---
Tier 1 Quest: Recruit the Fugitive
Objective: Ensure the fugitive works for you and helps accomplish your goals
Reward: Thunder Circuit Manuscript
....
Rael narrowed his eyes after going through the new quest and immediately noticed several differences between recruiting this fugitive and recruiting the elves. First, this recruitment seemed easy seeing as it was just a tier 1 quest. Second, unlike the elven women, whose quest explicitly stated that they had to align with him willingly, this one only required that the fugitive work for him. And finally, the most perplexing part of it all was the reward.
A manuscript.
Clearly a spellcaster's manuscript.
That alone made Rael wonder why such a reward was being offered.
He turned his gaze toward the flattering and overly talkative fugitive, who had been desperately pleading for his life and even offering himself in servitude, as long as Rael let him live.
Wasn't this too simple? Rael thought.
He noticed the almost relieved light in the fugitive's eyes, as if the man believed his endless talking was finally working, mistaking Rael's thoughtful expression for hesitation.
"Enough," Rael cut him off, his voice cold as he stared into those hope-filled eyes. "Where exactly are you from?"
As he spoke, Rael pressed the blade slightly against Xaphxan's neck.
Xaphxan hesitated.
"Don't dare lie," Rael warned. He would easily know, thanks to the little the Eye of Critic had revealed .
"I… no, I mean… I was a prisoner," Xaphxan stammered. "Of a cult. And I was lucky to escape."
He gulped when he noticed a subtle change in Rael's expression, mistaking it for concern about the cult possibly giving chase. Encouraged by that misunderstanding, he lied through his teeth.
"No, no, don't worry," Xaphxan hurriedly added. "I swear they can't find me. They're far from here, very far away. They'd never bother with a mere weakling like me."
Rael studied him quietly.
He could clearly see the tears threatening to spill from Xaphxan's eyes, making the story seem believable. Yet Rael knew that, aside from the mention of a cult, most of it was likely false. Still, the quest stood before him, and having another pair of hands was not a bad idea.
That said, Rael could easily tell that this fugitive was cunning.
Not someone to fully trust.
The way Xaphxan had shifted so quickly, from internal struggle, to fear, and then to a pitiful, hopeful expression, was far too telling.
"Hm," Rael thought. "This one might be more troublesome than those three."
"What's your name?" Rael asked, the blade still pressed against Xaphxan's throat.
"Xaphxan, sir. My name is Xaphxan," he answered as quickly as he could. The blade had already made a small cut, causing blood to trickle down his neck.
"Well then, Xaphxan," Rael said calmly. "You've traded the price of your life for servitude to me and my territory. So make sure you never think of playing tricks, or I swear I won't hesitate to slice you clean in two."
He lifted the blade and, unnoticed by Xaphxan, pricked his own thumb. With a casual slash to the side, a red arc shot forth, splitting through two large trees several feets away as they fell to the ground in clean halves.
"Just like that," Rael added. "You understand?"
Xaphxan froze, slowly turning to stare at the neatly severed trees.
A Rank 2 Bronze Warrior? Xaphxan thought in awe and terror. Only Rank 2 and above Aether warriors could release Aether attacks so casually.
Did I just hit the jackpot… or stepped into even deeper shit?
Rael had mentioned his territory. That meant he definitely has status. And someone of this level would not be insignificant within it. His life there might not be so bad after all.
Excitement and fear mixed as Xaphxan bowed deeply and shouted, "I, Xaphxan Loreback, swear my loyalty to you, lord—"
He paused, peeking upward.
As if knowing why, Rael answered, "Rael."
"I pledge my undying loyalty to you, Lord Rael," Xaphxan corrected himself hastily. "And to prove my worth, I have information on the three individuals you're after."
Rael cringed internally at the sudden devotion and the excessive honorifics, and was surprised at how quickly Xaphxan was trying to gain favor. Still, he decided to play along.
"Really? You mean those elves?" Rael asked, pointing toward the fenced compound. "You know them?"
"Yes, I do, my lord. I kn—"
"Stop calling me lord," Rael cut in. "Sir Rael is fine."
"Alright, si—sir Rael," Xaphxan corrected himself. "I know them because we come from the same territory."
Seeing the surprise flicker across Rael's face, Xaphxan continued while still kneeling.
"They were sellswords in the now-destroyed Ashwood Territory, until a high elf took them in and made them her personal guards. They were infamous for carrying out her orders successfully. But everything came crashing down when…" He hesitated briefly, or at least pretended to. "When the Dark Acolytes, the same cult that imprisoned me, laid waste to Ashwood's nobility and the city itself."
He swallowed. "I believe the three lost their employer during the crisis. Since then, they've been hunted by the cult."
"Why?" Rael asked. "Why are they being hunted?"
"It seems to involve the young patriarch of the cult," Xaphxan replied carefully, withholding more than he revealed. He planned to drip-feed information when it suited him to gain more favor.
Rael, however, was far less interested in Xaphxan's schemes than in how the women's troubles might affect him later, especially if he truly intended to recruit them.
"So, sir," Xaphxan continued eagerly, "I suggest we ambush them and claim your bounty."
He had already reached another conclusion. Rael had to be a bounty hunter. A bandit wouldn't be welcomed in any territory, and that should be another possible explanation for the multiple pouches. He wouldn't even be surprised if the elves had already caused trouble in human lands.
Rael paused, then smiled faintly.
"And who said I wanted to capture them?" he asked. "Why would I do that, when they're my guests?"
He chuckled at the terror that washed over Xaphxan's face as the system notification confirmed the reward for recruiting him.
.