132 Kartacol, the Mining City

While Ren was relaxing on the back of a Hog, he received a message from Scar after four hours of traveling.

Did he already figure it out that fast? Ren thought.

It was possible if they ignored the hidden rooms and avoided all the beasts in their path in Vulcan's Cave. The one-day raid could really be finished within hours if they hurried towards the Boss's Room without taking any detours.

Ren stretched his limbs and lazily opened the message box. He expected Scar to throw a fit, but against all his expectations, Scar was so calm about it, adding to his amusement.

[Scar: What you told me is wrong. Vulcan didn't stop at north in fifteen seconds]

On Scar's end, he didn't want to cut relations with Ren since he was planning to recruit him to their guild even if the guy had already said no. Though he didn't care about the money he lost, Scar was still pissed because he felt cheated.

However, he needed to be patient and friendly and not agitate Ren so Black Lion could have a good relationship with him in the future.

[Ren: I didn't lie. That's how we defeated the Boss]

Ren didn't care what Scar thought.

[Scar: Then is it because of the different difficulties?]

Ren smirked. For some reason, Scar still wanted to play nice. He didn't even mention getting his money back or bursting into anger.

No matter what Scar was playing, Ren would play along.

[Ren: Difficulty? We defeated Vulcan in the normal difficulty, of course. I thought that's what you're asking]

On the other side, Scar almost choked from his saliva. How shameless could Ren be? The news was all over the place that he would attempt Vulcan's Cave in Hard difficulty. Even in the forums and [World Chat]!

There was no way that Ren could possibly not know! Unless he didn't read the news or even check online.

Scar gritted his teeth. Was Ren sabotaging him?

He calmed his nerves and took a deep breath. Scar had faults too. He had to admit. He just assumed that Ren was talking about the Hard Difficulty. He was confident that Ren already knew because of the news.

Or was he purposely toying with them?

[Scar: No. We are attempting the Hard Difficulty]

[Ren: Then I don't know. I only know how to defeat Vulcan in normal difficulty. Sorry]

Scar closed his eyes tight. His breathing was turning ragged from anger and frustration. He was a very calm and collected person. But there was something about Ren that got on his nerves that he couldn't put a finger on. Not to mention that he was kept reminding of that guy in the restaurant together with Mike and Saya.

That Ren was so smug because he got a rare class early in the game. But didn't know that the one he got was the lowest of the low. It was neither an attacking class nor a supportive class.

The Arcanist subclass dealt mostly with the crafting side according to his sources. And its skills and spells were mediocre at best while hard to level up.

Foraging was also an issue with that class since it mostly lean on the crafting side. They have to level those skills to make use of their abilities.

Scar sneered at the thought of that guy before he got back to the topic.

[Scar: Is that so?]

[Ren: Yes. So no money back. You can check the normal difficulty if you like]

Scar released a slight groan of frustration and took deep breaths.

[Scar: You can keep it. And I believe you. It just that . . . do you know how to defeat Vulcan in Hard Difficulty]

Ren chuckled. He didn't know why Scar was still being polite. But he got the feeling that the guy was bursting with anger right about now.

[Ren: Sorry. I don't]

With that, Ren closed the message box because not far, he could already see Kartacol just beyond the blazing mirage.

He didn't care of Scar or Black Lion and he was no longer in the mood to entertain that guy for his goal was already on site.

Far south of the Dwarven Continent was Kartacol, the mining city of the Dwarves. The one who runs the town is Ziv, a wealthy and savvy Kobold businessman.

From afar, Ren could already see the flat-roofed mud houses pressed together to form like an anthill. But contrary to the color of mud, the building was white, like dried white clay.

Large Caravans were transporting all sorts of supplies and stones to and fro from the city to the rest of the Dwarven continent. The Kobold's living in there was under the Dwarves' command, and even though the Kobolds were of a different race, they were welcomed in the land of the Dwarves because of their ability.

Kobolds could collect fifty kilos of ores and stones within hours and could sniff them from miles away. What's more, their size was like Dwarves, and they were great excavators that could dug so deep without endangering the land for any potential erosion. That made them great miners and the Dwarves like them very much. Their skills that is.

The city's only notable establishment was the Mine, the Covered Market, the Temple of Duzka, the Cliffside Tomb, and the Egg House.

The Covered Market had pressed houses where everyone can enter and exit to the next house without stepping outside the pathway. Stalls were opened inside the house on market days, and everyone was welcomed inside. Some even offered tea and biscuit, and Kobold women often go there to gossip with the neighborhood.

The Temple of Duzka was where the Kobold offered their prayers. Duzka was believed to be the founding father of Kobolds and was supposed to be alive in every Kobold, connecting them with each other. If a Kobold offered their prayers to Duzka, they dream of their ancestors, helping them in their time of trouble.

The Cliffside Tomb was where the Kobolds buried their dead. But instead of giving off a scary, horror vibe, the Cliffside Tomb was another tourist destination because of the stonework tombs. Kobolds weren't artisans, and it was the Dwarves who carved their tombstones into artworks.

The Egg House was where the Kobold reared their orphans. It was also where the mothers left their young ones to play while they worked their everyday chores and gossip to their neighbourhood.

And, of course, the Mine was where the Kobolds get their livelihood. Players and tourists alike who wanted to visit the Mines would soon find themselves too big for the small holes. Only Dwarves and Kobolds alike were welcomed in the mines, but non-inhabitants of the place had to pay a price, of course.

This city, like any other, had tons of quests, but Ren didn't have time to do those. The quest could wait but the in game currency couldn't. He still have less than a week real time to mine for stones and ores.

Ren went directly to Ziv, the leader of the town. He needed something from him so he could turn into a Kobold and start mining.

That was the only way for him to fit inside those small holes without money.

"Thank you, Ren. Hope you can ride with us again," Hoggy said.

Ren nodded. "Sure."

[Your Relationship Level with Hoggy increased!]