All players got excited as they read the message. They were expecting the first world event to be easy since it's barely been a week since the game came out. A lot of happy conversations could be heard as the players moved towards the town square.
"Let's go! I'm hoping I get… like 100 million gold coins or something!"
"That's it?! I hope I get an OP bow!"
"You guys aren't thinking right! We should all pray that we get an OP skill instead!"
Many conversations were about the reward. By hearing this, you would assume that they had already won.
As the people in the town square began to grow, the louder the chatter became. At one point some had to shout at each other just to hear one another. It wasn't until the mayor finally arrived that all the players began to settle down.
The mayor walks up to the podium and clears his throat, grabbing the attention of all players and NPC there. Once the crowd finally stops, he begins.
"Warriors, mercenaries and adventurers! Thank you for coming to my aid! With a gathering this huge, I believe that we can fight the monster cluster before it becomes a monster stampede!"
"ARGHHH!!"
A symphony of the warrior's and player's cry echoed throughout the town. Many believed that it would be easy too.
The mayor smiled and waited for them to settle down once more. Once they did, he continues.
"We must leave immediately before the problem grows! To make things easier, please group up and head out together to face the clusters! Also! Please return with these body parts as proof that you did in fact kill the monster!"
The mayor waved his hand and a shiny green light engulfed everyone. All the players were worried for a second until they all received a message.
"Ding! A list of body parts have been transferred to your mind with the Mind Transfer Advanced Rank skill!"
Everyone then understood that it came from the mayor. They all began looking through the list and making a note of what parts were needed as proof and how much they would be paid.
The excitement was at a boiling point when they saw the prices of the monsters. Some went for as low as one gold coin to some being worth over 50 gold coins each!
The thought of getting gold as well as the final reward had them all itching to start the event.
"Now, before we start. If you are an adventurer, you can receive extra receive rewards as well! Once everything is done, please meet with an official guild worker and there you will receive your compensation."
"Also! If you plan to work alone, please let me know! Those who choose to do so will be personally thanked by me!"
As he said this, another message appeared to all the players.
"Ding! If you wish to do this event alone, you will no longer be allowed to work with a team. If you work with a team, whether on purpose or on accident, you will not be rewarded in any form."
After everyone saw this message, they didn't even think about it anymore. The punishment was just to harsh for them. They also thought that there was no reason to chase the money. The potential reward from the event and the actual gold they'll make is already crazy enough.
"Okay! May the Man God protect you. Let us begin!"
-
Roman POV
"Please follow me sir. The mayor wishes to speak with you."
Right as I was about to leave, a maid appeared before me and asked me to follow her. I didn't want to honestly but a quest suddenly appeared.
*Mini Quest Unlocked!
Protect the mayor's son! Speak to the mayor to get more information.
Reward: 10,000 gold coins up front, another 10,000 if he survives!
"After you my lady."
I changed my mind instantly. That was a lot of starting money. As much as I wanted to try to solo this world event, I wanted to make as much money as possible. With this, the event rewards and the adventurers' reward I should have enough money to achieve what I want in the capital.
I followed the maid as she led me to an area behind the podium. Once we got behind the podium, a huge group was already gathered there. The mayor was standing before them.
"Ah, you must be Romeo! My son told me a lot about you!"
Huh? His son knows me? That can't be right.
As I scan the group, I saw someone that I didn't expect.
"Mr. Finny?"
Before I could speak to him, the mayor got to me first.
"Thank you for coming! Please, take this."
He tossed me a big heavy bag. The bag was filled with gold coins. I look up at him, surprised that he gave it to me in front of so many people. He just smiles and winks at me.
"Don't worry, everyone got paid. No one will say anything."
I look around and saw that he wasn't lying. Everyone here had a bag with them, the biggest difference was…
'My bag is way bigger than everyone else's!'
"Come on, let me fill you in on what I expect from everyone."
I join the group and the mayor begins.
"Now, your job is to still take out the clusters and keep this town safe. But I'm paying you guys out of my own pocket for another reason. I want you to protect my son during this."
"All nobles have to participate, I will also be in the up coming battle along side the Royal soldiers. Because of this, I won't be able to protect him. You guys were all chosen by my son so I hope that you can all live up to his expectations as well as mine. If he returns back safely, you will get the rest of your pay. If he doesn't."
The mayor stops and let's out his killing intent. Everyone immediately fell down on their knees, including myself.
'The killing intent of an Advanced Rank. It's to much for us.'
Everyone here was either Unranked or Beginner Rank. With a few being higher than that. No one could fight off the power of an Adavanced Rank. The mayor suddenly stopped his intent and smiled.
"I'm sure you guys will do your jobs though, even if it means a few small sacrifices."
All of us looked at one another. I'm sure we all had the same thought. The money wasn't worth it at this point if we had to sacrifice ourselves.
The mayor then claps his hands.
*CLAP* *CLAP*
"Now, I must go, my son will meet with you guys soon."
After the mayor says that he jumps up very high and lands on a nearby roof, he then begins running off into the distance. The mayor wasn't old but he wasn't young either. Seeing him run that fast really shocked us.
Once the mayor disappears, the group begins to mingle among ourselves. I didn't bother and walked right up to Mr. Finny.
"Mr. Finny? What are you doing here? Where's Mrs. Finny and Rose?"
Mr. Finny sees me and gives me a self deprecating laugh.
"I can't believe your here too. I'm kind of embarrassed haha…"
I look at him awkwardly. Why was he so flustered? Mr. Finny sighs and explained.
"My wife is exempt from participating since we have a young one at home and Rose, well I sent her off to the capital already, with those two kids you saved."
"I see…"
So it seems that he took the opportunity to make sure that his family was safe and didn't need to partake in the battle.
"But that doesn't explain why your here?"
"Ah, I'm actually here because I sent Rose away. The mayor was mad at me for trying to protect her when he asked for everyone to participate in the battle. So as punishment, he made me protect his son instead."
So that's why he's here. Well, at least I have someone here that I can trust. If I was just here alone then it would be hard to trust these people. They were all NPC so I wouldn't be surprised if they left us to die. At least with players, we all had a goal to work together towards.
As the two of us caught up with one another, a individual came forward and tried to get our attention.
"Be ready! Sir Ned is coming!"
Many of them got on one knee immediately. I didn't want to but I just followed. As we waited, a pair of footsteps could be heard coming towards us. I looked up and saw someone I knew. An NPC that I already met. That was when my memory triggered.
'Ah! Ned! The NPC that somehow teamed up with the players that I killed during the festival!'
-