Eighty-Seventh Chapter: Nemesis
Carefully dodging the Sneak attack of the Dark Archers, I stumbled my way to the Target – this was the largest House inside the Castle, dozens of meters high with three floors. The wide avenue and Plaza outside the House, the magnificent Magic Lamps carefully placed, and the exquisite and expensive stone materials used in its construction all indicated the special nature of this House. It was the main building of the Castle, containing a Great Hall specifically for receiving distinguished Guests, while the second and third floors were Advanced Guest rooms and the Lord's family's bedrooms.
Gently pushing open the decayed wooden Door, a spacious Great Hall unfolded In Front of me. Exquisite reliefs, expensive murals, and soft blankets all showcased its former beauty, but everything had been destroyed. The Great Hall, originally for Guests to dine and dance, had now become a Monster playground. Currently, the Great Hall was occupied by a group of Night Tribe, led by none other than an Elite Monster.
I led Poison Creeper and the others forward. Light Snow had already been put away by me, because Adventurers often appeared here, and I didn't want her to be discovered by others. As for why Adventurers would appear here, firstly, it was nothing more than wanting to target the Countess. Secondly, because the second floor of this House was the location of the Black Moor Waypoint...
Sweat. When I saw the place indicated by Cain in the Book, I thought I was seeing things. I didn't expect that people in this World had already mastered the Principle that the most dangerous place is the safest. Indeed, compared to the open Black Moor, the rooms in the Castle were undoubtedly more concealed.
Even without Light Snow , our Combat Power was still Powerful. Before long, we completely cleared out the Night Tribe inside, and that Elite Monster actually dropped a relatively Advanced Shield.
Large Shield, Defense 12, Health 24-24, Required Strength 30, has Socket (3).
OMG, it was actually an Excellent Grade gray Shield with three Sockets. You should know that among similar Equipment, if you are socketing Gems, the Sockets on a Shield are undoubtedly the most precious, because they add Resistance (except for Amethyst and Skull). If you socket Emeralds into the three Sockets, even the lowest-grade Cracked Emerald can achieve Poison Resistance +36%. Such high single Resistance is something even Golden Equipment cannot achieve, showing its preciousness.
I carefully kept this Shield. The Sockets were left for the future when needed, to decide what to socket.
After clearing the battlefield, I followed the spiral staircase in the Great Hall to the second floor. On the corridor, I encountered a few waves of Shamans. These yellow Shamans were already an Advanced type of the Fallen Ones, only slightly inferior to the top-tier Dark One. They evolved from Saber Cats after countless bloody battles. However, their cowardly and selfish nature hadn't changed at all. As soon as they encountered a Powerful Enemy, they would scatter in all directions, completely disregarding the fate of their other Companions.
There were Doors on both the left and right sides of the circular corridor on the second floor, but if you thought the Waypoint was inside one of them and wanted to open it to see, you would be greatly mistaken, because what would greet you would very likely be teams of Monsters.
I carefully observed the Wall and finally stopped In Front of a huge mural. This was it. I knocked on the mural. After a while, the mural suddenly disappeared, revealing a Door. It turned out that the mural outside was just a Magic Illusion. The Door was opened, and a Rogue Archer walked out from inside and welcomed me in.
Inside the House was a very large bedroom. White painted Walls, exquisite magic chandelier, beautiful hanging paintings, and even a fireplace. OMG, guarding this Waypoint is really an easy job.
After the Sorceress registered my Name, I wasn't in a hurry to leave. It was already dusk when I arrived, so I might as well stay here for a night. It would save me the Effort of pitching a Tent. Moreover, I had never lived in such a beautiful House, whether in my original world or in the current Sanctuary. Wahahaha...
However, as the saying goes, extreme joy begets sorrow. Just as I was gazing at the room's decorations with the Gaze of a country bumpkin, my eyes sparkling, the Waypoint suddenly lit up with a White Light. Holy crap, it couldn't be that coincidental, could it? Other Adventurers are coming at this time?
What was even more coincidental was that when I saw the Appearance of these few people, I almost buried my face in the ground. There were three people inside the Waypoint: a Paladin, an Assassin, and a female Druid. It was none other than that unlucky Party whose Corpsefire I stole in the Evil Cave. Is this the legendary Nemesis? Or is it you reap what you sow? How could such a small probability happen to me ahhh!!
