Gamers of the Underworld

To the gamers, the battle between Sherlock and Phoenix was like immortals fighting.

From the beginning, they vanished. Due to the eruption of the volcano, thick smoke and dust filled the sky, and the figures of Phoenix and Sherlock disappeared in the broiling smoke and dust.

Sherlock didn’t voluntarily hide in the smoke and dust. Not long after the battle started, Phoenix tried all ways and means to hide in the smoke and dust.

Every time, he was pulled out by Sherlock and given a beating before he went into hiding again.

Most of the gamers were watching the battle of the immortals as though it was a Plot Animation. Though a small portion of the gamers on the Airship was participating in the battle.

As they were adept in controlling the Airship, they were chosen to provide air support to Sherlock.

Eggface and Polio provided Mana to the Magic Cannons. As for the gamers, they only operated, aimed, and fired the cannons.

Only a few gamers were able to fire the cannons. Most of the gamers were in charge of the control of the sails, logistics, and surveillance.

The gamers on the Airship didn’t provide much assistance to Lord Sherlock. At least the gamers on the Airship were happy. The gamers on the surface were jealous. How nice it would be to fire the Magic Cannons, though the cannons couldn’t fire after a few volleys.

The battle on the surface soon ended. When the residents of Small Distant Town ran out of the Black Volcano, they were beaten by the gamers waiting outside.

The residents of the town weren’t able to defeat the gamers since they weren’t combat trained. They lived like normal commoners, and their combat power was far inferior to the battle-hardened gamers.

After a few casualties, the Station Inspector and the residents surrendered.

Besides the subordinates of the Station Inspector who had Superior Equipment, the other town residents didn’t have any decent equipment. Rolling pins, hammers, pitchforks, and sickles weren’t much of a threat to the gamers.

After the residents surrendered, the gamers didn’t kill them. The gamers only asked for them to surrender their equipment, weapons, and Magic Stones.

The gamers profited massively. The town was a tourist spot, so every year, many tourists went there to spend money. Therefore, most of the residents made a lot of money.

While the gamers were happily collecting the Magic Stones, the battle between Sherlock and Phoenix concluded.

The gamers saw Phoenix’s figure emitting lava and rocks while plummeting like a comet towards the foot of the Black Volcano, where it exploded.

The gamers were standing at a safe distance as they exclaimed in shock.

Not far away, a convoy of Beetlemons carrying Winterfell’s troops was traveling at high speed towards them…

…

There was finally closure on the Winterfell Merchant Band’s robbery at Black Volcano.

The incident started thousands of years ago when a calamity engulfed the Surface World and the Underworld.

Phoenix, who was one of the 72 Devils, was a subordinate of Michelangelo. After Michelangelo was defeated by the Heavenly Kingdom, Phoenix escaped to the Underworld’s Black Volcano and had a conflict with the local residents and Ogres. He chose to side with the residents and defeated the Ogres. The weakened Phoenix required a large number of resources to recover his power.

After Michelangelo had fallen, the penalty from the Devil Management Committee was severe. Phoenix was labeled a war criminal. If he didn’t escape, he would have ended up like Polio, who was imprisoned at Bankazia.

Phoenix decided to seal himself in one of the lava caves of the Black Volcano. He could avoid being captured, and he could heal himself at the same time. He made an agreement with the local residents to free him after a few hundred years.

Phoenix even signed a contract with the local residents.

The few hundred years were too long. After two generations, it became a legend, and very few creatures knew how to remove the magical seal of Phoenix.

The contract had been nearing its end, and if the residents of Small Distant Town reneged on the contract, they would be cursed for a lifetime. They wouldn’t have big toes forever, including the Slimes!

They wanted to avoid this horrible curse. Then the residents found out about Cherry in the newspapers. With the help of a mysterious creature, they started a detailed plan. They wanted to avoid the curse and control Phoenix to conquer the world! They wanted their heavy responsibility to aid in their world conquest!

They tried all ways and means to invite Cherry to Small Distant Town to work. However, they all failed. Cherry only wanted to stay in Winterfell.

After Cherry resigned from his job, he came to Small Distant Town. The Winterfell Merchant Band passed by Small Distant Town and the Black Volcano. The Merchant Band incident was actually an accident, according to the residents.

They plotted to let Cherry remove the magical seal of Phoenix, but they discovered that they had made a mistake. Cherry wasn’t required to remove the seal. Instead, it was the fruit called cherries from the Surface World.

