Chương 97

The frontier town of Winston was bustling with players and merchants. Rudra and Piaro walked down the busy cobblestone street. Rudra's Obsidian Drake Leather Gloves rested comfortably in the pockets of his black trench coat. The afternoon sun hit his bare face, and a massive, genuinely happy smile was plastered across it. He was in a fantastic mood. His ocean temple quest was sitting at a solid 65/113, meaning the next milestone reward was right around the corner.

Better yet, his grueling sparring contract with Piaro was at 88/90 days. In exactly forty-eight hours, he would automatically gain four levels in Advanced Staff Mastery and clear Phase 4 of his Saint quest.

"I love this town already," Rudra said cheerfully, looking around.

"Let's find that blacksmith, fix my staff, and grab some lunch."

"As you wish, Duke Rudra," Piaro nodded calmly. The Great Swordsman walked beside him, his posture relaxed but perfectly balanced. As they walked past the central plaza, a loud, miserable wail echoed over the noise of the crowd.

"Uwaaaaaah! Gimme my shield, you @ ~ # $!" Rudra stopped. He looked toward the large stone fountain in the middle of the plaza. Sitting on the edge of the fountain was a young Asian man wearing cheap, standard beginner's cloth pants and a plain shirt. He was pulling his own messy black hair, literally screaming and crying in the middle of the street.

"I could pay off half my debt if I sold that, you #$! ~^ jerks!" the guy sobbed, his shout containing all his heartbreak. Piaro crossed his arms, staring at the crying player.

"He lacks dignity."

"He sounds like his world just ended," Rudra noted. Normally, Rudra avoided loud player drama at all costs. But today, his mood was simply too good. He walked over to the fountain.

"Hey," Rudra said, resting the cracked Staff of the Fire Lord on his shoulder.

"You okay, man? You're screaming pretty loud." The crying player looked up. It was Grid. He sniffled, wiping his runny nose on his beginner sleeve.

"An old man stole my item! My le. gen. da. ry shield! Right out of my hands!" Rudra blinked.

"An NPC mugged you?" Before Grid could complain more, a bright, energetic voice called out from the crowd.

"Hey! Gladiator of the body!" A blonde young man in a simple martial arts uniform jogged up to the fountain. A bright smile crossed his face as he looked at Grid. It was Regas. Grid looked up with frustration at the interruption, but he recognized Regas straight away.

"Regas?"

"Haha! You know me? I thought you wouldn't remember," Regas rejoiced. Grid wiped his eyes.

"You were the only one who defended me against the accusations, so how could I forget you?" Rudra took a step back, letting them talk. Piaro's sharp eyes immediately locked onto Regas's legs.

"His footwork is exceptionally light," Piaro murmured quietly to Rudra.

"He walks exactly like a martial artist who has perfectly tempered his lower body. A strong foundation." Regas looked closely at Grid.

"Why is your expression so dark? Did something happen?" Grid made the saddest possible expression.

"An old man stole my item."

"Such a wicked...! There is such a bad person in this world!?" Regas jolted with surprise. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Hah... it seems like it. People who take the livelihood of others should die," Grid expressed his resentment.

"Hah... how good would it be if someone helped me... well... there is no chance. In this harsh world, there is no one who would help others for free, right?" Regas jumped up.

"This world is harsh? What are you saying? This world is warm and beautiful!"

"Yes... really important... it was my life... but I lost it... I think I will commit suicide..." Grid said pitifully. Regas' face paled.

"S-Suicide! You can't commit such a sin! Aren't you sorry toward your parents? Filial duty! Have you forgotten the spirit of Taekwondo?" Rudra pressed his hand against his mouth to stop himself from laughing. The guy in the beginner clothes was obviously baiting the martial artist, and the blonde guy was biting it hook, line, and sinker.

"This can't continue! I will help you! I can't forgive anyone who would deal such a big injury to others!" Regas declared passionately. Grid's face lit up with delight. Peeok! A beautiful woman with tanned skin suddenly appeared behind Regas. She hit him hard on the back of the head, then grabbed his earlobe and pulled sharply.

