There were many scenarios in Evie’s mind on how her plans would work. But she never guessed that the one who would let her in the Group was the Man she was sent to investigate.
What’s wrong with everyone in this guild? Why were they so nice? Evie couldn’t help but think to herself.
In Scar’s guild, she only got to be a cannon fodder. The men eyed her as nothing but a pretty face, the muse of the party, while the women just batted their eyelids. While everyone else was busy getting ahead of each other, competing with one another for a contract.
So having to be treated differently in some guild she was tasked to spy on was . . . really overwhelming –– the guilt, that is.
Evie eyed the Man in the hood. Prying for his face, but she couldn’t see anything beyond the darkness of his cloak.
Is that some kind of an item? And the pet around his neck. Where did he acquire it? He looked like a hunter, but his skill was a mage. Could he be a beta tester? Or was he a son of a developer? Evie thought but kept it to herself. She had just joined the Group, and he couldn’t be asking questions that would jeopardize her mission.
They were traversing a much safer path, so Evie took the time to check her map. She was surprised because Silvia’s Group already had more than ninety percent of the map. More than Scar’s Group and Black Lion were even ahead of them.
Once she entered Silvia’s group her Map of Vulcan’s Cave was also updated. And she could send it to anyone in her friend list. At least, that was how Scar worded it for her.
However, she was not naïve. She would not send it to Scar until she got hold of that piece of paper with their signature plastered in black ink at the end of the agreed monthly allowance.
Evie thought the Silvia and the others didn’t know about the map and that it was sharable. That was why they welcomed her into their group.
If only they knew . . .
Evie shook her head when the guilt made her have second thoughts again.
Evie briefly shifted her eyes at Ren. Was it because of him and his pet that was why they achieved over ninety percent of Vulcan’s Map?
It didn’t escape her notice that Pii was leading the adventure while Ruru was just hanging around with Nikolai.
Evie’s thoughts were disrupted when Alecia hopped right next to her and asked in a cheerful voice, “So Evie, right? You’re also a blue mage like me?”
Evie nodded.
“What number is your INT?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Whoa! That high? Yours is the same as Lucia!”
Lucia growled at the back. “Mine is already twenty-eight.”
Alecia just stuck out her tongue and giggled.
Evie was about to say something when she felt something at her back, piercing and hard to ignore. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Robert and his friends glaring at her.
“Don’t mind them. Threat them as invincible.” Alecia winked at Evie when she noticed that the latter turned quiet.
“Aren’t they your friends?”
Alecia readily shook her head. “No. Those three are bloodsuckers. I don’t even know why we hired them in the first place.”
“Hired?” Evie was confused.
“You know. Just like Ren over there, we hired that guy to tank for us since we don’t have one. For a price, of course.”
“. . .” Something big struck Evie in the head. Hired? Services? Money?
Could she have thought about this whole game wrong? She thought that the only way for her to get good money was through a guild. She hadn’t thought about using her class as a Blue Mage to earn.
She was silent for a moment blocking out all the noises from her surroundings to focus on that one single thought in her mind.
Could it be that she could make money in another way that didn’t involve guild and leaders and cannon fodders and musses and pretty faces?
She thought about being an employee just like in the real world to earn money, but . . . could she really start her own business in this world? Like maybe offering her services too?
But being a Blue Mage with meager skills and spells, could she really do it?
How about if she tried to recreate her account?
No. The real problem was . . . Where would she start? She didn’t know anything about the game. What’s more, was she willing to discard a permanent job with a monthly salary over an unknown venture that she wasn’t sure would work with her class?
This was her chance to enter Black Lion and might be her only chance while they were still recruiting members. If she failed her mission, Scar would definitely kick her out.
Evie’s thoughts were disrupted when a series of exciting voices rang in the air.
“Oh! Another hidden room! Good job, little Pii!” Rosie clapped her hands in glee.
The others hopped inside the newly opened aperture that was only opened by a secret lever that the little creature had found camouflage from all the rocks in the area.
So that’s how it was. It was really the pet who discovered hidden rooms. Evie thought as she watched the percentage of the map go up.
No wonder that Golden Phoenix was way behind even though they entered first before Black Lion.
Silvia chuckled and tapped Ren’s shoulder.” Maybe next time, you can lend little Pii to us?”
“No.”
“I’ll pay you, of course.”
“Pii only go where I go. If you want to hire him, then you have to hire me as well.”
Silvia laughed, illuminating the area with her smile, while Evie just looked at the conversation on the side.
Even a pet was more sought after than her. Evie thought, dejected though her face remained blank as ever.
Inside the hidden large compartment were four Lava Hounds, and Nikolai took a step back, being careful not to wake up the sleeping giant dogs, and accidentally went into the area of their attacking range.
“Why are the monsters increasing with every secret room we went into?” asked Lucia.
“We’re probably nearing the boss’s room,” explained Pamela.
“There’s another golden chest.” Robert and his friends only saw the gleaming treasure on top of the altar and nothing else when they entered the hidden room.
Why would they bother about the monsters since Silvia and the others would take care of them while they’ll get whatever was inside the chest?
However, this time, Silvia and the girls had enough.
Silvia only smirked. “Good. Go ahead and claim it.”
“. . .” Robert, Jack, and Vida didn’t quite heard what Silvia had just said and their faces went blank. “Huh?”
“She said that if you want the chest go and get it yourselves.” Rafaela sweetly smiled.
Lucia snickered. “The Lava Hounds are asleep. Maybe you can tiptoe your way in there.”
“We’re going to stand here and guard the door for you. Aren’t we the sweetest?” Rosie giggled.
Jack was so mad, his veins were pounding hard against his forehead.
“Easy there, you might pop a blood vessel.” Lucia laughed.
“You wouldn’t get the chest?” Robert asked though the answer was so obvious with all the women’s disdainful looks thrown at them. “But what if there’s a valuable item in there?”
Silvia gave an elegant half shrugged. “It’s pointless to us since you get the first pick, and most of it will still go to you. We’re only concerned with the map and our MP at this point. Whatever chest we find is yours. But of course, you have to take care of the guard that came along with it.”
They should have done this at the very beginning.
Ren was so proud he was left speechless. He thought that the women would never figure that out.
Watching Robert, Jack, and Vida’s faces turn red with anger was satisfying. They shifted their eyes from Silvia’s Group and the chest before they gritted their teeth.
Robert looked at the woman with sinister eyes and a crooked smile. “If you’re going to be like this, then don’t blame me for what’s about to happen.”
The women stared amongst themselves. Clueless as to what Robert was talking about until a notification popped on their screen.
[Robert has left your Group!]
[Jack has left your Group!]
[Vida has left your Group!]