Land of Snow (4)

By the time the rest of the guild had started rearranging the furniture and other items to make the mall into a large house, all the royal blue items were missing.

Blank watched in amusement as Deck and Sly fought over a mattress even though he and probably 90% of the guild knew they'd end up together on it by night. Honestly who were they trying to fool? They had already been found out when they picked a room together.

They had chosen the original sword shop on the fourth floor not far from his room. Needless to say it had a lot less swords in it now, but reality swords weren't even useful really. They simply broke far too often. They should just gift wrap them to the government officials or something.

Blank smirked as Deck and Sly took their 'argument' into their room. He knew he wouldn't see them for an hour or two. They probably needed some time to 'try out' their new mattress after all. Maybe he should gift them some sheets?

Blank checked up on each member of the guild for the night. Within two hours they had gotten the electricity working as well as the plumbing and everyone had picked out rooms according to their preferences.

Blanks watch beeped again. He glanced down just to amuse himself.

[Government official 1: What do you think you are doing! Come back immediately you are not allowed to just leave the city defenseless!]

Blank hit the ignore button. What were they going to do force him back? He'd love to see them try. Then he would have a perfect reason to drop them into a pit of viper beats.

Blank returned to his own room and took some paper over to his blue pine desk. Then he started marking potential battle plans for the ice bull boss. That one was going to be tricky. But if they left it more than two days it would become free range instead of being trapped in its boss zone. It was far better to fight in a set zone.

Let's see, he tapped his pencil slightly it was an ice boss, and it looked to be an actual flesh boss instead of just mechanical. Assuming it followed normal rules it would take half damage from ice attacks and double from fire attacks. So he'd have a fire power advantage but it would have double hit on him with any attacks so he just had to be fast enough to avoid it. It looked slow enough.

Ice bosses were known for being slow with firm defenses and attack power.

"Hey you're still up."

Blank flinched as he looked over to see Chase enter.

"Would you knock?" Blank grumbled.

Chase leaned over looking at the battle plans.

"Hmm looks decent."

"Gee that's the best you can say? You got something better?"

"Nope not really."

"You know one day I'm going to stick a bell around your neck." Blank muttered.

"Hehe I'd like to see you try."

"Stupid assassin class needs bells."

"So you'd stick a bell on Royal?"

Blank froze. "Shut up." He growled.

"You know I was thinking."

"You really shouldn't."

Chase smirked a little. "I'm not so sure Royal is dead."

Blank froze again. "Stop talking about him." he growled.

"Oh stop it, I've been your best friend forever I know your acts already. I'm serious Blank, I really don't think he's dead."

Blank continued to stare at his desk for a solid moment then sighed, "Speak but if you say anything stupid I'm kicking you out and locking you in a closet."

"Okay fine, but you're not allowed to interrupt until I'm done."

Blank waved once for him to continue.

"It started with a side note Sly mentioned to me and asked me to look into. The chip was planted in his neck near the brain but there wasn't any brain tissue around only standard blood. This and even though I don't really like Royal, I respect his skills, he's not someone who would be so easy to kill. Granted if he wanted to fake his death I have no doubt I would think he was 100% dead. Which leaves me with one theory. The tree was exploded but the blood was slightly further out. I think Royal knew about the chip and removed it himself, when it went off he tossed it at the tree or placed it on the tree before leaving it there. Although given the amount of blood he was likely seriously injured, so even if he was alive then, he might not still be." Chase finished and watched Blank's reaction.

Blank opened his mouth then closed it for a few seconds. Then opened it again.

"I'm going to go look around." Blank stood up.

"Don't bother." Chase replied "Sly and I already combed the area. If he's still alive, he doesn't want to be found."

"Still" Blank walked to his new room's window and looked out. "Your theory makes sense, and I won't be able to sleep now. If there is a chance, even .0000001%..."

"Are you going to be mad at him if he's still alive, you know since he hid from us?"

"Of course not! He doesn't even know we know he's innocent." Blank huffed and glanced back at Chase like he was insane.

"Hmm" Chase looked out Blank's window. "You should talk to Sly when you get the chance. And don't just go flying off into the dark. Do it after we finish off the Ice bull boss in….." Sly glanced at the battle plans, "3 days is it?"

"So you're just going to tell me a likely theory about how my best friend might be alive and then tell me not to look for him and instead focus on a boss? He could be dying!" Blank growled.

"Royal can look after himself. He's a solo player he'd be dead if he couldn't. Focus on what you can achieve for now, and we'll start finding ways to spread info about his innocence more and try to make sure it reaches him." Chase slipped toward the door. "We'll find him okay? Also in case you forgot I'm your best friend, Royal is your boyfriend to be."

Chase slipped out the door before a pillow slammed into it.

Blank sat down on the edge of his bed thinking. He tried to recall all the details from the incident he had tried for so long t block from his mind. Chase was right several parts didn't add up, but could Royal really be alive? And was he still? Blank should of kept looking. He wanted to smack himself in the head.

Blank hissed under his breath before grabbing his paper battle plan and redoing a few parts. 2 days, then he was going to look for Royal and not stop until he'd found out 100% what had happened. He would of gone sooner if the Ice bull's area timer lasted longer, but it would break in 3 days releasing it.

He clenched a fist... I will find you Royal, wait for me...Please don't be gone.

***

Blank stood near the snow covered meadow. The trees lining the area gave a great viewpoint. He crouched down on his branch scanning the area. Across the frozen land a certain beast stared back at him. its snowy coat trailing a few icicles.

"Hurry up and die so I can go find him." Blank hiss under his breath.

"What was that?"

Blank glanced to his side where Sly and Chase were looking at him concerned.

"Nothing."

"You need to focus, you're going to end up getting hurt if you can focus on the battle." Sly muttered.

"He's got a point we can handle it, you can just sit this one out." Chase added.

Blank snorted, "Yeah right, a guild leader is supposed to fight alongside his guild, besides I'm totally focused on killing the beast."

He noticed the two shared a look and glared at them.

"Don't go getting injured or you'll have to wait that much longer to go search for Royal." Chase commented.

"Whatever let's just get this over with." Blank turned back to the meadow and analyzed the position of several groups in the trees.

As soon as Nova's group was in place Blank let out a whistle and joined his guild as they flooded into the new battlefield.

I'm coming Royal, just hang on a bit longer, and don't you dare be dead. Blank thought as he eyed the ice bull. I messed up before but if you're still alive I will definitely make it up to you. So just don't be dead.