo held a lump of metal brain matter in his hand. This was the core of the Steel Dragon, which had been completely extracted. It was about the size of a basketball, but compared to the tens of meters long body of the dragon, this thinking organ was indeed too small.

He listened to the whispers of the movement and stepped into the queue.

Soldiers from the nearby Nine Towns immediately approached and asked, "Sir, are you a mercenary from the Comprehensive Network?"

Lin Bo had read the common language of this plane in advance in the public files of the world channel, so communication was not a problem.

He nodded in acknowledgment.

"Okay, please follow me. Before entering the city, mercenaries from the Comprehensive Network need to register and receive a special identification tag."

The soldier, clad in mechanical armor, was imposing in appearance, yet he still had to tilt his head slightly to meet the gaze of the person in front of him. The magical aura emanating from his body had a burning coolness, like the blue smoke produced by burning mint, which cleared one's mind.

Lin Bo followed the soldiers, whose footsteps were resounding, as they bypassed the crowd.

The long queue included members of various races and professions: humans, orcs, gnomes, goblins, scavengers, traveling merchants, mechanics, and hunters.

They whispered among themselves, their gazes subtly drawn to the tall, imposing mage. His deep, skeletal mask always faced forward, and the white bird perched on his shoulder scanned the surroundings. The people carefully avoided the seagulls' gaze.

Lin Bo silently observed the world around him. A once prosperous civilization that had experienced a cataclysmic collapse had regained its footing after six centuries of reconstruction and war. The expressions and conversations of the people there conveyed the optimism of an economic upswing.

The soldiers led him through an armored gate and into a reception room inside the city walls.

The public official placed an application form in front of Lin Bo, who needed to fill in some basic information, such as name (nickname), affiliation, professional positioning, and special skills.

He had just picked up his ballpoint pen when he suddenly heard a commotion and shouts from the corridor outside the door.

When a great person arrives, the mage can sense the divine light emanating from that person, which penetrates the walls and is perceived by the nascent spirit within him.

The door to the reception room opened slightly, and a tall, handsome man of divine lineage folded his wings and stepped in, bowing to the mage seated in a chair with his hand on his chest.

“Child of Power, when you were born, the Father God revealed to me that you are the honored guest of the Nine Towns. We have prepared a banquet to welcome you. Please come with me.”

In the reception room, fully armed mech soldiers knelt on one knee to welcome the leader of Meteor Town, the legitimate descendant of the Dawn God.

Lin Bo stood up to return the greeting.

He followed the descendants of the Dawn through the city walls and was about to board the Pegasus chariot when he suddenly saw a half-elf waving his hands by the roadside.

"Brother Mage! Here, here!" The Druid [I really want to eat meat] was beaming with excitement.

Lin Bo smiled and raised his hand, asking the divine descendant beside him, "May I bring guests?"

"Please make yourself at home, esteemed guest."

(End of this chapter)