Chapter 262: Kids, Don't Be Afraid, Uncle Is a Good Person

Cang Lang slowly covered his ears, rescuing his hearing from being completely destroyed by the soprano-like sharp screams.

The terrifying reality of having just escaped the tiger's den only to fall into the wolf's lair left the adventurers feeling dizzy, crackling, and they all weakly collapsed to the ground.

"Good heavens, what's going on with them? Could they be here to extort?"

Sha Ge hadn't expected his shout to be so powerful that it directly knocked down all five adventurers; he hesitated before walking over.

After Fei Ying repeated the words of those boys and girls begging for help, the group that certainly didn't look like benevolent beastmen players finally realized the problem.

The Underground World is closed and chaotic, with no true "humans" existing, so naturally no one discriminates against them, but the civilized world may not be the same.

"No wonder the louder I shouted, the faster they ran—turns out it's because of this..."

However, only Sunshine City is nearby, so these human adventurers must also come from there, making them an important source of information.

So the players didn't leave directly, but instead dragged the unconscious adventurers neatly to a sheltered slope, waiting quietly...

Waiting for Ji Ming to twist open a small gap in the poison gas canister, using some minor chemical methods to make them wake up quickly.

But the first attempt failed; when the little team captain opened his eyes, he saw Sha Ge's curious mad king face, let out a despairing howl, and fainted again.

"Alright, let's us brothers hide first; tell us via private message once you've sorted things out."

"No."

But Ji Ming directly vetoed the goblins' suggestion.

"Let's play something different; hand the situation over to me, I'll fool them into limping first, then we'll talk."

"Ah..."

After hearing Ji Ming's plan, although it was indeed outrageous, it was truly a good method.

So after everyone left the field of vision, Ji Ming slightly altered his clothing and appearance, performing a second awakening on the team captain.

And as soon as there was any movement on his cheek, he began vigorously shaking his shoulders.

"Wake up, kid, how did you end up lying here?"

Ji Ming's hand speed needs no questioning; the youth hadn't even opened his eyes before being shaken into dizziness, unable to figure out what happened, only able to stare blankly.

"Where... where is this? I remember..."

But the big-bearded uncle didn't listen to what he said, instead immediately standing up and shaking the others, speaking quickly.

"Kid, now isn't the time to talk about this; it's dangerous here, we need to leave quickly!"

"Oh oh..."

Using "serious business" to ruthlessly cut off the other's just-formed thoughts, they hurriedly woke the other adventurers.

The bewildered adventurers hadn't yet figured out what was happening when they heard the uncle turn his head toward the actually empty forest depths and roar in terror.

"Run, they're coming, don't look back, I'll protect you!"

Ji Ming drove them away like a wolf herding sheep, chasing them far enough that these youngsters were out of breath, unable to speak clearly.

Thus, only after hearing a voice from behind say "Stop, we're safe" did they, who had just awakened and joined a confused long run, instantly collapse again.

After breathing and blood flow returned for a while, they were forced to crawl up with difficulty due to the ground's icy cold.

The team captain, being polite, approached the big-bearded uncle and sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Ji Ming: "First, actually I wanted to play a reliable big brother with a big beard; second..."

The uncle waved his hand, shook his adventurer's badge, and spoke.

"A large group of strangers from other places, with unknown stance and purpose, has appeared in the north; how did you end up there?"

For most adventurers, the reasons for adventuring are nothing more than lack of money and desire for adventure, plus a third kind that combines both, like them.

To supplement family income and to promote the youthful spirit of adventure, this group of acquainted friends and family chose to form an adventurer party.

But before they found anything valuable in this winter forest, they were first frightened half to death by an oversized goblin, then suffered encirclement.

However, as the adventurers gradually calmed down and began to be curious about the big-bearded uncle, a rustling suddenly came from the woods.

It was a few goblins laughing strangely, walking with exaggerated sway, as if performing a village late-night stage play.

"... Good thing my bluffing ability is strong enough, otherwise this stupid debut would have given me away."

No choice, Ji Ming had to grit his teeth and cooperate with the goblin lackeys summoned by Sha Ge.

"Kids, don't be afraid, uncle is a good person, hurry and hide behind me!"

Ji Ming stepped out, using the back of his blade to mimic fighting with the goblin's wooden sticks, engaging in fierce combat for several rounds in front of the few men outside.

But just as the adventurers shouted "Uncle is awesome!" and "Uncle is great!", an arrow suddenly flew out from the forest.

That cold arrow hit neither left nor right, precisely striking the goblin's head... on its hat.

Even that was enough to shock these timid goblins; they chattered and fled in literal panic.

"A master!?"

The delighted adventurers turned back, seeing several unfamiliar... no!

Others might not have an impression, but that tall, thick-armored man is truly unforgettable.

—That's clearly the bad guy insider who just greeted the goblins!

And just as they were about to report the uncle to those people, they actually saw the uncle also greeting those few individuals.

Two consecutive reversals overloaded their brains; they were about to roll their eyes and pass out, when suddenly they heard a stern shout.

"I heard there's someone nearby disguising themselves as me; have you seen them?"

The team captain struggled to steady himself, hesitating.

"What?"

"Well, actually it's like this..."

After Ji Ming's performance, he successfully distributed the trust he'd gained out of thin air to the other members of the group.

Thus "humans trading with beastmen heretics" successfully turned into "righteous warriors opposing heretical demons".

Even because of their high achievements, a few people were impersonated by the uncanny, trying to use this appearance to secretly harm others.

「So that's it, we were wrong to blame you all, sorry. 」

Faced with such evident strength, yet not shunning hardship to come here from elsewhere to slay demons and eliminate evil, the legendary adventuring squad, the adventurers naturally hold them in utmost reverence.

