Chapter 231: Mission 【Save the House of Radiance】
Sterl soon stood in front of a giant light screen, where countless pieces of information were flashing frantically, revealing various missions.
[Mission: Eradicate the Plague]
[Difficulty: Third Class]
[Description: Please travel to the Principality of Beloc on the continent of Vastor and communicate with Duke Fernando.]
[Requirement: Possess skills related to detoxifying and curing plagues.]
[Reward: 1,000 standard contribution points provided by Duke Fernando.]
...
[Mission: Clear the Instance [Fire Dragon's Nest]]
[Difficulty: Legendary]
[Reward: 3,000 standard contribution points]
...
[Mission: Spread the Gospel]
[Difficulty: Third Class]
[Reward: 500 standard contribution points provided by a specific deity.]
...
As a Glorious, Sterl had to accept at least legendary-level missions to meet his monthly quota. However, he wasn't just aiming to scrape by each month; he needed to challenge high-difficulty missions to earn at least 5,000 Valor Contribution Points, required to exchange for the cheapest platinum-level skill!
After searching for a while, Sterl finally found a suitable mission.
[The House of Radiance's Call for Help]
[Difficulty: Legendary]
[Description: The family of Radiant Knight Kant Weir, who once signed a contract with the Hall of Valor to fight for them eternally after death, has been struck by an inexplicable curse. All core members of the family are unable to leave the capital of the Principality of Florence.
Please investigate and attempt to lift the curse.
Warning: This mission has faced multiple failures. Reports from those who failed indicate that the House of Radiance might have been attacked by demons.]
[Reward: Minimum of 2,000 Valor Contribution Points provided by the House of Radiance (increases based on the actual danger and difficulty encountered).]
Sterl felt a slight twinge of excitement as he read the mission details.
Firstly, missions that awarded Valor Contribution Points and had a legendary difficulty level were extremely rare. This was the only one Sterl could find; obtaining more Valor Contribution Points would require a higher status.
Of course, even if he could challenge those higher-level missions, he wouldn't dare to.
For example, demigod-level missions were out of the question for Sterl.
In the Trial of the Brave, Sterl had already experienced—
A bizarre Law Power that could kill him without him even knowing how he died.
Even with [Radiant Glass Body], caution was still necessary.
Secondly, the mission description mentioned suspected demon attacks. If Sterl's guess was correct, it was likely that a spatial rift had formed between a layer of Hell and the Principality of Florence, where the House of Radiance resided.
If the demons' strength wasn't too overwhelming, Sterl saw a real opportunity to reverse-open the Gate of Hell from the Florentine capital and explore Hell himself.
And the third point was the descendants of Kant Weir, which piqued Sterl's interest.
That knight had left a deep impression on him, and Sterl knew that Kant Weir was likely privy to many secrets about the Hall of Valor and future calamities. Perhaps, through the knight's descendants, he could obtain some valuable information.
Given all these factors, Sterl quickly chose to accept the mission.
A notification popped up on his panel:
[You have successfully accepted the mission. This mission now has nineteen participants.]
[Based on your performance and status in the Trial of the Brave, you have been designated as the leader for this mission.]
[Note: As the leader, you will receive an additional 1,000 Valor Contribution Points as a reward. Other players are expected to follow your command by default.]
[Warning: The leader status is tied to your current level and can be taken away.]
[Warning: Poor performance as a leader resulting in mission failure will disqualify you from being assigned as a leader for the next five missions and prevent you from usurping another's leadership.]
"So many people accepted this mission?"
"No, wait, I get an additional 1,000 Valor Contribution Points," Sterl first felt puzzled, then delighted.
As for the two warnings, he outright ignored them.
No matter how challenging a legendary-level mission was, wasn't he more than capable of handling it?
...
Sterl only stayed in the Hall of Valor for half a day.
He didn't even appear as his previous persona, The Legend of the White Robe. Instead, using a clone created by the Bionic Tear named "David," he successfully recruited all the players he had promised to join the guild during the Trial of the Brave.
Among these players, some were originally from the Hall of Valor, while others had been specially recruited into the Hall of Valor after passing the extreme trial.
In total, he gathered forty-six people. Including Sterl, Sosia, and Sonis, that made forty-nine, leaving fifty-one spots still available in the guild.
After experiencing the guild's buffs, the players were as excited as if they had been injected with adrenaline.
Sterl didn't even need to hype them up.
"An SSS-level guild, for real!"
"There are only three such guilds in the entire Hall of Valor, and they're all for those demigod-level figures. We didn't even have a chance to get a spot!"
