43: Chapter 43 Life is Unpredictable

After listening to Byron's account, a look of understanding appeared in Eliza's eyes.

As for Gray, that guy, he nodded repeatedly in sudden realization: "Byron, I was wondering how you managed to do it; so that's how it is!"

"At first, I thought you had coincidentally prepared some alchemical product or potion to conceal your own vibrations."

"I didn't expect you to be even more impressive than I imagined. You actually found a solution solely through your own research, and in that kind of environment, no less!"

At this moment, Byron felt a bit embarrassed by Gray's praise. Just as he was thinking about how to interrupt Gray, Eliza spoke up.

"Byron, Gray, we cannot continue walking so slowly. We must hurry back to the Wizard Settlement to submit this information before someone else beats us to it."

Upon hearing this, Gray slapped his forehead and nodded repeatedly: "Right, Byron, Eliza is right. We must hurry back immediately."

As he spoke, Gray took out three runes from his chest.

"I prepared these for this exploration earlier and thought they wouldn't be needed. I didn't expect to actually use them here."

With that, Gray handed the other two runes to Byron and Eliza, respectively.

At the same time, he explained to Byron: "This type of rune was specially researched. When used, it forms a protective film around the body, preventing magical fluctuations from leaking out."

"In this way, it won't attract the attention of those Worm Race."

Speaking of this, Gray's tone suddenly became extremely envious.

"Byron, you don't know, but the guy who researched this made a fortune. Every day, just by selling these runes, he earns a lot of points. Those without points can also purchase them using Magic Stones."

Byron asked in confusion: "Is that allowed?"

Gray: "Why wouldn't it be? Anyway, I haven't seen anyone enforcing rules against it."

Speaking of this, Gray looked at Byron with a smile: "Byron, if you could also develop something similar, you'd be rich."

"You wouldn't even need to go out; you could just sit at home and collect points and Magic Stones."

Hearing Gray's words, Byron felt tempted, but since nothing was set in stone yet, he didn't continue the topic and changed the subject instead.

Eliza explained from the side: "In the Wizard Settlement, besides those resources that can be submitted repeatedly to exchange for points,"

"other things like intelligence and information can only be submitted once; they are unique."

"Once someone has submitted it, even if others know about it, they can no longer exchange it for points."

"Moreover, for these unique items, the points that can be exchanged are much higher than for resource-type items."

Gray interjected: "That's why we are so anxious to get you there. After all, with things like this, you might miss out if you are even a little late."

"After all, no one knows how long it will take for someone else researching the same situation to figure it out, so we have to race against time as much as possible."

Byron nodded, indicating he understood.

Afterward, the three of them didn't speak again and hurried toward the Wizard Settlement with all their might.

...

Meanwhile, at the place where Byron had gutted the Worm Race that had just fed, countless Worm Race were now surging frantically, a sight that made one's scalp tingle.

Not long after, as those Worm Race left, three corpses with hollowed-out abdomens lay quietly on the ground, their expressions twisted and their manner of death extremely miserable.

If Byron were to see this scene, he would surely exclaim that life is unpredictable.

After all, he only wanted to destroy the evidence. Who would have thought that these three unlucky fools would happen to run into it, and even greedily want to make a profit.

If they didn't die, who would?

...

On the other side, on a plain bordering the wasteland, stood a massive city.

This city was like a giant tiger lying on the grassland, glaring covetously at the wasteland ahead, its eyes filled with greed, wanting to swallow it in one gulp.

Inside the city, there were no high-rise buildings; the tallest structures were just a few towers standing in the center.

Apart from that, everything consisted of drab, low houses, just like an ordinary city in the secular world, with no distinct features.

And this city, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people, now had at most one or two thousand people moving about, making it appear very empty, even deathly silent.

In a cluster of bungalows in the southeast corner of the city, a sudden shout of excitement erupted from an inconspicuous room.

The robed students waiting outside the door, upon hearing this exclamation, were all startled, and expressions of uncontrollable excitement appeared on their faces.

"Bang—"

The room door was flung open, and a young man with hair like a bird's nest and dark circles under his eyes walked out excitedly.

He muttered excitedly to himself: "I succeeded! After working so hard for so long, I finally succeeded!"

"I was wondering why those Worm Race could easily perceive us underground, and why they didn't kill each other without vision, smell... So that's how it is!"

"I am indeed a Genius! I have finally figured out this mystery!"

The crowd who had been waiting for a long time saw this and began speaking all at once.

"Knus, I knew you could do it! You really figured it out. Congratulations!"

"Knus, this information is enough for you to exchange for a huge amount of points. From now on, you can stay safely in the settlement without having to go through wind and fire like us."

"Knus, after you collect your points, don't forget about us. We must celebrate properly..."

"..."

Hearing everyone's words, the smile on Knus's face grew wider. He accepted all the praise directed at him without any modesty.

Just like that, time passed bit by bit.

During this time, it wasn't that no one reminded Knus to hurry to the Mission Hall and submit this information to avoid being beaten to it by others.

But Knus hadn't enjoyed everyone's praise enough yet; he was still basking in it. How could he let it end just like that?

Therefore, he brushed off all such well-intentioned reminders and continued to do as he pleased.

After all, in his mind, how could such a coincidence happen—that someone else would figure it out right after he did?

That was nonsense.

The people who had reminded him saw that Knus himself wasn't in a hurry, so they stopped reminding him and let him continue.

After another period of time, Knus finally headed toward the Mission Hall, surrounded by the crowd, stopping and starting along the way.

...

Wizard Settlement, Mission Hall.

The vaulted hall was extremely spacious, enough to accommodate thousands of people conducting business at the same time.

Upon entering the hall, Byron saw a huge crystal screen standing directly opposite the door, with information constantly scrolling across it.

Recruiting team members, selling intelligence, selling Materials... there were many types, but most were concise and clear, making them easy to understand at a glance.

On both sides of the hall, there was a row of windows where corresponding staff members operated, tallying harvests for students and distributing points.

This Mission Hall was very similar to the one in the academy, or one could even say it was exactly the same.

If not for the different architecture outside and the much smaller area, Byron would have suspected that it was the very same Mission Hall from the academy that had been moved inside.

Although the city outside the settlement looked empty, there were hundreds of people scattered throughout this Mission Hall, making it look quite lively.

When the three of them walked in, they didn't cause any stir at all, and no one paid them any attention.