After finishing their meals, the group leaned back in their seats, satisfied and re-energized. The smashed table from earlier had been replaced by an ornate, polished one, and the food served this time was leagues above what they'd initially been given. Juicy roasted meats, rich stews, and fresh-baked bread had filled their plates, a clear testament to the inn's true capabilities.
Marcus tore into a thick slab of meat with unrestrained enthusiasm, grease dripping down his chin. "Motherfucker," he growled between bites, glaring at the manager who stood nervously nearby. "You should be hanged for hiding this food from me before. Do you know how much suffering you caused my stomach?"
The inn manager wrung his hands anxiously. "We deeply regret any inconvenience, sir," he said, bowing his head. "We had no idea you were such esteemed warriors. Please accept our sincerest apologies."
Sophia raised an eyebrow at the manager's groveling. "Warriors?" she muttered, glancing at the others.
Marcus leaned toward Eleanor, a smug grin on his face. "See? I told you. These NPCs are programmed to fear strong players. All we had to do was flex a little, and now they're rolling out the red carpet."
Eleanor, sitting stiffly beside him, gave a small nod. "It does seem that way," she admitted. "Though we should tread carefully. We still don't fully understand the mechanics of this world."
Jason adjusted his shirt, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "If they're treating us like high-ranking warriors, we might be able to leverage that for information. This could work in our favor."
The other patrons returned to their meals, though occasional glances were still cast in their direction.
After a while, Liam who was the last to finish placed his fork down and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "We need to decide on our next move," he said, his tone serious.
Sophia, who had been sitting closely beside him, nodded. "The sooner we figure out how to activate our systems, the sooner we can leave."
Marcus slammed his goblet on the table, his expression determined. "Then it's settled. We need to hunt down some beasts, kill them, and get those crystals."
Jason frowned slightly. "It's not just about killing beasts, though. Absorbing those crystals is… risky." His gaze flickered toward Liam. "We still don't know if the rest of us will survive the process."
Liam shrugged, his expression unreadable. "We don't have a choice. If you want to get out of here, you'll have to take the same risk I did."
Eleanor leaned forward, her gray eyes sharp. "Then our next step is clear. We need to find a location where beasts are abundant."
Marcus grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Leave that to me." He raised his hand, gesturing for the inn manager to approach.
The manager hurried over, bowing slightly. "How can I assist you, sir?"
Marcus gestured toward the group. "We're looking for beasts. Big ones, small ones, doesn't matter. Point us in the right direction."
The manager's face paled slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "There's a forest about half a day's journey from here," he said. "It's known to be teeming with creatures of all kinds. I can have one of my workers guide you there, if you'd like."
Marcus nodded, satisfied. "Good. And we'll need our carriage back."
"Of course, sir," the manager said with a nod. "I'll have it prepared for you immediately."
As the group began gathering their things, the manager slipped away, a sly smile on his face. He made his way to the back of the inn, where the voluptuous elf woman from earlier was waiting.
The elf leaned casually against a wooden pillar, her revealing outfit leaving little to the imagination. Her green eyes sparkled mischievously as the manager approached.
"You called for me?" she asked, her voice smooth and sultry.
The manager nodded, lowering his voice. "You'll be the one guiding them to the forest."
The elf tilted her head, her pointed ears twitching slightly. "And why, pray tell, do I have to do this?"
The manager smirked. "Because you're the best at… distractions. Your charm will keep them off guard. Focus on seducing the handsome one."
The elf raised an eyebrow. "The handsome one? You mean the brooding one with the piercing eyes?"
"That's the one," the manager confirmed, rubbing his hands together.
The elf sighed, brushing a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "I don't know if that's the best idea," she said, her tone skeptical.
The manager frowned. "What do you mean?"
She crossed her arms, her ample chest pressing against her top. "That guy already has a woman glued to his side," she explained. "The blonde one with the killer body. You think I can compete with that? He barely even glanced at me earlier, and I was practically throwing myself at him."
The manager's frown deepened. "Are you saying you can't do it?"
