Lord Of The Lost

The tension in the air lightened in an instant, like a tight string being gently loosened. A breeze whispered through the hills, carrying with it a simple question:

"You want to take on the thieves?"

The Forum Master, ever calm and calculating, responded with a slight smirk, "Thieves provide more than just a challenge. They're like walking treasure chests of experience points. If handled right, they're just as good as killing monsters. Maybe better. You get gear drops too."

The breeze across the hills wasn't convinced. "Sure, but the journey's long, and the process is... let's say, far from easy."

William, hearing the exchange, couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration. It wasn't that he didn't 'want' to deal with thieves; it was that his methods, try as he might, weren't efficient.

Take his recent chase, for instance: two miles of relentless pursuit, and all he had to show for it was a single thief's corpse. Not exactly a stellar outcome. And finding their lair? That was another nightmare entirely. It's one thing to talk about it, but have you tried tracking down a hidden den of rogues? Even if you manage to locate it, you're met with a horde of thieves.

Imagine this: surrounded by twenty or thirty level 5 rogues, blades flashing in all directions. Even wielding a knight's lance, it'd be a struggle to fend them off.

And that's just the common ones. Among them, there are higher-level thieves lurking, more skilled, more dangerous. These aren't your average street rats, they've got the nerve to raid villages, places that are well-guarded by trained soldiers.

William's encounters with thieves typically fell into two frustrating scenarios:

In first he would find himself outnumbered and overwhelmed. He'd find himself against a dozen or more thieves. Despite chasing them down with all the speed he could muster, he might be lucky to take out three or four. The rest? They'd vanish like smoke, disappearing into the wilderness before he could land another blow.

Second he would be, sometimes, he'd stumble into a group of dozens, far too many to handle alone. In these situations, survival became the priority. He'd flee, fighting through waves of attackers, only to be outmatched when an elite thief, far stronger than he, showed up to finish the job.

Sure, there were times when he felt in control. If he ran into a small group, maybe seven or eight thieves; William knew he could handle them with Little Red Riding Hood's slingshot, his trusty weapon. But out in the wilds, thieves rarely traveled in such convenient numbers. Usually, they gathered in large, intimidating groups, making it nearly impossible to pick them off easily.

So, William's approach was straightforward: 'Kill them when you can'. The issue? They're hard to find in the first place.

The map of Border Town and its surrounding regions was enormous. Just running between different points could eat up hours of precious time. Today, for example, William had spent his entire day driving his cat-drawn cart from the Black Forest to Iron Mine Village, stopping by the Magic House, and eventually making his way to Border Town. Before he realized it, eight hours had flown by.

Eight hours spent on travel, not combat.

Had it not been for his need to visit Border Town, William would've spent the day hunting in the wild forests, gathering experience points from monsters or thieves. But now, looking at the situation, he saw a larger problem looming.

To level up from 8 to 9, he needed 600 experience points. The higher his level, the steeper the experience climb became. Right now, he'd amassed about half of that; around 300 points left to go. Not impossible, but certainly a grind.

Another issue plagued him. As a high-level player, slaying low-level creatures offered diminishing returns. Each monster he killed only granted about 30 experience points. That wasn't too bad when they were on his level, but the problem was simple: there weren't enough of these monsters to hunt. Even worse, his encounters with thieves were inconsistent and scattered across the massive landscape.

In essence, William was stuck in a loop of chasing fleeting opportunities, knowing that even if he found what he was after, the rewards might be minimal. But like any seasoned player, he knew the game wasn't about speed, it was about persistence. He just needed to play it smart.

In thus game world of magical creatures, Level 8 beasts are nothing short of mountain rulers. It's much like the old saying, '"One mountain cannot have two tigers."' If you encounter a high-level beast, you're facing the apex predator of the region.

But here's the thing: even though they rule their domain, it's not like running into one is easy. Imagine a hunter out in the wilderness; not every day yields a bountiful catch. The same goes for these magical creatures. They aren't just wandering around waiting for a fight. The more intelligent, high-level ones can sense danger.

If they catch even a hint of your murderous intent, they'll flee without hesitation, choosing survival over confrontation.

Despite that, William is a man of confidence. Armed with his trusty weapon, he's made it his mission to kill any monster that crosses his path. With 300 experience points left to reach level 9, he was confident that he could hit his goal within eight hours of solid hunting.

'So why waste time chasing down thieves?'

Just as William pondered this question, the Forum Master spoke up, his voice calm and calculating as always:

"If you're interested, Brother Wallace, I can lend you two horses. Border Town is prepared to cooperate with us."

Hearing this, William's eyes sparkled with interest. "Wait, you're serious?"

The Forum Master didn't make promises lightly, but his words carried weight. "I'm sure. The only question is; are you willing?"

Without missing a beat, William nodded. "I'm in!"

After all, monsters could spawn any time, but the chance to ride a horse, especially one from Border Town was a rare and tempting offer. Horses weren't just transportation here; they were magical creatures, highly prized and guarded by the people of Border Town.

They even had special breeders to care for them, and for ordinary players, getting close to one was next to impossible, let alone borrowing one. Especially for refugees like William.

So, naturally, the players around were intrigued. 'How on earth did the Forum Master manage to convince Border Town to lend him not one, but two horses?'

The answer wasn't long in coming. The Forum Master revealed that he had struck a deal with the mayor of Border Town. He had volunteered to take on the dangerous task of eliminating the thieves that plagued the region.

William, who had been listening with growing interest, tilted his head, watching the conversation unfold between the players and quickly pieced it together.

