C17: Choosing a Quest

Alan narrowed his eyes at the few surrounding him. But then again, he saw this as a chance to get out of these chains, finally.

"I can't walk around in town like a dog. They won't believe me if a slave was brought up to them, would they?"

The boy's statement was perfect for the situation. Alan made a malicious laugh in his mind and kept a calm expression on his face.

"He's right in a way." Lucy agreed to the boy's choice. All of them were near a large tower. Aether, however, did not want to agree, but... He didn't interrupt the situation.

"I agree too." Riza and Luke also agreed.

"Mhmm..." Elijah still didn't like the idea of freeing him, but she didn't want to object to the agreement of the others. Most of all, she didn't want to show that handsome bastard any respect.

"Don't get high-minded you fool!" She said as she cut the cuffs and the chains, with her knife.

Alan smiled as he felt the freedom in his hands. He hasn't been prisoned in a few decades... Except for the one time when he was prisoned before he became king.

'Finally, the fresh air feels good on my hands,' Alan thought as he took a deep breath. His skin had gone red after being chained for that long... But now that he was free, he felt better than ever.

"Now... Who do you want to take us to?" Elijah asked the boy. Everyone set their gaze on him, putting their trust in him.

"Yes... We have to find Gunnman."

-

[Level: 690]

The Owl was literally at level 690. He must've been a crazy person too. All of these team members were above level 600. 'Monsters..' Alan thought.

The team was in the middle of the town where the quite famous Spring Water Fountain was. It was large and tall, resembling an angel holding the humans in one hand, and the world in the other.

"Now? Where is it? We're at the fountain I don't see any —"

"There." Alan pointed his finger at a large inn nearby.

The enormous inn had a large sign hung over its entrance. "The Montagon," it read. Winry hasn't seen this place before, but she had seen the word Montagon in the ancient spell books she had been reading.

"Montagon means 'secrets,' doesn't it?" She asked Alan.

Alan raised an eyebrow at Winry, astonished to see that someone knew that. "Yes... Very good." He praised her. Winry's cheeks turned red when he said that.

"Let's go then, team."

-

The Montagon was filled with the smell of whiskey and wines. Half-naked succubus served the men in the inn, both as maids and whores.

But this was practical for anyone who had traveled Argoth. One might say too casual.

"Welcome my prince, would you like a sip of the wine made from the finest berries?" The succubus tried to hand Alan a glass of wine that smelled like the berries from the East.

"No thanks," Alan gracefully pushed her hand away from his shoulder and made his way to the man who was playing cards at the table in the far back.

A fat middle-aged man sat in the corner, playing cards in the dark. Two ladies were sitting beside him, and a young man was his opponent.

"That guy there... He's the man providing quests," Alan whispered to Elijah.

"Hmm... He looks like a gambler. Perfect for secret missions I guess," she whispered back. "Yes... Perfect missions." After the young boy took a card from the hand lying face down, he stood up and went away.

The old man took another puff from his pipe. He had quite a long beard and the face of a gambler. He was wearing a large woolly coat made from the fur of a bear.

"Gentleman... Ladies? A game of cards? Or a gamble of life?"

The man asked the youngsters, with a malicious grin on his face.

"Quest for a legend." That was Alan's reply. Alan placed both his hands on the table, fingers crossed.

The old man lifted his head to take a good look at Alan and the team. The old man's malicious smile turned into a wild grin.

"Kids these days... So arrogant." The man threw the card pack he was holding onto the side of the table and reached for his back pocket.

"You know, there aren't many missions these days. And, legends right?"

Alan nodded, not speaking further.

The old guy lifted another pile of cards which was hidden deep within his back pockets. But it was only 3 cards.

"This... Is a quest for a legend." He said with a calm voice. "If you pass this, you know what will happen, right?"

Alan nodded at this question too, though the others in the team were confused. Of course, a legend's quest can only be completed by legendary rankers. So if they pass these, they'll surely get good popularity.

The old man placed the 3 cards on the table and placed two of them under a single card.

"Here you go." The man slid the card to Alan.

"Three?" Alan asked the old man.

"No."

Alan picked up the card and turned it to check the quests. "Huh? Three in one!?" He was astonished to see the quest. 5000 gold rims (coins in Argoth.)

But a certain fear overcame Alan. What is this quest to get an award of 5000 gold rims?

"Uh... A Legend's quest?"

"Yes... But even one guild from the Midnight had been outsmarted by these fellows... But sure as hell..." the man paused for a moment. "You'll get there if you're members back there are Legends."

Alan narrowed his eyes at the guy. "Pleasure doing business with you," the boy gave the man a handshake before leaving the inn.

-

"So... What is the quest about?" Lucy asked from Alan, who seemed to be breaking into sweats. "Alan? Is there a problem?"

Alan looked at Elijah and smiled. "A Legend's quest... This is straight from the king's round table. If we do this... We'll get to head off to Telor in no time."

"Well, what is it?" Elijah questioned the boy once more.

"We've been given a quest to..." Alan turned the card around to see the details.

[Quest Accepted]

[Reward: 5000 Rims]

- Kill the Demon Queen of Monorith

- Assassinate the Blood Mage

- Steal the Blood Stone

They were all gathered around at the corner of the street, looking at the 3 quests they were given.

"Monorith!? What in the name of God does this have to do with killing a Queen!? That isn't a fucking quest! That's an order given to a King's knight!" Luke yelled out as he saw the quest.

Alan had grown quite a suspicion and he was right. He had never given an order to eliminate the queen of Monorith. Besides, she was one of the main queens under his control. There was someone already sitting on the throne, and sure as hell... It wasn't someone who would follow his footsteps.

"Bloody fucking hell... The king has big plans." Alan said, smiling at the astonished faces in front of him.