Little Pink Starfish

Pei Sen came to a stop. Eagle squinted into the fog and saw the two people approaching.

“Put me down,” he said.

Pei Sen lowered Eagle. “Young master, don’t say anything for now.”

Before Eagle could respond, the two players had already gotten close.

ScrambledEggRice: “Huh, looks like an NPC.”
EggWhiteNoodles: “Not a monster?” He sounded disappointed.

Still, NPCs were fine too. In this thick fog, two black-cloaked NPCs? Definitely something special! Maybe a unique quest!

Excited, they were just about to approach when they heard a voice:

“The fog is thick tonight. Something’s happened at Golden Rose Manor.”

The two players froze. Was that… a quest?

Eagle looked sharply at Pei Sen. What are you doing? They had snuck out—why was he drawing attention?

Pei Sen’s mind worked fast. But a new idea was already forming.

Even if he hurried, just finding and clearing the dungeon would take at least a day or two. The suspicious maids and servants could only keep the secret for so long—by tomorrow night at the latest, Sadin would definitely know. Golden Rose Manor would go into chaos searching for them. And those out to assassinate Eagle might take advantage of the confusion.

If it was going to get messy anyway… then might as well make it really messy.

Ding!
Special Encounter Quest: Investigate the disturbance at Golden Rose Manor. (Quest can be shared.)

“Whoa, it’s a real quest!”
“We can share it? Awesome!”
“Wanna share it with others?”
“Let’s see if we can finish it ourselves first.”

Pei Sen overheard their conversation and knew the Bix Magic Cube system was indeed very accommodating—it had created a quest based on his suggestion. He even received one himself.

But truthfully? He had zero intention of helping players actually complete it.

Opening his quest panel:

Special Encounter Quest:
Assist in investigating the secret night escape of Thorned Rose Count Eagle and his butler Pei Sen—without revealing specific details.
This quest was triggered by the players.
If other players complete the quest: +7000 EXP, +2 Mystery Chests.
If the quest fails: no rewards.

Pei Sen: “…”

This reward was insane. Seven thousand EXP and two mystery chests? For a second, he was genuinely tempted to ditch the dungeon and help them finish this instead.

But then he remembered the terrifying level of security back at the manor and what might happen if Sadin got involved.

Nope. Not worth it.

It was an impossible quest anyway—so better to let the players create chaos in the manor, muddy the waters further. Pei Sen had full confidence in the players’ talent for creating messes.

The two players happily accepted the quest and left without bothering them further.

Pei Sen knew the best way to handle players—just give them a quest and they’d be on their merry way.

ScrambledEggRice: “Don’t you think that NPC’s voice sounded familiar?”
EggWhiteNoodles: “Huh? Did it? I didn’t notice.”
ScrambledEggRice: “I swear I’ve heard that voice before…” He glanced back at the fading figures. “Hey, is that a cat at their feet?”
EggWhiteNoodles: “Looks like… yeah. A cat?”
ScrambledEggRice: “That fat? It’s gotta be some kinda monster, right?”

At that moment, Pex turned and gave the two curious Bixians a withering look.

“It’s a cat.”
“Yep. Just… really fat.”

Their attention thankfully shifted from “familiar voice” to “incredibly chonky cat,” and the mystery of Pei Sen’s identity was left behind.

Pei Sen pulled Eagle along and quickly left the area.

Eagle finally whispered, “Was it really okay to say that to them?”

Pei Sen looked serious. “Young master, once they realize we’re gone, everything will be thrown into chaos. I think someone may try to use that as cover to make another attempt on your life.”
He added, “I’m really afraid I can’t protect you on my own.”

Pei Sen had a resurrection system—Eagle did not.

If something happened to Eagle, not only would he truly die, but all players tied to his faction would see their main questlines automatically fail. That was a terrifying thought.

Besides, Pei Sen truly didn’t want anything to happen to Eagle.

Emotions complicated things. The boundary between game and reality had become blurry for him.
He couldn’t treat himself as just a regular player anymore—but he also wasn’t truly a part of this world.

Except with Eagle.
Maybe it was all the time spent together.
At first, he’d just wanted to strangle this spoiled brat.
Now… he felt sorry for him.

Pei Sen didn’t think of himself as a softhearted person—but for this one, he’d gone full savior-complex.

“Probably just because this kid’s too good-looking. Good looks really are cheats in every world.” Pei Sen sighed.

Looking up at the deep night sky, he knew this was the quietest time for players—but logins were unpredictable. They could run into more players any minute.

He needed to locate the dungeon before dawn.

“Young master—”
“I’m fine,” Eagle said.

Pei Sen hesitated. “At your pace, we may not make it in time.”
Translation: You’re too slow. Let me carry you again.

