chapter 43 return back

Return to Green Haven: A Town Alive with Activity

The moment Kaelith activated the Green Haven Gateway Crystal, a pulse of emerald light enveloped him. His vision blurred, and for a split second, he felt as if he were falling through space—weightless, surrounded by swirling green energy.

Then—WHOOSH!

He landed softly, his boots touching the familiar stone-paved streets of Green Haven Town.

The town square was bustling with activity, filled with new players, all of them Level 1 and scrambling to complete beginner quests. Everywhere Kaelith looked, players were talking to NPCs, trading with vendors, and battling low-level monsters just outside the town gates.

To his left, a group of fresh adventurers stood in front of an elderly NPC dressed in merchant robes.

"Hey, how do I collect wolf pelts?"

"The quest says I need to kill ten boars, but I only found three!"

"Where's the Blacksmith? My sword broke!"

The chaos of beginners trying to understand the game was almost amusing.

Kaelith, standing among them, was massively over-leveled compared to these newcomers. None of them had any idea that he had just completed an epic quest and formed a direct connection with the Goblin Kingdom.

Guilds Fighting for Recruits

Further down the street, Kaelith spotted several guilds actively trying to recruit new members.

One particularly loud guild recruiter stood on a wooden crate, waving a massive banner.

"Join 'Steel Fangs'! The strongest rising guild! We accept only serious players!"

"The Crimson Raiders are looking for warriors! Free armor for our first ten recruits!"

"Shadow Wolves are forming a core team! Looking for dedicated assassins and scouts!"

Kaelith smirked.

"All these guilds… They have no idea what true power looks like."

Kaelith's Next Move

He adjusted the Mysterious Mask in his inventory, feeling the weight of the Green Haven Gateway Crystal in his pocket.

His goal was clear:

Eliminate the bandits occupying the Goblin Kingdom.

Find out who kidnapped the Goblin Prince.

Unlock access to the restricted vault.

But for now, he had returned to Green Haven, a town filled with weaklings and guild recruiters who had no idea what was coming.

With a smirk, Kaelith walked forward, already plotting his next step.

Kaelith Encounters the Deceptive Guild Recruiter

After using the Goblin Prince's crystal, Kaelith arrived back in Green Haven Town. The moment he stepped into the lively streets, he immediately noticed the stark contrast between his hidden power and the struggling new players around him.

Everywhere he looked, players were scrambling to complete beginner quests—gathering herbs, hunting weak monsters, and trading basic loot for a few copper coins.

A few guild banners fluttered in the wind, their members standing on elevated platforms, calling out for recruits. These were early-stage guilds, trying to secure fresh players before they gained independence.

Some leaders made legitimate offers—inviting players to grow together.

But then there were those like the man who approached Kaelith.

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A Shady Invitation

Just as Kaelith was about to leave the square, a tall man clad in polished steel armor stepped in front of him.

His guild insignia—a golden serpent wrapped around a sword—was clearly displayed on his shoulder.

His arrogant smirk was the first red flag.

The way he looked at Kaelith—not as a fellow player, but as an asset to be exploited—was the second.

"Oi, you there. You look like you know what you're doing. Join our guild, and we'll give you 2,000 credits upfront."

His voice was casual, yet authoritative, as if he expected Kaelith to jump at the offer without hesitation.

Kaelith remained silent for a moment, analyzing him.

This was a classic move from the "Chameleons"—players who used money to lure in newbies, only to exploit them later.

They had a predictable pattern:

1. Find a player who looks promising but isn't in a guild.

2. Flash a big reward to make them lower their guard.

3. Once they join, drown them in low-level grunt work.

4. Keep them busy so they can't grow independently.

5. If they refuse orders? Kick them out with nothing.

Kaelith had seen this play out countless times in his previous life.

The recruiter took Kaelith's silence as hesitation and pressed on.

"Look, man. 2,000 credits just for signing up. No catch. Just join us, and you'll be set."

Kaelith let out a short chuckle.

