CHAPTER 13
THE ANNUAL HOLIDAYS
Aron’s group had two choices before them: Be satisfied with a mid-quality gem and leave the Mystic Glades, or take a risk and explore some more. “Aron, this is just the start of the forest, and we almost got our asses handed to us. We are ill-prepared, but, ” the female knight paused as she glanced at the gem she was holding, “ This is really something. I dare say some more valuables are inside with some more deadly traps and threats.” She pressed on the idea of leaving.
While the guardian of the group added, “Let’s just take a peek further and return. It doesn’t hurt to check what we’ll be facing later.”
The scout and the other two nodded, and the group of four ventured deeper. Only to get swallowed and thrown out without their haul. “You bastard,” the female knight clenched the guardian by the collar, she was furious. “You should’ve listened to me, my family sword is gone now.”
“Damn woman, I didn’t forced you to come, its was your now damn choice. So take accountability. We can just retrieve it after stocking up on supplies. There is a town nearby.”
Aron on the other hand was silently muttering, cursing, “We had the gem, damn it. We had it just..tsk.” He couldn’t let his group be destroyed with senseless argument, he was their captain after all. “He is right lets go to the town and get our things back.”
But, they weren’t the only ones with the same idea; the two groups which were swallowed before had regrouped in the same town.
Meanwhile, the three groups were planning their raid; Hans and Vanir were counting their haul which they just got from Mystic glades. It was transported to the Man-eating Forest, their temporary hideout.
“This would be around 12,000 G. Senior, we made a profit.” Vanir cried in happiness.
“Yeah, but we need to lose some to gain more.” Hans said, pointing at a golem carrying the fire gem and stones, “This would be perfect for the bait. How much is it, Vanir?”
This is our most expensive golem, “Around thirty thousand G.”
“Good. Lets send this one to the Mystic Glades.” Hans said as they both jumped in the their transportation device. “Ha! This nauseating feeling.” As always he wasn’t feeling well after a travel. He took a deep breath, stabilising himself as they for the groups to infiltrate again. But this time the lucky ones weren’t Aron’s group but some other.
With a lot of effort the biggest group, around seven people, managed to take down the fire golem and claimed the stones and gems.
However, Hans wasn’t keen on letting them leave. He shifted the forest in such a way that all three groups crossed each other. The treasure which group of seven carried was easy to detect, so Aron and the other group attacked them. They were all from Concordia, but it didn’t matter here. And Aron’s group, being the less tired and stronger, managed to rob the seven while chasing the other away.
As expected, Hans got the small amount of money from Aron. But it wasn’t what he wanted, so he was still happy. But word spread quickly that Aron had haul a lot of mana resources, and rumors kept getting bigger and bigger. This made the real haul worth more, and from then on, different groups started competing more and more.
Hans was following a basic strategy. If the ten groups went to raid, almost nine got looted, and one came out becoming rich. He wasn’t just robbing them, but he was selling them hope. Because he returned thirty percent of whatever he looted to the single party. That made sure everyone’s interest and his wealth kept soaring.
Another month had passed from the dungeon opening, and their annual exams were starting, so neither Vanir nor the raiders were keen on going on a raid. It was a peaceful time for the dungeon master and raiders.
However, Hans’s growth in wealth didn’t stop there. The news of the dungeon was also leaked outside, and he had opened three more entrances, making a total of four enticing doors to wealth. Concordia was busy but no the rest of the world.
On the last day of the second year, when everyone was preparing for their holidays, Hans was putting his haul inside the space pouch. He was going to sell these in Edenberg’s black market through dwarves. He was giddy all on his own, but suddenly a shadow materialised, startling him.
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“So how much have you earned till now?” The chairman lurking from his side asked.
“I don’t know for sure, but it should be more than a hundred thousand—”
“Clink! Clank!” Another haul came bearing potions and even an artefact too. “See,” Hans pointed out, “Human greed has no bounds.” He chuckled, and began to estimate their prices.
After confirming, he said to Dietrich, “It was a good idea to spread rumours of a treasure trove in that nearby town. Now local mercenaries are also making me rich.” Hans chuckled and stuffed the latest haul into his space pouch until it was full. “Dear ancestor,” he said, pointing to the endless money and items, “May I leave the rest here?”
“Of course,” the chairman said, confident.
