[Orchardist]

Only the wise and virtuous can win people's hearts.

Compared to Bai Zhi's side, Ink-Stained Crystal's side undoubtedly seemed much more relaxed.

Thanks to the Teleportation Skill that comes with the [Magicians Formalwear], she successfully completed her mission after a few minor setbacks.

The base-stealing tactic has now been successfully completed.

However, when she returned to the Residential Complex with the Racial Core, she found that it had been reduced to ruins.

After a moment of astonishment, the ruins vanished as if from an illusion, and the two intact buildings reappeared in the original location of the ruins.

"Is this the insurance he took out for this before...?"

Ink-Stained Crystal silently went upstairs.

In the brightly lit living room, Bai Zhi and the Fuzi had already returned. However, compared to when they set off, Bai Zhi's right arm was now wrapped in a thick bandage.

"..."

After staring silently at the bandage on Bai Zhi's right arm for a moment, Ink-Stained Crystal first placed the large bag of Racial Core on the Coffee Table, and then took out the [Magicians Formalwear] and the [Adjustment Belt] from her Inventory and placed them in front of Bai Zhi.

After doing all this, she sat silently to the side, her face unnaturally pale.

Fuzi: "..."

So you're really not going to return that [Adjustment Belt]? It seems it was borrowed from me, shouldn't it be returned to me? Why should I return it to him...?

"So, we've completed our mission?"

Looking at the huge pile of various Racial Core on the table, Young Feather had been cooking for three days, blinked, feeling quite unreal.

It's no exaggeration to say that in this Special Dungeon, he was basically just a background character... though he could also be considered a support staff member?

"More or less, but to be honest, the real danger has only just begun... Has the system given any new instructions yet?"

Bai Zhi put the [Magicians Formalwear] into his Inventory and casually handed the [Adjustment Belt] to the Fuzi next to him.

Although he really wanted to steal the Elite Level Equipment, considering that Fuzi had already suffered enough and had even bandaged his wounds, Bai Zhi decided to be a good guy this time.

Well... although this kind of thing is to be expected.

"The real danger... is it the ripe fruit?"

OriginDeficit frowned slightly.

"There were a total of 81 Dominators, and now only the two of you remain. It's the evening of the second day, so we can easily drag this out until the Seven Days."

"If things were really that simple, why do you think those Dominators would launch a war in such a short time?"

Bai Zhi pursed his lips and subconsciously reached for his cup to drink, but he overlooked the fact that his right hand had completely lost all feeling.

By the time he realized what was happening and was about to turn to his left hand to take it, a glass of water had already been handed to him.

"Hmm? Thanks."

Bai Zhi glanced at the Fuzi in front of him, raised an eyebrow slightly, and then took the cup of water with his left hand.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Ink-Stained Crystal silently finished the glass of water in her hand.

"Although the Flesh Cutting Curse only affected your right arm, it's best not to move it for the time being. Even with your strong Constitution, it will take at least a month to recover naturally."

The Fuzi shook his head slightly and spoke calmly.

"In the past, the battles of those Dominators would never have been so swift and efficient. Something is definitely amiss. Their accelerated actions mean that these next few days are actually the ripening period for the 'fruit,' and you cannot afford to delay any longer."

"So, does this mean we'll inevitably face off against the Harvester after this?"

After hearing the Fuzi's words, OriginDeficit's expression became serious.

"Absorbing everything in the world to produce the most delicious fruit... Calling them Harvester isn't quite right, let's call them a [Orchardist] instead."

Bai Zhi put down his teacup, shook his head slightly, and began to speak with a hint of deeper meaning.

"If everything is really as I suspect, do you think it only does this in one world? My personal inclination is that Outside the World, there exist many other worlds just like this one. These worlds have all become... Fruit Tree cultivated by [Orchardist]."

"Your statement..."

Hearing Bai Zhi's shockingly calm narration, Young Feather and the others were momentarily stunned.

At that moment, they seemed to see an ancient being walking through the vast Void, capturing one world after another and bringing them into its Orchard to cultivate into its own Fruit Tree.

Each world itself, and the countless beings existing within it, are utterly insignificant in the eyes of this ancient being; they are merely nutrients used to cultivate the most delicious fruits.

... Whether it's humanity, Anomaly, or the world itself.

Just like humans never care about what the ants in their nests next to Soil pit are thinking.

"In order to cultivate the best-tasting fruit, the [Orchardist] found a fruit pot, then put various probiotics and nutrients into it, giving it a period of time to allow the soil to become fertile."

Bai Zhi pulled out an Apple from somewhere, put it in his mouth, and started to speak indistinctly.

"The saplings are planted only after the soil becomes fertile enough. Then the roots begin to absorb nutrients from the soil, and all the nutrients come together to produce the most Perfect and delicious fruit... Does this explanation make a little sense to you?"

"What evidence is there to suggest treating an entire world like a flowerpot for planting?"

The Fuzi suddenly spoke up and asked a question.

"No. But let's make a bold guess and then verify it carefully."

Bai Zhi pursed his lips at the picture book.

"If every Fruit Tree in the Orchard has a fixed fruiting time, and we've missed that time, I think those Fish Hook would help us speed things up."

"Fish Hook... If everything is really as you say, then aren't we doomed?"

OriginDeficit frowned deeply.

"Someone like that could probably crush us to pieces with just a single glance, right?"

"Now open the system taskbar and look at the system task interface. Okay, now tell me, what task is this?"

"... Exploration Type Mission."

"So, can we say that we have now completely explored all the truths of this world?"

"... Calculate."

"Then that settles it?"

Bai Zhi rolled his eyes, slightly speechless.

"I've Perfect completed the Exploration Mission. The system should at least show some recognition, right? Are they really going to make us go up against the [Orchardist]? Honestly, judging from this guy's current state, I doubt the system can even beat the [Orchardist]..."

Fuzi: "..."