Inside Kurosawa's residence, Gerard is like a cornered puppy, sitting silently while beads of sweat start to form on his forehead.
He still vividly remembers how Kurosawa questioned him while his aura is leaking all over making him slump to the ground.
"What's your connection with Count Alvis?! Are you his secret spy and told you to keep an eye on me? Answer me!"
Due to overwhelming pressure, he cannot even form a single word to answer and can only do a simple action by shaking his head weakly.
Seeing him in a pity state, Kurosawa stop and retracted his aura from leaking.
After repeatedly drinking ale, he somehow calmed down and ask Gerard calmly but his eyes reflected a dangerous seasoned murderer which made the latter gulp, afraid for his dear life if his answer displeased him.
After persuading Kurosawa he told him he just met the Count coincidently as he was recruited by Mel, the owner of Midnight Inn.
Kurosawa at last calmed and the murdering intent vanish from his eyes.
He knows Kurosawa's situation and hiding from Royal Family and Count Alvis Arman was known to be a close aide of the current King so it is not weird if Kurosawa doubted him after witnessing how he was able to borrow the sword of the Count.
"You mean, Mel? The owner of Midnight Inn and have a daughter whose a school teacher?"
Gerard's brow almost form an arch hearing what Kurosawa had just spilled out. He seems to know almost everything about Mel. Even the occupation of Dina was known to him.
Suspicious.
Nonetheless, he nodded his head in response.
Getting his assurance, Kurosawa seemed to finally calm down. But not is the main reason why he is acting like a cornered puppy. It is because of what he said to Kurosawa that made the latter ignited his anger again.
He can still vividly remember how a calm face turns into a tiger.
"Master, I apologize for not coming last night due to personal circumstances."
Kurosawa just waves his hand, implying it is okay.
"It is okay, I've seen everything from the time you strike the monster until you passed out and were carried to Midnight Inn."
Hmm. Really suspicious.
"Anyway, congratulations. You have successfully broken what shackling your innate potential. You may not only walk the path of a Blacksmith but a warrior life as well. If that's what you intend to do."
"Thank you! Regarding that, I just want to ask permission to postpone my training under your wing due to personal reasons. It is also connected to my question." Gerard paused and took a deep breath. "Master! May I know if you know what kind of monsters lurking in the Mead Citadel?"
Hearing him say that Kurosawa almost spits out the ale from his mouth. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and scrutinizes Payne.
"Brat, how did you know about the Mead Citadel?"
Gerard was surprised that his simple question can trigger Kurosawa's anger again. He can clearly see his calm face starting to distort again due to anger building up.
But Gerard stood to his ground, this time he need to cleanly face him to get the answer. It is dangerous enough to traverse the path on the way to the Mead Citadel, so he needs to know at least what kind of monster they will face soon and how powerful they are.
"A-apologies, but this is a concern is regarding my late family."
"What's your last name again?!"
"It's Blanc."
"Blanc, huh?" Kurosawa softly murmurs.
He stood up and start to pace back and forth.
Gerard guesses he's trying to tie a connection if he met some family name Blanc in the past. He is curious as well as why Kurosawa is sensitive to the topic of Mead Citadel.
There is no way he knows the location of the missing amulet of the Arman Family, right?
But if he ponders more about it carefully, Kurosawa seems agitated when he learned that he become associated with the Count, and now when the Mead Citadel where the missing amulet of the Arman Family can be found was mentioned, he becomes agitated again.
Gerard made a sound of "o" but stop midway. Fortunately, Kurosawa is busy trying to connect the dot in his mind.
There is no way, right?! There is no way Kurosawa knows the location of the missing amulet, right?!
But before he can ponder for more, Kurosawa wakes him up from it.
"Brat, I advise you not to go there. The path you need to traverse is dangerous. As you get closer, the monster becomes more ferocious and stronger. Even if you have the best luck in the world, once you reach that old citadel, your life will be forfeited. So I advise you to keep your nose out of the citadel. Even if you bring heroes with you, there is no way you can step inside that old citadel."
Gerard can trace Kurosawa's tone faltering. How could an Elite NPC falter in Mead Citadel?! It seems that there is something there making Kurosawa feel fear.
If an Elite NPC like him fears monsters lurking in the old citadel, how can he, a level 3, vulnerable NPC can obtain the missing amulet?!
His head turns to Kurosawa when the latter starts speaking again.
"Brat. Listen to me, if you treasure your life, don't go near it."
This time, Gerard can see something reflecting in Kurosawa's eyes but he is confused because from frightened it was replaced by anger, and from that, it was replaced again by far-fetched displeasure.
Kurosawa then turns his head to a cabinet where his tools are located and turn again to him.
"Brat! If you don't want to believe me, stay there!!"
Kurosawa told him while clenching his fist which lead to the current situation. He didn't know what was happening.
There are lots of variables that need to consider and spilled out. He can't even form a theory anymore.
Count Alvis, Mel, Kurosawa, Mead Citadel.
What is just happening in West Town?!
Gerard tried to ponder more and connected the missing dot for him to form a conclusion while Kurosawa is busy trying to find something, a tool perhaps?
After a couple of minutes, while deep in his thought, Kurosawa appeared in front of him.
Gerard looked up and saw his hair disheveled and his breathing is haggard.
This is bad, right?
