169 Muddled Waters
Samar and his team killed the Silverback Primate just as the afternoon glow of the sun grew softer. They received precious insights and generous exp, increasing the average level of the team from Lv 26 to Lv 27. Except for Samar and the two new Warblades who were stuck on Lv 26, everyone else had reached Lv 27.
Astonishingly, all the members who had received an upgrade in their Constitution did not feel half as much fatigue as they should've. Their stamina decreased 30% slower than before and also recovered 30% faster.
Samar and the rest continued to hunt more Mini Bosses after Zamir, Hardbro, Kross and Zorkan logged out to recover.
During the hour-long break that Zamir and others took, Samar and the rest had collected enough equipment to provide a significant upgrade to the team. Their already better than average equipment was now even more outrageous, with each of them sporting at least two pieces of Lv 25 Black-Stone or better grade equipment, increasing their main stats by about 20%.
This standard of equipment was almost as good as the Ace Teams of the mid-ranking guilds!
As Samar looked at them, he felt like they were ready to enter the Rajni City's Treasure Vault. He had long suspected it to be a single instance of a hidden dungeon and now it was time to confirm his guess.
Samar turned around and started walking towards the location of the portal marked on the map; A portal that would transport them to the coordinates of the Treasure Vault in the Mirror Dimension.
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In the softening sunlight of the afternoon, a majestic team of 50 gathered at the Northern gates of the Panjal City. Each of these players was Lv 24 and above, wearing Lv25 Black-Stone or better grade equipment from head to toe.
The aura of the two Warblades leading the team was even more shocking! Not only were they both Tier 2, but at least two pieces on their body emitted a bloody gray glow of the Blood-Iron grade.
The players in Panjal City gave the team a wide berth, as if afraid of offending them. However, that did not stop them from gossiping about the team.
"Isn't that the famous Crescent Strike team of the Howling Moon Legion? Why have they gathered?"
"The Howling Moon's Ace R4s, Proudcut and Nightsword are personally leading the team… It must be an important expedition!"
"Noobs! Didn't you hear that they found the entrance leading to the Treasure Vault? This team is clearly going to enter it."
The news of Howling Moon's discovery had spread throughout the City. Many new pioneering teams and unranked guilds were interested in the news but they were cowed by the forces deployed by the Howling Moon.
However, Howling Moon's competitors were not just them but also the two other ranked guilds in Panjal City, the Grandeur and Severed Flower.
Le Grande sat in his office as he watched his two Vice Guild Masters arrive. One of them wore flowing blue robes with a wand holstered at his waist. He was the elusive first Vice Guild Master of the Grandeur, Arowan.
He was often absent from Guild's expeditions because he had only one responsibility - Managing the Ace Team of the Grandeur Guild.
The other person was a ranger in form-fitting leather armor with a bow hanging from her shoulder. She was his right hand, the second Vice Guild Master, Blue Moon.
The two people entered the room at a brisk pace and came to a stop near Le Grande's desk. Blue Moon stood obediently by the desk but Arowan pulled up a chair without waiting for his Guild Master's invitation to sit.
Neither Blue Moon nor Le Grande commented on his presumptuous behavior as the man was not just the Vice Leader of the Guild but also a Ranker on the Phobos' Phantoms List, a list of Elite of the Elites on Mars!
Le Grande watched the man make himself comfortable in his chair. When Arowan had settled down, Le Grande asked, "How many of our Aces have reached Tier 2?"
"Including me, six," Arowan replied proudly, "One of them also received a Tier 4 Legacy of Summoner class, Spirit Envoy."
Six out of thirty was not a bad number. It was definitely one of the better one's compared to the number of Tier 2s in other guilds. After all, not everyone had a cheat like Samar.
"Good," Le Grande said, tapping on the table with his nervous fingers. While looking down at the streets below from his window, Le Grande finally came to a decision and he turned towards Arowan.
"Lead the Ace team personally and secure the Rajni City's Treasure Vault."
Arowan raised his eyebrow, as if asking whether the reward was worth the risk of annihilation of the team. The resolute look in Le Grande's eyes was all the answer he needed.
The Mage nodded at the Guild Master and started making calls to gather his team and set off.
It did not take long for rumors to spread about the Grandeur's movements. People in the know quickly informed their superiors and even the general public was able to guess what was going on.
Despite knowing all this information, the Severed Flower Guild was slow to react, approaching the issue with caution.
"Guild Master, By publicizing the location of the entrance, Samar has stirred up the nest of Hornets this time." Rosela said, as she reported the activities of the other two Ranked guilds of Panjal City. "Both the guilds have mobilized their Ace Teams and are on their way to the Wild Willows."
"I am afraid this is not his work. With how careful he is, he would never increase competition for himself." Winter Hazel said with a frown, as she remembered the man's annoying smirk.
"She is right," Gold Peony said, glancing at Winter Hazel with surprise, taken aback by her unbiased judgment of Samar. She looked at the street full of players outside her window and asked, "This matter is not simple. Someone seems to be muddying the waters from behind the scenes. The question is should we jump into it?"
Her question was loaded with meaning as the Severed Flower Guild had to take many things into consideration.
First there was the contract with Samar, an important partner, whom they had promised to help against the local Guilds. Then there was the quest itself, whose rewards were immensely beneficial to the Guild.
However, if someone was indeed trying to start trouble from behind the scenes, were the obligations and rewards worth the risk?
Winter Hazel understood what Gold Peony meant. She immediately conveyed her opinion as she resolutely said, "I will lead our Ivy Rose Team to aid Samar and to secure the rewards from the quest."
Gold Peony only had two words for her, "Be careful." Then she turned towards the window with a small smile on her lips.
