290 Jacks Old Office (1/2)
'Oh… Then I'm coming. Give me a moment.'
A few minutes passed as Tralon finished his conversation with the two gods and dismissed himself.
”It took you long enough,” Jack joked as Tralon appeared in a flash of light. ”Let me guess, you took the time to memorize the location so you can go back after we're done?”
”Of course! That was the first time that I've been able to speak with people older than me! And with their breadth of knowledge and unique perspective, I can learn so much.”
”Did you ask them about your curse?”
Tralon shook his head, losing some of his excitement. ”They don't know of a cure.”
”I figured… I've already asked Sterfen, so I guess the only person left to ask is Daruun. I'll add that to my list,” Jack sighed. ”Anyways, I'm assuming you've got enough mana to take us to Gilga.”
”Sure, but don't you want to go to the storehouse?”
”Yes, but you won't have enough mana left to carry us through it,” replied Jack. ”Remember, we're only lv. 34 right now. With you, we'll just barely make it to the end so long as we're careful.”
”I forgot about that… Then I'll take you to Gilga. You can stay in the guild house as my guests for the night.”
”Are you sure we should do that? Would that cause trouble for you?”
”No, I'll be fine,” chuckled Tralon. ”Since your levels are concealed by your cloak, it will keep suspicions to a minimum. I'm sure some of the council members will be keeping tabs on us, but you can just change your appearance and store Bowzer away when we're in public. Maybe Argyle would work?”
”Not a bad idea.” With a laugh, Jack activated his cloak and became an Argyle look-alike. ”I'm sure my father-in-law won't complain since it's me falsifying his identity.”
”A perfect image. Well done. So, are you ready? We need to get a good night's rest if we want to storm the storehouse tomorrow.”
Jack turned to Bowzer. ”I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait in my ring till we get to our room. But once we're at the storehouse tomorrow, you'll be free to roam wherever you like.”
Bowzer pouted but did as Jack said. The fox walked toward Jack, obediently letting Jack store him in the bestial storage.
”Then, let's go.” Tralon opened up a rift in space, walking through it along with Jack.
The two men were now in a spacious office, startling Jack. ”You… You haven't changed a thing, have you?”
”Well, I did change a few things,” replied Tralon. ”All of your hidden weapons were stored away. I didn't like the thought of your high-level weapons being found by anyone who dared to thumb through my office.”
”Smart move. But I see you kept the chair, desk, and bookshelves. Why didn't you sell them? Wouldn't that be able to raise the guild's funds significantly?” Jack asked as he took a seat in the dragon hide chair he had crafted long ago.
”Oh? Is that how you two met? He tried to haggle for all of my old stuff?” Jack joked.
”Actually, yes. But we became friends soon after that. Occasionally, he makes me an offer for little things like your chair or the bookshelves you made.”
”I can't blame him. It's arguably the most comfortable and most expensive seat I've seen, while the bookshelves auto-cast silence and are made from an ancient Gaia Tree…” Jack's attention left the conversation as he started to tinker with the lock on his desk.
”Click!”
”Wow, you didn't even change the code. Are you a hoarder?”
”Maybe, but I'm so glad I am. Otherwise, who knows what would be left for you now that you're back?” Tralon laughed.
Jack's smile softened. ”It must've been hard for you. Keeping all of this while Trodar was facing hardship and you were losing levels to the curse.”
”Sure, it was hard but not impossible.” Tralon shrugged.
”The other council members want you gone so they can steal what's left of the guild, don't they?”
”... Like always, you find the truth before I have a chance to admit it.”