Seeing the guild leaders fall silent, Kael knew they felt powerless.
He looked at them, his expression calm and steady. "Everyone, calm down. Let's sit and talk this through."
Torren Greymaw and the others, realizing they had let their emotions get the better of them, slowly settled back into their chairs.
Draco had been observing Kael all along. Seeing him remain so composed only made Draco respect him more. He looked at Kael and asked earnestly, “Can you get us out of this ss?”
Kael didn't answer directly. Instead, he posed a question of his own. "Why are you being suppressed by the local players? Is it just because you're from Earth?"
They stared at him, puzzled by the question.
Draco considered it for a mont before answering. "It's about resources. Specifically, gems. This server is rich in gem mines, and the stones can be socketed into gear. We often clash with them when competing for mining rights. The faction led by Nyria, House Myrden, is especially hostile. They use any excuse they can to block us from mining."
Serinelle added, "House Myrden's influence is enormous. Thirty of the top one hundred guilds in Thaloria are allied with them."
"In other words," Kael summarized, "their issue isn't with you specifically, but with any guild that competes with them for resources. Is that right?"
The guild leaders nodded. They were all sharp, and they instantly grasped Kael's point.
"So, you shouldn't get so hung up on your identity as Earth-born players," Kael continued. "You should be uniting with the other guilds that are being bullied by House Myrden and stand against them together."
“Tch,” Torren Greymaw scoffed. "Easier said than done. You think we can just ask them to unite, and they'll listen? Why would they follow a bunch of outsiders?"
Draco quickly cut him off. "Torren, that's rude. Dawnbreaker is trying to help us find a solution." He then turned back to Kael. "His words are crude, but he has a point. We don't have the numbers or the influence here…"
A faint smile touched Kael's lips. "How to achieve it is another matter. But we all agree that the strategy itself is a potential breakthrough, correct?"
The leaders exchanged glances but said nothing.
Kael switched topics. "I read online that the players on this server have been trying to clear a Hidden Realm mine for over a week without success. Is that right?"
"That Hidden Realm is called Tydrisa’s Quarry," Serinelle explained. "The lore scroll says the stones Tydrisa once used to calm the raging seas were mined from this place. No one's ever succeeded in digging them out, but from the gems dropped by monsters inside, their quality must be extraordinary."
"Do you have any Teleport Scrolls for it?" Kael asked.
Stolen novel; please report.
An awkward silence fell over the table.
Draco quickly explained, "A lot of Teleport Scrolls for that Hidden Realm dropped during the last world event. But we were focus-fired by the other guilds and didn't manage to get any."
Serinelle sighed. "A few of us managed to buy scrolls on the black market. We hoped to try our luck, but we were ambushed and wiped out by House Myrden players as soon as we entered. After that, they bought up every scroll on the market."
Kael's expression darkened. "You an you don't have a single one left?"
The leaders remained silent.
Kael stood up, ready to leave. The Hidden Realm was the cornerstone of his plan, the only real asset they could use to rally others to their cause.
"Uh… I have one."
The voice belonged to EpicFailGuy.
Everyone turned to stare at him in shock.
"Last ti everyone was planning to go into the Hidden Realm together," EpicFailGuy mumbled, "I didn't go…"
Torren Greymaw pointed a finger at his nose. "You coward! You were supposed to go in with us, but you bailed at the last second!"
Draco quickly intervened. "This is perfect. I feel like my luck has been turning around ever since Dawnbreaker arrived. Now we have a scroll to get in."
"Hmph," Torren grunted and sat back down.
EpicFailGuy took out the Hidden Realm scroll and handed it to Kael.
Kael accepted it, his expression cold. "I ca here to help, but I'm not a charity case." He looked around at the guild leaders. "I can conquer Tydrisa’s Quarry, but that doesn't an I'm just going to hand it over to you."
A wave of disappointnt washed over the room.
"The Hidden Realm contains two large mines," Kael continued. "I'm taking one. The other is yours."
Their spirits lifted instantly. A whole mine in exchange for a single scroll? It was an incredible deal.
But Kael’s next words dashed their hopes of getting a free ride. "Of course, this isn't free either."
Draco asked ekly, "The price…?"
"We'll talk money later. What you need to be thinking about right now is how you're going to leverage this mine to unite the other factions against House Myrden."
With that, Kael pocketed the scroll, and he and Lila walked out of the tavern, leaving the guild leaders to discuss the details.
Once they were outside, Lila burst out laughing. She gave Kael a light punch on the arm. "You jerk, you had fooled too."
Kael dropped his serious deanor and smiled at her. "Fooled you about what?"
Lila gestured back toward the tavern. "You act all high and mighty about championing the Earth-born cause, but you're really just here to make a profit."
Kael chuckled. "Hey, the two aren't mutually exclusive. The honor of the Earth-born needs defending, and I need to get paid."
Understanding his real motives, Lila suddenly felt much better. So Kael didn't co all this way just for Zoe after all.
Her thoughts then turned to the task at hand. "So what's the deal with this Tydrisa’s Quarry Hidden Realm? Can the two of us really handle it?"
"It'll be easy," Kael said confidently. "With our skills, we can take it down no problem."
Lila's excitent surged. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"I need to buy sothing first."
"Health potions?"
"No. A Fluorescent Dust."
"A Fluorescent Dust?" Lila's brow furrowed. "Isn't that for Rogues? The item that cancels out Fluorescent Powder."
"Yep."
Fluorescent Powder was the bane of any stealth class. Once hit with it, even a skill like Soul Cloak or Phantom Step was useless for three full minutes. While Kael was confident in his range and had multiple escape skills, he believed in being prepared for anything.
Once he was ready, Kael held up the scroll. "Ready to go?"
Lila nodded.
With a flash of light, the world dissolved around them.
They materialized inside the Hidden Realm. In the distance, two massive mountains dominated the landscape, their peaks shrouded in mist. However, their imdiate surroundings were obscured by a field of grass towering five feet high.
Lila unslung Dragonbane from her back, resting the massive weapon on her shoulder, ready for a fight.
Kael checked his coordinates, got his bearings, and then started leading Lila off to the side.
"Where are we going?" Lila asked, confused. "Aren't the mines over there?"
“Shh,” Kael whispered, putting a finger to his lips.
He gently parted the tall grass and pointed ahead.
Lila peered through the blades of grass, and a knot of disgust tightened in her stomach.
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