Seeing the three of them looking over, I quickly pulled the hood over my head down further and further, burying my face deeply in the shadows. Anyone who didn't know would think I was an Assassin.
Hope they don't discover me, I smiled bitterly to myself. Actually, recalling the situation at the time, what I originally thought was a flawless monster-snatching plan was actually full of Weaknesses. If the three of them had immediately returned to the Rogue Encampment and asked around among the Soldiers guarding the Teleportation Array, they could probably have guessed who stole their Monster. I don't think they wouldn't recognize me if they saw my face. At this moment, I can only ask that damned God, please let them leave here immediately.
After they arrived, they were also startled to discover that there was actually another Class Changer here. However, their subsequent Actions made me completely Despair. After exchanging pleasantries with the Guard who came to greet them, they actually took out their Beast Hide Blankets one after another and spread them out opposite me. Then they sat down on the ground, took out some Jerky, and it looked like they planned to stay here for a night too. Fine... okay, you guys are awesome. You guys aren't leaving, I'll leave then, okay? I was depressed and just wanted to stand up, but unexpectedly, that Paladin walked over and kindly extended his hand to me.
"My Name is Druv, a Level 16 Paladin. Do you mind making a Friend?"
His voice was calm and easygoing, easily making people feel favorably. However, hearing his sincere voice, my inner guilt became even heavier. Forget it. Ignore him, be a bad person one more time, and just leave like this. I stood up, about to turn around and leave, but the Sorceress guarding the Teleportation Portal spoke up, making me almost fall to the ground.
"This is Druid Lord Wu Fan. He has been on Trial alone until now. In the future, he will definitely become an Expert no less than our Rogue Encampment's pride, Lady Sharna!"
This Sorceress had just registered me, so she naturally knew my Name. Although her tone was full of admiration, I really couldn't be happy. I thought Sorceresses were all quiet types? What kind of Sorceress are you? Why are you making introductions for no reason? Hurry back to the Camp and study for a few more years.
I looked at that damned Sorceress with tears in my eyes, then turned back. As expected, the hand that Paladin named Druv had extended had already stiffened, and that Assassin opposite was even more full of anger. Even that gentle female Druid from before, her expression also darkened. Karma!
Just as I was preparing to deal with the coming Storm, the Paladin opposite suddenly let out a hearty laugh. The hand he extended did not retract as I expected.
"So it's Druid Mr. Fan. I don't think this is our first meeting, is it? How about it, can't we be Friends?"
My heart skipped a beat, and my hand involuntarily reached out and shook his hand. Having read countless novels and encountered countless schemers, my first thought was: There's a Conspiracy. This guy must be a deeply calculating schemer, planning to kill me when I'm not paying attention.
However, looking at his calm and steady Presence, it's really hard to imagine he would cause me trouble. Of course, it's not that I think all Paladins are good guys like Lars, but the Feeling he gives me doesn't seem like someone so narrow-minded. Even if he is truly deeply calculating, he shouldn't be so petty with me over Corpsefire. Thinking of this, my heart relaxed, and I took off the Hat on my head – since I can no longer hide it, why bother doing something unnecessary?
"Druid Wu Fan, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Druv." I showed Druv a big Smile.
But that Assassin opposite wasn't having it. He stood up abruptly and yelled at Druv, "Druv, what are you doing? Have you forgotten? It was this kid..."
"Shut up." Druv turned his head and glared at him. "I've already said, we retreated first, you can't blame anyone."
Actually, that's how it is in Principle, but in this chaotic world, Class Changers who are in a disadvantaged position should support each other. This is an unwritten rule. And my act of snatching the Monster, while it stands on Principle, lost morality and is clearly a very unkind Action. You can tell from the appearance of that cautious Assassin and the female Druid who are still full of resentment.
"No, he's right, I was wrong. I apologize to everyone, can you forgive me?" I sincerely bowed to the three people, then raised my head and smiled apologetically.
The three clearly didn't expect me to have such an Action. After reacting, the female Druid and the Paladin's expressions improved greatly. Only the Assassin still grumbled with a sullen face, "Hmph, what's the point of apologizing..." But after being glared at by the Paladin, he didn't say anything more.
"Forget it, those are things of the past, why bring them up?"
Druv suddenly patted my shoulder. Although his tone and Actions seemed to lack some of the politeness and courtesy from before, the Feeling he gave me was a bit closer – I didn't expect to get their forgiveness so easily. One more Friend, one less Enemy. Everyone must think this way.