Night.


    In White Dove City, at the headquarters of the Adventurers'' Guild.


    "Cheers!"


    In the grand hall on the fifth floor, sses clinked, the fragrance of fine wine and delicious dishes filled the air.


    The staff acted as waiters, enthusiastically serving the heroes of White Dove City.


    The crusade against the Monster Tide hade to a pause, its remaining major forces had either returned to the Demon Realm through summoning arrays or flooded into the wilderness surrounding White Dove City.


    They were just defeated troops; a slow extermination would do.


    The horn of victory had thoroughly sounded.


    The grand victory celebration had thus begun.


    Those who coulde to the fifth floor of the Adventurers'' Guild were Rock-level Squads.


    They had performed remarkably throughout the Monster Tide.


    Without them annihting the leaders in various areas, the casualties among the adventurers would have at least tripled.


    Ordinary adventurers crowded every tavern in the city, with the city hall and guild sponsoring today''s food, drink, and entertainment—free of charge—a festival for adventurers!


    Lin Da''s team was not Rock Level, but due to their special contribution, the guild had arranged for them to be on the fifth floor.


    Whether intentional or not, they were even ced in the second row of seats.


    It''s worth noting that in front of him were only three Steel Level Adventure Groups.


    In the third row were the Ice Flower Adventure Team, Snow Goose Adventure Team, and several other veteran teams.


    Sitting here, Captain Lia of Snow Goose seemed quite pleased.


    At such gatherings, Snow Goose usually sat in the fourth row.


    Lia held a wine ss and shared with the Rock-level captains around her how she had led Snow Goose and the Phoenix Tail Flower to kill the Level 23 Red Armored Crab King.


    Lin Da listened for a while and discovered Lia had indeed changed; she didn''t im all the credit, saying she killed the Red Armored Crab King all by herself.


    Instead, she attributed a substantial part of the credit to herself.


    Lia had said, "That fellow Lin Da has quite decentbat strength, he''s likely to be a Rock-level Squad, you shouldn''t feel jealous about him sitting in the second row."


    "Wow, so that''s it, Captain Lia truly has an insightful eye, no wonder Lin Da is in the second row—he has the potential to be a Rock-level team!"


    "That''s brilliant, truly brilliant."


    "Did you coordinate with the captain of Phoenix Tail Flower? I heard there were some serious conflicts between you and Lin Da?"


    In fact, almost everyone understood the real reason Lin Da was sitting in the second row.


    Anticipating the monster tide in advance, excellentmand, killing the Red Armored Crab King...


    There were even rumors that Lin Da had risked his life to enter Breeze River Beach and brought crucial information to the White Dove Adventure Group that turned the tide of battle.


    Nobody envied Lin Da sitting in the second row.


    Some even thought it wouldn''t be a problem for him to sit in the front row.


    Lia thought: Are you jealous of him? Alright, let me exin the reasons, and then you won''t feel jealous.


    This was probably Lia''s way of thanking and apologizing to Lin Da for the past three years.


    But like scratching an itch indirectly, it only resulted in embarrassment for everyone else, who could only y along awkwardly.


    "I do have conflicts with him, but they''re not serious conflicts,"


    Lia took a sip of red wine, like a mature adult and spoke lightly, "Just some minor adult conflicts."


    While speaking, she suddenly noticed someone''s gaze which made her feel ufortable, as if her fa?ade had been seen through.


    She raised her ss to that person and downed all the wine in it. Riding the rush of intoxication, she politely nodded her small head, as a form of greeting.


    This surprised Lin Da; Lia''s gesture of raising her ss to him—could it possibly be... a toast?


    That arrogant Lia?


    And without keeping any wine back, she chugged it down; that red wine was not low in alcohol content.


    It was like the sun rising from the west.


    Lin Da thought incredulously as he raised his ss and took a small sip.


    Lia was quite dissatisfied; she had downed her drink while Lin Da had consumed so little.


    Yet she did not make a scene.


    Knowing that Lin Da would not drink much in public,


    "Congrattions to us for being unharmed,"


    At that moment, Isa came up next to Lin Da with a tired expression, lifting her wine ss.


    Lin Da''s attention returned to the present.


    This was a victory celebration but also socializing among adventure team captains.


    But for an old friend like Ice Flower, he could afford to be sincere.


    "Yes, this day has felt as long as a month," Lin Da remarked.


    "Hey, Lin Da."


    Fannis, the tactical officer of Ice Flower with her green bobbed hair and sses, waved cheerily at him.


    Then, pointing at their very anxious-looking captain:


    "Someone was all over the ce, her Battle Qi wasted as she frantically searched where Phoenix Tail Flower was, not even listening to mymands."


    Fannis shrugged, humorously watching Isa.


    "Shut up," Isa''s face turned red as she knocked Fannis''s head, "We''re all adventure teams from the same city; it''s right to help each other."


    "Then why didn''t you help other adventure teams? Like Snow Goose, Valiant, and so on?"


    "Hmm..."


    Seeing that Isa was about to sh with Fannis, Lin Da quickly stepped in to mediate.


    He didn''t want these two women to fight over him. Isa was thin-skinned, and Fannis was revealing her secrets; her personality was really terrible.


    "Isa, thanks for your concern," Lin Da raised his ss, "I hope the World Tree Goddess continues to keep us safe."


    Isa and Fannis corrected their expression and raised their sses.


    Shortly after, the members of the Steel Level Adventure Groups came down from upstairs.


    It seemed they were being summoned by President Velen to discuss matters.


    As the leader of the Specter Adventure Group, Helus walked past Lin Da and sneered softly, "Well done. Too bad you went to the White Dove Adventure Group."


    Around Helus were nine members dressed in ck.


