Gamers of the Underworld

After Professor Cabbage finished speaking, she took out an Adamantine rock, which was like a video recorder.

Sherlock infused his Mana into the rock, and images were shown.

In the images, a Goblin wielded a Huge Hammer that was greater in size than the Goblin himself. His body was emitting blinding white rays while he lifted the Huge Hammer incredibly high above his head and leaped up. When he landed, he smashed the head of an Orc Skeleton with the Hammer that was covered with white light. The image was filled with sacred, pure, and beautiful white color.

Then the images stopped.

Professor Cabbage slapped her hand on the table before squinting her eye sockets as she said, “Lord Sherlock, though we didn’t specify that the combatants couldn’t use the Power of Sacred Light in the contract, it wasn’t allowed from all perspectives. Most importantly, your Sacred Knights have caused serious mental harm to our students. They don’t dare to sleep or go to the bathroom alone.”

“I think you’re mistaken, Professor Cabbage.” Sherlock didn’t panic and said calmly, “I hate the decadent Sacred Light, and I guarantee that most of my citizens dislike Sacred Light. Only the decadent Surface World creatures favor Sacred Light. This is actually a new weapon.”

Professor Cabbage adjusted her imaginary spectacles, which she used to wear before death. She asked, “New weapons?”

“That’s right. Eggface, please demonstrate.”

Sherlock shouted to Eggface, who nodded. He understood Sherlock’s intention and walked to the table. Then he lifted his fat claws and made pig’s wails.

“Ah-ha!”

Eggface slammed on the table, but the table didn’t move a bit.

Sherlock took out some Magic Powder and drew a Rune Mana Formation on Eggface’s claws.

Eggface focused on the table, and his arm flashed with white light. He wailed like a pig again.

“Ah-ha!”

“Pom!”

This time, the table broke in half.

Eggface walked calmly behind the back of Sherlock, who smiled as he looked at Professor Cabbage and said, “Professor, there is no Sacred Light. Those Goblins used the new weapons invented by my Dungeon. That’s why they had a special power.”

“A Goblin can hammer an Orc Skeleton to death?”

Professor Cabbage was a bit shaken, but she didn’t believe what she saw.

“I’ve shown you the new weapon. I’m sorry that I can’t give you more details. This is our secret.”

Sherlock spread out his hands, while Professor Cabbage adjusted her imaginary spectacles and said, “Apologies, Lord Sherlock, I should have checked first. I’ll explain things to the students and their parents. As you know, they were badly shaken. They are extremely fearful of the Power of Sacred Light. Please understand.”

“I understand completely. None of the Underworld creatures like that kind of decadent power.”

Sherlock nodded with sympathy.

Professor Cabbage nodded in agreement. She quickly asked, “Yes, how’s Professor Bacon? Didn’t he come with you?”

“You’re saying…”

“Professor Bacon left almost a month ago. He said that he was contacting you regarding the Sacred Light. But it has been so long. Perhaps he’s dealing with miscellaneous matters again. He should be focusing on college affairs. Did he say when he’s coming back?”

Sherlock shook his head and said, “I’m here because of Professor Bacon.”

…

“What! Professor Bacon is missing, and he’s probably in danger?”

After listening to Sherlock and Brainiac, Professor Cabbage was in disbelief. She paced around in the room before saying, “Pardon my bluntness. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but this matter is incredible. Perhaps he’s helping more of the poor female students, so he hasn’t returned? That’s why he forgot about contacting Lord Sherlock.”

“Impossible. Though my mentor likes to teach spiritual knowledge, he wouldn’t delay college affairs. Moreover, I have my mentor’s letters seeking help,” Brainiac said immediately.

“The letters don’t prove anything. If he was in danger, would he be able to send the letters? Why doesn’t he write a detailed letter seeking help?”

Professor Cabbage said, “I know that you’re worried about your mentor, but you must have confidence in him. Though he’s not reliable and responsible at times, he was capable when he was young. He was also considered a genius Lich. Even if he’s old, it doesn’t mean he’s weak.”