Eagle: “…”

Climbing onto Pei Sen’s back again, Eagle asked, “So why’d you say all that to the other players?”
“To stir the pot.”

Eagle almost said, “Bixians are too chaotic to actually manage that…” but then remembered their long history of causing trouble.
Yeah. They were absolutely capable of chaos.

So Pei Sen carried Eagle deeper into the thickening fog.

Pei Sen was watching the forums—waiting for those two players to post about the quest.

These encounter quests were usually shareable. Sometimes sharing reduced the reward; sometimes it didn’t.

He figured they’d soon realize they couldn’t complete the quest alone—and would probably share it with dozens or even hundreds of other players.

In fact, they were even faster than expected. Not five minutes later, the encounter quest was already on the forums.
Worse—those two were so generous they shared it for free.

This late at night, the post still blew up instantly, gaining huge traction.

“ScrambledEggRice and EggWhiteNoodles… what kind of usernames are those?” Pei Sen muttered.
They were going to draw a lot of players to the manor.

Originally, he’d expected a few dozen to a hundred to share the quest. That would’ve been enough for some light chaos.

But now? He had no idea what kind of disaster might unfold.

Pei Sen broke out in a cold sweat. What if by the time we return to Golden Rose Manor, the players have looted the whole place?

Probably not. The system should have some restrictions. Besides, players were currently part of the Thorned Rose faction—they couldn’t go too far.

Still, he had a bad feeling.

Better to clear the dungeon fast and get back to the manor.

Pei Sen picked up speed, breaking into a jog. Thanks to his player stamina and recovery potions, he could keep going.

Eagle felt his robes flutter as Pei Sen ran, holding onto him tightly. The fog swirled around them, and his heart thumped louder and louder.

What was this strange, thrilling feeling?

Was it because he was outside?
Or because he was being carried by Pei Sen?

That tingling rush surged through him with every step Pei Sen took.

Soon, Pei Sen spotted the scavenger’s hut—just like the screenshots on the forum.

Even though this player had made it their mission to roleplay as a scavenger, they still had to log off sometimes. Their scavenged junk often didn’t last long.

Most players didn’t care about what this guy picked up anyway.

The game system had kindly filtered out most of the bad smells. Which was no easy feat—Bix Magic Cube never nerfed player senses like smell.

Food scents were incredibly vivid in-game.

But blood and foul smells were heavily muted.

So Pei Sen stood calmly at the edge of the junk pile.
Eagle, on the other hand, stayed far back. Even approaching was painful for a pampered noble like him.

He’d never seen this much garbage before.

“Seriously, that scavenger’s a beast. Even filtered, this still stinks.” Pei Sen muttered as he began searching.

Based on his analysis, when the Kui Wolf was captured, the area was cleared out—and the scavenger likely picked up some items discarded there.
Most of it was gray-tier trash no one wanted—but Pei Sen suspected one item might hold a dungeon clue.

“Here it is.”

Even knowing what he was looking for, it still took a while.

He pulled out a small wooden box. Inside was a crudely carved seal—so rough it looked like a child’s toy.
The engraving was clumsy and ugly. No wonder no one else took it.

Pei Sen turned around. “Young master, I found it.”

Eagle nodded and stepped forward… then subtly took two steps back.

Pei Sen: “???”

He moved forward again. Eagle only backed off one step this time.

Pei Sen: “……”

After a moment, realization hit him. “Is it the smell?”

Eagle nodded sheepishly. Even Pex, standing farther away, wrinkled his nose in disgust.

Don’t underestimate cats—especially pampered ones.

Pei Sen rolled his eyes and cast Dust-Off and Cleanse on himself. “Now?”

“Much better.”

Even so, Eagle refused to be carried again.
He jogged alongside Pei Sen, slowly leaving the manor and Casey City behind.

The wind eventually blew the stench away.
Eagle let out a long sigh of relief.

Pex, on the other hand, lagged far behind, tongue hanging out.

This is not the life of a noble cat!

Still, no matter how tired, he refused to go into Pei Sen’s pet inventory. That shadowy void? No thanks.

Pei Sen sighed and scooped up the fat cat. “Pex, why are you so useless? You’re a five-skill god pet, yet you can’t even walk.”

Pex was deeply offended. You carried the young master, but yell at the cat? Rude!

“Are we close?” Eagle asked.

Pei Sen glanced over. “Young master, have you ever been to Arzi Town?”

Eagle blinked. “Once. When I was first exiled to this barren land, I passed through briefly. Don’t remember much.”

“Well, this year the mayor didn’t attend your birthday banquet.”

“He’s very old. Poor health.”

Pei Sen sneered. “Then why hasn’t he been replaced?”

Eagle thought it over. “Good point. I’ll replace him when we return.”

Pei Sen: “…” That was awfully decisive.

