Chapter 516 -The History of Storm City
Confronted with numerous hostile NPCs, John was ready for battle, but he didn't want to initiate an attack. He was well aware that attacking directly would prevent him from gathering any useful information from these NPCs.
"I do not wish to be your enemy. I am here only to investigate the situation. If you wish me to leave immediately, I am prepared to do so," John spoke to the hostile NPCs surrounding him, hoping his words would ease their hostility.
Some NPCs, upon hearing John's words, retreated into the shadows, but two particularly powerful NPCs remained in front of him. One was a towering figure clad in warrior's armor, while the other was a rogue shrouded in a dark cloak.
Clearly, these two were the most powerful NPCs in the harbor. Their presence indicated they were here to ensure that John posed no threat to others. John understood that handling this situation delicately was crucial, as any misstep could escalate into conflict, thwarting his quest to uncover the secrets of Storm City.
"Just as I said earlier, I'm not here to be your enemy. I'm here to understand why you are in this place. This harbor seems quite desolate. Why choose to live here? You could go to Storm City, where the buildings and living conditions are surely much better than here."
John deactivated his defensive skills and sheathed his weapon, adopting a much more amiable tone.
The tall figure in warrior armor glanced at John and then faded into the shadows, leaving only the rogue NPC in front of him.
"There's no point in wasting your time here. We won't tell you anything. And we definitely can't go to Storm City; it's far too dangerous there," the rogue NPC said before attempting to leave, but John stopped him, wanting more clarity.
"Why do you think Storm City is very dangerous? Even after the attacks from the Dark Faction and the Mystery camp, I would think Storm City is much safer than this small harbor."
John's information caught the attention of the surrounding NPCs. It was evident that the NPCs in the harbor were unaware of Storm City's consecutive attacks by the two hostile factions. This lack of knowledge suggested a level of isolation or a deliberate detachment from the happenings outside their immediate environment.
Having realized this crucial point, John knew how to continue the conversation. He meticulously described the attacks on Storm City.
After John finished his explanation, the NPCs in the harbor appeared quite pleased, clearly indicating an adversarial relationship with Storm City. Puzzled by their reaction, John directly asked, "Aren't you all part of the Order Faction? Why do you seem so happy about the attacks on Storm City?"
This question silenced the NPCs, some of whom even showed signs of anger. The rogue NPC who had spoken earlier stepped forward and said, "We are not members of the Order Faction, nor will we cooperate with Storm City. In fact, our presence here is because of Storm City."
This was a significant revelation, and John naturally pressed for more details: "What exactly is the reason? Could you explain it to me in detail? Perhaps, after understanding the whole situation, I might be able to offer some assistance."
The rogue NPC didn't fully trust John's promise. In the perspective of these harbor NPCs, it seemed unlikely that anyone could provide them with substantial help. Nonetheless, John's offer and genuine curiosity might just encourage them to share more about their history and their issues with Storm City.
"You don't need to make big promises yet; not many people would believe you can offer us significant help. But since you brought us good news, I'll provide you with some information in return. You wanted to know why we are so hostile towards Storm City, right? I'll tell you now! It's because Storm City is our enemy! We were driven here because of the existence of Arsena, the Duke of Storm City!"
The rogue NPC was visibly agitated as he spoke. John sensed that he was about to reveal the entire history of Storm City.
As expected, the rogue NPC detailed the history that unfolded on this land. "We originally lived on this land, and our cooperation with the Naga Tribe ensured its safety. But one day, the vanguard of the Northern Myst Empire suddenly arrived.
They defeated our ancestors and drove us all away. Under the leadership of a very powerful Legend Magus, a Sage, we once successfully defeated the Northern Myst Empire. But then, the Empire sent a stronger army, including a Legend Magus and a powerful Paladin, who was none other than Duke Arsena.
In the end, our Sage was unfortunately defeated by the combined forces of the Empire's Legend Magus and Arsena. We were all eventually driven here. The reason we've managed to survive in this harbor is all thanks to the barrier set by the Sage. With this barrier, we don't have to worry about attacks from the Northern Myst Empire."
After recounting the history of Storm City, John finally understood why he had initially felt that the harbor was dangerous. The complex history and the struggle between the original inhabitants and the Northern Myst Empire painted a picture of deep-rooted animosity and ongoing conflict.
The Sage mentioned by the NPCs at the harbor was likely one of the Legend Magi of the Order Faction, who became an enemy of the Northern Myst Empire and was eventually defeated by the Empire's Legend Magus. This revelation led John to consider that the Legend Magus from the Northern Myst Empire might be the Mystery Protector. If so, there could be more common ground between him and the NPCs in the harbor.
"You mentioned a Legend Magus from the Northern Myst Empire. I happen to know one of them; his name is Mystery Protector, a magus known for his strange spells," John shared with the harbor NPCs.
Upon hearing the name Mystery Protector, some NPCs in the harbor became visibly angry, while others seemed frightened. Clearly, the Mystery Protector John mentioned was the one who defeated the Sage referred to by the NPCs. The rogue NPC's expression turned to one of intense anger.
"Yes, it was that Mystery Protector! He ambushed our Sage from behind during the duel with Duke Arsena! Without Mystery Protector's ambush, our Sage would never have lost. After all, he possessed powerful magic and was blessed by the Sea God."
With this new information, John felt he was beginning to understand the complex history and relationships surrounding Storm City. The ongoing tension and lack of friendly relations between Storm City and the Naga Tribe seemed to be linked to these past events and figures like Mystery Protector.
John pondered whether the Sage defeated by the combined efforts of Duke Arsena and Mystery Protector was actually a Legend Magus who had long cooperated with the Naga Tribe. If so, this could explain the attitude of the Naga Queen. Moreover, if John could thoroughly investigate and clarify this matter, it would likely increase the Naga Queen's trust in him.
"Since your harbor has a barrier set up by your Sage, why do you still live in such hardship? You should be able to fish in the sea for sustenance, at least," John asked, curious about their living conditions.
The NPCs at the harbor hesitated before responding. Then, the tall figure in warrior armor stepped forward to answer John's question. "The barrier prepared by our Sage has its downsides as well as its benefits. Due to the barrier, all of our powers are severely limited. Once we step out of it, we are cursed by an unknown force. We can't withstand this curse for long, so each of us can only leave the barrier for a short time. This limits our ability to gather sufficient food and resources."
Upon hearing this, John fell silent, contemplating a possibility. Could it be that the reason for their suffering was that the Sage was not completely eliminated, and his lingering presence or influence was somehow connected to the barrier's effects? This hypothesis, if true, could reveal much about the complex history and ongoing struggles of this region.
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