Chapter 676 – Dreamweaver World 14

In short, Old Groot, as the village chief of Greenwood Village, was powerful and deeply respected by the Dryad, yet had an absolutely abysmal reputation among adventurers.

The quests he posted either demanded the collection of rare materials or required long hours tending to temperamental plants and animals, while the rewards were always pitifully stingy.

The forum guides even had a specific note: “Unless absolutely necessary, accepting Old Groot’s quests is not recommended.”

But for Mo Lan at this moment, this greedy old man was practically a tailor-made shortcut.

She lightly leaped onto the rope ladder beside the great tree at the village entrance and scrambled up in a few swift moves, reaching the vine bridge more than twenty meters above the ground.

Even though Greenwood Village wasn’t particularly popular among adventurers, there were still a few resting here after completing quests.

Mo Lan’s signature newbie-white-slate nightgown, paired with her unnaturally agile movements, attracted the attention of two Beast Speakers.

“That climbing speed… I’ve learned the climbing skill and still can’t match it. She’s definitely an elite prospect from Federal special training.”

“She’s probably heading to the liaison point to pick up resources. Once she swaps into a proper outfit, who’d even know she’s a newbie?”

“Let’s follow and see! Let’s find out what goodies the Federation gives its elites…”

The two Beast Speakers transformed into squirrels and sneakily tailed her, only to stand dumbfounded at the next corner.

Mo Lan hadn’t gone toward the liaison point flying the Federation flag. Instead, she headed straight for the village chief’s treehouse.

“She’s actually going to see that cheapskate?!” The gray-furred squirrel was so shocked its tail puffed out. “When I first arrived, I didn’t believe the warnings either. The old geezer had posted a quest called ‘A Loved One’s Longing,’ and I saw the reward listed as ‘A Loved One’s Keepsake.’ Figured I might get a piece of equipment. Worked my tail off searching the forest for a moonlight orchid to complete the quest, and the ‘Loved One’s Keepsake’ turned out to be a sock carrying the scent of his father — in other words, a stinky sock!”

“Tsk tsk, this is going to be good!” The brown-furred squirrel excitedly clutched its own tail.

By now, Mo Lan was already standing before the treehouse door carved with vine patterns.

The moment her knock landed, the wooden door was yanked open and Old Groot’s face — covered in bark-like wrinkles — poked out.

The old man’s eyes, upon seeing her shabby newbie gear, immediately clouded over with disappointment.

“A new adventurer?” He curled his lip, his root-like beard twitching with impatience. “I don’t have any quests suitable for you here. Go find those little runts in the village — groom their fur, water their plants or something!”

Mo Lan smiled faintly and slowly opened her palm face-up. A dream silver coin shimmering with silvery light gleamed in her hand, its reflection causing Old Groot’s pupils to contract sharply.

“Mr. Groot, I heard you recently lost some dream coins?” Her voice carried just the right hint of hesitation. “I found this dream silver coin at the village entrance and thought it might be yours, so I brought it over to show you…”

The old man’s expression completed an instant transformation from disdain to ecstasy. “That’s right! That’s mine!”

He snatched the silver coin with lightning speed, rubbed it on his sleeve, then kissed it lovingly several times before carefully tucking it into the bulging coin pouch at his waist.

As for whether he had actually lost any money — that wasn’t important! As long as the coin ended up in his pocket, all was well.

Thanks to this dream silver coin, even this weak and penniless newbie adventurer looked a bit more agreeable to him now.

【Old Groot Affinity +10】

Seeing the notification pop up on her panel, Mo Lan felt slightly reassured, though she couldn’t help grumbling internally:

“This old geezer really is as outrageously stingy as the forum guides say. I toss him a dream silver coin, and all I get is a measly 10 affinity points. Not even a polite thank-you, let alone any real reward.”

Still, 10 affinity points was far too little.

Although Mo Lan had the means to craft dream coins, she had no intention of feeding Old Groot’s greed.

Her eyes shifted, and she said with an air of mystery: “Mr. Groot, I actually have a special talent for finding lost items. If you’d be willing to sign a residency guarantor letter for me, making me a member of the Dryad, I can help you recover all your other lost dream coins…”

Old Groot’s cloudy eyes darted around rapidly as he quickly caught on. A cunning expression surfaced on his wrinkled face, and he made a show of stroking his beard:

“Well now… I did also lose a dream gold coin. Can you find that for me?”

“Are you offering me a quest?”

Mo Lan let just the right amount of pleasant surprise show on her face, while sneering inwardly.

This old fox was crafty indeed. The first dream silver coin had been merely a test of the waters, and now he wanted to get something for nothing.

Without a formal quest as guarantee, she wasn’t about to be foolish enough to hand over more money.

Seeing that Mo Lan wasn’t taking the bait, Old Groot cursed under his breath and reluctantly pulled up the quest panel.

With a shimmer of light, a new quest invitation popped up:

【Accept quest “The Lost Gold Coin”?】

Mo Lan opened the details for a careful look:

【Quest: The Lost Gold Coin】

【Difficulty: Easy】

【Description: Help poor Old Groot find his lost dream gold coin.】

【Rewards: Groot Affinity +50, Residency Guarantor Letter ×1, Experience ×50, Little Groot’s Treasure】

This reward list was exactly as she had expected.

The affinity and guarantor letter were what she had specifically asked for, and 50 experience was the system’s minimum guarantee for easy quests.

The only change was that the 5 dream copper coins that should have been part of the reward had been replaced with so-called “Little Groot’s Treasure” — most likely some piece of junk the miser had dug out from some forgotten corner.

Mo Lan had intended to spend money to save time anyway, so she didn’t mind. Anyone else wouldn’t have been as shameless as Old Groot!

“I accept.” Mo Lan clicked confirm without hesitation.

As the quest officially activated, she pulled a gleaming dream gold coin from her bag and waved it before the old man’s suddenly widened eyes. “Is this the one?”

Old Groot’s breathing immediately grew ragged, his bark-like hands trembling as they reached for the gold coin. “Yes, yes, yes! That’s it! My dear gold coin…”

The moment the gold coin landed in Old Groot’s hands, Mo Lan received the quest completion notification.

【Quest “The Lost Dream Gold Coin” completed. Rewards: Groot Affinity +50, Residency Guarantor Letter ×1, Experience ×50, Little Groot’s Treasure】

Mo Lan glanced at “Little Groot’s Treasure.” It was a small pebble. The item description read: “A little pebble that Groot treasured most as a child.”

“…”

Not surprising in the slightest!

Fortunately, what she truly wanted was already in hand.

Groot’s affinity had reached 60, and she had obtained the residency guarantor letter.

She took out the residency guarantor letter. “Mr. Groot, here is my residency guarantor letter. Could you please officiate the race-change ceremony for me? Also, could I trouble you to help procure the materials needed for the ceremony?”

(End of Chapter)