Ark was about to answer when he suddenly raised his head. Then the old man smiled and winked. Now Ark could understand the old man’s intentions. The lost luggage was supposed to be delivered to Seirun workshop. In other words, it contained the information Ark wanted to know. Of course, the items were related to the quest so Ark wouldn’t be able to handle it freely. When receiving a quest, there was some kind of contract that didn’t allow the related items to be sold at a store or consumed. But Ark didn’t intend to consume or sell it. In other words, he could confirm the contents of the box.
“Since the box was handled by monsters, you can’t be held responsible even if the box was opened.”
“Thank you!”
“I should be thanking you for answering my requests…..”
Ark grasped the old man’s hand who just laughed and shook his head. This was the first time Ark was grateful to the Jackson’s Hero title. Since coming to Ciel for two days, he had done the luggage quest at least 20 times so he had a high degree of intimacy with the NPC. In addition, there was the problem of what would happen if the old man was caught be the Seirun workshop. Without a high amount of intimacy, he wouldn’t have given him that hint. Thanks to the special effect of Jackson’s Hero, he received a 30% bonus in intimacy with all NPCs instead of fame. Because of that special effect, Ark managed to get a hint from the old man after only two days. Anyway, Ark accepted the quest and headed to the monster’s territory. After retrieving the luggage, he checked the contents.
‘…… Was my guess wrong?’
However, disappointment showed on Ark’s face when he checked the contents. Inside the box were ordinary herbs.
‘No, I still don’t understand properly. Sometimes the herb formulation can vary according to the ingredients.’
He purchased the contents in Ciel and tested them at Tarun’s house, but he was unable to find anything that would cause sickness. However, there was no doubt that it played a role. Ark was introduced to other old men and completed different transporter quests. It was to investigate the herbs delivered from other areas. However, that was nothing different.
‘Does Magaret’s sickness have nothing to do with the Seirun workshop? I’m back to the starting point.’
Ark had fallen into a maze and once again headed into the slums. Suddenly, a middle aged person wearing flashy clothes approached from one side.
“Hey. Are you Ark?”
“Yes, that’s right……”
He stopped moving and the middle aged man happily approached.
“Ah, as expected. I’ve heard the rumours.”
“Rumours?”
“The rumours have spread between the transporters delivering to our Seirun workshop.”
“The workshop….. You mean Seirun workshop?”
“You already know? Then this talk will be quick. In fact, I am Agathe the owner of the Seirun workshop in Ciel. There is so much trouble with the surrounding monsters that deliveries are often behind schedule. But over the last few days, I’ve heard that you’ve found all the goods for the transporters. In addition, unlike other foreigners you completed the task in one hour.”
Agathe made a friendly expression and moved closer.
“The transporters praised you so much that I specially came to you for a special favour. In fact, there has been a slightly unbearable problem. Shortly before they arrived, some workers were attacked near Rocky Mountain and had their luggage stolen. That luggage is more expensive than the others……”
Agathe coughed and said.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ve been a little annoyed. Anyway, I need those ingredients immediately. Can you find it for me? If you bring it back this evening then I’ll double, no triple what the transporters promised.”
Ark had a sudden flash at Agate’s words.
‘Luggage transported directly….. Oh my god, why didn’t I think of it until now?’
If the manufacturing process was a secret then would the Seirun workshop entrust the important herbs to transporters? If Ark was the owner then he would only entrust the common ingredients to the transporters for the sake of security. Just as he was thinking this, Agathe added in a low voice.
“But don’t even think about opening the luggage. These days there are many people eager to plagiarize our techniques. Just now some guy tried to question the Seirun workshop. The items were stolen just 2 hours ago so it is impossible for the sealed iron box to be opened yet. If I find any evidence that the box is open then you’ll be formally accused. Do you understand?”
‘This guy is the owner of the workshop? Why do I smell something fishy coming from his words?’
Ark thought that as he saw Agathe’s unpleasant face. Anyway, a quest information window appeared after Agathe’s threat.
-A request from Agathe, owner of the Seirun workshop.
Agathe, the owner of the famous Seirun workshop in Ciel has an important quest for you. While the most important ingredient for Seirun’s brand potion, it was attacked and stolen by monsters. After hearing about your fame among the transporters, Agathe has commissioned you to regain the goods. If you recover the goods then you will receive three times the normal reward given by transporters. However, if there are any traces of the luggage being damaged they there quest will be failed and you will have a hostile relationship with its workshop.
Difficulty level: C
Quest restriction: Completed more than 25 transport related quests.
‘This is an opportunity!’
Ark’s eyes sparkled as he checked the contents of the quest. It was the herb important to the Seirun workshop! If the mysterious disease affected the residents of the slum was related to the Seirun workshop then there was a 90% chance it was this herb. This belief hardened even more after seeing Agathe’s attitude.
“Please leave it to me!”
There was a faint smile on Ark’s mouth as he grasped Agathe’s hand.
—————————————————————————————————
Kuaaaaak!
The knife blade fell down weakly as the monster collapsed. It was a white monkey inhabiting the cave near the Rocky Mountains called the Etin. In contrast with the monsters he normally dealt with, this one was level 250. Ciel normally had level 200 users so this would be a difficult opponent for them. But Ark was level 366 so he cut down the Etin and searched the cave. A small box was visible near a group of Etin. The angel stamped on the side of the box was the trademark of the Seirun workshop.
-You have found the quest item ‘Seirun’s lost luggage.’
* Quest completion: 10/10
“Okay, with this it’s finished.”
Ark looked at the iron box and laughed. However, he had to think a bit before finishing the quest.
‘If my guess if right, there is a high chance the substance in the box is related to Magaret’s disease. But if my guess is wrong……’
The quest from the Seirun workshop would be considered failed if the luggage was opened. Well, Ark didn’t really care about failing the quest. Agathe promised triple the normal rewards, which was 1 gold and 80 silver and 30 extra fame. It wasn’t to the extent that Ark would hesitate.
‘It will be a problem if my relationship with the Seirun workshop becomes hostile.’
Although Agathe threatened him, Ark was the one taking care of the Etins. He could just say the Etins had already plundered the baggage. Since he was the only witness, who could prove that Ark did the crime? However, the Seirun workshop had a lot of influence in the southern region of Bristania. Even if he was acquitted, there was no guarantee what his hostile relationship with the Seirun workshop would cause. Were Magaret and the residents of the slums worth the risk? So he worried about taking back the luggage and just waited. But close just closed his eyes for a moment before shaking his head.
‘It’s not a problem where I can discuss the value.’
He couldn’t give up after thinking about Ronnie.
‘Yes. I’ve already started it. Come, I’ll finish it!’
There was no reason to think about a bad result. If the herb from the Seirun workshop caused the illness then it could cure the residents. If he was wrong and his relationship with the workshop became hostile then he would just have to work to improve it. Who knows? Maybe the Seirun workshop will just decrease their promised additional compensation?
‘Yes, quests in New World don’t just have one ending. If I open the box then I’ll fail the quest but I might be able to receive additional rewards from a different branched quest!’
Kwakwang!
Ark drove his sword into the box. The solid iron box was crushed immediately and the contents flowed out. As he guessed, most of the goods were herbs. Ark confirmed the list of herbs. When he used Ingredient Identification on the quest item, all he could confirm was the name. After confirming the ingredients, he bought the ingredients in Ciel and investigated.
‘My guess is correct!’
After buying the list of ingredients in Ciel, he was able to investigate the ingredients and finally found the element causing the sickness. However, he became even more confused after reading through the information.
‘Eh, wait? This is clearly the cause. But this…..?’