Chapter 88 088

Shahav was a settlement built on a desert, to the east of Valaran. The settlement wasn't that popular among players because of the location and its back-breaking high prices of basic supplies.

'Though, the advantage is that obtaining rare materials like gems is easier.'

Basic items like food, clothing, and shelter were expensive, while useless luxury items were relatively cheaper. In other words, Shahav was a place full of freaks, high rollers, or those who loved a challenge.

'It holds one of Robert's most precious warehouses too. He must be busy doing something by now.'

Ironblood was probably busy right now because of that. Seojin had leaked his information for that purpose, and he himself would've taken action as well.

"Okay, let's get going."

"What a shame we have to leave such a prosperous land and be tossed into the desert!"

Seojin ignored Flappy and took an item out of his inventory.

"We still have a long way to Shahav, you know?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? We have to ride a boat first, then a carriage…"

"Are my eyes deceivin' me? Isn't that a return scroll you're holding? That's what it looks like to me?"

"A return scroll?"

Seojin looked back at the item once again. The only explanation written on it was that the user would be able to go back to the Three Crossroads.

'Wait, the stuff about returning to the Three Crossroads was about the return scroll function?'

It was either that or the high spirit was wrong, and Seojin thought that the former was more plausible than the latter.

"I would've wasted a lot of time if it wasn't for you, Flappy."

"Oh my lord. Why did I even say that?"

Seojin tore the scroll and instantly saw the effect.

"Wow…"

For a moment, a blinding light flooded his vision, and soon enough, Seojin had arrived at a familiar place.

Arrived: Three Crossroads.

Pass identified. Re-entry permitted.

The settlement looked just the same as the last time Seojin saw it, except for one thing.

"I'm headed to Berne! Anybody LFG?"

"Tank here!"

"We got tank! One healer and we're good to go!"

Berne had now become a popular choice among other players too.

'This place changed a lot too.'

Seojin smiled with pride.

Altagon was still a niche for the PK lovers, but Berne had the upper hand compared to Ilynea.

'Mac must be very busy.'

Berne's new chief probably wouldn't even have time to rest properly, but it must have been better to stay busy than to sit in a deserted town. It hadn't been long since the townsfolk started to forget about all the suffering they endured.

'I'll definitely pay them a visit later.'

Seojin returned to his original purpose, promising to check on Berne later.

"Let's see, where's Morgan…?"

Morgan Feriah. He had to find the commander, who was away the other day.

"Flappy, can you find a man named Morgan Feriah?"

"My working conditions are getting' worse. One moment, we were in a resort, now we're in some remote town, and we're goin' to the desert. All the while, I'm just an errand girl. Ah, the futility of life…"

"Yes, I love to see you loving it."

"I'm not loving it!"

"We make a great team. Are you sure that you're not my long-lost twin?"

"I'm gonna cry."

"I haven't shown you yet, have I?"

Seojin pulled something out of his inventory with a grin on his face. It was a glass bottle.

"…Apple wine?"

"Quick question - do you think that this is the only thing that capable adventurer Seojin brought? Or do you think that he prepared everything in advance to make his valuable, high elemental spirit feel at home?"

Flappy's mood shifted within seconds, like an old man dipping into a hot tub after a long day's work in the middle of winter.

"You're the best, partner."

"Okay, great, but can you find Morgan first? The quicker we get things done, the faster we leave the desert. I believe that you'll like the settlement we're going to after Shahav."

Seojin smiled upon seeing the anticipation in Flappy's eyes.

"Whayer is way goin'?"

"It's a secret. They say that anticipation is the best gift."

"Dang… just ye wait. I'll find that Morgan guy fast."

Flappy seemed a bit more obedient as she flew off somewhere.

"I think she's getting more and more similar to me."

Seojin muttered to himself as he watched her back flying away, suspecting whether she was designed to be like that in the first place.

-Found him. Come here. About two hundred meters to the right, diagonally.

'Well, there's nothing bad about being like me, right?'

Seojin snorted before heading in the direction that Flappy was pointing him in.

* * *

Morgan Feriah, Officer of Royal Human Resources Development, opened his eyes wide upon feeling the presence of a sudden guest.

"Are you… that kid from before?"

"It's been a while."

"Oh, I thought you had left for good. I heard that you wanted to see me whilst I was away."

"I've been busy. Now, I'm here for my gift."

"A gift? What are you… wait."

His thick, black eyebrows twitched before he let out a hearty laugh.

"You did it, punk, you really did it!"

