by Scar, Rick
Following his sister’s plan, Will was already developing the mineral industry, constructing new sawmills in the best places, upgrading the existing mines and story quarries, and sending out the scouts to look for new deposits of metals and other resources.
His new course was to take this country out of stagnation. If things went as planned, he could transform Adamarona into a powerful empire.
***
“So what do you want to discuss?” Winking to a young servant maid pouring wine, Emin leaned back in his chair facing the fireplace.
His voice brought Will back. “Um… yes. I’m going to visit the Monarch’s Door. And I need your help.”
The captain coughed, choking on his wine. Then he looked down at his new uniform stained with red and sighed at his ruined clothes. “But why? Why do you need that? You are the King now. Do you…? Ah. But what about Daltaro? Didn’t he tell you?”
“Hush. That windbag forgot the location,” Will said, peering at the fire as he remembered his recent talk with the archer.
“Oh. I need a map. It’s difficult to explain verbally.”
“Well. Tassimea?”
“Yes, sire?” The serving maid froze with her hands on her apron, waiting for the young king’s order.
“Please bring us the world map.”
“Yes, sire. Please allow me a couple of minutes.” The maid closed the door behind her, leaving the two men in private.
“So, will you tell me your plans? Who’s next?”
Snickering, Raven turned to the captain. “Well. Listen…”
Chapter 134. An Urgent Message
W hile staying in the palace to resolve the routine issues and gain some XP, Will also explored his specialization, making an extremely useful discovery: learning the first skill in a branch, he could upgrade it further with influence points. Be it Demon Tamer or Dragon Intuition, he’d only spend a skill point to acquire the first level of this skill. To level it up further, he needed none, unlike his rogue skills that required skill points to reach each next stage.
That was probably because the dragon class had much fewer skills available than the rogue—and it was a perfect solution to the problem of skill point scarcity that prevented Will from spending any points he already had.
Each skill upgrade cost 70 influence points. This was a low price for Will, but still, he knew better than rush to pay it. Influence points could buy him too many other useful things, including some buildings and laws for his kingdom.
Remembering the decisions he’d made at the start of the game, Will wondered if he could have saved those skills points to use them later. Now, spending one skill point, he had eight left. He put three of them into developing his dragon form, fully leveling up two branches and unlocking the third. That took only a small portion of the resources he’d obtained by grinding.
His character development tree did not actually much resemble a tree; rather, it was more a giant web with skills sitting all over it, the most basic ones closest to the center. However, the system and all the players kept calling it a tree.
***
Accompanied by Daltaro and Nanel, Will was about to set off for the Dried Ocean Valley where the Monarch’s Door was located when his plans were disrupted by a message from Kingmaker:
“Hi. I remember you asking me about the Dla’Khree Forest. We’ve found it. But how are you going to come to our floor?”
What a great surprise. I can’t let anyone get their hands on the tablet before I do.
“Hi. Please give me the exact location,” he replied.
“Get back to me when you’re on the floor. I might have already finished searching the forest myself. Ahahaha.”
“Wait.”
Will did not like Kingmaker’s last words. He was not sure that her clan hadn’t already found the tablet. He had to hurry to reach it first.
“So, ladies and… and all the rest. My plans have suddenly changed. I suggest that the two of you take this journey without me. Daltaro, you may introduce the princess to Rinnah. Maybe we’ll arrange a double date later. Ahahaha. Anyway… seriously. I must go to another floor now. I’ve told you about that.” Raven looked at the adventurer. “Please keep her alive. Agreed?”
“Hey!” the princess protested. “I’m no helpless and fragile girl, actually.”
“You aren’t, but… do you want to know who your mother was? You need to stay alive for that.”
“I’m telling you again: I can take care of myself.” Nanel was too proud to have anyone nurse her like a child.
“That’s good. But you’ll enjoy traveling with Daltaro. He’s a legendary adventurer, after all. Just go with him. Please.”
“I’m telling you…”
“Stop. Now.” Will was not going to waste any more time arguing. His cold glare calmed Nanel down. Muttering something under her breath, she just nodded.
“Thank you. I need you alive, don’t forget. You are the queen now.”
“Yes, I see. How long will you be away?”
“I’ll be returning to the castle to keep running the state anyway. I’ll try to do that once a week. By way of an apology for this sudden leave, would you mind me showing you some ancient dragon magic?”
The eyes of both flashed at once. Shoving Will in the back to hurry him up, they followed him outside.
***
The place selected by Will was an empty clearing behind the palace. Remembering Cerberus’s warning, the rogue decided not to activate the Shroud-Breaking Claw indoors.
“Please step back. For your own safety.” Waiting for his companions to walk away, Raven activated the item.
Please select the floor to open the passage to.
“Floor Three.”
Are you sure?
“Yes.”
