Chapter 99: Arcadia Exclusive Armor

After chatting for a bit, Flying Brick got down to business. He pulled out a massive, pitch-black stone.

"This is a quest item our guild farmed. It was originally a bunch of small pieces, but putting them together synthesized them into one big chunk."

[Large Star Fragment]

[The Lion’s former glory, blood shed in a fierce battle]

Perhaps due to the significant increase in his Attributes, particularly Intelligence and Faith, Blaze could see much more information now.

Blaze took it but didn’t use it right away, choosing to stash the stone in his inventory first. Then, he took out three Copper Coins and placed them in Flying Brick’s hand.

"Here’s the agreed reward. Audrey still has the other six. I’ll find an opportunity to mail those Copper Coins to you."

Flying Brick wiped away imaginary tears. What an understanding NPC! He even went out of his way to store the daily limited rewards, afraid the players might miss out.

"By the way, Foreigners, have you used the [Silver Blood]?"

"Sure did!" Flying Brick transformed right on the spot.

Perhaps due to the difference in Attributes, the Werewolf Flying Brick transformed into was much more burly. His upper body, in particular, was so excessively muscular that he had to take off his Armor.

"Even though the Attribute Enhancement is huge, the body transformation means some equipment can no longer be used."

According to veteran Foreigners like Flying Brick and Kate Cat, most equipment—or more accurately, defensive gear—needed to be reforged and resized before it could be equipped.

This made perfect sense. Powerful armor was always tailor-made to perfectly fit the user. This was exactly why the [Blacksmith] Profession was still highly respected despite being unable to advance.

[Arcadians] were the first race that underwent drastic changes in body shape, meaning their previous armor would become completely useless. They would have to prepare a specific set of armor just for their Werewolf forms.

However, considering the massive Attribute Enhancement of the Silver Werewolf form, staying in that state permanently was well worth the trade-off.

Blaze could understand Flying Brick’s dilemma. With the [Blacksmith] Profession being limited, powerful gear could only be looted from special Monsters. Every piece found meant one less in the world, making it incredibly difficult to assemble two sets of equally powerful Armor.

This was also why Foreigners went to such extremes to monopolize certain information.

Blaze decided he would find a chance to have a proper chat with Marika about the information regarding the fruit containing Dwarf Wisdom. Even if they couldn’t uncover everything, they could at least find a direction for their investigation before sharing it with the Foreigners.

But then again, whether one had to prepare two separate sets of gear or strictly remain in the Silver Werewolf form, both options felt far too inflexible.

"Legend has it that the Silver Princes wore Campaign Armor when they marched to war. It’s impossible that they’d specifically take off their armor in the middle of battle just to transform. Perhaps the armor had some kind of hidden mechanism..."

Blaze sounded slightly hesitant, but Flying Brick and Kate Cat understood him instantly.

"Exclusive defense gear for the [Arcadia] system, right!" Kate Cat’s eyes lit up. "Maybe those armors had some intricate transforming mechanisms that could change along with the user when they transformed, at the cost of lowering their Defense Power.

"It works! This idea actually works! The only reason this type of equipment didn’t exist before is because there was never a demand for it!

"The Silver Princes... yes, exactly! The Campaign Armor dedicated to the noble princes! An armor style specially designed by Arcadia, using ancient forging techniques!

"But it could also be a large-scale armor that they only wore specifically for campaigns. Doesn’t matter, though. We could just hire someone to design this kind of gear. Dammit! There are plenty of Dwarves, but way too few [Blacksmiths]!"

Rubbing her chin, Kate Cat muttered to herself, completely ignoring everyone else while occasionally gritting her teeth.

"Don’t mind her. Her brain isn’t exactly the sharpest, so she can usually only focus on one thing at a time." Flying Brick slung an arm around Blaze’s shoulders and led him to the side, whispering, "Say, has Merushi contacted you recently?"

"Yes, she said she was practicing in the theater. By the way, did you get a ticket?"

"Heh heh heh." Flying Brick smiled mysteriously and pulled out a ticket. "I completed what was, to me, the ultimate challenge, and earned this grand admission ticket with my own blood, sweat, and tears."

"The ultimate challenge!?" Blaze put on a look of sheer admiration. He really wanted to know what powerful Monster Flying Brick had defeated.

"I stepped out of my house and found a job."

"Oh... is that so?" Blaze sweatdropped.

"Then I happened to run into a Robber committing an armed mugging with a knife. I went straight up and gave him a Rider Kick, and ended up getting a cash reward."

"Whoa!"

Blaze’s voice rose in excitement. Foreigners were incredibly frail in their own world. They didn’t have Undying bodies or potions that rapidly healed wounds. To think that even under those circumstances, he stepped forward to defeat a Robber!

Flying Brick was just about to brag a bit more when a hand pinched his ear. It was Kate Cat.

"You need to log off and go to work!"

"I’m on leave today!"

"Oh." Kate Cat paused for a moment before saying with a completely straight face, "Then you need to continue working for me. Come on, we’re going to scout the places where the Silver Princes used to campaign. Legend has it that some of the Silver Princes managed to escape. They might still be wearing their Campaign Armor. Those Black Witches are here too, so we have to investigate before they realize what’s going on."

"There’s really no need for that, is there? They must be busy partying around Romeo right now!"

"Wait, you two Foreigners!" Blaze pulled a Silver Snow Lotus out of his inventory, instantly causing the two Foreigners’ eyes to light up. "This is one of the synthesis materials for awakening the Silver Blood Secret Medicine. I hope that while you’re exploring the Arcadia Map, you’ll look for similar flowers and bring them to... uh..." Blaze paused, thinking for a moment, before finishing, "...give them to the Village Chief of Wolf Head Grass Village."

"Got it!!!" Kate Cat was fired up, flames practically igniting in her eyes as she brimmed with motivation.

"Before that, I need to confirm one thing." Flying Brick pointed at the still-closed inn not far away. "When is Arcadia’s Teleport Point going to open? We can’t keep running this far every single time."

"Just use a temporary Teleport Point," Kate Cat said casually, making both men sweatdrop.

Blaze knew about that item. It could only be crafted by a [Magical Scholar] with an extremely high Space Magic Skill Level, working alongside an [Advanced Prop Maker].

Even just calculating the material costs alone, it would take at least 1,000 Gold Coins and 2,455 Silver Coins.

For the members of the [Fairy Kingdom], that wasn’t much. But this kind of item was typically used for raiding Monster nests. What kind of sucker would waste it on traveling to a town that already had its own Teleport Point?

This was also the reason why the vast majority of Foreigners wouldn’t dare offend [Hermes’ Travel Hat]. After all, almost all the town Teleport Points were managed by them.

"Don’t worry. Very soon, [Hermes’ Travel Hat] will send the Arcadians hiding in the Sacrificial Stone Forest back to their original homes. When that happens, the inns and other facilities in the Arcadia region will resume operations."