Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 59: Shadow Noir

Reluctantly, the four companions finally ventured forth together.

Holding hands proved too awkward, so Ethan Walker suggested they instead hold each other's weapons.

Leading the way, Ethan clasped the head of his inflatable hammer behind his back, with Oliver Wright holding the other end.

Following them were Natalie Clark and Felix Rayburn, in that order.

Oliver's curiosity was piqued.

"Bro, is this hammer usually light to carry?"

"It's inflatable."

"Oh, so do you need to pull out the plug and inflate it before using it?"

"...No need."

The journey proceeded smoothly. They reached the "maze" Ethan had previously seen in simulations, weaving through the audience seats with difficulty, finally returning to the safe exit.

The repetitive appearance of the green pass was truly unnerving. When they heard the successful completion sound, everyone but Ethan heaved a sigh of relief.

The audience in the live chat shared their relief:

"Finally out of that repetitive dungeon, so annoying."

"Ethan scared me to death when he hit Felix. I was already thinking about which detention center to send food to."

"But how did Ethan realize Felix was replaced? They aren't close, are they?"

"Ethan has his ways."

"Look, the rewards are coming!"

This time, everyone received a reward, and unexpectedly, Ethan's gift box was the smallest.

It was only as large as two feet placed together.

Impatient, Oliver tore open his gift box.

A yellow skill card fell out.

"A Strengthening Card? What's this?"

Oliver flipped it over to read its content: the card could double a player's combat power during certain boss battles. Quite a practical card.

Felix and Natalie didn't open theirs in public, their gazes fixed on Ethan.

Ethan, driven by curiosity, didn't hide his. He squatted down and unwrapped the ribbon and paper.

"Hmm?"

Ethan voiced his confusion, holding the box upside down and shaking it.

Nothing fell out.

The live chat grew anxious:

"What? After all that trouble, nothing?"

"Frustrating. It's always Ethan taking advantage of others. How come someone got the better of him today?"

"Is this some kind of joke from the White Tower? A box of air is just insulting."

"Wait, look at Ethan's shoulder!"

Ethan had thought the reward was a joke, empty. Though disappointed, he wasn't angry.

Just as he was about to leave, he felt a tickling sensation on his left shoulder and touched it.

Something abruptly shrank and moved to his right shoulder.

Ethan, puzzled, tapped Oliver, who was crouching nearby.

"Oliver, what's on my shoulder?"

"Let me see, let me see."

Oliver stood up immediately, hearing his brother's inquiry.

"Holy crap, bro, is that a designed hole in your shirt? Wow, it even moves!"

Ethan's confusion deepened.

"What are you talking about..."

It was Natalie who couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up.

"It's the silhouette from the dungeon, it followed you out. It's your reward."

Another silhouette! As a former NPC of the White Tower, not only were they powerful, but they also possessed a dazzling array of special abilities.

Such rewards were the crème de la crème, their rarity making them highly prized.

No wonder others were envious. How could a newbie, just two months in, already have three silhouettes?

Was he collecting silhouettes or cabbages?

Ethan's rewards always drew the most attention, with every platform and major guilds keeping an eye on his gift box.

When the third silhouette appeared, Ethan once again became a trending topic:

[Breaking! Newbie Ethan Walker's third silhouette appears!]

[Should investigate Ethan Walker. Is he a White Tower NPC infiltrating the players?]

[I'm jealous, honestly. Same newbie players, different fates.]

[I have several pieces of evidence that Ethan Walker is a White Tower NPC.]

Forums and social media platforms buzzed with discussions. Some were curious about the new silhouette's special abilities, others wondered if Ethan was even human.

The reason he entered the cinema dungeon to trouble Felix seemed completely forgotten by the internet.

Ethan was indifferent to his new silhouette, but this dark, shadowy figure seemed quite attached to him, timid and skittish at the slightest touch.

Ethan named it Shadow Noir.

Ethan swiftly gathered his belongings, preparing to leave the White Tower.

Felix Rayburn intercepted him on his way out.

"Ethan... thank you for saving me in the dungeon."

Despite his lackluster performance and somewhat undignified moments in the dungeon, Felix thought to seize the opportunity to craft a persona of magnanimity, burying the hatchet with Ethan in a mutually beneficial gesture. This, of course, relied on Ethan's cooperation.

Ethan studied Felix silently for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"I wasn't trying to save you."

"Then that hammer strike..." Felix's realization dawned, chilling him, "was it just a test?"

Ethan merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

He leaned closer to his shoulder, speaking lowly.

"Shadow Noir, we're leaving. I'll introduce you to Red Riding Hood and Flower another day."

As he turned to leave, Felix called out to him again.

"Wait-"

"I know about the rumors your team is spreading online. I don't care to engage, nor will I respond," Ethan said, turning back. "But I do enjoy participating in dungeons, and I have plenty of time. If you want to keep linking your name with mine online, don't mind me making my presence felt in every dungeon you're in."

Ethan's words were sharp and unapologetic.

"Next time, I hope you're just as lucky."

With a wave of his hand, he bid farewell.

Once he left, Ethan didn't bother to consider Felix's reaction or subsequent actions.

He was a man of his word.

Perhaps Ethan's threat had an effect, as the online posts about Felix and him dwindled.

Still, Ethan's own popularity remained unabated, constantly topping the charts.

Ethan returned in a black sedan provided by the Avalon Guild, driven by an unfamiliar middle-aged man. Emily Johnson, being a regular player of Avalon Guild, couldn't always be his driver, as it would reflect poorly on the Guild. Now, with Emily confined within the guild and bored to tears, she resorted to watching Ethan's live streams for entertainment.

As soon as Ethan's live stream ended, Emily's call came through.

"Hey, Ethan, just got out? How about I treat you to hotpot?"

"If you're paying, I'm in."

"Alright, alright, it's on me. Can't believe you actually confronted Felix. His face turned green, even a pixelated screen couldn't hide it."

Ethan relaxed in the passenger seat, fiddling with his seatbelt as he glanced at the sunset outside the window.

"He's irrelevant, but he annoyed me. A warning should keep him quiet for a while."

Emily laughed.

"Pity he backed down so quickly. I was enjoying arguing with his fans."

"His backing down doesn't mean his fans will. Keep arguing with a fan account if you want."

"Never mind, I'm busy. When will you be here? I should reserve a table. It's a two-hour wait on weekends."

Before Ethan could respond, another call came in.

"Hold on, reserve it and text me the details. I've got another call."

"Who?"

"Henrik Jensen."

"From the Emerald Tempest Guild? Hey, Ethan, you're eating our food, living in our place; three-quarters of you belongs to Avalon. You can't be " Ethan coldly cut off Emily's audio chat and switched to Henrik's call.

"Speak."

"Busy?"

"Have dinner plans."

"I thought you didn't dine with just anyone?"

"The one I'm dining with today isn't 'anyone.""

Henrik seemed to chuckle, though it was faint.

"I wanted to discuss our earlier arrangement."

"I don't have any particular thoughts. Just make sure James Mitchell isn't thrown away on the third team when I need him for a dungeon. Just say he's busy."

"No problem with James. I'm asking if you'd like to come to Emerald Tempest to prepare for a few days."

"No, I'm allergic to your deputy team."

Ethan idly wrote a "7" on the car window, then wiped it away.

"Give me two days off. The day after tomorrow, at one in the afternoon, send James over. Pretend you know nothing. Better yet, participate in a dungeon yourself that day to have an alibi. Just so we're clear, Henrik. I'm doing you a big favor, and renting James isn't enough. You owe me a long-term favor."

"Come back alive, and you can name your price."