The Starfall Forest has always been a nightmare in the hearts of many citizens of the Serian Kingdom and the Kingdom of Portoroa.
Powerful high-level players do not venture into it lightly, and even low-level players rarely come out alive.
As a result, the Starfall Forest has become increasingly mysterious and dangerous, resembling two completely different worlds.
Under the clear night sky, there were no visible stars, and the darkness seemed slightly dimmer than usual. However, even in such conditions, the night was far more beautiful than on Earth.
A thick mist shrouded the outskirts of the Starfall Forest. People referred to this mist as the "boundary of death," as crossing it meant certain death.
However, at this moment, several figures emerged from the mist and walked out of the Starfall Forest. There were eight people in total.
Most of them were dressed in tattered clothes, some were even injured, and the weapons they carried were mostly damaged to varying degrees.
The group appeared strange to anyone who saw them, with the youngest member being only thirteen or fourteen years old.
However, the killing intent emanating from the group was comparable to that of an elite army.
This group consisted of Sean and others from the Kingdom of Portoroa who had crossed the Starfall Forest.
However, the current leader of the group was not Sean but Durun.
After all, this was the territory of the Viscount, and despite the respect and camaraderie that had developed between them on the journey, they were not on equal footing.
So, upon leaving the Starfall Forest, the Viscount naturally assumed a more noble posture. Of course, Sean didn't have the same disdainful expression on his face as before.
However, Sean glanced at Durun with some displeasure and sighed, "This old guy seems to have no problem reaching the fourth-tier profession."
Then his gaze turned to Old Peter, and he sighed helplessly, "This old guy's personal attributes have slightly improved, but he can no longer advance in his profession. It's a dead end for him unless he's willing to abandon his current profession and change to another. There might be a possibility of reaching the fifth-tier then."
Sean sighed twice, expressing slightly different emotions before and after.
"This is the territory of Tindes," Durun took out a map and checked it, then confirmed, "If it weren't for you, Sean, I'm afraid we wouldn't have made it here alive. Now Mr. Harvey and the others are planning to return to Tindesburg. If you have nowhere else to go, you can come with us."
Tindesburg?
Immediately, Sean recalled some information about this territory, and then he remembered that it was not particularly safe. Viscount Pero, the lord of Tindes, was a jovial old man, and the territory flourished under his management.
However, it was later seized by his younger brother, Count Mario, who took over the land and title. The Pero lineage had almost been wiped out.
The King of the Kingdom of Portoroa naturally sent people to investigate the matter, but Count Mario's methods were clean, without any evidence.
If it weren't for many players joining Count Mario's camp and posting about the incident on the forum, no one would have known.
Thinking of these things, Sean felt a touch of sorrow when he looked at Durun and Harvey.
According to the game's plot, Viscount Pero's son was killed by a group of mountain bandits while returning home with a polar silver merchant caravan.
Viscount Pero was greatly affected and died due to the outbreak of the Dragonfire Poison. Of course, as a player, Sean knew very well that Count Mario intentionally detonated the
Dragonfire Poison on Viscount Pero, or else Viscount Pero could have lived for another four or five years. But after Viscount Pero's death, Tindesburg naturally changed hands.
At this moment, Durun and Harvey were still alive and well, which was different from the development of the plot.
Sean couldn't help but speculate if he, this small butterfly, had begun to cause a tornado.
However, he didn't hear about anyone receiving a mission to escort Durun back to his country in the game.
Various thoughts flashed through Sean's mind.
Sean seemed to have made a decision in his heart, "The Iceheart Grass alone cannot cure the Dragonfire Poison."
Durun had initially invited Sean to return to Tindesburg with him, but Sean inexplicably uttered these words. The others didn't quite understand, but the expressions on Harvey's and Durun's faces suddenly changed.
"You... " Durun's face had regained the aristocratic arrogance after leaving the forest, but at this moment, it turned into a look of shock, and he instinctively pressed his abdomen. "How do you know?... No, who are you?"
This series of changes caught everyone off guard, and they had no idea what had happened.
Then they remembered that whenever Durun was in the Starfall Forest, he always held his abdomen, but they had assumed it was due to discomfort from not being accustomed to such hardships. Now they understood that it was something else entirely.
