---Child's POV---
"Wait for me here."
Then, like a nimble loach, Gaeman skillfully slipped into the bustling crowd. After a while, he emerged, his hair disheveled, disappointment written all over his face.
"The inn next to the tavern caught fire unexpectedly. The Angel's Kiss is closed today."
I scratched my head. In other words, we had come here for nothing.
"It's okay," I said in a relaxed tone. "Is there anywhere else?"
"No," Gaeman replied, even more dejected.
"That's the only place those lazy old mercenaries gather. If The Angel's Kiss is closed, they'll just stay home and sleep instead of coming out."
This was turning into a waste of time.
When seeking help, one must remain anonymous, without any identification or revealing too much personal information.
Except for mercenaries driven by money and alcohol, others tend to be hesitant to get involved.
Gaeman tightly pinched the copper coin in his hand, pressing it so hard it left a red mark on his skin.
"Don't look so down. I won't ask you to pay me back just because we didn't find the tavern."
I wasn't bothered about losing 1 sol.
But although he was just a kid, his pride was unexpectedly high.
I shook my head and glanced towards the inner section of Fire Tongs Street, my eyes lighting up.
I led the child to a corner and pointed to the wealthy district, where the crowd thinned considerably.
"Hey, kid. I'll add 2 more sols, can you take me inside?"
The area was separated by an iron fence, guarded by soldiers armed with swords and shields, clearly dividing the rich from the rest. The inside looked much more spacious and luxurious, giving off the impression of hidden treasures.
The identification papers Viktor had provided were insufficient to enter directly.
So, out of boredom, I decided to come up with another plan.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Gaeman's face. He hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "10 sols."
"Deal!" I was overjoyed and fist-bumped him decisively.
Apparently, he had a way in. Under his guidance, I climbed onto a roof, leapt over a balcony, and squeezed through a dog hole...
Finally, we entered the wealthy district.
I followed his lead to a corner alley, where I bought a dark purple cloak and a matching pointed wizard hat from an old man with a beard for 150 sols.
Once dressed, I blended seamlessly with the other people in the district. Even Gaeman got a hat so big it nearly swallowed his entire face.
As we stepped out, I was stunned by the wide, bright streets.
"The gap between the rich and the poor in your town is massive."
Only by seeing it up close could I appreciate the differences in infrastructure and resources. It wasn't just a typical 2:8 wealth distribution, more like 10% of the population controlling 90% of the wealth and space.
Gaeman stayed silent but explained, "There are four main streets radiating outward from the central square. Where do you want to go?"
"Show me around," I replied after a brief pause, having no specific goal in mind.
Fortunately, as a border town, Nary had a large foreign population.
Apart from the occasional horse-drawn carriage speeding past, there were many men and women wandering the streets with guides in tow, clearly just passing time.
The two of us didn't stand out.
Though the wealthy district had fewer streets, it was incredibly prosperous. It was full of shops, taverns, markets, and fountains.
Near the square, two pointed-roof buildings stood side by side.
While the surrounding buildings were already four to five stories high, these were taller and featured unique rune logos: one bore a wolf's head with a rose, the other a circle of seven-pointed stars.
I stood by the fountain, staring.
"What's that?"
"The mayor's manor and the Magicians' Guild," Gaeman whispered.
"The guards are formidable. Only nobles and distinguished magicians can approach. We'd best avoid that area."
As illegal residents, we could intimidate shopkeepers and passersby but wouldn't hold up under close scrutiny.
"The Magicians' Guild?" I asked curiously. "What does it do?"
Gaeman gave me an odd look.
"It spreads magical knowledge, explores truths, regulates and serves magicians. The guild has branches all over the continent, wielding immense power and safeguarding long-lost magical secrets."
"Adventurers Guild, Magicians Guild, Alchemists Guild, Apothecaries Association, Blacksmiths Guild... People with magical talent often join one. Among them, the Magicians' Guild is the most powerful. Even the Archbishop of the Radiant Church comes to conduct magic level assessments here. That's why the guild has a branch in Nary Town."
"Magic level assessment?" I glanced at my level 8 stats. "What's the point of that?"
Players could already test their levels, with level 10 marking a milestone. Did such an organization have any significance in the game?
"If you pass the assessment, you receive a magic badge and gain privileges within the guild. Many external chambers of commerce also recognize the badge. In fact, certain places require a badge of a specific rank for entry. For instance, entry fees to Nary Town are waived if you have a high-level magician badge."
Hearing this, my eyes gleamed with interest.
"Interesting!"
This could be a great way to save money. Unfortunately, I was only a magic apprentice, and it would take months to reach level 30.
I'd have to return later.
Just as we were about to leave, a man was suddenly thrown out of the guild's doors.
Thud!
The thin man, dressed in a brown fur cape, tumbled down five steps. Clutching a fallen wizard hat, his pale lips quivered.
"I'm an intermediate magician! Believe it or not, I'll report you to another branch!" he cried.
The guard who had thrown him out said, "If you've lost your magical talent, you're expelled. Rules are rules. Go ahead and complain."
"I—I just temporarily lost my strength while trying to gain new insight. I'll recover soon!"
"Then come back when you do." The guard waved dismissively, summoning reinforcements to toss him farther away. Ignoring his furious shouts, he slammed the guild's ornate doors shut.
The man's face turned pale with anger as he glared at the gathering onlookers.
He gripped the wizard hat tightly, creasing its brim.
Just as he bent to pick up his scattered belongings, a green light shot out from the guild doors, piercing his hand and leaving a bloody wound.
"Ahhh!!!" The man let out a chilling scream, curling up in agony as he clutched his injured hand.
The guild's door, at some unknown moment, opened again. The guard from earlier leaned against the doorframe. "That was just a test. A magician who leaves the guild cannot take anything from it. That's the rule."
