Days passed simply.
Rimuru convened strategy meetings daily, but seven days had passed since the Lizardmen were annihilated by the Hobgoblins, and there was still no plan.
The Pig King's forces attacked here and there, but they didn't venture into the Monster Country to cause trouble.
Thus, Bai Ye's earlier speculation was reaffirmed—the number of Chosen Ones was insufficient!
With an insufficient number, the hidden quest couldn't be triggered, and they were stuck in this stalemate.
It was akin to the "Citywide Chaos Forbidden Zone," where if the participant count was below a hundred, one could only wait.
Consequently, Bai Ye found himself wandering the streets more and more.
However, since the news of the hidden quest spread, the Chosen Ones had become considerably busier, all focused on finding it.
Truthfully, it wasn't about having immense expectations; it was mainly that being a street loiterer day in and day out was boring, and everyone needed something to do.
Indeed, the fifth and sixth scepters were soon completed. The fifth came from the Goblins, and the sixth from the Fang Wolves.
The Monster Country wasn't that large, and the number of Chosen Ones loitering there was limited. Thus, news quickly spread that both scepters were acquired by the Chosen Ones who had found the scepter quest earliest. This brought their total to five scepters.
However, only Jin Xiangchuan knew that he possessed not five, but six scepters!
While others searched for scepters, Jin Xiangchuan continued his own search and obtained the Elven scepter, leaving him only one scepter short.
But…
He had scoured nearly the entire Monster Country, yet Jin Xiangchuan still couldn't find the whereabouts of the final scepter.
Based on the clues from other quests, Jin Xiangchuan believed that the seven scepters should correspond to the seven races with the largest populations in the Monster Country. Therefore, the last scepter should belong to the Lizardmen.
After the Lizardmen were wiped out by the Hobgoblins, the remaining Lizardmen had all come to the Monster Country, becoming residents among the top three most populous races there.
However, Jin Xiangchuan had searched every single Lizardman and found no information about the scepter.
Jin Xiangchuan was plagued with headaches. Without the final scepter, possessing six scepters was useless. If he couldn't complete the quest, he'd be left with scepters to use as baseball bats.
And as Jin Xiangchuan was agonizing over this…
"Hey!"
Jin Xiangchuan's shoulder was suddenly clasped, startling him. He spun around abruptly.
"Bai Ye?"
Seeing the person, Jin Xiangchuan found him familiar.
As the earliest arrival in the Monster Country and the only Chosen One who could freely enter and exit Rimuru's mansion, Bai Ye was quite well-known.
Bai Ye, holding a bowl of shaved ice, asked, "How's your scepter collection coming along?"
Jin Xiangchuan casually replied, "Almost there."
"How close is 'almost there'?" Bai Ye asked with a smile. "One short?"
Jin Xiangchuan blinked, then said, "Two short."
"Oh," Bai Ye nodded. "Then keep up the good work. I'm going to wander around!"
Jin Xiangchuan's heart skipped a beat. Bai Ye's words seemed to carry a hidden meaning.
"Wait, wait!" Jin Xiangchuan quickly called out to Bai Ye. "Bai Ye, do you have a scepter?"
Bai Ye replied, "That depends on how many scepters you have."
Jin Xiangchuan was puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Bai Ye explained, "If you have six scepters, then I have the Lizardmen's Ruby Scepter. If you don't have six, then I don't."
Jin Xiangchuan was utterly confused and asked, "Do you have it or not?"
Bai Ye pressed, "Do you have six scepters?"
Jin Xiangchuan pondered for a moment and honestly nodded. "I do."
Bai Ye then said, "Then I have the Lizardmen's Ruby Scepter. Do you want it?"
Jin Xiangchuan immediately grew excited. "Of course, I do."
Bai Ye stated, "At least a black-quality item for exchange."
Jin Xiangchuan almost spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at Bai Ye in disbelief. "Those scepters are all green-quality weapons."
Bai Ye smiled. "So, now you understand why I asked if you had collected six scepters."
Jin Xiangchuan was stunned again, then blurted out, "Damn it, you're price gouging!"
Bai Ye nodded. "That's right. You're only realizing that now?"
If Jin Xiangchuan hadn't collected six scepters, it would mean there was more than one party involved in the transaction. Whether he was one or two short, Bai Ye wouldn't have the leverage to price gouge.
This was because, regardless of whether the other party obtained the Ruby Scepter, they couldn't complete the hidden quest.
However, since Jin Xiangchuan already had six scepters, then…
Bai Ye could price gouge, even toy with him, scorn him, torment him, and tease him, and Jin Xiangchuan would still have to smile and call Bai Ye "Grandpa."
This was because, having acquired six scepters, Jin Xiangchuan would never let go of the last one.
Jin Xiangchuan said speechlessly, "But these are just green-quality items."
Bai Ye responded, "Correct, no problem. But collecting seven isn't green-quality anymore."
"But the other six are in my hands," Jin Xiangchuan said frantically. "I got them all through my own efforts, and I found the hidden quest myself. You only have one!"
Bai Ye countered, "But without the one in my hand, you can't complete the set of seven. And if you can't complete the set of seven, you only have six green-quality weapons."
Jin Xiangchuan gritted his teeth. "Do you even know what rewards completing all seven can get you, that you dare to ask for such an exorbitant price?"
Bai Ye replied, "Black-quality items."
Jin Xiangchuan couldn't help but be taken aback, as Bai Ye had hit the nail on the head.
Jin Xiangchuan asked, "Did you find this quest too?"
"I didn't find it," Bai Ye said with a smile. "However, although these scepters are green-quality, their effects provide permanent enhancements. They are definitely worth a premium, enough to exchange for blue-quality items, you have to admit that, right?"
Jin Xiangchuan nodded. "I admit it!"
Bai Ye continued, "Collecting seven blue-quality items still doesn't exchange for a black-quality item. Can that still be called a hidden quest?"
Jin Xiangchuan said with a wry smile, "My quest reward is only one black-quality item. You want me to use one black-quality item to exchange for your scepter? Does that make any sense?"
Bai Ye replied, "It doesn't make sense."
Jin Xiangchuan said, "Exactly…"
Bai Ye interrupted, "But without my scepter, you can't get the black-quality item."
Jin Xiangchuan exclaimed angrily, "This excuse is inescapable, isn't it?"
Bai Ye spread his hands. "Without my scepter, you cannot complete the hidden quest."
Jin Xiangchuan: "…"
Damn it, can't you just let this point go?
Jin Xiangchuan took a deep breath. "That thing is useless to you. Just give me a straight answer. How can I exchange for it?"
Bai Ye stated, "A black-quality item."
"Damn it!" Jin Xiangchuan cursed. "I'll give it!"
"Anything less than a black-quality item, I..." Bai Ye suddenly stopped, then said in surprise, "You're actually giving it?"