Ryu squinted, staring at the ranking panel he had just closed.The facts swirled in his mind, replacing the satisfaction of his small victory. Brutus was no ordinary strong player. He was a clue. A clue to the undiscovered depths of Aethelgard.
However, Ryu was not the reckless type. Facing an opponent as strong as Brutus now would only result in a crushing defeat.
He needed preparation. He needed information. And he knew where he could get both.
His initial goal of finding the Wandering Merchant now felt more urgent.
It's no longer just about completing automatic missions, but finding out more about this world, looking for items that might give him an advantage,or even get a clue about a hidden mission that could lead him to powers like Brutus.The merchant may have been traveling around Aethelgard longer and knows secrets that other players don't.
Ryu rose from his hiding place, stepping back into the main street of Eldoria Village. The hustle and bustle he had interrupted with the PvP chase had now returned to normal.
He shook off the irritation from meeting Brutus. Boredom had died. Replaced by a burning ambition and endless curiosity.
This was a game, and he would play it to the end, finding out every secret Aethelgard Online had hidden.
Ryu walked down the main street of Eldoria Village, his eyes sweeping every corner, looking for a figure that fit the description of a "Traveling Merchant".He passed a bustling tavern, a blacksmith's shop with the constant clink of hammers, until his gaze finally fell on a small crowd near a quieter market area.
There, under the shade of a shady old tree, sat an old man. His appearance was very different from the other village NPCs. His white beard was long and well-groomed, hanging down to his chest.
His wrinkled eyes shone with a sharp yet wise light, as if he had seen much. He wore a dark brown robe that looked shabby, but was decorated with embroidered symbols strange that Ryu didn't recognize.
Beside him lay a large wooden chest that looked very old, with intricate carvings and a shiny silver lock.There was no permanent shop, just a worn cloth spread out in front of it, on top of which lay several unusual items.
His mysterious aura caught Ryu's attention. This must be the Traveling Merchant. As expected, he was no ordinary merchant.
Ryu approached. "Excuse me, Grandpa," he said, trying to sound polite. "Are you a Traveling Merchant?"
The old man looked up, his eyes staring at Ryu intently. A thin smile etched on his wrinkled lips. "It depends on what you're looking for, kid. If you're looking for treasure, I have it. If you're looking for answers, I might have them too. But for the latter, the price is much higher."
A mission notification appeared in Ryu's corner of view:
[Auto Mission Completed: 'Visit the Item Vendor']
[Reward Received: Gold Coins (x5)]
Ryu ignored the notification for a moment. "I'm looking for something, Grandpa," he said, shifting his gaze to the items spread out on the cloth.There were a few items that stood out: a dagger with a sparkling crystal blade, a silver bracelet with a small dragon carving, and a very old-looking map with undeciphered symbols.
"Ah, a small treasure from my long journey," the old man said, his voice calm. "That dagger, its blade made of Moonshard crystal, can pierce illusions.The bracelet, let's say, can give its owner a little luck in times of need. And the map..." The old man smiled mysteriously. "The map not only shows places, but also paths."
Ryu felt a strong pull on the dagger and the map. The crystal dagger suited his Thief class, and its ability to penetrate illusions could be very useful.
While this map... could be the key to discovering Aethelgard's secrets. His curiosity was piqued once again.
"How much is the map, Grandpa?" Ryu asked, trying to hide his enthusiasm.
The old man laughed softly. "For that map, it's not just gold coins, my boy. It requires... a story. A story of an adventure I've never heard of."