So, before the tightly coordinated alibi they had prepared in advance could be used, they entered the stage of "whatever Uncle says goes".

They quickly revealed their identities and related information about Sunshine City, filling in the mercenaries' lack of knowledge and concern as outsiders about the outer city.

After playing for so long, the group had also gained some social experience with NPCs, so similar events were also occurring among other players and adventurers.

【Haha, already being called 'big brother' by others, and still wanting to learn my savage charge, eh.】

【I go, is Sunshine City some otherworldly young man's tale or a magical paradise town? How does it sound like a multiversal legal basin?】

【Who knows, inside there might be a superpowered rich bat-man and a deadly mailman who likes to piss everywhere; I'm confident in the game officials' ability to plant Easter eggs.】

Perhaps after proper communication, only part yields friendliness, while others directly evolve into bloody incidents.

【Damn, ambushed and shot to death by adventurers with random arrows, any good brothers help me get revenge?】

【Yes yes yes, brothers quickly post a gathering point; this is no ordinary adventurer, we must bring out heavy firepower.】

【Indeed, it seems time to boost mine output again; labor reform this sector must be nailed!】

Of course, there are also some hospitable adventurers, like the Pinecone Squad who got excited chatting with 【Embroidered Night March】, and after another round of chatter they suddenly asked a question.

"Sirs, although there are some settlements around Sunshine City, most are just poor villages; why not come with us to Sunshine City!"

But as soon as those words were spoken, although the special operations team's expression and attitude didn't change, the chat already began to flutter everywhere.

【What does this mean, Sunshine City is actually already completed?】

【Could it not be that kind of dungeon that requires an invitation letter to join? Have we completed the prerequisite quest?】

【So do we agree or not? I'm a bit afraid that inside is a dragon's pool and tiger's den where opening the door means instant death……】

The team's concerns are not without reason, because objectively speaking, the players of 《Code Name: SunMoon》 are strong because they possess the three heaven-defying abilities: "no item drop", "time-read resurrection", and "unlimited backpack".

And fundamentally, the technical prerequisite for realizing these abilities is Ji Ming's "unrestricted transmission within the beta test site", "unlimited high-dimensional energy", and strong support from SunMoon.

But now the players have set foot on the ground, leaving the beta test site's range, so the realization of these three abilities will naturally be greatly diminished.

"Time-read resurrection" is the least changed; the player accounts saved in the rebirth pool can begin regenerating immediately after the main body dies.

However, although the fixed resurrection site is safe, once the players go farther, merely the "movement distance" itself is already a weakening.

Although the "unlimited backpack" or "inventory" function has been severely affected, thanks to SunMoon, Grelson, and a batch of magic masters' technical support, a "personal backpack" akin to a spatial accessory is retained within the players' bodies, always staying at the death spot and not taken by anyone.

The current technical limit is ten cubic meters; even if some large items still can't be stuffed in, putting valuable items and memorabilia inside is already enough.

As for "no item drop"…… not even SunMoon can figure out a technical realization that would allow so many kinds of objects, across various distant distances, to be repeatedly transmitted back and forth at any time.

——【Sorry, can't do it, even mugwort can't do it.】

But after further research, the technical team discovered that when players' consciousness is transmitted back, they will inevitably also bring along their "high-dimensional influence".

Depending on the level of their personal influence, it is entirely possible to bring back some corresponding volume of backpack items to the rebirth pool, achieving limited "no item drop".

As for those that truly cannot be brought along, they can be stored in the personal backpack left at the death spot, to be retrieved or discarded according to the players' choice.

Double protection amounts to giving players a safety net whereby even if they're unlucky day after day, they can still recover some gear from corpses.

In other words, the future 《Code Name: SunMoon》 will actually become more and more like a "game".

The Underground World has no difficulty; it can be used as a beginner village to get familiar with the game, while the surface is where this otherworldly adventure truly begins.

Therefore……

Although the influence of high-dimensional life expands with players' level and strength, they now certainly cannot retain the inventory stuffed to the gills like a hoarding hamster, even the reduced ten-cubic-meter version for going out.

So the problem arises: after players who died at the hands of bandits and adventurers bring back their personal weapons and armor, the remaining valuables can be barely retrieved with the help of a few good brothers, plucking up courage.

So what if one dies in Sunshine City? What if one dies in the boss's perilous lair?

《Code Name: SunMoon》 is no ordinary game; NPCs do not have a fixed hatred range that lets players skirt the edge to sneak past and steal chickens.

Ji Ming: too small, vision too narrow; I suggest learning how the seniors stole Dean An's house turning it into a sieve.

Yet seeing the difficulty on the faces of all the great heroes, the youths thought of another direction.

"Sirs, don't worry; we came out actually wanting to earn some pocket money, at home we can at least manage your food and drink!"

"Yeah yeah, my dad runs an inn; he'll definitely take good care of you."

"Please accept our thanks!"

But everyone still doesn't know what Sunshine City inside will actually be like, so they remain hesitant, unable to make a judgment.

Finally, as the "landlord", Ji Ming threw out a line in the group: 【Wait a moment, watch me operate!】

Then, using the excuse "we still have a friend who hasn't come", he had the adventurers first return to standby near the North City Gate.

The team then immediately returned to the underground exit, putting most of the items in their personal backpacks into storage, and left with the portion of belongings they could retain.

【Die if you must, there's no immortality in RPG games, charge!】

In a similar manner, many players also obtained tickets to enter Sunshine City, and after reducing their personal belongings as much as possible, chose to take risks.

Following the river, passing through the gradually thinning and low dark forest, on the plains a huge city with thick white outer walls finally appeared.

Although underground players had already grown accustomed to various magnificent sights, such a colossal man-made structure still made them unable to help but praise.

"Damn, what a huge white coffin!"