T0 Gaming Guild Saves the World

One of the team members shouted in surprise, startling not only them but also drawing the attention of the surrounding NPCs.

"Why are you making such a fuss?" Scarlet Music Box walked over irritably, following her teammate's finger to look at the light screen projected by the magic crystal in the central hall.

The image above displays the highest award record at the Colosseum today.

Behind the boundary between reality and illusion, the number 86 is clearly displayed.

86 purple materials...

Everyone was stunned.

Is the boundary between reality and illusion truly between people?

Did they come here to buy goods?

Double update tomorrow, stay tuned!

Chapter 48 Real and Fake Emeralds

Duke Narum Estate.

As night fell, the brightly lit manor gates were filled with carriages.

Dressed in their finest attire, the nobles of the Ana Empire proudly raised their heads and strolled slowly and gracefully into the corridor as the butler called out their names in a powerful, resonant voice.

Watching the nobles' affected mannerisms and gait from afar, Mint snorted disdainfully.

"Like a rooster that has won a battle."

Jiang Heyi pressed her head down: "So, Teacher Mint, what should we pay attention to when attending such an aristocratic banquet?"

Mint quickly reached out to grab Jiang Heyi's hand: "Eat your fill of delicious food, that's the most important thing to be careful about."

She is so embarrassing.

Upon reaching the gates of Narum Manor, several servants stopped them. Even though Jiang Heyi presented the invitation, the servants still looked at them with suspicion.

What, is there something wrong with their attire?

By the 13th day, the style of dressing, which involved mixing and matching elements that blurred the lines between reality and illusion, had improved somewhat.

The jailer activated his "pay-to-win" ability, downloaded a set of classical Roman robes (Toga) from the store, and dyed them himself in black and white.

Since it's a costume transformation, the slightly oversized robe doesn't affect the jailer's mobility.

As for why he downloaded this outfit, the jailer explained that "it has a very sage-like feel and matches my nun doll perfectly."

The original flavor fries-shaped white-haired, red-eyed elf template is a versatile clothes hanger.

She kept a silver-white silk blouse with light gold lace trim and belted trousers from the spoils of the Temple of the Clarities, paired with strappy sandals worn by the Clarities during their baths, earning a concise and clear evaluation from the jailer.

"It works!"

This should be considered the highest praise that an old gentleman could give.

Her outfits, featuring orange tea and plain fries, were almost identical; she had pieced together her entire look from loot from the Temple of the Clarity, with only minor differences in some details.

Perhaps to soothe his heart, which had been suppressed for more than two years and had become parched, Zhong Zemo also spent money on in-game purchases.

His entire body was completely covered by a metallic gray-black Greenwich style armor, making the elf look like he was encased in a giant iron barrel.

In real life, Zhong Zemo had also thought about putting on such a set to visit comic conventions, but considering the weight and his declining physical condition due to working... fulfilling his dream in the game was just fine.

As for Jiang Heyi, his attire was much more casual.

Later, during a search of the large bathroom in the first dust layer, the Clarity One was found wearing a silver-white shirt and shorts.

He took out the Elemental Heart Dagger and hung it on his back.

Their attire was simple and plain.

The butler, who was standing with the announcer to greet the guests, came over. After carefully examining the invitation, he immediately began to loudly reprimand the servants.

"Dear Emerald Adventurers, please do not regard their rudeness as the way guests are treated in the Duke's mansion. Please follow me."

After saying this, he personally led the way, passing by the person calling out names at the main gate, and solemnly handed over the invitation.

The caller took a deep breath and sang loudly in a strong voice.

"The Emerald Adventurers have arrived!"

Mint's sly eyes kept secretly scanning her surroundings. She noticed that the people getting off the noble carriages didn't need invitations, while the groups that came together, dressed in rough clothes and looked like adventurers or mercenaries, all handed out invitations without exception.

As soon as the name Emerald was announced, the group immediately cast curious, wary, and suspicious glances at him.

