468 Version 0.39 Update Log (1/2)

Marco Polo placed a plate of clay dishes on a table.

His main life skill was cooking, unlike the Blacksmithing and Carpentry that most gamers were interested in.

Both Blacksmithing and Carpentry required lots of time and money. He wasn't concerned about earning money or upgrading his skills, so he preferred cooking.

If he learned how to cook, he could prepare a delicious dish with a wok, some clay, and materials and sell it for a tidy sum.

Setting up a cafe wasn't as profitable as becoming a Blacksmith or Carpenter, but it was still profitable.

The most important task was to collect information. Most of the gamers wanted to patronize his cafe and try his food even though there were no BUFFS or benefits. The cafe allowed the gamers to have an immersive experience, and that was an important aspect.

As the number of patrons increased, Marco Polo was able to collect more information. Recently, he gathered a piece of important information.

A new Underground Forest.

The Underground Forest wasn't discovered by the gamers. Some gamers heard about it from a Winterfell guard who obtained it from a gossip channel. The hidden forest was about a day's journey from Eternal Kingdom. Though it was a headache to solve math problems and cut down the trees, it was a bigger headache if there were no wooden logs.

If Marco Polo could discover the forest, it would be a huge boost to the game development. It was an irresistible temptation for an explorer such as Marco Polo.

The gamer who provided the information tried to find the forest, but he failed. The gamer didn't find anything in the direction that the information provided. The tunnels were too narrow for trees to grow.

Marco Polo wanted to verify the information received by the gamer.

He was prepared and could set off at any time.

Rock climbing ropes, hooks, a walking stick, backup boots and gloves, a tent, a sleeping bag, light sticks, a handheld Magic Lantern, a compass, a stove, a thermos flask, and a Potion.

Those were the main items. It wasn't the first time Marco Polo went on an expedition. He was familiar with his tools. After preparation, he set off towards the location provided by the information.

He had accumulated enough resources because he tutored the NPCs in the old district. Even now, he was giving the kids classes to earn Magic Stones.

He also purchased a Darting Bird from a gamer. The Darting Bird could carry his items and shorten his traveling time.

The Darting Bird could shorten a day's journey to less than half a day, so Marco Polo soon arrived at the designated location.

Like what the gamer had said, the tunnels were narrow. There were no monsters and no forked road. There was also no forest.

Most of the hidden tunnels weren't apparent. Marco Polo knew that he would have to put in some effort to find the hidden forest.

In front of him was a long tunnel. There were no complex paths or forked roads. However, if he searched the area, he was sure he could find something.

He stopped the Darting Bird at the tunnel and took out a small hammer. He knocked continuously on the walls to find hidden mechanisms or hidden tunnels.

He searched for a long time, but he didn't find any hidden locations. However, he didn't give up and continued searching.

When he hit the wall this time, he heard a crisp echo from within. He was surprised. He took out a small shovel from his bag and started knocking on the wall.

The wall wasn't thick, it was hollow. When he hit it the third time, there was a hole in the wall. The rest was simple.

Marco Polo continued hitting for half an hour, and soon, the wall was broken down. There was a hidden tunnel behind the wall that he had just cleared.

It was dark inside without any vines that provided illumination. As a precaution, he set up a stake and tied the Darting Bird to it. He then placed most of his items on the Darting Bird. After that, he tied a rope to his waist and took out his handheld Magic Lantern as he walked into the tunnel. The tunnel was pitch black and spacious. He felt around and confirmed that there were no forked paths, then walked along the tunnel for 30 minutes. His horizon widened.

Illumination appeared at the end of the tunnel. The end of the tunnel was a huge cliff that had glowing vines below it. The most important thing was the valley below, which was full of luscious trees that stretched beyond the horizon.

”Gosh! Have I found the forest already?”

Marco Polo was exhilarated. He had to find ways to climb down the cliff to the valley below.

When he was pondering how to get down, a team of Orcs came out from the side.

The Orcs were wearing safety helmets that had Magic Lamps on them, and they were holding ropes in their hands. They were surprised to see Marco Polo, as they didn't expect to see other creatures there.

Because Marco Polo was focused on finding hidden gameplay and locations, he didn't upgrade his combat power. He also didn't go for combat training. Like Hemp Rope Technology, he was focused on his interests.

As such, he was still of the lowly Goblin race.

The Orcs were taken aback at finding a fully armed and equipped Goblin.

The Orcs hesitated before charging at Marco Polo.

”Catch him. Don't let him escape!” someone shouted. Marco Polo quickly fled so that he could evade capture by the team of Orcs.

But a Goblin was unable to outrun Orcs, especially in such treacherous terrain, where he had nowhere to run. Soon, Marco Polo was captured and tied up with ropes.

”What shall we do? Why is there a Goblin?”

The Orcs started talking. One of the Orcs noticed the green symbols above Marco Polo's head and was dumbstruck. He said, ”Wait, this creature is from Eternal Kingdom. Look at the green symbols above his head. The creatures from Eternal Kingdom have the same symbols!”

”Eternal Kingdom? Didn't they defeat Lord Morgan and Lord Andrew?”

Marco Polo recalled that Morgan and Andrew were both successors to Eternal Fire.

Morgan was Andrew's brother and the second successor to Eternal Fire, while Andrew was the third successor to Eternal Fire. They were defeated by the valiant gamers.

Were these Orcs related to Eternal Fire? Otherwise, how did they know about Morgan and Andrew? Perhaps Morgan and Andrew were too notorious, so they heard about them.

”We can't keep him alive. Let's kill him. We can't let other creatures know of our Stronghold below. This forest belongs to us!” one of the Orcs said. Marco Polo wanted to explain and make use of his glib tongue, but before he could speak, an Orc placed a knife to his neck. He cut Marco Polo's throat, killing him.

When he recovered, Marco Polo was at the Revival Interface.

Peering into the darkness, Marco Polo was stunned for a long time. Then he appeared at the Revival Point. He looked bewildered at the bustling Eternal Kingdom.

His Darting Bird and other equipment were lost.

Marco Polo didn't recover himself for a few minutes. He was overwhelmed with grief.

Marco Polo didn't like to train in combat techniques or go after combat equipment. It wasn't easy for him to buy a Darting Bird and equipment for exploration. Now, they were lost. Nobody could understand his sense of loss.

He wailed loudly.

He was going to get some gamers to kill those Orcs!

…

Sherlock returned to the Dungeon Lord Main Hall from the Winterfell manor. He let Evelynn rest for a week so that she could forget the unpleasant incident at the manor. She wouldn't be in a good mood after learning that a monster was residing in her body. Especially when she was timid and conservative.

Eggface and the parrot returned to the Dungeon Lord Main Hall, but Sherlock didn't open the cabinet that Polio was locked in.

Sherlock discovered that the gamers had a new goal and plan.