Chapter 036- Journey with Lisbeth

XaXa, also known as Death Gun, was in deep conversation with Heathcliff, discussing their plans against Rifat and his guild with elaborate details. While other players were busy celebrating their one-year anniversary in the game, these two were focused on devising a strategy to weaken Rifat's guild as much as possible.

"That's it for now. I will contact you when I think the time is right. Don't be too hasty for now" Heathcliff said to XaXa before he left the place.

XaXa watched Heathcliff leave and silently contemplated, 'I can't trust a hypocrite like him. Even if he's currently working with us, who knows if he'll turn on us in the future. I need to be cautious at all times.'

XaXa, as the leader of the red players' alliance, had already been hunted down by Rifat's guild, 'Dawn'. Having barely survived the ordeal, XaXa was now wary and cautious of everyone, unwilling to let his fellow red players suffer the same fate due to any carelessness on his part.

.....

---Next Day---

As Heathcliff expected, none of the members of 'Dawn' suspected anything about the missing player who was killed by his subordinate. This was because several other players had also died while attempting dangerous quests yesterday, so the death of the player in question didn't stand out as suspicious.

Even though Heathcliff had successfully executed his plan without suspicion, Argo, a player who has always been suspicious of him, still had her eyes on him.

"Rifat, I have noticed some unusual behavior from Heathcliff recently. He has been visiting unfamiliar locations and engaging in activities that are out of character for him." Argo reported to Rifat with a suspicious tone in her voice.

"Do you suspect anything?" Rifat asked.

"I suspect that he may be planning something against us as retaliation for the players that he lost in our last boss fight. I want to investigate further, but I don't have enough manpower. I'm requesting your permission to increase the number of my spies," Argo said.

"Indeed, Heathcliff is not one to simply accept his defeat. We must remain vigilant against him," Rifat agreed. "You may recruit more players and increase your budget. I want you to monitor his every move closely and report to me immediately if you detect any suspicious activity."

Rifat gave Argo permission to expand his network of spies in order to keep an eye on Heathcliff. He emphasized the importance of closely monitoring Heathcliff's activities and reporting any suspicious behavior as soon as possible.

.....

---A Few Weeks Later---

Rifat was deep in thought when Lisbeth's sudden appearance broke his concentration. He was busy planning for the next big raid on the 80th floor, but he couldn't help but become happy inside when Lisbeth asked for his help in collecting materials to craft a legendary weapon.

Rifat knew this might be his chance to break into Lisbeth's heart which he has been trying to get for so long.

"The Hill of Memories?" Rifat said, surprised. "I've heard of it, but I've never been there before."

"That's why I need your help," Lisbeth replied with a smile. "I've heard that there are some rare materials that can be found there. And who better to go with than the most strongest players in Aincrad?"

Rifat chuckled. "I'm flattered. Alright, I'll go with you tomorrow. But I hope you're ready for a bit of a journey. The Hill of Memories isn't exactly close by."

Lisbeth nodded eagerly. "I'm ready for anything. I've been preparing for this for weeks!"

.....

The next day, Rifat and Lisbeth set out for the Hill of Memories. Rifat had brought along his trusty sword and other necessary equipments, while Lisbeth carried her blacksmithing tools and materials.

Despite being on the 56th floor, the Hill of Memories was known to hold monsters of immense strength, including a powerful dragon that guarded the legendary materials for crafting weapons.

While most of the monsters in the area were relatively weak, some were even more formidable than bosses found on higher-level floors. This made the journey to the Hill of Memories a risky endeavor, but for Lisbeth, it was a risk worth taking to obtain the rare materials she needed.

The journey was long but not too difficult for Rifat, who had already reached the highest level among the players of Aincrad. They encountered a few dragons along the way, but they were able to dispatch them easily with Rifat's powerful sword strikes and his unique skills.

However, things took a turn for the worse when they stumbled upon a particularly large dragon guarding a cave that held the materials they needed. The dragon was much stronger than the ones they had faced before, and its scales shimmered with an otherworldly aura.

Rifat and Lisbeth knew they had to be careful. The dragon could easily kill them both if they made a mistake. They approached the beast cautiously, ready to attack if it made any sudden movements.

Suddenly, the dragon turned and lunged towards Lisbeth. She stumbled back, her foot caught on a loose rock. Rifat saw the danger and quickly stepped in front of her, blocking the dragon's attack with his sword.

The impact was heavy and Rifat's bones were in immense pressure under the force of the dragon's attack. He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the dragon's claws. Lisbeth looked on in horror, unable to move.

Rifat quickly regained his balance and raised his sword, ready to unleash his skills. But before he could attack, the dragon unleashed a powerful blast of fire that sent Rifat flying backwards.

Lisbeth screamed in terror as the dragon turned its attention to her once again. She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable strike.

But it never came.

Rifat had managed to catch himself mid-air and land safely behind the dragon. He raised his sword high and plunged it into the dragon's back, sending it crashing to the ground.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of battling, the dragon fell to the ground, defeated. Lisbeth lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face as she realized how close she had come to death.

As Rifat saw the shock and fear in Lisbeth's eyes, he quickly rushed over to her side. Without a moment's hesitation, he pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close to his chest.

Lisbeth's body tensed up at first, but as she felt Rifat's warmth and his familiar scent, she slowly relaxed into the embrace. She leaned her head on his broad shoulder, feeling safe and protected in his arms, a small smile forming on her lips.

As Lisbeth gradually calmed down, she looked up at Rifat with gratitude and admiration. "Thank you, Rifat. You saved my life," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before Rifat could even respond, Lisbeth unexpectedly threw her arms around him and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss. At first, Rifat was surprised, but he soon found himself returning the kiss with equal intensity, while thinking that the time Lisbeth will be in his harem is coming very near.