Visiting Stone Village

Devin and Alex opted to stay at Cathy's inn for the sake of privacy, rather than choosing to reside at the City Lord's mansion. Additionally, they held secrets that made it inconvenient for them to stay at the mansion. Prioritizing safety and discretion, Devin took the precautionary measure of burning the mental method onto a memory stone, which he provided to Alex for practice. It was a comprehensive set, enabling Devin to refer to it for future use in his forces.

Throughout the week, Devin interviewed three potential candidates and, after careful consideration, decided on Elijah King. Elijah boasted extensive management experience, although he hadn't previously played games, he displayed openness and a willingness to learn. Today, Devin and Elijah were set to meet, finalize their arrangement, and make it official.

Devin entrusted Alex with the loot they had acquired from the dark forest, which Alex would sell to the Adventurers Guild. This would not only contribute to their points but also generate additional revenue. Meanwhile, Alex expressed an interest in investigating the information regarding the mysterious fires, passed on by other adventurers. Therefore, Devin logged out to attend to business matters while Alex remained in the game.

After swiftly changing his attire, Devin arrived at the high-end restaurant where he had made a reservation for a private room. The staff informed him that his guest, Elijah, was already waiting. Although Devin wasn't late, Elijah's punctuality demonstrated the level of importance he attributed to the job they were about to discuss.

The waiter escorted Devin to the private room, where he found Elijah King awaiting him. Elijah exuded an air of elegance and sophistication, dressed impeccably in a tailored gray suit. His white shirt, boasting a perfect fit, featured double cuffs adorned with exquisite gold cufflinks. Completing his ensemble, Elijah wore a black tie and brown oxford shoes.

"Hello Boss," Elijah greeted warmly as they exchanged pleasantries.

Devin and Elijah took their seats across from each other, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they savored the food they had ordered. Devin initiated the discussion by presenting Elijah with a folder containing the employment agreement, outlining the terms and conditions of his role as Manager. They delved into the details, addressing any questions or concerns, and collaboratively ironing out the final requirements.

Throughout their conversation, Devin couldn't contain his enthusiasm, leaning forward as he spoke with fervor. "Elijah, I want to share with you my grand vision for the island. I see it evolving into a thriving community, where individuals from all walks of life can come together to immerse themselves in a world of limitless possibilities. Our goal is to cultivate an environment that nurtures creativity, fosters innovation, and encourages collaboration—a place that offers not only entertainment but also personal growth for every inhabitant."

Elijah nodded, fully absorbing Devin's words. "That sounds incredible, boss. I wholeheartedly support this vision, and I have an idea that could propel us to the next level. What if we establish a real-life company? By doing so, our employees would be bound not only by virtual contracts but also by legal agreements, ensuring their rights and protections as well as ours."

Devin's thoughts aligned seamlessly with Elijah's idea, and a smile graced Elijah's face as he noticed Devin's openness. Continuing on, he suggested, "To make this idea a reality, we will need funds to register the company and secure a physical office space. This will provide us with a solid foundation and enhance our credibility."

Devin nodded in agreement, fully understanding the significance of this endeavor. "I recognize the importance of this step, and I am fully committed to making it happen. Give me one week, Elijah. I will arrange the necessary funds."

Elijah nodded, continuing to plan for their future endeavors. Devin advised him to register and start playing the game so that they could meet in Oasis, progressing their objectives.

Leaving the restaurant, Devin felt a sense of satisfaction with Elijah's alignment of vision and valuable experience. However, the challenge of sourcing funds cast a shadow over their plans. The two million points Devin obtained from the auction were simply not enough. To acquire an office building and initiate a business, they required at least 10 million points.

Returning to Oasis, Devin explained the financial predicament they were facing. Alex suggested, "Could we trade gold coins? I know the village has accumulated some."

Devin quickly dismissed the idea. "No, those gold coins serve a purpose, so it's not advisable to trade them."

This left Alex questioning, "Then how are we going to obtain 10 million points?"

Devin paused for a moment before sharing his plan. "I have an idea, but I will need a favor from the city lord. It's time to visit Stone Village"

Curiosity piqued, Alex inquired, "I thought you wanted to avoid dealing with the person who purchased your pearls from the auction house?"

Devin clarified, "I don't want any trouble, that's true. However, the pearls from the stone village are the only viable option I know of at the moment."

Devin's plan was straightforward. He intended to trade food with the people of the stone village in exchange for their pearls and the high magic crystal he had discovered. To facilitate this trade, they would borrow the city lord's ship, as they would possess the knowledge of how to reach the stone village.

Devin utilized his connection with Muriel to secure a cargo ship that would transport him to the stone village. The ship's captain, recognizing Devin's title as the hero of Serene City, eagerly agreed to accompany him on this journey.

In preparation for the trip, Devin allocated 10 gold coins to various food supplies and other items that he believed would appeal to the people of the stone village.

Meanwhile, within the stone village, the priest, an elderly woman possessing special abilities, was experiencing a period of distress. Whenever a calamity loomed over the village, she would receive premonitory dreams that were sometimes explicit, other times vague, and even occasionally portrayed in the form of parables.

For quite some time, the priest had been receiving recurring dreams about the impending destruction of their village. These visions left her anxious, resulting in blisters forming around her mouth. Despite the different narratives that began these dreams, they all invariably concluded with the village's demise.

In recent years, the village had faced challenges in sustaining itself due to the geographical terrain of their land, which hindered agricultural productivity. Understandably, this caused both the priest and the village chief great concern. Their ancestral land held immense significance to them, making the prospect of abandoning it particularly difficult. Should they choose to leave, they wondered if there were any other places willing to accept them.

The village chief entered the priest's house, noticing the troubled expression on her face. "Priest, what's troubling you?" he asked.

Ignoring the question, the priest inquired, "How did the hunt go?"

"It seems that even the animals on land are dwindling, but the sea continues to provide," replied the village chief.

The priest let out a sigh. There was a time when there were still enough animals in their land to sustain their hunters, but with more areas turning into deserts, even the animals were migrating away.

She had foreseen the difficulties her people would face even before the impending disaster. Without an adequate food supply, how could they find the strength to defend their land? She knew her people would never lose a battle due to a lack of loyalty, but if their energy was depleted, it would be a different story.

"If only we could encounter more people like that kind man who purchased stones from Aidan at the fair," the village chief remarked, wistfully hoping for assistance.

"Stop dreaming and remember to increase the village's security," the priest urged.

Curious, the village chief looked at the old priest. "Are you still not going to tell me about your worries?"

"No, I've told you before that positive things should be shared, but the negative things don't need to see the light," the priest responded.

The village chief understood that the priest didn't like acknowledging the negatives she foresaw, believing that it would grant them more power.

"Don't worry, I will increase the number of patrols," the village chief assured, respecting the priest's concerns.