Chapter 687 – Dreamweaver World 25

Chapter 687 – Dreamweaver World 25

The moment Vixi said this, Mo Lan’s eyes lit up.

Persuading others might not be easy, but when it came to “buying off” that greedy Village Chief Groot, it was practically child’s play for her.

After bidding farewell to her enthusiastic dream citizen classmates, Mo Lan once again arrived outside Village Chief Groot’s treehouse.

This time she didn’t rush to knock on the door. Instead, she first transformed into her Shadow Cat form and silently circled the treehouse.

Through the half-open window, she could clearly see Old Groot sitting at a desk piled high with ledgers, his fingers ceaselessly flicking counting stones while he muttered calculations under his breath.

Mo Lan leaped onto the windowsill and extended a paw to tap on the window.

Old Groot looked up. “Shoo, shoo, shoo! Go play somewhere else, don’t bother me while I’m doing the accounts!”

All he could tell was that this wasn’t a Shadow Cat created through a skill book Transfiguration. He assumed some dream citizen had learned a new animal transformation and had come to show off.

“It’s me!” Mo Lan had no choice but to use Human Speech, and fearing he wouldn’t remember, she added, “Moira.”

“You?” How could Groot possibly forget her! He’d spent the past few days busy collecting skill books from other villagers, and right now he was calculating how to sell them to her for maximum profit!

Wait—her Transfiguration was clearly not the rigid skill book variety that adventurers used!

“You… how did you learn the Shadow Cat Transformation?”

“From a skill book, of course! But I’ve discovered that the village Instructors’ transformation classes are far better than what the skill books teach. I’d like to purchase a complete course schedule for all of the village’s transformation classes, along with a profile of each Instructor’s preferences.

If you could act as a middleman and let me attend the Instructors’ classes just like the other dream citizens, I would be extremely grateful—and I’d immediately help you recover that lost dream crystal coin of yours.”

As she spoke, Mo Lan pulled a dream crystal coin from her backpack and idly batted it around with her cat paw.

The moment the dream crystal coin appeared, Groot’s gaze locked onto it and refused to budge. “Well, the thing is… the transformation classes are specifically prepared for the village’s young people, and the Instructors’ information can’t just be disclosed to anyone…”

Mo Lan produced another dream crystal coin. The two coins clinked together with a crisp ring. “My ability to find ‘dream coins’ is beyond your imagination. But if you’re too greedy, I suppose I could always go have a look around other villages and towns.”

Groot’s breath caught. He’d actually been ready to agree all along—he was just trying to squeeze out a bit more. He hastily changed his tune. “…However, for such a diligent and studious adventurer as yourself, proper guidance is certainly warranted. Although you weren’t born and raised here as a dream citizen, you are registered in our Greenwood Village. As long as you make some contributions to the village, you can attend the transformation classes just like the village youth.”

【Accept quest “Lost Gold Coins 3”?】

A quest invitation popped up on Mo Lan’s adventurer panel.

【Lost Gold Coins 3】

【Difficulty: Normal】

【Description: Greenwood Village has lost five precious dream crystal coins. Please help the village recover them.】

【Rewards: Greenwood Village Affinity +30, Greenwood Village Honorary Badge, Greenwood Village Youth Course Schedule, Greenwood Village Transformation Instructor Profiles, Experience ×100, Groot’s Good Helper】

Although the dream crystal coins had jumped from two to five, Mo Lan was still tempted when she saw what the rewards contained.

After she had converted to Dryad, her Greenwood Village affinity was already at 50. Adding another 30 would bring it to 80. Greenwood Village’s affinity could influence the initial favorability of Greenwood Village residents toward her. That alone meant that even if she barged into a village classroom, she probably wouldn’t be thrown out on the spot.

Not to mention the Greenwood Village Honorary Badge, which would make Greenwood Village residents treat her as one of their own.

The course schedule and instructor profiles she’d originally wanted were also included. A few extra dream crystal coins hardly felt like a loss.

When Groot saw her hesitate without speaking, he assumed she thought the price was too steep. He even pulled out the honorary badge to show her.

“An honorary badge! Wearing this makes you just like the village youngsters—you can attend any class you want. As long as you don’t cause trouble, they absolutely won’t kick you out!”

He turned around and pulled a bark scroll from the bookshelf. “This is the course schedule that every young dream citizen in Greenwood Village gets a copy of. It has the arrangements for all official courses, including times, locations, and instructor introductions…”

Then, with an air of mystery, he fished out a small notebook from deep within a drawer. “And this one records each Instructor’s preferences. For example, Instructor Dael loves crystal sand from the bottom of Moonlight Lake, and Grandpa Brandon is always short on premium humus soil… This is something only I have. Absolutely authentic and reliable. This is how I convinced the village’s transformation masters to teach the younger generation in the first place!”

Mo Lan accepted the quest, then hopped down from the window and shifted back to human form, holding five dream crystal coins in her hand. “Here!”

Groot snatched up the dream crystal coins and held them before his eyes, inspecting them against the sunlight. “Heavens! They really are dream crystal coins!”

Mo Lan casually tossed Groot one more dream crystal coin. “If any new courses open up in the future…”

“You’ll be the first to know!” Old Groot caught the coin, the wrinkles on his face scrunching into a beaming flower. “Oh, and if you run into any problems during the transformation classes, you can always come ask me! Of course, there would be a modest… information fee… My transformation skills are every bit as good as the Instructors’. I just don’t have time to teach the youngsters because I’m usually busy with village affairs.”

“Deal!” Mo Lan tucked away the course schedule and instructor profiles, pinned the Greenwood Village Honorary Badge to the most visible spot on her chest, and finally handed back the “Groot’s Good Helper” from the rewards. “You can keep this one!”

“These are the counting stones I’ve used the longest!” Old Groot looked heartbroken. “I specially and carefully picked them out for you!”

“…” Counting stones worn smooth and shiny from years of handling—Mo Lan wanted absolutely nothing to do with them. “My backpack has no room. You’d better keep using them yourself!”

Afraid he’d bring up the counting stones again, Mo Lan changed the subject. “I don’t suppose you’ve gotten any new skill books in stock?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Groot hurriedly opened his shop panel. “I’ve gathered one copy of every skill book available in the village, and there’s also a Forest Warden profession invitation…”

Mo Lan glanced at the prices, then pointed at her chest. “This honorary badge isn’t fake, is it?”

“How could it be!” Groot said. “I crafted it personally. You’re the very first adventurer to receive one!”

“Then why are you still ripping me off?” Mo Lan tapped her finger on his shop panel.

This guy had secretly jacked up the prices again!

“…” Old Groot’s face was the picture of guilt. “Ahem, my mistake. Forgot to adjust the prices!”

Trying to squeeze even one more dream coin out of her—what a struggle that was!