Desolate World

[You got 200 experience for eating a dew apple]

He got a notification after he finished a white-colored apple. It tasted more like a pear than an apple. After eating it, his body felt really fresh, just like after taking a bath.

It was one of the fruits and vegetables that had just been picked from the crystal garden. As one of the elders and the director of night guards, he got a lot of them every day. Well, everyone in the town got some of them every week. But, for some people, they would get them every day. They were Mars, the elders, and all elites.

Although the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the town was very large, somehow, the crystal garden could fulfill it. As the growth rate of plants in the world was already fast, but, the plants that were planted in the crystal garden would grow faster.

After the arrival of the elves. Mars had ordered some druids to join the goblins to turn the natural crystal garden to be more organized, so the production of plants in the garden could be increased.

So, the goblins and some druids started cleaning and arranging the garden. They cleaned unproductive plants like weeds and planted more useful plants. After that, the crystal garden became one of the main food sources besides hunting monsters and foraging resources from the forest.

Each product of the crystal garden was special, as they had various effects. However, there was a common characteristic of them. After you ate any of them, you would get some experience. The experiences that you got were varied based on their kinds, from 100 to 1,000 experiences.

So, Mars inserted the products that were harvested from the crystal garden as special products. They weren't allowed to circulate outside of Laketown. So it was impossible for them to be sold through the auction house.

Mars decided this regulation because although the production of them was abundant right now, it was mostly because only the townsmen that were around 3,000, who consumed them at the moment. Once they circulated outside, he worried that the amount wouldn't be enough for the townsmen. As the number of the inhabitants of the town would grow in the future, either from the guardians, or refugees.

In front of him were Aprilia the captain of the monster tamer unit, Jordan the leader of the shadow stalkers, and Noah. They were having their breakfast in the Nightglow restaurant.

On that day, the city core would be activated. So they were standby in the night guard's headquarters that was under the building of the restaurant, so they could get the updates from various outposts and surveillance spots immediately. 

Because of the large piece of land that Nightglow Guild occupied and its nearness to the town hall. The elders decided to build many birdhouses for the 'spy birds' there. From there, they would receive the news that was brought by the spy birds. Spy birds were the name that Aprilia gave to birds that had been domesticated.

As under the Nightglow restaurant was also Night guard's headquarters, many personnel of the town guards and night guards often were seen in the restaurant, either for having breakfast, lunch, or midnight meal. Besides its strategic location, the meals in the restaurant were known to be delicious.

Around Ace and the others were some elves, humans, shadows, etc. Even in the corner, where some bigger chairs and tables were placed, three figures were also having their breakfast. They were Eric, Erica, and Uriel. 

Besides ordering them to help the townsmen constructing the town. Ace also made them hunt monsters to increase their levels. Occasionally, Ace had meals with them and talked casually. It made them lower their guards to him. So, Ace could guide them bit by bit.

As everyone was preoccupied with their meals, an elf entered the door of the restaurant. He then walked hurriedly towards the table where Ace was sitting with other leaders.

The elf then said in front of them, "A new hourly update. No abnormality was found."

Ace nodded. He then said to the elf, "Good job. while you go back. Take the prepared breakfast from the kitchen for you and your friends."

"Yes, sir," The elf then left them and went to the kitchen,

Of course, Ace was not so generous to feed all of the personnel from his pocket. The town hall had given the guild fund for the needs of the night guards and several town guards.

"By the way, are you sure the light tower that became the characteristic of a settlement couldn't be seen by the undead?" Noah suddenly asked.

Ace then sighed, he then said, "Even if you ask me hundreds more times. The answers will be the same. I don't know. Even Aria —who created the city core— isn't sure. 

She said, normally, only the members of the race that constructed the settlement and the monsters that can see it. But, as our city core is special. As it can receive many races, make us unsure. In the end, we can only wait.

Isn't the reason we have prepared everything so we can anticipate any contingency? So, be calm. 

Even if the undead can see it, the shadows and the spy birds will immediately report to us. So, just enjoy your breakfast. 

We are ready with anything that will come."

Noah nodded and continued his breakfast. But anyone could immediately tell that he was still nervous from his expression.

What Noah worried about was one of the characteristics of the settlement after its city core was activated. A light tower will appear from the top of the barrier and was erected to the sky. Normally, only the members of the race that lived in the settlement and the monsters could see it. 

The function of the light tower was to tell the refugees from the same race that a settlement was created. And they could take shelter in it. Also to gather the monsters around the settlement, so guardians and the townsmen could level up near the town. And for some reason, the system would arrange the monsters with a certain pattern. While the weaker monsters would be roaming near the town and the farther away from the town, the levels of the monsters would be higher.

It was really similar to the RPG game setting.

But, because their town's city core was special, they didn't know what would happen. There was a possibility that all races could see the light tower. If it happened, Laketown would have faced a war on the first day it was founded.

After having their breakfast, Noah and many other people left the restaurant. They were preparing for the ceremony that would be held in an hour. 

Some people had already come to the plaza to witness the historical moment for their town. As for the others still doing their jobs, and would come when the time almost came.

However, Ace couldn't leave the guild. He must stand by in the building, anticipating if some abnormalities happened. He could only go to the rooftop to look at the situation in the plaza.

Accompanied by Aprilia, Jordan, and Eric's group, Ace was seeing more and more people come to the plaza.

"It seems no one wants to miss the ceremony. But maybe it is for the best. The more townsmen came, the less we have to worry if something happens," Jordan said.

"Yes. By the way, where are the shadows? I can't find them," Aprilia asked.

"Maybe they are late. Or they are already there," Jordan said with a smile.

Aprilia could just look at him, and seemed to be puzzled.

"He implied that they are waiting in the shadow," Ace said while smiling.

Aprilia is then nodded. She seemed to understand what Ace meant.

As time passed, more and more townsmen arrived at the plaza. Ace even could find his son, Cloud, and his wife among the crowd.

As for his brother, he couldn't find him. However, he knew that he should be on the town wall. He and the combat personnel of the guild were on guard above the town wall with the on-duty town guards.

At least, they would be on guard for these 24 hours. Of course, they were on guard not just to the undead or the monsters' attack. But, also for the guardians' arrival. 

As Ace and his family knew that the starting point of guardians from C rarity and above would be outside of the town. They would 'save' them if needed. 

As for the guardians whose rarity E and D, the other personnel would be standby in the guild house and the plaza to take care of them. They would show their hospitality and invite them to join the guild. While telling them the benefits that they would get, if they join the guild.

Ace and his family took the first day of the guardians' appearance seriously. Because they believed that, the first impression was important. If they succeeded in attracting many guardians on the first day, the next process would be easier. The older guardians could show the new ones the guild's treatment to them.

Yes. Ace, Sampson, and Sofia had arranged quests and activities that would benefit greatly to the new guardian. They were sure, many of the new guardians would be interested in joining the Nightglow Guild.

Ace then heard hurried footsteps from the stairs. He then saw one of the elves that were in charge of spy birds ran toward them with a serious expression.

It made Ace worried that something had happened.

***