Vol. 6 Chapter 1: Cinderella Has a Good Mother

Chapter 1: Cinderella Has a Good Mother

Lu Li held a module in his hand as he embarked on his journey back. This module, obtained from Zhou Qian, was an unexpected gain.

Regulation Module · Surge — Lu Li surmised that this module was likely related to the skill Zhou Qian used to control his blood. The next day, Lu Li returned to the base in Leping City. Regardless of the situation here, it was perhaps the safest place for him.

As soon as he returned to the base, a panel popped up in front of Lu Li:

[ID: YZ0135]

[Your next mission is about to begin. You can choose to start a new instance or return to one of the limited previous instances you've experienced.]

[Your next instance is: Ghost Taxi on the Fifteenth of July.]

[You can return to the following instances: "Mask World (Hospital Instance Extension)" and "Fairy Tale World (Mermaid Instance Extension)".]

[Please make your choice within five minutes.]

"Is this the benefit of level-up permissions?" Lu Li had initially thought that the upgrade merely granted access to the higher-level forum. He didn't expect it would also allow choices regarding the next mission instance. Surprisingly, neither the initial Silk Puppet instance nor the subsequent Pest Elimination instance was an option. What's the connection here?

"So, the question now is, should I choose a new instance or go back to an old one?" Lu Li tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating the options. Judging by the name, the new instance seemed to be related to ghosts and spirits, fitting since it was currently the Fifteenth of July. The Mask World instance could further his experiments with the Seven Deadly Sins masks. As for the Fairy Tale World...

Lu Li squinted, recalling that during his time in the Fairy Tale World, he had encountered a slate within the Interstice of Dream and Reality. This slate recorded the address of a special organization, with contact methods that suggested anyone who had seen the slate and traveled through the Interstice was deemed to have special talents and could join the organization directly.

"Perhaps spending some time learning there wouldn't be a bad idea," Lu Li mused. Gamers like him were severely lacking in esoteric knowledge. A systematic study of mysticism could potentially aid in his metamorphosis.

Indeed, Lu Li's transformation was stuck. He was just a step away from becoming a shadow creature, his mind just a step away from breaking through a major threshold, his magic just a bit short of reaching the next level. Even the shadow that had absorbed most of the Interstice of Dream and Reality and the Bronze Fruit was stalled at the brink of transformation.

It was as if a wall blocked everything, halting what should have been a natural progression. With this in mind, Lu Li decided to head to the Fairy Tale World.

Upon confirming his choice, Lu Li felt a nauseating sensation envelop him. The next moment, he found himself in a typical Western medieval town, accompanied by a foul stench. A mission panel appeared before him.

[ID: YZ0135, you have joined this instance.]

[This game instance is: Theseus' Fairy Tale Town.]

[Instance Type: Multiplayer, Unrelated.]

[Instance Description: Fairy Tale Town is a wonderful place, but not everyone qualifies to go there. Tonight, the prince will host a ball to choose his future princess.]

[Instance Objective: Phase One: Head to Fairy Tale Town, but you need to get a ticket first!; Phase Two: Unknown.]

[Instance Tip: Cinderella has a good mother. Try to help Cinderella live a happy life.]

[Phase One Mission Reward: Fairy Tale Town Ticket, 500 Game Points; Phase Two: Unknown.]

[Enjoy the game!]

"Fairy Tale Town, huh?" Lu Li nodded. The address of the organization he saw in the Interstice was in the east of Fairy Tale Town. Whether for the mission or to join the organization for study, he needed to complete Phase One of the mission.

At that moment, Lu Li heard a pleasant voice calling from his upper right, "People below, please move aside, I'm about to dump something!"

Lu Li looked up to see a girl in burlap clothes leaning out of a second-floor window, a large wooden bucket at her side. Her face was dirty, and her hair was a mess, looking like a malnourished little beggar.

Lu Li nodded, frowning at the poor street conditions. The state of medieval sanitation was truly appalling. The Western City-States Alliance had once launched a cultural invasion against Deyue, promoting their various cultures from the previous era, especially Western noble culture.

In response, Deyue had revealed specific details about the medieval West. Lu Li had read some of it, leaving a deep impression of medieval sanitation conditions.

Medieval Western Europe's cities were built on filth. Lords and nobles of the time didn't manage urban sanitation, and Europeans hadn't considered building sewers. Worse, they didn't understand using manure as fertilizer, so no one cleaned up the waste.

People had the bad habit of dumping waste out of windows, covering streets with filth. Like ancient Chinese cities, horses were the main means of transport, leaving manure on the streets.

The waste was trampled into new layers by shoes, hooves, and wheels, filling medieval cities with a constant stench. Walking in such a city, one couldn't stay clean and had to be wary of waste falling from above.

Whether the person dumping warned pedestrians depended on their courtesy. Most didn't, causing disputes. The girl upstairs warning and waiting for Lu Li to move showed considerable civility.

Blocking his sense of smell, Lu Li stepped back, watching the girl dump the bucket's contents before returning inside. The house looked decent from the outside, with a historical air, suggesting its owner had noble status.

As Lu Li prepared to leave the filthy area, his keen hearing caught sounds from inside the house:

"Are you ready for the prince's ball tonight?" A middle-aged man's voice, adopting a noble tone.

"My sister and I are ready. Tonight, I'll definitely catch the prince's eye!" A young woman's voice, similarly adopting a tone but sounding very harsh.

"Cinderella, do you want to go too?" the middle-aged man said. "Too bad you have no nice clothes, and you're so dirty. Better stay home."

"Yeah, she's just a filthy brat. Let her stay home and work!" Another harsh female voice, full of ridicule and disgust.

"Oh, Charlotte, maintain your noble elegance. She is your sister, after all. How could you say such insulting things?" The man's reprimand seemed weak.

"Cinderella?" Lu Li paused. Wasn't this a mission clue?