"Iceheart Grass can indeed cure the Dragonfire Poison, but only in the early stages," Sean replied, ignoring Durun's question. "But Viscount Pero's condition is already advanced, and Iceheart Grass alone won't work. It can only temporarily suppress the Dragonfire Poison."
Upon hearing Sean calmly utter these words, Durun's inner turmoil grew. The Iceheart Grass he had spent years searching for was now useless, leaving him feeling deeply disappointed and as if all his efforts had been in vain.
However, Durun was a resolute person, and upon hearing Sean's seemingly casual words, a glimmer of hope sparked within him.
Durun's attitude underwent a drastic change, and he said with utmost respect, "Mr. Sean, please tell me what I should do."
"If you can gather Snow Fluid, Frozen Ice Elixir, and a fifth-tier Water Elemental Core Crystal, then go to the Northern Solitary Tower and find the Grand Alchemist Floy. Ask him to concoct a bottle of Frost Crystal Dragon Breath Elixir for you,"
Sean casually mentioned. "Oh, the three I mentioned are the main ingredients of the Frost Crystal Dragon Breath Elixir. Obtaining the other materials won't be a problem, and you can even buy them from the Northern Solitary Tower, especially with your wealth and Mr. Harvey's identity as a Polar Silver Merchant."
The Frost Crystal Dragon Breath Elixir was a highly advanced alchemical potion, but its effects were not for healing or protection. It was used for attacking and destruction.
One standard dose of the elixir could temporarily enchant a hundred weapons, and the enchantment effect was incredibly powerful, simply put, it added fifty points of ice attribute damage, making it the strongest enchantment potion.
If thrown directly, even a sixth-tier professional would instantly freeze into an ice sculpture, unable to resist.
"But this elixir..." Durun seemed to have heard about it before, and his expression became somewhat peculiar.
"If you were to directly administer a bottle to your father, he would undoubtedly die,"
Sean shrugged and straightforwardly explained. "One standard dose can be divided into a hundred drops. Dilute each drop into a hundred portions, and drink one portion before each meal. Less is acceptable, but never exceed the recommended dosage. If you take less, it will only prolong the treatment, but if you take more, it will cost him his life."
"How do you know all this?" Durun's face showed surprise.
Sean smiled and didn't intend to answer that question. He couldn't possibly say that this was a method invented by players to specifically treat NPC characters affected by Dragonfire Poison, right? Who among Durun and the others would know what NPCs are?
Seeing that Sean had no intention of answering, Durun couldn't help but recall their initial meeting, where Sean's impeccable demeanor and etiquette surpassed his own.
Furthermore, Sean's commanding ability and presence displayed in the Starfall Forest were beyond his reach. All of this seemed to indicate Sean's extraordinary nature.
Considering these factors and Cecilia's consistent behavior, which clearly indicated her noble status, Durun felt that he had gained some understanding of Sean's identity: he was indeed a young man, lacking in mature temperament.
Perhaps he had inadvertently revealed many flaws along the way, unbeknownst to him.
"Since Mr. Sean is unwilling to reveal it, I won't ask further," Durun showed even more politeness towards Sean. "I wonder if Mr. Sean is willing to accompany us back to Tindesburg?"
"I won't go to Tindesburg. Cecilia and I have some matters to attend to," Sean politely declined with a smile. "Moreover, we won't stay within the Kingdom of Portoroa for too long. We'll probably be returning soon... Mr. Harvey, please don't forget about the 10,000 gold coins for the Pan-Continental Mercenary Guild."
"Naturally, naturally," Harvey, observing Durun's politeness towards Sean and Sean's behavior along the way, naturally became more courteous as well.
"By the way," Sean seemed to have suddenly remembered something and spoke up, "Mr. Durun, remember to be careful of your uncle. And Mr. Harvey, don't hold any expectations for your caravan."
Upon hearing this, both Durun and Harvey were shocked, wearing expressions of disbelief.
However, Sean had no intention of staying and continuing the conversation.
Since his butterfly had already flapped its wings and altered the course of events slightly, he might as well completely change the direction of this plot.
However, that would be the extent of his involvement. He had no interest in getting entangled in these matters because he had many other things to do while he was in the Kingdom of Portoroa.
And the first and most important thing was to help Cecilia become a formal mage!