"Why are there so many NPCs?"
Purple Jade couldn't believe her eyes as she looked at the NPCs chatting and laughing on the street.
The western continent was an island nation. The environment here was extremely harsh. Let alone NPCs, there weren't even a lot of players here.
If not for the two continents growing closer to each other, attracting many powers and merchant players to the western continent, there wouldn't even be more than a hundred pedestrians on the street.
Yet, what was going on?
With a casual glance, she could already tell that there were over a thousand people on the street. Moreover, there were plenty of adventurer NPCs. Here, players were like a small group of unworthy existences.
"Have you investigated where these NPCs came from?" Yuan Tiexin asked the Tier 3 Ranger behind him after giving the matter some thought.
"We have, but we don't know where these NPCs came from. We only know that these NPCs seem to have appeared directly in the city," the Tier 3 Ranger said, shaking his head. Anxiously, he continued, "Due to the appearance of these NPCs, the number of Adventurer's Association quests in the various cities has decreased. Players are also getting fewer quests. Moreover …"
"Moreover … what?" Yuan Tiexin asked curiously.
"According to the reports we've received, many players have clashed with NPCs after leaving the city. Many players have died, but that's not the most important thing," the Tier 3 Ranger said. Uneasily, he continued, "A large number of NPCs have also appeared in many Guild Towns and Cities. Some of these NPCs are quite restless and have caused a lot of trouble. Moreover, according to our observations, these NPC forces have begun to investigate us in secret …"
"How is this possible?" Purple Jade was stunned.
The NPCs that should've only given them quests were actually secretly investigating them. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't help but feel her hair stand on end. It was as if the dolls in her hands had suddenly come alive and were secretly observing her every move.
At this time, the Secret Pavilion wasn't the only one shocked by the sudden outbreak of NPCs. God's Domain's various major powers and players were similarly terrified.
"What's going on? Why are so many NPCs competing for quests? "
"So what if they're competing for quests?! I keep getting the feeling that those NPCs are looking at us as if we're aliens. There are even some bars that refuse entry. "
"That's nothing. You guys haven't been out in the wild. Now, there are more NPCs in the wild than us players. Those NPCs are even forming teams to snatch dungeons?
This is an instance dungeon that we found with great difficulty! "
…
For a time, the various major powers and independent players flooded the forums.
They were talking about this sudden change.
Every one of them felt as if they had truly arrived in a different world. What should have been a battle between players?
And now, there was a battle between players and NPCs?
Moreover, it was very difficult for players to compete with those NPCs.
Was it because those NPCs were not only powerful, but they also had the advantage in numbers?
The players did not have an advantage in terms of numbers. The only advantage they had was that they were not afraid of death.
However, it would be troublesome if too many of them died.
But did the NPCs know about this?
Hence, none of these NPCs had any grudges with the players. Most of them only wanted to teach the players a lesson, forcing them to back off. Only a few NPCs from the dark forces did not seem to mind.
Compared to independent players?
The various major forces were also having a headache.
"Damn it! Why are there so many NPCs?! "
"Why aren't they staying in NPC cities?
They're actually causing trouble in our Guild Towns and Cities! They're ruining many of our businesses! "
"Not only are they causing trouble, but they're also robbing our mines and transportation teams! This is simply despicable!"
For the first time, the various major powers felt that defending their Guild Towns and Cities and carrying out large-scale transportation quests was so difficult. Even some of the superpowers tasted the feeling of being bullied for the first time.
But now, the NPCs were too powerful.
Currently, the various major powers were no match for them. Even the various superpowers had no choice but to give up on many of their development plans.
As for the weaker powers, they began to abandon some of their Guild Towns and Cities.
They concentrated their forces on a few important regions and Guild Towns and Cities.
For a time, God's Domain's player forces shrank. At the same time, they frantically recruited more players to defend themselves.
More and more NPC forces invaded God's Domain.
Silverwing City?
Ling Yi's Residence:
Due to the sudden increase in the number of NPCs?
After factoring in the recent events, Ling Yi's upper echelons gathered in a meeting room to discuss how they should deal with these NPCs.
"Guild Leader, to consolidate their strength, the various major powers are frantically recruiting members. They've even spent a lot of money to hire Tier 3 NPCs from the Adventurer's Association to defend their Guild Towns and Cities. If we don't take action soon, I'm afraid that the various major powers will snatch away some of the powerful Tier 3 NPCs," Liang Jing said anxiously as she looked at Xiang Shifeng.
The sudden increase in the number of NPCs had exceeded every player's expectations.
The change in the NPC population was already troublesome enough. Now that the number of NPCs in God's Domain had clearly exceeded the number of players, this change wasn't just troublesome; it was a disaster.
Now, not only were all three of Ling Yi's Guild Cities located along important transportation routes, but they also had great potential for development. According to the reports she received from her subordinates, many NPC forces had set their sights on Ling Yi's Guild Cities. Only, these NPC forces were currently investigating Ling Yi's strength, which was why they hadn't taken action yet. Once they did, however, they would most likely take action.
If an NPC force took action, it would be far more troublesome than a player force. Although the possibility of a frontal assault was low, it wasn't impossible. Even if the NPC forces didn't attack Ling Yi's Guild Cities, just the daily disturbances they caused would be enough to give Ling Yi a hard time. If the NPC forces sent a large number of NPCs to ambush the Guild Cities' transportation routes, it would be a nightmare.
