novelraw Chapter 160: Witch Hathaway
Chapter 160: Witch Hathaway
In the early morning, it started drizzling with pattering light rain again, but this could no longer affect Li Wei.
Because the main body of that road he wanted had already fundamentally been constructed. What was left was only the final stretch, a twenty-meter-long tail. This was intentionally left behind, considered a bit of a prank from Li Wei, a surprise brought to the others.
"Clyde, in a bit you go with Liu Zhongyuan and Collas. Push two wheelbarrows, bring a portion of food, and escort these fifty farmers back to Victor Town. Moreover, pass a message to Sir Tuck for me: just say we have already opened up a trade route, and at any time welcome Victor Town's merchant caravans to come make purchases. Additionally, if possible, we wish to purchase another 2000 kilograms of wheat."
"Understood, My Lord!" Clyde respectfully received the order. This month, the few of them had all fully slimmed down by a circle. Including Li Wei himself, he had lost over a dozen catties. He could be considered to have experienced Thomas's feelings that day: doubting, understanding, becoming... sigh!
This was already the twenty-seventh day of this month.
He also had to return to hand in the task.
Next, sending off those fifty farmers, Li Wei together with Charles and Pang Wu each pushed a wheelbarrow, covered it well with tarpaulins, and precisely pushed the remaining Table Salt and two hundred catties of wheat back to the family Camp along this newly constructed road.
Long parted for nearly a month, he somewhat missed it.
Inside the family Camp, the Lime Kiln and Charcoal Kiln were constantly billowing black smoke. The surrounding vegetation was also ever more vigorous; even a small flower by the roadside looked exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
When walking onto that small path by the stream, Li Wei intentionally took a look. Horse-drawn carriages could pass; there was no pressure at all.When they were still ten li away from the Camp, Li Wei's trio additionally encountered Fila who was currently fishing. After a bout of meaningless dialogue, he saw numbness and despair in Fila's eyes.
There was no helping it; the sense of oppression brought by high-level players was too terrifying. And this was still when they couldn't use Item Cards! After the family meeting at the end of this month started, they would no longer have any restraints.
Under such circumstances, how could Fila not be deeply worried?
Can't beat them; fundamentally can't beat them. Not to mention next month there would be even more high-level players joining. She was no longer that wildly ambitious, radiantly beautiful, and fully self-confident noble lady from five months ago.
Li Wei didn't say much. Where was this even; the true despair was still in the back!
Over an hour later, they smoothly arrived at the Camp. Fila also came back together. As the Warehouse manager, she had to conduct a handover of the materials Li Wei brought back.
[You have successfully brought back forty-four kilograms of Table Salt and one hundred kilograms of wheat. You have completed the task of purchasing Table Salt, but the total amount of grain is still somewhat deficient. In the future there are still 13 days of time to conduct purchases.]
[The main quest cannot initiate rewards, but the extra Table Salt will be settled according to standard. You obtained 290 points of Family Contribution, and obtained a subsidy of 29 Standard Gold Coins. Based on your previous debt, you are deducted 16 Gold Coins. You have acquired a balance of 13 Standard Gold Coins. These will be settled altogether during Task Settlement.]
[You have successfully brought back the head of a Two-Star Wolf King. This is a rare spoil of war, which can be hung in the soon-to-be-completed One-Star Fortress's main hall.]
——
By now, Li Wei's total Family Contribution had already accumulated to 804 points. (Accumulated 214 after hunting the Wolf King, scale armor share 150, skinning 50, donation 50, subsequent hunting Contribution earnings 50, extra Table Salt 290).
Smiling faintly, Li Wei sized up the family Camp he had parted from for nearly a month. Over at the Industrial Zone, the clinking and clanking sounds of iron forging were still continuously ringing out.
And in the residential area, a three-story stone fortress was already fundamentally completed. The four small Mercenaries were currently completing the internal structure under Leon's command; they didn't even have time to come over and say hello.
As for Penny, she was currently gazing into the distance from the second floor of the Tavern, with a sickly face, looking depressed and unhappy.
Saying to rest meant one must rest. No other work could be done; doing it meant NG. Otherwise, she had to accept Impeachment at the end of the month—choose one of two.
But Hathaway was definitely not in the Camp. So at the end of this month, if Li Wei didn't impeach her, it would be doing a disservice to her 'gentleness'.
Just as he was thinking this, suddenly, several lines of special, purple-gold information surged over like tide water again.
[Family member Hathaway defied the orders of the Head of Household and secretly left the family Camp. She lurked within the Rose-Emir Snow Mountain for as long as twenty days. Finally finding an opportunity not long ago, she successfully assassinated the White-Robed Witch Hathaway, one of the three Snow Mountain Witches!]
[Global Announcement: The White-Robed Blood Witch Hathaway, one of the Final Bosses of this task plot, was successfully killed. Remaining Final Bosses: three! After all Final Bosses are killed, the task plot will completely end, and immediately enter the Settlement state!]
[Family member Hathaway obtained 1000 points of Family Contribution!]
[Family member Hathaway has obtained a special codename — Witch Hathaway. From now on, she is Witch Hathaway; this codename can be brought out of this world.]
[Warning: The task plot has been accelerated. The head of the three Snow Mountain Witches, the Gray-Robed Witch Luna, deeply pained by the loss of her beloved daughter, vows to make blood pay for blood!]
[Warning: The branch plot has been accelerated. The City Lord of Kakh City, Mad Baron Mark, imprisoned Level 2 Priest Joseph. The Bloodline shackles binding his body completely collapsed. He was extremely abhorred by the Victor merchant caravan's behavior in attempting to rescue Level 2 Priest Joseph. He killed the vast majority of the merchant caravan members and hanged Sir Tuck's Guard Captain Judd! According to rumors, Mad Baron Mark will attempt to dispatch legions to attack Victor Town.]
