Chapter 549: New Gains, Hans’s Letter, Oil Creatures?

"I... damn."

Yu Yuan stared at the newspaper in his hands.

Had the newspaper editor studied at the same sensationalist editorial department that writes the Intelligence Cards?

The last time he saw such an exaggerated headline was when he first used the Intelligence Card—Inside Information.

But that Intelligence Card had come from the Dilapidated Newspaper Rack.

This physical newspaper in his hands had come from the upgraded version of the Dilapidated Newspaper Rack, the Hidden Library.

Now the identical style of reporting made sense.

He turned his attention back to the article.

The shock in Yu Yuan’s heart did not ease one bit.

Although this paper was tabloid material, prone to exaggeration and eye-catching phrasing,

everybody knew that among all record carriers, official histories are not always truthful, but unofficial histories are absolutely wild.

Sometimes the unofficial accounts are the real answers.

"The Rational Wastes...."

Yu Yuan felt he had seen that term somewhere and immediately opened the Shelter Memo to check.

Soon he found it…

The clandestine information written by the Pen of Longstanding Heritage had mentioned it.

—“…The Fallen Abyss and the Wild Throne are fighting over the Rational Wastes, and the struggle has reached a fever pitch…”

"A place important enough for two Gold-tier factions to fight over—no wonder the Lord of Dawn fell."

"Combine this news with the recent information about the Flower Language Queen of the Giant Tree World…"

A guess—or rather, an answer—formed in Yu Yuan’s mind.

"Could the Giant Tree World be a world shard from the Dawn Plane that was shattered? But the Giant Tree World seemed like a very ordinary world!"

"Wait..."

Yu Yuan paused.

He had thought that world ordinary because when they first killed Firefly Earth, Firefly Earth had not fused any civilization shards.

But was the Giant Tree World really ordinary?

A world where epic- and rare-tier herbs grew in a single forest—how could that be ordinary?

At that moment,

Yu Yuan suddenly realized.

Perhaps the Giant Tree World really was a world shard of the Dawn Plane.

Even if not directly the Dawn Plane, it should be a shard related to it.

If the Giant Tree World is a high-tier world shard,

then what about other worlds? Might there be many worlds that are also formed when higher-tier worlds shattered?

Even civilization shards...

could they be related to worlds breaking apart?

One thought after another surfaced in Yu Yuan’s mind.

After a long while, he exhaled deeply.

This game really was deeper than he thought!

He stopped overthinking and got up to check the books the Hidden Library had refreshed this time.

Two new books appeared.

Yu Yuan bought both.

Herbalism Basics and Scout Training Manual.

Reading Herbalism Basics would teach someone the basic principles and properties of herbs and include several herb recipes.

It could raise proficiency in alchemy and medicine-making skills.

The Scout Training Manual offered a new troop type—the Scout. If the player already had a similar troop, it would grant that troop an extra +2 Concealment.

Both books were practical and well-targeted.

He could give Herbalism Basics to the vampire Hammond to increase his alchemy proficiency.

As for the Scout Training Manual, upon finishing the read, a system notification popped up.

"Detected civilization has reconnaissance-type units. Integrate Scout training into that unit to grant an additional +2 Concealment?"

—Yes.

Seeing the +2 Concealment appear after "Scout" on the Hunter Training Camp panel, Yu Yuan smiled in satisfaction.

At that moment the Commander System chimed with a new message.

Yu Yuan focused and showed a hint of surprise.

"Hans?"

After the Endless Cold Wave arrived, blizzards had buried the whole world.

Naturally, the roads between Green Forest City and the Northern Wilderness were cut off, including the route to the Burning Fortress located in the Northern Wilderness.

Yu Yuan had told Hans that no unimportant intelligence needed reporting, and to lay low on his own.

So Hans had entered silence.

Over those days Yu Yuan did think of Hans occasionally, but since Hans hadn’t contacted him and because so much had happened recently, Yu Yuan gradually forgot.

He did not expect Hans to suddenly send a message now, which piqued his interest.

Loyalty: My lord, I am Hans. I have important intelligence to report!

Wolf Den · King: What is it?

A few seconds after Yu Yuan sent his reply,

Hans transmitted a picture.

Yu Yuan glanced at it and blinked.

"What is that?"

The image showed a wide expanse of black, viscous liquid, and within that darkness were strange-looking creatures, their bodies slick and shiny with oil.

It was nauseating to see.

Loyalty: My lord, these photos came from Fuel Town. Since yesterday afternoon the oil well at Fuel Town suddenly erupted with massive crude. Just now, strange black creatures appeared within the gushing oil. Fuel Town people transmitted the photos over radio, then contact was lost.

"Fuel Town?" Yu Yuan frowned.

Fuel Town was the Burning Fortress’s stronghold—an oil extraction point.

The Burning Fortress’s main crude supply all came from there.

It was the lifeblood industry for the Burning Fortress.

Because of that, even under the brutal Endless Cold Wave, Black Lung Victor had left a sufficient force at Fuel Town.

But...

what were these oil creatures?

Yu Yuan felt his head spin.

What was this Endless Cold Wave doing—bringing out all kinds of freakish things as the temperature fell.

Previously, Silver-tier ice creatures appearing made some sense—those matched the environment.

But crude oil? And creatures that could survive in crude oil?

That was beyond Yu Yuan’s knowledge.

Wolf Den · King: Do you know what these things are?

Loyalty: My lord, that’s what I was wondering. Our leader, Victor, when he saw these photos, I could clearly sense fear flash across his face. It was fleeting, but I cannot be mistaken. Afterwards he acted like nothing happened, but I noticed his hidden hand was trembling slightly!

Yu Yuan: ?

Could Victor know what those were?

Loyalty: Later Victor ordered us to suppress all news about Fuel Town. I think this matter might not be so simple.

Now Yu Yuan was genuinely puzzled.

If Victor knew what those things were, Hans as his confidant would certainly find a way to learn about it.

But they would have to wait patiently!

Wolf Den · King: Continue to lie low! Don’t probe forcefully. Report any new developments immediately. You’re the only person over there, be careful.

Loyalty: Thank you for your concern, my lord. My loyalty to you is the reason I persist!

He closed the Virtual Light Screen.

Yu Yuan rubbed his chin.

"Oil creatures..."