Chapter 112: Advice for Keita

Lingyun and Kirito were chatting in the tavern; Yuuki had just received an email from Luo Yexi and left.

Lingyun was quite at ease regarding Yuuki. Although she was still young, she possessed a mature mindset and a calm personality far beyond her peers, just like Alice. Coupled with her formidable strength, there really wasn't much in this 20th Floor that could threaten her.

Not long after Yuuki left the tavern, Keita appeared. Judging by his beaming face, he had likely gained quite a few benefits after completing his quest. However, the other members of the Moonlit Black Cats were not with him; they were likely occupied with other matters.

"Hey, Kirito, you guys are here!" Keita waved at Lingyun and Kirito with a smile and sat on the other side of the table.

"So, you must have gotten a lot of Col after finishing the quest!" Kirito asked with a smile.

"Yeah, if we keep going like this, it won't be long before we can buy our own guild house!" Keita said with a face full of smiles. "But this is all thanks to Kirito. Without you, that dangerous quest might have gotten all of us trapped!"

Lingyun cast his gaze toward Keita. There was a faint wisp of black aura above his head—a sign of great misfortune. Recalling the later incident where their guild was wiped out in a hidden map, a thought formed in Lingyun's mind.

"Keita, I have a bit of advice for your guild. Would you like to hear it?" Lingyun spoke up.

"Advice for our guild?" Keita looked at Lingyun with some surprise, a flash of delight in his eyes. "For the famous Phantom Sword to offer advice to our guild, we couldn't ask for more!"

"How do you rate your guild's strength in this SAO?" Lingyun asked.

"Our guild's strength?" Keita muttered, then slowly said, "It's very low. If it weren't for Kirito, our guild would have been wiped out long ago. The fact that we've developed to this point is also due to Kirito's help."

"Indeed, your strength isn't very powerful. I heard from Kirito earlier that you are all students, which further dictates that your combat effectiveness isn't as strong as certain professional players in this world." Lingyun nodded. "And the dangers of this SAO world now are absolutely beyond your imagination. Even professional players have the possibility of capsizing in the gutter in this world. This world is simply too dangerous for you. If Kirito weren't here, you wouldn't have the strength to reach this floor at all."

Keita lowered his head and clenched his fists. Although what Lingyun said was hurtful, it was the truth.

"Lingyun..." Kirito pulled on Lingyun's sleeve with some concern.

Lingyun returned a look to reassure her, then turned his gaze back to Keita.

"That's right, what you said is correct, but..." Keita said somewhat powerlessly.

"Right now you have Kirito's protection, but what will you do if Kirito isn't by your side one day? Furthermore, I can tell that the girl among you has a fear of combat. If she makes a mistake during a battle, what will you do?" Lingyun asked.

"Keita and the others have Teleport Crystals; they can teleport back to the Town at any time!" Kirito interjected from the side.

"Teleport Crystal?" A smile tugged at the corner of Lingyun's mouth. "And what if you encounter an anti-crystal area?"

"Anti-crystal area?" Kirito couldn't help but be stunned.

"That's right. In SAO, there are some extremely dangerous areas where crystals cannot be used. Remember, no type of crystal works, including Teleport Crystals. Moreover, a large portion of these areas are enclosed; once you go in, it's hard to get out!"

"There are places like that in SAO?" Keita was also shocked. One had to know that Teleport Crystals were the life-saving items for many players today. If such an extremely dangerous anti-crystal area really appeared, then everyone except Kirito would be no different from sitting ducks.

"At the end of the day, you are all too weak. And you, especially that girl named Sachi, are actually not suited to survive in this dangerous world." Lingyun spread his hands.

"Lingyun, do you have any solutions?" Kirito looked at Lingyun and asked.

"I do have a method, it just depends on whether you accept it or not." Lingyun said.

"What method? Tell us first." Keita asked from the side.

"Have you heard of a production guild?" Lingyun asked.

Kirito's brows furrowed slightly: "A production guild? You mean the kind that provides logistics?"

Lingyun nodded slightly: "My idea is to transform the Moonlit Black Cats into a semi-production guild. Those who like to fight monsters and level up can be left to you, Kirito, to improve their combat strength. As for those like Sachi who don't like fighting, they can stay in the Town as logistics personnel to ensure the material needs of the frontline combatants."

"Is that so?" Keita's brows furrowed slightly. After pondering for a while, he said, "This isn't something I can decide alone. I need to go back and discuss it with the others!"

"That works too!" Lingyun nodded slightly, then sent a trade request to Keita.

Keita subconsciously opened the trade window, only to see various powerful pieces of equipment, rare potions, and crystals, along with a large amount of Col.

"Th-this is?" Keita was startled and looked at Lingyun in confusion.

Kirito, on the side, looked curiously at the trade window and was also taken aback by these items. These things were far too valuable; even the sum of everything she currently used didn't amount to one-tenth of the value of these items.

"They're just some things I don't need, it's no big deal." Lingyun waved his hand nonchalantly. "They take up space in my inventory, and selling them to shops in the Town would be letting them off too cheaply. Besides, if you're going to transition into a production guild, how can you do it without some good items? Furthermore, there are many things here you can use right now, which can greatly enhance your strength, and it will be much easier for Kirito to teach you later."

"But this is too valuable." Keita said with some difficulty. "And aren't you afraid we'll run off with these things?"

"I'm not worried about that for two reasons. First, these things are valuable in your eyes, but to us, they are just chicken ribs—tasteless to eat, but a pity to discard. Second, you are Kirito's friends; that is the most important point!" Lingyun said with a smile.

"Because they are my friends?" Kirito didn't know what she was thinking, but a faint blush crept onto her face.

"Also, I have the idea of having you become the logistics guild for me and my teammates. After all, we get these items from time to time and don't want to waste time dealing with selling them, so we might as well leave it to you to handle!"

"Is, is this the difference between a top-tier player and us ordinary people?" Keita looked at the items in the trade window and then at Lingyun. These were things that most players in this world craved, yet in Lingyun's eyes, they were just a pile of chicken ribs. This was too much of a blow!

"Rest assured, I will definitely not let you down." Keita was at that age where he wanted his expectations to be valued and hoped to accomplish something. Regarding Lingyun's trust in them, he was naturally filled with gratitude and swore that he would do this well.

After discussing the future development of the Moonlit Black Cats with Lingyun, Keita left in a hurry; he was eager to realize the vision in his heart.

After Keita left, Lingyun realized that Kirito hadn't said a word from just now until then, so he looked at her with curiosity.

"Eh, Kirito, why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?" Lingyun asked with some strangeness.

"N-nothing!" Kirito, who had been lost in thought, was brought back to reality by Lingyun's voice, and the blush on her face deepened.

"Nothing? But your face looks even redder. Do you have a fever?" Although this world had become a Semi-plane and illnesses had turned into status effects, they would still manifest on players in certain ways. Seeing her state, Lingyun reached out his hand to see if she had a fever.

"Um, I'm really fine. By the way, I still have a quest to finish, I'm leaving first." Kirito dodged Lingyun's hand, stood up in a panic, and left.

"What's going on?" Lingyun looked at Kirito's flustered back and wondered. However, she didn't look like she was sick, so Lingyun didn't pay it any more mind.