“Got everything you needed?”

Evie was startled at the sudden appearance of the man in her thoughts.

“E-excuse me?”

“The map and our information. Have you got it?”

“. . .” Evie’s pupils rounded before she looked at anything that her eyes could lay rest. It was a good thing that the others ahead were occupied with their chatter and that Ren’s voice was low.

“I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Evie had no idea how Ren figured it out. Was she so obvious? Or was it because he was suspicious of her, just like with the rest after Robert’s betrayal.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to tell the truth. But just let me say a few words.”

Evie opened her mouth, but no letters were out. Could she keep lying even if she was found out? Or would she tell the truth, free herself from the guilt, and risk not getting a contract with one of the most sought-after guilds?

She was torn, and her stoic face cracked for the first time.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but doing it for a guild that kicked you out, left you on your own to fend for yourself, and exploited you in the promise of something isn’t worth it.”

Evie was stunned.

Why did he know about that?

Why did he sounded like he knew everything?

Could he read minds?

Was that part of his skill too?

“If they sent you out to be a spy for the first time, then they’ll do it again the second time. Again and again. Are you sure that’s what you want? To be a dog for a guild?”

“. . .”

Evie knew Ren was looking at her, but she couldn’t face him. Not when he was slapping facts straight on her face.

She bit her lips and said bitterly, “What choice do I have? I need the money.” There was no use in pretending. She had enough and couldn’t maintain her lie under the pressure of truth from him.

Ren thought that Evie was going to play ignorant until the end. He was glad that she gave up within just a few minutes.

He almost let out a laugh. Evie was indeed a money-hungry mongrel like him.

“You can be like me. A mercenary who offers his services for a price.” After all, I got this idea from you. Ren thought.

Evie scoffed though her voice remained dead. “I don’t have an incredibly high ATP and don’t have a set of impressive skill lists. I don’t even have a pet that could find hidden rooms.”

Ren was surprised that the proud Illusion Queen lacked self-confidence at this time. He wasn’t used to seeing her so downcast. Not that he had often seen her in the past.

It didn’t suit her.

Though her face was shrouded in illusion, he saw her mostly with a confident stance and nothing but a proud straight iron back when she deceived enemies left and right.

He guessed that all great people were once a newbie full of self-doubt.

“Not many took a Blue Mage class because of their mediocre skill list at the start of the game. However, if you pressed on and persisted, I’m sure you’ll become one of the sought-after Blue mages in COVENANT.”

Evie smiled with no mirth. “How long would that be? By that time, others can gain an advantage too. I’m afraid I wouldn’t turn out as I hope to be, and no one would want my services by then.”

“. . .”

Ren scratched the back of his head and thought for a moment before he said, “After this dungeon, once your INT reaches +30, venture into Illusion Forest in the land of the Sprites. There you will find something that would . . . help you.”

Evie was confused. Ren spoke like he knew everything about the game. And she was confused even more because he was helping her. “Why . . . are you doing this?”

Evie looked over at Ren. Though his appearance was shrouded in darkness, she felt he was looking at her too.

Instead of answering, Ren sent another shock to her in the form of a request.

[Ren is sending you a Friend Request]

[ACCEPT]

[DECLINE]

Evie was dumbfounded. Everything was turning so fast for her. She still hadn’t recovered about Ren knowing her mission and still drew a blank as to why he was helping her –– and now she was pressed again with another option.

Ren moved ahead and waved his hand. “I won’t be saying anything to Silvia and the others. And whatever you decide is your choice. You can either restrict yourself in a guild and be an enslaved person for a penny’s worth . . . or you can risk it all and carve your own path and become an Illusion Queen. Your choice.”

“. . .” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

As she watched Ren’s back, Evie suddenly felt light. Like all the worries didn’t exist. She felt that burst of energy that she lost before. The one that vanished after being made as a cannon fodder and errand girl for a day.

Evie didn’t know why but watching Ren’s back made her feel like she could do anything.

Evie looked at the notification on her screen before she pressed [ACCEPT], a genuine smile spreading on her lips.

Ren . . .

