Chapter 123: Observations at the Starry Stronghold

The activation of the Stronghold function gave Su Yi a sufficiently secure base in the world of Monster Hunter, complete with far more facilities.

However, activating a Stronghold required certain conditions.

A Stronghold had to reach a certain scale and meet a sufficient standard of safety, among other requirements. Unlike a camp, which only needed to satisfy the basic conditions for lodging, a Stronghold required considerably more.

As the Astera base belonged to the Research Commission, Su Yi would need to obtain the right to use it before he could activate it as a Stronghold.

Alternatively, if he built a Stronghold himself, he could activate it as soon as it met the required standards of size and security.

“So your purpose is also to investigate the New World?” When he heard Su Yi’s objective, the Commander-in-Chief began considering the matter from every angle.

Investigating an unknown continent was no easy task.

That much was evident from the fact that the Commission had spent forty years accumulating its strength, only beginning an active investigation of the New World after the arrival of the large contingent of elite hunters from the Fifth Fleet.

If Su Yi truly possessed the abilities described by the Master of the Wilds, then joining forces to explore the New World might greatly improve both their efficiency and their safety.

“I understand your desire to cooperate. Please allow me to arrange matters for the members of the Fifth Fleet first. After that, I would like to see your abilities with my own eyes,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

“Then, once that is done, we can discuss the details of our cooperation.”

After all, he bore the heavy responsibility of leading the entire New World Research Commission. Faced with an outsider like Su Yi, who possessed such extraordinary means, he had to proceed carefully and deliberate thoroughly.

Of course, he was not an obstinate man. If this cooperation truly benefited the exploration of the New World, he would not refuse it.

“Of course. No problem.” Su Yi nodded.

For now, properly accommodating the members of the Fifth Fleet was the most important matter for the Stronghold.

“Then let my grandson show you around Astera, traveler from a distant land.” The Commander-in-Chief nodded.

“My name is Su Yi. There’s no need for anyone to guide me around the base. You’re all busy at the moment, and my companion is a Palico from here. He can show me around.”

“Oh, right. I ran off with one of the Palicoes from your base. I hope that isn’t a problem.” Su Yi smiled.

“Meow! Su Yi treats me very well, meow! We’ve been on some wonderful adventures together, meow!” Dewdrop said energetically.

“If the Palico is willing to follow you, then naturally we have no objection,” the Commander-in-Chief replied.

“Meow! I want to take Su Yi to meet my friends, meow!” Dewdrop said happily.

“Hoho! They’re all Palicoes?” Su Yi’s face lit up with anticipation.

“Follow me, meow!”

Dewdrop dropped onto all fours and raced up the stairs along the cliff wall toward the upper levels of the base.

“Wait for me!” Su Yi called, chasing after him.

“Is he really an adventurer?” the Commander-in-Chief asked.

The Master of the Wilds laughed. “Actually, he’s very much like the Grandmaster and the others. He’s always completely absorbed in whatever brings him joy.”

“Do you think he can bring about new changes for us?” the Commander-in-Chief asked.

“I don’t know,” said the Master of the Wilds, “but one thing I do understand is that what he has brought with him will be revolutionary.”

The Commander-in-Chief nodded. Hunting alongside monsters and carrying them with him wherever he went—these were all things that had never been seen before.

“Cooperation between humanity and nature? How fascinating.”

“Everyone, I’m back, meow!”

Dewdrop burst excitedly into a dormitory converted from a ship’s cabin.

“Dewdrop’s back, meow!”

“You’ve been gone for ages, meow!”

“Where did you go adventuring, meow?”

In an instant, white cats, black cats, Siamese cats, orange cats, and every other sort of Palico gathered around him. They happily surrounded Dewdrop, greeting him with curiosity and delight as they jostled and played together.

Standing outside the door, Su Yi watched the scene and sighed softly.

Dewdrop had left his friends behind for so long in order to go adventuring with him. He must have missed them terribly.

“Meow! Let me introduce my companion, meow! This is Su Yi, meow! He treats me very well, and we’ve visited lots of wonderful places together, meow!”

