Molly Howns sat with her close clan members inside a small building. They rented it through joint efforts for very large money, while buying a building no one could afford yet. Exchange of in-game currency for real hadn't been introduced yet, and no one knew if they would do it at all: developers kept this secret for now.
That's why it was so hard for them. All those inside had gloomy faces. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. People were tense just because of one thing. A unique quest.
One of them accidentally fulfilled conditions for receiving it, but the task was incredibly difficult. Somewhere on some floor they needed to find a person named Ricky Armastrus.
An old wizard who could point them to a closed cave. Without his hint, finding it would be simply impossible. In this cave, according to the quest, stood a jug that once belonged to one of nine knights of light.
The search area was so huge that nothing remained except to clench fists in powerlessness.
"Enough! In any case, no one else will get this quest now. Unique quests are one-time only, meaning we'll just patiently search. No point wasting time on thinking. Chameleon," Grey Cardinal addressed the player who received the quest: "You understand? Raise your level..." Here she stumbled, remembering recently seen rankings.
"Yeah..." someone drawled, understanding why their clan leader fell silent.
"You remembered that unknown player, right, Cardinal?"
That's right, she remembered this mysterious player. When she saw how he rushed through levels, she almost dropped her cup. Literally before her eyes, he gained three levels!
"Who would you need to kill to get so much experience? This isn't some joke." − With all this, he clearly played alone. As only his levels rose like some kind of dragon.
"Damn him!" Molly didn't deny his words. "Can anyone explain to me how this is possible? My only thought was that he somehow managed to kill a monster much, much higher than himself in level."
Concentrated faces were her answer. He was pulling ahead of everyone at simply incredible speed. Level thirty... Crimson Berserker had only nineteenth, and they were at fifteen-sixteen. This was unprecedented.
"Well, I've decided. Whoever finds me this player will get from me any item, weapon, skill book, of the highest rank. Proof must be video. Teinerk, pass this to the whole clan." She made a small pause, thinking, then continued: "That's all decided for today, and also, has anyone received news about the key?"
"No, forum is clean, no videos and not even comments, we have people combing forums for any mention of it."
"Clear, let them continue. We must be first. Let's end for today. When there's something new, we'll gather again."
Everyone dispersed, only Catalia remained — her friend who played as rogue.
"Molly, are you alright?" She smiled sweetly, patting her friend's shoulder.
"Mhm." When they were alone, she always turned into a simple girl, behind whom didn't stand the clan, rich parents and excellent connections. She remained such thanks to her childhood friend, who in reality was called Katrin. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I think you're too concerned about this player. You want to recruit him?"
"Of course." Determination splashed in her eyes: "I want him to play for our clan. You know how important talented players really are. With him we can overtake everyone."
"Maybe he just got lucky."
"We won't know until we find him."
"And what can you offer him? I think by the time we find him, the gap will be... I'm even afraid to imagine how big."
"Don't know yet..."