In truth, they were headed straight for Arzi Town.

Eagle didn’t remember the place—but he’d be in for a surprise.

Unlike the remote Casey City, Arzi had changed completely.
Once a tiny backwater, it had grown into a bustling trade hub—even larger than Casey City now.

No one had told Eagle.
He still thought it was a quiet little town that paid a tiny tax to him every year.

“Look. That’s Arzi.”

The sky was lightening.
Even in the early dawn, the town ahead bustled with people. Eagle stared. “That’s… Arzi?”

Yes. And it was thriving—filled with traders and adventurers.

Though remote, the area had unique goods smuggled from Casey City under Wallis’ nose.
They avoided taxes and made huge profits.

This place was also popular with adventurers.
The Moon Tree Forest, connecting to the dangerous Askin Mountains, was nearby. Arzi had become the go-to city for those daring enough to explore it.

Eagle always thought his territory was a boring backwater.
He never imagined the truth.

Years of “protection” had blinded and deafened him.
He had no idea what was happening under his nose.

“You’ve been here before?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Pei Sen’s expression darkened.
Last time, he’d nearly been sold. He wouldn’t forget it.

Eagle’s feet were blistered and painful, but his anger overpowered the pain.
He didn’t show it on his face—just grew cold and quiet.

“Let’s go into Arzi,” Eagle said.

“We will. But first, we’re heading to that small hill nearby.”
“That’s the place you said I could become stronger?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”

Pei Sen glanced at Eagle, stubbornly insisting on walking. He sighed. This kid really is stubborn.

Then he looked at the drooling, snoring Pex in his arms.

Useless fat cat!

Pei Sen shook Pex awake. “Alright, you can walk now.”

Then he turned to Eagle. “Want me to carry you again?”

Eagle shook his head. You get used to pain.

Pex was crushed.
The young master didn’t need to be carried—so why did he have to walk?!

His new owner was the worst.

The trio approached the hill. Along the way, they passed wounded adventurers headed for Arzi.

Here, black cloaks were common among merchants and adventurers.
But the farther they went, the fewer people they saw. The air grew colder.

Eagle suddenly stopped, frowning.

Pei Sen didn’t notice and kept walking.
Eagle hesitated—then followed.

The closer they got, the stronger the stench—burning and rot.
Eagle hadn’t eaten since last night, but his stomach churned.

Pei Sen noticed. “You smell something?”

“Yeah. Burnt… something. Mixed with something else.”

“Almost there.” Pei Sen tossed him a crude seal. “Hold this.”

Eagle caught it. Now both of them had one.

As they approached the hill, the smell became unbearable.

Suddenly, a breeze blew. The pain and smell vanished.
A mist covered Eagle’s vision—then cleared.

“We really burning it all? This batch is worth money.”
“Sell what you can. Burn the rest. Few more days and it’ll be too late.”
“Damn it. How’d that kid escape last time? Johann’s caravans never lose cargo…”
“Forget it. The young master’s cracking down on Wallis’ people. Casey City’s half-ruined. Better lay low.”
“So when do we start again?”
“Wait and see.”

Eagle recognized Kui Wolf, now dead, and another man he didn’t know.

A third man walked up, flashed a matching seal.

“Heard you’ve got cheap stock.”
“Yep. Clearance sale.”
“Let me see.”

Eagle watched from outside the scene, like a spectator through a magical lens.

They entered a cave filled with wooden cages. Inside were filthy, trembling people.

The buyer picked three girls—none even particularly attractive.

Kui Wolf waved. “Kill the rest. Burn the place.”

Screams followed. The cave ran red with blood.

Then fire consumed the cages.

The mist returned, blinding him.

When Eagle could see again, he was still standing where he’d been. The smell was back.

Pei Sen had also seen it.
In Bix Magic Cube, most quests had high freedom—but every dungeon’s first entrance came with an unskippable cutscene.

He’d guessed right.

A new dungeon was hidden here—at the site where he’d nearly been sold.

Ding! Congratulations! You’ve discovered the dungeon: Slave Cavern.

Tiny glowing lights surrounded the entrance—visible only to players. Like dancing fireflies.

Pei Sen caught one. It was actually a thin shard, the size of a fingernail.

“Hold on tight.” He grabbed Eagle’s hand and crushed the shard.

In an instant, they appeared at the cave entrance—lit by torches but shrouded in darkness.

Entering Dungeon: Slave Cavern.
Quest: Rescue the enslaved Baalst people.

Rescue?

Pei Sen smiled bitterly.

This world was real—but the dungeon was fake.
There were no survivors to save. The cutscene made that clear.

The game had recorded the real event—then turned it into a dungeon.
A parody of rescue, a simulation of tragedy.

This… was the next dungeon of Bix Magic Cube.
Slave Cavern.