Side Quest: Troubleshooting!

*Reduce the Goblin population close to Bern by at least 90%.

*Quest complete

*Morgan Feriah, leader of the 'Royal Human Resources Team' of Valaran, has prepared an appropriate reward for your services.

Morgan Feriah had given Seojin the quest, albeit doubtfully, right before he had left for Berne. Unfortunately, he was away when Seojin had returned to report on finishing it.

"You even did it before you even grew up! Now I see why you were so confident…"

It was a surprise for Morgan too as he remembered just how many goblins were infesting the town at the time. At a glance, there were hundreds, perhaps even reaching thousands. How could a Level 10 adventurer have flushed them all out?

"How the hell…? Ha, this isn't the time. Come on in, you're drawing too much attention from the other rookies."

Many newbies were watching Seojin and Morgan's interaction with interest. Morgan's voice was just that loud, and this kind of small talk almost felt like a special event to them.

"Somehow, you look different. I don't think you paid so much to detail when I first met you."

Seojin spoke as he entered the tent, remembering how straightforward he had been beforehand. Morgan gave him a bitter smile.

"Things happen and humans tend to learn from them. Some of the higher-ups wanted me to learn how to read their minds."

"You look haggard too. You must have been away thanks to something not-so-nice, I suppose."

"You're right, but it's not something you need to care about. I should give you a gift for your admirable work first, right?"

Morgan laughed and grabbed something from the corner of the tent.

"Take this."

Subquest Complete

Troubleshooting!

*You destroyed an ever-growing pack of monsters. Your remarkable achievement is greatly admired by the Valaran Royal Human Resources Officer, Morgan Feriah!

*Acquired: 10 Gold!

*Achievement Unlocked: Competent Cleaner.

*Bonus Reward: None

*Morgan Feriah feels guilty for the insufficient reward.

'…Feels guilty?'

It was true that one achievement that boosted agility by one and ten gold was slightly disappointing, especially considering what he had done.

'That's why Morgan feels guilty… someone interfered in solving the quest.'

Morgan scratched the back of his head awkwardly as Seojin tilted his own.

"Seems like you don't like it."

"No way, I was thinking about something else."

"Huh… I know the reward is ridiculously insufficient for hunting down a whole pack of goblins. I could have given you more before I went to the capital, I'm sorry about that."

"What do you mean by more?"

"I'd gladly spend my own funds for our little hero. That'll make you less reluctant to help others. It's natural for an adventurer to seek benefits, and I'm not being sarcastic."

Morgan shrugged with a blatant look of guilt on his exhausted face.

'Something must have happened to him at the palace…'

Morgan had been called in over something unsavory, and it would have cost him money or more to solve it.

"You said that you went to the capital, right?"

"Capital? What are you talking about?"

"Mister Morgan Feriah, aren't you a Royal Human Resources Officer?"

Morgan's eyes twitched.

"…How? Have you already made a connection there?"

"Sort of."

Morgan grinned.

"I knew that adventurers were quick to grow, but… looks like you were even special among your own kind."

"Something must've happened there, then?"

"Yeah, but don't look so curious. I can't tell you."

Morgan shook his head like he was sick of it. While he had to go through such an absurd mess, he was never supposed to spill the beans about it outside.

'They're a disgrace to the royal family, but I can't leak the disgraces as a servant of the King.'

Valaran belonged to the King, and the palace was his house. Everything that happened there, therefore, would be treated as the King's responsibility.

However, the young adventurer was persistent.

"Because I'm an adventurer?"

"Because you're a rookie. I know that I sound harsh, but you're not worthy of hearing about it, let alone intervening in it."

"What if that adventurer had a deep relationship with the royals? Would that make him worthy?"

"Well, I suppose so, as long as you stay loyal to the king. What? Do you want to make a friend there?"

Morgan grinned as if he was looking at a passionate yet naïve newb.

"I already have made a friend there."

"Haha, is that so?"

'What a cheeky little boy he is, he must be acting like that because he doesn't know a….'

"I'm pretty sure that His Majesty the King is interested in me. I was offered a position as a Royal Inspector. The Minister of Finances keeps sending me proposals too."

"…?"

Morgan narrowed his eyes as he couldn't understand it all at once. The King was interested in a young adventurer who'd practically only just left Three Crossroads?

'That's impossible…'

The King had too much to think about and too much to do to remember one rookie adventurer, which meant that…

"You weren't just a rookie."

…Seojin was a lot bigger than he had initially thought.