That's right, that's what adventure is like!

"Although Duanyan Town is located in a remote area, it does have its own unique features, which explains why the original owner fled here."

Sunlight streamed through the narrow window, casting a bright glow that illuminated Roland's face as he sat before the fireplace, and also reflected his fingers moving along the adventure guide.

The last page of the guide features a brand-new map, marking the approximate layout of an area spanning several dozen miles centered on Duanyan Town.

Although it is not very accurate and lacks detailed icon descriptions, it is still considered a great deal compared to the price of a silver coin.

Using this map, combined with the memories left behind by the original owner, Roland gained a clearer understanding of his current location.

"To the east lies the Whispering Forest, the territory of the elves... to the north is the Trembling Swamp, controlled by monsters... to the west is the heart of the kingdom... The original owner's plan to go southeast is not a bad choice."

Broken Rock Town's geographical location is not particularly advantageous, as it is close to the border of the human kingdom. In addition to the rampant monsters, it also has conflicts with other intelligent beings.

But it has one advantage: to the southeast of the town, beneath the Whispering Forest, lies a passage to another kingdom.

Or to be more precise, it was not a kingdom, but a city alliance.

The Baron Alliance, a small power comprised of several medium-sized and large cities, has carved out and occupied a fertile territory in dozens of countries by virtue of its open laws and hard power.

The Alliance never refuses to let refugees from other kingdoms join, which is why the original owner appeared in Broken Rock Town – he was passing through here and wanted to go there to start a new life.

Unfortunately, although the original owner was lucky enough to escape the enemy's army and the kingdom's pursuit, he fell at the last step.

In any case, now that Roland has taken over, he will naturally need to make some adjustments to the subsequent plans.

"The war is currently mainly taking place in the heart of the kingdom, quite a distance from here. We can stay in Broken Rock Town for a while longer."

"Take advantage of this time to improve your strength, accumulate some wealth, purchase enough extraction items, and then choose a way out depending on the situation."

Compared to the original owner, Roland now has the ability to extract, giving him more confidence and naturally more choices.

However, if the Kingdom of Kessel shows any signs of collapse, he will leave immediately, since the risk of enemy troops attacking will greatly increase.

"Let's tackle this exploration story first. We can try a different approach this time. I feel like there's still more room to explore with this cheat ability."

Roland raised an eyebrow slightly, squinting as he stared at the lost coin between his fingers.

After creating two stories, he somewhat sensed something unusual about the system's judgment.

First, regarding the story content, the protagonist's name has been changed, and some details have been distorted, which means that the story does not strive for ultimate realism.

Aesthetic appeal and ease of dissemination seem to be the core elements that make a story.

Then there's the story theme: one battle, one protection. The system-generated text clearly distinguishes between the two, meaning he should consciously align his actions with the theme in order to perhaps achieve a higher rating.

"Exploration... probably refers to going to places no one knows, experiencing situations no one has ever been before... digging for treasure? Venturing into the wilderness? Solving puzzles?"

Several ideas popped into Roland's mind, but he rejected them one by one.

"Going deep into the wilderness takes too long and is too risky... As for the treasure, I don't even have a treasure map... My knowledge is far from sufficient to solve the mystery."

After much thought, Roland suddenly had a flash of inspiration and set his sights on a topic that was indispensable for adventurers chatting in the tavern.

—The Underground City.

It perfectly fits the characteristics of controllable risk and low time cost. There are indeed three small dungeons open near Broken Rock Town. Although countless adventurers have explored them, they still have the potential to be explored.

"Let's go check the situation first. If all else fails, we can choose some caves or similar places, or search for a monster's lair."

Having determined the direction, Roland immediately got up and started walking downstairs.

……

The Adventurers' Guild is unusually lively today.

The bulletin board was packed with people, the wooden board covered with layers of quest sheets. Adventurers pointed and talked loudly about the details or risks of a certain quest, and every now and then a hand would tear it off with a "rip," which would cause a murmur of regret.

The counter was like a busy beehive, with several receptionists speaking rapidly, registering, stamping, and distributing badges or rewards without looking up, pushing coins across the polished wooden counter.

In a corner, several teams of fully armed adventurers sat together, discussing in hushed tones how to prepare, while many lone travelers leaned against the wall with their arms crossed, searching for potential teammates.

Rather than calling it "busy," it's more accurate to say that this is a normal phenomenon for the association. The smaller number of participants on the first two occasions was simply because Roland happened to be there during his free time.

The girl wasn't on duty today. Roland stood at the back of the crowd, his eyes scanning the bulletin board, paying special attention to tasks that suited him.

Task ID: 93836

Objective: Mapping of ancient trees

Reward: 10 gold coins

Description: On the edge of Whispering Forest, there are several ancient trees with a metallic sheen. The client (hidden) is very interested in them and is using the provided surveying equipment to record their condition.

Note: This quest may attract the attention of the elves. It is recommended that the quest taker have some elf bloodline. Any conflict caused will not be the responsibility of the association.

……

Task ID: 97839

Objective: To search for missing persons

Reward: 10 gold coins

Description: A caravan from the Karan Merchant Guild transporting Azure Moon Vine has mysteriously disappeared in the wilderness. The last trace leads to a cave that appears to be a gathering place for goblins. Find them or bring back relics that can prove their identities.

Note: The client is Ms. Barlow, the owner of the Chamber of Commerce. It is recommended to contact her in detail before departure to understand the situation and agree on the ownership of the transported goods to avoid unnecessary disputes.

……

Task ID: 93663

Objective: Explore the third level of the dungeon.

Reward: 15 gold coins

Description: Periodic magical tides have slightly altered the terrain of the "Ember Dungeon." A crack has appeared in one of the walls on the third floor, revealing a previously hidden area. Please draw the corresponding map.

Note: This dungeon has special rules that prohibit the use of any lighting methods. Please consider this carefully.

"Each has its advantages and disadvantages."

Roland glanced at the three selected tasks, then stroked his chin and began to consider.

Although the ancient tree surveying takes place in elven territory, it is actually quite far out. The probability of encountering elves is not high, and there are few monsters. It's hard to say whether this will lead to a higher rating for the story.

The search for the missing person went well in all aspects, but the adventurer's guide clearly stated that the merchant guild owner was quite stingy and demanding, requiring a lot of effort to negotiate.

As for the Ember Dungeon, it is characterized by being filled with a type of black ember dust that explodes when exposed to light, requiring a considerable amount of money to prepare.

However, compared to the other two, it undoubtedly best met expectations and yielded the highest reward.

After careful consideration, Roland's desire for higher-level abilities ultimately prevailed, leading him to choose the third mission.

However, just as he was about to peel off the brand-new parchment, a strong, powerful hand suddenly pressed him down.

"Sorry, kid, we're taking this mission!"