Gauss noticed that the staff member didn’t intend to continue the conversation.
He didn’t press for details.
At most, someone used some special means to gain extra points, and it’s highly likely that it involved some direct transaction, one where they didn’t even get personally involved.
I guess they saw my points rising too quickly and got anxious because they couldn’t catch up by hunting monsters normally, so they had to resort to special methods.
As for why they were anxious, it could either be out of greed for a better reward for first place or just a matter of pride.
Even though the two of us haven’t met in person, there are lots of people watching us from both his town and my lakeside town.
Hopefully, the other side learns a lesson from this incident.
Getting disqualified from this hunting competition isn’t the end of the world.
Besides, he might fool the Guild and others, but he shouldn’t deceive himself.
Failing in the competition at worst means losing face and getting less reward.
If he misjudges his strength and heads into the wild, he might lose his life.
Every year, who knows how many people die because they misjudge their own abilities and recklessly face enemies beyond their capabilities.
Gauss thought to himself.
The staff had finished processing the paperwork.
The leaderboard was updated.
Gauss’s points reached 1688.
He gained over 300 points.
Below him, the second-place Koman still had only 991 points.
The gap was quite large, almost double, and this was despite Gauss starting a few days late.
"They probably won’t catch up."
Gauss looked away from the ranking.
On one hand, as the event progresses, participants will inevitably get tired, and their efficiency will drop.
On the other hand, the Adventurers near the town have been clearing monsters in the wild during this time, so the monster density will decrease faster than usual, making it harder to find suitable monsters as time goes on.
Additionally, the gap between Gauss and them is so huge, it’s easy for them to lose the desire to challenge.
When the gap is smaller, people might push themselves, seeing a glimmer of hope, but with such a large gap, it’s better to give up and compete for second place.
However, the value of competing for second place isn’t much different because the second place offers just slightly more than the third. At least first place has the symbolic blessing of the Lake God.
Even though it seems to be something useless based on past experiences, it’s better to have it than not.
Besides, this Blue Lake does seem to be quite extraordinary, and many residents living near the five towns believe in the lake itself.
They believe the Blue Lake can bring them health, prosperity, and luck.
According to legend, a long time ago, when the first pioneers set foot on the shores of Blue Lake, they had nearly exhausted their food after a long journey.
While drinking from the lake, they accidentally dropped their last piece of dry black bread into the water.
At that moment, when hunger gnawed at them and hope seemed lost,
A fairy, glowing softly with moonlight, appeared from the misty lake and walked across the water.
Before her, three piles of food floated in mid-air.
To the left was a pile of soft, white bread that looked extremely delicious.
In the center was the unremarkable black bread they had just dropped.
On the far right was a basket of magical berries, plump and juicy, a type they had never seen before.
The fairy asked them in a gentle, compassionate voice, "Honest people, tell me, did you drop this precious white bread, this ordinary black bread, or this basket of magical berries?"
The pioneers intended to answer truthfully, but they were too hungry.
So they claimed that all three were theirs.
Surprisingly, the Lake Fairy showed no displeasure towards their lie and gave them all the food.
Indeed, the Lake Fairy is such a generous and kind deity that even when deceived, she graciously bestowed gifts upon them.
With the food and the fairy’s blessings, the pioneers not only overcame their crisis, but they also found fertile lands near the lake and established homes.
The tale of the generous Lake Fairy of Blue Lake was thus passed down across generations.
The "Lake God Faith" gradually formed.
Now, after every festival, residents of the nearby towns would habitually toss food into the lake, most often black bread.
Partly because it’s the cheapest thing that everyone can afford, so it’s less painful to throw, and partly in the hope of recreating a classic story moment, possibly luring out the legendary Lake Fairy.
As to whether the Lake Fairy truly exists, opinions vary.
When Gauss first heard this story, he found it hard to judge.
Shouldn’t the procedure be rewarding honesty, and leaving disappointed at a lie? If the Lake Fairy exists, is she some naïve and wealthy divine being?
And what’s with the custom of throwing black bread into the lake? It’s way too utilitarian, isn’t it?
The most likely outcome is just feeding the fish and demons in the lake, right?
Of course, you could look at it another way: maybe the Lake God has an abundance of riches, and while food is precious to those on the brink of starvation, it means nothing to her. In return, she gains their faith.