Chapter 87

"Wait, hero, can I take a look at what you have in your hand?" a voice said from behind Li Huailin.

Li Huailin turned his head at the sound. The speaker was an NPC, and surprisingly, it was someone he knew.

"Mike Colt?" The NPC behind Li Huailin was none other than Mike Colt, who had once given him a hidden quest to find his brother, which Li Huailin had refused. Li Huailin was very curious about why this guy would appear here, "Aren't you still looking for your brother?"

He had only heard from Night Navigation yesterday that they hadn't completed this quest yet. This guy should be at home anxiously searching for his brother, so why was he here?

"The hero still remembers me." Mike Colt smiled, "I was just passing by, and I didn't expect to see what you have in your hand. Can I take a look?"

"Hmm? This thing?" Li Huailin said as he handed over the unused black core, "Here, take a good look. If you want it, just take it, don't be so polite."

"This thing... feels..." Mike Colt's expression turned serious as he examined it, "I want to study this thing in detail. Hero, would you please come with me to my house for a while?"

"No need, if you want to study it, just take it. Don't be so polite." Li Huailin waved his hand, thinking it was best if someone wanted it, as he couldn't get rid of it himself.

"I can't do that, hero. I can't just take someone else's things." Mike Colt immediately said, "It won't take long, I promise."

"Damn it, if you want it, just take it and stop talking nonsense." Li Huailin couldn't hold back any longer.

"That's not possible, hero..."

"Please, just take it, I'm begging you..."

"That's not possible, hero..."

"..."

"..."

"Fine, I'll go with you, okay..." After trying every method to get him to take it, Li Huailin gave up and decided to go with him.

"Please follow me, it shouldn't take long."

Mike Colt then led the way.

They returned to Mike Colt's house in the craftsman area, which Li Huailin had visited twice before. The house was still as messy as ever, and his brother wasn't there, indicating that Night Navigation and the others hadn't completed the quest yet.

"Please sit for a moment, I'll study this thing." As soon as they arrived, Mike Colt eagerly turned and ran to a workbench, starting to use strange tools to examine the black core. Li Huailin, who had never studied engineering, couldn't understand what he was doing.

However, the wait wasn't long. After a short while, Mike Colt stood up from the workbench, looking like he had some results.

"This thing... is not ordinary..." Mike Colt said with a serious expression, "It's a product of engineering, and the person who made it has engineering skills far beyond mine. It's definitely the work of a master engineer."

"This thing is made by engineering? I can't tell." Li Huailin looked at the black sphere with a circular interface, surprised that it was an engineering product.

"I guess if someone who doesn't understand engineering looks at it, they probably wouldn't notice."

Mike Colt thought for a moment and added, "Actually, I doubt anyone else in the main city could recognize it. The craftsmanship is too exquisite, even I can't figure it out right away."

"In short, it's an engineering thing. Got it, got it." Li Huailin said, "So what? Do you still want it?"

"I've only determined that it's an engineering product, but I want to study its specific function and structure."

Mike Colt said, "Can I keep this thing for a while..."

"Of course, of course, I said I'd give it to you just now."

Before Mike Colt could finish, Li Huailin interrupted, "This thing is yours now, I'm leaving."

"Please wait, hero. I can't just take your things without giving you something in return." Mike Colt quickly said.

System notification: Main quest completed, Threat of the Dark Forces - 1. Lost 3000 experience, 1 gold coin, 300 reputation points.

"Damn, I had a bad feeling just now, and sure enough, it's here." Li Huailin wiped his face, "Brother, what grudge do you have against me, to harm me like this?"

"Please don't thank me, you deserve it." Mike Colt said.

"Who the hell thanked you? I wish I could just beat you to death." Li Huailin finally understood that this was where the quest was completed. No matter whether you could enter the cathedral or not, you would eventually return empty-handed and be stopped by this NPC to complete the quest.

"By the way, hero, I have one more thing to ask of you." Mike Colt said.

"You're not going to give me another quest, are you?" Li Huailin had already guessed the next part of the story.

"Regarding this thing, I've taken a quick look. The one you have now is not the complete version; it has already been used."

Mike Colt continued, "To study it, I need a complete black core or its design blueprint. Only then can I fully understand its internal structure."

"What does that have to do with me? Please, just stop talking." Li Huailin said.

"Since you're so straightforward, I won't say more." Mike Colt said, "This black core is definitely related to the Fagstav ruins. I'm sure of it. Please go there and see if you can get the blueprint. I'll report to the king and give you the reward you deserve."

System notification: You have received the main quest, Threat of the Dark Forces - 2. This black core seems to be related to the Fagstav ruins. Please go to the Fagstav ruins to investigate. Quest reward: 20,000 experience, 3 gold coins, 800 reputation points.

"Great..." Li Huailin held his forehead, "I came all this way and still couldn't avoid it. How much does the main quest like me?"

"Hero, it all depends on you this time." Mike Colt said.

"Sure, sure, I'll take care of it..." Li Huailin replied casually, knowing he wouldn't actually do it. He had no idea where the Fagstav ruins were, and it wasn't his problem.

"By the way, I have something that might help you." Mike Colt suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Li Huailin was surprised, "Are you going to give me something? That's fine, the system won't deduct anything."

"Come over here." Mike Colt walked toward a room, and Li Huailin, curious about what he would get, followed.

They entered a room that looked more like a laboratory, filled with mechanical parts and wires, like an electrician's workshop that hadn't been cleaned for years.

"Here it is." Mike Colt walked to a machine covered with a white cloth and pulled it off, causing a cloud of dust to rise and making him cough.

"What is this?" Li Huailin looked at the machine, which was a barrel-shaped device, taller than a person, surrounded by a wire mesh, with an opening in the front where a person could stand.

"Stand inside first." Mike Colt said.

"Okay." Li Huailin nodded and stepped onto the platform.

"Wait a moment, I'll start it to check if it works." Mike Colt went to the control panel, and soon the lights on the machine lit up, and it began to hum like a diesel generator.

"It seems to still work." Mike Colt said happily, "I thought it wouldn't after two years."

"What kind of machine is this?" Li Huailin asked.

"This is a teleportation machine I developed. It can send a person to a designated location. I have a teleportation point in Yorkmok City, which is right next to the Fagstav ruins. So I'll use this machine to send you there, making it much more convenient. Otherwise, it would take at least two days by carriage." Mike Colt said proudly.

"Ah, there's such a machine..." Li Huailin nodded, then suddenly felt something was off, "Wait, what did you just say..."

"I'm sending you to Yorkmok City." Mike Colt said, "The machine is ready."

"Hey, brother, don't mess around, I never said I wanted to go." Li Huailin tried to get out, but the machine's door closed, trapping him inside.

"Oh, by the way, this machine is unstable, and it's been two years since it was last used. There might be some unexpected issues during the teleportation. Please be careful." Mike Colt kindly warned.

"You damn it, let me out so I can strangle you." Li Huailin really couldn't get out, or he would have strangled this guy.

"Okay, settings complete, starting, 3, 2, 1."

Li Huailin felt a bright light flash, forcing him to close his eyes. The next second, he felt his feet lose support, and he started to fall.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in mid-air, at least fifty meters above the ground. Below him was a vast expanse of snow.

"Damn, how am I supposed to play this game!" Li Huailin only had time to say this before he plunged into the snow below.

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