"No catch, huh?"

The recruiter's smirk widened.

"That's right. Just some simple tasks—helping with quests, gathering materials, running some dungeons. Nothing too hard."

Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

"You mean slave labor."

The recruiter's face twitched.

"H-Hey, don't put it like that! We take care of our members—"

Kaelith cut him off.

"You take care of them? Or you trap them? Let me guess—once they join, they owe you work before they can leave. You make them farm resources, run errands, and do all the dirty work while you take the profits."

Some nearby players turned their heads, listening in.

A few nodded in recognition, realizing they had seen this kind of offer before.

The recruiter's confidence cracked.

"Tch. Whatever. Your loss. But don't come begging when you're struggling later."

Without another word, he turned away, scanning the crowd for another target.

Kaelith watched him go, a smirk forming on his lips.

"These people never change. But neither have I. If they think they can trick me, they'll be in for a rude awakening."

Without sparing another glance at the recruiter, Kaelith continued on his way, focusing on his real goal—completing the epic quest.

Kaelith was already disgusted the moment he saw Lark again.

This wasn't just another arrogant recruiter—Lark was a known scammer who preyed on the weak, especially new players and NPCs.

And Kaelith had humiliated him twice before.

Lark stood there, grinning like a predator as if he already won.

Kaelith clenched his fists.

This bastard again…

Lark had already humiliated himself twice—first, when Kaelith stopped his assault on an NPC, and second, when he took Veryon from Pink Solutions.

Yet, Lark still had the audacity to try his tricks.

Kaelith knew his type—the chameleons, the ones who acted generous, offering "opportunities" to new players, only to trap them in endless contracts and turn them into slaves.

He had fallen for this kind of trick before.

Not from Lark.

From his own step-sister.

He still remembered it clearly.

She came to him, smiling sweetly, pretending to care.

"Kaelith, you can make easy money! Just sign this deal! It's a guaranteed way to get rich fast!"

He had believed her.

He was young, naive, and trusted his own family.

And she sold him out for money.

That "deal" turned out to be a contract that stripped him of everything.

He was forced to work like a slave, grinding for others while they took his rewards.

By the time he realized the truth, it was too late.

He still remembered the day she came back—crying, begging for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry! I thought it was real! I didn't mean to—"

But Kaelith saw through her lies.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

She didn't just fall for it—she made sure he fell for it instead.

Now, Lark was trying to do the same thing.

Kaelith took a deep breath.

He wouldn't fall for it again.

He wouldn't be a fool again.

Lark had no idea that he had already lost.

As Kaelith turned away, his steps steady and unbothered, a loud voice echoed through the town square.

"Look at this noob! He's too scared to take our offer! Hahaha!"

Lark's arrogant tone rang out, drawing the attention of nearby players.

A moment of silence.

Then—laughter erupted.

"What an idiot! Who refuses free money?"

"Hah! Probably too scared to join a real guild!"

"Pathetic! He'll regret this later!"

The crowd grew, whispers turning into open mockery. Some pointed at Kaelith, grinning as if they had just witnessed a joke.

Kaelith kept walking.

Not once did he look back.

Not once did he react.

But inside his mind?

He was already laughing.

These people—these 'smart' players—actually thought he was the fool?

They had no idea.

Lark's offer wasn't an opportunity. It was a trap.

Kaelith had seen this scam before—guilds offering easy money, fast ranks, and power. It sounded tempting, especially to new players.

But once they signed the contract?

They became slaves.

Forced to farm materials, grind for the guild's elite, and take the worst missions—all while being paid barely anything.

And if they wanted to leave?

Debt penalties. Fake breach-of-contract fees. Blackmail.

Some never escaped.

And these idiots were mocking him for refusing?

Kaelith's lips curled into a smirk.

Let them laugh.

He wasn't the fool here.

He had already won.

Because while they were busy ridiculing him… they didn't even realize they were the ones walking into a trap.

And by the time they did?

It would be far too late.