Dewdrop turned around and cheerfully introduced Su Yi to his friends.

“Hello, meow!”

The Palicoes immediately greeted Su Yi with lively enthusiasm.

Su Yi smiled, crouched down, and returned their greeting. “Hello, everyone.”

“I brought you presents, meow.”

Dewdrop distributed the Friend Pendants he had made from bones and ore among his friends.

Su Yi opened his pack and took out several bags of snacks. Smiling, he said, “Dewdrop’s friends are my friends too.”

“They’re delicious snacks, meow.”

Seeing that his companions were puzzled by the strangely packaged food, Dewdrop took the initiative to open the wrappers and share the snacks with them.

“So tasty, meow!”

“Dewdrop’s friends are our friends too, meow!”

Before long, Su Yi had become one with the Palicoes and found himself happily surrounded by them.

Now that he could spend time at the base in the future, Dewdrop would be able to play with his friends often. The Palico was overjoyed.

Su Yi and Dewdrop then continued up to the upper levels of the base.

Passing hunters and Research Commission members moving in every direction, Su Yi admired the scenery of Astera until he reached the dining area.

“Of all the places in the base, this is still the one I’ve wanted to visit most!” Su Yi exclaimed.

Astera’s dining area was the Weapon and Wildcat, an open-air cooking station run by the Grandmaster’s Palico.

It was said that during a battle with a monster, the Grandmaster’s Palico had broken his sword, which led him to consider retirement. He had eventually become the head chef here.

As Su Yi entered the dining area, hunters beginning another day’s work had already started gathering for their meals.

A huge, muscular, one-eyed Palico wielded a short sword like a kitchen knife, vigorously slicing chunks of meat before placing them on a massive stone grill.

Behind the busy cooking Palico, a gigantic stone furnace roasted all kinds of meat.

Above the dining area, enormous nets served as a canopy, with cured meat, dried fish, sausages, fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients hanging from them.

“Uh, I don’t think I have any of the local currency.” The aroma made Su Yi eager to sample Astera’s famous Palico cuisine, but he suddenly realized that he had no money from this world.

“I still have some, meow.” Dewdrop rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a few coins.

“Then let’s have a proper feast. We can sell some of the materials afterward and get more money.” Su Yi gestured toward the ore and bones they had collected.

“Meow~”

Dewdrop leaned over the counter and waved to the Palicoes behind it.

“A new face. Are you a member of the Fifth Fleet?” the head chef asked, looking at Su Yi. His voice was several tones deeper than that of an ordinary Palico.

“Something like that.” Su Yi did not offer any further explanation.

“A hunter can’t work on an empty stomach. Place your order.” The head chef nodded, and another cooking Palico beside him handed Su Yi a menu.

“Wow!”

Su Yi took it and looked over the wide variety of ingredients listed inside.

Some of them were undoubtedly specialties of the New World. It seemed that over the past several decades, the Commission had developed many of the resources found here.

“Hmm.”

Su Yi studied the menu and ordered several dishes, including meat, vegetables, and even some alcoholic drinks he had always been curious to try.

“Is that really all you want?” the head chef asked in surprise after seeing Su Yi’s order.

“Well… I don’t eat that much.” Su Yi smiled awkwardly.

The amount he had ordered was already twice the portion meant for an adult man.

He had thought that spending so much time running around the New World would have greatly increased his appetite. Yet compared with hunters, was this still considered a small meal?

“A hunter ought to eat more.”

The head chef quickly brought out the dishes.

When I said my condition was poor, I meant my physical condition. I’ve simply been too exhausted lately.

Also, some friends have said that the Bestowal function isn’t very good.

But really, why shouldn’t the Research Commission be allowed to undergo some changes?

Of course, I’m not saying that companions connected to the protagonist should simply be handed over to other people. Rather, hunters should be able to cooperate with monsters, with every bestowal requiring the protagonist’s consent beforehand.

A cheat ability that can only change one person is simply too narrow in scope.

The Sapphire Star should be able to illuminate the path of everyone who moves forward.

The End.