Gamers of the Underworld

Patrick Star was a Gnome reporter who was highly professional.

After graduation, he started working at the Winterfell news agency and began his legendary career.

Ever since he started working, he conducted the interviews and wrote most of Winterfell’s legendary news.

Like the cases of the Seventh District’s vagabond who urinated and defecated indiscriminately, an elder who secretly studied mathematical books, the farting of the Winterfell Dungeon Lord during a meeting, and a family having a healthy Gnome baby…

He wrote all of these popular news articles.

He was able to cover all pieces of news except for those that didn’t exist.

Eternal Kingdom had been a Dungeon of interest lately, so it attracted the attention of many news reporters.

This was especially so since the Dungeon was involved in a Dungeon War, something that hadn’t occurred for thousands of years.

Even then, the previous Dungeon War was a joke created by two Dungeon Lords, so there were no casualties.

After the advent of the Devil Management Committee, the primordial era of Dungeon Wars came to an end. Though the appearance of Michelangelo disrupted peace and caused the battle between the Underworld and Surface World, it was only for a short while, and peace was quickly restored.

The Devil Management Committee had agreed to the current Dungeon War, so there was no reason for Patrick Star not to cover this important event.

It was the fourth day since he took the dedicated Beetlemon express line to Eternal Kingdom. He was fortunate to take the earliest trip.

The Beetlemon was filled with 200 to 300 news workers.

The first person to receive him at Eternal Kingdom was the Black Dragon toll-keeper.

That was correct, it was a Black Dragon!

Though the young Black Dragon was only a few years old, the dominant aura of the Dragon made Patrick Star’s legs tremble. Even advanced creatures such as Vampires would feel the same way.

Patrick Star was very sure of that.

“Eternal Kingdom is private property. You’ll need an admission pass for a reporter. Ten Magic Stones.”

The Black Dragon repeated those words like a robot to all passing reporters, looking down the whole time.

If any reporter approached him to ask questions, the Black Dragon would lift up his head and raise a brow. Then, he would slap the signboard at the side and make “pa, pa, pa” sounds before saying, “Ha? Do you have a problem? Isn’t it clearly written? Ten Magic Stones for an admission pass! Additional charges for each interviewee! You’ll pay for anyone that you’re interviewing. I’m here to collect the Magic Stones!”

Seeing the fierce Black Dragon, even if the reporters would like to uphold freedom of the press, they were greatly intimidated.

Patrick Star didn’t have any problems. Though 10 Magic Stones was a bit expensive, considering the prestige and power of Eternal Kingdom, it was natural for the Dungeon to keep out poor and incapable news workers.

Would Lord Sherlock be greedy for money?

No, no, no. It was impossible. Lord Sherlock was able to recruit his citizens easily. Within half a year, he fought with both the Ancient Gods army and Samael to save Winterfell, incurring tens of thousands of casualties. However, he didn’t bat an eyelid or become flustered! Not to mention, the death compensation was at least a few million Magic Stones.

How could Lord Sherlock be poor? Impossible!

That was what Patrick Star believed.

Patrick Star was well prepared for the interviews. He was interviewing the citizens of Eternal Kingdom, especially the Gnome, Arthur, who obtained the Black Rider status.

As he was about to pay for the interview, the Black Dragon said, “Gnome? Arthur is an Orc now. He has changed professions. Please wait while I call him.”

“Oh, isn’t Arthur a Gnome? But now he’s…” Patrick Star asked meekly.

Eggface immediately raised his brow and spoke like the gangster in the film “Crows Zero”, saying, “Ha? I told you that he’s an Orc now! Do you have a problem? Get lost!”

“No, I don’t have a problem,” Patrick Star answered meekly.

He was then taken to a special cave for the interview. The reporters were unable to move freely once they entered Eternal Kingdom and were mostly limited to a cave in the Commerce Area. While there, someone would bring food and water for them, though the meals cost them money.

Before long, a young and strong Orc walked in. He had the same Black Armored Knight appearance and wielded the same weapon.

That being said, the armor and weapon were a size bigger to suit the change from Gnome to Orc.

“Are you Patrick Star?”

Arthur walked in and sat in front of Patrick Star, placing his weapon at the side.

“Can I start the mission now?”

“Mission?” Patrick Star was taken aback, but he immediately understood that the Orc had received a mission for the interview.

Though he was unable to interview the Gnome called Arthur, this Orc looked much stronger than Arthur.

“Greetings, I’m a reporter from the Winterfell press. I would like to interview you. How are you faring in Eternal Kingdom? How does the Dungeon Lord treat you?” Patrick Star asked.

Arthur frowned and said, “I’m very happy. I can challenge the Instance Dungeon with my friends every day. However, the equipment update is rather slow. If the game officials come up with Renminbi priced equipment, I’ll definitely buy them.”

“Ah?”

Patrick Star was dumbstruck, but he continued to record the conversation at a fast pace. Arthur said, “Next question.”

“Oh, oh, that… Is there anyone that Lord Sherlock fancies? This is an area of concern for the noble ladies in Winterfell. Does he accept extramarital affairs or homosexuality? Does he accept relationships that will end in a three-year jail term or a death sentence?”

Arthur knitted his brows and said, “Isn’t Lilo the kind of woman that will cause Sherlock’s death? I’m not sure about extramarital affairs and homosexuality, but he’s definitely in an interracial relationship.”

“Lilo? Is she that famous Fallen Angel? Didn’t she disappear after the battle with Samael?”

Patrick Star got the scent of a slanderous tale.

“Yes, it’s updated. She’s the Dungeon Lord of Victoria City, and we’re now fighting with Victoria City daily at the Sighing Wilderness.”

Patrick Star didn’t understand what Arthur was saying, but he recorded the content faithfully. As Patrick Star was about to ask the next question, Eggface pulled open the door and said, “Time has run out, so you have to come out. Sherlock’s holding a news conference that costs 10 Magic Stones. Do you want to participate?”

“Yes!” Patrick Star shouted immediately.

…

The news conference was held at the plaza in front of the Dungeon Lord Main Hall. To show Eternal Kingdom’s hospitality, Sherlock decorated the plaza.

He used the gamers’ furniture, such as tables and stools, for decorations, and he also installed a last-minute horizontal banner with the words, “We warmly welcome all news workers who are visiting Eternal Kingdom.”

Sherlock also arranged two rows of combat-ready gamers to welcome the guests, even putting out some underground water as beverages.

The beverages included red hot underground water, steamed underground water, dry taste underground water, and boiled underground water.

Patrick Star was led to the 66th seat, welcomed with wild cheering from the gamers. His seat was a small one reserved for a Goblin, but it was better than nothing.

Patrick Star sat down and greeted the creatures at his sides. Lord Sherlock exited the Dungeon Lord Main Hall, and while he walked towards the stage, he chatted with and obtained a speech scroll from Brainiac.

Sherlock cleared his throat before saying, “First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to all news workers on behalf of Eternal Kingdom’s employees and citizens.”

Everyone applauded loudly.

“We are aware that the second successor to Eternal Fire, Morgan, has indicated many times that he will defeat us. He also spread rumors about Eternal Kingdom’s threat to the Underworld and started mobilizing his large army.

“We will make all necessary preparations to protect our interests, including imposing sanctions on all creatures and shops supporting Morgan!

“Morgan initiated the war, broke the basic rules of a Dungeon, and destroyed the Underworld’s hard-earned peace. His impudence will be a disgrace in the annals of history, and we would like to protest and condemn his actions…”

Sherlock spoke fervently on the stage, and tears welled up in Patrick Star’s eyes.

“There goes my 10 Magic Stones…”