Edge of Vengeance

The next morning, Reed checked out of the inn.

Walking through the streets, Reed thought about how he was going to fight against the goblin assassin.

In the game world, it has only been three days since he got betrayed, counting the two days that passed during his death penalty and yesterday.

He needs to defeat that monster before his previous party does and take all the loot, so when they arrive, the looks on their faces would be priceless.

But first, there are things he needs to consider, like the monster's overwhelming speed and, most importantly, the deadly daggers it wields. Reed couldn't help but sigh; he was still far from reaching his goal.

Turning his head to an alleyway, he saw a mysterious man dressed in a black robe covering his face, resting his back against a building.

Reed noticed he hadn't seen this figure before in the village and decided to approach him.

Getting closer, the man muttered, "What do you want, kiddo?" turning his gaze to Reed.

Reed saw his name tag and realized he was an NPC because of the way it glowed.

"Nothing much, it seems you are new here... Dizan," Reed muttered.

Dizan, a mysterious info broker who moves around the vast world of 'Arcane,' was an enigma. No one knew who he really was or what he was searching for.

Dizan grinned, turning to Reed. He said, "So now that you know my name, is there something you would like to know?"

Reed smirked, saying, "Yeah, how can I get stronger really fast?"

"Halt, kiddo. Money comes before the info," Dizan said, waving his hand for Reed to pay up.

Reed narrowed his eyes, really being serious about the matter, tossed him a silver coin.

Dizan swiftly caught the coin from the air, examining it briefly before pocketing it.

"Very well," he said, sitting on the ground. "There are a few ways to get stronger quickly, but they all come with their own risks. One method is to hunt down rare monsters that grant high experience points. Another is to seek out hidden quests that offer substantial rewards. Lastly, there are ancient relics scattered across the world that can boost your abilities significantly if you find them."

He stood back up. "Oh well, I'm off."

"Looks like someone here has a death wish!" Reed said with a straight face

Dizan paused, looking up at Reed. "What is it, kiddo?"

Reed wasn't one of those cheap punks he thought he could scam. He had already read this information on "Arcane's" official website during his research.

"I don't know if you think this is a joke, but you'd better start talking, or things are gonna get ugly real fast," Reed said, clenching his fist and glaring intensely.

Dizan sighed, sitting back down and resting his hand against his face. "Hmm, getting a quick solution you say? That's a tough one, but you know there is one thing you could get that will really give you the edge you're looking for."

"Go on, tell me," Reed muttered, listening intently.

"Somewhere in this village lies an old well. Ask, and you shall receive, hesitate and you shall surly perish ." Then, standing back up and dusting off his robe, Dizan turned around and left.

Reed didn't completely understand what he said, but he knew pestering him wouldn't work, besides Reed found it fun. Since he gave him a riddle, all he had to do was crack it, and so he went on his way.

Walking down the street, Reed opened up the system map of the village, looking through it in search of the well the info broker spoke of. Surprisingly, he didn't find anything like that on the map.

Believing he must have been cheated and was told a lie, he thought the broker was crazy enough to go that far even after he threatened him. He sighed, not wanting to waste his strength, and decided to focus on buying a weapon he could use to fight against the goblin assassin.

He decided to head to Bron's shop instead.

Upon arriving, he entered the shop and saw Bron in his usual spot behind the counter.

"Oh, it's you, Reed. So tell me, how did that rusty old crap do?" Bron asked, staring at Reed with a look that said, "I told you so." But Reed was ready to surprise him.

"It was nothing short of incredible. Who knew it would get sharper each time I used it?" Reed bragged.

"What! But how? That piece of junk was rustier than my grandpa's old hammer," Bron muttered, shocked.

Reed shrugged. "Beats me."

Bron sighed, dissatisfied with his actions. If he had known the blade had a special ability like that, he would have at least sold it for much higher price and kept it from rusting.

Bron stared at Reed, noticing he was finally wearing something quite decent and believed he had more money to spend than last time.

"So, what weapon would you like to buy today?" Bron asked politely.

Reed looked around the shop, eyeing the various weapons currently on display. "I'm looking for something that can help me take down a goblin assassin. Got anything that could help?"

Bron stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A goblin assassin, eh?"

"Nasty creatures. Fast and deadly with daggers." Reed explained

"If that's the case, then you'll need something quick and reliable." Bron walked over to a display and pulled out a sleek, lightweight dagger. "This here is 'Edge,'

crafted with the lightest metal I know of. It's sharp, durable, and perfect for quick strikes."

|- Name: Edge [Uncommon]

|- Weapon type: Dagger

|- Attack Damage: 55

|- Durability: 100/100

Reed examined the dagger, surprised at how lightweight it was. "How much is it?"

Bron smiled. "For you, I'll make it 20 coppers. It's a good deal, don't you think?"

Reed nodded, reaching into his inventory and handing over the coins. "I'll take it."

Bron handed over the dagger and accepted the payment. "Good choice, Reed. Just remember to keep the sheath close by each time you unsheathe. It will give you the edge in a quick attack."

Reed nodded, sheathed the dagger and secured it at his side, then remembered the information he bought from the broker. "By the way, Bron, do you know of any old wells that haven't been used in a while?"

Bron stroked his beard again before replying, "There's one north, just at the outskirts of the village. It used to be part of the village, but it got abandoned."

Reed realized that's why he didn't see it on the map. He thanked Bron and left the store, hoping this well would be the key to helping him finally get his revenge.