The main plaza of the Lighthouse wasn't crowded at this time.
Most of those present possessed strange characteristics, as if displaying these anomalies was the only way to avoid trouble.
There were hardly any newbies disguised in ordinary masks.
Most of them had completed their tasks at the beginning of the month, either dying or returning home.
They dared not wander around the Lighthouse plaza at the end of the month.
At this time, the ordinary pretenders still in the lighthouse were either new recruits who have just been brought in or those with some ambitions who want to continue causing trouble.
No one would wander aimlessly in the Lighthouse space; who knew who they might encounter who possessed the ability to see through disguises or see through things?
Although there were restrictions on this within the Lighthouse plaza, someone like the paper-doll tower master could simply pay some survival points and openly kill Duanmu in the plaza.
Benjamin checked his survival points:
Lighthouse Number: SL914
Identity: Tower Guardian
Strength: Intermediate Tier 1
Survival Points: 14531.
After deducting the initial teleportation fee for carrying the Life Box, the appraisal fee, and the cost of refreshing the dungeon three times, this is all that's left.
Survival points are really insufficient.
It seems that obtaining power that can be truly possessed from the scenario world is the most worthwhile option.
Benjamin first wandered around and spotted the gorilla-masked man who sold him the manual last time.
He was talking to a young man wearing a black hooded robber's mask, then turned away in disappointment.
Benjamin quickly walked over.
"Wait a minute, brother. I bought the manual from you a few days ago."
The gorilla-masked man turned around and chuckled:
"Oh, right, right, brother, is there something you need?"
"I want to ask a few questions, for a fee."
Benjamin still had many questions about the Lighthouse.
"Thank you for thinking of me, brother. I'd like to make that money too, but I don't dare. There are rules here."
"Let me point you to a place. See that shrine over there? That's the intelligence office of the Heart-Questioning Pavilion. Go there and inquire."
The gorilla-masked man shook his head regretfully and pointed to a location in Lighthouse Square.
Even this kind of thing is monopolized. Are there rules?
Benjamin hadn't expected this place to have so many rules. He became even more cautious.
After thanking him, he walked in the direction he was directed.
What came into view was a large Buddhist shrine, made entirely of bronze with specks of green patina, about one meter wide and two meters high, with latticed doors, a covered roof, and carved flowers.
"Greetings, senior. I've heard that intelligence is sold here. I have a few questions I'd like to ask." Benjamin stepped forward and bowed.
The upper cabinet door of the shrine swung open with a clang, revealing a clay Nuo face.
A broad face, fangs, and an angular forehead—it was a clay head, without a body.
The clay face's tightly closed eyes snapped open, darting around as if to focus, before fixing their gaze on Benjamin.
"Ask!" A deep, resonant voice, almost like the friction of clay, rang out.
Benjamin didn't dare waste words: "Why are there only useless, basic items in the plaza?"
He had always been curious; such a grand lighthouse should be bustling, but on the contrary, the plaza was deserted.
"200 survival points!"
So expensive! Benjamin hadn't expected a simple question to cost so much, while the manuals only cost 100 points!
Was this the difference between a streamlined service and one-on-one service?
Benjamin's mind raced, and he swiped 200 points.
The clay figure opposite him spoke:
"To avoid aiding the enemy, everyone has their own circle, led by the Tower Master."
Aiding the enemy? Who was the enemy?
Benjamin asked again, "Where did the enemy come from?"
"200 survival points."
200 again. Is this the starting price? Benjamin swiped the 200 points again.
"What world are you from?" The mud head countered.
Benjamin was just about to speak, but a shock ran through his heart, and he stopped short, not answering.
"Smart!" the mud head said.
"Everyone except those from your own world is an enemy."
The mud head paused, then added, "A mortal enemy!"
Benjamin's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Everyone except those from Deep Blue Star was an enemy?
Recalling the recruitment signs he'd seen in the plaza earlier—"Bright Realm Recruiting," "Join Azure Moon Star and Receive a Personal Set"...
These were all enemies?!
"What a pity!" The mud head spoke again.
Benjamin asked, somewhat puzzled:
"What's a pity?"
"It's a pity your cleverness backfired. You don't have a badge, clearly not a faction. You've asked two questions already; if you add the mandatory manual you have to buy, your survival points are probably all used up."
The mud head suddenly seemed lively and talkative, a complete change from before.
Has it logged in? Benjamin wondered to himself.
"Basic survival points are meant to give newcomers another choice. The name of a scenario world can basically indicate its difficulty and focus. Using survival points to ask this kind of question shows you've already lost your choice!"
"It's smart to think of asking this kind of question; it's foolish to actually come and ask!"
"If you survive the next scenario world, come find me. I'll give you a chance to join the Heart-Questioning Pavilion."
Mud Head's previously stiff, square face now showed an expression—a mixture of disappointment and approval.
"Senior, aren't you going to ask which world I'm from?"
Benjamin had even more questions. Just now they said we were mortal enemies, but now they weren't asking anymore. Had the other party seen through him?
"No need to ask. Our world is already gone. If you join the Heart-Questioning Pavilion, you also have to abandon your own world and will only exist in the lighthouse from now on."
Benjamin was a little surprised and confused upon hearing this.
What did it mean that the world is already gone? Joining this Heart-Questioning Pavilion actually meant that he was not allowed to return to Deep Blue Star.
Moreover, the mud head fellow had clearly misjudged the situation; he wasn't some newbie who'd only earned 500 survival points from a basic mission.
"Go complete the next scenario world first, then we can consider it further!"
Benjamin was still trying to figure out how to politely decline when the mud head fellow spoke, and the bronze door to the shrine instantly slammed shut.
Because The mud head fellow knew this newbie had run out of survival points.
His encounter with this opportunity was so hesitant; this newbie may not even survive the next scenario world, and the impression score has already decreased.
Seeing the shrine close, Benjamin bowed, said nothing more, and turned to examine the stalls.
He was also considering joining a certain Deep Blue Star Tower Lord's faction.
However, these factions all listed one requirement on their recruitment signs: a clean background.
What does a clean background mean?
It certainly doesn't refer to the Lighthouse Space; it means having your real-life identity and family information clearly recorded in the reality world.
However, once your personal information is exposed, wouldn't you be at the mercy of the organization's power?
If he had no choice, Benjamin would resign himself to joining an organization, a choice made by the vast majority of tower guards.
But Benjamin had a choice, and a chance, as long as he was strong enough.
At the very least, there's a big difference between joining as a new employee and joining the shareholders' meeting with capital!
One is doing hard labor; the other is getting a share of the profits.
Benjamin walked around the stalls, which displayed mostly frivolous trinkets.
Two items, however, caught his eye.
"Witch's Blood 10ml: From the world of 'Mad Witch,' the blood of an elderly witch who was stabbed while passing on her necromancy to her granddaughter. Ordinary people using it will experience hallucinations of death."
Price: 300 Survival Points
"Dead Body Candle: When an ordinary person ingests it, a curse enters their body, increasing their mental strength tenfold for three seconds, after which their body melts into wax."
Price: 500 Survival Points