The Achievement Junkie

"So, what do we do now, friend?" asked Flint. Since Jack responded kindly, he had already decided that he and Jack were good friends. That's just the type of guy he was.

"Well," Jack sighed and looked at his two hostages. Tarnel was pretty calm by then but Gret was still weeping and crying. "I don't want anyone to be following me, so I can't just let you all go so easily."

"Say no more," replied Flint. As he turned to look at his fellow party members, he bowed. "Thank you for taking me this far, but I'll be traveling with my new friend from now on. Would you all please wait by the entrance. I'm very grateful for your cooperation."

"But young master--"

"Now go, there's not much time left. We've already been in here for at least six hours. I'll be fine, so don't worry about me," Flint cut off his guard's interjection and sauntered over to Jack's side and put an arm around him. "Oh, and make sure not to come back down. I don't want to force my new friend to hurt me, so please don't."

None of them could believe what Flint was saying, even Jack. They were all speechless.

It took a moment for one of the guards to bow and start heading for the entrance. Out of the entire party, he best understood Flint and he knew that Flint would never change his mind. As they all left, that same guard even laughed to himself, thinking, "Maybe the young master will actually succeed in recruiting Jack." He thought that would be the best outcome of it all.

When the other's were out of sight, Flint nodded to Jack and asked, "So, where are we going now?"

Jack couldn't help but laugh. "You're something else, aren't you?"

"I get that a lot."

"Fine, then help me with those two." Jack pointed at his hostages. "If that one keeps whining, then just gag him to shut him up! As for you, since you seem cooperative…"

A few thin wooden boards appeared in Jack's hands. After Slivia had passed, Jack held on to her storage necklace. Being a cleric, she had all sorts of basic medical items to help her in the field, including those wooden boards used for splints.

Jack took some time to board up both of Tarnel's arms and his femur. "It may not do much, but at least you can move your arms now. Your leg will be harder to heal cause I hit it a little harder. Sorry, I got caught up in the moment."

From Slivia's storage, Jack pulled out a pair of crutches. "Do you think you can use these now?"

"I can manage." Tarnel gave Jack a strange smile. He had never expected that Jack would actually be so kind to him after taking him hostage.

Though he was currently Jack's hostage, Tarnel understood that it all happened due to the situation. Jack's mysteriousness and his actions to force three of the noble families away led Tarnel to believe that Jack may actually have a plan to find some extremely valuable treasures. If that were true, he might be willing to forgive Jack since he was being treated quite well.

"Good." Content to see that Tarnel was cooperative, Jack glanced at Gret and Flint. Throwing Flint some rope, Jack said, "Here, you can use that to help carry him. For someone who focuses on strength, that shouldn't be an issue, right?"

"Easy-peasy!" In a flash, Gret torso was wrapped in rope while Flint carried the other end of the rope over his shoulder. "Lead the way, buddy!"

It still made Jack laugh when Flint was so friendly to him.

"Some ground rules. When we encounter any undead, you'll drop him and help me fight. He'll stay behind with his crutches to avoid any further injuries," explained Jack. "Running into the Pon Family is the only other major complication to deal with. How do you suggest we deal with them?"

Tarnel and Flint looked at each other, wondering if either would say anything. Gret didn't have the option to speak and he was already gagged.

Surprisingly, it was Tarnel that spoke up. "You've got some kind of plan, right? You probably know exactly what you're looking for."

"Yup." Jack didn't hide the truth. Hiding it would be useless because they would eventually see him open the tomb anyway.

"I think we're all after the same goal then. We all want to best treasures that the Pon Family is adamant to find, and none of us want to trade them in. Since you're willing to do all this, you might even have a way to escape," Tarnel elaborated some of his thoughts, surprising Flint and Gret.

"If I took one of them hostage like you, do you think it would have the same result?" asked Jack, not denying or confirming any of Tarnel's thoughts.

