The sun hung high in the sky as the party of three gathered near the southern plaza of Highvale. Liam unrolled the quest scroll, reading its contents aloud.
"Alright, the shipment was supposed to come from Southpoint, but it never made it. We can't just go wandering. We need leads," he said, folding the parchment.
Mia stretched her arms and glanced around. "So what do we do? Ask random passersby?"
Liam shook his head. "Let's split up for now. I'll take Vix and check with the local law enforcement—guards might've received reports. You two can try the tavern. People talk more freely after a few drinks."
Aria nodded. "Makes sense. Come on, Mia."
Liam made his way to the outer post, where a few guards lounged beneath a stone archway. Their armor bore the faded sigil of Highvale's watch, and they looked only mildly interested as Liam approached. Vix padded beside him, alert but calm.
"You lost or looking for trouble?" one of the younger guards grunted, leaning lazily against a spear.
"Neither," Liam replied evenly. "I'm looking for information. I'm an adventurer investigating a missing supply shipment from Southpoint. Thought maybe your patrols saw something."
The guards exchanged glances, unsure.
Before they could respond, a deep voice cut through. "What's this about a shipment?"
A sturdier man with a grizzled beard and sharp eyes stepped forward from a side corridor. His armor was a cut above the rest, marked with the insignia of a higher rank. "I'm Captain Werrick. Speak."
Liam gave a respectful nod. "Liam Carter. F-rank adventurer. We accepted a guild quest regarding a missing shipment from Southpoint. Heard there were signs of a wreck."
Werrick frowned. "There was a report three nights ago. Burnt cart, no bodies. We thought it was goblin work. Could be bandits."
"Any chance I can see that report? Or speak to the scout?"
Werrick gave him a measuring look. "You're new, aren't you?"
"Experienced," Liam replied with a small smile. "Just new to this timeline."
That got a chuckle from the captain. "Fair enough. You want leads? Talk to Patrolman Reeve near the stables. He's the one who found the wreck. Just don't go blaming the guards if things go south."
"Understood. Thanks, Captain."
Meanwhile, inside the smoky interior of the Bark and Barrel tavern, Aria and Mia entered with hesitant steps. The room buzzed with activity—laughter, clinking mugs, and the low murmur of gossip. An older bartender wiped down the counter without looking up as they approached.
"Excuse me," Aria said politely, "we're looking for information. About a supply shipment that never reached Highvale."
The bartender didn't stop wiping. "Don't know nothin'. Haven't heard nothin'."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "You're not even going to pretend to think about it?"
The man shrugged. "Lots of travelers. Lots of talk. I keep out of it."
Seeing the stonewalling, Aria sighed and led Mia toward an empty booth near the back. "Let's just listen. Someone in here must know something."
They ordered a simple cider each, and sat quietly, ears tuned to the conversations around them.
It wasn't long before two older men at a neighboring table began murmuring.
"I'm tellin' ya, Thom saw it with his own eyes," one whispered, hunched over his mug. "Figures in cloaks, dragging crates off into the woods. Not goblins. Not bandits. Somethin' else."
"The guards dismissed it," the other replied nervously. "But I've lived here thirty years. That stretch of trail's never felt right. Cursed, maybe."
Aria and Mia exchanged looks.
"That's the lead we need," Mia whispered.
Aria nodded. "Let's head back. Liam needs to hear this."
They reconvened near the south gate. Liam recounted what he'd learned, and Aria did the same.
"Looks like we should speak to Patrolman Reeve and explore the southpoint trail for clues,"
The Southpoint trail stretched like a worn ribbon through the rolling plains, flanked by gently swaying grasses and sparse trees. Here and there, carts trundled along, some with merchants, others carrying weary adventurers back from their own contracts.
As the group progressed down the road, Liam kept his eyes sharp.
"Alright, if a shipment was lost, we'll probably find signs of broken wheels, scorch marks, or maybe some leftover crates."
Mia walked a little behind, staff in hand. "Why are so many quests about missing shipments?"
Liam shrugged. "Because supply lines are what keep towns alive. And monsters like free loot."
They hadn't walked more than ten minutes before Vix stopped suddenly.
His ears perked. His head snapped toward the left, toward a gentle slope leading into a tree-covered hill.
"Aoo," he let out, tail stiff.
Ding!
[Void Sense Triggered: Hidden magical residue detected nearby.]
Liam blinked. "That's not part of the quest path."
"Want to check it out?" Aria asked.
"Let's detour. Keep your eyes peeled."
The trail led them to a shallow ditch, where cracked wheels and half-burnt wooden panels lay beneath a light layer of dirt and leaves.
