Chapter 515 - Exploring the Surroundings of Storm City
After parting ways with Duke Arsena, John first shared his current situation with his friends, including Adam and Blue Sea. It was crucial to ensure they were all informed to avoid any misjudgments due to a lack of information.
"The reinforcements from the Northern Myst Empire have arrived, and it seems Duke Arsena no longer requires our assistance. In the upcoming period, I will focus on completing the hidden quest I currently possess. You all can take this time to handle your respective matters. I believe the next time Duke Arsena seeks us out, it will likely be when Storm City faces another crisis.
We must acquire sufficient strength before that happens, as our current power is inadequate to deal with the next crisis. You all are well aware that both the Dark Realm and the Mystery faction are preparing for their next confrontation. We absolutely cannot let our guard down."
Thus, John sent this information to the others. Adam and Blue Sea were quick to respond, as they had always been keenly interested in the struggles among the three major factions.
[We understand and will handle our affairs as quickly as possible. Afterward, we will focus on enhancing our personal strengths and work on strengthening the power of our guild.]
John also had a discussion with SkyStars, who had been assisting him with tasks that John couldn't manage due to time constraints. John had some territories around Storm City, initially managed by NPCs. However, John felt these NPCs weren't fully aligned with his interests.
In light of this, he eventually entrusted his territories to SkyStars. Although SkyStars might not have been exceptionally talented in combat, he was gifted in handling the administrative and miscellaneous affairs of the territories.
SkyStars successfully managed all the affairs for John, ensuring that John had no worries during his previous series of actions. Now that John was determined to explore the secrets of Storm City, his first destination was naturally his own territory outside the city.
After all, the lands surrounding Storm City were technically part of the city's region. John teleported directly from Storm City to his territory on the outskirts.
Though nominally termed a 'territory', it was actually just a manor. The manor wasn't particularly large; it primarily housed various plants and materials that John found useful.
SkyStars was somewhat surprised by John's arrival, as he had thought John would be busy addressing the threats facing Storm City. "Why do you have time to come here? I heard from others that you should be preparing for the defense of Storm City. Has the crisis there been resolved?"
John nodded, "Yes, at least for us, the crisis in Storm City is over. The reinforcements from the Northern Myst Empire have arrived, and there's no longer any need for us to assist Duke Arsena."
This reassured SkyStars a bit. Although the location of the manor wasn't typically prone to danger, every time Storm City was attacked, SkyStars had to be cautious. After all, what if the creatures from the Dark Faction and the Mystery camp lost their rationality and suddenly attacked his location?
"So, your purpose here is to check on the growth of the plants in the manor? I can tell you that they are growing very well. In about half a month, the fruits of these plants will be ready for harvest. You can use these fruits to make various supplies or in the crafting of scrolls."
As SkyStars began to talk about the plants grown in the manor, he showcased his expertise in gathering supplies and cultivating plants that could be used as materials. Throughout SkyStars' explanation, John remained silent. He didn't fully absorb what was being said, feeling that it wasn't particularly useful to him.
After SkyStars finished, John directly asked, "Have you noticed anything unusual around here recently? It doesn't have to be extremely strange – just anything that seemed off to you."
SkyStars hesitated a bit at John's question. He hadn't really noticed anything peculiar in the area. However, he soon recalled an incident that seemed abnormal to him: "Do you remember the last attack by the Dark Faction on Storm City? I was in Storm City at that time, along with Emma. We both experienced that battle. During the fight, I noticed that some of the Storm City guards had defected to the Dark Faction.
But after the Dark Faction's attack was repelled, it seemed like the Storm City guards didn't suffer much loss. So, where did those guards who defected to the Dark Faction go? Are they still hiding in Storm City?"
Upon hearing this, John also appeared slightly concerned. However, he felt that this issue was not his responsibility now. He believed that Duke Arsena should be able to handle it.
"This matter doesn't have much to do with us anymore. Duke Arsena should be able to handle it. What I'm interested in is whether there are any hidden secrets in Storm City that we haven't discovered yet." John wanted to make his intentions clear; he didn't want SkyStars to bring up other issues that were of no help to him.
SkyStars nodded, now understanding why John was inquiring about any strange occurrences. After pondering for a moment, he said to John, "I remember there's a small harbor to the south of Storm City. It was originally used for cooperation between the Naga and Storm City. But after the storyline began, that harbor was completely abandoned. I thought it was impossible for anyone to be there.
However, about a week ago, when I visited the area around that harbor, I discovered there were still some NPCs there. They seemed very afraid of being found by others. They deliberately hid, so I wasn't able to see them properly. That's the strangest thing I know of. If you want to investigate, you can set off right now. It's getting late, and if you arrive at the harbor in the evening, you definitely won't see those NPCs."
John listened carefully. The abandoned harbor, especially with NPCs who were keen on staying hidden, piqued his interest as a potential lead in uncovering secrets about Storm City. This seemed like a worthwhile direction for his investigation.
SkyStars' mention of this unusual occurrence was indeed very helpful to John. Nodding, John quickly made his way to the harbor SkyStars had mentioned. He arrived at the outskirts of the harbor just as the sun was about to set, discovering that this place seemed to harbor a powerful force he hadn't encountered before.
John stood at the edge of the harbor, enveloped in an atmosphere of overwhelming power. This mysterious force, unlike anything he had ever encountered, did not align with the known powers of the Order Faction, the Dark Faction, or even the enigmatic Mystery Faction. It suggested that the harbor, shrouded in its unique energy, might be a gateway to untold stories and hidden histories of Storm City. John, deep in thought, contemplated this possibility, wondering if he could uncover long-lost secrets through this harbor.
Despite his eagerness to explore, John didn't rush into action. He was keenly aware that the formidable power enveloping the harbor was far beyond ordinary. Acting on impulse could lead to unforeseen dangers, possibly even fatal consequences. He knew that a cautious approach was paramount in this situation.
After a period of careful observation, John decided to take a calculated risk. He invoked the 'Abyssal Prison' spell, a powerful magic that created a protective barrier around him, shielding him from potential threats. Feeling somewhat safer, he cautiously stepped into the harbor. However, as soon as he crossed the threshold, his magical defenses dissipated into thin air. Alarmingly, he found himself surrounded by a multitude of hostile non-player characters (NPCs), each emanating hostility and aggression.
Realizing the imminent danger, John prepared for combat. His senses heightened, ready to respond to the slightest provocation from the NPCs. The air was thick with tension, and every decision, every move he made was critical. In this precarious situation, a single misstep could lead to a deadly confrontation. John steadied himself, his mind and body in perfect unison, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in the enigmatic harbor.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