Given Black Blade's ability, he would definitely be able to easily "convince" Greyfist.
As for changing the contents of the trading zone notice boards, of course, that was just part of the act, to put on a show for Annoying Village HIM.
After Annoying Village HIM captured the Pillager, he would definitely do everything he could to verify what they said.
They would definitely follow the Pillager' underground base to find the area near the rainforest and start investigating.
Those altered notice boards were exactly the solid evidence Xu Yuan had prepared in advance, left there specifically for Annoying Village HIM to find.
No doubt, Xu Yuan's strategy was truly brilliant.
Every single one of his plans always made it seem like he effortlessly achieved his goals.
After receiving Xu Yuan's orders, Fat Cow immediately got to work efficiently.
Xu Yuan, on the other hand, joined the Pillager King's "training class."
———
[Outside the Rainforest]
It had been about ten minutes since Bread Sheep left, and Stephen was starting to get impatient.
He muttered while pacing back and forth in front of Notch.
"Why's it taking so long…"
"You think the people in the rainforest will even come to see us? It's not like we're anyone important…"
"How about I just go in and take a look myself? These notice boards should only be meant for players, right?"
Just as he was saying that, a familiar soft bleating came from inside the rainforest.
"Baa baa!!"
Hearing Bread Sheep's voice, both Stephen and Notch turned their heads toward the rainforest.
They saw Bread Sheep hopping toward them, and behind it followed a player.
The player was dressed entirely in black, his gaze as deep and mysterious as his clothes, carrying an invisible pressure that made the atmosphere tense.
Seeing the player's face, Stephen couldn't help but exclaim, "This little Bread's that amazing??"
"He actually brought Black Blade here?"
No doubt, Black Blade's reputation was well known.
Whether among the player faction, the monster faction, or the animal faction, most people in all three had heard of him.
Although Stephen had never seen Black Blade in person, the moment he saw that black outfit and those sharp, blade-like eyes, he instantly recognized who he was.
Stephen, of course, knew who Black Blade was, but he never would've expected Bread Sheep to actually bring someone like him.
Hearing Stephen's words, Notch looked confused.
"Who?"
Notch didn't know much about this world to begin with. Most of the information he'd gathered earlier was about Xu Yuan and the Void.
Even though Notch had seen the name "Black Blade" before, he hadn't paid much attention to it.
So naturally, he didn't realize how big of a deal it was that Bread Sheep had brought Black Blade.
Seeing that Notch didn't seem to know Black Blade, Stephen looked puzzled.
"You don't know Black Blade?"
"That's weird, his fame among players is way bigger than it is in the animal faction."
"Pretty much every player should know who he is, right?…"
"Ah..." Notch was just about to come up with an excuse, but before he could say anything, a cold voice interrupted him.
"So you're the ones who wanted to see me?" Black Blade said while looking them both up and down.
Before Notch and Stephen could respond, he continued, "I heard you've got something important to say?"
Hearing that, Notch nodded and was just about to speak when he suddenly paused, like he'd just realized something. He glanced toward Bread Sheep beside Black Blade, a bit hesitant.
Seeing that, Black Blade immediately understood what Notch meant and turned to Bread Sheep.
"Go back first."
"Baa!" Bread Sheep bleated once, then turned and left. Seeing Bread Sheep go, Notch finally relaxed and said,
"Stephen and I just got here not long ago. We were trading with a group of players just now."
"From them, we found out they're planning to attack the rainforest!"
Notch was indeed observant. From Bread Sheep's response when he asked for help, it was clear that the player captain hadn't told Bread Sheep the truth.
The captain didn't want Bread Sheep to know, naturally because he didn't want to upset it.
Notch understood what the player captain was thinking, so he kept the secret for him.
Hearing Notch's words, Black Blade froze for a second, then widened his eyes in feigned surprise.
"Really?"
Notch immediately sensed something off about his reaction, but for a moment he couldn't pinpoint what.
Just as he was about to speak again, Black Blade spoke first.
"Thanks for the intel."
