Chapter 112: Another Purpose
Chapter 112: Another Purpose
Undeveloped Areas were quite unpopular among ordinary Players in the Game, for the most part.
Monsters in the Undeveloped Areas gave slightly more Experience than those in developed areas, but they were also tougher. The main problem was the thick, white fog in those zones – it was really annoying. With bad luck or a careless move, you could easily lure a whole bunch of monsters. Given the Attributes of ordinary Players, avoiding a total party wipe was already considered good.
However, exceptions existed, and the Frozen Wasteland was the most popular Undeveloped Area.
Not only was there none of the hated white fog here, but the monsters also moved sluggishly due to the extremely cold weather. As a result, Level 16 monsters in this Undeveloped Area were far easier to kill than Level 16 monsters in developed zones.
A week ago, various Guilds had monopolized the Frozen Wasteland for leveling up. It was only in recent days, with the increasing number of ordinary Players and the rising Levels of Guild members, that this practice mostly stopped.
Still, spots with fast monster respawn rates remained claimed by powerful groups with lots of members.
The Frozen Wasteland was a stretch of pitch-black earth covered by a thin layer of shattered frost, thanks to the constant mist and freezing temperatures.
When Chen Mo first arrived at the Frozen Wasteland, he could hardly tell it was an Undeveloped Area. People were everywhere as far as the eye could see. It was bustling with activity, almost like being back in the Starter Village.
No time to pay attention to the surrounding Players, Chen Mo had already looked up Andergreen’s coordinates. He sprinted along the path, packed with Players and almost devoid of monsters. Within ten minutes of entering the Frozen Wasteland, he had found Andergreen’s residence.
Bevicent lived in a shabby wooden shack. Selena lived in a slightly better, but still ordinary, wooden cabin. But the Great Ice Mage lived up to his title – his icy blue, sculpted castle looked grand and sophisticated.
The castle gate was wide open. Players frequently walked in and out. Bevicent’s Quest was famous throughout the Frozen Wasteland. Always, Players refused to give up until faced with complete failure – full of hope when they entered, only to walk out utterly dejected and disappointed.
‘Another fool running straight for a scolding.’
A group of Players grinding Levels near the castle watched Chen Mo walk inside, gloating inwardly. They’d seen countless Players like him these past days.
“Get out! Don’t waste my breath! Go find Borin! As long as you bring me back one Fire Breath Potion, I’ll give you whatever I have! But if you can’t get it, don’t come back!”
True to the thoughts of those outside, the moment Chen Mo entered the castle and saw Andergreen – wearing blue robes and looking annoyingly familiar – before he could say a word, Andergreen snapped at him impatiently, yelling the phrase.
‘Oh man! This old man’s temper is way too fiery! Is he really an Ice Mage? Seriously! I’m a super Player with hundreds of Human Race Reputation and over twenty Honor points, and he didn’t even glance my way!’
From the Forum, Chen Mo already knew what Andergreen would say to Players who visited. Still, he thought his Attributes might trigger some hidden event. Turned out, that was just wishful thinking.
The Attributes he acquired might fool kids and clueless NPCs, but they were completely useless against high-level ones!
Fine. Pass the buck, will you? For the sake of my future ultimate Boss minion – no, Boss partner! – I have to bear with this!
Without another word, Chen Mo turned around and left the castle, heading straight back to Shadow City.
He also already knew what kind of person Borin was. Borin was a Potion Grand Master in Shadow City, another old man. From Andergreen’s words, it was clear the Great Ice Mage had some serious grudge against Borin. Otherwise, with his lofty status, how could he possibly fail to get one Fire Breath Potion?
Bevicent hated Andergreen. Andergreen hated Borin. Soon, he’d meet Borin, who probably hated someone else, and would ask him to get something from that hated someone?
Just thinking about it made Chen Mo a bit curious as he stepped into Borin’s small cabin.
“You’re here for a Fire Breath Potion too?”
Borin was an old man with white hair. His long white robe was stained with splashes of all colors – a perfect match for a Potions Master.
“Yes.”
“No need to say more, Andergreen sent you. Get lost. Before that cursed beast of his dies of illness, I won’t give Fire Breath to anyone. Unless…” Borin said coldly, clearly nursing intense Hatred for Andergreen.
Unless?
That sounded promising!
Chen Mo’s spirits lifted!
“Unless what?” Chen Mo asked quickly.
“Because of that bastard Andergreen, the woman I loved left me. If you can make her change her mind and come back to me, I don’t mind giving you the Fire Breath Potion,” Borin finally said, sighing deeply under Chen Mo’s hopeful gaze.
‘Oh, crap!’
Chen Mo felt like vomiting blood upon hearing this. These Quests truly were chains upon chains! Next, he’d have to track down the woman Borin once loved, and no doubt, she would send him off to do her bidding?
Hold on, no! The key point is this: Borin, Andergreen, and that woman were clearly in a love triangle. If you added Bevicent into the mix… wow, that relationship web was seriously messy!
At this stage of the Quest, there was nothing left to say. For that Boss partner, even if there were more pitfalls ahead, Chen Mo was resigned to his fate!