"As expected, that legend is a big shot!"
"Wait a minute, he didn't join an SSS-level guild, so his own guild must be of the same quality?"
...
Their eyes were filled with fanaticism, feeling that they had truly made the right choice by joining this guild!
Meanwhile, just as Sterl was about to say something, the players started discussing proactively.
"How about we team up to farm those contribution point-boosting monsters?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
"Let's quickly farm until we reach a level three guild and open the shop!"
...
The players spontaneously started forming groups and had already begun planning how to farm contribution points more efficiently.
However, their goal wasn't the qualitative changes that would come with a Level 3 guild upgrade, but simply to open the guild shop.
Because, seriously, an SSS-quality Level 3 guild?
Such a guild had never existed in the entire Hall of Valor!
The materials for an SSS-level guild were available in the Hall of Valor's inventory, but even deities couldn't acquire them consecutively!
...
Sterl silently watched the players before turning and leaving.
He no longer had to worry about the guild.
He decided to head to the mission waiting room in the Assembly Hall to start earning "Valor Contribution Points"!
To Sterl's surprise, despite only being delayed for half a day, the other 18 players had already gathered.
"Sorry, I'm late," Sterl expressed apologetically.
However, the other players looked at him coldly, and soon various detection skills were cast upon him.
Sterl frowned slightly, but at that moment, three individuals stepped forward.
"No worries, no worries. The Hall of Valor's internal travel is notoriously slow. It's normal to be delayed by some situations on the way."
"Let's start the mission quickly!"
"The House of Radiance is still suffering from the curse."
...
After speaking, the three took the lead, guiding the other players forward.
They didn't completely ignore Sterl but treated him as an ordinary member, signaling him to follow the group.
Sterl frowned slightly at first but then remained calm. As he followed the group, he discreetly activated Star Insight.
He thought to himself that these people were so brazen, ignoring his position as the leader. It was likely because of the Hall of Valor's mention of the "leader status being transferable" and the additional "1,000 Valor Contribution Points" that tempted someone to make a move.
After being instantly killed by the demigod's vertical pupil, Sterl had become even more cautious. He decided to scout first and see how his opponents would act.
Star Insight's data quickly fed back.
Most of the people participating in this mission were a mix of low and mid-tier legends, as high-tier legends had higher status levels and could take on more rewarding missions.
Sterl felt a bit speechless. He had thought these people were stronger, vying for the leader position with him.
If they were high-tier legends, Sterl recalled encountering Kant Weir in the Trial of the Brave and felt they might pose a slight threat.
But he also knew that even the Hall of Valor's unparalleled geniuses couldn't compare to a top-tier existence with a 3S-class profession talent.
But now, even if they all teamed up, they wouldn't stand a chance against Sterl.
Soon, the group was transported via the Hall of Valor's teleportation array to an area near several rainbow ships.
Just as they were about to board the rainbow ship and head to the Principality of Florence, the group suddenly halted.
The three mid-tier legends leading the group sneered and looked back.
Wait, where was he?
Where was the leader with the displayed third-class strength?
Naturally, they were looking for Sterl. As for why his strength was marked as third-class, it was because that's how he registered his strength in the Hall of Valor.
The Hall of Valor only verified that Sterl had third-class output capabilities, which was enough for him to pass.
At that moment, the three mid-tier legends suddenly felt a chill run down their spines. They then noticed Sterl standing at the very front of the group, not knowing when he had gotten there!
It was incredibly eerie!
All the legends who had planned to make a move suddenly felt at a loss for words. If the leader had chosen to ambush them just now, no one could guarantee they would've reacted in time.
Sterl maintained an enigmatic expression.
He had used Moon Law to achieve a teleport-like effect.
It was quite draining.
But the dramatic effect was perfect!
"Just you three want the leader's position?"
"Let me tell you, in the Hall of Valor, strength reigns supreme!"
"The leader is not someone you three weaklings can covet!"
Sterl's voice boomed with authority, leaving the three troublemaking legends dumbfounded.
Wait, what?
Those were our lines!
What are we supposed to say now?
"But do you even know..." one of the mid-tier legends tried to salvage the situation.
However, Sterl interrupted again, "You should know, this mission was marked as extremely difficult by the Hall of Valor. If the leader lacks strength, it will only put everyone else in danger!"
The three mid-tier legends: "..."
For a moment, they were at a loss for words.
Meanwhile...
All the legendary players present suddenly had a change in expression, as they all received the same notification.