Hence, she needed to take action quickly and strengthen the Guild's defenses as much as possible.
"That's right, Guild Leader. If we're too slow, the various major powers will snatch away all of those powerful Tier 3 NPCs!"
The various managers present nodded in agreement. Even the various superpowers had no choice but to lower their heads and hire NPCs from the Adventurer's Association at a high price. If Ling Yi didn't take action now, it would be too late.
After all, the Adventurer's Association could only hire a limited number of Tier 3 NPCs. Once the other powers left, the Adventurer's Association wouldn't have enough Tier 3 NPCs.
Although Ling Yi had plenty of powerful Tier 3 Personal Guards, the number of Tier 3 Personal Guards they had wasn't enough to maintain the safety of the three Guild Cities.
Moreover, it was simply too difficult to recruit Tier 3 Personal Guards. At most, the Adventurer's Association could recruit a few Tier 2 NPCs with decent Growth Potential. In addition, nurturing Personal Guards wasn't easy. They had to spend a lot of money to nurture every one of them. If these Personal Guards died in battle, the Adventurer's Association would cry to death.
However, they didn't have to worry about hiring the Adventurer's Association's NPCs. If they died, so be it. All they had to do was pay the Adventurer's Association's fees.
"That won't be necessary." Shifeng shook his head. Slowly, he said, "Hiring the Adventurer's Association's Tier 3 NPCs is indeed a solution, but it won't be a long-term solution. After all, the cost is simply too high. Every one of these NPCs will cost at least 100 Gold per day, and 100 of them will cost over 10,000 Gold per day. We'll need at least 500 to 600 NPCs to protect a Small City. That'll cost us 50,000 to 60,000 Gold per day."
Only the various superpowers could afford to spend 50,000 to 60,000 Gold per day to protect a Guild City. However, it was a different story for Ling Yi. Ling Yi had always been a money-spender, and the Guild's daily operations relied on selling Coins. Hence, Ling Yi couldn't afford to spend 50,000 to 60,000 Gold per day.
"But quite a few NPCs are already causing trouble in the cities. Fortunately, we have Tier 4 NPCs holding down the fort. Otherwise, the various powers' NPCs won't dare to cause trouble. However, if those NPC powers take action from the outside, we'll have a hard time dealing with them," Youlan said worriedly.
In the past, Ling Yi had been able to put up a fight against ordinary players. Now, however, Tier 3 NPCs ranged from Level 130 to Level 140 to even Level 150 to Level 160. This situation was extremely disadvantageous for Ling Yi.
The only thing capable of fighting these NPCs were their Personal Guards. However, these NPCs had to maintain the safety of their cities. They couldn't afford to send them out.
"Don't worry about it, then," Shifeng said, chuckling.
"???" Youlan was stunned.
Don't worry?
At this moment, let alone Youlan, all of Ling Yi's upper echelons were stunned.
What did that mean?
If they didn't worry about it, where would the three Guild Cities' income come from in the long run?
Without trade routes, the NPCs couldn't sell their goods into the cities. If that happened, the Guild Cities would lose their appeal to players. Moreover, NPC merchants were a major source of income for the Guild Cities. In fact, NPC merchants were the key to the Guild Cities' development.
"From today onward, all three of Ling Yi's Guild Cities will ban outsiders from entering. As for those NPC merchants, they can be exempted. However, each Shop will only be allowed to have a maximum of ten people," Shifeng said. "In addition, all players who wish to enter Zero Wing's three Guild Cities will have to pay an entrance fee of 20 Silver Coins. The rent for all Shops will also be doubled. However, cooperating powers will receive a 20% discount."
"Guild Leader?"
Ling Yi's upper echelons gaped at Shifeng. They were utterly shocked by Shifeng's words.
Were they trying to get themselves killed?
While banning NPCs from entering the Guild Cities would prevent NPCs from causing trouble, it would also prevent the Guild Cities from developing. After all, players received quests from NPCs. Moreover, many of the items they purchased were from NPCs. If they refused to enter the Guild Cities, it would be the equivalent of cutting the Guild Cities' income by more than half.
As for increasing the entrance fee to 20 Silver and doubling the rent for Shops, this was practically an attempt to drive all players out of the Guild Cities.
If Ling Yi's upper echelons really did so, they would definitely die a tragic death.
"Go ahead. I have my reasons," Shifeng said as he looked at the silent crowd. He then left the meeting room without further explanation.
In the past, before the major update, the various major powers had plenty of Tier 3 players and even a few Tier 4 players. Now that the NPC population had skyrocketed, the various major powers only had a few Tier 3 players. The various major powers would only suffer more losses than in the past.
Although Ling Yi's current strength was indeed impressive, and it even had a Tier 4 NPC protecting it, it was impossible for it to maintain the security of the three Guild Cities.
The only thing they could do right now was to cut the Gordian knot and prevent NPCs from entering the Guild Cities. Afterward, the Guild's members would focus on the Secret Covenant Tower and raise their levels and strength. Otherwise, the NPC population and NPC forces' invasion would only become more frightening.
Shortly afterward, Ling Yi Society's three Guild Cities announced Shifeng's decision to the public. The three Guild Cities would completely ban outsiders from entering, and the entrance fee and rent would increase significantly.
As soon as the announcement was made, the three Guild Cities went into an uproar.
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