Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 96: Hidden Reward

"Pete, I can't thank you enough. You brought John and the children out of that devil-cursed place in Kakh City. I don't even know how to repay you."

Fila's performance was impeccable. She stepped forward and gave the plump, egg-like old man a warm yet dignified embrace. Oh — so this was Pete.

The stern elder, then, was Uncle John. This family really was growing more illustrious by the day.

"My lady, the news of your husband's unfortunate passing has grieved me deeply. However, upon receiving your letter, I abandoned everything without hesitation and broke Old John out of that accursed prison. To serve you, my lady, is the honor of my lifetime."

Old Pete bent low with great ceremony, executing a flawless kiss-of-the-hand.

The scene was genuinely surreal, though it gave Li Wei a slight sense of temporal whiplash.

It was like finishing the TV adaptation of Lord of the Rings and immediately starting the film version.

'Spectacular!'

"Oh, Pete, you haven't changed one bit! I'm deeply grateful for everything you've done. But the brutal lord who's been possessed by demons in Kakh City — he probably won't let you go. So I would be most honored if you'd stay with us."

"Delighted to, my lady! Your late husband, Anson Kakh, was the true legitimate heir of Kakh City. Though he has tragically passed, that doesn't mean we should abandon everything.""Yes, Pete. Kakh City is ancestral territory, land chartered by the king himself. The glory of the Kakh family must not tarnish in our hands."

At this, Fila's expression turned sorrowful. She looked to the stern elder beside her. "Unfortunately, we've lost all family crests, seals, banners, and wealth. Our situation is dire. We must stand together and never give up. John — you are Anson's brother. Before he died, Anson wished for George to become his heir. Will you honor your brother's final wish?"

"Yes, of course. I trust George! And I trust my brother Anson!"

'What the hell?!'

Li Wei had been watching the drama unfold from a corner, and suddenly — without warning — the conversation swung right to him. 'Legitimate heir of the Kakh family? Are you kidding me?!'

'Just say you want me dead!'

His scalp tingled.

He had no idea whether the actual storyline truly played out this way, or whether the late, nominal father Anson had really left such a dying wish. But if this was all some improvised script that these veteran players had cooked up on the spot — well, that was truly something else.

From a player's perspective, focus-firing the weakest rookie first was the most logical strategy.

After all, only once the legitimate heir was out of the picture would everyone else have a shot.

Clearly, the veterans had already reached a consensus on this.

Next, Fila enthusiastically served everyone breakfast. Throughout the meal, they conversed effortlessly and at length — covering Kakh City's current state, the plague's progression, Weir Province, and even their own camp.

There were no visible swords drawn, but the entire performance flowed like a single uncut take. If a camera had been rolling, they could have released it without editing. Not a single missed beat — except from Li Wei, who couldn't even squeeze in a comma.

'Damn!'

Finally, after the meal ended, Fila got to the main point.

"Pete, John, George, Leon, Penny, my dear Sophie, and Clyde — everyone. I must share some rather unpleasant news. We're out of salt. This meal just used our last reserves. This is the most critical problem facing us right now. We need to send someone to Kakh City to buy salt. But here's the crux of the issue — during our flight, we were robbed by bandits. Every last coin is gone. We need to find a solution."

"It is a thorny problem indeed. Normally, I'd be the ideal candidate — I have friends in the guild. But that lunatic in Kakh City has probably plastered my face all over the city gates by now. I'm a wanted man. If I get anywhere close, I'll be strung up and hanged. That said, I won't be a freeloader — I was once a master fisherman." Braised Egg Pete sighed and spread his hands. His excuse was perfect — thoroughly consistent with narrative logic.

"I can't go either. I just escaped from prison. But going forward, I'll hunt in the forest. The winter wheat harvest is about a month away, and in the meantime, we need more food." Uncle Old John spoke up — a Three-Star Hunter, then?

"This task doesn't really suit me either. I need to focus on rebuilding the blast furnace, making charcoal, mining iron ore, and constructing a proper gate. We need more tools and weapons in case assassins come after us. Without weapons, we're lambs to the slaughter."

This came from Penny's suitor, Clyde. So he was a Three-Star Artisan — or Three-Star Blacksmith.

"I need to keep quarrying stone and build two arrow towers along the wall for lookout purposes. We have to prepare for combat. Kakh City has a proper garrison that obeys that madman lord's orders. And those damned mountain bandits will covet our wealth too — we've hit them hard twice already. Next time, they won't be fooling around." Leon shook his head as well.

