"Finally, Civilization!" May cried as the trio walked into Hudson.
The Adventurers had left the village the morning after the banquet and continued on their way toward Hudson. With the levels gained from defeating Timitt the Valley Lord and their respective training, the remainder of the trip went fairly fast, reaching Hudson in under a week.
As the three walked through the city, Wrottzen asked, "Bojohn. What can you tell us about Hudson? Did you hear anything while you were back in Syr?"
"Sorry man. I don't have anything for ya." He replied, "I was only able to glean some cursory information about the world's general situation. I didn't get much on specific cities."
"Don't worry about it." Wrottzen replied, "We're here and that's the important thing."
"Um, I don't suppose you tow have noticed all the strange looks we've been getting since arriving right?" May interjected.
"I've noticed them." Wrottzen said reassuringly. "They're probably just surprised to see three unfamiliar faces in town."
"Should we be worried? I mean what if they attack us like the People of the Land did when we entered their village?"
"Don't worry about it." Bojohn said. "If they were going to do something to us, they probably would've already done so already."
"Excuse me!" The trio turned around to see a large muscular Guardian running up toward them.
"How can we help you?" Wrottzen asked wearily.
"If you wouldn't mind coming with me, our Guild leader would like to speak with you."
"What was that about them leaving us alone?" May whispered to Bojohn.
"Fine. We'll speak with your Guild leader." Wrottzen said. "Lead the way."
"Thank you." The Guardian replied before leading the three outsiders toward the Guild Hall.
"Why'd you accept their offer?" Bojohn whispered as they turned a corner. "We could've taken this creep."
"Perhaps, but we can't take on the whole city." The boy turned girl explained, "If this whole city is under one guild's control, best case scenario is we'd be run out of town and we don't have nearly enough supplies to make it to Gotham. Worst case scenario is… you know…"
"Oh." Was all Bojohn could say in reply as they were lead to the Guild Hall in silence.
Once inside, they were lead to a doorway where the Guardian said, "Our Guild Leader is waiting in here. Thank you for cooperating."
"No problem." Bojohn said, adding, "At least these guys are polite." Once the Guardian was out of earshot.
"Let's do this." Wrottzen said, opening the door to the Guild Hall.
The Hall was extraordinarily large, with furnishing reminiscent of a throne room. Sitting in the seat of honor was a feminine looking elf boy of about 17. Once he noticed his guests, he jumped out of this throne and said, "Welcome! Welcome! Thank you for agreeing to speak with me."
"We came to speak with the Guild Leader." Wrottzen said. "Where is he?"
"You're lookin' at him!" The boy replied with pride.
"You're the Guild Leader!?" Wrottzen replied with disbelief, "You sure don't look like a Guild Leader…"
"Well you don't exactly sound like a woman either." He shot back.
"That's because I'm not a woman. I'm a guy!"
"Exactly and I'm the Guild Leader Hin."
"Nice to meet you Hin." May said, before Wrottzen could insult the Guild Leader again. "My name is May, this is Bojohn and the Guardian you just had a verbal spar with is Wrottzen."
"Nice to meet you all." He replied before gesturing them toward an adjacent room. "Let's conduct our business here. The whole throne room thing doesn't exactly set the best mood for business."
Opening the door, the next room was revealed to be a small office with a wooden desk piled high with papers.
"Sorry about the mess." Hin said, clearing some of the papers off the desk. "At the moment, my guild, Atlas, controls about 75% of Hudson, with a few smaller guilds and solo players making up the final 25%. You can imagine how much paperwork that is. Heh Heh."
"Don't worry about it." Bojohn replied, "So what did you want to talk with us about?"
"I wanted to talk with you about your journey to get here, but I have one more thing to take care of." Turning toward the ceiling, Hin yelled, "I know you're listening Ayumi, you might as well come out!"
A few moments passed before a black clad figure appeared, almost instantly next to the Guild Leader.
"Hin, I was trying to keep watch on these suspicious characters to protect you!" The new arrival explained, "What if they try to harm you?"
"This Assassin is my second in command." Hin said, gesturing toward the busty black-haired girl next to him. "Now that we're all present let's begin. I've been getting reports from all around the city that three strangers had entered the city. Are you from out of town or have you just been holed up somewhere for the past month?"
"It's true." Wrottzen confirmed, "We traveled from Syr and just arrived in Hudson today."
"And what's your business here in Hudson?" Ayumi asked accusingly, "You've probably come to help one of the other guilds take control of Hudson."
"No, no!" May jumped in, mediating once again. "We're just passing through on our way to Gotham."
"I'm sorry to pry like this but it's to confirm you're telling the truth." Hin said, "Why are you going to Gotham?"
"It's a little personal." Wrottzen replied, not wanting to tell another player about the possibility of Appearance Changing Potion, "But I'll tell you it's to gain an item we absolutely need."
"See Hin! They're hiding something!" Ayumi cried, "They can't be trusted!"
"No. I believe them." Hin said. "You can tell from their eyes they're telling the truth."
"But-"
"No buts!" Hin said, cutting off Ayumi's next complaint. "I'm sorry again for prying, one can't be too careful anymore. Please join us for dinner tonight here in the Guild Hall, as Atlas' way of apologizing."
"We'd be delighted to." May replied for the three of them.
"Excellent! I'll see the three of you back here in about three hours then. Ayumi, if you would be so kind as to walk our guests to the door?"
"Of course Hin." She replied overly cheerful. "But first let me inform Wrottzen and May of the dress for dinner."
