The ferry NPC looked concerned as he advised Cane not to throw his life away by going to meet the Journalist. But unfortunately for him, Cane needed that quest.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of throwing my life away. Now, please ferry me to the journalist's office."
Cane told the man, and the Ferry NPC had no choice but to do as he had been asked to. He could not go against his program, no matter how worried he looked.
As soon as Cane got off the ferry, the man decided to call out to him once more.
"Hey, it's still not too late. You should head back or choose another destination. I am here to take you away."
The man reminded Cane, but Cane just gave him a smile.
"No, it's fine. This is where I needed to come."
With no other choice left, the Ferry NPC finally left, and Cane took a step toward the journalist's office.
He jumped back as soon as he opened the door and just in time for an axe to fall where he had been standing seconds ago. Cane's heart skipped a beat as he avoided certain death.
"Hmm, excellent reflexes and fast decision-making skills. You pass my test. You can apply to be my assistant."
The journalist told Cane as he looked at him with interest. The axe at the door seemed to have been a test that Cane passed, but that was only because he knew that it could be a possible test he would have to face.
Anyone who walked in here blind-sighted would be caught in the trap.
Still, he was not here to become an assistant but to start an additional skill quest. So he coughed to catch the journalist's attention before he looked the man in the eyes.
"I am not here to apply to be your assistant. I am here because I have some news for you. Are you interested to hear me out? I promise it will be worth your while."
Cane asked, and the journalist made an annoyed expression.
"Ah, so you are one of 'those' people. You can see yourself out. I don't want anything to do with you. I know your kind well enough to know that any 'news' you bring me would only cause me trouble."
The man told Cane, shooing him out. According to his setting, he was a controversial figure who wrote trendy articles, and because of this, anyone with a political agenda usually wanted to recruit him to write for them.
Cane had been taken in as a similar kind of filth by this man. So it was up to him to clear the air.
"Mr. Journalist, the news I have brought you is not a political one. In fact, it is a topic you have been researching for some time now—the origin of the city. What if I tell you that I know a location that can give you more information?"
Cane asked, and the journalist paused before he gave Cane a searching look.
Whatever he wanted to see, he must have seen before he pulled back with a small laugh as he looked back.
"Alright, it seems like I was wrong about you after all. You do seem to know what you are doing, and your words have intrigued me as well. Very well. I will bite the bait you are laying out."
The man told Cane, and the system message popped up.
[Additional quest – The Truth of the Venace City is available. Would you like to start the quest?]
There was still time for Cane to back out if he needed to. This was a saving point for most people, and Cane chose to save the game as well before he accepted the quest.
He pressed accept, and the journalist gestured for Cane to follow him.
"Here, take these case files and study them. We will leave for the temple tomorrow. Is there anything you want me to prepare before that?"
The journalist asked, and Cane handed him a small list.
"Just get us some diving gear and simple food and stuff. Once we head out, we won't be able to return for some time. Oh, and get a warrior expert at fighting underwater as well if you could."
That was what the request required of Cane. They needed at least three people to enter the temple to safely clear it, according to the guide.
And even though it left a bad taste in his mouth, he would rather fulfill the requirement of the quest than try to brute-force it.
"An underwater fighter, huh—! It might be a little difficult for me to manage in such a short time, but I think I can get one."
The journalist spoke in a thinking voice, and Cane quickly provided him with a solution.
"You might be able to get someone at the adventurer's guild. I heard that some of their capable sea-fighters were to return around this time. If we are lucky, we might be able to catch them in time before they leave."
Cane told the journalist. That was the event that happened once this quest was triggered. It was done so in order to provide those who had no friends an opportunity to clear this quest as well.
Not that Cane knew that for certain.
But anyway, this worked in his favor, and the journalist he was talking to pulled his head back before letting out a loud laugh.
"Oh, I see. Say, you won't be in the information business as well, right? Then how about working for me? I promise I will pay you well in the future and also give you extremely useful benefits."
The journalist asked, and Cane quickly turned him down.
"Sorry, but I cannot do that. I have my own plans. Still, I will make sure to keep you informed. But first, let's take care of what we need to do, alright?"
Cane told the journalist, only for the NPC to give him a smile.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it all. And if what you say turns out to be true, I will make sure to reward you handsomely as well."