An elastic barrier surrounded the rogue; a swirl like that formed by water going down a plughole appeared in the air in front of him, spinning faster and faster, shaking the space all around him. Even the two observers, both standing fifty feet away, could feel the gusts of wind produced by this tiny tornado.
Where will the portal open? Will it let my pet and servant through? I wish I knew that beforehand.
Pop!
With a sound like that of a stretched film being pierced through, the world froze. A seven-foot hole appeared before Will; he could see the other players’ astonished faces inside it.
“Not a really pleasant sight,” the rogue grumbled and, waving goodbye to the archer and the princess, he went for another tablet.
You’ve used a unique item: The Shroud-Breaking Claw.
A two-way passage has been created. Remember the rules. If you violate them, the passage will close, sending you back to your floor.
Duration: Three months from now on.
***
The young black man nicknamed Malissar was buying disposables for another dungeon when something strange went on in the midst of the small town market. Powerful gusts of wind scattered everyone around. The air started to tremble, then it all ended with a soft pop.
A spot that was empty a moment before now had a large space tunnel, and standing at its other end was… Raven?
Waving to the side, Player Number One stepped into the tunnel to be instantly carried through. Everyone’s gazes settled on him.
The black-skinned rogue examined the man he’d wanted to meet since seeing his first video. Something was wrong about him. What is it? His eyes! What the hell is THAT?
Raven’s stare turned blank as he opened his player menu.
“Hmm.” Malissar was Level 41—much weaker than the other man—but he was not going to miss an opportunity to meet Raven, or even to join him.
“Hey, Raven!” Waving a hand, Malissar started towards him, but four other players were faster.
“Hey!”
“Raven!”
“Hey! Just a moment!”
The three girls and one guy tried to drive Raven’s attention, but he just slid a glance across them and resumed scrolling t
he menu.
“What a rude bumpkin,” a girl of the Wind Speaker race commented.
“Let’s wait. He’s just busy, you see.” The guy was apparently not fond of his female companions’ idea of driving the Number One’s attention, but he still followed their lead.
Watching all of that, Malissar mentally thanked him. This guy had saved him from an awkward situation he’d have gotten in by trying to engage Raven in a conversation.
Raven was already surrounded by several dozen players watching his every move, but he did nothing for five more minutes. Then his gaze became intelligent.
***
So, my servant is locked.
The Khalapheer’s description stated that restrictions had been imposed on this creature, although Hades was still available to be summoned. Technically, he had not violated any rules by bringing his pet and his servant through the passage as it still remained open; but the system apparently realized that allowing the rogue to use his servant on this floor would give him too much of an edge, shattering the local balance of power.
“Well. Where’s the teleport?” Running his gaze over the crowd, Will waited for anyone to point him the way until he saw a raised hand of a black guy who was apparently the fastest thinker here.
“I’ll take you there.” His nickname was Malissar, and he played a goblin race. What an odd choice.
Raven knew his current location due to the pop-up message saying he was in the city of Apalie. Informing Mollie on arrival (and apparently surprising the RD leader as she’d stayed silent for a long while), he got invited to another city to meet her face to face.
Eyeing the volunteer, Will wondered if he should follow this man. Eventually, he decided to ask the NPCs. But three female players prevented him from doing that, getting in his way and waving their hands.
“What do you need?” Will asked. “Are you cheerleaders? Where are your pom poms? Or maybe you’re hitchhiking? Then go to the freeway. Stop waving at me, or I’ll respond to it in a way you sure won’t like.”
“Pah. How rude!” The Elven girl winced. “Come, girls.”
With an elegant wave of her hand, she turned round and walked away slowly, expecting Raven to stop her and her friends and ask what they wanted of him. She’d always got this result at her university. Many men in the game were happy to help three beauties like them, too. But now, walking farther and farther away, they still weren’t called to, until…
“Hey, wait!”
“You see, girls? It works.” Giggling and putting their sweetest smiles on, the trio turned around… only to see their pal running after them.
“Huh? And where’s Raven?”
“If you looked back a bit earlier, you’d have seen him leave for the portal.”
“Oh. What’s the matter with him?”
***
Will stood in the line to enter the portal when a familiar voice came from behind. “Why wouldn’t you come with me?” It was the black-skinned goblin again.
“Would you trust a complete stranger?”
“Um. Sure I…” Malissar’s voice stopped as he peered at the newly arriving message. Raven started reading his, too.
On all floors, every player froze wherever they were to read the same message:
ATTENTION! The Fortune’s Grin clan opened the gate on the first floor! That’s a turning point in the history of this world. Rejoice!
Floors One and Two are now connected by teleports that can be used not only by players, but by NPCs too. Locked on their floors for ages, they have been dreaming of visiting other floors. Now they are free to do so!
Note: Those players who took a quest from local NPCs before leaving for another floor will be able to see their employer’s mark on the map.
That was sure to happen. Soon we’ll see the videos of the wild serpent being murdered and the gate being opened. Personally, I’d love to.
