"What does Korgrak want from me? And why now?" Kaizen asked.
The man with the deep dark circles under his eyes stared at Kaizen for a moment before answering:
"You really don't remember, Kaizen? Huh. I imagine you've had a lot on your mind lately. A few weeks ago, in the shop, you made a deal with Korgrak and us. You made her promise that we would call you when we wanted to use the Peacemaker Orb to enter the Lost Garden.
Kaizen frowned, trying to remember such an agreement, and finally remembered after a few moments.
"How could I forget?" Kaizen wondered aloud to himself.
Salles could almost laugh. "Well, your disappearance took us by surprise. We went to your old shop, but there was an NPC looking after you. That worried Korgrak a bit and she ordered us to look for you, so we're already a bit later than we should be. Anyway, you have some free time today, right?"
Kaizen nodded. "Yes, as it happens, I have some free time today. Would you like to make this foray today?"
"It is Korgrak's intention, but before we decide that, we have to go to her. Come on, follow me, our base in the capital is not far from here."
Kaizen agreed and began to follow the man to the Dragon Guild base in the capital, pulling Black Cloud along with him. Along the way, Salles reminded Kaizen of the Peacemaker's Orb and the Lost Garden, explaining that the Orb was a magical artifact that granted access to the Lost Garden, a secret region of the game where there could be unimaginable treasures or deadly challenges, perhaps both. Korgrak had been determined to explore the Lost Garden ever since she discovered it, and the Orb was the key to entering it, so she agreed long ago to help Taznaar and the Bloody Lily defeat the Druid Centaur.
Arriving at the Metal Dragons' base, which was located in a small building in the common district, Kaizen was greeted by Korgrak, a tall, beautiful woman with long white hair and black leather armor that contrasted with her flawless features. She seemed very happy to see Kaizen.
"We meet again at last, Kaizen." She said.
"In fact, it seems like an eternity since we last spoke. Salles has explained the situation to me, so I already apologize for delaying her guild foray."
Korgrak smiled. "There is no need to apologize, Kaizen. At least now you know that I always keep my promises and agreements." Then she turned back to Salles. "So, did you explain everything to him?"
"Yes, I have explained everything he needs to know," Salles replied.
"Good. So, Kaizen, now that you're here, let's go to the Lost Garden together. What do you think?" Korgrak asked, looking directly into Kaizen's eyes.
"Fine, but what will our team be? This has been a pretty grueling week for me, I don't want to have to carry anyone."
This made everyone in the room look indignant, except for Korgrak, who laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Don't worry, Kaizen, we have a very competent team for this mission. I have chosen the best players from our guild to accompany us. And I am sure you will do a great job as well." Korgrak replied, still smiling.
Kaizen nodded, relieved. If he was going on this raid as a favor to Korgrak, he wanted it to be quick, because he couldn't wait to get home and try to make a Legendary Item from the Ancestral Sea Dragon drops.
After everyone had finished preparing for the journey, Kaizen, Korgrak, and the other members of their group mounted their horses and set out for the Lost Garden, a place located in a virtually unexplored area between Holinda City and the Tretidian capital. The roads along the way were lined with tall, dense trees that blocked the sunlight and made the air cool and damp. In between brief battles against annoying monsters, rest stops, and the journey itself, Kaizen admired the beauty of the landscape, and Korgrak explained more about the Lost Garden.
"The Lost Garden is a secret area, Kaizen. At least since we discovered it, we have never seen anyone come even close to the area, after all, there is a flag of ours in the area," she said.
"A flag?" Kaizen asked.
"A guild's flag is used to mark the area in which it rules. If a player trespasses in the area where there is a Metal Dragons flag, we will be notified. Also, the Secret Garden is only accessible through the Peacemaker's Orb, so there would be no danger even if other players entered the place. Korgrak explained, his female voice changing to a male one due to the mask.
Kaizen raised her eyebrows in surprise. "By the way, how do you know that this place can be accessed with a drop that has never been dropped before?"
Korgrak pointed to his own right eye and said:
"Knowledge is the purest form of power, my friend Kaizen. And just as I knew who you were when I first saw you, I can discover many other things. Of course, I will not reveal to you how my abilities work."
"Um. You must have some very interesting abilities," Kaizen said, looking curiously at the leader of the Metal Dragons as he tried to use <Analyzing Eye>, but it was useless, she was more than 50 levels above him.
The conversation was interrupted as they came to a fork in a dirt road in the distant forest.
Salles, the deputy captain of Korgrak's guild, pointed to a small path hidden among the trees. "It's this way," he said, pointing the way to the Lost Garden.
Kaizen and the others followed him, trotting their horses behind. The path was narrow and winding, and the surrounding forest was even denser than before. When the path became too steep for the horses, they had to tie them to trees and leave them in the care of a subordinate, then they continued on foot, eventually reaching the entrance to a cave that was dark and damp, and a musty smell filled the air.
Kaizen could hear the sound of dripping water somewhere at the bottom of the cave.
...
Edited by: DrHitsuji
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