Chapter 94: Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons in Tarot Manor

In terms of functionality, Lan Qingyou felt it was much more powerful than the magic desk.

Or perhaps it could be called an advanced version of the magic desk's functions?

Harboring such thoughts, Lan Qingyou tapped open [Cross-Channel Chat 9/9].

The High Priestess: "Oh! The number of people increased!"

The Empress: "Did The Fool recruit another downline?"

Wheel of Fortune: "Last time, Judgement said they wanted to pull the Tower Witch into the group and even asked me to perform a divination. Did The Fool really get it done?"

The High Priestess: "No way, did they really find the Witch?"

The High Priestess, The Empress, Wheel of Fortune, Judgement, The Fool...

It seemed everyone in here addressed each other using codenames?

Looking at these avatars that were exactly the same as their codenames, Lan Qingyou thought to herself.

She then looked at the number at the top of the channel. She was the 9th person, meaning there were 8 people ahead of her. This perfectly matched the number of people Helles, 'The Fool', had mentioned earlier.

It even included the matter regarding divination, so it seemed to be entirely true.

Thus, Lan Qingyou floated down and placed Helles' card onto the rock.

"You believe me now, right?"

Only after Lan Qingyou flew back up did Helles walk over and retrieve his card.

"Mm."

Since she had already joined, how could she not believe him? It was just that Lan Qingyou felt it was better to communicate online.

At the very least, not meeting face-to-face was good for everyone.

After nodding her head, Lan Qingyou turned her gaze back to the card in her hands.

Speaking of which, this card was also exquisitely crafted. Perhaps to accommodate their habits, its method of use was exactly the same as a cellphone.

Including things like the input method.

The Tower: "Hello everyone."

Lan Qingyou tried sending a text message.

The High Priestess: "May I ask if this is the Tower Witch?"

The Tower: "Yes."

The High Priestess: "Yay! We finally have someone selling potions! The Tower, I'll buy all the potions you have over there."

Wheel of Fortune: "Give me some too, preferably the kind that increases Spirit and Mana."

...

Could it be that these people pulled her into the group specifically just to buy potions?

Lan Qingyou felt a severe sense of suspicion. She looked up at Helles below, only to find that this fellow was already gone.

A string of footprints on the ground told her that Helles had already entered his stone shelter.

That made sense. Given the current time, it would be dark shortly.

It was safer to head inside the shelter.

Judgement: "Hello, Witch. As a newcomer to Tarot Manor, I have a newbie gift package for you here. Please remember to receive it in a moment."

Just as Lan Qingyou was looking through the window on the rock at Helles, who was sprawled over a desk writing and drawing inside, another message popped up in the group.

The High Priestess: "Yo, the busy man is here so quickly. It seems you're quite attentive to The Tower."

Judgement: "Just finished a meeting, managed to catch it right on time."

Judgement didn't squabble with The High Priestess over this matter.

Since there was a free gift package to be taken, how could Lan Qingyou possibly stand on ceremony?

After taking Steel Wool and flying back to her shelter, she sat down before her magic desk. Emulating how Helles had summoned his shelter earlier, she extended her hand and opened the newbie gift package traded to her by the other party.

Clack.

A square wooden box with a length, width, and height of roughly 50 centimeters tumbled out of the card.

Lan Qingyou immediately stepped forward and opened the wooden box.

Hiss—

Upon seeing the items inside the wooden box, Lan Qingyou couldn't help but suck in another breath of cold air.

In the eyes of an ordinary person, the wooden box contained a bag of rice, a bag of cabbage, a rock, something resembling an electric oven, and a letter.

But in the eyes of Lan Qingyou, who was wearing appraisal glasses, these things looked completely different.

[Golden Rice (D)]

[Function: Upon consumption, slowly increases Health Points and Mana Points.]

[Introduction: A premium food crop cultivated from rice growing in the Golden Plains.]

[Jade Cabbage (D)]

[Function: Upon consumption, slowly increases Health Points.]

[Introduction: A premium vegetable cultivated from cabbages growing in the Golden Plains.]

[Flame Stone (D)]

[Function: Will automatically launch a fireball for a defensive counterattack when attacked.]

[Introduction: The flame symbol engraved on the stone highlights its attribute. Merely wearing it is enough to protect your safety.]

[Mana Oven (D)]

[Function: Bakes food.]

[Introduction: A convenient machine that operates upon an input of mana. Allows you to obtain warm food anytime, anywhere, instead of gnawing on freezing cold dough.]

"Tsk, tsk... this Tarot Manor truly is a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Even the newbie welfare items are entirely D-rank."

Seeing these items, Lan Qingyou couldn't help but mutter a sentence.

This gave her a trace of indescribable, inexplicable sense of crisis.

She subsequently picked up the letter that had only been simply folded in half twice, opened it, and began reading.

[Hello, esteemed friend of the manor.]

[First and foremost, thank you for joining. If there's anything you don't understand regarding magic or the magical knowledge of Kalim Continent, you may speak freely in the group, communicating and sharing with everyone.]

[Secondly, if intense disagreements arise within this manor, we will resolve the issue through voting and abstentions. This means that you may choose to abstain from following up on matters you disagree with, rather than having the minority subordinate to the majority.]

[Lastly, as everyone knows, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. When you enjoy the convenience provided by others, you should also make commensurate actions in return for this convenience.]

[This manor is aimed at mutual learning and mutual exchange. Therefore, upon receiving these gifts, you should also offer some gifts in return that are uniquely yours.]

[The reason for doing this is to let more people know about your research output.]

[Of course, this is also a disguised form of advertisement, allowing you to understand the types of research output present within the group.]

[If needed, you can directly contact the respective individuals for a private chat.]

"Good heavens... so the so-called newbie gift package was actually advertising. It seems you guys have thoroughly mastered the art of business."

Although this box was called a newbie gift package, it seemed she still had to 'pay' for it.

"However, since it's like this, my return gifts can't be too shabby either."

Looking at these D-rank 'gifts', Lan Qingyou rubbed her chin. If she wanted to match these items, she could only bring out her specialty.

With this thought in mind, Lan Qingyou took her tools and headed to the third floor.

This was where the basic mana potions she had made earlier were located.

Based on the number of people, she packed 8 basic mana potions and 8 basic healing potions. In any case, they were all D-rank, so it wouldn't be losing face.

After Lan Qingyou finished her busywork, she distributed them in the form of 'red envelopes'.

It was currently evening, the time when the manor members who had originally been 'working' would also begin resting one after another.

Thus, the chat channel was exceptionally active.

However, it basically revolved around Lan Qingyou.

After all, regardless of what was said, Lan Qingyou was the most famous Blue Star human on Kalim Continent.

Now that she had entered their manor and become a part of them, everyone was naturally delighted.