"Probably, but you'll have to take even more risks when trying to escape after you exit," reasoned Tarnel. "Offending our families would only lead angering them, but they can't do anything to you while you're in town because you obeyed the rules that were clearly announced beforehand."

"But if I offend the Pon Family, you're saying that exiting the city would be much more difficult?"

"Exactly." Tarnel nodded, glad to see that Jack understood things easily. "You may be from Reinolt, but getting out of the city is your biggest obstacle."

"Wait, you're from Reinolt?!" asked Flint.

Tarnel had figured it out since Jack already had a run-in with the Treall Family, which was also from Reinolt. Gret clearly knew that too. Flint, however, hadn't put two and two together and became quite sad when he heard that.

"Just because I'm originally from Reinolt, doesn't me you and I can't be friends," joked Jack. "I can't stay here, but we may run into each other in the future."

Sadden yet able to understand, Flint gave a disappointed chuckle. "So, that means you won't join me and the Maronn Family? Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Fine… Let's get moving then." Lifting Gret up high, Flint started walking into one of the tunnels.

"We're going this way, Flint!" Jack shouted as he walked into a different tunnel, letting Flint rush back to them.

The makeshift party slowly traversed the catacomb. Some undead were found, but they also passed a few battle sites which looked similar to the one where the magic sword was found.

"The others should be nearby. Remember, if we see the Pon Family, just stay out of sight if you don't want me making things more difficult for you," stated Jack, making sure they were all on high alert.

There were plenty of times where Gret had tried to speak up and retort Jack, but he was never able to undo the gag. Eventually, he stopped struggling and kept quiet, but they still never removed the gag.

"Shhh, you all stay here."

'Jack, people ahead.' Bowzer's young voice warned him.

Taking a quick glance, Jack found exactly who he was hoping to see.

They were finishing up a fight with a lv. 29 zombie troll and lv. 27 zombies. It was easy to see that the fight was hard, but the Pon Family managed to keep the advantage.

The moment the zombie troll fell and the Pon Family members made a move for the magic book it was guarding, a figure suddenly appeared behind the young woman who was leading them.

"Please, don't make me hurt such a pretty lady," reasoned Jack.

"What do you want?" The Pon Family guards seemed to be the most cooperative of the noble families. Then again, it might have been because they were guarding their family head's only daughter.

"I want that book and all your storage items. I promise not to harm her if you do that and wait at the entrance for the remainder of our time inside the catacomb," explained Jack. "I only want to explore the caverns without intrusion or followers. Wait there, and she will be returned by morning without a single scratch."

"Go, I'll be fine." The young woman smiled at her guards. She was grateful for their concern but she still waved them off.

"Very well." All of them then removed their storage items and tossed them to Jack's feet. "Not a scratch, otherwise you'll be sorry."

Without another word, the party left and quickly made their way toward the entrance.

Jack was amazed at how cooperative they were. Even the young woman was shockingly easy to convince.

"Here." She handed Jack her ring and smiled at him. "My name's Keela, what's yours?"

"Jack. Thanks for listening so well."

"Can you release me now? It's clear that you're stronger than me. Even if I'm higher level, I'm only a cleric, so what chance do I have against you?" asked Keela.

"True, but know that I'm not merciful if you act funny."

She didn't fully comprehend Jack's warning until she saw three silhouettes come out of a corridor and greet them.

"Hey, Keela, I see you've met my new friend, Jack!" Flint greeted her with a smile as he dragged the crippled and gagged Gret behind him.

"So long as you cooperate, he's actually very understanding," stated Tarnel with a casual shrug.

Keela was amazed and looked back at Jack with a smile. "Weren't you only lv. 20? How did you--"

"I have my ways. Now, tell me, have you and your parties already dealt with the other commoners?" asked Jack.

Tarnel and Keela both nodded. Gret bobbed his head up and down, as if he was trying to be extra nice in order to get the gag off of him.

"Perfect! Then I can open the tomb in peace!"

"Tomb?!" All the others went wide-eyed.