Chapter 74 – A weak aura

Malik gulped heavily, his Adam's apple bobbing as he stared at the empty potion bottles littering the floor like discarded memories. The lady's health had fully recovered, yet she still clung tightly to her body, knees curled inward, refusing to rise from the ground.

Without a word, Malik turned to his inventory and scrolled through the items. His fingers stopped when they hovered over a white robe. He dragged it out of his bag and extended it toward the lady, then turned away, giving her space.

The lady accepted the robe in silence, and after a brief pause, she rose to her feet and slipped it on. It flowed over her form as if tailored by fate itself—fitting perfectly.

"Thank you, good Sir," she said softly, her voice trembling with restrained emotion. "You've saved not just my life… but my dignity. I swear on my name, I will repay this debt, whether sooner or later."

She gave a small bow in Malik's direction. He coughed awkwardly and turned his gaze back to her, brushing a hand across his nape.

"That was nothing," Malik said, clearing his throat. "I'd have done that for anyone in your situation."

"You're truly kind, good Sir," she replied, her eyes holding a glint of gratitude that shimmered like dew under moonlight. "But… I must warn you. The Red Players won't let this matter die so easily. They're as vindictive as shadows—they might even attack you in the middle of the city. It makes me worry… for your safety, good Sir."

"You don't have to worry, Young Lady," Malik said, his tone calm, yet carrying an unshakable edge. "I shall bear the consequences of my actions. Whatever comes… I'll handle it."

"But still, I feel somewhat responsible," she said, hesitating for a heartbeat. "I promise I'll help you however I can. But right now, I must attend to an urgent task. Take this—it'll increase our chances of meeting again."

With that, she reached into her robe and pressed a black token into Malik's hand. The token shimmered faintly with a mysterious aura, bearing the symbol of Blackroot City etched in crimson ink.

Then, like a gust of wind cutting through silence, she dashed off before Malik could utter another word.

Malik stared at the token, frowning slightly. "A token… with the Blackroot City emblem. Just who exactly is that Young Lady?"

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"Yvonne…" Malik whispered, the name rolling off his tongue like a breeze on a quiet morning. "Her name's Yvonne. What a mysterious NPC. I almost forgot I was still in a game. It felt… too real."

Then he blinked sharply. "Wait—just reputation points?! What's wrong with this damn system? I spent all my healing potions!"

Grinding his teeth, Malik felt the urge to reach through the interface and throttle the system itself. His fists clenched as if gripping an invisible neck.

But no amount of rage changed the outcome.

With a bitter sigh, he gave up on arguing with a lifeless system and stepped out of the alley, starting his exploration of the city.

Blackroot City had changed.

It had grown.

It was more advanced than before, more vibrant, more alive.

Of course, this wasn't Malik's first time visiting the city. He had passed through once before—back before the assault from Shadow Guild had plunged it into chaos.

"Hah… I thought Angel Michael and the others were around here. Let me contact them," Malik muttered.

He pulled up his system interface, scrolled to his friend list, and the first ID that caught his eye was Young Star. Without hesitation, he tapped it and waited for a response.

The voice that came through almost instantly carried a jolt of surprise.

"Boss! You're in Blackroot City?!" Young Star's voice practically exploded from the interface.

"Yeah," Malik answered casually. "I'm here on a quest."

"A quest?" Young Star asked, pausing for a beat. "Wait… you don't mean Finding the Bandit, do you?"

"I do. How'd you know?"

"It's practically the most common quest here. Every adventurer's gotten it, but no one's been able to complete it."

Malik raised an eyebrow. "What? But it's just a B-rank quest."

"Unbelievable, right?" Young Star chuckled bitterly. "Even White Emperor, Angel Michael, and I are gunning for that quest. We haven't even scratched the surface of who the bandit is, let alone found him."

Malik's brows furrowed. He thought back to the quest window. Young Star was right.

'Find the Bandit.'

That was all it said. No description. No explanation. No backstory. No leads.

"Most players are stuck like us. Some gave up altogether," Young Star added.

Malik clicked his tongue. "That means the quest is either a damn riddle or a trap. Send me your coordinates—I'll come to you."

"On it."

Ping!

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Malik opened the message box, nodded to himself, then began making his way toward the coordinates.

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[Black Dish – 15 Minutes Later]

The destination turned out to be a massive restaurant nestled right in the heart of Blackroot City. Its entrance bore a bold, obsidian sign that read: 'Black Dish.'

Malik stepped inside, and a wave of tranquility washed over him. The atmosphere was welcoming—soft lights, gentle music, and the scent of grilled spices hanging in the air.

"This place is… awesome," he muttered as his shoulders finally relaxed.

He moved through the bustling crowd until he spotted a familiar trio at the far end. Young Star, Angel Michael, and White Emperor were seated around a table, chatting and laughing like old war buddies. That was until a presence crept up behind them.

A presence they hadn't sensed till the last second.

Angel Michael was the first to react. He tapped the glowing pendant on his chest, activating the Eye of the Crawler.

His gaze turned green.

And then—he froze.

The moment he met the cloaked figure's eyes, Angel Michael flinched backward, gripping his staff tightly.

Young Star's hand shot to his sword. White Emperor summoned his shield.

All three immediately released the auras of Tier 1 players, their pressure blanketing the air like a storm cloud.

But the cloaked man didn't move.

Didn't flinch.

Didn't even blink.

That stunned them more than anything.

Any normal Tier 0 player would have collapsed under such suffocating pressure. Yet this guy stood tall and unmoved, cloaked in black-silver and mystery.

"This guy…" Young Star narrowed his gaze, then took a sharp breath.

"Boss?"

Malik shifted his eyes toward him, face half-hidden by the cloak.

The other two turned sharply.

Their expressions warped in disbelief as they scanned Malik's player info—but only his HP was visible.

Nothing else.

'Is this really Boss? He's changed… so much.'

'Why does his aura feel… weak? Like it's deliberately concealed?'

Then Malik chuckled lightly. "What a grand welcome, guys. I was beginning to wonder how you've all been coping here in Blackroot City."