25 The Capital
Welcome to "The Capital."
Despite its somewhat peculiar name, this city is the heart of the Resurgia Continent, and it earned its title for a good reason. Situated at the crossroads of land and sea, The Capital is a bustling hub of commerce. Ships from distant shores dock here, unloading their bounties of fish and aquatic treasures from fishing communities, while mountainous cities renowned for their mineral wealth send their resources down the well-traveled road to the city. Everything is seamlessly connected.
But it's not just about goods and resources. The Capital also stands as the epicenter for hiring mercenaries and adventurers, thanks to the presence of the Adventurers' Guild Headquarters. This makes it an ideal destination for travelers and fortune-seekers alike.
In essence, this place truly is the center of it all. The streets teem with businesses, and The Capital ranks among the largest cities in existence. All of this prosperity is expertly overseen by a shrewd city lord, who manages the city's affairs and transport systems with finesse.
The carriage safely made it to The Capital thanks to my efforts in fending off any pesky monsters that dared to block our path. I left Lina in charge of driving, keeping my focus on the road to ensure we didn't encounter any unnecessary delays. I did make exceptions, though, like when we faced a particularly formidable foe that forced us to stop. But for the most part, the carriage had to keep moving forward.
I let out a sigh of relief as we reached the Capital gates, marking the end of our escort mission – a job well done, I must say.
As we waited in line with other carriages, each one undergoing scrutiny by the vigilant guards for any contraband or hidden dangers, I couldn't help but appreciate the intricacies of this virtual world. Even the nameless NPCs, those characters who aren't part of the major storyline, seemed remarkably real. They strolled about, engaging in conversations, adding an unexpected level of depth to the game. It's a testament to the impressive AI programming behind these NPCs, making the virtual world feel more alive than I ever imagined.
The inspection wrapped up fairly quickly. As we waited in line, some newcomers joined us, so we weren't the last ones vying for entry into the capital anymore. After a few carriages ahead of us got the green light, it was finally our turn to face inspection.
"Excuse me, sir. We happened upon a group of bandits during our journey here. I managed to subdue them, and we'd like to report them for attempting to ambush us, steal our belongings, and make threats," I explained, leading the way to the rear of the carriage, where the cart was located and where we'd stashed the unconscious bandits. They hadn't stirred since I'd given them a thrashing. The guard's expression shifted, and it was clear he was now on high alert.
"Hold on a moment. We need to verify this with our superiors. Please step aside while we confirm the identities of these bandits," he instructed, a note of caution in his tone.
Lily and Lina didn't mind the task at hand, and I gave a nod of acknowledgment to the guard who expressed his gratitude as we moved our carriage aside to allow the people behind us to continue on their way.
The inspectors didn't keep us waiting for too long. They promptly began the process of identifying the bandits one by one. One of the inspectors seemed quite surprised, and he exchanged a nod of approval with the guard.
"Well, who would've thought these slippery characters would finally get caught, huh? And it looks like they got a good beating, which they sure had coming," the guard remarked with a chuckle as we helped unload the bandits from the carriage.
"Absolutely. These guys had quite the reputation as bandits. They were a constant thorn in the side of caravans and fellow travelers, always ready to ambush and sometimes even resorting to violence for money. I've heard rumors of them kidnapping women, though I can't vouch for that. It's a relief they're finally behind bars. We'll gladly transport them to the mines for a well-deserved 50-year stint," the guard informed us, then instructed us to come back later to claim our rewards.
The guards then gave us a rundown and that we were bound to get a reward for subduing the criminals. Lily and Lina had a suggestion: why not let me have the reward? After all, I was the one who had managed to capture them in the first place. I was hesitant at first but the two insisted and I had no choice but to accept.
The guard turned towards me and gave my shoulder a friendly pat.
"Kid, you've done a great job," he said with a grin. "Head over to the barracks later to claim your reward. You've earned it by capturing these troublemakers." He then proceeded to load the tied-up bandits onto a cart, most likely bound for jail. Some of them were starting to wake up, and their expressions clearly showed their displeasure at the situation.
As the guards continued to inspect the contents of the carriage, we were finally given the green light to enter the Capital, a moment we had been eagerly awaiting for quite some time.
- Player Bladeheart has unlocked The Capital.
[Attention: You've just made history as the very first player to step foot in The Capital, a monumental achievement. Would you like to share your triumph with the world? Your name will be etched into the Hall of Fame.]
Share/Keep it to yourself
I opted to keep it to myself, bypassing the announcement.
[Caution: Declining means your remarkable feat won't be publicly recognized, and your shot at the Hall of Fame will vanish. Are you absolutely sure about this choice?]
Affirmative/Negative
I confidently clicked affirmative.
[Congrats, you've entered The Capital, marking the official commencement of your gaming journey. Here, you'll unlock a slew of advanced features not available in the Beginner's town. In recognition of your exceptional achievement, we're granting you 10 AP. And since you've chosen to remain low-key, a special title awaits you!]
Huh, this is something new. I mean, when you roll back to the past in this game, you don't usually get handed a fancy title. Heck, even the first player didn't score any cool titles like this. So, imagine my surprise when I turned down that announcement and got one. Is this some fresh feature they added to the game? Maybe. But you know what? I'll take it, no complaints here.
I glanced at the title I snagged and had to squint my eyes to believe the effects it had.
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[Famous Incognito]
Type: Unique Title
Ability: Your stats and any other player-visible information will remain concealed unless you grant permission for others to view them. This effect can be combined with other titles, and it persists even when this title is unequipped.
Note: Wow, you're the Houdini of the gaming world! How did you manage to pull off the disappearing act?
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Well, now, that's quite the nifty trick, isn't it? A way to slip under the radar and keep your character info hidden? Pretty darn useful. And a title that does its thing even when it's not equipped? Well, that's just the cherry on top! Seems like I've lucked out with a seriously handy title here. You see, most players out there usually tote around some item or artifact to snoop on other users' stats, especially those pesky player killers. So, having this title in my pocket is like a get-out-of-jail-free card for the future. No need to break a sweat worrying about folks trying to snoop on my stats.
Now, I keep on escorting that carriage until we roll up to this empty building nearby. This is the spot where Lily's Inn is supposed to be if memory serves me right. Lily hops out of the carriage and heads my way after that.
"You really held down the fort with that carriage. Sure, there was a hiccup earlier, but it didn't ruffle any feathers. I've got to hand it to you; I wouldn't have made it here in one piece without your escort. If it weren't for you, we might have been toast by now," Lily said, grinning broadly as she shook my hand in genuine appreciation.
"Haha, it's no big deal, really. I'm pretty sure there are folks out there tougher than me, so your kind words mean a lot," I replied, bashfully scratching my head. Even though Lily was just a game character, receiving compliments like that felt pretty darn good, especially when they were few and far between in real life.
"Don't sell yourself short. You did an excellent job, so don't downplay it. Here's your reward. It might not be a fortune, but I'll toss in a little extra something as a token of my appreciation for your hard work."
Lily hopped back into the carriage, rifling through the stuff left inside. Meanwhile, Lina's giving the poor horse a well-deserved water break, considering the hoof-pounding it just endured. In a jiffy, Lily's back, holding out what seems like a makeshift cape and a sack of coins.
"Your prize, buddy. You've earned it, so don't be bashful – grab it!" She thrusts the coins and fabric into my hands.
-500 gold coins received.
-500 silver coins received.
-500 bronze coins were received.
-Cape of Hiding received.
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I cocked my head, and it hit me like a ton of bricks - I'd seen this piece of clothing somewhere before. Oddly familiar, yet strangely distant. But let me be clear, this wasn't something I'd ever owned. So, you can imagine my bewilderment when it came to figuring out the stats or even the lore behind it. You see, the last time I laid eyes on this thing, it was up for grabs at an auction. They called it the "Cape of Hiding," but that was about all I knew.
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[Cape of Hiding]
Type: Cape Equipment
Rarity: Very Rare
Equippable at: Level 15
Equippable by: All Classes
Stat:
AGI: 10
INT: 10
Special: [Embracing the Shadows] - When the moon's out and the stars are twinkling, this cape becomes your best friend. You'll get +100 dark elemental attributes for all your attacks during Night Time. Plus, it can turn you invisible faster than you can say "I'm Batman" - just stand still in a dark spot for 30 seconds. But beware, stepping into a well-lit area or making any sudden moves will end your vanishing act faster than a magician's assistant.
Info: Crafted by a masterful artisan using materials from monsters who were hiding from their responsibilities (much like you when your chores are due), this cape makes you one with the shadows.
Note: We operate in the dark to serve the light... or maybe just because we don't want anyone to see our messy closets. Did you catch my drift?
Durability: 1000/1000
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This cape may not be anything out of the ordinary, but it sure comes in handy during the early stages of the game. As time goes on, you'll find more items with similar gimmicks flooding the market. No wonder it was up for grabs at the auction. Despite that, it does have a niche perk—it boosts dark element attributes at night. While I may not have much use for that, the ability to turn invisible after lurking in the shadows for 30 seconds could prove quite handy.
"Thanks a bunch for this gift."
"Haha, no need to be so formal. We're off now. Since Lina's joining you on your adventure, I'll have to part ways with her. Take good care of her, young man! She can be a bit clumsy, but she's a good kid," Lily said, grinning as Lina pouted in response.
"Are you sure about this? Don't you need help setting up shop?"
"Nah, I've got it covered. Plus, I need to handle a few things around here. Lina won't be of much help with that, so she might as well accompany you. Just make sure to look out for her. Even though she's tough, she's still my precious daughter, you know?"
"Don't worry. I'll help her become a skilled warrior who can protect her family. You can count on that."
"Heh, I'll be looking forward to it. Well then, take care, and drop by the tavern sometime if you're free!" Lily gave a slight bow and directed the horses to park the cart. Soon after, the quest's completion message popped up. I gained 2000 EXP, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to what I needed to level up.
After saying our goodbyes, we decided to head over to the barracks to collect our reward. It didn't take us long to reach our destination. When I finally got my hands on the reward, it turned out to be a hefty sum - 500 shiny gold coins. My eyes lit up at the sight, but I knew I couldn't be too greedy. After all, I wasn't the only one responsible for taking down those bandits. So, why hog all the rewards for myself? I decided to share the gold with Lina, which took her by surprise.
"Master, what's this for?" Lina inquired, looking puzzled.
"It's your share of the reward. You helped me deal with those bandits, so it's only fair that you get a piece of the pie," I replied, handing her a bag filled with 250 gold coins.
"But this is a lot of money! I can't accept it!" Lina protested.
"Don't worry about it. You might need it someday, and it's better to have it when you do. Just take it, okay?" I urged.
Lina hesitated before speaking, "I appreciate the gesture, Master, but I don't really need the money. Plus, you did most of the heavy lifting, I only throw the rope at you and I doubt that counts much as helping so I don't feel right taking this much."
I let out a sigh. "Alright then, since you're so insistent, let's put it towards upgrading your equipment. We can find a good blacksmith for that."
Lina didn't argue further, as she knew I had a purpose in mind. I wanted to improve my Rock Armor, making it more practical and less of a burden. Additionally, there was something else I had in mind, and I knew exactly which blacksmith could help with that.
