Another Job Offer
But then again, these will change if the player starts wearing equipment and items that can increase the Base Points or Stats.
Although this information is available to players as well. They only offered a limited time to read the said information. When the limit time was reached, there is no way they can access or view the information again.
Gerard put everything aside for now as he reached the door of the most comfortable room Midnight Inn can offer.
He knock twice on the door and it didn't take long for Count Alvis to open the room. The two head to the dining room.
"Have you reconsidered it?" Count Alvis asked Payne looking straight ahead in the hallway without glancing at him.
Gerard was put in a difficult situation. He already expected the Count to ask him but it was still not easy for him to accept or refuse the offer.
There are two things that hold him down to accept the offer.
First, if he did accept the offered position as the Town Chief of West Town. A heavy responsibility will be put on his shoulder that definitely limits his freedom. Setting aside the safety of the West Town in the upcoming predicament, he is not confident to put all the lives of the NPCs of the West Town in his hands.
Lastly, how can he travel around if he accepted the offer? How can he push himself to his limit? How can he become strong can stand toe to toe with many elite players playing this virtual game?
"As much as I want but I humbly refuse your offer. Please forgive me." Gerard responded after deliberating the pros and cons once more.
"It's fine. I am really not that confident that you will accept my offer. Besides, I can feel that you broke free from what shackling your innate potential. That's good news for you. You're still young and of course, you do not want to be leashed in heavy responsibility."
"I'm grateful for your understanding, My Lord."
Count Alvis halted which made Gerard halt his step as well.
"Since it comes to this, I will offer you another job. What do you say?"
A job?
"Please, enlighten me."
It took three seconds for Count Alvis to disclose his job offer.
"Form a team with your friends and discreetly investigate this."
Count Alvis took a folded document from its ticket pocket on its garb and handed it over to Payne.
Gerard's heartbeat skip a beat when he reached out his hand to accept the paper. But before he is able to open it, he was stopped by an overwhelming pressure that weighed down his body.
His face starts to distort, expressing the weight his body is trying to bear.
"Listen. What is written inside the paper is my family's most prize treasure. It was passed from generation to generation. And no one outside beside the heir of the Arman Family can learn what was written on that paper. So understand if you betray my trust, you will not know what killed you."
Gerard gulped several times and already have a gist of what was going on.
"I would never…."
Hearing him say that Count Alvis stop releasing his aura and the atmosphere around them returned to normal made Gerard sigh in relief.
"Remember the quest I issued for heroes?"
"Yes…" Gerard humbly answered.
"Very good. While the chosen heroes traverse and look for my family's missing amulet, you and your friends will traverse the opposite directions to look for the amulet."
Count Alvis pauses and thread forward on the window to look upon it and gaze on the horizon.
"I am already old and reached my body's limit. I cannot grow stronger anymore and that is why I decided to put all the effort at my disposal to find that amulet. That amulet will guarantee my survival in this chess game that my Network Intelligence cannot infiltrate."
He then turns around and looks at Payne.
"I will entrust this to you. Those people behind the brainwashing of Rook already set the stage solely for me. My life is hanging by a thread and every move I made is being watched. It is obvious they also knew about my quest and covered the possible location with traps. They might think they outsmarted me but is fine. I will let them think it that way."
"Because my plan to send you on another opposite expedition discreetly has not yet entered into their darkest dream." Count Alvis smiles.
And this was the first he saw the Count smile. All the time, this Count always wore an expression of a stoic. Giving everyone a hard time guessing what was his mind thinking.
And he was surprised that the Count have the kindest expression when he smiles which made Gerard conflicted.
All that trust mirroring in Count's eyes is giving his heart a hard time whether to keep the amulet on his own or not. And besides, it seems that the Count is one of the main characters in the Main Storyline regarding the impending doom of the Edo Kingdom.
Gerard didn't know if the Count was able to get the hand of this amulet and discover the secret land, would he use it to protect the NPCs of Edo Kingdom or not.
The answer is yet to be discovered.
So Gerard decided to play along with Count's plan and if he find any suspicious from the Count's end, then there is no more playing with his role. He will claim the secret land for his own and…and…at least help those NPCs that he can help.
He might not like it or maybe because of his morality, but he sensed that if the NPCs died, it will be permanent. Even though they are only built because of data, inside this game they have family, friends, memories, and feelings.
And he somehow felt sympathetic towards them. Besides, he is already part of this game. In this virtual game, as the Supreme System said, he is now a certified NPC.
Gerard sighed and put everything else aside for the time being, letting his future self solve this future issue. For now, he should play along with the Count. Only one way to find out.
Gerard took action, his right knee touching the ground, placing his left elbow on his left knee, and respectfully bowing his head.
"This humble servant of yours is honored. I will do anything it takes to secure your family's most prized and treasured. But before I depart for this quest, I am sorry if it will offend you but if there comes a time that I need to choose, whether my life or your amulet, forgive me but I will choose my life and flee from danger. If this condition is acceptable to My Lord, then I will accept the job."
"Stand up. You are not my knight nor my subordinate. It is okay not to give me a courtesy of a knight to his Lord."
Gerard heeds the Count's order and stands up straight.
"I will accept your condition. Time no waits for no one. You can start the journey now. Let me hand things here in the West Town. I will surely tell your Master why did you depart."
"Yes!" Gerard was surprised when the Count want for him to commence this quest! But he still gives his answers.
"Here's the money. It contains 500 Gold Coins. This is the only money I can collect on this short notice. Good luck!"