—-

Meanwhile, Robert’s group was advancing forward at a steady pace, and the more they uncovered the path, the more the map grew in percent.

“As I thought. The hundred percent is the Boss’s room!” Jack said in glee when the map was already ninety-eight percent complete after they rounded the corner and came to a large hall after the arch passageway.

In this hall was a massive door made of dried magma, shut together to prevent anyone from going in and out.

“W-we’re finally here.” Vida caught her breath. She thought that this cave would never end.

“After this, I’m going to have a long nice cold bath.” Trixie chuckled before she flung her attention to Lucia. “You wanna’ join?”

Lucia just shrugged. “Sure. The heat is unbearable. I probably won’t play for a whole day after this. It’s so exhausting.”

Trixie beamed. “You’re welcome to hang out with us. Maybe a nice spa tonight?”

Lucia stared Trixie in the eyes and grinned. “Gucci. Add me up to your friend’s list.”

While the two girls were happily chatting, Robert’s attention was on Black Lion, who was parking on the south side of the hall.

There were other groups too that were waiting for their turn, and everyone seemed to be on edge. Numerous groups entered the Boss’s Room before them, and still no firstblood notification. They all respawn at the cave entrance as wisps while the door opened for another challenger.

The forum was also eerily quiet. None dared to tell the tale about their encounter with Vulcan. Everyone’s lips were sealed for fear of the others claiming firstblood.

Robert’s grin stretched his face when he saw Scar’s group, who had nearly half of their MP depleted while theirs were still in full.

He couldn’t help but laugh. “The firstblood is in the bag!” Only Black Lion held the highest threat to them, and looking at them so battered and beaten with almost zero MP . . . he almost wanted to dance from joy.

Their supporting unit had zero MP, while their main attacking team had only less than half of their MP left. It might be a blow to Scar’s ego that he underestimated this dungeon. That was a miscalculation on his part. He had grown complacent, thinking that COVENANT was the same as Clash of Guilds.

Heh! Robert couldn’t contain his laughter. There was nothing to stop them from claiming firstblood now.

Robert went to Scar, grinning from ear to ear. “Yo. I see that you only have less than half of your MP left. Do you mind if we entered before you? Don’t worry. As compensation, I tell you the Boss’s information once we claimed firstblood.”

Black Lion glared at Robert while the latter had too much layer of thick skin to even care about some sharp glares.

Scar stifled a laugh. “And I see that you still have your usual tricks,” Scar said meaningfully, looking at the full HP and MP of Robert’s group.

Robert smirked. “I was just using my head. And as you can see, from all the groups in here, ours have the highest chance to defeat the Boss.”

“What did you say?” Zevi hissed.

Scar raised his hand and stopped her. “Actually . . . you are correct. We do have to use our brains. Tactics is everything in this world. Which I enjoy, mind you. We can’t just push our way into this with brawns and just hope for the best, can we now?”

Robert was confused for a moment, didn’t quite catch what Scar meant.

“Ah, yes. There they are. Right on time.” Scar’s smile widened at the appearance of another group who were marching towards them.

“I’m sorry,” the guy said, panting. “Some of the monsters have respawned, so it took us a while to get here.”

“No worries. Did you bring what I asked for?”

The man nodded. “Yes. But all in all, we only managed to purchase five Mana Potions with our gill.”

“No problem. You’ve done a good job. You can log out now and get some rest.” Scar smiled before he smirked at Robert, looking at him under the bridge of his high nose.

“You see. We have multiple groups who attempted this cave before us and other groups who were doing other dungeons. They were clearing the monsters nonstop so it was no wonder that their ATP reach the requirement to enter towns. I have rounded those who can enter the city and have them buy the Mana Potions.

“The only downside is, they had to start at the very beginning of the cave once they forfeited or logged out. So it took a while . . . but no worries. All are going according to plan.”

Robert’s smile fell.

Scar leaned over and whispered in Robert’s ear.

“I’m telling you this so you can add this to your strategy next time so you wouldn’t have to ride someone’s tail all the time.”

Scar then patted Robert’s shoulder. “Good luck out there. But we will be taking the firstblood.”

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