    All possessed dark attributes, and the air chilled several degrees wherever they went.


    Lin Da''s face remained expressionless. "Captain Helus, what do you mean by this? If you want to threaten Phoenix Tail Flower, just say it outright."


    "Threaten? No, no, no, I''m just expressing regret. If you had joined the Specter Adventure Group, you could have had the ''Poison Dragon''s Skin,'' an epic-level material."


    Helus clearly knew that Lin Da possessed the ''Thousand-Change Demon''s Demon Core.'' Together, these two materials could forge epic-level inner armor.


    But it seemed he had no intention of seizing it from Lin Da, otherwise, he wouldn''t have pointed out such things in a public setting.


    In reality, Helus was extending an invitation, cackling weirdly, "What do you say? How abouting to our side? I could even offer you a ve almost at the star rank."


    A withered palm rested on a brown-haired female team member, causing her to tremble as Helus added, "Level 28, I haven''t touched her yet. I could give her to you along with the ''Poison Dragon''s Skin.''


    A ve?


    Lin Da, Isa, and their team members all changed color, a feeling of disgust welling up within them.


    Helus''s title was Soul Reaper, capable of imposing ve contracts on adventurers of lower levels than him, manipting them like puppets.


    "Lin Da, don''t be deceived by him. He just wants to turn you into a ve!"


    Gale was thest to enter the hall; seeing the scene, he took a protective stance in front of Lin Da, his face cold and his smile forced, "If youy a hand on Phoenix Tail Flower, I assure you, the White Dove Adventure Group won''t let you off."


    "Oh? Amander with such authority?" Helus said dismissively.


    "What Gale means, is what I mean as well," Abner, who had his eyes closed, suddenly spoke.


    When this leader spoke, Helus''s expression immediately darkened, taking a deep look at Lin Da:


    "My offer remains valid anytime. The White Dove Adventure Group is just a bunch of hypocrites, but I, I would sincerely consider you a friend. When you''ve thought it through, you cane to the Specter Adventure Group''s base."


    Yet Lin Da was not the least bit tempted.


    In the game, the Specter Adventure Group wasn''t exactly saints, and there was even a side mission to eliminate them.


    Lin Da wasn''t in a hurry to confront the Specter Adventure Group, subtly nodding his head to maintain a superficial rapport.


    Gale sighed in relief, waiting for Helus to take a seat at the front and then whispered, "That old fart is disgusting. If you encounter them in the Great Mystery Continent, be careful. Speaking of which, Dawen gave you the Demon Core, right?"


    "Mhm."


    "That''s good. If Dawen had run off with the Demon Core, our White Dove City would really have to confront Red Heart City. Also, regarding the forging of inner armor, the piece of dragon skin you''re missing, the White Dove Adventure Group will help you inquire about it."


    Gale pped Lin Da on the shoulder with a chuckling, "As friends, that''s a pretty highmitment, right? So, when will you arrange for your team member Monica to have dinner with me?"


    Upon hearing this, Monica''s face turned pale as she shook her head frantically, clearly indicating her disinclination to Lin Da.


    "If that is the cost of the White Dove Adventure Group''s help in finding materials, please forgive my refusal."


    Lin Da smiled, knowing Gale was joking to lighten the mood: "But another member of my team might join you for dinner."


    "Oh? This werewolfdy wouldn''t be too bad either!" Gale''s eyes lit up.


    "No... not her." Lin Da pointed towards Kafni who was feasting voraciously on the side.


    "What?" Kafni, holding a chicken leg and dripping with grease, was oblivious to what was happening.


    "This Miss Kafni is quite beautiful too," Gale wasn''t choosy.


    A whileter, President Velen arrived, and Gale finally took his seat reluctantly at the front.


    As Jite, the deputy leader of White Dove, passed by Lin Da, he said, "Well done."


    It wasn''t clear if he was referring to Lin Da''s rejection of Helus or his performance in the Monster Tide.


    "Thank you."


    Lin Da sincerely epted Jite''s praise.


    Being overly humble would only lead others to look down upon you.


    Abner also passed by, nodding slightly.


    This scene was seen by all the adventurers.


    Clearly, the White Dove Adventure Group was conveying a message to everyone: Phoenix Tail Flower is their friend.


    If anyone from the Specter Adventure Group thought of striking, they''d better weigh whether they could withstand the fury of the White Dove Adventure Group.


    This episode indeed made several teams with ulterior motives much more behaved.


    Once everyone was seated,


    President Velen began an impassioned speech.


    First, he praised the bravery of the adventurers.


    Finally,


    "We have won this battle, but at a great cost."


    With a thick list in his hands and a sad face, Velen announced, "Eighteen members of Rock-level Squads and over three thousand adventurers above level 10 were sacrificed in the Monster Tide."


    "In defense of our city, in defense of the World Tree, they gave their lives."


    "They will never see the upper sights of the World Tree again, and many wishes will remain unfulfilled."


    "Let us mourn these valiant warriors."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    With a heavy voice, President Velen closed his eyes, praying silently alongside everyone else. Experience tales at empire


    He hoped that the souls of the fallen would be guided to the World Tree and, with the help of the Goddess, attain reincarnation.


    As the mourning ended, President Velen spoke again, "There''s another matter that I''m sure concerns everyone here."


    "The rewards!"


    "The Murderous Crabs in on the battlefield have been recorded in the guild''s bracelets, and no one will be shortchanged."


    "The guild and the city hall have alreadymissioned lower-level adventurers to collect the magical creature materials, which will be all converted into market value, distributed ording to the counts on the bracelets."


    Upon hearing this, a hint of relief appeared on everyone''s faces.


    In this battle, some teams had lost members, others had damaged equipment.


    All needed a sum of gold coins to replenish their team''s strength.