The Scoundrel's Leader, Alice

Shen Sui clutched his chest, sat up, and propped a pillow behind his back, finally easing the tightness in his chest.

Wait, I was only gone for a little while, right?

Alice, what exactly did you do? How did you end up as the leader of a bunch of thugs?

You didn't go bad, did you?

Or did something corrupt or assimilate you?

Shen Sui immediately dismissed that thought.

To ensure his soul card wouldn't suddenly break down, Shen Sui had hung a permanent passive Purification Card in another slot of the Star Super Magic Array, guaranteeing that Alice couldn't be affected by any Mental Magic or effects for a short time.

Swiping the Duel Instrument, Shen Sui wanted to see what Alice had been up to before.

[Alice advanced along the shore of Pa Yin Jia Lake toward the target you mentioned.]

[Alice encountered thugs. She used Fireball Spell. It was super effective!]

[The thugs surrounded Pa Yin Jia Lake. They seemed to have a special purpose.]

[Alice called out to you. You did not respond.]

[Alice launched a sneak attack and captured a thug. From the thug's mouth, Alice learned that all these thugs came from the City of Sin. They were searching Pa Yin Jia Lake for the legendary Spring Fish King Pai Jiade, a necessary offering for the Sinful Festival and the favorite fish of the God of Sin, Drodell. Whoever catches Pai Jiade will become one of the High Priests of the Sinful Festival.]

So the Spring Fish King is called Pai Jiade? The trash player, who only cared about completing the collection and never read the details, thought to himself.

I should have figured it out sooner. Back when I killed Drodell, I used the Spring Fish King as bait.

[The Storage Box you left by Pa Yin Jia Lake is now at the fishing spot on the lake, exactly where the thugs are fishing for Pai Jiade.]

[Alice called out to you again, asking for help.]

[You did not respond. Alice intended to retreat, but she remembered Anna, who was in dire straits.]

[Alice steeled her heart and put her little brain to work.]

[She walked toward the thugs, raised her staff, and proclaimed the arrival of the Flame Witch Hozeville.]

Fuck, you're just a second-tier Novice Magician, how do you have the guts to charge into a crowd alone? Shen Sui slapped his forehead.

Based on his understanding of Drodell from his past life in the game, the thugs described in the text were usually small fry who believed in Drodell, ranging from level 8 to level 12. Individually, they probably weren't a match for Alice, but thugs usually moved in groups. When he soloed a group of thugs in the game, he was around level thirty.

[The thugs were full of malice, but someone immediately said they had heard of the Flame Witch's reputation. She was a notoriously vicious criminal who had been active recently, killing many nobles and burning down their castles. According to her trail, she was indeed heading toward Pa Yin Jia Lake.]

[The thugs asked Alice about her purpose.]

[I am a loyal follower of Drodell, wishing to get close to the great lord. Alice answered, not hiding her covetousness for the Spring Fish King Pai Jiade.]

[The thugs believed Alice. Considering her deeds, they decided to accept her.]

[Ding! You have obtained Spell Card: Infiltration Disguise]

Shen Sui was speechless reading this part.

Although he felt that Alice's troublemaking earlier was indeed a bit outrageous, she was doing it out of kindness to punish evil and promote good, right? The ones she killed were all cruel nobles who oppressed the people, weren't they? How did the thugs lump her in with them?

No.

I shouldn't judge the good and evil of this world by modern values.

On the Dawn Continent, killing a noble is a grave crime. Alice is indeed a wanted criminal, no mistake.

[Alice successfully arrived beside your Storage Box.]

[The thug beside her introduced that this was a treasure left by the Twilight Bishop Claude. Legend said that only the most vicious criminal in the world could open this box and inherit the legacy of the Twilight Bishop Claude.]

[This place had also become a pilgrimage site for thugs. Every year, thugs from all over the world came here, trying to open the box and prove themselves the most evil and terrifying person in the world, second only to the Twilight Bishop.]

What kind of legend is that! How is it that only the most vicious criminal can open the box! My Storage Box can only be opened by me and people I authorize, okay! What's this "most evil and terrifying person in the world, second only to the Twilight Bishop"? How did this world's history slander me like this? I'm a hero who saved the people, alright!

[Alice nodded and casually opened the Storage Box. She had obtained your authorization and had the right to open the box.]

[Ding! You have obtained Equipment Spell Card: Beginner's Storage Ring]

[Ding! You have obtained Spell Card: Flame Curtain]

[Ding! You have obtained Spell Card: Blazing Fire]

In "Dawn Link," a Storage Box could generally hold thirty-six items.

And in this lakeside Storage Box, the vast majority were items Shen Sui had pulled from fishing chests. Among them, the ones that could be turned into Spell Cards were mostly low-tier equipment and skill books, along with plenty of minerals, gems, and fish.

[Alice reaped a rich harvest, and her feat shocked the surrounding thugs.]

[The thugs firmly believed in the legend of the box. As one of the few known surviving treasures of the Twilight Bishop Claude, this box had been authenticated by many powerful figures on the Dawn Continent.]

[Alice opened the box. She was the most evil and terrifying person in the legend.]

[Alice earned the thugs' reverence.]

Shen Sui's hands trembled as he picked up a glass of water nearby and took a couple of sips to calm himself.

Don't panic, don't panic. So far, it looks normal. Normal, my ass! My cute little Alice, after being left to her own devices for just half a day, has become an object of reverence for thugs!

[Alice began fishing for the Spring Fish King.]

[Alice caught a worn-out cloth shoe.]

[Alice fished up a set of Damaged Knight Armor.]

[Alice fished up Vivian's Match.]

[Ding! You obtained Equipment Spell Card: Vivian's Matchbox]

[Alice fished up Andrew's Staff.]

[Ding! You obtained Equipment Spell Card: Andrew's Staff]

Then came the barrage of Alice's fishing results—well, everything but fish. Shen Sui skimmed past these messages and went straight to the end.

[Ding! You obtained Spell Card: Air Force]

???

What the hell, you can get a Spell Card from catching nothing while fishing? As expected of you, Alice.

[Alice, furious and humiliated, snapped her fishing rod.]

[Alice's Little Mare felt bored and came to the lakeside to wash her beautiful tail.]

[A slight ripple stirred the lake surface. Something bit the mare's tail, and she let out a whinny.]

[Alice went to help and grabbed the culprit.]

[Alice obtained Spring Fish King Pai Jiade.]

[Ding! You obtained Follower Card: Fish King Jiade]