Chapter 43: Bumping into Fate Skylark let out a heavy sigh, her face filled with a mixture of frustration and anger as she recounted the unfortunate events that led to her miserable fate.
"We were recruiting players," she began as she dried her clothes and hair, "and that’s when we came across a player named, The Legend.
"He was like me, someone who deleted his old account to start anew. But he was already at level twenty and had a group of players around the same level. It felt like striking gold when I found out they were looking for more members.
"We formed a group, over twenty of us, all eager and ignorant, lured in by their high levels and promises of completing the quest," she continued.
"They made themselves the leaders, and the rest of us followed their orders without question. We pooled our money to rent boats, excitedly setting sail to retrieve the stolen oil barrels.
"But little did we know they had other plans," Skylark’s voice filled with bitterness. "They tricked us. They never intended to retrieve the oils. Instead, they wanted to hunt down a powerful creature they spotted in the ocean, and we were nothing more than expendable pawns in their game."
There was silence for a moment before Skylark sneered.
"Ha! Too bad for them that a giant wave came out of nowhere and destroyed our boats and thwarted their plans, sinking it in the bottom of the ocean. Hey, are you listening to me?"
As Skylark poured out her frustrations about the treacherous players and their ill-fated adventure, Lord Schrodinger’s attention seemed elsewhere. His silver eyes, gleaming like the moon under the starry sky, appeared distant and lost in thought. It was as if he was contemplating something beyond the conversation.
But when Skylark raised her voice, demanding his attention, he snapped back to the present. Her face flushed when he stared into her.
"That monster," Xin started, breaking the silence, "could it be . . . an Ancient White Dragon?"
Skylark’s astonishment was evident as she exclaimed, "That’s right! How did you know?! Did you received the same quest too?"
Xin averted his gaze, glancing to the side without saying a word. He realized that some of the boats Elysia had taken down were not patrollers but other players.
The darkness had made it difficult to discern, and that’s why he had mistaken them for more patrollers.
Shifting the topic, Skylark leaned in closer to Lord Schrodinger, her curiosity piqued. "How are you able to ride a pirate ship? Is there a special quest you did?"
Taking a deep breath, Xin pondered for a moment. He wondered if it was too late to toss Skylark overboard to avoid answering her question. He reminded himself that this was just a game and that no real harm would come to her if ever.
Seeing his hesitation, Skylark stepped back, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "W-wait . . . why do I get the feeling that you’re about to throw me out?"
Skylark’s perceptiveness earned Xin’s admiration. He acknowledged her observation without showing any emotions throughout the conversation.
Skylark was taken aback when Lord Schrodinger silence confirmed her suspicions. "So I was right?!"
Her surprised was evident, but Xin remained composed.
Captain Scarlet joined in, suggesting they throw Skylark overboard as punishment for boarding without permission.
𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺 The crew enthusiastically echoed her idea, shouting, "TO THE PLANKS!"
Amidst the chaos, Xin was relieved that their ruckus hadn’t attracted the attention of the Reef Raiders.
However, seeing Skylark’s terrified expression, Xin intervened, "It’s fine. She won’t ask any more questions . . . right?"
The intensity in Lord Schrodinger’s eyes made Skylark nod frantically. "Y-Yes! I won’t! I promise!"
Skylark understood that certain information should be kept secret in Guildbane, a common practice to safeguard vital knowledge and advantages.
Many players and guilds in Guildbane kept crucial information about quests, Hidden Bosses, and Dungeon completions to themselves, aiming to maintain their advantage over others.
Skylark grasped this concept, but she couldn’t help her curiosity about how Lord Schrodinger managed to ride a pirate ship, an achievement seemingly impossible for anyone else in the past.
"I wonder what he did," Skylark thought, but her thoughts scattered as she saw Lord Schrodinger climbing onto a boat, ready to venture into the waters below.
"Wait!" she called out, rushing towards him and grabbing his arm. "Where are you going?"
Xin raised a curious eyebrow, his expression stone cold. "I’m going to retrieve the oils. That’s why I’m here," he replied matter-of-factly.
"Alone? You’ll die!" Skylark exclaimed, concerned for his safety.
Xin gently retrieved his hand and sat on the boat. "There’s only one way to find out," he stated calmly.
Skylark was stunned by Lord Schrodinger’s determination to face the Reef Raiders alone. She couldn’t find the right words to express her surprise.
As the boat was lowered down, Skylark swiftly made up her mind and leaped into the boat.
"I’ll come with you," she declared.
"Are you sure? You might die," Xin reminded her of her own words.
Skylark let out a heavy sigh. "What choice do I have? Those pirates will toss me out the moment you leave."
"Good luck, Lord Schrodinger!" Captain Scarlet cheered from the ship. "I’ll be right here waiting for you."
Skylark mumbled under her breath, "Those pirates sure seem to like you a lot, especially that Captain."
Xin remained silent, focusing on rowing quietly. They still had a few hundred meters to go before reaching the Island shore, where the Reef Raider’s Hideout was located.
"It’s funny how you and I keep bumping into each other," Skylark remarked after a short moment of silence. She leaned on the bow, her hands supporting her weight as she gazed at the sky. "It must be fate."
Xin grumbled internally at her words but chose not to comment. He was busy with the thought about what would happen with his encounter with the Reef Raiders.
If only Captain Scarlet and her crew came with him, he would be a lot more confident in facing the Reef Raiders. But he guessed that their helped only extend that much.
Skylark’s grin returned, and she giggled, seemingly unfazed by their perilous situation. "You’re really not one for words, you know that? Don’t you know how to talk to girls?"
"I know. I just don’t feel like talking," Xin replied.
Skylark’s smile faded slightly. "Such a cold response. Keep that up, and you won’t be popular with the ladies."
"It’s fine," Xin shrugged, unbothered.