——
Holy shit!
Awesome!
After reading the information, Li Wei didn't dare delay anymore. Taking Charles and Pang Wu, he directly went to the Industrial Zone, took another three new wheelbarrows, pushed them up and ran. Don't hesitate, don't wait; hurry up and complete the task, and then look at the situation to perform Settlement!
Because under normal circumstances, next month the Snow Mountain Witches would definitely exact massive revenge. This was nothing much; counting the newly arrived players and newly arrived Mercenaries—twenty-four people—they should be able to handle it.
But this month he produced a trade route, a trade route connecting directly to Victor Town. Didn't this equate to leaking his own Camp?
If done badly, Mad Baron Mark bringing legions over sees that there's a fork in the road here, he would directly kill his way over.
It couldn't be concealed!
A pincer attack from both sides could also not be blocked.
Moreover, he now finally knew: it turned out the City Lord of Kakh City, George's own uncle, was also one of the four Final Bosses.
Haha! He just didn't know what that bitch Hathaway would do when she found out?
Over the next two days' time, Li Wei's trio transported with all their might, finally managing to transport the two thousand kilograms of wheat back.
While completing the Monthly Main Task, they also additionally obtained 210 points of Contribution and a compensation of 20 Gold Coins.
At this time his total Contribution then reached 1014 points.
It was also at this time that Clyde and Collas returned from Victor Town. And they truly did bring back a Victor Town merchant caravan consisting of one horse-drawn carriage. The twenty meters of unconstructed road Li Wei had left behind was fundamentally of zero f*cking use.
The instant Victor Town's merchant caravan arrived outside the Camp gate, lines upon lines of purple-gold information frantically popped out again. Everyone had the fortune to witness it, regardless of where they were. Including Hathaway, who was still hundreds of li away, returning by night while full of self-confidence.
[While completing the Monthly Main Task, the Head of Household George successfully opened up a trade route heading to Victor Town, and established cooperative relations with the Lord of Victor Town. For the next three years, the family Camp will become exclusive cooperative partners with Victor Town, and has to obligation to dispatch troops to assist when the other party is under attack.]
[This matter possesses milestone-like strategic significance for the family's future development. It therefore triggered a Clearance Event, becoming the second Clearance Event triggered in the current task plot!]
[The overall rewards for this Clearance Event are — 15% extra Clearance Evaluation, 900 points of Family Contribution.]
[Because the Head of Household almost single-handedly completed the opening of this trade route, he obtained all the rewards.]
[Description: Family member Clyde joined the trade team in the manner of substituting a Mercenary. He was merely completing his own primary duty tasks, so he cannot obtain rewards.]
[Description: The Noble Crest gifted by family member Hathaway to the Head of Household George merely acted upon this trade main quest, and did not act upon the opening of the trade route. Therefore she cannot share in these rewards.]
——
Comfortable!
Up to this moment, Li Wei's extra Clearance Evaluation had already reached 52%, and Family total Contribution had also reached 1914 points.
Instantly surpassing Hathaway. However, if this bitch hunted and killed whatever thing midway, or killed two fallen Garrison Knights, it might very well be even more.
Of course, she had lurked over there, constantly searching for assassination opportunities. In order to avoid Beating the Grass to Startle the Snake, there was a high probability there were no other earnings.
And next, Li Wei still had the earnings from the four small Mercenaries, namely 240 points. The Family total Contribution would cumulatively reach 2154 points.
"Sir George, I brought a secret letter from Sir Tuck, as well as a gift. Please make sure to accept them."
At this time, the merchant caravan leader dispatched by Victor Town walked over, respectfully handing over a letter that Li Wei absolutely couldn't read. But it didn't matter; there would naturally be information prompts.
[The Lord of Victor Town, Sir Tuck, sends his greetings to you, and hopes you dispatch some elite soldiers to jointly defend Victor Town, in order to resist Mad Baron Mark's attack. He also gifted you 100 Gold Coins as a present.]
[Friendly reminder: As the first territory to conclude a trade contract with the family, Victor Town's survival is very important to the family. Please make a decision within five days. If delayed, it is feared it will be too late.]
——
The merchant caravan from Victor Town did not stay any longer. Leaving the gifts behind, they hurriedly departed.
And Li Wei sank into deep thought.
Next month's Head of Household would be hard to serve as ah!
At this moment, Li Wei even had an impulsive urge for mischief: immediately settle, and let Hathaway become Head of Household, to see how she copes!
However, reason also told him that while this was a crisis, it was also an opportunity.
Although there were still three Final Bosses, he dared to bet that as long as he killed any one of them, first place on the Rookie List would be his for sure.
Because the current plot difficulty was simply not something any rookie could handle. Within this, at least two-thirds of the weight had to be given to the veteran birds who joined midway.
For example, Thomas's City Wall Title task, Leon's Title task, Hathaway's Title task.
Since they took the benefits, they had to bear the responsibilities.
How could there be a situation where rookies did all the dirty and tiring work, and veteran birds could happily enjoy it?
In fact, if Li Wei had rushed to kill Witch Hathaway before this, probably that bitch Hathaway would cry until she rolled all over the ground...
Even this guy Ron, he absolutely also needed to destroy a Final Boss to get the Title he wanted. Perhaps it was related to Kakh City's Garrison Knights, or even directly Mad Baron Mark.
As for Old John, his target should be hunting the Black-Robed Witch Mixi; matching his profession!
(End of this chapter)