Bab 15: Returning to the Sandy Fishery
Limon's mana was recuperating, albeit sluggishly. Out of the over 6,000 mana points he had, only about 2,000 had been restored so far. While the pace left much to be desired, it was a reminder that adventurers, too, needed to learn the art of patience and rest—a lesson he couldn't afford to ignore in his line of work.
Still, 2,000 mana was no trifling amount. It was more than enough to handle a minor skirmish if the need arose. Sitting idly and waiting for a full recovery didn't sit well with Limon, though. He wasn't the type to squander time when there was work to be done.
"Let's see if there's anything worth taking on," he muttered to himself, resolving to make better use of his time.
Rising from the rest area, Limon stepped out into the bustling streets and made his way to the task board. The board, a massive wooden structure fixed near the heart of the Adventurer's Guild, was crowded with adventurers of all levels. They lingered there, scanning the myriad of task cards pinned up, their hesitant expressions betraying their struggle to make a choice.
Limon paused a short distance away, observing briefly before stepping forward to sift through the options. Each task card was small—no bigger than half a palm—and bore a succinct summary of the job. While brief, the descriptions offered just enough information for adventurers to decide whether a task was worth their time.
His first stop was the bronze-level section. These tasks were plentiful, occupying a good third of the board. Unfortunately, the majority were menial—running errands, delivering items, surveying monster activity, or collecting herbs. They were the bread-and-butter jobs for novice adventurers but of little interest to someone like Limon, who was in search of experience, not busywork.
Skipping the bronze-level cards, his eyes moved to the silver-level section. These tasks were fewer in number but far more suited to his goals. They involved combat or challenges requiring real skill, such as escorting caravans or eliminating threats in specific areas.
One card, in particular, caught his eye. The name on it—Laladoya—sparked a memory. It was the name of the elf who had hired him to deal with the undead in the quicksand pool not long ago.
Curious, Limon pulled the card from the board. The task was an escort mission, requiring him to accompany a caravan for an estimated ten days. The reward was decent—500 gold coins and 1,000 adventure points—but what truly intrigued him was the coincidence of crossing paths with Laladoya again.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Limon pocketed the card and made his way to the counter.
The receptionist, Lalasa, greeted him with a knowing smile. "Rested up, I see. Taking another mission from Mr. Laladoya? You two seem to have quite the connection."
Lalasa swiftly registered the task while offering a word of caution. "The Haider Desert's been lively lately. Fire elemental monsters have been targeting caravans. Be careful. And if you encounter the Bronze Guard, don't let them push you around. They've been getting out of hand recently. A firm response might teach them some manners, but try to avoid serious harm."
With the formalities complete, Lalasa handed the card back to Limon. "There you go. The departure's set for tomorrow, but today happens to be a special day. You owe me one for letting you in on this. If I weren't the Guild president, even I'd be tempted to take the day off and join the festivities."
Limon quirked an eyebrow at her cryptic remark but didn't press further. As he stepped away from the counter, he rented a Dudu bird from the nearby stable. Mounting the bird, he set off down Chengdong Avenue, the lively streets of Arizela buzzing with activity beneath the bright sun.
The city's prosperity was evident in its crowded avenues and the steady flow of commerce. Leaving Arizela, Limon's destination was the sandy fishing ground. He'd been there before, so the route was familiar.
However, as he passed the railway post station, the sight of numerous carriages lining up to mount the tracks piqued his curiosity. He paused briefly to observe. The railway system wasn't what he'd imagined. Carriages, equipped with specially designed wheels, were lifted onto the tracks at the station. From there, bulls provided the motive power to pull them along the rails.
Limon realized the tracks served as a solution to the challenges posed by the soft, shifting sands of the desert. The ingenious design allowed carriages to traverse areas that would otherwise be impassable. Still, the effort required to construct such infrastructure in the desert must have been immense.
Shaking his head, Limon refocused on his journey, urging the Dudu bird forward.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the sandy fishing ground. The once-desolate area was far livelier than during his previous visit. Near the wooden house that had served as a base during his last mission, a commotion was underway.
A crowd of gaunt, poorly dressed individuals had gathered, their worn clothes suggesting they came from the outskirts of the city. Despite their ragged appearance, there was a fervor in their expressions.
At the center of the commotion stood Laladoya. His usually composed demeanor was gone, replaced by visible agitation. "Spread out and search! Find her! I'll reward anyone who brings me news," he shouted to the crowd, his voice tinged with desperation.
Approaching on his Dudu bird, Limon dismounted as Laladoya turned towards him, surprise flashing across the elf's face.
"Adventurer?" Laladoya blinked before his expression shifted to one of relief. "Ah, it's you! Excellent timing! I need your help. Something urgent has happened, and I can't handle it alone."
Limon crossed his arms, meeting Laladoya's gaze. "What's the situation?"
The elf took a deep breath, steadying himself before responding. "A girl has gone missing. She was last seen near this area, and I fear something may have happened to her. Please, I need you to help find her."
Without hesitation, Limon nodded. "Lead the way."
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone