Chapter 22: Glendale (2)

“By the point you mean...?"

"Didn't you come looking for me because you wanted something from me in the first place?" Baron Arsen asked casually with a smile.

But Kai tensed up immediately.

No matter how comfortable and easy-going he seems, this man is indeed a noble.

The NPCs of

MID Online

were strictly divided by social class, and the man before him was the owner of the land Kai was currently on.

No one knows what thoughts might be lurking beneath that seemingly friendly face.

Gulping nervously, Kai racked his brain.

Would he like it if I beat around the bush? No, perhaps he dislikes anything that seems pitiful.

After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Kai cautiously said, "Yes, to be honest, you are right, Baron Arsen."

"That means you indeed want something from me, right?"

"Yes."

"Hah, I like the frankness. Speak your mind directly."

Kai clenched his fist. His expectation that the baron would not like beating around the bush was exactly right.

Feeling less tense than before, Kai said more comfortably, "First, I would like to obtain information about a dungeon. Additionally, if you are troubled by something, I would like to help resolve that worry."

"That's not a difficult request."

Baron Arsen showed a positive attitude, brightening Kai's complexion.

I didn't expect things to go this smoothly!

However, Kai's joy didn’t last long as the next words from Baron Arsen made his expression become complex.

"But it seems you haven't heard this from Chief Bunther?"

"Pardon? Heard of what?"

"Anyone who comes with his recommendation must pass a test I set to receive my help."

"I- I haven't heard of that before...."

"Ha ha. It seems the Chief Bunther is getting quite old to have skipped such important information." Baron Arsen sipped his tea and then continued, "If you find my test somewhat daunting, feel free to decline. However, in that case, you won't be able to get what you want."

"Umm...." Kai groaned at the unexpected situation.

He had thought Chief Bunther was old, but it had never occurred to him that the chief would have forgotten something so important! However, whatever Baron Arsen could request, it was clear that in this situation, the absolute superior was not Kai but the baron.

"I will take the test. It was greedy of me to expect to receive important information without any compensation."

"Oh, that's very manly of you." Baron Arsen got up from his seat with a beaming smile, "A very positive person indeed. I like that. The test is really nothing much."

He then went straight to his desk and pulled out a portrait from a drawer.

"Take this."

[Milton’s Wanted Poster acquired.]

The portrait showed a stern-looking man.

What does this portrait mean?

As Kai glanced at the baron, he praised the man in the portrait without hesitation. "Wow. He looks so robust, truly like a remarkable hero in which...."

"That is the good-for-nothing man you need to catch."

"The mustache looks quite sneaky, exactly like a petty thief's appearance."

As Kai abruptly changed his statement, the baron burst into laughter again, “He is a good-for-nothing man who started operating an illegal gambling ring in my city. I was going to send my soldiers to deal with him, but... I would like you to take on this task instead."

"Do I just need to capture him alive?"

"That's entirely up to your judgment. You may kill him if necessary."

Ding!

[Glendale Security Force]

Difficulty: D+

Baron Arsen does not look kindly upon Milton, who partakes in illegal activities within his city’s walls. Find Milton and teach him a lesson.

Quest reward: Reveal the location of a dungeon / receive a hidden quest (choose one)

Failure penalty: Receive no reward.

After reading through the quest window, Kai nodded, "I’ll do it."

[Quest accepted.]

***

"Let's see...." Kai read through the information about the scoundrel given by Baron Arsen carefully. "Milton is the owner of the largest gambling ring in Glendale."

He had a feeling that the quest would be more troublesome than expected.

Now that I think about it, if I'm going to be soloing, I should learn at least one proper weapon skill.

The mace, the basic weapon for Clerics, was in fact not suitable for battle.

It's hard to inflict additional damage.

If one was cut by a bladed weapon, they would immediately fall into a bleeding state and suffer additional damage. However, this was not possible with a mace. Moreover, since weapons also mainly came with Holy Power and Stamina stats, Clerics equipped maces not for battle but to enhance the efficiency of their healing skills.

The most important thing is, I don't have any skills to wield a mace yet.

Of course, in

MID Online

, skills could also be generated through repeated actions. But even in such cases, a minimum standard was needed.

In other words, the motion has to be consistent.

