chapter 53 occupation and dungeon

Daniel was lounging on the couch, one arm draped lazily over the backrest while the other held his phone on speaker. Liz sat beside him, one leg crossed over the other, scrolling through her inventory with an unimpressed expression. Ana was sprawled out on the floor, feet kicking in the air as she stared at Daniel like he was the funniest thing to ever exist.

"You seduced NPCs for EXP?" Raven's flat tone came through the phone.

Daniel grinned, stretching his arms behind his head. "Multiple NPCs, actually. Some people grind mobs, some people grind quests... I grind hearts."

Liz didn't even look up. "Wow. Truly, an inspiration to us all. Your mother must be so proud."

Ana, meanwhile, was dying. She rolled onto her back, clutching her stomach as she gasped for breath between wheezing laughter. "I— I can't! This is the most Daniel thing ever! He's out here playing a dating sim while the rest of us suffer through fetch quests!"

Daniel shot her finger guns. "Hey, don't hate the player, hate the game. If the devs didn't want NPCs to fall for me, they shouldn't have made my charisma stat so damn high."

Liz finally looked up, deadpan. "You dumped all your points into charisma, didn't you?"

Daniel smirked. "And it's paying off."

Raven groaned on the other end. "I swear, if you get an NPC wife before I even finish my alchemy trial, I'm uninstalling this game."

Ana wiped away tears. "No, no, this is gold. Daniel, you have to see how far you can take this. Like, can you get free housing? Rare gear? An NPC army?"

Daniel wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh, just wait. I already got a merchant to 'accidentally' give me a 50% discount after a few compliments. The world is my oyster, and I intend to romance all of it."

Liz groaned. "We're going to have to stage an intervention, aren't we?"

Raven just sighed. This game was going to be absolute chaos.

Raven sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, enough of your nonsense. Once you three finish your beginner quests, contact me. We need to go to Poison Cave—it's for an occupation."

Daniel perked up. "Oho, a dungeon run already? Sounds fun."

Liz shot him a look. "You do realize that means actual combat, right? Not just goofing off with NPCs."

Raven shook his head. "It's not a dungeon. It's for an occupation."

Daniel smirked. "Hey, if there's a way to talk my way into an easy job, I will find it."

Ana clapped her hands together, excited. "Poison Cave, huh? That sounds deadly! I love it."

Raven rolled his eyes. "Just hurry up and get it done. And Daniel, try not to become the cave's mascot before we go."

Daniel gasped dramatically. "Rude. You act like I don't take this game seriously."

Liz snorted. "You don't."

Ana grinned. "And that's why it's so entertaining."

Raven hung up before he could hear any more nonsense. Poison Cave was waiting, and if he knew these three, things were about to get way more chaotic than expected.

Yes, in Mortal Online, an Occupation is different from a Dungeon.

Dungeons are instanced or open-world areas filled with enemies, bosses, and loot. They are designed for combat challenges and usually require a party to complete.

Occupations, on the other hand, are player-controlled contested zones that offer unique resources, quests, or strategic advantages. They are often controlled by NPC factions or guilds, and players may have to fight NPCs or rival players to access them.

Poison Cave (Occupation)

Poison Cave is not a typical dungeon but an Occupation, meaning it's a contested area.

NPC factions (or even player guilds) may fight for control over it.

It likely has valuable resources related to poison, alchemy, or rare monsters.

Raven's quest here might require dealing with hostile NPCs, poison creatures, or rival players trying to claim the area.

If they gain control, they might unlock exclusive benefits like special alchemy recipes or poison-related skills.

This means Raven and his group aren't just diving into a dungeon—they're walking into a contested battlefield where anything could happen.

Raven made his way through the bustling streets of Viles Town, heading straight for the Alchemy Center. The towering building, adorned with intricate carvings of bubbling potions and mystical symbols, was one of the few places in town where alchemists could work in peace.

He stepped inside, the scent of herbs and simmering concoctions filling the air. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman in a deep green robe, barely glanced up from her ledger.

"Renting a room?" she asked, already flipping to the appropriate page.

Raven nodded. "Yeah, just a basic one."

"One silver per hour. Payment upfront."

He handed over the coin without hesitation. After the Alchemy Apprentice trial, he had received the recipe for a basic health potion. Now, he needed a quiet space to test it out.

The receptionist slid a key across the counter. "Room three, down the hall. Don't burn the place down."

Raven smirked but said nothing. With the key in hand, he made his way to the rented room, ready to see if he could successfully craft his first potion.

As Raven walked down the hall to his rented room, he could feel the eyes of other players lingering on him. A few stood near the entrance, whispering among themselves, while others shot envious glances his way.

"How the hell did he already get access to an alchemy room?" one player muttered.

"Must've completed some kind of hidden quest," another grumbled. "I've been trying to get an occupation since launch, and this guy's already brewing potions?"

"Tch. Rich player, probably," a third scoffed. "Who else can afford to rent a room this early?"

Raven ignored them and pushed open the door to his rented space. Inside was a simple wooden table, a small alchemy station with a basic cauldron, and shelves stocked with common ingredients. It wasn't much, but it was all he needed to start.

Locking the door behind him, he let out a breath. "Time to see if this was worth it."

Pulling out the materials he received from the trial, he set to work, knowing full well that outside, the envy of other players would only grow once they realized what he was capable of.