THE players on the deck knew who Noctis was.  With his very prominent appearance, they were sure that they didn't see him amongst the players who fought with the mermaids.  And what's up with that other one?  That Amazing-something.  Although they didn't know who he was, anyone who heard that game account name wouldn't think of a serious player.

So, how come those two suddenly got the reward for this trial?

Captain Roger was still standing at the highest point of the ship.  Some players could no longer help it and proceeded on expressing their dissatisfaction with this NPC's decision.

"Excuse me, Captain?  May I ask what's your criteria in giving the rewards to the two that you just mentioned?"

With one leading the way, a lot more became emboldened.  They started to think that maybe being the one who did most of the work in a 'trial' was not the criteria of this NPC to pick whoever gets the reward.  What if he really just based it on whoever was the most entertaining?  Then wouldn't that mean that their efforts just now were all in vain?  Just thinking of that made them angry.  Not just at this weird NPC but also to those two who gained a reward without doing anything.

"That's right!  We're the ones who killed those mermaids.  Isn't it more appropriate to give the reward to one of us?"

"Giving rewards to those who didn't do anything, isn't that a bit unfair?"

"I agree!  Please, reconsider!"

Captain Roger nodded.  "Hmm… I see.  So, you bastards are now questioning my judgment, is that it?"

The careless grin that the captain always had disappeared.  Then he looked at those players who just voiced their dissatisfaction like he was looking at a group of insects.  He snapped his fingers and those players instantly turned into light particles.

"Remember this, you bastards.  This is my ship.  As long as you're in my ship, my word is the law.  And you questioning my word meant that you're questioning the law.  Those who question the law are not welcome on my ship," the captain said coldly while looking down on all the players on the deck.  His voice was not only heard by the players on the deck but everyone on the ship. 

After that, he grinned like nothing happened. 

"Oh, I think I have to change the number count now." Captain Roger cleared his throat.  "Congratulation again to the remaining 1,674 for surviving.  We're near Four-Seasons Island.  So, continue to survive until then."

And with that, the captain disappeared again.

The players on the deck remained silent, afraid that if they even uttered a word of complaint, they would be disqualified like those four players earlier.  But even if they couldn't, that didn't mean that they were fine with it.  So, all this dissatisfaction was transferred full force to Noctis and the other one with the weird game account name.

Of course, there were still some who perfectly understood the situation.  Those complaining players might have forgotten the huge ice berg that the ship almost ran into, but they didn't.  The ship didn't collide with that iceberg because it managed to swerve just on the right moment.  Which meant someone did something for the ship to avoid the iceberg.  And that someone might as well be those two who received the rewards.

Two players in particular were discussing about what just happened.  One of them was a dark elf and the other was a panther beastkin.  That's right, they were Ying Chen and Liang Sen. 

"Those idiots.  Captain Roger is an NPC made of data.  Do they think that he would give rewards to people because he likes them?  He wouldn't make unfair assessments like humans would.  Of course, he would be angry with those complaining and questioning his decision," Ying Chen said sneering at the group of players who were obviously still dissatisfied with what happened.

"Oh-ho, I thought you would be the first one to berate that Noctis," Liang Sen said interestingly.  "Don't you hate him?"

"Hmp!  Do you think I'm that petty?"

It was true that Ying Chen was indeed quite frustrated with the result.  After all, he also tried to solve the problem of the fog earlier.  His class was a Mage.  Players who chose this class usually had to pick what element their magic would be affiliated with.  But sometimes, it's also affected by their race.  But that only usually applied to Rare and Legendary races.  Like Angels for example.  An Angel Mage would have more affinity with light magic.

The same could be applied for Ying Chen.  A dark elf was one of the Special races of the game.  And as the name suggested, his affinity was with dark magic.  But being an elf, he could still use a bit of wind magic.  That was what he used earlier.  The only wind spell that he had.  But who would have thought that it would be all for naught?

At the end, it was not him or Liang Sen who managed to save this ship but that moon elf instead and also that other one with the weird game account name.  Although he didn't like that Noctis because he looked so much like that Luo Yan, he wouldn't think that it was unfair for him to get the reward.  Especially if he earned it fair and square. 

"Aren't you?" Liang Sen said, responding to what the other said about not being petty.

Ying Chen glared at the overgrown panther.  "Shut up, will you?"

Seriously, why was he even hanging out with this guy knowing how annoying he could be.

"On a more serious note, do you want to try getting the next reward?" Liang Sen asked.

"I'll plan to do that without you even asking." 

Ying Chen was even more motivated after hearing that the reward for that mermaid 'trial' went to Noctis.  His competitive spirit wouldn't allow him to not do anything.

The two weren't the only ones who were thinking the same thing.  The players who wanted to get their hands on a 'reward' began to ready themselves for the next trial.

And soon, that time finally came.

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