Just then, two adorable little girls rushed into the cabin.
“Oh! It’s the Adventurer big brother!”
The girls greeted Chen Mo happily when they saw him. He looked over and recognized Eliya and Eve, the two little girl NPCs he’d rescued over a week ago.
“Grandpa!” Eliya then called out sweetly to Borin. Borin’s icy expression immediately melted into happy laughter.
‘Well, well! Doing good deeds really pays off! I only got Favorability points for saving those two before. But it seems they come in handy now!’
Chen Mo quickly took both little girls by the hand, pulled them into a corner, and started whispering excitedly. The girls nodded enthusiastically.
Saving the two girls had earned Chen Mo 50 Favorability points each from them. Combined with his Human Race Reputation and Honor, both girls trusted Chen Mo completely — like a real big brother, so trusting they’d probably help him count the money if he sold them.
“Grandpa, please give Brother Silence the Potion! He went through so much danger to save Eve and me!” Eliya ran to Borin’s side, shaking his hand and pleading.
“No! Because he saved you, if he wants any other Potion, I’d give him whatever I have! But Fire Breath Potion is absolutely out of the question!” Borin’s mind was made up against curing Andergreen’s pet. He flat-out refused, not even swayed by Eliya’s plea.
“Ai, Eliya, don’t trouble your Grandpa. Big brother will find another way,” Chen Mo put on a sad face and pretended to leave.
‘Geez! Though not my first choice, I am a super Player with Grandmaster Level Potion-making Skills! If I need a Potion later, I can brew it myself! What good is another Potion besides Fire Breath?! None!’
Hearing this, Eliya panicked, tears welling in her eyes. “Grandpa, you really won’t give Big Brother the Potion?”
Seeing Eliya on the verge of tears flustered Borin. “Alright, alright, Grandpa will give him the Potion! Eliya, don’t cry!”
‘What?! So simple?! Seems the old man really dotes on Eliya beyond the ordinary.’
Chen Mo wondered if he should push further, having Eliya act even more spoiled. But he hadn’t expected Borin to be this easygoing. Hmm. Might be worth coming by again later. Maybe I can get my hands on a few rare Potion formulas. That’d be worthy of my Grandmaster Level Potion-making Skill.
“Kid, here’s the Fire Breath Potion!” Borin reluctantly pulled out a Potion shimmering with fiery red energy and handed it to Chen Mo.
“Remember: When you give this Potion to Andergreen, you MUST say you found it by the roadside! You did NOT get it from me! Understand?” Borin stressed firmly before forgetting.
Was this even necessary…
Chen Mo was speechless. The whole of Shadow City knew Borin was the only source for Fire Breath Potions. Who would believe such a claim? Especially someone like Andergreen.
“Alright! I will do exactly that!” But Chen Mo couldn’t be bothered. He just needed to finish the Quest.
“Eliya, Eve, Big brother will come find you to play next time he has the chance!”
He waved cheerfully at the two girls and dashed back towards the Frozen Wasteland.
‘That guy? Still doesn’t know when to quit! He’s back again!’
Over an hour later, Players outside Andergreen’s castle saw the familiar figure approach. Mentally, they remarked on the sheer variety of people you meet in a Game.
No matter how many times the guy kept coming though – whether ten times or eight – the result would be the same. They’d been grinding monsters here for days and seen countless Players walk away empty-handed!
“Get out!…” The moment Chen Mo approached, Andergreen, without a second thought, started his usual angry roar.
Chen Mo said nothing. He just pulled out the Fire Breath Potion and held it up.
“Respected Adventurer, how may I assist you? Whatever is in my power, it is yours!” Andergreen’s attitude immediately did a one-eighty turn. Chen Mo couldn’t help thinking: ‘So even Great Ice Mages know how to trim their sails to the wind!’
“I want to slay a monster deep in the Frozen Wasteland. I can’t defeat it alone. I need you to immobilize it – Freeze it solid for six hours,” Chen Mo stated. If Bevicent had been there, he would have been shocked. This wasn’t the Freezing the Land Magic Scroll Chen Mo had initially sought after him for.
“No problem! An easy thing!” Andergreen agreed instantly, without hesitation.
“I also need a Magic Scroll.” Seeing Andergreen agree so easily, Chen Mo immediately stated his second requirement.
“Also?! Young man, don’t be too greedy!” Andergreen’s expression instantly darkened, his mood clearly dropping significantly.
“Immobilizing one monster? Hardly anything for you at all. Barely worth mentioning. Which is more precious to you? Your pet? Or a Magic Scroll? Think about it: Who else, besides me, can get you this Fire Breath Potion? Perhaps you’d prefer to wait for the next adventurer who might obtain it to show up?” Chen Mo spoke slowly and deliberately.
“Fine. What Magic Scroll do you want? Just so we’re clear: If I don’t have it, I can’t give it to you,” Andergreen thought it over. He decided the adventurer made a point. While demanding two things, the cost to Andergreen wasn’t high. Waiting further might prove fruitless.
“The Freezing the Land Magic Scroll.”