When they approached the village, it caused a scene as the smoke was like a sign saying they were coming.
Sundome went into the village and gathered the mayor, and other fellow villagers. Hundreds of players also came, interested to see who completed the quest. They had also been looking for the answer. Although some of them had gone up the stream, none had gone for half a day.
"Is that it! What is it? How can we tell if that is really what is causing the sickness!" The mayor asked as they approached. The players also agreed, they didn't want the quest rewards to go to these two!
"Come and sniff some of this black fumes before it disappears and you will see that it is indeed highly toxic." Wellington replied in a jovial mood.
The mayor motioned for someone else to step forward and do the sniffing. An older gentleman finally stepped forward and he approached and took a deep sniff. Suddenly his eyes seemed to crack, and he keeled over.
"Medicine medicine!" Sundome said. Then he took a knife and slew the Smoking Weasel as Wellington helped the old man with some medicine.
Then he gave the medicine to the others and as people began to consume it, they instantly found their illness was healed.
There were plent who stood by as the beast was slayed. The players wanted to see what they missed besides the silvers. Some gems and other oddities came out, among them was a Silver Bell.
Sundome and Wellington split the goods and Sundome ended up with the Silver Bell and 12 silver peices. Wellington ended up with various coloured stones, and also got 12 silver peices.
Not knowing what the Silver Bell did, Sundome shook it a few times. Suddenly, it was as if everyone stood still for a few moments. Nobody moved, and everyone just looked at the silver bell. Their eyes wore blank expressions.
Ding Ding Dong Ding
The sound filled the air and it was like everything was in slow motion.
Finally they all snapped out of it, aware that something had happened, but not sure what.
Amazed, Sundome shook it again, however this time it just made a bell noise like "Ding Ding Dong Ding"
It didn't slow anything down, and seemed completely normal.
Hmm, could it not be used successively? What an interesting weapon!
After being paid and thanked by the villagers, the two both logged off at Dourmoth Village. They did that for two reasons, one because some of the surrounding players were eyeing them enviously, and the other because it was time to log off.
When they logged back in 9 hours later, they continued on towards Yorkshire. There was a group that followed them, but they never came close.
Occassionally the Silver Bell appeared in Sundome's hand, and when it did, the sound of the bell ringing filled the air. It wasn't a particular nice sound, and combined with the Chrome Mask and the Eeery aura coming from him, it caused many people to think that no good thing would come from getting close to such a person.
Wellington practiced constantly with his Jaku Mace, and they slaughtered their way through a myriad of Level 1 and Level 2 Dangerous areas on the way to Yorkshire.
After four days of travelling, they eventually came to a large city which was surrounded by a moat. There were huge castle walls surrounding the city, and a drawbridge was the only entrance. It backed up against a steep cliff face so there really was only one way in. The city seemed to climb as it neared the cliff face, so that from outside, it seemed to reach the clouds. Yet still the cliff face behind went even further.
Yorkshire was huge, and the players here numbered in the tens of thousands.
Yet it was an extremely unfortunate occasion when Sundome and Wellington stumbled upon a woman who was coquetishly beautiful, a possible 9 out of 10, but she immediately sent stinging words Wellington's way when he stepped on her purple cloak.
Underneath the purple cloak was a barely clad Violent Crazy Girl sporting a pair of Nunchucks that seemed to be a powered weapon.
"Are you blind, you stupid mutt head. I have half a mind to Nunchuck you to death right now!" Crazy Violent Girl was yelling at Wellington. She barely noticed the person behind him, perhaps because he hadn't done something irreparably stupid.
As she was eviscerating Wellington, Sundome again tried the bell. He even added in a prayer as an afterthought. If the Silver Bell wouldn't work now, what other time of need would it come to his rescue?
Out came the Silver Bell and the only thing the world around him heard was the slow slow slow "Ding Ding Dong Ding"
In that two seconds of time that everyone went completely blank. Sundome thanked God, realizing that it took aproximately 5 days between uses for the Silver Bell to power back up. He hadlong since found that the Silver Bell had a 92% Comet Power according to the Comet Stick.
He didn't waste a second of this time that the Silver Bell gave him and only him. In the blink of an eye while everyone was completely bonkered, he was behind Crazy Violent Girl and put her over his knee. Then he delivered her two very good hard spankings. This was worth 5 days of waiting to use it here and now. If he could bring this Silver Bell with him back into the real world ,it would be his greatest treasure.
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Everyone's eyes suddenly came back from being mystified. Only a few people had seen the Silver Bell come out but they all looked at Sundome now with a strange look in their eyes. Wellington looked over. "I just had the strangest feeling. Like back at the Dormouth Village when we got our reward." But he didn't press any further.
Sundome didn't answer. His eyes were eating up the look on Crazy Violent Girl's face. Her face showed surprise, confusion, a deep red flush, and finally anger.
"What the hell! Who did that!!!!!" She looked behind her and the Nunchucks came out. She had no way of guessing that it was either of the two in front of her, especially not the Chrome Masked Sundome becuase he was even further away than Wellington.
"Did what? What's wrong?" Wellington asked, a little shocked. He was still trying to place what that feeling was moments ago. He knew he experienced it before. However, he wasn't able to relate it to the Silver Bell which seemed completely ordinary at all other times.
At this point, Sundome had a wide smile. Nobody could see that though because the Chrome Mask didn't move. He coughed lightly.
"Let's go." He couldn't use the Silver Bell again for 5 days, so he didn't want to be anywhere near Crazy Violent Girl.
A Chrome Masked youth and a lanky teenager with a Jaku Mace tied on his back made their way through the throngs of people. Sundome and Wellington eventually entered a tavern, and rented two rooms.
