Continuing on his way, Marcus left the stunned Jarek behind him, not caring to show any interest in him since Marcus felt their was no need to.
He of course was looking for some type of possible reward from Jarek, but he felt that ignoring him and acting nonchalant was more likely to get Jarek to seek his attention.
This could also back fire if Jarek just decided to ignore Marcus, but even if that happened, he would only be out about five minutes and a bit of mana that he had long since recovered.
However instead of ignoring him, Jarek was now interested in the person that was able to take on level forty beast and monsters while only at level thirty-five.
Though Marcus' level was not actually thirty-five he was just using his false status skill he had gotten from Roxene to pretend to be weaker than he actually is.
Running after him, Jarek called out to Marcus and said, "Irene Wait up. If we are both going the same way how about we go together. It is not often I get to meet someone as interesting as you, and we can both exchange stories of our adventures on the way back."
Jarek came running up enthusiastically to Marcus who in response said, "I am not offering a charity service if you are looking for someone to help protect you back towards the safer areas."
Marcus then turned his head from Jarek who went wide eye with realization after hearing what Marcus had said.
He figured that Marcus was upset since he while not expressly, had implied that Marcus was weak when he offered to protect him till, he met up with he party Jarek figured he was a part of.
However, now he realized how wrong he was and that it seems to have upset Marcus.
Except Marcus was not actually upset, he was just playing Jarek to try and get him to give him what he needed most, information.
Marcus had read a good deal about the Cordillera Depths before coming here, but there was a lot only experienced adventures that delved into the dungeon on a regular basis would know.
And Marcus figured that Jarek being a mithril ranked adventure he was sure to have a decent amount of information.
Also having a powerful connection in the city was a good idea since there were few people that could talk down to a mithril ranked adventure since their statuses in many regards were better than most nobles.
Walking in front of him, Jarek lowered his head and said, "I am sorry if I offended you earlier by implying you were weak. I was just surprised to see a level thirty-five gold rank adventure so deep into the area where the strongest beasts and monster reside. But I can tell now you are no ordinary gold rank."
'Hook line and sinker.'
Marcus could not help but smile since he was now pretty certain after that apology, he could build up his relationship with Jarek and learn a few interesting facts and maybe even a secret or two about the dungeon.
"Okay I understand, and you would be correct that most level thirty-fives are not as strong as me, so your misconception is understandable. Now I am headed out of the dungeon and if you are going the same way I would not mind the company."
Jarek nodded his head and followed along with Marcus, it was not everyday he got to meet someone so interesting, and as much as Marcus wanted to use Jarek, he was thinking the same thing.
As the two walked, Marcus asked him questions about the beast he had been fighting which he had called a couatl.
"Ah their was a request put up in the guild for the fangs and core of a high-level serpentine beast which offered a decent chuck of change. Luckily, I knew that the overlord of this area was that couatl since I have had a few run ins with it before. Though it looks like I bit off more than I could chew since we nearly took each other out. I should have know taking on a level forty-seven pseudo-epic grade beast by myself was a mistake, but I did not want to share the reward with anyone else."
Marcus took pause hearing what Jarek just said. He had never heard the term pseudo-epic grade and wanted to know more.
"Hey Jarek, what did you mean by pseudo-epic grade beast."
Jarek then went to tell Marcus that beasts at the very pinnacle of the strength for their grade were often called pseudo of the next grade up since their power was almost as strong as the weakest of the beasts one grade higher.
Nodding his head Marcus understood and so he asked Jarek about the two golden lion cubs he currently had strung up on his back.
"Hm, I am not a true expert on the subject of magic beast I just know a bit from my time adventuring, but I would say that golden lions are probably in the upper tier of rare magical beasts. but not to the point of being pseudo-epic grade. They have some of the best defense capabilities out there and even I have to get serious to pierce through their fur. They are also fast and strong but that is about it, they lack in the versatility department so they can be countered easily enough. Do not get me wrong though, they are still pretty strong and if you are planning on selling them, I know the best beast master in the city if you want an introduction."
"Yeah, I would not mind an introduction, though I do not think I am going to sell these two."
Jarek then looked at Marcus inquisitively and asked, "And why not, planning to keep them for yourself."
"No, I was actually thinking of giving them to my little sister, she is a bit lower level and I think having a couple of beasts by her side could be helpful."
The two of them continued to discuss various things after that, while heading towards the exit of the dungeon.
They mostly just talked about their experience inside the dungeon, though Marcus ran out of material much quicker than Jarek and switched over to telling a bit about his experiences in the Ocean Bluff Temple.
"That certainly takes me back. It has been almost a decade since I have been to Loursend and the Ocean Bluff Temple. I never did defeat a boss on the third layer but once you reach a certain level that dungeon just doesn't cut it anymore."
Marcus could only nod in agreement. The ocean bluff temple was a great place to train at lower levels but once he beat the strongest monster, he knew there was not much left for him there.
Soon the two of them came out of the forest and Marcus immediately spotted Lilia and Blitz staying near the tunnel leading back to the dungeon's entrance.
Quickly Lilia also spotted their arrival and began waving at Marcus, while taking the occasional curious glance at Jarek who was walking beside him.
"So, this is the little sister you were talking about and a bolt stag companion. I am surprised that you brought her in here, she is a bit young to be coming into this dungeon and at level twenty-one only just barely qualified."
Jarek seemed quite concerned for Lilia since level twenty-one was normally the bottom for a silver rank adventure and most people did not start heavily training kids until they were at least thirteen.
"Yeah, she is a bit young and under leveled which I why I left my companion Blitz with her. Me and Lilia had a run in with a band of illegal slaver a while back but were luckily rescued. Neither of us ever wants anything like that to happen again which is why we are striving to get stronger."
Jarek after hearing Marcus not entirely true sob story nodded his head in understanding.
"Sorry to a question you and your sister. I get it that you want to make sure that you are both strong enough to protect yourselves."
Jarek himself seemed to be remembering some past experience probably something similar where he was powerless in face of a tough situation, making him even more sympathetic to Marcus and Lilia.
"Well, it has been nice getting to talk with you Jarek but if you would not mind going on ahead, I have something I want to discuss with Lilia. If you want we could we meet back up again at the guild in about three hours, and you could introduce me to the beast master you mention earlier."
"Okay that should not be a problem, and if they are around, I can introduce you to some of the other adventures in town. I am sure that plenty of them would like to get to know a new talent like you."
Jarek then said goodbye to both Marcus and Lilia before heading down the tunnel towards the entrance, leaving Marcus alone with Lilia and Blitz.
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