Seeing... a ghost?
Youyu felt a bit puzzled by Xue Lang's statement but didn't think it was impossible.
After all, in the Yu-Gi-Oh World, there is truly nothing you cannot encounter. The world's system includes the Netherworld, gods and demons, magic, aliens, and other dimensions. So, it's not surprising that there are ghosts.
However, even if Xue Lang did encounter a ghost, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Because whether it involves gods, aliens, or fierce ghosts, in the Yu-Gi-Oh system, there's a basic rule—nothing can't be solved by playing cards.
Xue Lang began to narrate the sequence of events to him.
After parting ways with Youyu earlier, he started wandering the streets, picking up small daily tasks, engaging in card games with passersby, trying to trigger a hidden mission.
Since most of the supernatural forces in Yu-Gi-Oh are related to "darkness," villains often like to lurk in the darkest and quietest corners to devour people's souls. So, after nightfall, Xue Lang intentionally ran through the darkest and most desolate alleys.
Youyu was speechless when he heard this. In all his years of gaming, it was the first time he heard of someone triggering a mission like this.
This reminded him of a post he saw on a forum where some guy boasted about getting bored with ordinary people and wanting to try a ghost girl, but despite wandering late at night, he never bumped into a ghost, leaving him quite frustrated...
Most people who want to trigger a plot carefully study the storyline, analyze and solve puzzles, and increase favorability with specific NPCs. However, Xue Lang's method seemed more like a baiting approach, relying on his incredible luck to do as he pleased.
What? A hidden mission?
Can't you just wander around the streets and come across one?
In his previous life, Youyu had no respect for these extremely lucky European players. Especially whenever he opened a card pack and got nothing or wasted money, he would, like countless other African players, furiously shout something like "Stupid European dogs should eat shit."
But now things were different.
Now he felt his mindset had broadened significantly, genuinely wishing every player the best of luck, hoping they'd find a UR card by walking around.
After all, now, whatever the players owned was pretty much equivalent to his.
...Of course, what was his still remained his, that's a basic principle.
"...On the bridge over the river in that part of town," Xue Lang continued, "As I was crossing the bridge, I heard someone calling me, saying something like 'come over here.'
Even though the voice was faint, I'm certain I didn't mishear it. I looked around several times and was sure I was the only one there, not another living soul."
You have to say, this does indeed have a bit of a supernatural taste.
"Then what?" Youyu's interest piqued.
At the same time, his mind began to race, trying hard to recall if there was such a quest in the early game of his previous life.
But he just couldn't remember.
The Linked World game had way too many side quests, and those with small-scale plots that had no impact on the main storyline and offered mediocre rewards wouldn't even be noticed by anyone.
"Then... then I just turned around and ran..."
Youyu: "?"
You ran?
You stumbled upon a hidden quest... and just turned around and ran?
"Because I was scared," Xue Lang said with some embarrassment, "I've been scared of these supernatural things ever since I was a kid..."
Youyu: "..."
If it were anyone else, it might be understandable, but you're a player, what are you afraid of!
Not to mention that in the Yu-Gi-Oh World, even ghosts aren't necessarily scary (after all, most of the time, you still need to duel), and even if you die, so what? In a few hours, you'll be back on your feet again, right?
Yes, in Linked World, if a player dies, they must wait for several hours of cooldown to revive.
Though it sounds a bit annoying, you rarely need to use this feature. After all, it's a card game, and generally, you don't die during gameplay.
Only under special circumstances, such as in life-and-death duels including "Dark Duels," do you die if you lose.
So, actually, villains engaging in Dark Duels with players is quite a disadvantage for them. To them, it's real life and death; but for players, they're only wagering a few hours without being able to log into the game...
However, the number of resurrections per week is limited for players, with only three times. Once they're used up, that's it.
It may seem few, but it's actually quite enough. After all, it's a card game, and you don't often need to spend lives.
"Lead the way," Youyu stood up from behind the counter, "I'll go take a look with you."
Xue Lang was overjoyed.
Youyu-san is indeed a good guy... no, a good NPC!
Based on the players' online game experience, an NPC joining in a team quest is either a special hindrance, created to forcibly increase the game's difficulty; or they're a super boss where players don't have to do anything with their help.
Xue Lang was quite sure that Youyu must be the latter type of NPC.
He was increasingly convinced he'd struck gold meeting a rare NPC, one who could directly help him soar and surpass other players by several versions.
You won't believe it; he's helping me with hidden quests!
"Chinai, I'm heading out for a bit," Youyu said as he greeted her.
"So late?" Chinai's beautiful eyes showed a hint of surprise, especially at the sight of Xue Lang beside Youyu, and she eyed them with curiosity, "With him?"
Her little mind must have been wondering—what are two grown men doing going out in the middle of the night?
"Something came up, and I might be back very late," Youyu explained, "Don't wait for me."
"...Okay."
...
The place Xue Lang mentioned was in another part of town, a bit far away, and it took them a while to get there.
A steel and concrete bridge spanned the rushing river, with the black water flowing endlessly under the night sky.
It's said that this river was a channel formed by the seawater surging in, and the river's breadth wasn't that wide. In the past, before the city was built, there was a wooden bridge here, but since it was in disrepair for years, no one dared to use it anymore.
Later, it was the all-capable Kaiba Company that initiated construction, demolishing the old wooden bridge, and erecting this solid, modern bridge, reconnecting the two sides of the river.
"It's right here!" Xue Lang affirmed, "This is where I heard the voice."
Earlier on, Xue Lang freaked out and ran away when he came here, but now things were different.
After all... he was a man with a solid backup!
Xue Lang suddenly felt capable again, striding forward with confidence, as if acknowledging no one.
Ha, so what if there's a ghost?
After all, this is the Yu-Gi-Oh World, where card battles reign supreme.
No matter how strong a ghost is, could it possibly outmatch the card skills of the guy named You beside me?
Hidden quest, here I come!
Just as he was savoring the thought, he suddenly stopped, letting out a wail.
It sounded like a sleeping cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Because at that moment, a string of glaring red words appeared before Xue Lang.
[The test phase is about to end, and there is one minute left until forced logout. Please make preparations, players.]