Chapter 1253: 402. Access System_2

[Simple detection completed.]

[The “Starry Sea” game system has identified you as a “Boss-Level” NPC, and now provides you with the task operating interface for this level NPC.]

A strange and novel interface unfolded in Noland Lee’s mind.

From top to bottom, the content on this interface was in the following order:

Task name, Task difficulty, Task details, Task restrictions, Task reward.

Filling out these five entries would allow him to issue tasks to players.

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However, Noland Lee didn’t need to fill it out manually.

According to the gaze information on the interface, the words he spoke to the players would automatically convert into the content of the task interface and be transmitted to the players.

The types and strengths of tasks that Boss-Level NPCs could initiate far exceeded those of ordinary NPCs.

From letting players help him defeat a monster to having players collect massive amounts of materials, all were within Noland Lee’s authority to initiate.

Moreover, the number of players participating in the task was unlimited.

That is to say, he could now issue a task to the player commander to gather an army for himself.

But compared to a Death Artifact, such a task, which was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and required many people, was obviously far more difficult than the reward warranted.

When players received such a task, they would most likely choose to negotiate, or even refuse.

Noland Lee thought for a moment and had a specific idea in mind.

The player commander, named Refreshing Cucumber Slice, thought there was a problem with the content translated by his universal translator as the little boss remained silent, and was fiddling with the iron box in his hand.

Noland Lee lifted his arm, making a creaking sound, causing Refreshing Cucumber Slice to shiver slightly and involuntarily become nervous.

“You woke me up from my deep sleep…”

Noland Lee spoke in an ancient and deep tone.

Thanks to the “Universal Communication Technique” being active, the Ulnas Circle language used by Noland Lee was transmitted perfectly to the humanoids present.

The players were surprised to find that this little boss was not using the Prayer for the Dead’s language but a mysterious language that, although very unfamiliar, they could understand.

The players couldn’t help feeling a chill, sensing that the boss’s prestige was far greater than they imagined.

Even the player commander’s expression became serious, his eyes flickering with anticipation.

As the player commander, his experience was certainly the richest among the team.

Situations like this, where a boss is ostensibly a Prayer Elite Monster but does not use the Prayer for the Dead’s language, could only mean one thing!

It very likely involved a hidden storyline.

And hidden storylines, often correspond to hidden tasks and unique rewards.

Noland Lee, seeing Refreshing Cucumber Slice looking puzzled, knew his actions had taken effect.

Next, it was up to him to explain his identity clearly and then initiate a task to the players.

Noland Lee continued, speaking slowly and distantly: noveldrama

“The ancient disasters are not yet quelled, why do you fight?”

His voice echoed through the vast treasure room, creating series of reverberations.

Refreshing Cucumber Slice frowned, clearly not expecting the little boss to ask such a seemingly pretentious question.

Why fight?

Of course, it was for legendary items, massive experience, and hidden occupations, wasn’t it obvious? Was it also for the happiness and fulfillment of the universe’s population?

Refreshing Cucumber Slice carefully chose his words, wanting to express their desire for wealth in a tactful way, so as to answer the NPC’s question in a civilized and presentable manner.

At this moment, a young female voice emerged from the combat cabin:

“Captain, Captain, don’t forget the ancient books we discovered when running errands collecting storyline clues earlier.”

“Ancient books?” Refreshing Cucumber Slice turned his head thoughtfully toward the combat cabin, and then as if awakening from a dream, he said:

“Oh! Right right right! Ancient books! This is a storyline-driven mechanistic boss! Strawberry Juice, it’s up to you. You answer the boss’s question. You’re the best at delving into storylines.”

“Hiss—” The cabin door opened.

A female player named Sweet Strawberry Juice just stepped out.

She wore power armor that had been repaired several times, slightly bulky in profile, but her graceful and affable facial features visible inside the helmet remained unaffected by the worn armor.

