Idle as they were, everyone collectively became street loafers, wandering around the Monster Country daily, eating, drinking tea, and chatting. Anyway, the currency in the Monster Country was given away for free. Although they couldn't buy anything to improve their strength here, at most only daily consumables like talismans, they had enough to feast for a year or a half.
Suddenly, one of the chosen ones, while biting into a glutinous rice ball, said, "Actually, it's not that we can only be idle. This place is unusual. I suspect it's a very high-level area, but it hasn't been developed yet."
Someone asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
The chosen one replied, "According to the information I've gathered, the Monster Country is not completely built and is still under development. Outside the Jura Great Forest, there are places like the Human Empire and the Dwarf Empire. Therefore, as the Monster Country develops, this area should be upgraded." xxs1
Jemas asked curiously, "I know this too. I heard that the combat power ceiling in this area is the Demon Lord, and that slime Rimuru is just the Lord of Monsters. So, there are definitely smaller areas more advanced than the Monster Country, or the Monster Country will become more powerful in the future, naturally becoming a more advanced smaller area. And judging by the overall area, it must be a high-level area. But these are temporarily irrelevant to us. I'm more curious about what you mean by not being able to just be idle."
The chosen one said, "Haven't you heard?"
Bai Ye asked, "Heard what?"
The chosen one replied, "I heard someone received a hidden quest from a native."
"Excuse me," at this moment, a chosen one suddenly raised his hand and said, "That person is me."
After saying that, the person stood up and walked to the center of the shop.
"It's just a small hidden quest, collect the scepters of seven races to exchange for rewards. So, if anyone has obtained a scepter, you can find me for a trade. Whether you want to trade the scepter to me or get a scepter from me, both are fine. I currently have the scepters of the Great Oni tribe, the Fairy tribe, and the Goblin tribe. And I can provide information on where to get the hidden quest. I hope everyone understands that this hidden quest only has meaning when completed. If the scepters are scattered and everyone cannot complete the hidden quest, it is meaningless. Therefore, cooperation and mutual benefit are the best strategies."
Jemas asked, "Is this related to the Pig-Headed Emperor?"
"On this point, I can swear," the chosen one said, "It has nothing to do with the Pig-Headed Emperor's attack. It's a side hidden quest, mainly aimed at helping the major races rebuild their homes."
Bai Ye stroked his chin, scepters?
He had a ruby scepter in his hand, which seemed to belong to the Lizardmen tribe.
As for whether the other party had revealed truthful information, Bai Ye felt it was more likely to be the truth. If there was something that couldn't be said, it would be better to keep it quiet and reap the benefits. There was no need to speak about it.
Therefore, the most likely scenario was that the other party was telling the truth, and fearing that others might obtain the scepters, he decided to reveal it in public, actively seeking trades, either buying or selling, and not necessarily completing the hidden quest.
Bai Ye could understand the other party's mindset. Without obtaining all the scepters, it was meaningless. With the mentality of gaining as much benefit as possible, it was a case of "if divided, everyone loses; if united, everyone wins," which was a rather pragmatic mindset.
Of course, some people would also have the mentality of "if I can't have it, no one else should either."
Speaking of which, the other party was likely afraid of such people, which was why he publicly announced that he didn't want the hidden quest and was willing to sell the scepters.
Thinking of this, Bai Ye couldn't help but grin mischievously.
Did he seem to be able to make a small fortune?
After the chosen one finished speaking, he left the dessert shop. The others started discussing.
However, the discussion wasn't very heated. This type of hidden quest for individuals, since it had already been claimed, held little significance for others. Even if someone else could get the same hidden quest, the other party already had three out of seven scepters, so others would ultimately have to choose to trade. And considering the cost of trading, they might not gain much benefit.
Therefore, most of the discussion was about the fact that the Monster Country could actually receive hidden quests unrelated to the Pig-Headed Emperor!
This represented that their constant loitering might have been a wrong choice. Before the Pig-Headed Emperor's attack, they could have tried to gain some benefits from the Monster Country during this free time.
After discussing for a while, many people became enthusiastic. They put down their glutinous rice balls and decided to act immediately, planning to wander around and see if they could get any hidden quests from the natives.
When most people had left, Jemas saw Bai Ye still leisurely eating glutinous rice balls and taking a sip of green tea. He couldn't help but ask, "Bai Ye, aren't you going?"
Bai Ye glanced at Jemas and shook his head, "No, you go."
Jemas hesitated for a moment, then sat back in front of Bai Ye and said, "I'm not going either."
Bai Ye looked at Jemas with confusion.
Jemas ordered another plate of glutinous rice balls, then said, "Although I don't know why you're not going, I know you're a cunning fellow. Since you don't have this plan, it means this plan is unreliable."
Bai Ye sighed and said, "Let me ask you, what are we doing every day?"
Jemas replied, "Wandering around, eating and drinking, bragging, being street loafers."
Bai Ye asked, "What are they doing now?"
Jemas replied, "Looking for hidden quests."
Bai Ye asked, "How do they look?"
Jemas replied, "Wandering everywhere, striking up conversations with natives... Damn..."
Jemas finally understood. The method of finding hidden quests was no different from being a street loafer. Bai Ye was telling him that if hidden quests were so easy to find, they would have been found long ago. Otherwise, there would only be two personal hidden quests so far: one was Bai Ye's, and the other was the chosen one who had just left.
Therefore, according to Bai Ye's deduction, there were likely only eight hidden quests!
Collecting seven scepters corresponded to seven hidden quests, and the eighth hidden quest was to obtain all seven scepters.
Moreover, thinking about it this way...
Bai Ye felt that the chosen one who had left earlier might have known this, which was why he deliberately released the information, wanting to use others to unearth all the scepters. After all, he already had three, so he definitely held the initiative, and then sought trades to obtain all the scepters.
As for others wanting to get scepters from him...
Holding three scepters, he was definitely the party with greater trading value, so the chosen one wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
Unfortunately...
Bai Ye took a bite of a glutinous rice ball and suddenly grinned mischievously.
That smile made Jemas uneasy.
...