Chapter 135. The Preparations
T he great and beautiful port city of Dagdakar sprawled on the sea shore covered in ice, with freezing gusts of wind blowing through. The temperature contrast made Raven shiver. On his floor, it would sometimes get cold in the northern Taargada Forest, but it was never as frosty as here.
There were lots of people in the streets, players and NPCs alike. Some shivered with cold, and others walked around as though not feeling it at all.
Meeting the RD leader, Will learned from her that those shivering could not afford any of the warming rings or necklaces. These items were filled with fire magic, increasing cold resistance by 83%, and they had to be recharged every two weeks, making the jewelers providing this service very rich indeed.
Buying such a ring and putting it on, Will immediately felt warm. His sensitivity level had made the local freezing temperatures feel like real; he’d rather not linger in this place without proper protection.
“So…” Mollie and Katharine drawled in a single voice as they struggled to choose the question to ask first, their eyes burning the rogue through.
“That’s fun, sure,” Will commented, pretending to be checking his watch. “But not as much as it used to be. Give me the forest’s coordinates. Or show it on the map.”
“I’d like to get a couple of answers first. If you’re not going to give them, you can go looking for the forest on your own.” Crossing her legs, Kingmaker called the waiter over to take her order.
The three of them were in a small outdoor restaurant surrounded by a transparent barrier that protected the visitors from both the cold and the winds. Located on a second-floor rooftop, this restaurant was part of the complex incorporating a hotel, practice grounds, and tailors’, forgers’, and rune masters’ workshops.
“Why order food? Are you going somewhere?”
“No. I just like how it tastes.”
“And you are ready to pay for that? This food is anything but cheap.” Checking the menu prices, Raven decided not to order anything, although a couple of dishes were much to his liking.
“I can afford it. Relax. By the way, did you know this establishment is run by players?”
“Huh?” Will stared at the menu, then at the visitors. No NPCs among them? “Hey, wait…”
Players. That’s who will be the main source of revenue in the future.
If he could find the key but not use it to open the gate, everyone would keep looking for it, spending money within the game. They would explore the unknown territory—his territory, in fact—and he would become rich selling info, lands, and buildings to them.
Oh, yes.
He saved this scenario in his mind to try it later. As he did it, a smile the girls had seen before blossomed on his face. They exchanged frightened glances.
“Thank you for this information… Mollie Houns, modest and beautiful. That is your name, isn’t it?”
“Mollie?” Katharine barely kept from laughing as she turned to the other girl who covered her face with a menu. “Did you… did you really send him an email with that signature? Why didn’t you remove it?”
“I… um… I was in a hurry and forgot.” Blushing red, the proud leader of a TOP clan now wished the earth could swallow her up.
She spoke the truth. She’d seen that damned signature added automatically to her message only after sending it.
“That’s okay as long as you’re not shouting it out loud,” Will comforted her. “And now let’s get back to business. I need the coordinates of the Dla’Khree Forest. What are they?”
“We’ll ask our questions first, Raven,” Katharine said as Mollie kept hiding. However, she had no idea what sort of a negotiation she was entering into.
“Okay... Well, then my condition is: I will answer any three questions you ask. But only three. Choose wisely.”
“Agreed. What floor do you film your videos on?”
“Two more questions.”
“Huh? You didn’t even answer that one!”
“I will answer all three at once. Just keep asking.”
“Oh, well. What do you need
in the Dla’Khree Forest? How long are you going to stay on our floor? And… and what the hell’s up with your eyes?”
“Stop. That’s a fourth question. Now I answer. I film my videos on a different floor than yours.”
“What? That’s clear already, without you stating it.” Taken aback by such a treacherous answer, Katharine glared at the rogue.
“I told you to choose your questions wisely.”
“Pah. Do you think you’re some kind of a sly fairy-tale genie?” Mollie stepped in.
“I didn’t lie to you. A genie wouldn’t have either. Do you want to hear the other two answers?”
“Surprise us.” Katharine leaned back in her chair, her face showing her disappointment.
“I’m looking for adventure in the forest. I’ll surely stay for more than a week.”
“Not surprised.” That was close to what Mollie expected of this guy, so she took no offense. Who would disclose their secrets at will?
“I’ve answered three of your questions. Now it’s your turn.”
“We can play the same game with you.” Kingmaker smiled coldly.
“You can’t.” Raven shrugged and tossed a cracker up to catch it with his mouth. “I’ve asked you for the forest coordinates. A request worded like that prevents you from just waving away and saying, ‘Over there’.”
“Phew.” Massaging her temple, Mollie glanced at Katharine. “Okay. Here you are. But maybe you will answer one of our questions honestly? As a show of gratitude for us just giving them away? We could’ve sold them to you.”
“Um. You could. I agree. Okay. I will answer your last question. The hell with my eyes is a side effect of my specialization. Since we are allies, I can even make an exception for you and show you something I normally don’t. But that will cost you 50 gold coins.”