Chapter 517: Chapter 517

517: Chapter 497: Not So Competent Competitor 517: Chapter 497: Not So Competent Competitor The dark night was as usual, but if you walked through the streets, you’d find that there were quite a few people about, just like in the daytime.

The long-term lack of sunlight had already brought about disastrous consequences.

In an era where most people didn’t have clocks or a “daily schedule,” losing the guidance of the sun in their lives, disordered routines were inevitable.

Nowadays, the streets of Schlei Domain were never empty, with vendors and shops open at any time, but not too many people were out and about.

It was as if the ordinary lives of the people during the day were forcibly divided into two or three parts.

However, the people on the streets were often emotionally agitated and thin-faced, and the prolonged dark period was a torment to most lives.

In the temporary residence provided by the lord, Lu Ping’an bandaged Xia Qin’s right hand, which had suffered a minor injury.

“…How strong are they?”

But they were a bit tricky.

The one I killed self-detonated and released a strong acid.”

Lu Ping’an nodded, gaining an understanding of their adversaries.

These people were outsiders, but they were not his own clansmen.

The Sindar Clan, with their triangular heads and six limbs resembling the appendages of arthropods, were said to have extraordinary abilities that utilized acid-based, poisonous, and water systems.

They were a strong, transcendent race that could cross the Star Realm…

and a competitor to humans.

They didn’t have the “God of Travelers'” transportation to cross worlds.

Their original modes of transportation were largely unusable due to different World Rules, so they had to walk all the way from the royal capital.

This was the daily life of most otherworldly travelers, as most of their time was spent on the journey.

By the time they arrived at their initial destination, months or even half a year would have passed, and the situation would have changed dramatically.

Their exploration was often a matter of taking things one step at a time.

“They, those Sindar insects, seem to be just passing through, assessing the situation…

There were a few locals among their group, not many, but dressed luxuriously, they looked like wealthy people.”

Xia Qin added a few more details.

Although the injury was painful, it wasn’t a big deal and didn’t require a delay in their plans.

She encountered the outsiders on the street.

Soon after, a verbal altercation erupted… and in the end, a fight broke out.

“The fight lasted two minutes before the knights intervened.

Two of them died, and I only suffered some minor injuries.”

From the outcome, the Sindar Clan suffered, but Lu Ping’an knew Xia Qin was not the type to start a conflict.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t deliberately kill anyone.

“I could tell they were trying to kill me…”

The underlying cause of the fight quickly emerged: the strangers had provoked Xia Qin deliberately, escalating the altercation into violence and attempting murder in broad daylight.

Xia Qin didn’t back down; she killed two of them in return, and then the knights stepped in to mediate the situation.

The verbal conflict was just an excuse.

It was clearly a probe of Lu Ping’an and his group’s strength.

If Lu Ping’an’s strength was insufficient…

why hesitate to eliminate weaker opponents?

Even if it didn’t result in a public bloodbath, they would be targeted eventually.

The strangers’ direct and decisive approach had taught Lu Ping’an’s group of explorers a lesson…

when conflicting interests arose, the relationship between Exotic Realm explorers could become quite brutal.

“Where are they now?”

“They’re in the commercial district’s hotel.

They’ve hired two foreign mercenary groups, they’re quite strong.

We don’t have many people left here; it’s a bit troublesome.”

“Didn’t they go to the lord’s place?”

“They did, along with some local foreign nobles.

From what I heard, they were there for only five minutes.”

“Heh, that old guy really knows how to play his cards…”

Just by looking at the locals accompanying the outsiders’ group, it might be possible that they were also trying to sell “boat tickets”…

In this doomsday era, what could make faster and more profits than selling opportunities to live?

However, it was evident that the conditions they offered couldn’t compare to Lu Ping’an’s side.

Moreover, the old Lord already made his bets.

Clever investors might place bets on both sides, but it seemed the outsiders’ bargaining chips weren’t even enough to enter the game.

The lord had a brief conversation with them, quickly grasped the situation, and fearing Lu Ping’an’s misunderstanding, drove them away on the spot.

From the perspective of the second group of outsiders, Lu Ping’an and his group would naturally be seen as obstacles in their way…

Hence, they tested Lu Ping’an’s group, and although they suffered losses, it didn’t mean they would give up easily.

In a way, it was fortunate that Xia Qin was the one targeted.

As a close-combat professional, her strength was quite remarkable.

“…Wait a moment, I’ll go talk to them.”

Having been attacked, Lu Ping’an wasn’t going to let it slide.

He decided to confront the outsiders… and their remains.

As they probed Lu Ping’an’s group, they inadvertently exposed themselves.

What use were these garbage who couldn’t even handle a single encounter with Xia Qin?

Were they to provide an opportunity for treacherous locals to double down on their bets?

Now, Lu Ping’an was the adoptive father of the new lord (who had fallen ill).

It would be easy to come up with any excuse as a reason to eliminate those pests.

But before he could leave, new information arrived.

It seems they’re not as stupid as they look.”

“I heard the lord ordered them to leave within three days.

But within three hours, they were seen leaving the city.”

That crafty old man, having determined that the Sindar Clan lacked even the strength to bargain, naturally wouldn’t let them stay and “disrupt the bigger picture” in his domain.

If Lu Ping’an guessed right, it wouldn’t take long for the old lord to actively seek him and offer consolation to the “injured victim.”

As for the Sindar Clan, they were not fools.

They realized they couldn’t compete with Lu Ping’an’s group.

Seeing the lord’s attitude, they promptly left for the next station.

“Which way did they go?”

“…It looks like they headed towards the Ashen Forest.

I heard they wanted to collect medicines there.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Ping’an showed a subtle smile.

Heading to the Ashen Forest at this time?

Were they delivering food to the undead, pollution Magic Monsters, or starved Bloodvines?

That was quite generous of them.

However, the Schlei Domain was indeed just a rural place.

In comparison, the Ashen Forest was more famous and valuable than the local territories.

As visitors from the Foreign Domain, it was possible that the Ashen Forest had been their main purpose in coming to this border region.

The Sindar Clan was most likely picking up whatever they could along the way as they passed through.

If they had a good relationship, Lu Ping’an would be willing to exchange information with them and learn what was happening outside the Schlei Domain…

But now, he wondered how many of them would make it back alive.

Let Meow run an errand.

Even if it’s just collecting corpses, there should be some gains.

And with these scapegoats, we can take advantage of the situation to check if there have been any changes in the forest since we left.

I have a feeling something’s not right.”