Chapter 43: Who is the Enemy?
The main plaza of the Lighthouse wasn't crowded at this time.
Most of the people present had some strange characteristics, as if revealing their unusual abilities was the only way to avoid trouble. There were hardly any newbies disguised with ordinary masks.
Most of them had completed their dungeons at the beginning of the month, either dying or returning home.
They didn't dare wander around the Lighthouse Plaza at the end of the month.
The ordinary disguised people still in the Lighthouse at this time were either newly recruited or ambitious individuals looking to cause trouble. No one would wander aimlessly in the Lighthouse space; who knew who they might encounter who possessed the ability to see through disguises?
Although there were restrictions on violence within the Lighthouse Plaza, like that Paper Doll Tower Master, one could easily pay some survival points and openly kill someone like Jake in the plaza.
Marcus checked his survival points:
Lighthouse ID: SL914
Identity: Tower Guardian
Strength: Tier 1 Intermediate
Survival Points: 14,531.
After deducting the initial teleportation fee for carrying the Life Reservoir, the appraisal fee, and the cost of refreshing the dungeon three times, that was all he had left.
Survival points were really insufficient.
It seems that the most worthwhile path is to obtain power from the story worlds that can be truly one's own.
Marcus first wandered around and spotted the Guy Fawkes-masked vendor who sold him the manual last time.
He was talking to a young man wearing a black ski mask, then turned away in disappointment.
Marcus quickly walked over.
"Wait a minute, man. I bought the manual from you a few days ago."
The Guy Fawkes-masked man turned around and said cheerfully,
"Oh, right, right, brother, what do you need?"
"I want to ask a few questions, for a fee."
Marcus still had many questions about the Lighthouse.
"Thanks for thinking of me when you have money to spend. I'd like to make that cash too, but I don't dare. There are rules here."
"Let me point you to a place. See that shrine over there? That's the external intelligence office of the Oracle's Den. Go there to ask questions."
The Guy Fawkes man shook his head regretfully and pointed to a location in the Lighthouse Plaza.
Even this kind of thing is monopolized, are there rules?
Marcus didn't expect this place to have so many regulations. He became even more cautious. After thanking him, he walked in the direction indicated.
Before him stood a large bronze shrine, about three feet wide and six feet high, covered in green patina, with latticed doors, a covered roof, and carved designs.
"Greetings, I've heard this place sells intelligence; I have a few questions," Marcus said, bowing slightly.
The upper cabinet door of the shrine swung open with a clang, revealing a clay theatrical mask.
It had a wide face, fangs, and an angular forehead; only a clay head, no body.
The clay face's tightly closed eyes snapped open, turning as if to focus, before fixing their gaze on Marcus.
"Ask!" A deep, resonant voice, like grinding stone, rang out.
Marcus didn't dare waste words: "Why are there so few basic items in the plaza?"
He had been curious; such a grand beacon should be bustling, but the opposite was true—the plaza was nearly deserted.
"200 survival points!"
So expensive! Marcus hadn't expected such a simple question to cost so much, while the manuals only cost 100 points!
Is this the difference between personalized service and mass-produced guides?
Marcus's mind raced, and he transferred 200 points.
The clay-masked figure spoke:
"To avoid aiding the enemy, everyone has their own circle, led by Tower Masters."
Aiding the enemy? Who is the enemy?
Marcus asked again, "Where does the enemy come from?"
"200 survival points."
Another 200, is this the base price? Marcus transferred another 200.
"What realm are you from?" the clay mask countered.
Marcus was about to speak when he caught himself, falling silent, offering no reply.
"Clever!" The mask said.
"Everyone except those from your own world is an enemy."
The mask paused, then added, "A mortal enemy!"
Marcus's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Everyone except those from his Earth is an enemy?
Recalling the recruitment signs he'd seen in the plaza earlier—"Light Realm Recruiting," "Join Crescent Moon and Receive Full Equipment"—were all enemies?!
"What a pity!" The mask spoke again.
Marcus asked, somewhat puzzled,
"What's a pity?"
"It's a pity that your cleverness backfired. You don't have a badge, clearly you haven't joined a faction. Now you've asked two questions; if you add the mandatory manual you have to buy, your survival points are probably already depleted."
The mask suddenly seemed lively and talkative, a complete change from before.
Had someone logged in? Marcus wondered.
"Basic survival points are meant to give newcomers another choice. The name of a story world can basically indicate its difficulty and focus. You're using your survival points to ask this kind of question; you've already lost your choice!"
"It's smart to think of asking this question, but it's foolish to come here and ask!"
"If you survive the next story world, you can come find me, and I'll give you a chance to join the Oracle's Den."
The previously stiff mask now showed an expression, a mixture of disappointment and approval.
"Aren't you going to ask which world I'm from?"
Marcus had even more questions. Just now they said they were mortal enemies, but now they weren't asking anymore. Had the other party already seen through him?
"No need to ask. Our world is gone. If you join the Oracle's Den, you must also abandon your own world and only exist in the Lighthouse."
Marcus was somewhat surprised and confused by these words. What did it mean that their world was gone? Joining the Oracle's Den meant he couldn't return to Earth.
Moreover, this entity was clearly misjudging him. He wasn't some newcomer who only got 500 survival points from the basic mission.
"Go complete the next story world first, then consider it further!"
Marcus was still trying to figure out how to politely decline when the mask spoke, and the bronze door of the shrine instantly closed.
The entity knew this newcomer had little chance of survival.
His hesitant approach to the opportunity meant he might not survive the next story world.
Seeing the shrine close, Marcus bowed, said nothing more, and turned to examine the stalls.
He was also considering joining a certain Earth-based Tower Master's faction.
However, all these factions' recruitment notices included a requirement: a clean background.
What did a clean background mean?
It certainly didn't refer to the Lighthouse Space; it meant having one's real-life identity and family information clearly recorded.
Once personal information was exposed, wouldn't one be at the mercy of the organization's power?
If he had no choice, Marcus would resign himself to joining an organization, which was the choice of the vast majority of Tower Guardians.
But Marcus had a choice, and he still had opportunities, as long as he was strong enough.
At the very least, there was a significant difference between a new employee joining and someone who held shares at the shareholders' meeting!
One was selling labor, the other was taking a cut.
Marcus strolled around the stalls, which displayed mostly questionable items.
Two things, however, caught his eye.
"Witch's Blood 10ml: From the world of The Blair Witch, blood from an elderly witch who was stabbed while passing on her necromancy to her successor. Ordinary people using it will experience hallucinations of death."
Price: 300 Survival Points.
"Corpse Candle: When an ordinary person ingests it, a curse enters their body, increasing their mental strength tenfold for three seconds, after which their body melts into wax."
Price: 500 Survival Points.
Marcus studied the items carefully. He'd been to Hell. He'd killed gods. He'd implanted supernatural organs in his chest.
These items were dangerous, but compared to what he'd already survived?
They might just be useful.
(End of Chapter)
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Review!
P*atreon/DarkFoxx (20+ advanced chapters)