Chapter 72: Their Lifeline!

He quickly compiled a detailed guide.

However, he deliberately withheld several critical pieces of information, including the special mechanics of the final Boss. He provided only the necessary trigger conditions for the hidden quest, the progression of the first few stages, and partial information regarding the [Forest Whisperer] accessories and their attributes.

Once the guide was completed, Aiden encrypted it.

Then, through the channels of [Phantom Eyes], he quietly delivered it into the hands of the Ember Guild’s leader, Blazewind.

He did not need to tell Blazewind what to do after all the information itself was enough.

If they possessed the ability to seize this opportunity, their strength would rise rapidly.

And once that happened, they would naturally become another piece on Aiden’s growing chessboard.

A piece that could potentially move against the Dragon Sovereign Guild without ever realizing who had placed it there.

Inside the temporary base of the Ember Guild team, a reinforced community activity center had been converted into their current headquarters.

At one of the tables, team leader Blazewind stared at the encrypted file displayed on his personal terminal.

He was a warrior with a resolute face and steady temperament, but at this moment, his brows were tightly furrowed.

The file had been sent anonymously. And its title was almost impossible to ignore.

"Trigger and Early Process Guide for the ’Fallen Elven Camp’ Hidden Quest ’Lost Relic’ (Includes Partial Reward Preview)"

Blazewind’s eyes narrowed. "Leader, this... could be a trap."

The voice came from beside him.

Iris, the team’s deputy leader and an Elven Ranger, looked at the encrypted file with obvious concern.

"It was sent anonymously, and it just happens to contain information about the exact dungeon we’re preparing to clear. That’s too coincidental."

"I suspect that too."

Blazewind’s voice remained calm and deep. "But there’s something else."

He tapped the screen, bringing up the partial reward preview. The information displayed several accessory attributes.

[Agility +2.]

[Increased Stealth Effect.]

[Spirit +1.]

[Increased Mana Recovery Speed.]

Blazewind’s expression became serious. "I had people check the auction house and several black-market channels."

He paused. "Accessories with these attributes have never appeared anywhere."

Iros’ eyes flickered. "If the information is real..."

"Then it’s valuable." Blazewind finished the sentence for her.

Extremely valuable. The Rogue and Mage members of their team would benefit enormously from such equipment at their current level. The increase in Agility, Spirit, Stealth, and Mana Recovery could significantly strengthen their combat effectiveness.

More importantly, it could allow them to close the gap during the upcoming resource competition.

But another team member wasn’t convinced. "What if this was deliberately prepared by the Dragon Sovereign Guild?"

He crossed his arms. "They could be trying to lure us into a high-difficulty dungeon. Once we’re inside, the monsters do the work for them. Even if we don’t die, we’ll come out weakened."

The atmosphere inside the room grew heavier.

Blazewind didn’t immediately respond. His fingers tapped slowly against the table. Once. Twice. Three times.

He stared at the guide for a long moment, weighing every possibility. It could be bait. It could also be the opportunity they had been waiting for.

Finally, determination flashed through his eyes.

"Risk and opportunity have always existed together."

He raised his head. "We, the Ember Guild, cannot continue allowing the Dragon Sovereign Guild to suppress us."

His voice grew firmer. "If this information is fake, we’ll find out."

"And if it’s real..." A sharp glint appeared in his eyes. "We’ll take it."

Blazewind turned toward Iris. "Iris, take the most elite members of our stealth group and follow the first step in the guide. Go to the designated location and see whether you can trigger the hidden quest."

His expression hardened. "But remember this. Verification comes first."

"If you notice anything unusual, retreat immediately. Do not force it."

Iris nodded. "Understood."

Blazewind looked toward the remaining members. "Everyone else, prepare for combat. Get our equipment ready and assemble the moment Iris confirms the information."

He clenched his fist. "If the guide is genuine..."

"We’re clearing the Fallen Elven Camp."

...

One day later.

At the entrance of the Fallen Elven Camp dungeon, the atmosphere was unusually tense.

The entire main force of the Ember team had been mobilized. Nearly thirty players, ranging from Level 5 to Level 7, stood assembled outside the dungeon entrance. Weapons were ready, equipment had been checked, and everyone was waiting for one thing... Confirmation.

At the very front of the formation stood Blazewind. His grip around his weapon was tight, and despite his usually steady temperament, a trace of nervousness could be seen in his eyes.

The anonymous guide had sounded convincing. But convincing was not the same as real. If it was a trap, they had brought almost their entire fighting force straight into its vicinity.

If it was genuine, however... The opportunity could completely change their current situation.

Just then, a figure suddenly materialized from the shadows. It was Iris, the deputy leader who had been sent ahead with the elite stealth group.

The moment she appeared, the excitement on her face was impossible to hide.

"Leader!" Her voice trembled. "It succeeded! It really succeeded!"

Everyone’s attention instantly snapped toward her. Iris hurried forward, holding something carefully in both hands.

It was a beautifully crafted, leaf-shaped brooch. A faint emerald glow flowed across its surface, giving it an almost living appearance.

Blazewind’s eyes widened. "Show me."

Iris immediately activated the item’s information. "Following the guide, we found the initial NPC, the [Injured Forest Speaker], inside the hollow of an ancient tree in the southeastern corner of the camp."

She could barely contain her excitement. "We received the first quest in the chain, Finding Moonlight Moss."

She raised the brooch. "And this is the reward!"

Iris quickly added, "The stats are exactly the same as the guide said!"

The information appeared before everyone’s eyes.

[Forest Speaker’s Gratitude (Accessory)]

[Quality: Uncommon]

[Stats: Spirit +1, Nature-type Spell Effect Slightly Increased]

[Quest Item: Lost Relic (1/7)]

Silence descended upon everybody... For a brief moment, the entire team fell completely silent.

Then...

"It’s real!"

"The guide is real!"

"We actually found it!"

The entire Ember team erupted. Some players stared at the brooch in disbelief, while others exchanged excited glances.

An uncommon accessory. And this was only the reward from the first quest in the chain.

The guide had mentioned that the quest contained seven relic fragments.

If the first reward was already an uncommon accessory, what would the final reward look like?

For a team that had been struggling under the pressure of the Dragon Sovereign Guild, this wasn’t merely an item.

It was a lifeline!