“Hmm, I think so too. Professor Bacon is very capable. I don’t think something happened to him. Perhaps he’s busy giving tuition and forgot to come back. However, we can’t be sure he’s safe either. I hope Professor Cabbage can inform the school about this issue,” Sherlock said.

“I understand. If there’s no news in a few days, I’ll inform the principal, and the school will investigate. If there’s news of Professor Bacon, I’ll inform you, Lord Sherlock.”

Sherlock nodded at Professor Cabbage, then left with Brainiac and his followers.

Professor Cabbage watched the receding back view of Sherlock. She was pondering for a while before she returned to her office.

Brainiac followed behind Sherlock until they were far from Professor Cabbage’s office. At a corridor of Specter College, he couldn’t resist asking, “Lord Sherlock, why don’t we ask the principal directly? Professor Cabbage isn’t on good terms with Professor Bacon. She won’t inform the principal regarding this issue.”

“If the principal doesn’t know about this, it may be a good thing.”

Sherlock smiled.

“Wait, Lord Sherlock thinks that my mentor has been giving tuition and forgot to return to college?”

Brainiac was taken aback.

“No, how can that be? From his complex way of seeking help, he must be under surveillance and in a precarious situation. Didn’t you notice a similar envelope on Professor Cabbage’s office table? The words were, ‘To Professor Cabbage—Specter College Principal’.”

Sherlock put his hands into the pockets of the black windbreaker. There were white flower petals descending outside the windows. A bored Lich student must have released his Mana during class time.

“The possibility of a coincidence is low. Since I’m close to your mentor, I know the envelopes used by the college and those used by Professor Bacon for his private letters.”

“You’re saying that this matter is related to Specter College?”

Brainiac frowned and looked worried.

“Who knows? We’ll find out the truth after an investigation. During the investigation, everyone is a suspect. That’s a basic procedure.”

Eggface suddenly said, “Are you the Master Sleuth Sherlock?”

“No, that’s a TV series,” Polio replied.

“But the protagonist’s name is identical to Lord Sherlock, and they are both detectives,” the parrot said.

“No, that’s different. Lord Sherlock doesn’t have Watson… I got it!” Eggface looked excitedly at Brainiac and said, “You’ll be Watson! That’s very appropriate!”

“Wah, I’m enlightened.” Polio laughed heartily.

The parrot opened its beak and laughed.

“Don’t mind them, they just watched too many TV series. I’ll reduce their TV exposure.”

The Black Dragon, parrot, and black kitten straightened their faces and shut their mouths.

Brainiac was looking worried.

“We’ll investigate the letters. Let me examine Professor Bacon’s letters.”

Brainiac took out the letters from his pocket. There were tens of letters, and each of them had identical envelopes and papers.

The dates and times on the letters were different from when Brainiac received them. However, the difference was something recent and only happened to Brainiac.

The most prominent clue was the missing addresses. There were many secret messages.

Every letter had one, and they were only understood by Brainiac and Professor Bacon.

For example, “Heavy Tangerine” and “Cat in the box” didn’t make any sense, but they were useful messages.

“They originated from the Winterfell Post Office. I’ve checked this in Winterfell. Besides this, there’s no other useful information,” Brainiac said.

“According to Professor Cabbage and the time difference in the letters, Professor Bacon went missing around a month ago. We’ll investigate the entry and exit records of Professor Bacon at Winterfell.” Sherlock walked forward as he said, “Let’s go to the Winterfell Business Office.”

…

At the Winterfell Business Office.

A long queue of Underworld residents was queued impatiently in front of a row of counters.

This was the place for the Winterfell residents to deal with their daily affairs.

Like most of the Merchant Alliance’s Dungeons, the low efficiency was a cause of concern.

If they knew the insiders, then things would be different.

“Please help me, Pretty!”

Evelynn bent her back and made a begging gesture with her hands as she implored another Succubus.

“Don’t be so formal, Evelynn. We’re close friends, so I’ll definitely help you. Could you tell me how you’re progressing with Lord Sherlock?” the Succubus looked intently at Evelynn and asked.

“Ah! Why did you ask so suddenly…” Evelynn blushed.