With just a simple assessment, Noland Lee confirmed she was a player who paid attention to detail, had strong empathy, and particularly enjoyed delving into the plot of the game.

After stepping out of the cabin door, Strawberry Juice took off the metallic backpack from her back and placed it on the ground to open it.

The backpack was filled with ancient fragments sealed in various bottles and jars, along with several thick stacks of ancient books.

Strawberry Juice picked up an ancient book, flipped it open to a certain page expertly, and then held it up for Noland Lee to see.

The page featured an illustration depicting a bizarre interstellar ship sailing through outer space.

Unlike the oceanic battleship-like appearance of technologically advanced interstellar ships, the ship in the illustration resembled a long boot.

Taking a deep breath, Strawberry Juice summoned the courage to speak,

“Honored Excellency, what I am showing you now is a legendary interstellar ship crafted by the Prayer for the Dead. It is said that its power source comes from the wails of lost souls. Wherever it passes, a widespread disaster of death erupts, leaving corpses everywhere overnight.”

As Strawberry Juice spoke, she constantly watched Noland Lee’s expression.

Noland Lee’s face, still in the shape of a skeleton, showed no fluctuations.

Seeing this, Strawberry Juice wasn’t discouraged; instead, her eyes lit up with some deductions.

Normally, a highly intelligent minor boss, when seeing its own race’s interstellar ship, would likely recite a few lines boasting about how formidable the Prayer for the Dead’s death ship was, right?

But now, the minor boss sitting on the Death Artifact and blocking the path remained unmoved, and the language it used previously was not that of the Prayer for the Dead.

What did these two points together imply?

Seasoned Story Seekers quickly guessed the answer!

Joy flashed in Strawberry Juice’s eyes, and she hurriedly opened another book.

This book also contained an illustration, featuring a massive humanoid species shattering the boot-shaped ship of the Prayer for the Dead.

Noland Lee might not be very familiar with the boot-shaped ship.

However, the humanoid breaking the ship was all too clear to him; it was precisely the combat form used by the Star Palace Angels while traversing the universe.

The Artificial Angels created by the Angel Enterprises Alliance were designed based on the genuine Angels’ form in cosmic space combat.

Noland Lee nodded slightly, giving Strawberry Juice a slight response.

Strawberry Juice, acutely aware of the minor boss’s affirmation, cheered softly, and hurriedly said to the captain with rapid speech,

“I’ve got it, I’ve got it. This minor boss isn’t aligned with the Prayer for the Dead; it’s an enemy of theirs, a mysterious race referred to as the Supreme God Clan in the ancient books.”

“Supreme God Clan… there really is such a universal race…” Cool Cucumber Slice exclaimed,

“Then isn’t the Angel Enterprises Alliance just mimicking the Supreme God Clan, creating replicas?”

Strawberry Juice nodded repeatedly,

“That should be the case.”

Cool Cucumber Slice, staring at the ancient book in the opponent’s hand, contemplated silently for a few seconds, then whispered,

“Have you figured out how to answer this boss’s question? Based on previous experiences, you only get one chance to answer.”

“Don’t worry, captain. I’ve thought it through,” Strawberry Juice lifted her face confidently and looked up at Noland Lee, who was seated on the High Platform, and said,

“Honored Excellency, we fight to eradicate the remnants of the Prayer for the Dead’s power!”

The air grew heavier, and everyone instinctively held their breath, waiting for Noland Lee’s response.

After a brief silence, Noland Lee spoke deliberately,

“You are… too weak.”

The two players exchanged glances, their expressions complex, feeling regretful.

The answer was right, but their level wasn’t high enough to unlock this minor boss’s storyline.

Just as the two were discussing leaving, Noland Lee spoke again,

“Prove to me your conviction to defeat the remnants of ancient evils, mortals. I will reward those who are brave and resolute enough.”

The two players paused, looking at Noland Lee simultaneously.

At the same time, they and the other players present all received task information from Noland Lee.