Cyberserk & Vampiress

Reward Increases

Phantom went to the library to collect all the information about the quest, which is connected with the castle Zangar.

Dan Raven made a hard decision and went to the place where he was sure to meet the most disliked gnome. The gnome Grograb was having lunch at the Abandoned Mine establishment. Grograb was the owner of this restaurant and did not pay for his food. Every gnome never missed an opportunity to save a gold coin.

It took the young man two hours to get into the aristocratic part of the city. With the title of Baron, the player was free to enter this part of Grossroads.

The food of the gnomes was to Dan's liking. Gnomes liked to eat meat dishes with spicy sauces. The young man didn't like the gnome establishments because they were very noisy in the evenings. The gnomes drank strong drinks and started partying and loudly celebrating their successes in business.

The Abandoned Mine establishment was a respectable place. Only trustworthy customers whose repayment ability was unquestionable were allowed to eat there. Baron Raven knew the procedure for visiting the place.

Grograb never gave up trying to find out from the young man the whereabouts of the mysterious blacksmith Humhum. This unworthy owner of the title of the master had already become renowned in the city as a manufacturer of a very popular commodity. The human blacksmith made weapons and armor that restored durability themselves! All of Grossroads' blacksmiths realized with a shock that they were losing a significant portion of their income. Players weren't repairing their equipment! Things were repairing themselves.

The Grassroots Blacksmiths Guild reacted sharply and quickly. At first, the Guild tried to negotiate with the foolish human. But the mysterious Master refused to meet with the respected blacksmiths. The vile Humhum did not appear at Guild meetings. He paid a fee for owning the smithy and was unwilling to strengthen personal ties with Guild members.

The masters of the Guild raised the necessary sum and placed an order with the Assassins' Guild to eliminate the blacksmith Humhum.

The Assassins' Guild was an ancient organization. It received assignments from the finest master assassins of the Grossroads. Throughout its long life, every player met with unpleasant acquaintances and got into conflict situations. The Assassin's Guild helped to give satisfaction. Each assassination inflicted damage on the victim. After being reborn, the victim of an assassination lost one level. This often resulted in the inability to do one's job and conduct one's usual activities in Grossroads.

The vile smith Humhum placed items on auction for level 19 players! This meant that the blacksmith himself had reached level 19. 10 deaths would reduce the blacksmith to a minimum level 9. Then he would not be able to make items of a higher level!

Dan entered the establishment and walked over to the bar. He bowed respectfully to the hostess of the establishment. The madam pretended to be pleased by the human's visit. Perhaps she enjoyed this man's visit. Master Grabbica had received direct instructions from her relative about this human being. Grabbica did not like to be told how to behave, but she loved gold. Gnograb paid well for the inconvenience.

"It is a pleasure to have you in my establishment Baron. With all due respect to Master Snotty Mouse, I recommend you change your inn. What will you have to drink?" Grabbica pointed her hand to a shelf of the finest drinks.

"Greetings beautiful and masterful. Your establishment makes me feel an irresistible urge to pay a visit every day. Unfortunately, I am so busy with the business of the Adventurers' Guild. I wouldn't mind having a glass of Underground Mushroom Juice," Dan liked that drink and didn't deny himself the pleasure of drinking it in decent establishments.

"My family member worries that your reputation suffers from association with this unworthy blacksmith. I don't want to remember the name of that greedy and foolish scoundrel," Grabbica filled her glass with a drink and set it on the counter.

Raven took the glass and sniffed the mushroom juice with pleasure. The strange smell made him want to bite into a few pieces of meat.

"I don't think gold hurts reputation. I am unhappy with the actions of the blacksmith Humhum. He acted rashly and foolishly. But I cannot act rashly and foolishly. I made a contract according to all the laws of Grossroads. Now that greedy Humhum is paying me a portion of his profits. I do not wish to do business with him. He has quarreled with the gnomes. This is an outrage. The citizens of Grossroads should live in peace and mutual respect."

The female gnome continued to smile and nodded her head toward the hall.

"My family member wants to talk to you. I hope that his advice will help you solve this unpleasant problem."

"Is the esteemed Gnograb in the establishment now? I am pleased to personally wish you relative prosperity and wealth. Gnomes like Master Gnograb are the secure and stable future of Grossroads. Shame on the upstarts who disrespect the ancient rules of our city!" Dan wagged his finger at the invisible upstart and shameful Humhum. Then the young man took his glass and went into the hall to meet with the most disliked gnome.

He prepared himself for a long conversation. How to find a foolish blacksmith? How to teach the newcomer to respect the rules of the city? The gnome and the human didn't know how to solve these questions. The cowardly Humhum hid from all the city dwellers and did not show his face to the honorable citizens of Grossroads.

The seclusion saved this coward from losing his reputation! Only in personal talk could one express dissatisfaction with the behavior of another citizen. The cowardly human had a sturdy reputation and had no contact with the citizens of Grossroads. He had access to the Auction and was unwilling to meet the citizens in person.

All the disgruntled blacksmiths of the city understood that the magic of the world was on the side of a coward and greedy scoundrel. A human was free to buy materials at auction and trade his craft. Only the Guild of Adventurers and the Guild of Assassins could help in the important matter of punishing an unworthy citizen.

