For some reason, seeing The Shorekeeper speak so gently and amiably actually made Aalto feel a bit uneasy inside!
Aalto: "Actually, what you guys don't know is that poisonous mushrooms and the like… won't have any effect on Encore at all."
Chat Group Members: "Are you kidding me? Red stalks, white caps, one bite and you're lying in a coffin… those are highly toxic mushrooms! ⦍AngryJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Camellya: "Hehe. Actually, Aalto isn't talking nonsense. That little girl Encore… as long as she believes it's not poisonous, then eating it definitely won't poison her. ⦍SmilingJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Cristoforo: "??? What kind of ability is this? Placebo effect on steroids? ⦍SurprisedJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Changli: "If she believes it's not poisonous, it won't be poisonous… It seems that the little girl is indeed very extraordinary!"
Sanhua: "And yet you people at the Black Shores still let her run around wild. I have to say, you guys are really carefree. ⦍SighingJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
The Shorekeeper: "So, did you all really think Aalto was just an ordinary merchant, Encore was just a cute little girl, and Camellya behind them was just traveling for fun?"
Aalto: "…(I'm not a shady merchant.) ⦍SighingJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Encore: "Shorekeeper Sister, is Encore not cute? ⦍ActingCuteJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Camellya: "Although my target isn't that little girl Encore, how could I let anyone bully her?"
Rover: "You're probably hoping some blind fool will pick on Encore, aren't you. Otherwise, how would you have a justifiable reason to unleash your inner twisted desires? ⦍Eye-RollingJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Camellya: "Heehee. As expected of you… You know exactly what's on my mind. ⦍WinksJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
.....
[ Meanwhile, in the video, even after hearing Verina report her actions, Encore still had a beaming smile on her face!
Verina: "Phew. Fortunately, I brewed a medicinal soup for her in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable…"
Encore: "Don't worry about Encore, Encore has eaten this kind of mushroom many times already!"
After saying this, the little girl excitedly raised both hands, her expression seemingly saying, "Hurry up and praise Encore!"
Except for Aalto, everyone in the group looked at the little girl with disbelief.
Yangyang: "But, little Encore, why did you run to such a dangerous place all by yourself?"
To Yangyang's question, Encore didn't answer immediately… instead, she looked at Aalto beside her.
As Aalto gave a subtle shake of his head, she thought about it for a moment but chose not to hide it, turning her gaze back to the Rover.
Encore: "Because… Encore wanted to keep an eye on this big brother!"
Aalto: "Ah, hahaha, kids watch too many strange things. Don't mind her, don't mind her…"
Encore: "Hey, Aalto? Didn't you send Encore there? Wait... Why are they all giving you the side eye?"
Sure enough, the way the others were looking at Aalto at this moment… was already like looking at a suspect.
Aalto: "Encore... Some things are better left unspoken, you know..."
Aalto: "Sigh, since things have come to this point, I have no choice but to tell you…"
Aalto: "We indeed came here for a reason, and that is—Let's go, Encore!"
Just as Aalto's voice fell, a smoke bomb was thrown by him, allowing him to slip away the moment everyone's vision was obscured.
Encore: "Hey, Aalto! Wait for meeee!"
Aalto's figure had already completely disappeared, and the little girl also trotted away, gradually vanishing from their sight.
Aalto: "Farewell, folks! We're busy saving the world!"
Chixia: "Cough cough... You damn bastard… stop right there!" ]
[ .....]
[ Ding! Triggering Special Challenge Event—Aalto's Hide-and-Seek Showdown! ]
[ This challenge will take place in a special arena. Guest Aalto will enter first and gain the ability to shapeshift freely. ]
[ Once Guest Aalto finishes transforming, ten random guests will be selected to enter the corresponding arena. Each person will have one chance to make an accusation after entering. ]
[ A correct accusation will grant a corresponding reward, while an incorrect accusation will trigger a corresponding trap. ]
[ During this time, if Guest Aalto is successfully identified, he will also receive a corresponding punishment. ]
[ If no one successfully identifies him after twenty-five minutes, Guest Aalto will receive an exclusive ⦍✦✦✦✦⦎ Golden Treasure Chest. ]
〜Exposure Chat Group〜
Aalto: "Huh? What on earth is this hide-and-seek? Ten people looking for just me… isn't this playing with me? ⦍CryingJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Encore: "Wow. It's hide-and-seek, Encore wants to play… Encore wants to play. ⦍ExcitedFaceJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Iuno: "The ability to shapeshift freely means he can turn into any object in that environment? How are we supposed to find him… ⦍FrowningJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Verina: "It doesn't look like it's going to be easy."
Augusta: "Don't think that a 10-on- 1 means the advantage is on our side. The difficulty of this challenge… depends entirely on how devious Mr. Aalto's thinking is."
Rover: "Simply put, it depends on whether Aalto's ideas are twisted enough. This is indeed going to be a bit tricky. ⦍PonderingJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Phoebe: "As long as we all work together, we will definitely find that smoke-bomb-throwing guy. ⦍ExcitedFaceJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Phoebe: "The Imperator will protect everyone and help us find Mr. Aalto. ⦍PraysJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Aalto: "Hey, hey, hey. Don't make me out to be some kind of big villain. ⦍FranticJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Zani: "It feels hard… extremely hard… much harder than catching those petty thieves. ⦍ShakesheadJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Scar: "Isn't this obviously just giving that guy named Aalto a free treasure chest? ⦍FrowningJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
Carlotta: "So, does that mean you guys from the Fractsidus won't participate in a bit?"
Phrolova, Cristoforo: "Scar's actions represent himself; please do not associate them with the entire Fractsidus, thank you."
Tacet Discord Army: "Finding people, we are professionals at that. ⦍Eye-ShiningJinhsi.jpeg⦎"
.....
[ Ding! Guest Aalto, please enter the challenge space ahead of time. ]
Along with the notification from the chat group, Aalto was directly teleported into a special area.
〜Void of Valor〜
It didn't look particularly large, but there was a dazzling array of miscellaneous items scattered everywhere.
Thus, the moment he entered, Aalto immediately began to contemplate what exactly he should transform into.