Shadow Killer's understanding of the game wasn't particularly high. He didn't quite grasp the purpose behind Lin Tianhao's actions. However, he chose to trust Lin Tianhao. After Lin Tianhao had battered Elvoss into a weakened state with his aerial combo arrows, Shadow Killer made his move. Five consecutive critical hits, each one causing bleeding, finished Elvoss off.
"Server-wide announcement: Congratulations to the player with a hidden nickname for completing the first kill of Elvoss. Keep up the good work, everyone!"
"Server-wide announcement: Congratulations to the player with a hidden nickname for completing the first kill of Elvoss. Keep up the good work, everyone!"
...
In the Novice Village, the village head's courtyard.
Upon hearing the announcement, the elder's expression changed dramatically. When he had heard that Wang San and Wang Si were killed, he had felt a brief surge of excitement. But that excitement lasted less than ten minutes before he heard the server-wide announcement of his subordinate Elvoss's death.
"Search the body," Lin Tianhao said as he walked over to Elvoss. On the first search, he found the Iceflame Ore.
"I need this," Shadow Killer frowned, as it was the item for his quest.
"You can't take it back, and I'm not taking it to submit the quest," Lin Tianhao explained, as he still needed Shadow Killer's cooperation for the next steps. "I'll give you everything else Elvoss has."
Shadow Killer's eyes brightened at that. He quickly searched the body, and his expression improved after he collected everything.
Lin Tianhao then searched the bodies of Wang San and Wang Si.
"Ding, you have obtained +1 Bronze-level Weapon Repair Insight."
"Ding, you have obtained 12 pieces of equipment."
"Ding, you have obtained +5 gold coins."
"Ding, you have obtained a special item: Corpse Qi Collection Bottle."
...
Lin Tianhao carefully stored all the items before turning to Shadow Killer. "Now that all three NPCs are dead, go back and tell the elder that you encountered Wang San and Wang Si on your way and, with the help of your guild, managed to kill them."
Shadow Killer was taken aback. "Will the elder believe that?"
"He has to, because he has no evidence to prove you're lying," Lin Tianhao replied.
"What about you?" Shadow Killer asked.
Lin Tianhao smiled and said, "My answer, of course, is that I only saw Wang San and Wang Si being killed by you and didn't see Elvoss at all."
Shadow Killer felt like he was being put on the spot. "If Blacksmith Wang and the elder compare stories, won't I be exposed?"
"And if the elder asks who killed Elvoss, what should I say?" he continued.
"Say you don't know. You hadn't even entered the mine when Elvoss was already dead," Lin Tianhao instructed.
Shadow Killer fell silent for a moment before asking, "Can you tell me why you're doing this?"
"For a bigger quest," Lin Tianhao said firmly. He had even considered abandoning the elder's task of hunting ten bosses to focus on completing the quest scroll's tasks.
After agreeing on their stories with Shadow Killer, Lin Tianhao finally smiled. Once Shadow Killer left, he took out the Corpse Qi Collection Bottle.
Corpse Qi Collection Bottle: Special Item.
Effect: After killing humanoid monsters, adventurers, or NPCs, you can collect Corpse Qi. If the bottle is filled, you may receive an extraordinary quest.
Progress: 46/100.
Lin Tianhao raised an eyebrow and collected the Corpse Qi from Wang San, Wang Si, and the others, raising the progress from 46 to 49. He needed fifty-one more Corpse Qi to fill the bottle. But Lin Tianhao wasn't worried at all. If he couldn't collect enough later, he would have to target those lovely players.
Checking the time, Lin Tianhao first returned to the Novice Village and entered the blacksmith's shop.
"Blacksmith Wang, I'm really sorry. I haven't found Elvoss yet. I just heard the announcement that he was killed," Lin Tianhao feigned ignorance, as if he had nothing to do with it.
Blacksmith Wang looked at Lin Tianhao meaningfully, "Snow Emperor, in our Novice Village, who else do you think has the ability to kill Elvoss and my two apprentices besides you?"
This time, Wang did not address Lin Tianhao as an adventurer but directly used his in-game nickname. Lin Tianhao knew that Wang was suspicious of him.
"I have no reason to do that. The Novice Village is full of hidden talents. I was once ambushed by an assassin who instantly killed my partner," Lin Tianhao said.
Upon hearing this, Wang frowned and stared at Lin Tianhao, as if trying to see if he was lying. However, he couldn't see anything.
"What a pity for my two apprentices," Wang said.
"What a pity for that piece of Iceflame Ore. If you can help me find the Iceflame Ore, I can give you a platinum-level necklace," Wang continued.
"Ding, Blacksmith Wang has issued a quest to you."
"Quest requirement: Find a piece of Iceflame Ore."
"Quest punishment: None."
"Quest reward: +1 Platinum-level Necklace."
Lin Tianhao raised an eyebrow. Wang was in a hurry. To get that piece of Iceflame Ore, he was willing to offer such a generous condition. A gold-level weapon was already overpowered at this stage, and platinum-level could potentially disrupt the game's balance.
"Alright, I'll do my best," Lin Tianhao accepted the quest. As for whether to give it or not, he definitely wouldn't for now.
"Snow Emperor, I'm waiting for your good news," Wang said.
After finishing these tasks, Lin Tianhao logged off to have a meal. His sister's surgery was scheduled for the afternoon. Although the early game time was precious, Lin Tianhao still went to the hospital after having a meal. Watching his sister being wheeled into the operating room, Lin Tianhao clenched his fist.
"Sis, you have to be okay," he whispered.
Although he had already paid the surgery fee, the doctor had told Lin Tianhao before that brain surgery was extremely risky and had a significant chance of failure. Even if the surgery was successful, there was still a considerable probability of her becoming a vegetative state. As long as she could survive, Lin Tianhao would accept it, even if she became a vegetative state. Because a vegetative state person could also enter "Twilight of the Gods." By improving his strength in the game, when the "Twilight of the Gods" merged with reality after the great catastrophe in five years, his in-game strength could be actualized, and his sister, even in a vegetative state, could recover.
Waiting anxiously outside the operating room, about two hours passed. The operating room door finally opened. A doctor in a white coat walked out with a worried expression. Lin Tianhao's heart sank, and he immediately rushed over. "Doctor, how is my sister?"
The doctor sighed, which made Lin Tianhao's heart leap into his throat.
"The surgery failed. The cerebral hemorrhage spread to the cerebellum. There's nothing more we can do," the doctor said.
Lin Tianhao staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground. "How could this happen?!!"
"No, no, there must be another way!" he shouted.