Set out

Sebastian couldn't help but feel his heart race, silently calculating in his mind. "If, amidst the chaos of Rommel's ambush, I could find the critically wounded Rommel and send him to the Hall of Heroic Spirits, I'd surely gain a massive amount of experience points, and maybe even receive top-tier Virtual Realm items as rewards."

"I need to devise a meticulous plan," Sebastian told himself.

"The departure time agreed upon with Professor Franz is approaching. I need to leave. Hmm, no rush, there's still a day until the next Virtual Realm session."

Immediately, Sebastian took out the black mountaineering gear he had prepared in advance. After carefully changing into it and ensuring both warmth and traction were adequate, he left the hotel room and headed towards Professor Franz's pickup truck.

Walking through the midnight town, the sky was adorned with numerous stars, and the moonlight draped the dark earth like a silver veil. Only the warmth of the tavern emanated light, accompanied by the low laughter and clinking of glasses, injecting some vitality into the serene night. The cold air carried the scent of pine forests, occasionally punctuated by the low hooting of owls, as if guarding this dreamlike tranquility.

Soon, Sebastian arrived at Professor Franz's pickup truck, but he didn't see the professor.

"The professor should still be a while," he thought to himself, proceeding to unload the various observation instrument parts from the car.

"I wonder what kind of observation instrument this is. I've been mingling in academic circles for quite some time, yet I've never seen anything like it."

Without much thought, Sebastian packed them according to the blueprint provided by the professor and placed them all into two oversized backpacks. Just as he finished organizing, he noticed Professor Franz walking towards him from the darkness.

"Professor, you're here. How are you recovering from the half-day drive?" Sebastian inquired.

Observing the two neatly packed backpacks, a faint smile appeared on Professor Franz's usually serious face.

"I'm fine, thanks, Sebastian. Let's go."

With that, he hoisted the backpack onto his shoulders and strode purposefully towards the distant forest. Sebastian quickly followed suit, and the two figures, one old and one young, grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared into the woods.

Walking through the forests of Norway felt like stepping into a dreamlike wonderland. With the night falling, the sky was adorned with sparkling stars, and the Northern Lights danced across the horizon, casting a soft glow of green and purple over the entire forest, shrouding it in a mysterious radiance.

Tall spruces and pines stood straight, their crowns swaying gently in the breeze, as if whispering ancient legends. The path beneath their feet was covered with thick moss, soft and moist, emitting a fresh scent. Along the way were scattered small wildflowers, their delicate colors accentuated by the faint light. The breeze brought the fragrance of pine and earth, allowing one to feel the purity and tranquility of nature.

Only the sound of their footsteps and occasional nocturnal bird calls broke the silence. Consulting the map, Professor Franz instructed, "There's a lake not far ahead. We'll camp and observe there."

Sebastian nodded and continued to follow the professor. After about half an hour, as they traversed through a pine forest, Sebastian's eyes suddenly widened. He saw an endless shoreline, with the lake reflecting a faint light under the Aurora's glow, resembling a silver mirror, a captivating sight.

However, there wasn't the expected tranquility around; several tents had been set up on the lakeside. Accompanied by the orange glow of campfires, the warm firelight swayed, dispelling the chill of the night.

Seeing this scene, Sebastian couldn't help but wonder. "There are quite a few people here. Logically, for a slightly clearer view of the Aurora, there shouldn't be so many people trekking into such deep mountain forests. Perhaps some are here to observe unusual phenomena related to the Northern Lights..."

Professor Franz, on the other hand, didn't seem surprised by the cluster of tents. He calmly walked forward and began to unpack the specially made oversized backpack, reassembling it into a makeshift tent.

Sebastian, meanwhile, got busy preparing the campfire.

After about ten minutes, when the campfire and tent were almost ready, Sebastian suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Someone was walking towards him and Professor Franz. Then, he heard a gentle and melodious voice inquire,

"Franz, who is this little guy?"

Sebastian's heart raced as he turned to see who it was.