Chapter 78 Shadows
"The immortal adventurer has the Ancient Artifact?" Lurquas said with a shocked look.
"He has half the artifact, and that was why I offered him great benefits and acted like a useless Beastmen who wanted to build a business on the human continent," Yanric said, answering the question his guardian wanted to know.
"Young Master, We need to confirm if the part of the artifact he had is bound to him or not," Lurquas said in a serious tone.
"Adventurer Hidden One, Have the Red Gem, and it is bound to him as he used it briefly when Master gave him the poison core," Sarnah replied instead of Yanric.
"Master, Why would you let that adventurer leave when he has the artifact we have been looking for for the past two years?" Nullox questioned, not understanding why Yanric didn't give the order to capture the adventurer to get the artifact.
"What Young master did was the best choice because we can't take the artifact forcefully, and the only way we can acquire the artifact is with the help of that immortal adventurer."
"I know you have many questions, but if you had attended the last meeting before we left the beast continent, then you wouldn't need to ask such questions," Lurquas said in a serious tone, but he had a broad smile showing his happiness after hearing the information about the artifact from Yanric.
"Commander, I will be careful next time, but can you please briefly explain why I can't take the artifact using force? Because even if it is a bound artifact, I can take it if I kill the immortal adventurer permanently." Nullox asked.
Nullox reasoning was valid because even if a player has a bound item, it could be acquired by killing him permanently.
"You couldn't take the artifact by using force because it is special, and if the holder of the artifact dies, it will get randomly teleported to someplace in the world," Lurquas replied, answering his question.
"If we can't take the artifact forcefully, how will we acquire the complete artifact? That adventurer only has half the artifact, and someone in this giant human continent has the other half, which is probably bound to him." Nullox questioned with a deep frown on his goat face.
"The artifact could only have one owner at any point, and as that immortal adventurer could use its skills, it proves that the artifact is bound to him, and now we just need to find the other half, and then we would have the complete artifact," Lurquas replied.
"If we can't kill that adventurer to take that artifact, then doesn't that mean his life has the same importance as the complete artifact?"
"If his life has such value, then why are we letting him roam the world without protection when Some other clan could be looking for the artifact and could discover him?" Nullox asked.
"Who said he would be roaming the world without protection?" Yanric said, and then he tapped on the table twice in quick succession, and a lady covered in pitch black cloak appeared by his side.
"Master, Nachtor Blindcurse is at your service." The lady said.
"Nachtor, Take the whole [Primeval Hollow Squad] with you, and your mission is to protect Adventurer Hidden One by staying in the shadows."
"Master, If there is a critical situation that could expose us do we need to ask for permission?" the lady asked.
"My father said if we need to wage war with the human continent to acquire the artifact, a war will happen."
"You have the permission to make any necessary decisions if they are needed to protect the life of Adventurer Hidden One or information about the artifact," Yanric replied like he was talking about something very casual.
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While Yanric and his group were discussing things, Alex was peacefully sleeping in-game and in real life without knowing that a group of strong Beastmen would be hiding in shadows watching over him without him having a clue when he returned to the game.
After resting for some time, Alex ate breakfast with his family and talked to his little sister to find out if her hunger condition had improved in the last two days by eating high-calorie foods.
The reply from his sister was positive as she didn't feel hungry all the time like before, and the consumption of high-calorie food was not giving her any problems with her daily activities.
After spending time with his family, Alex visited the gym for an hour, and after doing some exercise, he returned home, took a cold shower to freshen up, and got ready to return to the game world.
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'I believe two hours should be enough time for them to complete any of their urgent work and reach the Gold kingdom.' Alex thought as he typed a message he would send to Badger and Hecate.
After typing the message with the hotel name and time of the meeting, Alex sent it to Badger and Hecate using the name of his organization with the help of golden tokens.
Alex wasn't going to meet with Badger and Hecate at the same time, so he told Badger to reach the hotel in two hours while telling Hecate to reach the hotel in three hours.
Alex planned to complete the deal of [SS] Rank legacies with Badger first and then invite Hecate to close both deals with Badger and Hecate.
'I should feed my beast companion while I wait for their reply.' Alex thought as he used the system to summon his vulture.
After getting summoned, the vulture looked around the room, and after he saw Alex, he jumped toward him, flapping his little wings while making high pitch sound.
"SHHRRIIEEKKKKK"
'I don't know if he is happy to see me or just asking for the promised food.' Alex thought, looking at his excited beast companion.
"I didn't forget my promise," Alex said as he opened his inventory to take a piece of chimera tail meat, but he saw something unexpected in his inventory.
'Why is there so much meat? This quantity of meat shouldn't belong to just the tail of the chimera.' Alex thought, looking at hundreds of his inventory sections filled with just raw meat.
"SHHRRIIEEKKKKK"
'I should give him food before checking what is going on with this ridiculous amount of meat.' Alex thought as he took out a big chunk of light purple color meat and placed it on the floor.
'This must be his first time eating anything other than normal rat meat.' Alex thought, seeing his vulture eating the meat at extreme speed.
After Alex checked his inventory, he found the reason for the vast quantity of meat, as all the meat belonged to the chimera, and he understood that it should be the gift Yanric said when he gave him the space ring.
'The meat is not going spoil, so I should not sell it and let it stay in the inventory until I find some use for it.' Alex thought, closing his inventory.
'Why is Badger privately messaging before giving me a reply using the golden token?' Alex thought as he received a message notification.
'He wants to talk about something important on call if I am free?' Alex thought as he read the message.
'He should already know that I will not tell him any information about the organization, so what could be the important thing he wants to talk about.'
Alex thought about things Badger could want from him at such a critical time when he had just received the confirmation of the meeting he should have been waiting for the past few weeks.
'Let's talk to him and see what he wants from me.' Alex thought as he made a voice call to Badger.
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["Mr.One, I hope you are doing well."]
[Badger, I am doing well, and Let's talk about the urgent thing you want to discuss."] Alex replied.
["Mr.One, I just received a message from your organization to meet at the "Red Jade" to complete the promised deal.] Badger said slowly.
[I don't see a problem with the news as you will get the promised legacies and become an elder of Ravenglades Guild, but your voice tells you are not happy about it."] Alex said, understanding that Badger was troubled with something.
["I am beyond happy about completing the deal, but yes, I am troubled, which is why I contacted you."] Badger said, and after a short pause, he started explaining his reason for the trouble.
["Mr.One, I want some advice from you as a friend,"] Badger said and waited for Alex to reply.
'I know he is just sugarcoating his words, but what does he want that needs him to do such acting?' Alex thought, understanding that Badger was faking his troubled tone.
["If you want something from the organization, then you should request it from the officer you will meet to complete the deal as he has more authority than me."] Alex replied, making it clear that he was just a low-ranking member of the organization.