Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Seabird and the White Puppeteer

To avoid affecting ordinary people and compromising privacy, the Day Tour Society’s Baihe Branch skyscraper was built on the outskirts of Baihe District rather than in the bustling city center.

Nearby stood two other towers still under construction. These were not ordinary buildings. After learning relevant skills in-game, players with the Hammer profession were now trying to combine the game’s magical powers with modern architecture to construct high-defense skyscrapers.

Of course, the two fifty-story towers were not yet complete and didn’t offer much defense; further construction was required.

Morningstar’s white dove perched on the window ledge of the left building.

Within the dove’s line of sight stood a spectator.

He was at the very top of the tower, feeling the fierce wind, looking down upon the battle between the Angler Yu Xian and the Phantom Thief as if watching a play.

This young man, with bronzed skin and about thirty years of age, gave off the air of a sailor. He wore a deep blue jacket with many pockets and had several tool pouches tied around his waist.

His mature face was marked with deep nasolabial folds, his stubble unshaven. From the pocket on his chest, a little sparrow poked out its head.

The youth’s brown eyes locked with the dove’s. The icy gaze was less unfriendly than simply unreadable—he was someone who kept every emotion hidden deep within.

Although Morningstar had never met him, he felt an odd sense of déjà vu. Was it from TV, or a newspaper? The feeling was strong.

Suddenly, a flash of insight: Morningstar had seen him on the Day Tour Society’s forum.

In Daxia, there were thirty special-grade players—counting even those who had gone missing.

Special-grade players were the pinnacle among Wanderers.

Unlike other organizations of supernaturals, because calamities appeared randomly across the world and players were so rare, many special-grade players were not managers within organizations but instead roamed the world as travelers.

On the Day Tour Society’s forum, which revered strength, the most popular posts—besides countless newbie guides—were gossip and combat analysis about special-grade players.

Morningstar quickly opened the forum app on his phone and searched for posts.

As expected, the man before him was a special-grade player, hailed as Daxia’s strongest beast tamer—Seabird.

Seabird, male, from New City’s 6th District, level estimated to be over fifteen.

His real name, abilities, and birthplace were all top-level secrets. He was skilled at summoning all kinds of avian beasts for battle.

His rise to fame was single-handedly sailing a speedboat into the open sea, summoning thousands of exotic birds in the midst of raging waves, and slaying a calamity-polluted triangular giant shark.

Some forum threads claimed Seabird’s ordinary sister had once been kidnapped by the Butcher from the Holy Catastrophe Society; her fate remained unknown.

He held a deep hatred for the Butcher’s people, and if any fell into his hands, their fate would be terrifying.

Such was a special-grade player…

From the outside, he looked simply like an ordinary young man with a hint of mature melancholy.

Morningstar’s white dove’s eye observed him as closely as possible, noting many things hidden beneath the heavy blue jacket.

Suddenly, Seabird reached into his jacket pocket and took out his phone.

What was he going to do? Summon something to Earth?

A cold sweat broke out on Morningstar’s brow. Some masters could trace a player’s real body through similarities in spiritual energy.

However, the White Dove’s Eye was a piece of equipment—tracking its user this way wouldn’t be easy.

But this was a special-grade player!

A flash of light—Morningstar was stunned. This didn’t seem to be a special artifact.

Wait… He just took a photo.

He hadn’t expected that Seabird had simply taken out his phone to snap a picture of his white dove.

After finishing, Seabird murmured to himself, “Today I got another nice bird photo. I’m happy.”

He put away his phone, shifted his gaze from the dove, and looked toward someone else across the way.

“Li, what do you think? If we team up and set a time, we could greatly increase our safety on the Cocoon Train. I also hope to complete the circuit surgery there.”

There was someone else…

Startled, Morningstar made the dove feign fright from the flash and fly up, giving him a chance to see Seabird’s counterpart.

On the other building opposite, another figure crouched, crimson eyes fixed intently on Seabird’s bird.

But this person was entirely different from Seabird. Though Seabird was a special-grade player, his attire was a simple, old blue jacket, aside from the bird in his pocket—quite normal.

Across from him, however, was someone with short white hair and red eyes, standing over six foot three, dressed in a white suit, with a finely crafted black antique coffin strapped to their back.

Their skin was pale, their face doll-like, with white eyelashes and scarlet eyes—evoking an uncanny feel of a vampire noble.

This was the first time Morningstar had seen a player with such a striking appearance in real life.

The character was easily recognizable; he quickly found their identity on the forum.

Another special-grade player—White Puppeteer, Li.

White Puppeteer Li, real name unknown, gender unknown.

The hottest topic about the White Puppeteer on the forum was their gender and whether that stunning, supermodel body was human or a puppet.

Forum information suggested the White Puppeteer was a distinctly solitary player.

After being protected by the Day Tour Society in its early days and opening a forum account, they gained strength but chose not to join headquarters, instead traveling and fighting alone.

Morningstar thought to himself that he would most likely choose the same path in the future.

The White Puppeteer did not actively attack the Holy Catastrophe Society and, as a player, was considered a peacemaker, shrouded in mystery.

However, many speculated that the Puppeteer still hated the Holy Catastrophe Society—because they had once been killed by them.

Leaning against the wall, Morningstar couldn’t help but marvel: Such a small branch, yet now it gathered four players of special-grade strength!

Li’s crimson gaze locked onto Morningstar’s dove, and they spoke in a light, neutral voice: “Seabird, you do realize this white dove is a reconnaissance tool, don’t you? There’s a player behind it, yet you’re discussing our future movements in front of it.”

So they’d noticed… Morningstar looked at the distant lights, but it was only natural—these were well-traveled special-grade players.

“So, it’s a scouting tool? Deceived my feelings…” Seabird’s expression didn’t change. After a second’s pause, he said, “Of course I know it’s a reconnaissance item. We’re not discussing anything private—just the Spinning Train. All that info is on the forum. Even if everyone knows, how many can actually get there? In such a dangerous place, having a few more sane players is a good thing, isn’t it?”

Li considered, grasped the coffin handle with one hand, and stood. “Don’t think players are all kindhearted. Haven’t you played single-player games? Players can be ruthless. The Spinning Train is indeed dangerous, but I must go—for better skills. The operator of this dove could be that Tracer, Chen Shi, or one of the two newcomers.”

Seabird raised his hand and forced a stiff smile. “Hello, fellow bird lover.”

Good evening, but my little white dove cannot speak, Morningstar mused, stroking his chin.

The Spinning Train? What was that?

From their conversation, it appeared to be the name of a dangerous dungeon.

The two seemed to be discussing forming a party for a dungeon run.

Morningstar’s white dove looked down toward the street below.

Boom, boom, boom!

While these two discussed dungeon raiding, the street below erupted with the sharp sounds of destruction.

The Phantom Thief and the Angler were locked in fierce combat. The cement street was riddled with craters, and smashed cars littered the scene.

Would you two care to intervene?