"Brat, I don't know if you can still find me here when you come back. There's a high possibility I won't be here anymore. Here take this." Kurosawa then extends his hand, griping something that was coated by fabric.
Gerard reached for it and remove the fabric.
It was a dagger without its scabbard.
But not just any dagger.
A dagger is a fighting knife with a very sharp point and two sharp edges, designed as a stabbing weapon and very useful in very close combat.
But this dagger is one sharp edge, his point is full of rust. But the handle is still new as a new weapon.
He looks up again full of questions on his face.
"This dagger may be useful to you. If you meet monsters that seem odd and harmless but can make or turn your guts to a complete horror. Do not think anything and run for your dear life. But if you have a chance, stab the monster with it. But I'll say this once again, whatever personal reason made you decide to go to Mead Citadel, it is not worth every second when you are under that monster's presence."
Suddenly he felt something is amiss in this storyline.
Damn it! They changed almost everything.
"Brat, when are you leaving?" Kurosawa asked him after he took a sip of ale.
"Today. Most probably before sunset. Why Master?"
"Tsk. Give me your sword."
Gerard was confused but he still took out the sword from his inventory and handed it over to Kurosawa.
"Now get out. Come back here again to get your sword before you depart."
Then Kurosawa turns around and starts preparing his things.
It seems like he will repair or do some changes to the sword he gave to him.
Well, whatever it is. Gerard was quite pleased. An Expert Blacksmith like him can turn even a simple sword into a deadly one.
He is excited about the result later!
"Thank you, Master. I'll be leaving now and coming back later."
Kurosawa didn't answer and started putting more charcoal into the fire.
Seeing he was busy, Gerard turn around and leave his residence.
Now, what.
I think my Blacksmith subclass will be paused for a very long time before I can start to ascend it. Well, I can always experiment on my own since I have a system but won't it be much better if an actual Blacksmith is trying to teach me?
Suddenly he heard a familiar womanly voice that seems dissatisfied with his opinion.
[Notifying the Host that there is no better teacher than the Supreme System in this virtual game.]
Ihk. Gerard can trace the tone of dissatisfaction in the Supreme System's voice.
Well, I know that much but won't it be more satisfying if I want to experience it on my own? Gerard replied from his heart.
He knew if he said it out loud, who knows what the Supreme System might do? It might not have a synthetic soul, he felt the system is on another level that can process emotions on its own. He better just keep his opinion and agreed to the System. After losing his perk, he doesn't want to lose the Supreme System as well.
This is a harsh world, without it, how can he survive?
But back to the main topic, it seems the Mead Citadel is riddled with mystery and a powerful monster that even Kurosawa is terrified of.
"System, I have a question. What kind of monsters lurking in the Mead Citadel and what level they are?"
Gerard is not hoping to receive a response, because if it did, means his advantage will be skyrocketed.
[Impossible to disclose for now. The Host should gaze upon first in the monster before the Supreme System can analyze the information the monster has.]
Hmm. As expected, he might have the Supreme System as his own System, but there are still limitations to an advantage.
Just like the [Skill: Analyze] by all players, he too needs to gaze first at the monster. It is still better than nothing.
Gerard then wastes his time wandering in the West Town. This might be the last time he can see the town bustling merrily with Players interacting with NPCs.
It was not his intention but his heart shrank. As a senior developer of this game, he knows what will happen in West Town in the future. That is inevitable if his colleagues in the company didn't change the main storyline in this Town.
He stops and gazes upon the Central Plaza.
Children are running around the fountain in the Central Plaza. Some NPCs throw some pigeon food for the birds to eat.
In a nearby restaurant, adults are eating and talking about the trend.
Players still try their luck triggering quests, but compared to the first day it launched, these types of players decrease drastically. Most of the players are out and grinding monsters to level up.
As his eyes wander around, soft breezes brush his face, his hair sways around as the air blew up to him.
And then he felt a little force pulling the hem of his shirt. He looked down and saw a small hand covered in dirt and have some graze on it trying to pull his hem.
He saw a young child covered in dirt. The child's cheeks are a sunken sign of malnutrition and her eyes are almost dead due to her current condition. Its clothes are tattered everywhere and her bare feet are touching the ground.
His heart aches to see the pitiful situation of this young child.
He put his hand over its head and pat it gently.
"What's your name?"
"A-ah…M-my name is A-anna…" The sound of her voice is so low that Gerard crouches to the ground just to hear her murmur her name.
"Anna, huh? You see that vendor over there, go ahead and pick anything you like."
The young Anna nodded her head and weakly thread forward to the vendor.
Gerard followed slowly behind.
When Anna start pointing one particular food to the vendor, the owner was about to turn her away when Gerard interjected.
"Old man, serve us every kind of food you have. For our drinks, just give us two water and juices." Gerard sternly orders the food and gives the 20 Silver Coins on the counter.
He didn't like the old man who want to turn away the pitiful child. Doesn't he have any grandchildren?!
Gerard then glances at the pitiful Anna and gently supports her as they head over to the vacant table.
Anna is not looking at him and just drooped her head down.
He just let her be for now and waited for the food he ordered.
It didn't take long before all the food are served to their table.
Anna's eyes brighten up although the deadness reflecting on them is still visible.
"All right, you can start eating now but take it slowly okay? We do not want your stomach to turn."
Then the two started eating and while doing so, he tries to hear her story but it seems Anna is trying to hide everything for now which he respected.
So the two eat slowly and silently.