Phoenix brought some cherries, but they were eaten by the residents’ ancestors, who forgot about leaving some for Phoenix.

“What? Are you saying that our story is nonsense? You reporters are the ones who are nonsense! You reported on nonsense! Do you know how we feel? We protected Phoenix from being imprisoned in Bankazia for thousands of years! And how did he repay us? Do you know how it feels to be without the big toe? If we can get back our toes, we’re willing to exchange the world for them! You don’t understand! You’re full of nonsense!” the captured Station Inspector shouted furiously to Patrick Star.

Winterfell Garrison Guards were restraining the Station Inspector as he was escorted to the Beetlemon destined for Bankazia. The guards shouted angrily at the Station Inspector, “Shut up! You’ll rot in Bankazia forever!”

The Winterfell Business Unit First Assistant and Nicholas’ butler, Sludge Monster, turned his body and looked at the dusty Sherlock and the leader of the Nobody Has This Name mercenary group, Polio.

“We’re very grateful to Captain Polio and Lord Sherlock! It would have been impossible to solve such a complex and sinister case without your help!”

“This is what we should do, meow.”

Polio was solemn. Sherlock nodded and said, “That’s right. We didn’t expect the tourist attraction to have such a sad secret. Small Distant Town was under a curse, and Phoenix was a jinx. It’s a pity that Phoenix managed to escape. It’s my fault for being unable to defeat him. Otherwise, I’d have sent him to Bankazia.”

As Sherlock spoke, he used his finger to stroke a red parrot that was perched on his shoulder. The parrot with ruffled feathers stared with its eyes wide, one of which was blue-black. The parrot showed an expression that indicated that it didn’t dare to move.

“Phoenix’s escape is a troublesome issue. Fortunately, there was no massive damage. The 2,500 brave escorts of the Merchant Band can now rest in peace. It’s a tragedy.” The Sludge Monster sighed. He hesitated for a while before asking, “Lord Sherlock, is it possible that Phoenix was wounded by you and went into hiding? I heard from the crazy Station Inspector that you were fighting fiercely with him. Even the Magic Cannons on the Airship were firing on him. Could he be seriously wounded?”

“Fighting fiercely with him? No, no, no. Phoenix had the upper hand. How could I defeat one of the 72 Devils?” Sherlock said as he caressed the beak of the parrot, which swallowed hard.

Polio’s hair also stood on end for no reason.

“Of course, you may dispatch your troops to search. You may get lucky and capture Phoenix.”

“Ah… if that’s the case…” The Sludge Monster nodded and hesitated again before saying, “What about the Dungeon Core that was hidden at the Station Inspector’s house…”

“What? The Dungeon Core was hidden in his house? Why didn’t I know that?” Sherlock was shocked.

“Ah, that’s what he said. When we searched his house, the Dungeon Core was missing. The Station Inspector said that you took it. Of course, we don’t suspect you. It’s just a casual question. Did your subordinates take it away?” the Sludge Monster asked puzzledly.

“Really? Please wait for a while.” Sherlock grabbed Peasant, who was standing by the side, and asked, “Did you go to the Station Inspector’s house? Did you see the Dungeon Core?”

“Ha? What Dungeon Core? I don’t know?”

Peasant was bewildered as he was thrown to one side by Sherlock. Sherlock shrugged his shoulders as the red parrot shifted its legs uncomfortably.

“They don’t know about the Dungeon Core. I don’t know either. How could they know? The Station Inspector must be lying. He must have sold the Dungeon Core or destroyed it. You must interrogate him carefully. Don’t believe his accusations. He hates us to the core, so he’s trying to frame us.”

“What you’ve said is logical. I’ll investigate the matter. Thank you, Lord Sherlock and Captain Polio!” the Sludge Monster said.

“It’s nothing much. This is what a superior Devil should be doing. It’s difficult to maintain the peace. The credit goes to the Merchant Alliance. It’s our duty to help the Merchant Alliance!”

Sherlock asked, “The remuneration…”

“Don’t worry, Lord Sherlock. 10,000,000 Magic Stones will be transferred to you… your Captain Polio’s account,” the Sludge Monster said.

Sherlock nodded. He was happy with the efficiency of Winterfell.

The Sludge Monster suddenly asked, “Lord Sherlock, where did you buy the parrot? How much was it? He’s handsome and obedient. Does he have a name?”

“Him? I picked him up. He’s called Phoenix,” Sherlock said with a smile.