"Penny and I can't go either. The moment we get close, those ignorant peasants will seize us as witches and burn us alive." Sophie looked terrified and turned to Li Wei for help. 'Why are you looking at me?!'

"Yes, everyone's gone mad. Several friends I knew were burned alive as accused witches. If not for Father, I might have been denounced as a witch myself."

Penny's face was a mask of anguish, big tears rolling down freely.

Fila sighed gently and turned to Li Wei. "Penny and Sophie truly cannot leave the family's protection right now. George — you spent the past few years in Weir Province. Not many people in Kakh City know your face. Could you go purchase some salt?"

The moment she finished, a notification appeared before Li Wei.

[Monthly Urgent Task has been triggered. (This type of task triggers randomly based on family conditions when there is no Head of Household. If a Head of Household exists, it becomes a Special Task that the Head of Household can choose to assign or not.)]

[The family, just beginning to recover, faces a logistics crisis due to salt shortage. All family members are discussing the matter. You may present a sufficiently reasonable excuse to decline. Alternatively, if you are more skilled or better suited for a different task than another member, you may claim that role instead — for example, if you were a Four-Star Blacksmith, you could demand to handle mining and smelting, thereby sending Three-Star Blacksmith Clyde to buy salt. This is consistent with narrative logic. The reverse also applies.]

[Note: In 30 seconds, family members will begin voting.]

—

'Damn it!'

Li Wei cursed internally. 'So this is what veteran players can do?'

But he was a Three-Star Farmer.

Wait — no. At this stage, the winter wheat didn't need much intervention. The new wheat had only been planted for a month. His Three-Star Farmer role was genuinely in its off-season.

So from a narrative logic standpoint — fine. He was the one being targeted. He was self-aware enough to accept it.

At this rate, getting voted out at month's end wouldn't even surprise him.

But whatever — sharing a stage with a team of veteran players was an honor in itself.

[Countdown ended. Voting begins.]

[You voted in favor.]

[Eight votes in favor. You have accepted this month's Monthly Urgent Task. Task description: You must carry family supplies worth ten gold coins to Kakh City, sell them, exchange for standard gold coins, and purchase salt. The salt quantity must be no less than five kilograms. You must return before month's end, no matter what.]

[Task reward: You will receive 50 Family Contribution Points. For each additional kilogram of salt beyond the minimum, you will receive 10 extra Contribution Points and a price subsidy of one standard gold coin.]

[Note: If you have enough standard gold coins on hand, you can purchase salt directly, thereby converting family-owned supplies into personal property.]

[Your mother Fila will prepare two to three days' worth of food for you — sufficient to reach Kakh Castle. This includes 2.5 kilograms of dried beef, 2.5 kilograms of dried fish, and ten white bread loaves.]

[Salt's market price is approximately one standard gold coin per kilogram (unconfirmed). You may, however, take family supplies worth ten gold coins from the warehouse.]

[Note: Because you have met four conditions, you have triggered a Hidden Reward.]

[One: You voted in favor, and you are the task executor.]

[Two: All family members voted unanimously in favor.]

[Three: The family currently has no Head of Household, and this task concerns the family's future development.]

[Four: You are the legitimate heir in the storyline.]

[Explanation: Your willingness to take on responsibility has been appreciated by family members. Additionally, your status as legitimate heir will be confirmed through this task. When all players voted, they were unaware that you have now received one impeachment immunity. You may choose when to use this immunity, but it is valid only within this world's mission.]

—

Oh?

'There's a perk like this?!'

A hidden reward — was this hinting at something?

Could this be part of the Lord development track? Taking initiative, stepping up in times of crisis, never shirking responsibility, never being defeatist. Staying calm and steady, not crumbling in the face of setbacks, not losing composure when targeted?

'Wow — I think I just stumbled onto a critical growth clue!'

Li Wei felt a surge of excitement, because he'd quite literally just tasted how this paid off.

Last round, the reason his Plunder Score had been so high was precisely because he'd repeatedly rescued family members and stepped up when it mattered.

And now, a whole crew of crafty veteran players had each dodged this task, he'd thrown his own vote in on a whim — and ended up with a hidden impeachment immunity.

Were these veterans not veteran enough?

Or were the big brothers and sisters all just looking out for their little newbie?

'Well then — thank you very much.'

Still, with rewards this generous, did that mean the danger level of this trip was far beyond what he'd imagined?

'Forget it. Don't overthink it. Worst case, I run.'

After all, being voted out via Plot Kill carried no penalties. But dying at the hands of natives — that was absolutely not an option.