Meeting back up with Windy and Miss Leovoldt, my approach interrupts their conversation about a recent action film that's been aggressively marketed to the public called Justice In June starring some big names in Hollywood martial arts movies and a returning veteran looking to make it his swan song. It was...ok when I watched it a few years from now, after the artificial hype had passed. I'm not really all that interested in film or TV these days. I just never had time for it.
"No need to stop on my account," I laugh shortly.
"It's alright, we can pick it up again later," Windy coughs, "What were you talking about?"
I thumb my belt, "Gave Henna a chance to join us, and made sure she was capable of it once she said yes. In a few months time, she'll be able to give me a run for my money with how quickly she's developed in just few days."
Platinum-tier Potential is later nicknamed the 'Hero Tier' for damn good reason. Famed warriors of ages past would have at least had Platinum rated Potential stats, and the Ascended Heroes were at minimum, low-Astral, which is only 0.3 points higher than Henna. Which, admittedly, is a far, far wider gulf than just 0.3 points might suggest, but even so, that can be compensated for if she's properly cared for.
Hadrian likely had no idea what it is he gave up when he chose to sacrifice her to become Arevas' bitchboy, while Arevas himself would have been laughing all the way to the bank. Though, perhaps only Olrica might have known that much, assuming that her Potential was the same after she recruited her - assuming she was the one who did from context. It's quite probable that the quality and quantity of Inspiration gained prior to the Quest's completion had an effect on the result, thinking about it. I suppose I got lucky in that regard - or perhaps it'd be more accurate to say that Henna was lucky to have met me as I am now? I don't want to give myself too much credit, so that line of thinking is getting smothered in the crib before I start condescending to her again. It would be fairer to say that she always had this innate possibility - but until the right player comes along, she can't even scratch the surface of it on her own. Whether me, Olrica or someone else, she just needed someone to believe in her.
Smiling, I think I like that more.
"Earth to Silver?" Windy waves at me, amused.
"Sorry, zoned out for a moment there," I blink, "Did you say something?"
"She asked if it's really ok to be bringing an NPC along with us. On account of the no-respawning thing," Miss Leovoldt provides.
I affirm, "Henna is currently considered a Level 9 combatant, and the average fodder enemy is about level 4-8, not including Elites. With the rest of us looking out for her, she'll be just fine so long as we don't collectively fuck up."
The first miniboss we're going after isn't really difficult as much as it is obnoxious. However, if you've already cleared Miner's Nightmare and Farmer's Secret, the tactics involved in defeating it should be pretty familiar. Since I died early on and got trapped in the Cathedral, I was watching a stream of it being taken down back in the day, so it's the one I'm most familiar with. The Birdcage, The Brand and Desperate Embrace are less fresh in my mind in comparison, and I have literally no idea how The Birdcage was dealt with, so that's...fun.
"If you say so, boss," Windy shrugs, "We ready to move on, then?"
"Yes," I nod, "Next stop, Holy Spring Orchard's tent. They ought to be expecting me."
Leaving the girls outside to continue their chat while I enter negotiations, I enter the tent of Holy Spring Orchard.
"Mr Silver, good to finally meet you," a wiry Wyvernblood Panoplast man with flowing black hair shakes my hand, "Jayeon Adan."
"You speak for your team then?" I question, relinquishing his hand.
"I am the leader of Holy Spring Orchard, after all," he smiles, the subordinates present bow their heads in confirmation, "So if not me, then who would be qualified?"
"As you say," I nod, "Per my message, I'm here for business rather than a social call."
His demeanour doesn't visibly change, but the atmosphere about us turns a little more serious, Holy Spring Orchard's members leaning in slightly to listen.
"So you said. About our stockpile of Vacantsoul Foreman drops, yes?" Mr Jayeon sets the starting of the conversation.
"Indeed," I agree, "May I know how many complete sets you have gained so far?"
He purses his lips, a little reluctant to put a definitive number to it. Sighing he reveals it, "Twelve, plus several wands and a spare pair of gloves."
No Focus or Staff? Too bad.
I clear my throat, "I can Identify your equipment for you for a fee. Say, one set of Vacantsoul and 50 Stone Silver per set, including any failures? I'll waive the 50 Stone Silver fee for two sets if you give me any Terrorstone you have as well."
"Per set?" I can see the wheels turning in the wyvernblood's head, "That seems...almost cheap."
"It is," I confirm, "In future, I'll be charging per piece, but for now, I'm more concerned about my present needs, thus the hefty discount."
"We can agree to identify 7 sets, two with Terrorstone as collateral and five with cash. We don't have too much of it to hand, at present, though we stand to gain much more shortly," Mr Jayeon lays out his decision simply.
I smile, "Alright. If you send me a message later, we can set up another meeting to get the remainder taken care of once you have the money."
Unlike that greedy shitstain who got the Monocle originally, I'm not going to be abusing it. Exploiting a gap in the market, oh certainly. But not in a way that turns the community against me, which would be counterproductive. That said, we sign a System Contract.
Taking the first piece from one of the other members present, "If you don't mind indulging my curiosity, what inspired you to farm the Vacantsoul Foreman? The level penalty for dying has to be annoying to recover from after every run, and here you are with so many pieces, meaning you've run him several hundred times since the dungeon's location went public."
"Intuition," Mr Jayeon says simply, "It's an easy enough boss, and getting the experience back isn't too difficult. We figured it would be a good way to make money once a method to unlock it all was found."