The sole purpose of Hans for acquiring wealth was for two reasons. He wanted to fight Anfaleen and Xandor, and both were some of the strongest in this world. Not to forget, both also had a significant number of people. “After this holiday,” he mumbled, “I’ll get serious. Both of these bastards have to pay.”
“Hmm.” Dietrich had thought a lot how he can meddle in Anfaleen’s affairs after all Vanessa was still student of Concordia, his responsibility, when it happened to her. He paused and finally said, “Get me some hard evidence of what you say about Anfaleen and I’ll do justice—”
“No, I was too frustrated back. I’ll do it in my own way. A trial or whatever you are planning will make Vanessa relive those moments. I don’t want it to happen.”
“I understand,” Dietrich disappeared after saying those words. Soon, Hans too left Agrilands for holiday packing.
Upon returning back to the Concordia, he found Vanir. “Hey, Minion, wanna come to my home during this annual break?” He offered, saying, “It will be a lot of fun—”
“For you, PRINCE.HANS.” Vanir emphasised, interrupting, “but, I need to settle my parents on the residential islands, remember?”
“Hmm. Okay. But what will you be doing after that. Its frickin’ three-month break?” Hans asked.
“I’ll try my luck in some menial work around the Alchemist. Or perfect our golem formulas.”
“Good. Work hard then.” Hans patted and turned to leave, but Vanir stopped him and offered, “Senior, this is what I earned from selling the news of Mystic Glades—”
“So? What do you want me to do about it?”
“It’s money!” Vanir said, astounded. “And a lot of it. Don’t you want it?”
“Of course I want it. But you said it ‘YOU.EARNED.IT.’ Have you seen me sharing anything that I.EARNED? So why do you think I’ll ask yours?”
“But it’s around 4000 G!” Vanir stressed.
“Then you are a rich man, Vanir Dorfeil. Why don’t you treat your family?” Hans remarked before departing, casually waving his hand and turning away.
He soon reached the Prophets’ Castle and in a jiffy got his things together.
“So you are leaving?” Walter chimed in from behind, giving the poor guy a start, yet Hans’s facade of serenity stood firm. He quipped, sharp "You must have developed a special bond with that wheelchair of yours.”
Walter, caressing the palm rest of his convenience-crafted throne, shot back, "Blame your dear old dad for this masterpiece.”
"Who asked you to be a show-off?” Hans retorted with a smirk, continuing, “Snatching arrows from the sky and pointing them at your own rear end – that was all on you, professor. Don't go blaming me for your acrobatics.”
“Just get the hell out of here.” Walter gestured him to leave quickly. However, Hans, glancing at Walter’s situation, couldn’t help ask, “It’s been months. Didn’t Grandma heal you alright? Why are you still riding that thing?”
“Yeah, try taking on ‘The Big Dipper’ yourself,” chastised Walter.
Hans wanted to rebuke that he did and survived too, but he successfully had put a leash on his scissored mouth. Instead of gloating, he said, “You’ll be searching for Xandor, right?”
“Yeah, this wound will heal. But not the humiliation that son of a bitch had put me in. He’ll answer for everything.”
“Do contact me. I’ll even call Parvian knights.” Hans nodded and left the castle for his grandparents’ quarters, where he faced another news.
“What, Gramps took Chris to Sunfall?” He whined, hearing their departure.
Hans wanted to test his new solar powers with Rudolf. He might’ve acquired the book of power and become the solar mage, but he was still far from reaching the true potential or even discovering the beginning of solar powers.
Irked, he glanced at another friend who just didn’t seem to detach herself from his family. He asked, raising his chin, “Deli, you are going back to Clandor or what?”
“And miss annoying you? Fat chance.” Delimira instantly responded.
“Aren’t you literally taking ‘my home, your home’ saying?” Irritation was evident on his face, and that left her giggling. He urged Sierra to hasten, since the sooner he arrived in Edenberg, the sooner his plans would set into motion.
“You guys are ready?” Vanessa entered the quarters, asking, and before Sierra could affirm, she double-checked everything. “It’s all set now.” She said and locked the doors on her way out. Glancing at the three, she said eagerly, “Let’s move to the SpaceDoor—”
“Heck no. we are going my way: INGRESS.” Hans retorted, rolling his eyes dramatically. As if on cue, a pillar of light descended upon them, casting an epic glow on the entire spectacle. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing in front of the grand Edenberg mansion back in the county.
“Home sweet home.” Hans said, “Lets get started.”
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