Swinging a weapon randomly while hunting for days on end wouldn’t result in the creation of a skill.

If I'm starting from scratch, there are many more powerful weapon skills than learning the mace.

Simple examples included spearmanship and swordsmanship.

Kai fell into thought over which weapon skill to learn.

If I'm going soloing, a sword or spear would be the most straightforward choice.

First, it was faster to consult an expert on such issues.

Kai immediately opened the mini-map and searched for the location of the blacksmith.

I should also take this opportunity to put in an order for something to be made with the wyrm lizard bones.

Maxim, the blacksmith in Frica, couldn’t handle these materials due to a lack of skill and equipment, so he had advised Kai to seek out a blacksmith in a big city.

Glendale should be a big enough city.

He could wear the usable equipment that was produced, and the rest could be sold at the auction house.

My wallet will soon be getting thicker.

Kai moved toward the blacksmith, looking at the map.

***

No matter the city, the sounds heard when approaching a blacksmith were always the same. It was the sound of hammering iron and the sound of birth as chunks called ores transformed into equipment. That was what should be heard, but Glendale's blacksmith was different.

"This is the first time I've seen such a quiet blacksmith," Kai murmured, tilting his head and checking the mini-map.

The location of the blacksmith is supposed to be here.

The mini-map was indeed indicating that the building in front of him was the blacksmith, but the sound of hammering that should be heard, and the furnace that should be emitting smoke, were silent.

Then, the door of the blacksmith swung open roughly.

"Man, what's with that NPC? Shouldn't this be reported to the admins?"

"It's the first time I've seen an NPC be so stubborn and say they won’t work anymore."

Players grumbled as they left the blacksmith.

Kai called out to them and asked what was going on, "Hey, what do you mean by the NPC not working?"

"Did you also come here because you had business with the blacksmith?"

"Yes. I wanted to make a request for some equipment," Kai responded.

"Just give up on that," they grumbled as they glared at the blacksmith. "There's an old man claiming to be a blacksmith, but he won't do repairs, let alone make new equipment."

"What? But this is a blacksmith, isn't it?"

"That's exactly our point. He’s an NPC created to be a blacksmith, and yet..."

"I’m pissed and it’s only morning. Let's just go to the auction house and buy a repair kit."

As the players disappeared, Kai looked at the blacksmith with a blank expression.

An NPC in the village not working? Why on earth?

This was a first for Kai as well. Normally, if an NPC was too ill to work, a quest to cure their illness would be posted on the bulletin board. However, judging by the players’ reactions, that didn't seem to be the case.

Then what about my Wyrm Lizard equipment?

Kai hurriedly opened the community to look at the continental map.

Excluding small villages, the closest city from here is....

The closest city was the city of water, Aquaria, which was a whopping 20 days away by foot!

Kai's complexion turned very pale. "So if I can't make equipment here, I have to go all the way there?"

Of course, having defeated the Wyrm Lizard and received 10 gold as a reward, he wasn’t short on money.

But the cost of teleportation is heart-wrenching.

Kai swallowed and pre-calculated the teleportation fare through the community.

From Glendale to Aquaria costs 9 gold.

That was equivalent to 900,000 won!

Kai's hands began to involuntarily tremble. It was an amount far too much for an unemployed person not receiving an allowance to pay.

"Is there no other way?"

Of course, there was always a way for everything.

Kai's gaze turned back to the firmly closed blacksmith.

If the blacksmith is not working....

The solution was to make him work. Then, obviously, he would not have to go to another city.

Alright, let's give it a try.

Kai immediately searched the community to gather all information about Glendale's blacksmith.

The blacksmith's name is Solid. The quality of his equipment is excellent enough to supply to the royal family. But why did he suddenly stop working?

No information about that was found on the internet.

I guess I have no choice but to confront him directly.

Kai knocked three times on the blacksmith's door and then slightly opened it.

"Excuse me...."

"I said get the hell out of here! Can't you understand simple words!?"

As soon as Kai stepped into the blacksmith, something flew at him with ferocious speed.

Startled, Kai gulped and ducked.

Clang!

The hammer that missed Kai's head instead struck the wall, scattering stone debris before falling to the ground.

"Wh- what’s going on...."

As Kai trembled, his hair standing on end, someone staggered out from the inside.