The Achievement Junkie 226 Another Surprise Visi

Within the hour, servants brought up over a dozen trolleys of food, startling the royals in the hall. When all of the trolleys were pushed into that mysterious room, the royals didn't know what to believe, since it was enough food to feed a few dozen fully grown men.

What they didn't know was that the bulk of that food was for Bowzer and Lina, who were practically bottomless pits for all kinds of food.

The others were resting on the couches, enjoying the meal with some small talk.

"So, Jack, what did you get from my Father for that sword?" asked Eliza.

"Something pretty good, I'm sure it will come in handy at some point," replied Jack, not giving much detail. "Hey Rydel, pass the roasted turkey!"

No matter who asked, Jack and Argyle wouldn't say a word about their special exchange.

Argyle had also offered to exchange for the displacement boots, but Jack turned him down. He would need something to entice a lv. 70.

"Since you won't talk about your special exchange, will you tell us more about what we're doing in Barren City?" Eliza stared at Jack with a frown.

"There's not much to talk about. We've only got one thing to do there, get a strong expert to join the Leisure Guild wholeheartedly."

"Jack… You do realize how hard that is, right?" stated Argyle. "It's not like during Ancient Kartonia. Now, lv. 70's are the strongest experts in the continent and don't need a guild to support them."

"True, but I'm sure we'll get someone at some point. Since I can't get to that level soon enough, I'll have to get someone that already is."

"But to go to Barren City… Are you sure you don't want us coming too?" Daliea looked to Jack subtly and shyly.

He sighed, looking at Daliea and the others. "Trust me, we'll manage, okay? I'm not sure how long we'll be but it's best that we don't take too many people. The less attention we draw, the better."

"But I want to come too!" shouted Lina stubbornly.

Jack sighed, "Lina, I'm sorry but it'll only be for a short time. I'll be back after I do something."

"But--"

"Lina, it has to be this way. The only way you could come along is if you stayed in Maura's ring the whole time, but you don't like the ring, right?"

"Ohhh…" Lina groaned. "Please, Big Bro?"

"No!"

Maynard agreed, "Don't worry, Lina, they'll be fine and you'll see them again soon."

"Plus, including Bowzer and the other beasts, we should be able to handle anything lv. 40 and under. With Eliza for support, Maura controlling the fight, and me and Bowzer on the front lines, we're quite the party," reasoned Jack.

Not arguing with that logic, the others were forced to be at ease.

Jack quickly pulled out the atlas he had purchased and pointed to a small town. "You guys should aim for Gillan. It's a decent-sized town and it's just outside of the woods where you'll find plenty of lv. 30 beasts and even some lv. 40. But remember, avoid hurting any elves unless it's life-threatening."

"Yeah, yeah, we got it, Jack," chuckled Rydel as he downed some wine. "I hope you enjoy your honeymoon to Sandros."

"This is not a honeymoon!"

"What's a honeymoon?" asked Lina.

Eliza giggled. "Well, a honeymoon is when a man and a woman--"

"It's not anything like that! This is not a honeymoon, this is strictly business and you two will be in your own room. Got it?" shouted Jack, not giving Eliza any wiggle room.

"...Fine…" grumbled Eliza.

Maura frowned. 

She was always around Jack and he was already a key part of her life. If he wasn't there, everything would just feel wrong. And she was already growing used to sharing a bed with him and Maura would miss that.

For the rest of the night, they chatted and reminisced about their past few months of travel. After morning came and the auction hall was cleared, Jack and his party were successfully sneaked out of the auction house.

The party returned to the Heavenly Palace Inn for one last night in Federal City. Before the split up the next day, Jack had to go on the promised shopping spree with the girls.

Once they arrived at the Heavenly Palace Inn, Jack was approached by Marisha and she whispered, "That same man who spoke with you before is here waiting for you. He said you would want to speak with him if I mentioned it."

Jack nodded and turned to the others. "It looks like someone is here to speak with me again, so you all can go on without me. I'll join you in a little bit."

As everyone else went to their private booth for breakfast, Marisha led Jack to a private room in the back of the restaurant.

After entering, Jack silenced the room and sat down. "What brings you here, Lorwynn?"

The old man kept his amiable smile. "I didn't know that you had managed to find not only Ponlinne's staff but everything left behind from the Medic Guild. That was quite the show at auction. I enjoyed it."

"So, what of it? Are you just here to take it all for yourself?"

"I could… but I won't," replied Lorwynn, baffling Jack.

"But why would you--"

"I have my reasons for letting you run loose for a little while," interrupted Lorwynn. "If those reasons prove true, then they'll eventually explain themselves. But since the association wasn't able to figure it out, I'll let this slide."

Staring deeply at Lorwynn, Jack's mouth was agape as he tried to think of something to say.

"Where are you heading next?" asked Lorwynn. "I'd imagine that you're not ready to take over the Leisure Guild and there are a few stops on the way. Where to next?"

"..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I can't say I blame you either, we are technically enemies, after all," Lorwynn laughed. "So long as you stay out of Talrania, that's all that matters."

"Talrania? What's in--"

"Stay out of Talrania and don't search for anything concerning Talrania. If you do, then I will be forced to act against you, is that understood?" stated Lorwynn, dropping his friendliness for the first time.

"Yeah… I can do that…"

"Good, then there won't be any issues." Returning to his usual self, Lorwynn continued, "How soon are you planning to take over the Leisure Guild, a year?"

"..."

"Yeah, probably a year. I hope so. If not…" Lorwynn stopped talking, keeping himself from saying too much. "Anyway, I wanted to link our contact crystals. You know, just in case."

"I guess we can do that." Reluctantly, Jack pulled out his crystal and linked it to Lorwynn's. "Is there anything else?"

"Jack, I'm not sure you fully understand what your role is as Daruun's champion. It's much bigger than you realize," replied Lorwynn. "Of us three champions, your job is the hardest, and you're also the latest to start preparing for it."

"So, you already--"

"Yes, I've already met and fought with the other champion," Lorwynn finished Jack's statement for him. "It's been almost two hundred years since then, so we've both grown a lot, I'm sure. But don't worry about him, you're too weak to do anything about either of us."

"Then what should I do? We're enemies, yet you're giving me advice on what to do as a champion?"

Lorwynn's beard bounced as he nodded. "Precisely. You should form your own power, which you're currently doing, and focus on just grinding. You shouldn't try to find any trouble that you're not ready to handle. This is a war of attrition that can't be won overnight. So, what won't you do, Jack?"

"...Go to Talrania or investigate Talrania."

"And?"

Jack sighed and grumbled, "I won't search for the third champion."

"Good! As for what your role entails as Daruun's champion, that's for you to figure out on your own. Do you have any other questions before I leave? There's no telling when we'll next meet, if at all."

Jack stared at Lorwynn and asked, "How's Halmut doing?"

"He's doing just fine for the time being."

"Why haven't the other holy gods done anything since they won the Holy War?"

With a snicker, Lorwynn replied, "Simple, Halmut ordered them not to. And as for the chaotic gods, they don't dare try anything since Skaryn was sealed away. Anything else?"

"No, that's all."

"Very well, then I wish you the best of luck on your journey, Jack." The old man stood up and was about to open the door when he whispered, "Seriously, Jack, I'm rooting for you."

Then, he left the room and shut the door before Jack could look back and stop him. Jack opened the door to ask Lorwynn what he meant, but the old man had vanished.

Chapter end