"I'm saying it would be a waste of time," the elf replied. "If you want me to seduce one of them, make it the loud-mouthed one who keeps stuffing his face with meat. At least he seems like he'd be interested."
The manager rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Marcus, huh?"
The elf nodded. "Exactly. That guy seems easy enough to handle. Leave the quiet one to his blonde."
The manager shook his head, "That won't do, you need to seduce the handsome one, I think they call him Liam. He is the strongest of them and if we can get him to connect with you then our inn's security will increase by an entire level."
The elf smirked, her green eyes gleaming. "And what if I can't"
"You can't fail Sera, you need to get him to our side, even if it means doing anything necessary." The last word he said had a meaning and Sera understand what he meant instantly.
The group stood outside the inn, waiting for the carriage to be brought around. The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the bustling town square. Liam leaned against a wooden post, arms crossed, while Marcus and Jason argued over who would drive the carriage this time.
"I'm telling you, you nearly killed us last time!" Marcus accused, pointing a finger at Jason.
Jason rolled his eyes. "And you'd be better? You can't even walk straight after a meal, let alone handle a horse."
Eleanor, as usual, stood a few steps away, arms folded and observing them with mild amusement. Sophia, on the other hand, was keeping close to Liam, occasionally glancing around as if on alert.
Suddenly, the inn door creaked open, and out stepped a figure that caught everyone's attention.
It was the elf woman, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders, framing her sharp features and vibrant green eyes. Her outfit was as revealing as ever, emphasizing her hourglass figure. She carried herself with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, her hips swaying as she approached the group.
The group stared at her in stunned silence for a moment before Marcus broke it. "Well, hello there."
The elf smirked. "I'm Sera. The innkeeper has tasked me with guiding you to the forest. I'll ensure you don't get yourselves killed."
Sophia's eyes narrowed into a glare, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Lovely," she muttered under her breath.
Liam, however, didn't seem to notice the tension. He simply nodded at Sera. "Thanks for helping us out."
Sera's gaze lingered on him, her smirk widening. "Oh, it's my pleasure."
Moments later, the carriage arrived, pulled by a sturdy horse. Jason climbed into the driver's seat, taking the reins with a look of determination.
"I've got this," he declared.
Marcus groaned. "We're doomed."
The rest of the group piled into the carriage, which was spacious enough to fit them comfortably—barely. Liam found himself seated in the middle, with Sera to his left and Sophia to his right.
As the carriage began to move, Jason's lack of driving experience quickly became apparent. The wheels hit every pothole in the road, causing the group to jolt and bounce in their seats.
"Jason!" Marcus shouted from the back. "What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to kill us?"
"It's not my fault this road is terrible!" Jason shot back, gripping the reins tightly.
Sophia clung to her seat for stability, her annoyance growing with each bump. "Could you at least try to avoid the holes?"
"I'm doing my best!" Jason snapped.
Meanwhile, Sera used the chaos to her advantage. Each time the carriage jolted, she leaned into Liam, her body pressing against his side. At first, it seemed incidental, but as it continued, the "mistakes" became more deliberate.
"Oh, sorry," Sera said sweetly after one particularly rough bump, her hand resting on Liam's chest. "These roads are just awful."
Sophia shot her a withering glare. "Maybe if you held onto the side of the carriage like the rest of us, you wouldn't keep falling."
Sera ignored her, her focus entirely on Liam. At one point, the carriage hit a deep pothole, causing Sera to grab Liam's hand for balance.
"Oh, dear," she said, her voice dripping with faux innocence as she guided his hand to her chest. "I didn't mean to—"
Sophia's patience snapped. She yanked Liam's hand away and pushed Sera back into her seat. "Watch where you're going," Sophia hissed.
Sera chuckled, unbothered by the hostility. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm just trying to stay steady."
Liam, caught in the middle of the tension, sighed. "Can we focus on getting to the forest without any more drama?"
The carriage lurched again, and Marcus groaned loudly. "Jason, I swear, if you don't learn how to drive, I'm taking over!"
"Who's gonna teach me? Idiot." Jason rolled his eyes but kept his focus on the road. "Feel free to try, but I doubt you'd do any better."