Trapped Inside the Beta Test World for 1000 Years-Chapter 50 – Aren't you just the protagonist of a web novel?

"Thank you, brave hero, for saving me. May I ask your name?"
A private message with a completely different style popped up.
"......"
Xia Ya was stunned for a few seconds.
He was quite sure he was playing "Illusory Realm," not something like "Heroic Realm."
"My name is right there in your friend list. How about asking a different question?"
"I apologize for my abruptness. Please forgive me. So, it's Brother Xia Ya."
"Can you speak normally? Like the common lingo of the new-age internet users."
"But this is written communication. My father always said not to be too casual outside."
"Then don't be. I'm leaving."
"Don't go, big brother!"
"See, you can speak normally after all."
Shinobu Oshino chuckled awkwardly, his skin fair and looking quite shy.
"Sorry, I mainly wanted to thank you. Otherwise, I might have died."
"How did you get down here?"
Xia Ya couldn't help but glance behind him.
The underground tunnels were complex and randomly generated each time. He had walked through them so many times that he could vaguely sense his location, judging by the wind and water flow speed.
The path Shinobu Oshino came from was the most turbulent, with the river water shimmering with phosphorescence, the legendary spawning ground of the Dark River Koi, a level 25 boss "Glowing Giantmouth Fish."
This thing spawned too randomly. Although the rewards were high, Xia Ya hadn't included it in his plans for this trip. Did this guy really stumble in blindly and bump into the koi about to spawn? What kind of luck is that...
Shinobu Oshino paused for a long time, seemingly typing a lengthy message.
"I was on a patrol mission when two civilians ran over, saying someone fell into a well and needed to be rescued quickly. My father always taught me to be kind and helpful, so I hurried over with them. But who knew those two were actually thugs? They knocked me out with a brick at the corner and threw me into the well. Worse, they sealed the well's opening. I was lucky to find a secret passage on the well wall, but as I walked, I fell again..."
This luck... is beyond just good!
Danger—secret passage—treasure land, this is definitely protagonist treatment! If I consider myself a reclusive expert, this story template is complete. Xia Ya couldn't help but click his tongue.
He knew the well Shinobu Oshino mentioned, near the slum alley at No. 17.
The thugs there loved to disguise as civilians to deceive the guards of Astan City. Xia Ya had fallen for it in his first playthrough until a veteran taught him how to distinguish thugs from civilians.
It's simple: look at their eyes.
In the slums, anyone daring to maintain eye contact with guards for more than three seconds is a gang member, guaranteed. Ordinary slum residents don't even have the courage to look directly at city guards, let alone armed guards.
But if Xia Ya remembered correctly, that secret passage led directly to the aquarium's center. How did he end up here?
Moreover, this guy is completely dry!?
"I know that secret passage. You shouldn't have fallen into the water, right?"
"Ah, well, you might not believe it... I saw a sea monster!"
Oh, Maengron...
Escaping from a beast, the protagonist's halo just got another layer.
"Uh-huh, go on."
"Aren't you... surprised?"
Shinobu Oshino was so shocked he forgot to type.
"Not at all. Sea monster, and then?"
"I saw its tentacles dragging a few people back, wide like a road. I jumped onto it and ran to dry land."
Judging by the time, it was shortly after Simon and his group fell.
"Do you want to get out?" Xia Ya asked.
"Yes!"
The answer was straightforward.
Xia Ya pointed behind him, "Go that way, take the first three left turns, then the fourth right passage, and keep going straight. You'll exit through the sewers."
After a pause, Xia Ya taught him the thug identification technique he learned from the veteran.
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"The ones who attacked you are likely from the Bloodhand Gang, average level 10, not much of a threat. Captain Fain of the Fourth Squad's Second Team has a grudge with the Blackhand Gang. Buy him a drink after the shift change, tell him your story, and you'll unlock the 'Eradicate the Bloodhand Gang' quest line, with a decent sword and leather armor as rewards, plus some battle merits."
Shinobu Oshino was initially stunned, then opened a notepad to frantically jot down the information.
"Thank you!! Thank you, big brother! You're truly my benefactor! I will repay your kindness tenfold!"
"No, no, I'm not a benefactor. Just remember me when you make it big." Xia Ya chuckled.
"Thank... thank you!"
Shinobu Oshino excitedly typed a few words, then traded him 3 silver 15 copper, a beast hide bracer, and a key.
"Huh? What's this?" Xia Ya asked.
"Hold on, I'm slow at typing."
"......"
Xia Ya, bored, glanced at the black key, his eyelid twitching.
Hmm? A key?
Wait, this doesn't seem like an ordinary key...
He looked at it carefully again.
This is...
This must be some novel protagonist, right?? What kind of luck is this? Surviving danger and stumbling upon a hidden treasure, casually picking up the key to the Tin Soldier's Enclosure?
Just then, Shinobu Oshino finished typing his message.
"My father taught me to be grateful, just saying thank you isn't enough... I hope these things can help you. I picked up the key casually, not sure what it's for."
He really just picked it up casually??
Xia Ya thought for a moment and returned everything except the key.
"Your 'Military Swordsmanship' is over level 4, right?"
"F-f-f-five!"
"Then don't do that quest I mentioned earlier."
"Huh?"
"Don't join the Astan City guards, there's no future in it."
Xia Ya directly traded him two gold.
"Go to McCaus City, take the teleportation array at the Mage Tower—the tallest thing on Golden Avenue, with a three-meter-tall arcane golem at the entrance. It'll stop you, just put a gold coin in its mouth to pass, plus the teleportation fee is one gold."
"I, I, I..."
"Don't interrupt, listen carefully. With your swordsmanship foundation, go to the Swordsman Association in McCaus City and find Hildr Pinewood. He's a man prettier than a woman. Don't say anything, just challenge him to a duel. Whether you win or lose, he'll take you to see his master. Then, whatever they ask you to fight, just do it. Follow the series of quests, it's a bit challenging but not harder than the fish-eyed monster chasing you earlier. It'll be a breeze for you."
Shinobu Oshino was dumbfounded, finally stammering:
"W-w-w-why?"
"Don't worry about why, just do as I say. Hildr Pinewood's master is a level 60 Elementalist + level 75 Sword Master. He can give you a 12% experience and skill proficiency buff. You'll also trigger the 'Solon Ruins' trial line, even the equipment will be sorted. Isn't that a thousand times better than being a guard in Astan City? I won't lie to you. Of course, young people should understand the principle of getting rich quietly, don't flaunt your gains everywhere, understand?"
Shinobu Oshino finally realized he had met a true expert.
Whether his words were true or not... this was two gold coins!
Someone who casually gives out two gold coins must be extraordinary!
"Okay!"
He nodded vigorously.
"Although I don't know why you're so amazing, big brother, I will definitely listen to you! I will follow your teachings!!"
"Go on, we'll contact each other if there's a chance in the future."
Watching Shinobu Oshino leave, Xia Ya took out the key to examine it.
"Black Key"
No description, four centimeters long, with faint gear marks on the surface, symbolizing the mysterious rules of mechanical operation, covered with a layer of black keratin, a remnant of deactivated divine power.
The key to the Tin Soldier's Enclosure, can be used after purification.
"This luck is truly incredible..."
Xia Ya smirked.