"Found the shipment," Liam muttered. "Or what's left of it."
Aria crouched near the wreckage. "Scorch marks. Clean strikes. This wasn't monster work."
Mia pointed at the side of the hill. "There's a drag trail. Something—or someone—moved the crates."
Liam's expression hardened. "Cloaked figures. Magic residue. This wasn't a simple attack. Let's move out, keep eyes sharp."
Liam turned to Vix. "Can you go invisible and follow that path?"
Vix nodded, then shimmered and faded out of sight.
[Skill: Phantom's Embrace Activated.]
The party followed at a distance, letting Vix lead. After a few minutes, the path veered away from the trail entirely, winding through brush until it opened into a hidden grove.
And there—half-hidden under camouflaged tarps—were unopened crates bearing the seal of Southpoint Village.
"They've been stashed," Liam whispered.
"By who?" Mia asked.
Just then, Vix let out a soft growl.
From behind one of the trees, a cloaked figure emerged. His movements were swift, trained. He didn't notice them at first—until Aria's foot crunched a loose twig.
He spun, eyes wide, and immediately began to run.
"After him!" Liam shouted.
The chase began.
Through trees, underbrush, and tight winding paths, they followed. Vix reactivated invisibility and zipped ahead.
Liam vaulted over a log. "He's fast. Too fast for a regular thief."
Finally, they reached a rocky outcrop. The man slowed just enough to glance over his shoulder—only for Vix to pounce and knock him off-balance.
They tackled him together, forcing him to the ground.
"Who are you?!" Mia snapped, staff aimed.
The man snarled, eyes glowing faintly purple. Liam narrowed his gaze.
"That aura..."
Liam moved closer, her face tightening. "This isn't normal. That's dark energy. He's corrupted."
Ding!
[New Quest Unlocked: A Whisper of Rot (A-Rank)]
Quest Details: You've uncovered the presence of corruption near Highvale. The stolen shipment was a front for an underground smuggling ring spreading cursed artifacts and forbidden alchemy. Investigate the network and find the source.
Objectives:
Interrogate the captured smuggler and solve the corruption in Highvale city
Reward: ??? Difficulty: A-Rank
Quest Accepted!
Liam stepped back, brows drawn. "Well... so much for a simple delivery quest."
Liam was familiar with these kinds of quests. Just like the quest with escaping the Black Ember temple, quests like this were more often random and one off, with rewards that cannot be farmed.
Aria looked down at the prisoner, whose aura flickered erratically.
"We need to get him back to authorities. Fast."
Mia glanced at the sky. "I think this just got interesting."
Liam exhaled and nodded. "Let's drag him back. But stay alert. If he's corrupted, there may be more."
Vix trotted beside them silently, his eyes sharp and ears perked.
-----------------------------------------
On their way back, as they were nearing the city gates, Vix suddenly stopped.
His fur bristled. He let out a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down Liam's spine.
Ding!
[Void Sense Triggered: Imminent threat detected. Proximity: Close. Source: Unknown]
Liam's eyes narrowed. "Something's watching us—"
In the same instant, his vision flashed red.
Ding!
[You have taken 23,000 damage.]
[HP: 0]
[Ring of Protection (Epic) Activated – Lethal strike absorbed. HP restored to 1.]
A thunderous, invisible force slammed into his chest. Liam staggered backward and crumpled to the ground, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Liam!" Aria dropped to her knees beside him.
"Hang on, I've got you!" Mia's voice was panicked as her hands glowed with healing light.
[Healing Light Activated. +300 HP]
[Healing Light Activated. +300 HP]
His vision slowly cleared. Liam coughed, pain shooting through his ribs, but he was alive—barely.
"W-What the hell was that…" he muttered.
Aria scanned the trees, eyes fierce. "I didn't see anyone. That wasn't a monster—it was too precise."
Mia was already preparing another spell when Liam raised a hand as he took a healing potion. "Stop... I'm okay."
Then, from the edge of his vision, movement.
Liam's head turned slowly—and caught the fleeting silhouette of a figure cloaked in black, darting between the trees, vanishing into the shadows with unnatural grace.
"There!" he hissed. "Someone's running!"
But by the time Aria and Mia turned to look, the figure was already gone.
Liam sat upright fully, his heart pounding. "That wasn't just an ambush. That was an assassination."
Vix remained tense, staring in the same direction the figure had gone, his tail stiff as stone.
"Someone knew we'd be coming back this way," Liam growled. "And they didn't want our prisoner reaching the city."
"What should we do now?"
"We cannot chase them. Let's hurry back to the city. We need to find more about who or what we are facing."