"You're going to help someone? Haven't you forgotten a lot of things?" Jishuka scolded.

"Ah! Ack! I-It hurts!" Regas shrieked, trying to pull away.

"She's my guild master!"

"Does it hurt, you pathetic bastard?" Jishuka pulled his ear harder. She sighed, glancing at Grid, who was openly staring at her chest.

"Newbie, Regas is busy right now, so you should take care of your own matters. Now then, we're going." Jishuka dragged Regas away. Grid sat frozen for a second. Then, he jumped up and blocked her path.

"Hey," Grid said. Jishuka crossed her arms, emphasizing her chest.

"Why are you calling me?"

"Can you give me Regas? He said he would help me. What right do you have to interfere?" Grid argued.

"I have a natural right. I'm his guild master, so he must follow my commands," Jishuka said smoothly.

"Just because you're his guild master, doesn't give you the right," Grid snapped back.

"Please. I am really desperate right now," Grid begged.

"We are desperate as well. We can't spare any people," Jishuka replied.

"I'm more desperate!"

"We are more desperate!"

"I am more desperate!" Rudra watched the grown adult man and the famous guild leader yell at each other like total children in the middle of the street. A crowd was already forming.

"Why is the guild master of the Tzedakah Guild squabbling like a child?" someone whispered from the crowd. Jishuka gritted her teeth, realizing her image was getting ruined. She let go of Regas's ear.

"Okay, let's leave it to Regas," Jishuka said, placing the burden on him.

"Do you know better than anyone what a desperate situation our guild is in right now? Do you have time to help others?" Regas hesitated.

"Regas, I'm asking you. You are the only one I can rely on," Grid begged desperately.

"I will help!" Regas shouted. He grabbed hold of Grid's hand. Jishuka looked like she wanted to murder him.

"Good luck," she spat, her red lips twitching in anger before turning around and storming off. Rudra finally stepped forward, spinning his staff.

"If you guys are going hunting for a shield thief, I'll tag along. I need to hit something anyway." Regas smiled brightly.

"The more the merrier! Protecting justice is everyone's duty!" Grid explained the story.

"A soldier suddenly turned into an elderly person and stole your item... A black aura emerged from the soldier's body..."

"Doesn't it sound like someone from the Yatan Church?" Regas deduced quickly.

"I don't think it is a Yatan follower," Grid argued.

"The item that the old man stole was something that would deal great damage to the Yatan Church followers, but the old man easily touched the item..."

"If it was a high priest who transformed, he might not be influenced by the item because of his high faith," Regas countered. Rudra nodded.

"The cult leaders usually have strong resistances. It makes sense. Let's go check the mountains." Regas immediately took the lead, practically sprinting toward Rolf Mountain. Grid gasped for breath, dragging his feet as they climbed the steep slopes. Rudra and Piaro followed comfortably behind them, not breaking a sweat. When they reached the middle of Rolf Mountain, Regas shouted and pointed into the trees.

"This is the place!" Sitting against the rocky slope was a large cave, completely guarded by dozens of believers wearing the dark robes of the Yatan Church.

"The numbers aren't a joke... aren't there at least 30 of them?" Grid panicked. Regas didn't try to formulate a stealthy plan. He simply smiled widely.

"Bring it on! You evil people!" Regas yelled, jumping directly into the middle of the thirty cultists.

"Heok," Grid gasped in pure shock.

"He is crazy!" Grid muttered, hiding behind a tree.

"Isn't this quite good? Gale Attack!" Regas cheered. His legs sprang up as quickly as the wind, violently kicking the Yatan followers away. Rudra leaned his back against a thick pine tree, pulling a piece of jerky from his pocket. Piaro stood beside him, watching the Taekwondo master fight.

"His kicks are incredibly fast," Piaro evaluated calmly.

"But his strikes carry no killing intent. He treats the battlefield like a tournament ring. Against true evil, that mindset is a fatal flaw."

"Let's just watch for a second," Rudra grinned.

"I want to see if the guy in the beginner clothes actually knows how to fight."