Chapter 222: [222] Harold’s Ploy

Bang!

Ragnar’s claw streaked forward like lightning, racing for the old man’s neck. But a shadow suddenly appeared between them as Thalia moved, blocking the attack with her serpentine body.

Ragnar’s claws screeched over metal-like scales, sparks spewing out from the point of impact, but leaving her largely uninjured.

"What are you trying to do, Ragnar?" Thalia stared at him coldly. "Ark will be the one to decide his fate, not you."

"How dare you interfere?!" Ragnar growled, his eyes locked on Thalia.

Ark watched the two of them in silence. Although Harold seemed to be the bone of contention in this matter, it seemed their anger went deeper than that.

Thalia was usually polite, but the way she watched Ragnar, as though she was ready to bare her fangs at him at any given moment...

There was definitely something going on between them, an animosity that had blossomed sometime after they met.

The two players stared each other down, as though begging each other to make a move, as though they were looking for the perfect excuse to engage...

Ragnar’s arms twitched.

"Enough." Ark’s summons, who had been idle in the background, immediately got to their feet, reacting to his command.

Ark had not raised his voice, nor had he channelled any killing intent, and yet his word carried more than enough weight to put the scuffle to an end.

Ragnar hissed as he turned around and stormed away. "You can listen to the lying pig all you want. This is your quest after all, do as you wish!"

Dark got up and followed Ragnar. Cici glanced between the two groups, like a child trying to decide which parent to side with.

She got up and tried to leave, but Olivia grabbed her hand and pulled her back to sit next to her.

"What’s his problem?" Harold grumbled.

He had not even flinched when Ragnar attacked. It was clear that he did have some sort of training.

Ark glanced at Thalia. "We’ll talk later..."

She nodded, her slit pupils dilating as she watched Ragnar go.

"So what is the plan?" Olivia turned her attention to Ark, changing the topic. "Where do we go from here?"

Ark stood up and stared into space for a few seconds, considering their options. Their objective was rather straightforward: kill the dungeon boss.

But even after fighting the frost bears and tangoing with the natives, they were no closer to finding out where the boss was...

"Have you heard of any very large or powerful monsters? Like something impossible to beat?" Ark asked Harold.

If there was a myth or a rumour going around among the locals, it would be a good place to start.

"Huh? A big monster?" Harold stroked his chin. "No, I don’t think I have. But our chief will definitely have heard of it. The fool is even older than me."

"If you come bearing gifts, hehe, I’m sure he will listen to your request."

"And what sort of gift would he accept?" Thalia asked.

Rodolph frowned slightly. "The old man is really difficult. It would take a lot to sway him, especially if you want information."

He motioned to the area around them, or rather, at the corpses that littered the space.

"But I’m sure this should be enough. He cares too much about his people to refuse."

Olivia blinked. "You mean all the monster corpses?"

Harold nodded. "At the very least..."

Ark gave Harold a blank stare as he crouched down to stare him in the eyes.

"It would be best if you did not try to be smart with me, Harold. There is only one cunning person I entertain in my life, and that most certainly isn’t you."

"Huh?" Harold frowned, looking oblivious. "What the heck are you talking about?"

"Your story already has too many holes..." Ark explained calmly.

"You said your people were starving, that your children are dying. And yet, you act like your chief is some high and mighty noble who wouldn’t be swayed until he is given a hefty offering."

"You also claimed your village has rules. You tried to make your information seem valuable, as though you wanted people to stay away."

"That is because my village is off-limits to outsiders. You could be pillagers in disguise for all I know! But you... you threatened my life. What was I supposed to do?"

"Hmm? You had the gall to leave the village under this snow, knowing you may very well not come back, all because of your love for people..."

"And yet, you folded, giving their location to ’possible pillagers’ after a single threat?"

"That is different! No one knows what death will be like until it stares them in the eyes—"

"Do you know why you did that, Harold?" Ark interrupted him with a slight chuckle.

Maybe Harold’s lies would have convinced him, if he had not seen his reaction to Ragnar’s stunt earlier.

Harold’s gaze hardened. He tried to keep a straight face, but Ark could see his composure unwinding with each revelation.

"Because you actually want us to visit your village."

Harold’s face went pale.

Ark had suspected that the old man’s tongue was far too loose, and now he knew why.

All this time, he had been trying to build curiosity about his village. Because if there was one thing humans loved, it was going to places they were not allowed to go.

"You want us to bring our haul."

"You want us to negotiate with your chief, while providing food for your starving people."

Harold had tried to use this basic knowledge on them, but it had backfired painfully.

"Hmm. How greedy."

If there was one thing Ragnar was right about, it was that the NPCs were cunning bastards.

Harold’s plan had been mostly harmless, but this level of cunning was dangerous.

"The truth is..." Ark got up.

"Even if I brought a single chunk of meat, your chief would beg for it. He would grovel on his knees just for a taste of my meat."

"Huh?" Olivia blinked.

Ark paused. "You... you know what I mean..."

A chilling gust of wind cut across the camp, causing the fire to flicker, nearly extinguishing it, just before it flared even brighter.

Ark cleared his throat and turned his attention back to Harold.

"Now that our positions have been made clear. Let us talk, Harold. What can you do for me? And why should I save your people?"

Rodolph stared at Ark from the corner of the camp, completely speechless.

All throughout the conversation, the old man had completely deceived Rodolph. He was sure it was due to his silver tongue that he had gotten the man to speak.

Well, that and the fireball that was hovering over their heads...

But all this time, Harold had simply been playing him for a fool?

’How did Ark figure it out?’

Rodolph had never thought he was the type to think things through, but this level of deduction — especially from a man with an empty head, and that was not him being metaphorical — was frightening...

Harold stared at Ark for a long while, just before he let out a breath and clicked his tongue.

"You lot are smarter than ya look."

He tugged at the rope binding him, and Ark swiped his hands at it, slicing it to pieces. When Harold was finally free, he got to his feet, just before suddenly bowing at the waist.

"Please, Ark! Help me save my people!"

[Subquest Received!]

[The land beneath the storm]

[Quest objectives: Save the starving village]

[Rewards: Wraith Lamps]

[Failure: Nil]

Ark nodded. If Harold wanted him to help out his village, then all he had to do was ask. All the plots had only ended up costing them time.

"Alright, pack up everyone. We are going to... hmm? What is the name of your village again?"

"Oh. Didn’t I mention it?" Harold got up and sighed. "Alask. My hometown is called Alask..."