16 Nick, attentive and careful (2/2)

He looked gently, but carefully at a stranger.

Now there was enough light to have a good look at Valerie.

Nick looked at her and remembered some of the girls he knew from his past life. They had served with him.

Very short hair, like a boy's, didn't hide small, neat ears. Brown eyes look serious. The girl is strong. A fitness coach? She knows how to command. She must have had some special bitches among her clients. Valerie knows how to command.

And she made her choice. It's a weird choice. She got in touch with a local. Everybody needs Stefan. Let's see what happens.

Nick realized he couldn't hurry with this young woman.

John was on top of it! The shaggy funny guy and the joker were making fun of the clan fighters.

Turin, Velida and three newcomers were sitting next to one side of the big table.

There was a celebratory atmosphere in the hall. The cups were filled up once again.

Michael nodded at Nick and came up from his seat, the conversation was quiet.

\”Friends, we came into this world quite some time ago.

But we already have our own home, and today we are celebrating two great events.

We have won the first victory in this world. We defeated an enemy who seemed stronger than us.

And today we will be joined by five new clan members.\”

Nick was surprised, \”Five?\”

\”Everyone knows how Turin and Velida helped us. The rest of them we're going to meet now. Please introduce yourself, names and levels will be enough.\”

Michael sat down.

Nick doesn't understand this moment, Michael's going to be accepted into the Clan of Non-playing Characters? Is this possible?

Nick thought Michael was making the right decisions. These decisions are good for everyone and everyone likes them. But he makes the decisions alone. He's not looking for popularity or recognition, he's probably developing his Diplomacy skills. Well done, he's got a right. But Nick doesn't always like what he does.

A tall guy is rising up in lightweight leather armor with a solid body.

\”Alan, level 4.\”

Next up came up a pretty young woman with short blond hair and a pretty face.

\”Valerie, level 4.\”

\”Stefan, warrior, level 25. Coach of the Battle Wing of the Clan.\”

A bearded man with grey hair came up and introduced himself. He looked like he was in his 40s. His eyes looked at everyone with a strange expression of forgiveness and caring kindness. He looked at the players like they were children. Now his hands rested on the edge of the table, helping him to keep his balance.

Nick thought that the clan had 'Battle Wing'.

Michael smiled and continued in a ceremonial tone:

\”Thank you, sit down. I will now introduce myself and introduce others. My name is Michael, I am the head and leader of the Phoenix Clan. The class of soldier. Level 19.

Alexander. Head of the clan's battle wing. Class warrior. Level 18.

Leo. A fighter. Class Knight. Level 17.

Tom. Fighter. Class warrior. Level 17.

Ron. Head of Support for the Clan Battle Wing. Spiritualist class. Level 17.

Gandalf. Support. Class Mage. Level 15.

Jim. Craftsmanship wing of the clan. Class blacksmith. Level 14.

\”Have you got any trophies? We're waiting for you. The firm of Turin and Sons will leave you without pants, but with a clean conscience, not burdened with money,\” said John quietly.

The dwarf covered his mouth with his palm and barely contained himself so he wouldn't laugh.

Most people at the table were laughing and snorting.

\”Nick. The clan's scouting wing. Class Scout. Head of the clan trade office. Level 17.

John. Clan Scout. Assassin class. Level 18.

\”A bald clown who disguises his baldness as high hair,\” added Jim. \”Nick's partner. Baloney and circus show at any time of day or night. Due to their characteristics, they appear suddenly and disappear without a trace.\”

Dan. The Research Department. Class Inquisitor. Level 17.

\”Wise, but desperate type. Rumor has it he loves fires and carries around a lot of burning material. Was spotted at one of these events, starring,\” said Nick.

Michael, smiling, saluted the cup to the newcomers:

\”Welcome to our friendly and slightly crazy clan.\”

The system's message was shaken and the clan grew by five.

A roar of approval swooped down the hall, and the cups were caught.

\”Oh, yes, in the afternoon, everyone but the craftsmen, gather in the council room. Dan has some interesting information,\” said Michael went up again.

At the table began a conversation about Dor. Stefan talked about this small town of five thousand people. A caravan came from this town. They sat there for about an hour. Then they thanked Velida and started to split up. Valerie and Gandalf stayed to help clean up. Jim and Turin went back to the blacksmith shop.

Everyone else went up to the council room. When everyone settled down, Dan pulled out his sword. The Inquisitor spoke softly, but his words made everyone listen carefully. At the end of the story, there was silence in the room. People were thinking about what they heard.

\”How will the subordination process take place, is it not in the description?\” asked Alexander.

\”No, but I have an 'Influence' in my sword characteristics while there's a '0',\” replied Dan.

\”Well, that's good, at least we'll know when. Is that it?\”

\”Yeah, that's all I found out, I told you.\”

\”Okay, then we are separating, it's a rest day, but if anyone has a desire to exercise, I'm waiting for you at the new sports ground,\” Alexander got up.

