Cannon Fodder NPC Won't Issue S-Rank Quests (Part 1)

"Um."

"Um."

Just as Big Watermelon was about to take his leave, Vivian happened to speak up as well. And so, one after the other, two voices tinged with guilt rang out simultaneously in the forest.

Tsk. Not good!

Seeing the girl's hesitant expression, Big Watermelon's heart sank. He hurriedly spoke before she could:

"Um, Vivian, we were just passing by. We thought you were in danger, so we stepped in. But since it was all a misunderstanding and a false alarm, we still have things to do, so we'll be going now."

"Don't go!"

Before Big Watermelon could even finish, the girl, sensing the shift in tone, instinctively let out a soft shout and stepped forward, blocking their path alone.

This scene made Liao Zixuan, who was ready to grab some snacks and watch the show, chuckle inwardly. The Wolf Cub smacked his lips in amusement.

Tsk tsk.

Who knew, Vivian, you've got some moves!

Say what you will about the girl, but one thing was good—once she agreed to something and set her mind to it, she'd give it her all.

Liao Zixuan was enjoying the drama as a bystander, but as the ones involved, Big Watermelon and the Melee God of Magic, both Beta Testers, were terrified by Vivian's sudden antics.

After snapping back to reality, the two exchanged glances and saw nothing but despair in each other's eyes.

We're doomed!

Sure enough, getting on the pirate ship was easy, but getting off was hard.

This Witch definitely won't let us leave!

Here, the two Beta Testers were actually misunderstanding our kind-hearted Vivian. The girl wasn't refusing to let them leave—she just wanted them to at least hear her request first.

In the eerie silence.

The girl's chest rose and fell—oh, sorry, it was flat, no rising or falling.

Ahem.

Anyway, she took a deep breath.

Come on, Vivian, you can do this!

As long as she lowered her attitude, spoke sincerely, and begged properly, these two kind souls definitely wouldn't have the heart to refuse her!

The girl silently cheered herself on in her heart.

She had already been successfully fooled by Liao Zixuan into believing that these two Outlanders were a crucial force, and whether she could get their help was key to what came next.

She hadn't forgotten Liao Zixuan's advice either.

For example, when begging, she had to get as close as possible to close the distance between them. At the same time, her eyes had to stay fixed on them, since eyes were the windows to the soul. Only then could she make others feel her sincerity. Finally, her speech couldn't be rushed or flustered, or it would seem like she was forcing them.

And so, what followed unfolded.

First came a "crack."

Vivian took another step toward the two Beta Testers. As luck would have it, a hapless little branch lay in her path, and the girl stepped on it, snapping it in two.

Then, the girl dared not look anywhere else, afraid they'd think she was being insincere. She kept her eyes locked on the two Beta Testers.

Finally, the most crucial part came.

Vivian remembered Liao Zixuan's warning. Even though deep down she was eager and hopeful that these two Outlanders would help her through her troubles, she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't rush, couldn't be impatient.

She had to be gentle, soft!

"Um... could you two please wait a moment?"

"Just a moment!" The girl clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes showing sincere pleading, her voice pitiful.

Act.

Keep acting!

You big Witch!

Big Watermelon was cursing in his heart. He finally understood what the "Witch Who Loves to Disguise" title from the earlier "detect" meant.

First, she deliberately closed the distance, leaving them no room to escape. Then, she made a point of stepping on a branch to make a sound. What did that mean?

It meant that if they dared to move, that poor little branch would be their fate. Vivian would step on them as easily as she stepped on that branch!

If that was all, fine.

But what was the most infuriating part?

It was her eyes, her tone!

On one hand, she was blatantly threatening them with all sorts of hints. On the other, she was using a pitiful, weak tone as if she was genuinely begging.

Her eyes never left them, and she insisted on maintaining eye contact. What was that? It was just so she could watch them being toyed with and humiliated.

What a twisted sense of fun!

Witch!

Witch!!

As expected, every single witch is a twisted psycho, a lunatic—not a single one of them is normal. This is terrifying!

"Um... are you, are you two listening?"

When Vivian saw the two Outlanders' expressions constantly shifting the moment she opened her mouth—especially the Hunter with the bow, who looked like he was constipated—

The girl's heart instantly leaped into her throat. Had she messed up?

But that shouldn't be the case, right?

She had followed everything Little Black told her to the letter!

Fortunately, Big Watermelon's reply let Vivian breathe a sigh of relief.

"Of course, of course! Miss Vivian, go ahead, we've been listening the whole time, very attentively!" Big Watermelon deliberately emphasized the word "attentively" and put on a look of intense focus.

Cursing in his heart was one thing, but when it was time to cave, you caved.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Although being called "Miss Vivian" flattered the young girl and made her a bit uncomfortable—

Because she was just a little villager, and "Miss" was a term only used by those gentlemanly nobles in the big cities.

So they really were city folk, from a big city.

Would people of their status still be willing to accept her commission?

Her confidence wavered again, but now that things had come this far, Vivian couldn't just give up halfway. She paused, nervously organizing her words before beginning her plea:

"It's like this—I urgently need some help to go deep into the forest—"

"No problem!"

The tables had turned.

This time, before Vivian could even finish her sentence, the girl's words were cut off by Big Watermelon.

Big Watermelon slapped his chest, agreeing without even knowing what the task was, while his friend beside him, the Melee God of Magic, went one step further—sporting a resolute expression that screamed "absolute obedience, I'll do whatever you say."

Since resistance was futile, they might as well accept it quickly and score some good impression points.

How did that old saying go?

Falling at the Witch's feet—

Nothing to be ashamed of!

"Ah, this..." The girl blinked, then looked left and right at the two of them.

Vivian's face was full of confusion.

Could Little Black's methods really be that effective?

But...

She hadn't even said anything yet, had she?

At the same time, although the scene was exactly what a drama-lover would enjoy, Liao Zixuan had no time to keep snacking on melon seeds, because the moment Vivian made up her mind and issued her request to the two Beta Testers—

A familiar translucent screen automatically appeared before his eyes.

[Do you wish to issue a quest to "One Big Watermelon" and "Melee God of Magic"?]