The thin man's eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving with rage and pain. "You're just retaliating! I only pushed you that one time…"
The guard smirked provocatively. He shut the door once more. This time, it was truly the last. The crowd that had gathered to watch slowly began to disperse. Soon, only a gray bundle and a pool of blood were left at the guild's entrance.
On the way back, Gaeman spoke in an experienced tone. "This is what being a magician is like… When they're at the top, they're revered as gods; when they fall, everyone steps on them."
I tilted my head, pondering. "Isn't it said that prayers can help awaken magical talent or boost one's abilities? Can't it help that man regain his strength?"
"Of course it can," Gaeman said, walking steadily beside me. "But divine protection isn't that easy to come by. We might not see a single instance of it in our entire lives."
"So it's possible, then?" I mused aloud, whispering to myself. "No wonder the church's influence never wanes…"
Even if such miracles are as rare as winning a rigged lottery, the mere possibility is enough to spark hope. Add to that the promise of accelerated training, and people would become unshakably devoted to the gods. The humiliation and setbacks people face at their lowest points would all transform into fuel for their zealous faith!
The main storyline mission felt like a nightmare difficulty level!
"What did you say?" Gaeman turned, not catching my words.
"I was just considering the feasibility of going against the whole world," I said, wiping my face. I began calculating with my fingers.
If the game explodes in popularity after public release, player numbers might not even be a disadvantage… right?
Gaeman's expression grew even more puzzled but soon returned to his usual deadpan look as he continued leading the way.
---Third POV---
"Finally!" Lux tossed aside the quill.
The three players looked at the glowing stone table, nearly bursting into tears of joy.
After she logged off to recruit outside help, they'd finally managed to stumble their way through the advanced math problem.
Even David's face lit up with joy. He bowed respectfully.
"My apologies. Your identities are special, and the testing was for mutual safety. The lord has instructed that no matter the branch, we must assist you. Please, tell me what you need."
He added as an afterthought, "Rest assured, we'll ensure it's delivered."
From beneath the stone table, he retrieved three cloth bags.
"This is 3,000 sols, a token of the entire guild's sincerity!"
Weighing the hefty bag in her hand, Garble muttered in surprise, "So this is how quest rewards are distributed?"
Lux nodded. "And it comes with story progression."
With 3,000 sols, they'd be able to extend their stay in Nary Town significantly.
NeverShowOff eagerly asked, "Can you tell us Edgar's whereabouts now?"
"Of course." David agreed without hesitation.
The next second, his smile froze.
"Who… are you looking for?"
"Edgar! The man in silver-white armor with brown hair and blue eyes!" Lux clarified.
David froze as though struck by a major blow.
Garble narrowed her eyes. "What's going on? He doesn't seem to know Edgar's identity."
NeverShowOff's heart sank. He glanced down at the anchor wheel symbol on the money bag, deep in thought.
"Don't know, but isn't this guild here part of The Watchers?"
They clearly possess advanced knowledge like these incongruous math problems. Could they not be tied to their faction leader?
All three players turned their gaze to David. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he took an involuntary step back.
"Mind your words!" he warned. He quickly ran to the door of the darkroom, inspecting the runic seals.
After confirming there was no disturbance, he exhaled deeply, dragging his noodle-like legs back.
He glanced around nervously, lowering his voice.
"Those words… it's best you refrain from saying them here. Nary Town is full of shady characters. There might be high-level magicians who can trace your voice. Your organization can't afford to attract trouble…"
Refrain from saying them? The three players blinked in confusion. But they'd been casually saying it all the time in the Great Oak Forest… The players' risky conversation seemed to jolt David back to life.
He started pacing the darkroom in agitation.
"I-I can't believe I've encountered the rumored Fallen Blade! By the great God of Wealth, no, I can't tell Him about this!"
He slapped himself hard. It took him a while to calm down. With one cheek red and swollen, he cleared his throat. "Apologies, it's my first time interacting with individuals like yourselves. May I ask who you are?"
His eyes darted about as he mentally listed possible names.
"Greedy Dragon Ludwig? Song of the Dead Claire? Forge of War Serkan? White Death Kasha?"
But the races didn't match. Could they be disguising their appearances?
The three players were utterly bewildered.
Garble frowned. "What are those?"
NeverShowOff guessed, "Probably NPCs from our organization?"
Lux took a deep breath. "None of those sound like compliments… wasn't Edgar supposed to be a Knight of Dawn in the backstory? What's this Fallen Blade nonsense?"
Do allies refer to each other with derogatory nicknames?
When the three remained silent, David assumed they doubted him. He hastily tried to prove his sincerity.
"Rest assured, the lord greatly admires your courage. Though the guild isn't part of your faction, we'll do everything we can to assist you! You can absolutely trust us!"
NeverShowOff's mouth twitched. This was the first time they'd met a supposed ally so eager to help but equally desperate to disassociate.
It seemed The Watchers' reputation outside was truly abysmal…
Garble couldn't help but interrupt him. "We're just new recruits and have nothing to do with the people you're mentioning. We just want to know where Edgar is."
Hearing this, disappointment flickered in David's eyes. But he quickly perked up again. To meet a legendary figure from bardic tales, even one, was enough to be satisfied.
Being assigned to this branch hadn't been a waste after all!
"No problem. Wait here for a moment!"
He retrieved a key from beneath the stone table, knocked on a section of the wall, and pulled out a new ledger.
"Found it!"
The ledger was spread out on the stone table, its records clear for all to see.
"Six days ago, Lord Raynor sent a letter here!"
NeverShowOff eagerly pressed on. "And then?"
"That's it."
"That's it?!" Lux frowned. "That's barely any more information than we had at the start!"
All they got was a date!
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60 advance chapters!
[email protected]/Malphegor