23 Simple Ques (1/2)
Roland had lived in Red Mountain Town for more than a month, but he hadn't triggered any quests yet. However, Betta had triggered one so quickly.
It did make sense on second thought. Roland was incapable of Language Proficiency, and quests required communication, unlike other games where there were gold exclamation marks above the NPCs to inform the players of acceptable quests.
How could he trigger a quest when he could barely talk?
Therefore… He had to learn Language Proficiency as soon as possible.
”All right, let's team up. You can share the quest with me.”
Both of them were seasoned players. They soon set up a team on the system menu, and then Betta shared the quest.
”Search for the missing grandchildren of an old man.”
The title of the quest was green, followed by ”Excellent.”
Noticing Roland's confusion, Betta explained, ”I've accepted white quests before, but the rewards were quite unattractive. I got only a common iron longsword once.”
Betta took out a rusted longsword from his Backpack and waved it. ”This is the one.”
”Did you get your clothes and your weapon through quests?” asked Roland curiously.
Betta nodded and asked back, ”Didn't you get your magic robe in the same way?”
Roland shook his head. ”No, it's a gift from an old man.”
Betta clapped his hands and said, ”It seems that intimacy plays a role in this game.”
Although Betta had just graduated from high school, it was obvious that he was quite smart. He made the deduction quickly.
Roland thought for a while and said, ”Yes, but I have to remind you that you must not treat the NPCs in this game as the NPCs in the sandbox games we played. They are quite intelligent.”
Betta nodded and said casually, ”I know. The AI of Penguin Corporation is almost lifelike.”
”They feel like real persons to me,” Roland said and frowned.
”Hahaha.” Betta laughed. ”You're overthinking, Brother Roland. This game is controlled by AI. They're just data.”
Roland sighed and said, ”I studied the application of intelligent programs when I was in college, or to put it more simply, I worked on AI. As far as I know, it requires tremendous work to establish such an enormous world and make every NPC as vivid as a real person. I don't think anyone can achieve that.”
”But this game has achieved it.” Obviously a consequentialist, Betta shrugged and said, ”So… a genius must've made breakthroughs.”
Roland said with a bitter smile, ”That's the only explanation.”
”All right, Brother Roland, should we get started?” Betta looked at him hopefully.
They were standing before Roland's cottage. Roland pointed at the foot of the mountain. Because of the fair today, there were many more people in Red Mountain Town.
The streets were jam-packed with peddlers and customers.
”Do you not want to enjoy the carnival?” Roland asked, finding it odd. ”Such fairs must be new to you, right? Your generation has grown up with online shopping.”
Betta shrugged. ”I'm not interested at all. I just want to level up, challenge the more intriguing quests, and see more monsters and landscapes.”
So, the young man was more of an adventurer?