474: Chapter 474 An Unthinkable Path

Chen You stared at the "20 million EXP" on the mission panel, his brows furrowing.

Experience was not the most important thing for him right now.

The newbie protection period was about to end, and what he needed were special items that could enhance his capabilities.

He had to get the hidden rewards!

Chen You closed the panel, leaned back into the chair, and crossed his legs, resting them on the ice crystal long table in front of him.

"City Lord." Chen You tapped his fingers against the sword hilt. "Let's speak plainly."

"20 million EXP won't buy my sword."

City Lord Bingbingde was stunned.

She looked at Chen You's casual and arrogant posture, unable to fathom how he could say such things so naturally.

Aren't you a player? Shouldn't doing missions be your instinct?

"Warrior, this is the highest-tier reward Aurora City can offer." City Lord Bingbingde swallowed. "That Frost Dragon is an ancient remnant, extremely dangerous."

"It occupies the core of the Ka Ice Cave. As long as it remains, the curse could return at any moment."

Chen You remained unmoved, even letting out a yawn.

"All that fighting and killing is so detrimental to harmony." Chen You changed his posture. "I'm a person who likes to use my brain."

"Since it's a mission, there's always a shortcut. I'll ask you a few questions, and you answer honestly."

City Lord Bingbingde nodded subconsciously.

"First." Chen You held up a finger. "I'll pay, and you send the Aurora Guard to flatten the Ka Ice Cave."

"The drops are mine, and I'll give you an extra 10,000 gold coins as military funds. If this counts as me completing the mission, does that work?"

City Lord Bingbingde's eyes widened.

"This... how is this possible!" City Lord Bingbingde shook her head repeatedly. "The Aurora Guard cannot withstand the extreme cold breath of the Ka Ice Cave; going in would be suicide."

"Besides, the system... no, the ancestors' rules dictate that an outsider warrior must personally slay the evil dragon."

Chen You clicked his tongue.

The NPC's underlying logic had locked out the boosting route.

"Fine, second option." Chen You held up two fingers. "Does that Frost Dragon have a government position?"

"A... government position?" City Lord Bingbingde looked blank, clearly unable to parse this modern term.

"I mean, who does it report to? Does it have a superior?" Chen You explained patiently. "Or does it have any family, weaknesses, or anything like that?"

"I'll just pay to buy it and make it get the hell out of Aurora City."

"It moves out, I turn in the mission, and it's a win-win for everyone."

City Lord Bingbingde's face flushed red, unsure if it was from anger or anxiety.

"That is a Frost Dragon representing absolute evil and chaos!" City Lord Bingbingde stood up abruptly, slamming her hands on the table. "It only knows destruction and consumption!"

"It has no reason, let alone those things you speak of! You are insulting the arch-nemesis of Aurora City!"

Chen You watched the enraged City Lord quietly, his mind racing.

Could there really be no unconventional methods?

"City Lord Bingbingde, let's not beat around the bush." Chen You straightened up.

"Give me the bottom line. Is there any path in this Ka Ice Cave that no one has ever imagined?"

City Lord Bingbingde was stunned: "A path that no one has ever imagined?"

"Like a hidden boss, taking a backdoor to get the rewards directly, or some hidden puzzle mechanism that could double the rewards?" Chen You coaxed.

City Lord Bingbingde frowned and pondered for a moment.

"You interrupted me earlier; that place is indeed related to the Meng Clan ancestor."

Chen You raised an eyebrow.

The Meng Clan ancestor again.

"Is this Meng Family ancestor a rabbit? Why is he so jumpy? How is he everywhere?" Chen You couldn't help but complain.

He was performing live sacrifices at the Tomb of Thousand Lights, and he also monopolized the old site of Cangxing City.

How could he even get involved in this godforsaken Aurora City? Is he the number one villain of the Source Realm?"

City Lord Bingbingde looked left and right, then lowered her voice as if she were feeling guilty: "Actually... the Meng Clan ancestor staying here back then wasn't for any Frost Power, nor was it to explore ruins."

"Then what was it for?" Chen You became interested.

Could there be some earth-shattering conspiracy?

City Lord Bingbingde swallowed. "He... he took a liking to the City Lord's wife at the time."

"The two were having a secret meeting in the Ka Ice Cave, and they accidentally triggered an ancient restriction, waking up the Frost Dragon."

There was a deathly silence in the great hall.

The expression on Chen You's face completely froze.

He looked City Lord Bingbingde over once more.

That City Lord's wife should be of the same race as City Lord Bingbingde, right?

Meng Family ancestor, you are truly fierce!

"…Alright, say no more." Chen You raised his hand and rubbed his brow. "I'm afraid if I keep listening, my Dao heart will collapse."

What kind of soapy ethical drama is the plot designer of the Source Realm keeping in their head?"

Chen You promptly stood up and left the City Lord's mansion.

Instead, he opened the map and locked onto the Supreme Tower in Aurora City.

When in doubt, ask Hill.

He directly summoned Big White Rabbit and engaged auto-pathing.

The Supreme Tower in Aurora City was different from the one in Cangxing City; the entire building was crafted from transparent ice crystals, refracting the aurora in the sky and exuding a coldness that kept people at a distance.

Chen You pushed open the heavy ice crystal doors and walked into the lobby.

The hall was cold and desolate, with not a single player around.

Behind the counter stood a woman.

She was wearing form-fitting silver leather armor, with long, ice-blue hair tied loosely behind her head.

Her features were so exquisite they looked as if they had been carved from ice and snow, with not a single unnecessary expression.

Those azure eyes revealed a coldness that kept people at a distance.

Chen You glanced at the NPC name above her head.

[Supreme Tower Lobby Manager: Hill]

Good grief, there really wasn't a single surprise.

Chen You walked to the counter and tapped his fingers on the cold tabletop: "Hi, Hill. Long time no see."

The ice queen Hill raised her eyelids and scanned Chen You.

Her gaze lingered for half a second on his flashy outfit and the ID above his head.

"I don't know you." Hill's voice sounded like it had been soaked in ice water, without a hint of fluctuation. "Also, the Aurora branch of the Supreme Tower does not provide chatting services."

"If you want to purchase information or items, please state your price directly."

"If you don't have money, the door is behind you; get lost yourself."

Chen You was amused.

The Hill in Cangxing City had been trained by him step by step into a blood-sucking capitalist.

But this ice-queen version of Hill before him seemed to have "greedy for money" etched onto her forehead from her factory settings.

"Fine, talking about money doesn't hurt our relationship." Chen You fished a heavy money bag from his inventory and tossed it onto the counter.

With a dull "thud."

The mouth of the money bag opened, revealing the golden coins inside.

The ice queen Hill's gaze instantly locked onto those gold coins.

Although the expression on her face remained cold, Chen You keenly noticed that her breathing rhythm sped up by 0.1 seconds.

"I want to ask about the situation in the Ka Ice Cave." Chen You leaned halfway over the counter. "Especially if there are any hidden missions or hidden mechanics where I can reap big benefits."

Hill extended her slender fingers and pushed the money bag in front of herself.

Then she pulled a piece of parchment from under the counter and pushed it toward Chen You.

"The standard route to clear the Ka Ice Cave is to kill the Frost Beasts along the way and finally face the remnant shadow of the Frost Dragon."

Hill spoke extremely fast. "But this route has extremely low yields."

"The true treasure is hidden within the 'Throne' of the dungeon."