In all of this Molly’s role was quite… informative. Could she really consider her only as an helpful NPC?

Maybe. It could be that all of these clues that she had given were all part of the aid given in the tutorial and starting areas. However she had her reasons to doubt this theory.

The game up until now had not been very keen on hand-holding its players. No, Elysium Online was a game that prided itself on its freedom. And this freedom extended even to the liberty of discovering its workings.

There was no guide for the game. Only the hard work of countless people all around the globe.

She shaked her head. Now it was not the time to think about such things. She was tight on time to search the place. The village chief could come back at any moment.

Tacha looked around for more clues regarding this mystery organization. There had to be something that the chief uses to identify himself with those people.

However, no matter where she searched she found nothing that could suggest an involvement with said organization. And so, she made a full circle and found herself in the bedroom again, the letters in front of her.

Those were the only clue around. Was it small enough for all members to know each other? No. It was probably O.P. that knew his agents well.

Then they must have the same point of contact each time. She doubted that O.P. would deliver the letters himself, else it would be faster to say the orders rather than writing them down.

As she was contemplating the trio’s association, she realized that she couldn’t hear the banter from downstairs anymore.

In a panic, Tacha considered her options. The bed, the wardrobe or the window?

ᴥᴥᴥ ≈ ° ≈ ᴥᴥᴥ

Brett Frisk, the village chief, shoed the rowdy innkeeper away. He knew not the identity of one so brave to rob him, but if his previous experiences with the innkeeper could tell him something, was that there was a possibility that it was all a false claim.

Just last year he had claimed compensation for a fire he had started. Granted, later it came out that it was all because he left the pot on the stove unattended while he was busy taking care of his treasures.

Still, there have never been a case of infighting in the village up until now. And Brett Frisk dubted that it was any different this time around.

With a sigh he climbed the stairs, but when he reached his living quarters he stopped in his tracks. The door had been left ajar. Usually, he would never leave it open. However…

No, he had rushed out to deal with the greedy innkeeper earlier. He might have left it open.

He checked left and right for any signs of intrusion. Seeing nothing out of place he went straight to his bedroom to read the missive he had been waiting for days.

However the letter wasn’t on his desk “No, no!” in a panic he went through the desk, even checking under it. However the missive was nowhere to be found!

He took a deep breath as his eyes went wide. He was f*cked. No, maybe even worse. Leaving aside the fact that someone now knew that he had dealings with that Order, the fact that he was risking to compromise his superior was bad enough.

In the previous missive, Brett had asked conseul on what to do with the problematic people that had started digging for the secrets of the ruins. He had no idea if he was going to send any reinforcements.

However, knowing the organization behind him…

It was better if he kept his expectations low.

They had no merits to speak of. And they were at most treated like disposable mercenaries. Maybe Caius was right. It was better to leave all of this behind and start from the beginning somewhere else.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

With the vagrants poking their fingers all over the place, and that pesky innkeeper that keeps going out in the middle of the night…

They were at risk at failing their task.

Yes. As long as they don’t know, they have no way of finding them.

With his mind made up the Brett Frisk left his quarters quickly. He had to talk to Caius and Ella and convince them to leave with him.

ᴥᴥᴥ ≈ ° ≈ ᴥᴥᴥ

As the village chief quickly left, Tacha Macha let out a sigh of relief. The granny stumbled out of the wardrobe gracefully, a couple of clothing following behind her. She was glad that he didn’t check inside it. It might have been cramped, but it was the second best option. With the first being dangling outside like a sack of potatoes.

Nothing that she wouldn’t try if it wasn’t for the fact that the eventual fall would kill her immediately.

Granny Tacha made her way out. The chief was rather distressed over the disappearance of the letter. That could only mean that either its contents were important, or that the one that sent it was the important one.

She had to keep her eyes open for this O.P. Even if he didn’t turn out to be that important, his organization was certainly of great interest for the granny.

With the village chief gone who knows where and Old Hans making a ruckus outside, it was easy for Tacha to slip out unnoticed.

She could continue to look for clues, but thinking that time was of the essence, granny Tacha opted to go back to Kirio and tell him her findings.

Sally’s Trove was the same as she had left it. Kirio, Layla’s son and current owner of the shop, was napping over the counter as usual.

Granny Tacha knocked gently on the counter, awakening the young boy. It took him a few moments to focus and recognizing her “...Granny?”

The kid looked at her expectantly, but seeing no one else with her his smile looked less radiant.

Steeling her heart, Tacha recounted what happened to his mother and the people involved. Of course, he spared him the… gruesome details.

“I-I see” Kirio looked to be on the verge of crying “S-sorry granny. I-I want to be alone for a bit” Tacha simply nodded and left the premise.

The ringing notifications didn’t make her much happier. However she thought that it was for the best that the kid knew what happened to his mother.

‘Corruption Runs Deep II’ completed.

Calculating rewards...

Discovered the message left behind by the Wolf God’s follower. D- → D+

Discovered the hidden study beneath the library D+ → C-

Discovered secret missives with Mr. O.P. C- → A

You choose to tell Kirio your findings.

Final score: A

You have been rewarded 10.000 exp, 5 stat points

Reward for achieving B rank: Celestial Slasher (Replica)

Reward for achieving A rank: Notes on ancient Glyps

Seeing no level up notification, she gave a glance to her status.

Name: Tacha Macha

Level: 1 (Exp: 10.000)

Race: Human

Hp: 3/14

Mp: 20/15

Strength: 11

Endurance: 12

Wisdom: 7

Intelligence: 6

Dexterity: 11

Speed: 11

Luck: 6

Charm: 5

Unassigned Points: 5

Temporary Effects: Corruption

She was still at level 1. That was weird. She was sure that 10k experience was enough to level up a few times over.

Before she could continue with her train of thought a new notification appeared in fron of her eyes.

Chain quest ‘Coils of Amber’ has been initiated.

A new quest?

Tacha opened her eyes wide. It was unexpected. She thought that there were no more quests related to Kirio.

But before she could check it, a cry made her turn around.

“AAAAAH!”