The Assassin pulled the two girls off to the side and her cheerful attitude suddenly shifted to menace, "I don't know who you bitches are but I'm going to give you two one warning." She said, "Hin is mine, got it? If either of you two lay a finger on him or do anything to hurt him, the Cathedral will be your permanent place of residence, kapeesh?"
Both May and Wrottzen nodded their heads before Ayumi continued, "Good! The dinner won't be anything fancy so you can just come in regular clothes. Food will be served at 6 so you have about 3 and a half hours to find a place to stay and get ready. I'll be watching you tonight."
As Wrottzen and May walked out the door to meet Bojohn, a bewildered Wrottzen said, "Girls are scary."
"Yeah, we are."
Atlas Guild Hall Dinner
Finding a place to stay for the night turned out to be more difficult than anticipated, but Wrottzen, Bojohn and May were all able to make it to the Guild Hall in time for dinner.
"Welcome!" Hin greeted them once again, "Take a seat! Our chefs have everything prepared and waiting."
As the trio took their seats, Bojohn asked, "When you say chef, do mean that you're employing People of the Land to cook?"
"No." Hin replied confused, "The only People of the Land left in town are business owners. These chefs are Adventurers."
Great Wrottzen thought as a bowl of soup was placed in front of him, Another bland, tasteless meal. He was quite surprised when he started eating the soup, that it had actual taste.
"This soup… Tastes like soup." May exclaimed, as Bojohn started shoveling spoonful after spoonful into his mouth.
"You figured out how to make actual food?" Wrottzen asked.
"You say that like it's a big surprise." Ayumi said from across the table.
"They've been traveling for the past month Ayumi, they probably haven't heard about it."
"Abowt wahh?" Bojohn said, mouth stuffed with bread.
"Someone down South found out that if you have the chef subclass and physically cook the ingredients, one can make food with actual taste."
"Amazing!" May said, between bites.
"When I mentioned chefs, why did you immediately assume they were People of the Land?" Hin asked.
Wrottzen and May explained about the Village they stayed in and how they had edible food there as well.
Two courses and about a dozen stories later, Hin laughed and said, "And that's why Ayumi isn't allowed in any K-Mart." Finishing his story.
"Hiin." Ayumi whined, "That's embarrassing for me. Did you really have to tell these strangers that story?"
"Well they've told us all about themselves, it's only fair that we tell them a few stories as well." Hin replied, "And besides, I trust them. In fact they might be able to help us out with something."
"What do you need?" Wrottzen asked, intrigued.
"I've been getting reports about attacks from across the border. Some of the cities up North have been completely overrun. I've wanted to lead a raid party up to see what's happening but I haven't left the city since the Apocalypse. With experienced travelers like you with us, I think we could successfully make the trip."
"We'll think about it." Wrottzen said, already trying to think of ways to decline the offer in his head. He then noticed Bojohn deep in thought and asked, "Something bothering you Bojohn?"
"Attacks from across the border… It sounds familiar." He replied. "Wait! What was the date we got stuck in the game?"
"It was May 20th, why?" May said.
"That's part of a yearly event: 'The British are Coming'"
"I haven't heard of that one." Wrottzen said.
"Because lost year you were too low level to try and participate." Bojohn said. "It's a Memorial Day event where the Confederacy, or the United States IRL, is invaded by forces from the Country of the North, or Canada IRL. Normally it's defeated easily by some of the larger Guilds but I guess this year it slipped through the cracks."
"You're right! I can't believe I missed that!" Hin exclaimed. "Now I want to go even more. Please accompany my Guild North to face these invaders!"
"Can we have a moment alone to discuss this alone?" Wrottzen asked. He waited for Hin and Ayumi to leave the room before saying, "We can't. We have to get to Gotham."
"What about those people up North? They need help. Help that Atlas is willing to give if we accompany them." May said.
"A Guild this large surely has higher level players than us." Wrottzen replied, "If we could make it from Syr to Hudson, I'm sure they can go North with no issues."
"You've never been in a raid Wrottzen." Bojohn cut in. "The more high level players you have in one group, the more aggro they're going to pull when moving through an area. That trip won't be a cakewalk by any means."
"But we've already been delayed so much by the whole Timitt the Valley Lord quest." Wrottzen cried. "Do you think I enjoy being stuck in a girl's body, and being mistaken for one by nearly everyone I pass by?! Well I don't! The Appearance Changing Potion is my top priority! Atlas can find their own way."
"Dude. If this quest goes uncompleted, these invaders will continue southward, maybe even reaching Gotham. What happens if they get there before us? They could ransack the city and destroy that your Potion." Bojohn said, trying to reason with his friend. "What are you going to do if your lifeline is destroyed?"
"Grrr." Wrottzen growled in reply.
"I know you're in a rush to get your old body back but the sooner we get North, the easier repelling this invasion will be." Bojohn said, "Times, it's a good leveling and money gathering opportunity. That Potion isn't going to be cheap."
"Yeah…" The Guardian replied dejectedly.
"Then it's settled. We'll travel with Hin's Guild to complete the Memorial Day quest." May declared.
"On one condition." Wrottzen said. "After this is completed, we travel directly to Gotham. No more side quests. Deal?"
"Deal."
"Deal."
May and Bojohn replied before calling Hin back into the room to finish the meal.
AN: I'm not dead guys! Sorry it took so long to get another chapter to you. I've had a lot of deal with school-wise along with some computer issues. But I hope you enjoy the chapter, this 'Goblin King' parallel, is going to lay the baseline for the next few chapters. A big thanks to HaruhiFumio for the submission of Hin. Your support means a lot. Until next time!