Chapter 642: Expectations

A crowd of elves and knights from the continent of Nora, clearly having never laid eyes upon such spectacles before, found themselves thoroughly captivated. Grand palaces cloaked in ethereal mists, the forging of mystical blades, vast rivers and legendary peaks, spirits of the wilderness, and even that fleeting glimpse of the Torch-Bearing Dragon left an indelible and unforgettable mark upon their minds.

That magnificent landscape of mountains and rivers was far grander and more wondrous than the dreamlike fairytale world they had previously yearned for and imagined.

Elder Cyria had not yet fully recovered her composure; with a thoroughly dazed expression, she glanced at Proprietor Fang, then at the screen, a dizzying sensation swirling in her mind.

Only after a long while did she finally come to her senses.

Maintaining a façade of utter calm, Elder Cyria covered her mouth with a light chuckle, offering but a single sentence: "Hehehe... this new mystic realm is indeed quite marvelous!"

Yet her inner thoughts were a chaotic tapestry; had there been a portrait of her mental state at this moment, her expression would have shifted rapidly from anxious contortion, to vibrant excitement, to deep agitation, and then to inexplicable shock...

How had humans nowadays become so formidable?

And each more powerful than the last?

This simply defied reason!

Moreover... on the Eastern Continent... had the cultivation mystic realms truly advanced to such a sophisticated degree?!

To think they would soon be able to trial such a mystic realm!

No... how could this proprietor still refuse to release the launch date?!

Should she recommend this to the other elders upon her return?

No, she must first thoroughly trial it herself right here!

Wait! It was clear that she, an elder, was supposed to return to the Silver Moon Forest shortly...

And yet... she still felt she ought to try it before heading back...

Ah, what agonizing indecision!

A multitude of thoughts flashed through her mind, throwing her into an utter frenzy.

...

After the chaotic flurry subsided, she cast a suspicious glance at the seemingly harmless Proprietor Fang beside her. Reason dictated that a proprietor so young could not possibly have achieved such a staggering height in alchemy.

Could this be an agency branch of the Eastern Continent?

Reflecting on it, the notion seemed plausible. For instance, many alchemical workshops left distinct insignia within their mystic realms. Upon entering a realm from the "Duran Workshop," one would behold an exquisite emblem of the sun and the earth; the "Lava Workshop" bore a crest of flame. She distinctly recalled seeing a similar emblem when playing Assassin's Creed earlier, which displayed the word "Ubisoft." Could it be the "Ubisoft Workshop"?

What a curious name...

Evidently, Legend of Sword and Fairy 4 bore a similar mark—a striking blue and white insignia.

"Hiss—! Can multiple factions truly share a single agency branch in this Eastern Continent?" Elder Cyria could not help but wonder in bewilderment. "Are the customs of the people over there... really like this?"

Yet, remaining largely ignorant of human affairs, she dismissed the thoughts after a brief consideration; after all, she would return once she tried it, would she not?

And yet...

"Um... Proprietor, when exactly will this new mystic realm be released?" She finally arrived at the crucial inquiry.

"Indeed! When on earth will it be released?!" Upon hearing those words, the crowd leaned forward in unison, as though terrified of missing the latest intelligence on the new game.

The group wished for nothing more than to play such a game immediately... ah, no, to enter such a mystic realm for cultivation.

Yes, they were here entirely for cultivation! Regardless of whether they had forged the skills of a berserker or mastered the art of stealth through pure cuteness within Assassin's Creed, this was, without a doubt, serious business!

Framed in such a manner, their demands appeared entirely righteous and justified.

Proprietor Fang maintained that... for a game, it was only natural that they should understand its background before its release, was it not? Otherwise, how could they deeply appreciate this alternative culture, which was entirely foreign to the environment they grew up in?

"As for that... the second trailer will be out in a few days," Proprietor Fang stated calmly.

"Ah—!" Not only the knights and mercenaries, but even the elves looked ready to leap forward and give Proprietor Fang a sound thrashing. What was the meaning of this?! The second trailer would not even arrive for a few days!?

"I heard the new mystic realm from the 'Lava Workshop' is also about to be released." Upon hearing that the launch date remained unannounced, Xera instantly threatened in a fit of pique, "If you are later than them, we shall go and try theirs instead!"

Aside from a small faction of humans, the elves maintained lukewarm relations with the species at large; yet the boisterous and rigorous dwarves were different, easily earning the goodwill of various races, even if... they occasionally appeared somewhat unkempt.

And the "Lava Workshop" possessed a reasonably large agency branch within this very city.

Humph! Let us see if this proprietor grows anxious now!

Xera thought to herself, crossing her arms in indignation.

The eyes of the others lit up at her words, but in the next moment, they witnessed Proprietor Fang finishing his cappuccino and leisurely sinking into his leather sofa-style computer chair.

"Very well, everyone, today's broadcast concludes here." He then launched Assassin's Creed. Having already reached his third playthrough, Proprietor Fang clearly intended to execute a run for a hundred percent perfect synchronization.

He began to play with immense familiarity.

"!!!" Not only was this man utterly unbothered, but he had actually commenced playing a game as if nothing had happened?!

How could this be endured?! Xera was nearly beside herself with rage. She deliberately paced around Proprietor Fang before stomping toward the exit, declaring intentionally, "Proprietor, we are truly going to experience the new mystic realm at the 'Lava Workshop'!"

Proprietor Fang had already stealthily assassinated several Templars.

"Pro! Prie! Tor!" Xera had reached the threshold by now, cursing silently in her heart, "Why isn't this wretched proprietor trying to make me stay?!"

Looking back, she saw that the sequence settlement had already appeared on Proprietor Fang's screen, displaying a flawless hundred percent synchronization.

"Pfft—!" The crowd broke into laughter at the sight of the elf's thoroughly flushed, indignant face.

"Miss Xera is truly adorable."

"The proprietor is indeed far too rigid; we are all so well-acquainted, yet he refuses to grant the slightest concession."

"Ya ya! Why are you all still laughing!" She wished nothing more than to transform into a berserker and unleash havoc upon them all.

"Ah... I truly wish to try it..." Beholding such beautiful cloud-veiled palaces akin to a celestial wonderland, magnificent spell-sword techniques, and breathtaking vistas of mountains and rivers, yet being unable to enter and experience it, left their hearts itching as though scratched by a cat.

Proprietor Fang asserted, "A release must always follow a proper process, otherwise, what if you find yourselves unable to comprehend the gameplay when the time comes?"

His expression was solemn, seemingly acting entirely for the welfare of these lovely elves; even though these elves, knights, mercenaries, and assassins all harbored an impulse to roll out blankets in the shop to monitor exactly when the wretched man would launch the new game, he remained utterly unmoved.

...

Meanwhile, within the agency branch of the "Lava Workshop," Lio, a tall and slender man, had clearly received the tidings.

"Mr. Lio," Glass smiled, "I presume you already have a strategy in place?"

"That fellow seems entirely oblivious... still releasing trailers, is he?" Lio laughed in amusement. "Rest assured."

In his estimation, once their new mystic realm was unveiled, there would be no room left for such an obscure, trivial workshop to stand.