He stepped forward, opened the trade chest in front of him, placed a few items inside, then looked back at Notch.
"A small token of thanks."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"You two shouldn't stay here either, it's not safe."
After saying that, Black Blade turned to leave. Notch stood there, stunned.
"Hey!! Wait!!" he shouted, quickly adding, "We don't need your thanks! We told you this because we truly agree with the rainforest's rules, and we want to join you."
Notch paused, glanced at the retreating Black Blade, and continued, "Stephen and I have been wandering merchants traveling across the trial grounds. We've gathered a lot of information. We can definitely help you."
Notch meant every word, but his sincerity didn't move Black Blade. He didn't stop walking.
Seeing this, Stephen got anxious and started stomping his hooves. He wasn't ready to give up either.
"Please believe him! He means no harm! Neither of us do!"
"Not long after I entered the trial grounds, I met Notch. He's different from the other players! Even when I attacked him first, he didn't hurt me!"
"He's just like me, he wants this world to become peaceful again!"
"Isn't that exactly the same as your goal for creating the rainforest's rules?!!"
He shouted those words until his throat burned painfully, as if it were on fire.
The rainforest's rules had given him hope, a vision of players and creatures living together peacefully. He didn't want to lose that hope.
Hearing Stephen's voice, Black Blade froze for a second, then quickly turned around, his gaze locking onto the bald-headed player standing before him.
"Notch??!!" Black Blade muttered under his breath, his expression full of disbelief.
He stared wide-eyed at the bald player, searching his features for something familiar.
When he noticed that shiny bald head and that signature beard under his chin, he was completely stunned.
"Bald… beard…"
In his mind flashed Peng Peng's earlier description from Rookie's mouth, Notch's appearance, and Black Blade couldn't help but gasp.
"Holy?! Notch?!!!!"
If Stephen hadn't said Notch's name, Black Blade might not have made the connection so quickly. After all, he'd never seen Notch in person.
But he did know about him.
He knew Notch had joined the trial grounds, and he roughly knew what he looked like.
When he first saw Notch and Stephen, he didn't recognize him at all, mainly because it never crossed his mind that he'd actually run into Notch.
Let alone that Notch would come find him on his own.
Now, facing the legendary Notch standing right before him, Black Blade felt like his brain was about to overload.
'Notch came here voluntarily… what do I even do with this…'
'Damn it… and of all times, my lord isn't around…'
'Should I even let him in?…'
'Calm down… calm down…'
'This Notch doesn't seem dangerous… he doesn't seem to know about the Void…'
'My lord said… Notch is a crucial piece…'
Even someone as composed as Black Blade was now caught in an intense internal storm.
Usually, he could handle any situation in the trial grounds just fine.
But Notch's identity was too special, too important.
Anything that happened around him could affect the entire world's balance.
That made Black Blade afraid to make the wrong call.
But after hesitating for a while, he finally forced himself to decide.
"Forget it!! I'll just stall him for now!!"
After deciding, Black Blade took a moment to steady his breathing and calm himself. Then he quickly turned back and strode toward Notch and Stephen.
Seeing him return, both of them exhaled deeply. His turning back meant there was still hope.
Notch and Stephen exchanged a look, ready to launch a second wave of persuasion, but before they could say anything, Black Blade spoke first.
He looked at them, barely containing his excitement.
"Follow me."
That single line caught both Notch and Stephen completely off guard.
"Huh?"
"He… agreed?!!" they both said, stunned.
After all, Black Blade didn't look like the kind of person who was easy to talk to, and his earlier attitude proved it.
They had thought they'd need to argue and persuade him for a long time.
They never expected things to turn around so fast.
Notch and Stephen exchanged excited glances, the joy in their eyes almost overflowing.
Without hesitation, they both took a deep breath, stepped into the rainforest, and followed closely behind Black Blade.
As they walked through the rainforest, none of them spoke.
Each of them seemed lost in their own thoughts.
After about five minutes, Black Blade finally led Notch and Stephen into the central plaza of the rainforest.
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