The third time is this [Scholar] advancement quest. (Continued)

Because Adrian had deliberately held back, the Spiritual Pressure he had just unleashed affected no creatures beyond the Sea Kings living near the Sea Forest.

A few particularly alert people on Fish-Man Island might have sensed the towering aura rising from the Sea Forest, but they would never rashly tell every resident about it.

"So, Mr. Adrian, are you absolutely sure you didn't encounter a powerful opponent?"

Queen Otohime, her lovely face full of sincerity, put the question to Adrian.

Born with a special form of Observation Haki, Queen Otohime had the keenest senses on Fish-Man Island. She had naturally felt the immense aura that had just erupted from the Sea Forest.

Remembering that White Ghost had gone to the Sea Forest earlier, Queen Otohime immediately realized who had caused it.

Adrian glanced sideways at the sign hanging outside the Mermaid Cafe and replied with a straight face.

"Queen Otohime, you can trust me to handle things."

Inside the Mermaid Cafe.

Through the smooth glass window, several mermaids, some youthful and radiant, others mature and alluring, winked at Adrian while discreetly pointing toward the sign by the entrance.

It read:

[Your first mermaid milk tea of autumn.]

[Half price for two.]

[One, a vertical stroke, up, stop, correct... correct, correct, correct...]

While the players were happily immersed in their daily virtual gaming, an official update notice suddenly appeared on the Player Forum and was immediately pinned as a featured post.

The unexpected announcement caught the players completely off guard.

Yet in less than a minute, replies to the post passed ten thousand and kept climbing at a frantic pace.

"First!"

"Posting to claim my spot!"

"This game has a company? (grin)"

In short, the announcement said the version 1.0 update would begin at dawn, five days from now in