“Ya, ya, ya. You’re blushing. Evelynn is dating. Sherlock is a good catch. If you don’t like…”

“I’ll kill you.”

“Sorry…”

…

Sherlock and Brainiac were standing outside the door. They overheard the two Succubi chatting. Sherlock, Brainiac, Eggface, and Polio were emotionless, while the parrot looked hopeless.

“What’s with this generation? Love? Is that what youngsters are playing nowadays? What’s with the Succubus’s Lord Overseer? A superior Devil? In love with the Succubus? Was I sealed for too long? Or do the superior Devils nowadays have lower standards and think of reproducing all the time? It stinks, tsk, tsk.”

The parrot continued blabbering. He didn’t notice the faces of Eggface and Polio turning green.

Sherlock was indifferent.

The parrot shifted his legs since he was excited, then smiled and said to Sherlock, “Lord Sherlock, do you think I’m right? This superior Devil is trash…”

“Zzzz ya.”

The door creaked open, and Evelynn walked out, followed by a few Succubi who were chatting. The Succubi noticed Sherlock and his servants.

“Ah!”

“Lord Sherlock!”

“It’s the real Lord Sherlock!”

“Is he the Lord Overseer of Evelynn?”

“That’s awesome! Can I have your autograph? I’m your fangirl, Lord Sherlock!”

“Ya Ah-ah—!”

After some chaotic autographing, those Succubi left. Meanwhile, the parrot quivered his feathers uneasily, looking like he wanted to fly away but couldn’t.

“Ah, the scent of youth and the wonders of love. It reminds me of the youthful vigor at dusk…” the parrot said after hesitating for a long time.

Sherlock lifted his hand and caressed the parrot’s beak before tying the beak with a vine.

“How’s the situation?”

Sherlock looked at the blushing Evelynn.

“I’ve checked. There’s a record of Professor Bacon entering Winterfell, but there’s no exit record,” Evelynn said.

“Sorry to trouble you,” Sherlock said to Evelynn.

“It’s nothing. That’s what I should do. Is there anything else I can do, Lord Sherlock? If not, I’ll return to work. I’ll return to the Adventurer’s Guild to help out.”

Evelynn left warily. She wore a specially chosen dress so that she could present a lovely back view to Sherlock.

But Sherlock was hugging his arms and in deep thought.

“Lord Sherlock, what do you think?” Brainiac asked with concern.

“No, even without an exit record, it doesn’t mean Professor Bacon didn’t leave Winterfell. We have to find more leads.”

Sherlock took out the letters and examined them again, then waved his hand and said, “Hand it over to the gamers with a lot more vigor.”

…

“Heavy Tangerine?” Peasant looked in a daze at NotWearingPants and said, “Are you sure those are the hints for the latest Strange Encounter Mission and not from the cat-loving game official who may be playing a prank?”

“Cat-loving game official?” Arthur frowned. He couldn’t relate Heavy Tangerine to a cat-loving game official.

“Cat lovers know that orange cats are easily fed to be overweight, so they’re called Heavy Tangerine,” Sylvanas explained.

“I didn’t expect Sister Vanas to like kittens too!”

Peasant was surprised. Sylvanas said as a matter-of-fact, “Girls usually like small animals. Of course, I know about them.”

“Shall we go and find orange cats in Winterfell?” BurningChestHair asked.

“We have to find orange cats, especially those overweight ones,” NotWearingPants concluded.

“Let’s go. We’ll start with the main streets.” Arthur stood up and said, “If it’s a Strange Encounter, it’s possible to find it in Winterfell, Eternal Kingdom, Marsh Inkspewer Town, the outpost at the crossroad intersection, the Sighing Wilderness, Distant Small Town, and the Black Volcano!”

…

At the Victoria Forest or the boundary of the Moonlight Forest.

George felt exhausted. He had never encountered such strange warfare.

The enemy had many more troops but didn’t send them in all at once or execute a siege. Instead, the enemy deployed the troops bit by bit, like adding fuel to a fire.

George felt like he was on the verge of victory, but the incessant reinforcements prolonged the battle until his Knights were gradually attrited.

He was suddenly enlightened. This…

Was this part of the enemy’s plan?