It wasn't just about completing a task; it was about having the 'right conditions' in place. In a game world, you might not have hard-set rules about things like reputation and credibility, but among the players, a new understanding had developed.

Reputation 'mattered'.

Without a solid reputation, an ordinary player could walk up to the mayor and boast all they wanted, but the mayor wouldn't bat an eye. 'No reputation, no trust.'

The Forum Master's voice cut through the chatter: "The mayor's terms were simple: lend me a horse, and in return, I must bring back at least 100 thieves' heads. At first, I wasn't sure I could pull it off."

William, now fully intrigued, played a soft tune on his instrument, an elegant sound with a playful edge. Wallace Beethhovenish chimed in, understanding the situation clearly, "I get it. You asked for two horses, which means you're aiming for two hundred heads. I'll help you get them."

The forum erupted with excitement. Players everywhere were buzzing with disbelief and admiration.

"What the hell?!"

"Big brother is something else!"

"Absolutely insane!"

"Such a bold move!"

Captain: "Now 'that' is why he's the Big Brother. Unstoppable!"

William couldn't help but smile at the reactions. His eyes glinted with mischief as he opened a private message to the Forum Master.

"What about my reward?" he typed, waiting for the reply with amusement.

A simple "?" was all the Forum Master responded with, playing it cool.

But William wasn't going to let him off that easily. "Come on, don't play dumb. The mission is one thing, but where's the reward for the horse loan?"

Because let's face it, borrowing two magical horses from Border Town and not returning them would be a 'huge' loss. William wasn't about to let that slide.

The hunt for thieves was about to get interesting, but for William, the real game was only just beginning.

The Forum Master had staked his 'reputation' as collateral; an impressive feat, considering how much reputation mattered in this world. That's why Border Town agreed to loan him the horses, but it wasn't a free ride. The mayor of the town made it clear: a hundred thieves' heads were the price for this favor.

Simply killing one bandit and returning wouldn't cut it, this was about more than just fulfilling a quest. It was a test of reliability, a show of whether the Forum Master was worthy of the trust being extended.

Of course, rewards were on the table. They always were.

The Forum Master turned to William, explaining, "...Brother Wallace, the reward isn't exactly huge. The experience points from the thieves are considerable, and I've taken quite the risk myself."

The implication was clear: 'Isn't the experience alone enough for you? Are you really going to quibble over a few extra coins?'

But William wasn't one to back down. With a sharp tone, he retorted, "I'm the one helping you level up, remember?"

The Forum Master, realizing this wasn't a battle he wanted to fight, conceded. After all, dealing with someone as powerful and influential as William required diplomacy. He knew that greed could cost him far more in the long run if it soured their working relationship.

The initial offer from Border Town was a modest 2 gold coins, but with two hundred thieves on the chopping block, the Forum Master could negotiate for 5 gold coins.

And so, the two players hashed out the terms.

They came to an agreement: all white-tier equipment taken from the thieves would belong to the Forum Master. In return, William would pocket 4 gold coins. As for any other valuable loot, they'd figure out the split later. The negotiation had been swift, but William still had a nagging feeling.

"I always feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick," he muttered, not entirely satisfied.

But William was practical. He wasn't the type to dwell on things for long, especially when the Forum Master had already bent over backwards to make concessions. One thing William valued was 'honesty' in his dealings, and the Forum Master had proven to be a man of his word. If someone showed good character, William had no problem considering long-term collaboration.

This could be the start of something mutually beneficial.

On the other side of the table, the Forum Master wiped a thin layer of sweat from his brow. Negotiating with William, the top player, was a delicate process. You couldn't afford to make a misstep when dealing with someone of his caliber. William wasn't just strong, he was sharp, and the Forum Master knew that even the slightest miscalculation could cost him dearly.

Though the Forum Master held significant leverage, it was crucial to maintain a balance. He understood the value of sincerity. Sure, he could've pocketed a couple of extra gold coins by playing tricks or hiding part of the reward, but what would that have earned him? Nothing but a dangerous enemy.

If William caught wind of such a deception, the Forum Master would be finished; his reputation shattered, and with it, any hope of future alliances. The risk simply wasn't worth it.

In the end, they settled on a '50-50 split'. For the Forum Master, it was a fair outcome, and he had secured a guaranteed advantage. If they succeeded in killing the two hundred thieves, his standing in Border Town would rise even higher. And with that, his influence and opportunities would only grow.

As the saying goes: '"If you borrow and repay well, borrowing again will never be a problem."'

With his growing reputation and talent in the magical world, the Forum Master knew he'd have no trouble making money in the long run. The key was maintaining that trust.

Meanwhile, back on the forums, the excitement was palpable. Players were buzzing about the Forum Master's success in Border Town, impressed by his maneuvering, and equally shocked by William's power as 'The Breeze Blows Across the Hills' a name that was becoming legendary. For many, it felt like the reign of the thieves was coming to an end, their doom sealed by the efforts of these top players.

In the middle of all the forum activity, the Forum Master took a moment to reflect, typing out a simple but cryptic message to stir the pot even more:

"I don't know if you've noticed," he wrote, "but something isn't right with Border Town. This place has a 'big' problem."

The players, already on edge with excitement, couldn't help but dive into speculation. What was the Forum Master hinting at? What could be wrong with a town that seemed so simple on the surface? Was there more at play in Border Town than anyone realized?

One thing was certain: the story was far from over, and the Forum Master had just thrown a match into a powder keg of curiosity.