After Maisie and her team gathered the necessary supplies and equipment for the mission, they met in Polat's safe room in the late afternoon. This studio apartment-style room was quite spacious. While everyone sipped their hot drinks, Polat touched a point on his wristband, projecting a digital map onto the coffee table.
The map showed the town of Lonepeak and its surroundings, but no one except Polat paid any attention to map. Because they were constantly trying to open another map by touching their own wristbands.
- Don't bother. Your wristbands don't have maps. You can't open a map unless you buy one.
- (Asena) Buy one? But we paid for these wristbands. How can there be no maps? Our wristbands don't have maps, but yours does. This isn't fair.
- For now, your wristbands are only for entering your safe room. But when we go to the second safe zone, you can get some add-ins from there and add them to your wristbands. This includes a map.
- (Maisie) Polat, as you know, we're playing the primitive world for the first time. We have no knowledge of this world. My brother Atalay said a few things, but it would still be best if you helped us.
- Of course, My Lady. Serdar and I are here to help you. You can trust us.
- Okay. (Maisie showed her bracelet, which was slightly wider than her watch strap.) So, the first thing I want to learn is about these bracelets. What are their features? How are they used?
- Actually, these are identity cards given to every player. They also have upgradeable features. Of course, to upgrade them, you need to reach the next safe zone. We'll rent a new safe room there. As a feature of your new room, the upgradeable features of your bracelets will be unlocked. And after that, in each new zone, the features of the bracelets will continue to improve.
- (Asena) What do you mean? Do we have to rent a new room in every town we go to? This is a complete money trap.
- Safe rooms are actually the starting points of the game. When you entered the game, you saw an option, right? So, you wouldn't want to keep starting from the first zone to get to the fifth zone.
- (Asena) You're right. Choosing starting points makes our job easier, but it's not right that they're selling it for money.
- Don't worry, every time you move to a new zone, you'll be rewarded with three times the amount of gold from the previous zone as a discovery reward. This way you can also buy some things you need.
- (Serdar immediately started calculating how much gold Polat had earned.) Polat, you went all the way to the fifth zone, right? (Polat nodded in confirmation.) Then, the first zone was 60 gold, the second zone 180 gold, the third zone 540 gold, the fourth zone… (he thought for a while) 1620 gold, the fifth zone… … … I couldn't figure out how much gold it was.
- (Maisie) 4860 gold.
- (Asena) If we add it all up, it amounts a lot of gold. Polat! It seems you're quite rich. So, it's not surprising that you pulled out 250 gold and gave it to her at once.
- I don't understand why you brought up my gold. But rest assured, this gold isn't enough to advance to the next safe zone. I collected about 7200 gold, but even after spending 6500, I couldn't get to the sixth zone. Ultimately, money is worthless compared to personal skill.
- (Maisie) Let's not digress and focus the quest ahead of us.
- (Asena) Yes. As my Lady said, let's focus on the mission. I'm sure Polat has done this mission before. Let's listen to him…
- No, I haven't done such a mission. This mission is a first for me, as it is for you. In fact, I've never heard of anyone else doing such a mission.
- (Maisie asked excitedly.) So… Is this… a mission just for us, exclusive to us?
- (Asena looked at the situation from a different angle.) If you haven't done such a mission before, how did you get to the second zone? I don't understand…
- You know this game is a competition. Everyone is competing with each other. In the primitive world, we're competing to see who can open up more areas. The shortest way to get to the second zone from here is to accompany a trade caravan or be someone's bodyguard. After all, it's very easy to get lost in this world without a map or a guide.
- (Serdar) He's right. You can see the mountains in the distance, but once you enter the forest, it will be all trees. How will you know that the mountain you want to reach is in the direction you're going? It's impossible unless you can see the sun or the stars.
- (Asena) You are talking so knowingly. I'm annoyed by both of you.
- (Maisie didn't give up on the quest because she would have a special story to tell her friends.) Asena! Calm down. Let's focus on the quest and examine this map carefully.
The digital map showed the map of Lonepeak town. The map was open in a circle with a 25 km radius centered on the town. All other areas were dark, as if painted black. They searched for Red Rock Mountain for a while and finally spotted it partially visible in the western part of the map. The mountain was in the exact opposite direction of the second safe zone.
- (Serdar, who reads the small print, was the first to speak.) There it is. About 22 km from the town. Only the tip of the mountain is visible. I don't understand why it's not all there.
- I told you, weren't you listening? Buying a map isn't something you can just easily spend gold on. I spent more than half of my reward money on a map of the first town, and I have no money left to buy a new weapon. That's why I struggled so much to get to the third safe town. I finally realized that in this game, improving yourself and your weapons should be your first priority.
- Okay, don't get mad. I just meant it would be better if a little more area was visible. This is the smallest map you can buy. 25 km. it had a radius and cost 100 gold. After getting this map, I didn't spend any money on other areas. I tried to explore and learn about the surroundings as much as possible and saved up gold. I also learned that the map would automatically open as I explored. (Polat zoomed in on the map of the second safe zone by scrolling the digital map. Instead of a complete circle, the visible parts of the map, showing only the areas Polat had explored, were much larger than the first town.) I wasted a lot of time in this second zone, but as you can see, I managed to unlock most of the map.