Handing off the gloves, I switch to the boots, "So in the absence of a clear strategy to complete the dungeon, you opted to give up on the experience for monetary gain, in other words?"
"Something like that, yes," Mr Jayeon admits, "We didn't really know how to handle Trophytaker until recently, so we just gave it up as a lost cause."
"Have you made any progress with that at all?" I start identifying the next item.
"Some, but since the Event started, we've been focusing on farming contribution points at the barricade instead," he says casually, "If you want, you can join us on our next shift?"
I chuckle, "I'll have to pass. We have other plans."
Mr Jayeon tilts his head, "It's not another dungeon, is it? Your discovery and clear speed are pretty ridiculous, you know."
I smile slyly, "Trade secret."
Disappointed, he shrugs, "Had to ask."
"If you want some advice," I decide to throw them a bone, "Once we're done here, you should mount an expedition into the city itself. Camping at the barricade is less efficient than taking the fight to them."
"We can't all be like you," one of the Holy Spring Orchard members comments bitterly, earning him a flat glare from his boss.
"Never said you needed to be. Just that you're treating the threat the enemies pose and their value with greater reverence than necessary," I clarify, "They're menial cannon fodder actively sieging the city. Standing by and letting the timer run out is going against the spirit of the Event and will only net you fewer rewards than actively trying to take it back."
The Holy Spring Orchard team sink into thought at that, and a few seconds later, a particularly pessimistic woman sighs, "That's all well and good, but we can't fight a city's worth of demons. Might as well cut our throats and save the hassle."
"Never said you had to do it alone - after all, you allied with other local teams to figure out a shift rotation for manning the barricade, didn't you?" I point out, "What's stopping you from entering talks again to send unoccupied people into the city to hunt for the minibosses?"
Maybe it's because of how early the event was triggered, but the local community is too beaten down and complacent for its own good. I'd held out hope that the Event and access to Miner's Nightmare would light a fire under their asses, but thanks in no small part to DDA in the latter case, nothing of the sort has occurred since. Now with the event underway, they lack the drive to actually tackle it properly, sitting behind some flimsy defences and farming for table scraps. It's pitiful.
Killing The Scavenger might be enough of an impetus to get people trying, but with the gap between us and the remaining players, that might only reinforce the idea that they're not good enough. Which honestly, is a good thing in the short term if it means we get free reign to hunt the minibosses down at our leisure, but speaks to a greater problem that will last until RotA at a minimum if something doesn't change.
"There's simply no need to," Mr Jayeon shrugs, uncaring, "We still have a few days left in the Event before we need to consider it. In a day or two perhaps."
I'm not really sure what I can do to change the status quo short of getting on a proverbial soapbox and moralising at them vaguely as I did to Henna. I feel I'd be less justified in doing so considering how much of the responsibility can be traced directly back to me, paradoxically.
"Even so, the phrase Carpe Diem has endured for centuries for a reason," I try, "Where's the drive that motivated you to farm the Vacantsoul Foreman religiously with no guarantee that it would pay off? I mean, look at the situation you're in now, stood to gain tens of Stone Gold on your investment."
If it had been Terrorsteel equipment they chose to farm up, I'd be judging them more, but with the lack of Tailor training facilities and Mentors and resources available, mage gear is by far more valuable per piece.
"We'll consider it," Mr Jayeon compromises, "Once we've found buyers for this equipment, at least."
I give up, "As you say. One set down."
"How are you able to do this, out of curiosity? We checked all over the city, and the only answer we got was an NPC jailed for treason," Mr Jayeon asks, curious and probing.
Tapping my monocle I identify a pair of gloves, "Reward from The Failed Mage's Regret. Before you ask, it's not for sale, even if trading it were possible. It's permanently bound to me, and me alone."
I let the information slip deliberately to see if it'll get the rumour mill churning with anticipation. Might as well do a little advertising while I'm here, after all. Not worried about anyone trying to kidnap and enslave me either. Hell, if any player was capable of it at present, I might just play along.
When it's all said and done, I leave the tent about a quarter of an hour later by my estimation, meeting back up with a somewhat bored and quiet Windy & Miss Leovoldt, "That's that taken care of and a couple extra Stone Gold in the metaphorical bank."
"Great," Windy smiles anxiously, "So it's finally time to get to the fighting?"
"After we meet with Jade, Angelus and Jupiter, assuming he's online now," I nod, leading the way back to our tent, "Heard some interesting information about Angelus as it happens."
"Oh?" Windy's interest is piqued.
"According to one of the members of Holy Spring Orchard, he's been selling his healing services at the Barricade," a smart idea that I'm a little surprised I didn't think of, so kudos to Angelus for coming up with it, "I don't think he's made too much doing it, but it's certainly unexpected. I had him pegged as more of an altruist."
"I dunno, he kinda reminds me of you at times," Windy muses, "Just nicer."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I say sarcastically, getting a cheeky grin back.
"Don't let it get to you, boss," she snickers, "You're fine as you are. Mostly."
"Backhanded compliments are appreciated by all," Miss Leovoldt nods sagely, "Especially the people you work for. You should give him more, maybe he'll give you a raise."
"That would require me to be paying her anything at all, right now," I snort, feeling a little mean-spirited, "She doesn't have anything stopping her from speaking her mind against her better judgment."
"Harsh, boss," Windy grins, "You did specifically tell me to be honest with your flaws though, so I've got nothing to be sorry about."
I groan, "That wasn't licence to take the piss out of me."
"Tomayto, tomato," she shrugs, "But fine, I'll stop."
I feel a headache coming on.