"Let's make this our headquarters. The Were Demon Quest might take us a while. Also, I need to find a good weapon." They both ate in the tavern downstairs, and discussed how they would proceed.
"I'll lend you some silvers if we change the Were Demon Quest to 60/40 take." Wellington said.
"Hah, you catch on quickly! Well, lets see if I can find a weapon first."
"Ok I'll do some information scouting, and I'll meet you back here in the afternoon."
"Good man." Sundome got up and took his leave first.
He purchased a local map of Yorkshire City which was truly large enough that it needed a detailed map. Then he headed towards some weapon shops to find a weapon. He currently had around 20 silvers and some change. If Wellington could get a Jaku Mace that was 39% powered for 6 silvers, he was sure he could find something better.
Arriving at the first weapon shop, he brought out the Comet Stick and tested the weapons. While there were many powered weapons here of all sorts, none tested much higher than 60%.
After two hours and 6 more weapon shops, Sundome entered the Yorkshire Auction House, which was a prestigious looking building with a luxuriant inside that certainly said 'we have everything you need'.
Studying the items which were going to be auctioned later in the week. A Chrome Masked man approached the most beautiful woman in Yorkshire, Miss Contess of Yorkshire Auction House, to discuss an item.
He didn't notice her eyes going wide when he entered the Auction House. And she perfectly hid it now.
"I'll buy that spear now for twice what you will get at auction!" He said.
"Oh? So you already have an idea what the spear will go for?" She quipped.
"25 silvers" Sundome responded. It was low in his mind. The spear was worth at least 50.
"25 silvers.... Let's see?" She walked up to the weapon, drank three potions, and then picked it up. "The only reason I can even weild this spear is because I drink one potion every week for the last 5 years. Still I had to drink three more high quality potions just to weild it. Do you understand?"
"I'll put down 35 silvers on it tonight and pay more at a specified time." This was more than 7 times what Wellington paid for the Jaku Mace and it was just a downpayment. But he now knew that this spear had 79% Comet Power. The name carved on it said "Sky Beholds" It was entirely black with engravings everywhere and the spear head was long and curved, like an ancient Chinese spear that was used more like a sword with long handle.
He had been to all the weapon shops and this was the highest grade weapon in Yorkshire. Not only that, but tens of thousands of players would be looking for items right now. However, few would be able to afford such a spear.
Not only that, but he had the vague idea that the higher % of Comet Power a weapon had, not only was it simply more powerful, but it was probably many many times more powerful.
"How much will you pay afterwards? What will you put down against it, and when will you pay the due?" Miss Contess responded. Now she was being rather seductive. She liked to talk about money with men, and negotiate and push them as far as they will go.
"35 more silvers, 35 down and 35 later." Came the answer.
Just then, she pressed down on a hidden button inlaid into the shaft of the spear, high up near the blade. The Blade seemed to pop off and revealed a chain within the shaft of the spear!
"So that is the meaning of Sky Beholds, a truly fearsome spear. This was getting more and more interesting. Miss Contess didn't reveal the full use of the loosed chain blade, but just showing how the blade could be released was enough to get Sundome's blood boiling.
She pressed another button and the blade came back into the shaft. Sundome reached over to test the strength of the attached blade and it was strong. There was no way to move it. It was like the shaft and the blade were one peice.
He hesitated for a bit. "90 more silvers. And i'll put down the Silver Bell as insurance."
"Oh? A Silver Bell? How quaint? You think a Silver Bell can match the Sky Beholds Spear?" Miss Contess was looking appealingly. Her seductivity could easily pull in a normal person, who would promptly lose all of their wealth in the ensuing negotiation. But somehow, the Chrome Mask and the Death Aura seemed to give Sundome a levity.
Sundome didn't say anything.
She pulled out her testing device, which was similar to the Comet Stick, and waved it in the direction of the Silver Bell. However her eyes went wide from shock when she saw the reading! 92% Comet Power!
"Can you demonstrate it?" She asked, still wide eyed and her speech was a little slow.
"No and under no circumstances are you allowed to use it." He said.
"Very well, we'll make the trade, you need to acquire the 35 silvers correct?"
"Actually, I have 18 silvers on me, you'll get the rest later." Sundome was suddenly filled with confidence. The Silver Bell was truly a treasure like no other. And he had been incredibly fortunate that the Smoking Weasel dropped it, and that it fell to him since he let Wellington choose first. He could have tested the items right then and there, but didn't think it was fair to do so at the time. Besides, he thought well of Wellington, he didn't just intend to use him for business purposes.
Miss Contess wrote out a contract, which she sealed with blood. Sundome followed suit.
He put up the Silver Bell as insurance, even though it was worth more than the Sky Beholds Spear itself, althought not by much, unless items truly got exponentially more powerful the higher the Comet Power. Nevertheless, he did it for the shock and awe. He needed to get this spear before others had the chance.
"Okay, you may take the Sky Beholds Spear now, but when will you have payment. If full payment is not made, the Yorkshire Auction House will not return the Silver Bell, and it will be ours to do with as we choose." Again she spoke entirely with seductive attraction, and her beautiful breasts which were peaking out rose and fell in the most alluring way.
"Not more than 5 days." It was a promise. SunDome could not allow the Yorkshire Auction House to see the incredible power of the Silver Bell or he might never see it again.
"Very well." Miss Contess said. "By the way, how much did you buy that mask for?" She asked. It was the one question she had wanted to ask this stranger since he had arrived, but had held back for the sake of negotiations.
"About half a silver." Sundome responded without thinking too much.
Miss Contess gasped.
"Half a silver for the North King's Mask!???" She suddenly stepped backwards in shock and tripped and fell over.