"Potato, put the dagger away first." Mint quietly tugged at Jiang Heyi's sleeve.

After listening to the information observed by Mint, Jiang Heyi seemed to understand something, and then sheathed the Elemental Heart Short Sword.

Walking through the spacious colonnaded corridor, they could faintly hear the cheerful and light music coming from the Duke's mansion.

In contrast, the columned corridor they were walking through seemed deserted and quiet, with the adventurers walking in front of and behind them remaining silent.

Their destination was an open area near the pond on the west side of the Duke's estate, where tables were laden with fragrant delicacies, and a group of chefs were waiting nearby.

The adventurers who arrived early had already started their self-service, clutching bottles full of fine wine and toasting with their newly met "friends."

Jiang Heyi looked towards the brightly lit ducal mansion not far away. On the high-rise balcony where the banquet was being held, there were many nobles holding glasses and leaning against the railing to cool off. They were watching this scene with great interest.

"Are the nobles of the Anna Empire so easygoing and unpretentious?" Jiang Heyi asked Bohe with a half-smile.

This is also one of the reasons why Mint reminded me of the boundary between the real and virtual worlds.

If a nobleman wants to invite a group of adventurers to a banquet, he is unlikely to invite another group of nobles on the same day.

What does Duke Narum want to do by bringing so many adventurers and mercenaries?

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it. Why think so much? Let's eat first."

The jailer nonchalantly picked up a huge crab, lifted its skull, and began to flaunt its crab roe.

The plain fries asked, "Mint, what's the most expensive thing here?"

This question really hit the nail on the head.

Mint circled the table where the food was laid out a few times and then gave her the answer.

"First, eat the maple leaf squid placed in the middle of the table, then the pile of sea urchins and seafood next to it. These are the most popular ingredients on the Empire's far northern route, delicacies that only nobles and wealthy merchants can afford."

Before Jiang Heyi could hand the giant maple leaf squid to the chefs present for processing, a figure suddenly appeared from the side and bumped into his elbow, causing the food on the tray to fall to the ground.

There was no flustered apology. After the collision, the other party remained silent, waiting for Jiang Heyi to turn her face to the side.

For the first time, Jiang Heyi felt that using a bear to describe a person could be so apt. The middle-aged man in front of him, with his thick body hair and strong physique, was looking down at him with cold eyes.

"Emerald?"

His voice was quite loud, and those who had already arrived all turned to look at him.

Jiang Heyi glanced at the ingredients he had stepped on and clicked his tongue.

"We know each other?"

"We've naturally heard about the good deeds the Emerald Adventurers have done around Fragrant Breeze City." Several more people walked up beside the big man, each with an unfriendly expression.

"However, the people from Emerald have never made a public appearance, so who knows if you are the real deal?"

The situation unfolded quite inexplicably, with the other party appearing aggressive and clearly prepared for conflict.

This is the Duke of Narum's banquet. The person who sent the invitation is not present. Is it the place for these people to question it?

In an instant, Jiang Heyi understood everything.

As the two groups confronted each other, and everyone at the banquet watched with great interest, the manor butler's loud announcement, "Duke Narum has arrived," dispelled the tense atmosphere.

Duke Narum was a tall, thin middle-aged man in his thirties with a face that looked like he had indulged in excessive pleasure.

According to Mint, he lived an extremely extravagant and debauched life, was proficient in all kinds of eating, drinking and having fun, and was keen on competing with other nobles.

If the Narum family hadn't been founding fathers of the Ana Empire, their extravagant spending would have emptied even a mountain of gold.

However, there is one good thing: he is not a violent person. Although his mind is brand new, it is not so confused that he cannot distinguish right from wrong. He is just a parasite who is greedy for pleasure and lives a life of debauchery.

Narum's accompanying mage waved his hand, and the two appeared alongside the Imperial Judgment Knights.

Jiang Heyi recognized the two men as members of the Emerald Adventurers who had managed to escape that day.

"It was them! They ambushed and killed my comrades, and now they dare to impersonate the Emerald Legion to swindle people. This is a desecration of the Imperial Law and a trampling of Your Grace, Duke!"

"Your Grace, the Emerald City is renowned for its benevolence. Merchants of Fragrant Breeze City and citizens of the Empire have all received our help. We assist those in peril without expecting anything in return, yet we are ultimately repaid with ingratitude by this very group..."

As they talked, the two of them started to cry.

That's great acting!

If Jiang Heyi hadn't known, he would have really thought the Emerald Gang was something good.

When they encounter adventurers outnumbered in the wild, they band together and kill them without hesitation. They are ruthless and experienced in killing and robbing, and they even manage to bask in the glory of being saviors of the suffering and chivalrous heroes.

They only said it was a sneak attack, but didn't dare to say that they had a numerical advantage and were roasted alive by six people from the virtual and real borders who threw Molotov cocktails at them, almost wiping them out. Was it because they felt it was too shameful?

The adventurers around him immediately turned cold.

The act of murdering someone who had helped them is enough to provoke outrage in anyone who spends a lot of time wandering in the wild.

Duke Narum stroked his stubble and said, "They provided the Emblem Order's emblem, and their account matches some of the rumors circulating in Fragrant Wind City... And you, can you prove that you are the real Emeralds?"

Seeing that Jiang Heyi and his group had not made any move, the rustling sounds around them gradually grew louder.

"Trial them."

"Only burning at the stake and having their hearts ripped out can make them repent!"

"Avenge the benevolent emerald!"

The surviving members of Emerald were overjoyed, believing victory was assured and they would witness the end of this group...

Jiang Heyi easily sank the knife into the long table.

“They are emeralds, so who are we?” he countered.

"He dared to pull out a weapon in front of the Duke! This is a blatant act of contempt! Your Highness, please bring him to justice immediately!"

"Shut up!" The mage following Duke Narum shouted solemnly at the noisy remnant of the Emerald.

After examining it carefully for a while, he apologized and released a magical messenger.

After receiving the reply, he whispered in Duke Narum's ear, "They are the same group that appeared at the Star Speaker Academy today..."

Whose words do you find more credible?

"With their strength, they wouldn't need to launch a sneak attack at all; the idea of ​​repaying kindness with enmity is absurd," the personal mage calmly analyzed. "Deliberately only recounting the parts that are advantageous to themselves is highly suspicious, especially considering the description from the Star Speakers Academy..."

Duke Narum's gaze narrowed slightly, and his eyes, which landed on the remnants of the Emerald Clan, suddenly became less friendly.

With a wave of his hand, the Judgment Knights swarmed forward and pinned the remaining Emeralds to the ground.

There's no need to overthink it now; if there's only one emerald left, then it must be real.

"Your Grace, they are the imposters, we are the real ones!"

"Damn it, you've arrested the wrong person!"

The knight of judgment dragged the remnants of the Emeralds like dead dogs, the protruding stones on the ground clattering and spilling blood, and the shouts and curses that had been fading into the distance grew weak and feeble.

Jiang Heyi felt it was a great pity.

If they solve it themselves, they might even get a small bonus.

Why didn't this duke ask for their opinions? He's so clueless! Since his family is so rich, we should definitely plunder their gold coins later to make up for it.

Mint glared fiercely at an adventurer who had come to share the maple leaf squid.

"What are you doing? Put down your plate. I just heard you say you were going to send us to the stake."

The other person lowered their head awkwardly, put down the plate, and left.

It's unclear whether Mint was being defiant about what had just happened, or simply trying to protect her food...

Everyone else is striking poses, pretending to be experts, and acting, so why are you the one who messed up?

Chapter 49 Reward: 10 Star Sands

“I am a person who hates trouble, and I believe that all of you who have been invited here today are the same. Let’s get straight to the point.”