\”Sorry, I was late,\” said Valerie entered the hall.

\”It's all right, have a seat,\” replied Michael politely. \”Everyone but the newcomers can be free. Scout, hold on a few minutes.\”

\”I knew it,\” mourned John the grief grimace.

Dan gave Alan and Valerie two thin notebooks:

\”These are the initial guides to this world for you. Study them in detail and give them back to me.\”

\”Bestiary, Hyde? Is there no reference here?\” asked Valerie wonderfully.

\”There's nothing here. Read and remember, for these pages, each of us have admired the Hall of Rebirth more than once,\” answered Michael.

\”How beautifully painted.\”

\”You can go and study books. Soon we'll help you safely reach level 10. You can choose your basic class,\” said the leader.

When they left the hall, his gaze turned to the scouts.

\”Tomorrow you go to the village and for a week you go to the local hunters.\”

\”We already wanted to go there today,\” said John.

\”Well done, you go today. Give the local hunters a good shake for werewolf information. He's our next target. Nick, try not to have any extra business with the village head. We don't need any extra quests yet.\”

\”We'll be quiet and invisible,\” hummed Nick.

\”Also explore at least a couple of locations on a darkened map near the village.

The monsters shouldn't be too high level there. We need to quickly develop the level of beginners to class.\”

\”Not too high? In the woods? Before we kill werewolves? Do you believe that?\” Nick hummed.

\”I really hope so. It's desirable to find a location with normal skeletons.\”

\”Let's try to find some not very strong monsters,\” Nick said and turned to the Inquisitor. \”Dan, now you, give me your wishes. I can see that you want to put more weight on the scout's delicate shoulders.\”

\”First this,\” the Inquisitor gave the scout a piece of paper.

\”Circle dotted lines, and this is like a village. What's that?\”

\”These are the movements of a werewolf and another monster's quest mark. They were waiting for the caravan. Look at the map, there must be a lair of creatures in the center of the circle, it's highly desirable to find it.\”

\”Wait, Dan! You think there'll be two creatures waiting for us?\”

\”I'm sure of it. What the elite are capable of, you know. That's why I'm asking you to explore the area. If you can find one of the creatures in the lair, it's just a gift from fate.\”

\”A heavy wooden shield covers the entrance and inside the lair we throw fire,\” smiled Nick. \”Dan, you're getting a bad tendency.\”

\”Do you prefer to fight the creatures in the woods?\”

\”No, of course not. It's just, you know, it's the wolf we took from the hole. What makes you think werewolves have the same habits?\”

\”No reason, Nick. I just hope so.\”

\”What's the second lap with the markings?\”

\”Do you remember the player who became a werewolf? By all accounts, he found an object similar to my sword. We didn't find a cursed object on the body. So it's in the lair of the creature. Do a good search of the place where you found the remains of Turin's daughter. Perhaps he had a lair nearby.\”

\”And what do you suggest we do when we find him? I'm telling you, I'm not going anywhere near artifacts like this,\” said Nick and shook his head.

\”In the village, buy a small equipment chest for a limited amount of weight. It weighs little itself and is free to go into inventory. Michael was checking it out. There are a lot of parts in the game that has not been worked out and as long as you can, you should use it. Buy a pair of pincers in the village from the smith. If you find the cursed thing without touching it with your hands, put it in the chest. Then deliver the chest to the castle, and we'll hide the cursed artifact in a stash.\”

\”I don't want to criticize you, Dan. But what you're proposing hasn't been tested. I don't want to become a monster and be the target of your future hunting,\” roared John a frown.

\”Just give it a try! If you can't, block the entrance more securely. You understand, John, while this nasty thing's laying around the village, there's a chance it'll be stumbled upon by some hunters! Then we'll have a new werewolf. When you met that player, he was on a small level. It's been literally two days and he's scored over 10. Do you have any idea what happens if you let that thing walk for a couple weeks? At least just find a lair and let me know, I'll do it myself.\”

\”Stop! Dan, this is the right thing to do,\” said Nick calmly. \”No disrespect, Dan, but you judge as an expert. You've got the Spirit around 100 already. The Spirit increases the rate of regeneration of life and mana. A high level of spirit allows you to confront high-level enemies. John and I have no great Spirit. You can work with cursed artifacts. For the rest of us, they are at high risk. We won't take any chances in this case. We're going to look for a lair. And we will call you to do your job.\”

\”I understand everything and I'm not offended. Perhaps my theory is wrong. And there's another way to turn a monster. Then all I said about the effect of the cursed artifact was nonsense. But for our peace of mind, just look for the lair and if you do, lead me to it.\”

\”As long as you weren't wrong,\” noticed Nick.

\”That's the only way it looks,\” laughed Dan.

\”All right, inquisitor, Leader, we'll be very careful and watchful,\” said Nick and nodded to a friend on the way out.

They had a lot of new business and a couple of questions they had to discuss in private.