- (Asena spoke to Polat with a condescending look.) If you're done praising yourself, can we get back to the subject?
The room suddenly fell silent, and then they began to talk about the mission. Polat, knowing that Serdar was more experienced in adventure, left the responsibility entirely to Serdar. Since no one objected, they managed to create a plan for the red wolf hunting and red ore gathering mission based on Serdar's knowledge and experience.
…
They set off early the next morning. The sun hadn't risen yet. Polat and Serdar were carrying supplies and equipments while Maisie and Asena followed. As they reached the steep steps of the massive rock face, the sun began to cast its first rays.
Their pace quickened with the sunrise, and after about four hours, they arrived at the foothills of Red Rock Mountain. Leaving the main road and entering the path leading up the mountain, Polat opened his map, and together they checked to make sure they were in the right place.
On the map, Polat's location was highlighted in blue, while Maisie, Asena, and Serdar's locations were in red. Besides these, there were a few moving yellow dots.
- (Asena) What are these flashing dots? I didn't see anything like this when we looked yesterday.
- This blue dot shows my location. The red dots next to it are your locations. These moving yellow dots are markers showing the locations of the animals. But remember, these markers don't work within the safe zone.
- Great! This map shows everything. I want one too. Let's finish the mission and then immediately go to the second safe zone.
- Asena! It's not what you think. Unfortunately, these maps don't show everything. You can only see what's within 100 meters of your current location. Things further away, underground creatures, and flying creatures are not visible on the map. But you can buy a more advanced map for a lot of money.
- (Maisie) Polat, why are we red when you're blue? Shouldn't we be blue too?
- Because you're not on my friends list, my map marks you as potential enemies. But once your personal bracelets are upgraded, we can all act as a team. Then your red color here will change to green.
- (Serdar) I don't want to change the subject, but the yellow dots behind us are starting to multiply. If these animals are gathering for us, it's quite dangerous to stay here. I think it's best we leave here as soon as possible.
Serdar's warning made everyone turn their gaze to the road behind them, but they couldn't see what the animals gathering were because of the bushes and trees along the roadside. The thought of an unknown group of animals attacking made everyone nervous, so they entered the wooded area at the foot of the mountain without hesitation.
…
Alpkutay got out of bed around noon. He never got up early, anyway. Looking out the window of his room, he saw one of his men waiting by the fountain in the town square, his travel bag packed and his sword strapped on.
When "Where is the other?" he muttered, the thought suddenly occurring to him that Maisie might have received her first assignment. The other man must have gone after Maisie. After a moment's hesitation, the desire to be near Maisie and help her filled his heart with excitement.
Without hesitation, he quickly changed his clothes, strapped on his sword, fastened his dagger to his belt, and then left his room, walking briskly to the man waiting in the town square.
- Hello Sencer. Why are you alone? Where is Arat?
- (Sencer greeting in bowed.) Welcome, Your Majesty. As you ordered, we are following Lady Maisie. Yesterday they visited several shops and bought the necessary supplies and equipment, and returned to the Durinn Inn. They did not leave the inn until morning." But early in the morning, Lady Maisie and her team left the Durinn Inn and headed towards Red Rock Mountain. Arat is following them closely.
They most likely went there on a mission. I asked around and investigated, but I couldn't find any information about what the mission was. Nevertheless, I made my preparations and decided to wait here to inform you.
- (Alpkutay was pleased that his suspicions were correct, but then immediately became angry at Sencer for giving him the news so late.) Why didn't you inform me earlier? Because of you, I missed the chance to go on the mission with Maisie.
- Sir, I couldn't come to your room because you said "don't disturb me while I'm in my room," but I tried to inform you by sending a message to your personal bracelet.
- (Alpkutay suddenly remembered his bracelet. Since he hadn't looked at his bracelet, he couldn't get any angrier at Sencer.) Okay, be more careful next time.
- (Sencer bowed.) Yes, sir.
- Where are they now?
- (Sencer opened the map on his wristband and showed the flickering green light and the four red dots about 100 meters ahead of the green light.) Your Majesty, there they are. They have reached the foot of the Red Rock Mountain.
- They are very far away. By the time we get there, they will have completed their mission. (He added in disappointment.) We will have to wait.
- Your Majesty, I have prepared horses below for the journey. If you wish, we can go quickly. It will take about an hour, but I still think we can catch up with Lady Maisie before she finishes her quest.
- Really? Well then, let's not linger here and set off immediately.
…
At the first top of the stairs leading to the town, a large office had been set up to ensure security and conduct trade with other towns. After sending Arat, Sencer rented two horses from the merchants' guild office here, just in case.
A little later, Alpkutay and Sencer mounted the horses provided by the merchants' guild and set off toward Red Rock Mountain...