Apocalypse Arrives: I Become a Powerhouse by Scavenging

However, although the seawater had become fresh, the fish native to it could still survive.

Every day, those fish swam around the Elf Tree as if on a pilgrimage.

Moreover, Moira Lynch could clearly see that ever since the Elf Tree appeared, the fish had started growing much faster.

After learning that Cheese Grass was not only edible but also nutritious and delicious, Moira Lynch entertained the thought of taking a stalk back with her.

Just then, the Lilypad Tortoise noticed Moira Lynch’s gaze, but he didn’t think much of it. After all, no one knew better than him how difficult it was to grow Cheese Water Grass.

Back then, just to be allowed to live here, he had to bathe eight hundred times and get scrubbed from head to toe with a brush.

Only after he had gone to such lengths did the Dada Ducks reluctantly allow him to live here.

However, seeing Moira Lynch’s gaze fixed on the water’s surface and her body leaning further and further forward, he kindly reminded her, "You’d better not fall in. If you pollute the pond’s water source, your entire Dindalon clan will be blacklisted by the Dada Ducks."

Hearing this, Moira Lynch pulled her gaze back and said, "I won’t fall in, don’t worry. I’m just curious."

She had just confirmed that some of the underwater Cheese Water Grass had produced seeds.

Originally, she had planned to take some fully grown Cheese Water Grass back with her, but she was afraid of being discovered and failing the mission. After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to take the seeds instead.

The Cheese Water Grass seeds were tiny. In no time at all, Moira Lynch had collected quite a few.

She placed all the seeds in the freshwater pond inside her personal space.

This pond had once been home to many fish, but Moira Lynch had since moved most of them to Cloudsea Planet. The ones left were for her own consumption.

As soon as the Cheese Water Grass seeds entered the water, they began to sprout at a visible rate.

Seeing this astonishing speed of germination and growth, Moira Lynch guessed it had something to do with the water quality of her space and the Water Wood Stone in the pond.

After growing to a certain size, the Cheese Water Grass stopped.

The fish swimming around in the water excitedly swarmed over after the Cheese Water Grass sprouted, opening their mouths to eat, but Moira Lynch stopped them.

To prevent the fish from eating all the newly sprouted Cheese Water Grass, Moira Lynch moved them all into the swimming pool.

After doing all this, Moira Lynch shifted her attention from her space back to the outside world.

She glanced behind her. The shore was no longer visible, but there was still no sign of the Dada Ducks. She couldn’t help but ask, "How much longer until we get there?"

"Almost there. Don’t be impatient. Good things come to those who wait," the Lilypad Tortoise said patiently.

After another ten minutes or so, the Lilypad Tortoise spoke again. "We’re here. The Dada Ducks’ Cheese Grass processing plant is just ahead."

Moira Lynch looked at the massive structure gradually coming into view in the distance.

The base of the entire structure resembled a giant lily pad, and on top of it was an enormous duck head.

The duck head had red feathers and a dark brown beak, and it looked very spirited.

Seeing this, the corner of Moira Lynch’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

A few minutes later, the Lilypad Tortoise brought Moira Lynch to their destination.

After paying one silver coin, Moira Lynch walked inside on her short little legs.

She had just reached the entrance when the main doors opened automatically. A Dada Duck wearing a red uniform walked out.

The Dada Duck waddled over to Moira Lynch with a swagger, looked her up and down, and then asked, "How come it’s just you?"

Detecting the confusion in his tone, Moira Lynch said, "The others are still behind. I’m just a fast walker, so I got here first. Can you give me the Cheese Grass quickly?"

Hearing Moira Lynch’s explanation, the Dada Duck wasn’t suspicious. After all, if there were anything wrong with the person before him, the Lilypad Tortoise wouldn’t have brought them here safely.

"Alright, follow me."

Led by the Dada Duck, Moira Lynch followed him inside.

Upon entering the Cheese Grass processing plant, the first thing she saw was a long hallway.

Numerous photos of Dada Ducks hung on both sides of the hallway.

There were names under the photos, proving they weren’t all the same one.

However, in Moira Lynch’s eyes, the photos all used the same frames, the Dada Ducks within were all making the same pose, wearing the same clothes, and showing similar expressions. They all looked like the exact same duck.

Of course, Moira Lynch wasn’t foolish enough to say that out loud.

After many twists and turns, the Dada Duck led Moira Lynch into a room. Inside, twenty transparent boxes—each fifty centimeters long, thirty centimeters wide, and fifty centimeters tall—were neatly arranged.

Inside the boxes was neatly arranged, processed Cheese Grass.

"This is the Cheese Grass you came for. Is the Space Button you brought big enough, or do you need us to provide one?"

"The processed Cheese Grass retains its nutrients and flavor and can be preserved for a longer time, but it also becomes very fragile. You need to be extremely careful during transport."

Hearing the Dada Duck say this, Moira Lynch carefully stored it in her "Space Button"—in reality, her personal space—and then asked curiously, "Is this why you stopped delivering the Cheese Grass to us?"

Hearing this, the Dada Duck paused for a moment before explaining. "That’s only a very small part of the reason. I can’t tell you the real reason, but I can say that we have our own difficulties regarding this matter."

"So, will we have to come get it ourselves from now on?" Moira Lynch continued to ask.

"Of course not," the Dada Duck said. "This was just an accident. We’ll sort things out soon and resume deliveries."

As the Dada Duck finished speaking, the sound of the system suddenly echoed in Moira Lynch’s ears.

[DING! Congratulations to player SoySauceDrunkard for completing the hidden quest: The Dindalon’s Question. You have solved a major problem for the Dindalons and are hereby awarded one Small Star, which will be automatically delivered to you after the game ends.]

Immediately after, the same announcement rang out three consecutive times.

The first time was for Moira Lynch’s ears only, while the remaining two rang out simultaneously for all players to hear.

In an instant, all the players who were still on their way stared wide-eyed.

’What?!’

’We haven’t even completed the most basic objective, and someone has already finished a hidden quest.’

’What kind of monster is SoySauceDrunkard?!’