Dan smiled at the gnome and sat down at the table, which was filled with plates and bottles. Gnograb liked to eat. Gnograb did not like to lose his gold.

The gnome smiled back and pointed to one of the plates.

"Try this meat, Raven. It is my relative's recipe. It's the kind of meat you can't eat in other places. Have you met Humhum?" Gnograb asked the head question of the conversation.

"No. I have not met this cowardly man. I am displeased. The Guild of Adventurers has f*******n me to take a mission to appease this insolent man. He is bound to me by treaty," the young man drew his dagger and placed a piece of meat on a clean plate. He tasted the dish and happily continued to eat.

Great food and unpleasant conversation. The gnome and the human both grimaced at the same time and looked into each other's eyes understandingly. But each was pursuing his own goals. For the sake of important goals, one must endure temporary inconveniences.

"I have been offered a mission related to Castle Zangar. Mortal danger," the man sighed and tried to restore his good spirits with a new piece of tasty meat. Dan chewed the meat and drank his food with a sip of mushroom juice. It felt great! As great as the realization that the gnome was starting to feel even worse.

"It was my crew who found the quest for you," confessed Gnograb. "Did you know that completing the quest will lead to taking possession of Castle Zangar?"

[Warning. Green Rank's Kill the Dragon quest is available.

Quest Details: Kill the Lord of Fear dragon and clear the castle of Zangar location. Bring the head of the dragon as proof of your victory.

Quest Condition: Players must be at least level 14.

Reward: Unconfirmed title Viscount. Unknown.

Do you accept the quest? Yes/No] 

Reward increases! This quest began to interest the young man with renewed vigor. There is no doubt that the founders of Clan Grab were the owners of Zangar Castle. The head of Clan Gnograb increased the reward for the quest with his own words.

But the person who will become the owner of the castle at the same time will worsen his reputation with Clan Grab! Gnomes do not like to part with the property. The new Viscount will have the support of many noble families of the Grossroads. The Grab Clan will lose the theoretical rights to the possession of the ancient castle. Viscount Raven will become an unpleasant person to the gnomes of the Grab clan.

The funny thing was that Dan didn't know where this creepy castle was! It might have stood in the aristocratic part of Grossroads. The castle can be located anywhere. The journey to the castle would take weeks!

Dan Raven put the dagger away in his inventory. Such information must be taken seriously. Such a matter cannot be discussed without Tom. But Dan decided to clarify his position and get new crumbs of information from the gnome in return.

"I hold the title of Baron. Under the law of the Grossroads Aristocracy, I cannot expect to own a castle. I can afford a small cottage in an exclusive area of town," Dan clarified. "A very small and modest cottage. If I can find a good citizen who will agree to sell me a small and modest cottage for a large and fair price."    

"Only the title Viscount entitles you to own the castle and the surrounding area," the gnome agreed. "But it seems to me that the citizens will welcome the new hero with enthusiasm. So many brave city dwellers from all sorts of families have gone out of their way to imprison Zangar Castle."

"My team refused to get involved. An acquaintance of mine likes to spend time in the library. He will try to find information for me about this terrible castle and the fearsome dragon. I want to do this assignment. I'm willing to give it a try," Dan admitted.

"Aren't you afraid?" Gnograb looked with interest at the strange human who was quickly becoming popular in the city. This young human was brought to the attention of the Great Ars Obsessed with Battles. No one wanted to mess with this Great Warrior Patron.

"I have so little that I am not afraid to lose my miserable accumulation. Grossroads gave me the title of Baron. But I agree that I have no right to have proof of that title. A newcomer to the city must prove himself respectable and solid," Dan Raven remembered Tom's sassy face. Sometimes he felt an honest urge to bang the fool on the head to knock some solidity into this joker. "I hate that nasty Humhum sometimes! One deal early in my career ruins my reputation. I am not happy with my position. A baron who has an unseemly association with a troublemaker. My frustration is hard to put into words."

"Do your words mean that you accept the quest?" Gnograb looked intently at the human.

The system again reminded the person of the new reward for the quest.

[Warning. Green Rank's Kill the Dragon quest is available.

Quest Details: Kill the Lord of Fear dragon and clear the castle of Zangar location. Bring the head of the dragon as proof of your victory.

Quest Condition: Players must be at least level 14.

Reward: Unconfirmed title Viscount. Unknown.

Do you accept the quest? Yes/No] 

"I will give you my answer tomorrow. I want to find out information about Castle Zangar. Then I'll get a good night's sleep and make a final decision," the young man finished his gnome juice and placed his glass on the table. "It is a pleasure to talk to an intelligent and respected gnome. I wish you a pleasant appetite and success in all your dealings. It will be dark soon. It is time for the poor baron to return to his humble room in Snotty Mouse's humble establishment."

"Good luck in life," the gnome said goodbye to the human.

The gnome thought that this young human must surely disappear from the city. If the human does not bring income to the gnome that person is useless. Useless goldies have no right to be in Grossroads. All Goldies must disappear in deadly locations.