Jen was reviewing the transfer pad map they looted from the oracle-hunters, and said to Pudding, “I thought you said hunting parties were limited to five people?”
“No, Ms. Jen. The Oracle will only answer one question from five different people. Most parties are made up of five people for that reason. Fifty gold was paid for de transfer of each of dese men to the Oracle Deck. Dis quest must have cost someone around a thousand gold!”
Jen grunted and replied, “Well, it may have been expensive, but it was a pretty good plan. Jump a large group to the deck, buy a transfer pad map as quickly as possible, and travel from transfer pad to transfer pad quickly overwhelming and killing any other smaller-sized parties. Then loot their gear and system points before they get settled enough to be able to properly defend themselves. From their marks on this map, it looks like they had already taken out seven other oracle-hunting parties!”
Jen looked around at her party and said, “I think the only way we have a chance of succeeding in this quest is to beat everyone else there. I don’t like the idea of us trying to fight our way through all the other groups. That being said, we are not geared-up for the quest as much as I would like for us to be, but with the gear and credits we just looted, I suggest we turn it all into credits, except we keep the transfer pad map. We buy the clue, buy a quest deck map, gear up as best as possible, and head out immediately to wherever the clue directs us. Any thoughts?”
Everyone nodded their head in agreement with Jen’s plan, but Sam turned towards Pudding and said, “Do you think we will be the first group to purchase the quest clue?”
Pudding replied, “Maybe so. Wit dese credits we looted, we are moving faster than the deck-dropper’s group usually moves. However, if they transferred anywhere near a small unprotected town, they would kill them alllll, and exchange everyding in for credits to purchase the clue.”
Sam asked, “Are there a lot of towns near transfer pads?”
Pudding shook his head as he answered, “Noooo, towns have learned about the evils of many quest hunters, I haven’t seen a town near a transfer pad since almost the first quest hunt I went on, but the Quest Deck is a very big place, so I don’t know for sure.”
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Sam returned his attention to Jen and said, “Just give me a minute to accept a gambling quest before you purchase the quest clue.”
Pudding looked horrified, as he stared in Sam’s direction and said, “What another gambling quest already, how much euphoria did you take from the necklace quest? If you get addicted, you could kill us all with a stupid decision, you should resist the urge for the euphoria!”
Jen looked at Pudding and explained, “Sam’s luck stat is so high that he often gets system gambling quests that don’t include euphoria.”
Pudding noticed Tamako nodding her head confirming Jen’s words, but asked, “How is this? The luck stat is worthless! No one wastes points increasing luck.”
Sam laughed as he accepted the gambling quest and said, “A story for another day, but if we are the first to purchase the quest clue, I stand to gain 2 ability points.”
A few moments later when Jen purchased the clue, Sam said, “Yes! We were the first!” as he pumped his fist in the air.
****System-wide Oracle Hunters’ Quest Alert****
The first quest clue has been purchased. Earn enough credits to purchase your quest clue from the shop, or you will surely fail.
****End of System Message****
Pudding was still looking a little shell-shocked at the news about Sam’s luck stat, and asked, “Where are you going to put the ability points you won?”
Sam smiled, “Into luck of course!”
Pudding was flustered, but managed to say, “Master Sam, I no wish to be rude, but I am most curious. Why gamble for ability points, to only put those ability points into luck? You never gain anything other than a higher luck stat.”
Sam nodded with understanding, and explained, “The system usually offers a reward of ability points, but every now and then I will get offered a unique reward that far outweighs simple ability points. I gained one of my post powerful enchantment techniques this way.”
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A short while later, Jen exclaimed, “It’s a riddle Damnit!” as she finished reading the quest clue they purchased from the shop.
Pudding nodded, and said, “Yes, the clues can sometimes be tricky, but as you follow the easy parts of the clue, the more difficult meanings become clear as you discover hints towards the meaning as you travel.”
Sam waived for Jen to pass him the clue, and she sent him a screenshot of the clue directly to his onboard.
Pudding couldn’t understand why everyone had packed up, but were just waiting on Sam as he stared off into space, and he asked, “Ms. Jen, is Master Sam O.K.?”
Jen looked at Pudding with surprise, and said, “I’m sorry. I should have told you. We are waiting on Sam to tell us what the clue means.”
Pudding was confused and was about to ask Jen what she meant, when Sam finally looked up, and said, “The clue requires us to find any dungeon, kill the boss, and the boss will drop the next clue. It’s that simple.”