Chapter 75: This Scene Is a Bit Like an Offline Meetup for an Online Game

July 11th, 7:50 AM.

In an open plaza in the Rongcheng North District Suburbs, right on the edge of the wilderness, people were coming and going. The air was filled with a clamor of voices, creating an extremely lively atmosphere.

"Hello, are you Unparalleled Fate?"

"Yes. And you are?"

"I’m Novel Addict."

"Brother, you’re finally here."

"Sorry about that. My car was running low on gas halfway here, so I had to swing by a gas station. That’s why I’m late."

"No problem. I just got here a little while ago myself. Come on, I’ll introduce you to the others."

...

"Hey, you don’t think that Pie Leader Fengyun guy who said he’d carry us is a scammer, do you?"

"Probably not. Anyone who can log into the Exotic Beast Hunter app is a real Exotic Beast Hunter—they’ve all had their identities verified. If he scammed someone once, his career in this circle would be over."

"That’s true. And if you think about it, Pie Leader Fengyun has nothing to gain from scamming us."

A middle-aged man in his forties came up behind two young men in their early twenties, addressing the two rookies who were quietly whispering their suspicions that he might be a scammer.

"So, you two must be Nameless I and Ly Dawn, right?"

"And you are?"

"Pie Leader Fengyun."

"Boss! You’re finally here. If you hadn’t shown up, we were just about to pack up and head home..."

...

"Miss, are you Nanyue Longdong Zhiqiu Forest?"

"I am. And you, sir?"

"I’m Little Dove Treasure."

After confirming each other’s identities, the five-foot-nothing girl and the six-foot-six, heavily muscled giant stared at each other in astonishment.

’So this is the expert? She’s tiny!’

’And this rookie’s username is so cutesy! I thought he was a girl!’

After grumbling to themselves internally, they wiped the surprise from their faces and shook hands.

...

Leaning against a large, leafy tree, Lin Li stood in the cool shade and watched the Exotic Beast Hunters call out each other’s usernames to find their teammates. He couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

"This whole scene... Anyone who didn’t know better would think this was a fan meetup for some online game."

"BZZZZ..."

Most of the Exotic Beast Hunters had arranged their teams beforehand on the communication forums of the hunter app, all to participate in the Mutant Beast clearing operation organized by the Exotic Beast Hunter Guild. Just as they had all found their respective teammates, a loud buzzing sound suddenly rang out across the open plaza.

The bustling, chattering plaza instantly fell silent as every Exotic Beast Hunter present turned toward the source of the buzz.

On a makeshift stage, a powerfully built, energetic middle-aged man with a scar on his cheek was holding a megaphone.

The loud buzz from a moment ago had come from the megaphone in his hands.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Liu Jinyang. I’m the representative from the Exotic Beast Hunter Guild, and I’ll be overseeing this Mutant Beast clearing operation."

The Exotic Beast Hunters present listened to Liu Jinyang’s introduction, all expecting him to launch into a long-winded speech before announcing the start of the operation. However, his actions took everyone by surprise.

"For this Mutant Beast clearing, your top priority is safety. All right, there’s nothing else to say. The operation to clear the Mutant Beasts officially begins now. Everyone, move out!"

The Exotic Beast Hunters were taken aback for a moment by Liu Jinyang’s concise speech. After snapping out of it, the fully-equipped hunters immediately set off toward the wilderness in the distance.

Standing on the stage, Liu Jinyang watched as squad after squad of Exotic Beast Hunters advanced into the wilderness. A smile touched his darkly tanned face as he thought to himself.

’With over three hundred Exotic Beast Hunters participating in this clearing operation, the Mutant Beasts that escaped from Li Mountain Forest and are threatening the citizens of the Rongcheng North District Suburbs... they won’t stand a chance.’

"Hm?" Just as Liu Jinyang was about to step down from the stage, he suddenly noticed a lone Exotic Beast Hunter standing under a large, leafy tree in the distance.

Liu Jinyang frowned and walked toward the solitary hunter.

Standing under the large tree, Lin Li planned to wait until all the other Exotic Beast Hunters had entered the wilderness before he set out himself.

After a short while, he saw that nearly all the Exotic Beast Hunters in the plaza had entered the wilderness.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw the representative from the Exotic Beast Hunter Guild—the man who had spoken on the stage—walking toward him.

’That guy’s heading my way. He couldn’t be looking for me, could he?

Probably not. I only joined the Exotic Beast Hunter Guild a short time ago. In their eyes, I’m just a greenhorn. If something was actually up, they’d go find one of the experienced, veteran hunters.’

Lin Li grumbled to himself, then stepped out from the shade of the tree and started toward the wilderness.

"Young man, hold on a minute," Liu Jinyang called out, seeing the lone hunter about to enter the wilderness.

’So the representative from the Exotic Beast Hunter Guild really was looking for me...’ About to enter the wilderness, Lin Li stopped in his tracks when he heard the shout.

He turned to face Liu Jinyang and asked with a puzzled look, "Is there a problem?"

Liu Jinyang came to a stop in front of Lin Li. He looked at the young man, who was only in his early twenties, frowned slightly, and asked,

"Young man, where are your teammates? Or are you on your own?"

’Sigh, here we go again...’ Lin Li heard Liu Jinyang’s question and immediately guessed the reason he’d been approached. "I don’t have any teammates. I’m by myself."

"Young man, I know that according to our intel, all the Mutant Beasts in the area we’re clearing are Tier One.

But nothing is ever one hundred percent certain out in the wilderness, even with solid intelligence.

If a Tier Two Mutant Beast were to suddenly appear, you’d at least stand a chance with teammates. If you’re all alone, your life could be in real danger."

"Thank you for the well-intentioned warning. Since I signed up for this clearing operation, I’ll naturally take full responsibility for my actions."

Liu Jinyang had mistaken him for a rookie hunter who was merely at the Tier One Peak, but Lin Li didn’t feel the need to explain further.

He had already thanked the man for his well-intentioned warning. Without another word, he turned and walked off in the direction of the wilderness.

In moments, Lin Li had disappeared into the tall grass.

...